Drought — Zapata, Texas

2023-10-10 to 2023-10-16 · Zapata, Texas

Event narrative

Severe (D2) Drought conditions replaced Extreme (D3) Drought conditions across all but far northern Zapata County, following widespread 1 to 1.5 inches, locally 2 inches, of rainfall associated with showers and thunderstorms along the season's first cold front during the late afternoon and evening of October 5th. These conditions would prevail until the October 17th update, as another 0.5 to more than 2 inches fell across the county late on October 10th and early on October 11th. Conditions would improve to Moderate (D1) with Abnormally Dry (D0) along the Webb County line near the Rio Grande.

Wider weather episode

Two areas of heavy rainfall associated with the season's first notable cold front dropped between 3 and 5 inches in portions of Cameron and Willacy County, and 1 to 2 or more inches in portions of Starr, Jim Hogg, and most of Zapata County during the afternoon and evening of October 5th. These rains, followed by a break in the searing heat, improved drought conditions in these areas - but Severe (D2) to Extreme (D3) Drought conditions continued, especially where the rains did not fall (Hidalgo and Brooks County).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1145195. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.