April Discussions: Drought Continues/Driest April On Record!

[jasons2k]

Checked the rain gauge when I got home - and nada.

[srainhoutx]

It's chilly out there this morning. Hooks reporting 39F...

Wind Calm
Visibility 10 mile(s)
Sky conditions clear
Temperature 39.0 F (3.9 C)
Dew Point 34.0 F (1.1 C)
Relative Humidity 81%
Pressure (altimeter) 30.18 in. Hg (1022 hPa)
ob KDWH 051053Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 04/01 A3018 RMK AO2 SLP218 T00390011

[wxman57]

41F at Bush airport and only 53 at Hobby. I want my upper 60s to 80s back! Fortunately, return flow starts today so the cold air won't be around long. GFS still forecasts a very weak frontal passage next Monday, probably with little or no rain here. No sign of significant rain over the next few weeks.

[jasonhoutx]

man, these temps stink. I was glad to see winter leave, but it had to come say hello once again.

I am looking forward to some heat. when does the temperatures reach the 90+ range?

[wxman57]

man, these temps stink. I was glad to see winter leave, but it had to come say hello once again.

I am looking forward to some heat. when does the temperatures reach the 90+ range?

While it's possible for Houston to see 90+ degrees as early as February, 90 degree highs don't typically become common until the last 2 weeks of May.

[Andrew]

As much as rain is needed I really don't want it because we are getting a pool installed. Lets hope the rain holds off for a couple more weeks. haha. I didn't like the cold weather this morning. A rude awakening.

[Ptarmigan]

While it's possible for Houston to see 90+ degrees as early as February, 90 degree highs don't typically become common until the last 2 weeks of May.

I have seen mid 90s in March, like in 1946.

[sleetstorm]

What weather mechanism is keeping rain away from southeast Texas?

[Andrew]

What weather mechanism is keeping rain away from southeast Texas?

Just one of those patterns where we haven't seen many fronts push through and any that do have had trouble with the cap for instability and as a result we miss out on any good precipitation.

[srainhoutx]

The 00Z ECMWF threw a wrench in the forecast for the late weekend/Monday. Let's hope it's sniffing out a closed low versus an open long wave trough and just maybe we'll see those rain chances increase with the front.

[srainhoutx]

The GFS continues the 'dry pattern', but there may be some hope on the horizon a bit longer range from the Easterly trades.

[srainhoutx]

The 12Z GFS suggest some rain chances Monday, but capping issues may well squash on those chances yet again.

[srainhoutx]

HPC in their Final Update today sums it up:

UNFORTUNATELY...FOR PORTIONS OF TX/OK THAT HAVE
BEEN QUITE DRY...CONVECTION AFFECTING THOSE AREAS SHOULD BE FAST
MOVING AND NOT DROP SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF RAINFALL.

[Mrs.Frosty]

Is that rain around the Bryan area reaching the ground (or am i seeing things on radar?)?

[Ptarmigan]

The 12Z GFS suggest some rain chances Monday, but capping issues may well squash on those chances yet again.

That Cockroach Cap is at it again! Let's hope for some easterlies, so it will kill that Cockroach Cap like RAID.

[srainhoutx]

Is that rain around the Bryan area reaching the ground (or am i seeing things on radar?)?

It's a mirage…. an upper air disturbance is crossing the region. While not much, there are some streamer showers beneath the cap.

[unome]

http://blogs.chron.com/sciguy/archives/ ... ght_1.html

Sci Guy's blog about the drought is rather depressing - here's just the 1st bit, see the rest at the link

"April 07, 2011

Texas drought now extreme. Any relief in sight?

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor came out today and it's rather grim. About 98 percent of Texas is now in a drought, and more than 86 percent -- including Harris County -- is in a severe drought or worse.

Furthermore, the northern third of Harris County has entered an extreme drought. Here's the latest map of Texas:

[srainhoutx]

The GFS continues the 'dry pattern', but there may be some hope on the horizon a bit longer range from the Easterly trades.

In April?

The GFS has been 'sniffing' a change. Disturbed weather across Central America for several days, now. Almost time for 'eyes' to shift S and E...

[wxman57]

Euro suggests we might have a better chance of some rain next Thursday night/Friday morning when compared to the GFS, but that's about it. Dry pattern continues for the next 2 weeks. Probably only a few sprinkles this Sunday night/early Monday as the weak front passes.

[JulieC]

It just rained really hard here in Katy for about 5 minutes. Is that all the clouds from today can squeeze out?