texas

Recent Rain Ends Worst of Years-Old Texas Drought: Experts

Most of DFW now in low drought stages

Recent heavy rains have helped Texas emerge from the worst of the years-long drought.

The U.S. Drought Monitor on Thursday indicated Texas, for the first time since mid-2012, is no longer in the "exceptional drought" category. That's the most dire of five drought designations on the weekly map by federal agencies.

The drought has ravaged parts of Texas since 2011. Sections of the state were still listed Thursday as abnormally dry or in moderate, severe or extreme drought.

Counties Remaining in Extreme Drought: Llano, Gillespie, Kimble and Kerr counties in Central Texas; Hardeman, Cottle, Foard, Knox, Baylor and Wilbarger counties near the Panhandle and Dallam, Hartley, Moore, Potter, Carson and Hutchinson counties in the Panhandle.

In North Texas Dallas and Ellis counties are mostly out of the drought with only part of the county showing the lowest of the five drought designations, abnormally dry. Tarrant, Denton and Johnson  counties are split between Abnormally Dry and Moderate Drought.  Parker County and to the west are mostly Moderate with some patches of Severe Drought remaining.

usdroughtmonitor-051215
United States Drought Monitor/NBC 5 News
Data from May 12, 2015, from The National Drought Mitigation Center.

The Houston area received more than 10 inches of rain this week. Corsicana last weekend was doused with 11 inches of rain.

Drought-stricken Wichita Falls reports lakes that help supply the city's water continue to rise due to recent storms. Combined levels for Lake Arrowhead and Lake Kickapoo topped 50 percent Tuesday.

Online: droughtmonitor.unl.edu

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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