South-Central Texas sees rain in late spring as possible El Niño looms

After three years of severe weather brought on by the effects of La Niña, the Climate Prediction Center has officially declared the end of La Niña’s warm and dry weather wrath, but with its departure South-Central Texas could potentially see the rise of an El Niño bringing in wetter weather later this year, according to the National Weather Service.

Coming out of one of the warmest spring’s South-Central Texas has seen in recent years, especially in May when temperatures reached record breaking numbers with minimal rain, the National Weather Service is predicting the months of April, May, and June will continue to see warm temperatures accompanied by slightly higher possibilities for rain.

When the weather gets warmer, the chances for severe weather such as hail, wind, and tornadoes are at its highest. 

“Severe weather is one of our primary weather concerns throughout the spring months,” said Keith White with the Austin/San Antonio National Weather Service during a virtual Spring 2023 Climate Outlook on Thursday, March 9.

Weather experts are saying May will be the rainiest month of the year for South-Central Texas. With a slight potential for above average rainfall, the month of May poses the highest risk for severe weather conditions such as flash flooding that could continue into June.

South-Central Texas is prone to severe weather conditions in March, April, and May. 

South-Central Texas is prone to severe weather conditions in March, April, and May. 

National Weather Service

Historically, reports of hail in March, April, and May in South-Central Texas have dominated spring severe weather followed by thunderstorms and wind. However, the effects of stormy weather in May and June could stand to improve depleting aquifer levels, which have continued to decline over the last few years, according to White.

“Even near normal precipitation in our wettest month of the year, will certainly go a long way towards helping to improve those aquifer levels and reservoir levels,” White said.

Dry weather in March will do nothing to improve drought conditions, which are predicted to remain until the end of May, and poses a high risk for potential wildfires due to the dryer conditions, but fire threats should should ease in April as spring begins to draw in wetter weather.

Looking further ahead, the National Weather Service says there’s a 60% chance of an El Niño developing, which happens when water patterns in the Pacific shift resulting in wetter weather. Should El Niño come knocking it would bring cooler and wetter conditions in fall and early winter. During most El Niño years, threats of hurricanes are possible in Texas, but pose a very low threat of making landfall, according to White.

Original News Source Link

GET FREE NEWS TODAY!

You Can Unsubscribe At Any Time!


This will close in 0 seconds