Drought Information Statement for South Texas
Issued By: NWS Corpus Christi, TX
Contact Information: sr-crp.webmaster@noaa.gov 
This product will be updated February 7, 2024 or sooner if drought conditions change significantly.  
Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements.
Please visit https://www.weather.gov/crp/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. 

U.S. Drought Monitor
Link to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor for South Texas
Drought conditions spread across north-western portions of South Texas

Drought intensity and Extent
D4 (Exceptional Drought): None
D3 (Extreme Drought): None
D2 (Severe Drought): None 
D1 (Moderate Drought): Portions of the Coastal Plains, Victoria Crossroads and northern Coastal Bend including the northern island
D0: (Abnormally Dry): Portions of the northwestern Brush Country to the northern Coastal Plains, and northern Coastal Bend

Recent Change in Drought Intensity
Link to the latest 4-week change map for South Texas
Four Week Drought Monitor Class Change. 
Drought Worsened: Portions of northwest Webb and southern La Salle counties. 
 
No Change: Portions of the northern Brush Country, northern Coastal Plains including Victoria Crossroads and northern Coastal Bend.

Drought Improved: northern tip of Live Oak and Bee counties.

Latest Monthly Rainfall for South Texas
Precipitation
Most of South Texas saw 50% or less of normal rainfall throughout the month of December, except portions of the northeast Coastal Bend and southern Plains/Coastal Bend.


Data Courtesy High Plains Regional Climate Center. 


Summary of Impacts
Links: See/submit Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) and view the Drought Impacts Reporter
Hydrologic Impacts 
Low reservoir levels contributing to water restrictions

Agricultural Impacts
Corn, cotton, peanuts, rice, sorghum, cattle, hay and sheep

Fire Hazard Impacts
No known impacts at this time

Other Impacts
Corpus Christi under stage 1 water restrictions
Victoria returns to stage 2 water restrictions
Laredo under stage 2 water restrictions

Mitigation Actions
Please refer to your municipality and/or water provider for mitigation information.

Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts
Below normal streamflow for the majority of South Texas rivers.
Reservoir levels continue to decline.

 
Reservoir
Pool Elevation (ft)
Current Elevation (ft)
Choke Canyon.
220.5
192.6
Lake Corpus Christi
94.0
86.02
Lake Texana
44.0
38.8
Coleto Creek
98.0
94.88
Canyon Lake
909.0
887.69
Lake Amistad
1117.0
  1061.79

Soil Moisture Ranking Percentile | Crop Moisture Index by Division
Agricultural Impacts
Below normal soil moisture conditions are in place across South Texas. The driest can be found in the northern Coastal Bend. 
Slightly dry crop moisture across all of Texas.

Fire Hazard Impacts
Burn Bans in place for Duval,  and San Patricio counties

Normal significant wildfire potential through January


Seven Day Precipitation Forecast
Up to around 0.50-2.00 inches of rainfall is forecast over the next 7 days to fall across the eastern counties of South Texas


Drought Outlook
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
Drought conditions are expected to persist across northern portions of the region.
Drought removal likely for eastern portions of South Texas.