Drought in Southern Hidalgo County, Texas

Severe (D2) level drought expanded to cover all of southern Hidalgo County on March 18th, with these conditions continuing until March 26th before heavy rains put a notable dent into the drought. Between March 10-17, relative humidity averaged around 15 percent during the afternoon. Prior to the rains, flash drought conditions were in full swing. Dry rangeland/pastures were common during this period, and newly planted spring row crops were showing early-season stress with water shortages worsening.

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.