Drought in Inland Kenedy County, Texas

Severe (D2) level drought expanded to most of inland Kenedy County on March 18th, and would further expand to all but a sliver of (southeast) inland Kenedy County on March 25. These conditions continuing until March 26th before heavy rains put a dent into the drought - with the change noted on April 1st.

Between March 10-17, relative humidity averaged around 20 percent during the afternoon. Prior to the rains, flash drought conditions were in full swing. Agricultural impacts were unknown, but dry rangeland extended into this region, though not quite as parched as locations in the Brush Country and mid/upper Rio Grande Valley.

Another week of extremely dry conditions between March 11-17, combined with periodic gusty winds and occasional heat spikes, worsened drought to Extreme (D3) across Starr, Jim Hogg, and Zapata Counties, and expanded Severe (D2) conditions to parts of all counties in Deep South Texas. Relative humidity averaged below 15 percent for the week leading up to March 18th for most of the region. Rangelands turned completely brittle and cattle herds continued to be culled as water shortages worsened.

Some good fortune smiled on the region toward the end of March, as a historic flood impacted much of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, with welcome but lesser rains across the Brush Country and Rio Grande Plains. While much of the rain was not completely absorbed by parched soil (due to runoff), the rains would reduce the drought footprint by April 1st.