San Antonio Faces 40 Days of Sun Without Rain
San Antonio is now officially on day 40 without measurable rainfall, marking its longest dry streak since 2015. It’s a peculiar scenario for those of us in the Alamo City, especially since we always expect a bit of rain to come along during early fall. But as we’ve been checking the skies, it seems that the clouds have decided to take an extended vacation!
How Did We Get Here?
High atmospheric pressure has been dominating the weather over Texas for nearly six weeks now. This kind of pattern usually shows up in the middle of summer, not the early days of fall. What does that mean for us? Simply put, the sunny and warm days are here to stay a bit longer. Unfortunately, while the sunshine is lovely, it brings the downside of not having any rain.
The last time San Antonio saw any measurable rain was on September 5. Since then, it’s been nothing but blue skies and warm weather. If you’re wondering why this drought feels especially noticeable, it’s because it is! This is the fourth time since 2000 that San Antonio has endured a rainless streak lasting at least 40 days. But for those of you who remember, the record stands at an astonishing 63 days from late June to late August in 1993. Now that’s a true dry spell!
What About the Rainfall Totals?
You might think all this sunshine means we have plenty of rain, but that’s not the case at all. So far this year, San Antonio has received only 21.29 inches of rain. To put that into perspective, the average rainfall for this time of year is about 26.21 inches. This means we’re currently facing a rainfall deficit of 4.92 inches, and it looks like that number could continue to rise.
It’s also worth noting that just a month ago, we were celebrating our departure from drought status. The U.S. Drought Monitor had completely removed San Antonio from any drought conditions, but fast forward to now, and we find ourselves firmly back in a severe drought. Quite the turn of events, huh?
What’s Next for Our Weather?
As we look to the horizon, there’s a cold front that’s set to sweep through South Texas early Wednesday morning. Typically, these fronts bring rain, but it seems this one is just going to push more dry air into the area instead. So it looks like we’ll be sticking with sunny skies for at least a couple more days.
Now, while some weather models hint that we might see some moisture by Friday and through the weekend, don’t get too excited just yet. The chances of any significant rainfall remain pretty slim, somewhere in the ballpark of 10-20%. If we don’t catch any rain this weekend, the dry streak could very well stretch on into next week as well.
Conclusion: A Call for Patience
As we embrace this dry weather, it’s a good moment for all of us to reflect on nature’s cyclical patterns. Weather can be unpredictable, and it’s always fascinating to see how quickly things can change. So, whether you’re soaking up the sun or hoping for those classic San Antonio rain showers, remember that every season comes with its own surprises!
While we wait for the clouds to return, let’s keep an eye to the skies and hope for some rainfall soon! Stay updated, enjoy the sunshine, and don’t forget to stay hydrated!
