San Antonio Faces Drought Amid October Heat

San Antonio Faces Drought Amid October Heat

Hello, San Antonio! As we dive into October, it’s worth discussing the current weather situation that has many residents concerned. This week, the U.S. Drought Monitor has released new data indicating that our beloved San Antonio metro area, including Bexar and Bandera counties, is experiencing moderate to severe drought conditions. Yes, you heard that right—Mother Nature seems to be taking a break from the usual rainy season.

What’s Going On?

Typically, September and October are celebrated months for rainfall in South Texas, averaging a lovely 7.63 inches of rain between them. However, this year is shaping up to be quite different. San Antonio has now gone a staggering 29 days without a drop of rain, with forecasts suggesting that Saturday could mark the dreaded 30-day milestone. Unless a few lucky isolated storms decide to grace us with their presence, we might just continue on this dry path.

Just a month ago, on September 3, the year-to-date rainfall totals showed we were actually 0.17 inches above average! What a difference a month can make. Fast forward to today, and we find ourselves about 3.71 inches below average for the year. Unfortunately, the news isn’t getting better—according to the National Drought Mitigation Center, all of Bexar County is officially back in moderate drought, while parts of the beautiful Hill Country are caught in more severe to extreme drought conditions.

Will It Rain Soon?

On a brighter note, there are rain chances on the horizon for parts of deep South Texas, stretching from Corpus Christi to Brownsville and into the Rio Grande Valley. These regions could see some relief with rain expected on Saturday morning through the afternoon. But the rain chances diminish for us here in San Antonio, with less than 20% coverage anticipated. If you’re hoping to see those clouds roll in, it’s essential to keep your expectations in check!

What About the Heat?

As we await any chance of rain, the temperatures continue to climb. On Saturday, we can expect morning lows around the low 70s, but by 10 a.m., temperatures will already be rising to 80 degrees and reaching a high of around 92 to 93 degrees in the afternoon. That’s certainly above average for this time of year! To make matters even warmer, on Sunday, we might get close to tying the daily record high for October 6, which stands at 95 degrees, dating back to 1931.

Enjoy the sunshine while it lasts, as the upcoming week forecast shows we’re in for more dry spells with temperatures remaining unseasonably high, hovering around the mid-90s for both Monday and Tuesday.

A Silver Lining

Here’s some good news: a weak cold front is expected to slide into the region mid-week. While it might not bring significant changes to our daytime temperatures—still hanging out in the low 90s—it’s likely to bring some refreshing dry air our way! Morning low temperatures could descend to a more pleasant mid-60s on Wednesday and even dip into the low 60s by Friday.

As we embrace the unexpected October heatwave, let’s stay aware and prepared for the possibility of drought challenges ahead. Keeping those plants well-watered and adjusting our daily routines to beat the heat will surely help. Here’s hoping those rainy clouds decide to pay us a visit soon!