San Antonio Breaks 53-Day Dry Spell with Much-Needed Rain

San Antonio’s Dry Spell Comes to an End!

Hey there, San Antonio residents! We’ve got a little weather news that might just put a smile on your face. After an impressive stretch without any measurable rainfall—specifically 53 consecutive days—we finally saw some drops fall on our beloved city this Tuesday afternoon.

A Quick Shower Breaks the Dry Streak

The much-needed rain measured just a smidge—only 0.01 inch was recorded at San Antonio International Airport, our main climate observation site. While it’s not enough to write home about, it did officially break the long dry spell that had gripped us since September 6.

This tiny bit of rainfall was brought to us by a quick, scattered shower that decided to grace the airport just after 1 p.m. on Tuesday. Throughout the morning hours, several isolated showers and weak storms made their rounds across the city, dampening those dry sidewalks and roadways. If you were out and about on Tuesday afternoon, we hope you were driving safely because light rain can mix with the usual oil residue on the roads, making them a tad slick. Remember, it’s always better to take it slow and keep some extra distance between your car and the one in front of you!

Flashback to the Dry Days

So, what does this mean for San Antonio? To put things in perspective, this dry spell was the fourth-longest dry streak in the city’s history. The grand champion of dry days was back in the summer of 1993 when we went a whopping 63 days without even a sprinkle! In the realm of long dry periods, the second longest hit 60 days between December 1995 and February 1996.

Effects on Local Water Bodies

The dry weather took quite a toll on local water levels. For instance, Medina Lake’s water level dropped by more than 2 feet during this dry stretch, resting at just 2.8% full, and is now only 2.6 feet above its all-time record low, which we hit earlier this year in July. Meanwhile, Canyon Lake also felt the dryness with its water levels dipping by about 2.24 feet, putting it at 52.6% full.

Back to Drought Conditions

extreme drought, which is the second-highest category used. Comal, Kendall, Bandera, and Medina counties are sharing the same fate. At the beginning of the month, we seemed to be on a decent rainfall track, but now, San Antonio sits at nearly 6.78 inches below average for this time of year.

More Rain on the Horizon?

Looking forward, we might get a chance for more rain later this week! While the chance for scattered showers was only about 20% on Tuesday afternoon, we’re keeping our fingers crossed for better amounts soon. As a weak cold front approaches from the north, expect the chances for rain to creep up to around 30% to 40% on Thursday morning. However, it’s still possible that some areas could miss out.

Hoping for something more substantial? Long-range weather models suggest we might see much higher chances for rain by next Tuesday as a stronger cold front could push into the area. With these changes in the forecast, be sure to stay updated!

In conclusion, while we’re excited that the dry streak has been broken, it’s essential to remember that we still have a long way to go regarding our water levels and drought conditions. Here’s hoping for more rain soon, San Antonio!