Societal Impacts on the State of Texas: March 2010 Report

Fires/Burn Bans

Even with above-normal rainfall in the Abilene area this year, fire is still a threat and the National Weather Service has issued several red flag warnings over West and Central Texas. Several fires are already being worked in Runnels and Coke counties and officials say that even with above normal rainfall, periods of high winds and low humidity keep the threat of accidental fires around.
Abilene Reporter-News, Garner Roberts, March 10, 2010

High winds and warmer temperatures have forced the Texas Forest Service to raise the wildfire threat level across the Big Country. Officials warn that high temperatures in the upper 80s and gusty winds are likely to create a fire danger and Callahan County has enacted a burn ban after a grass fire between Clyde and Baird burned 95 acres.
Abilene Reporter-News, Celinda Emison, March 29

A combination of strong winds, low humidity and warm temperatures all over the state forced the National Weather Service to issue red flag warnings. Winds were between 15 and 25 mph, with gusts up to 35 mph, and high temperatures in some areas topped 90 degrees.
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, March 30, 2010

A fire that burned about 200 acres of brush in Jones County was finally contained. The fire started as a small brush fire but strong winds kicked the blaze up and whipped the flames northward.
Abilene Reporter-News, Jared Fields and Emily Peters, March 30, 2010

The weather in the Abilene area gave firefighters a much needed break after three fires on the previous day. The "threat of fires was diminished with increased cloud cover, higher humidity, and a chance of rain moving in."
Abilene Reporter-News, Garner Roberts, March 31, 2010

Drought

Monthly Change in Drought Monitor Classification

Water Supply

Even though this past winter Texas was drenched with rain and snow, the state of Texas is reminding citizens to conserve water as we enter into the spring and summer. Officials are asking citizens to SmartScape, which is the planting of drought tolerant plants that require less water.
Pegasus News (Dallas-Fort Worth), March 4, 2010

The Texas Supreme Court is hearing a case that is challenging the power of the Edwards Aquifer Authority to impose pumping limits on landowners. Its establishment in 1993 was the result of the Endangered Species Act and bases pumping based on historical usage data.
San Antonio Express-News, March 6, 2010

The city of Frisco has implemented outdoor watering rules to coincide with the beginning of Daylight Savings time, recommending that outdoor watering be limited to two-days-per-week. The limitation becomes mandatory on July 1st and this restriction will last through the end of September.
Frisco Enterprise (Plano), March 22, 2010

The Fair Oaks Ranch City Council voted to extend once-per-week watering restrictions from just summertime to year round. Though recent rains have helped with water supplies, the recent drought reminded the voters about the importance of water conservation.
The Boerne Star, Dave Pasley, March 23, 2010

Lake Travis has officially come out of one of the worst droughts in history and is now at 100 percent capacity according to the Lower Colorado River Authority. The lake has reached more than 681 feet, with recent rains helping to raise it to normal levels.
KVUE (Austin), Jessica Vess, March 24, 2010

Road crews in Bandera County are finally back on the roads after a two year suspension of drawing water from creeks and rivers for road-paving use because of the drought has finally ended. According to the Bandera County Road and Bridge Superintendent crews will begin repaving about 22 miles of roads now that the suspension is lifted.
San Antonio Express-News, Zeke MacCormack, March 26, 2010

Agricultural Impacts

West Texas ranchers are enjoying that this winter has been the wettest winter in 25 years, which promises great things for spring open range lands. For the first time in many years, the Duck Creek that feeds into O.H. Ivie Reservoir is running and the reservoir is at 44 percent capacity.
San Angelo Standard-Times, Jerry Lackey, March 1, 2010

Unusually cold weather in Florida has many Texans concerned about a tomatoes shortage. Produce managers in Dallas say that citizens can expect prices to rise as tomatoes crops run low, leaving those like the owner of a Fort Worth Mexican Restaurant concerned about the shortage, since tomatoes are in almost all her recipes.
KDAF (Dallas-Fort Worth), Dan X. McGraw, March 4, 2010

After three straight years of cotton acreage and prices being on the decline, things are looking up, all because of changes in the weather pattern. Texas AgriLife professors say that the rainfall deficit going into September for some Texans was nearly 10 inches and the recent rain in the last five months has helped considerably. Professors also credit the cold weather at the start of 2010 for helping keep the pests at bay.
Texas Farm Bureau, Matt Felder, March 5, 2010

One of the coldest and wettest winters in recent years has caused farmers to delay some spring crop planting. Usually by the third week in February, farmers in Hillsboro have begun corn planting. But this year, the planting has been delayed several weeks because soil temperatures were not high enough for germination.
The Hillsboro Reporter, March 7, 2010

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in the Coastal Bend area say a lack of rainfall and below normal temperatures have slowed down the growing of pastures. In East Texas, 1.5 inches of rain was recorded followed by warmer weather and producers saw an increase in feral hog activity due to the wet weather.
Dallas Morning News, March 9, 2010

According to the High Plains Water District and USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, the recent winter precipitation has improved pre-plant soil conditions within the High Plains. Officials warn producers that because there was so much moisture this winter, they should check soil moisture conditions before planting any crops.
The Plainview Herald, March 13, 2010

In the Coastal Bend, warmer weather allowed fields to dry out and farmers were busy planting crops and putting down fertilizer. In East Texas, the soil was still very wet, which stopped farmers from fertilizing pastures. In Far West Texas, even with winds gusting up to 60 mph and a high wildfire danger, farmers were able to apply fertilizer and herbicide to crops.
KXAS (Dallas-Fort Worth), Ellen Goldberg, March 15, 2010

According to the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, wet fields once again prevented farmers and producers in Central Texas from entering fields and putting down fertilizer. However, the moisture did green up pastures and ended some of the supplemental feeding, while in West Texas, wind dried out soils and allowed workers to enter into the fields.
The Anahuac Progess, March 17, 2010

In the Panhandle, producers were waiting for fields to dry out from recent snowy conditions before being able to apply fertilizer and spray for weeds in fields. In the Coastal Bend, warmer days and nights raised soil temperatures and allowed producers to continue sorghum planting and to start cotton planting.
The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, March 21, 2010

Texas is in the infancy of a growing olive industry, as the state harvested 100 tons of olives and made 5,000 gallons of olive oil in 2007. Texas has plenty of land area, in addition to the water resources and climate, to greatly expand its olive industry in the future.
San Antonio Express-News, Elizabeth Castillo, March 24, 2010

Although it looks like wheat crops in Texas will be much better than last year, there have been some problems as spring started. Late season wheat growth was hurt by colder-than-usual weather and some wheat was not planted because of the wet fall.
Abilene Reporter-News, Jerry Lackey, March 25, 2010

In Central Texas, a freeze caused minor damage to vegetable crops, and in the Coastal Bend area, cool nights slowed the emergence of cotton and sorghum. In North Texas the weather ranged from snow to temperatures in the 70s to rain and thunderstorms, the latter of which prevented corn farmers from planting crops.
Dallas Morning News, March 30, 2010

Inclement Weather

Cold/Winter Weather

The 12 inches of snow that fell this winter during a large storm caused nearly 570,000 residents to be out of electricity. Some residents were out of power for up to ten days and the Oncor electric company explains that most of the power outages were due to trees that had been knocked down.
WFAA (Dallas-Fort Worth), Sheley Slater, March 3, 2010

Spring-like weather came to a quick end when near blizzard conditions in the Panhandle reduced visibility and forced residents back indoors. Some areas were expected to get up to 4 inches of snow as the National Weather Service was forced to put the area under a Winter Storm watch.
Amarillo Globe-New, Janelle Stecklein, March 19, 2010

The first day of spring brought cold weather with it, including parts of the Metroplex that received 6 to 8 inches of snow. Major snow-related problems were reported on bridges and overpasses.
KTXA (Dallas-Fort Worth), March 20, 2010

On the first day of spring several counties in Texas received snow, with accumulation mostly on grassy areas, elevated surfaces, and vehicles. 5.4 inches of snow fell in Kaufman County, 4.5 inches fell in Hopkins County, and 4 inches fell in Hunt County.
KLTV (Tyler), Michael Hetrick, March 22, 2010

The National Weather Service declared this past North Texas' winter as the second snowiest winter on record having received 17.1 inches of snow this season, which ranks behind the 1977-1978 season. In addition, snow on the first day of spring brought 1.3 inches of snow to the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
The Star-Telegram (Fort Worth), March 22, 2010

The first day of spring brought seven inches of snow to Princeton, leaving local dogs not even wanting to go outside. Residents in Princeton continue to live by the saying, "If you do not like the weather, just wait a few minutes; it'll change."
WFAA (Dallas-Fort Worth), March 24, 2010

According to the National Weather Service, Dallas is getting close to breaking the record for consecutive days not reaching 80 degrees. The high temperature has not reach 80 degrees since October 20th, 157 straight days, just a little over a week short of the 91-year old record.
Dallas Morning News, Jana J. Martin, March 26, 2010

Flooding/Rainfall

All the recent rain has pushed Lake Grapevine 6 feet above normal and has also caused other problems. With lake levels being this high, many people are drawn to the waters, and unfortunately several children drowned to death last year.
KDAF (Dallas-Fort Worth), Shana Franklin, March 7, 2010

The National Weather Service, along with the Texas Division of Emergency Management, is preparing the city of Austin for flooding by providing a Flood Safety Awareness Week. Residents were told that Texas weather is unpredictable and that more than two-thirds of drowning in Texas happened because of flash floods
KOSA (Odessa), March 15, 2010

With Central Texas already being so saturated, the city of Austin is repairing two low water crossings to be sure residents will be safe from future floods. The first under construction is Bull Creek Park crossing, where less than an inch of rain in an hour would flow over the top of the crossing.
KVUE (Austin), Noelle Newton, March 15, 2010

Fort Worth city officials say they will be fixing the unruly Fort Worth Creek after the Lebow Channel just north of the creek has killed five people since 1980. The construction includes building new bridges, closing low water crossings, and widening the channel.
WFAA (Dallas-Fort Worth), Jim Douglas, March 15, 2010

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there is an above-normal chance of flooding for more than a third of the United States this spring. The area at risk includes all of Texas except for the Panhandle and Low Rolling Plains after El Niño has left areas soggier than usual.
Austin American-Statesman, March 16, 2010

City officials in Abilene are watching Lake Abilene, which is now five feet below flood stage and could over fill with any large amount of rainfall. Although flooding is a downside to wetter weather, more rain could help lift the city of Abilene's water restrictions that are currently in place.
Abilene Reporter-News, Celinda Emison, March 16, 2010

March 18 – Fall and winter rains have forecasters believing that the Guadalupe River and surrounding areas could see major flooding. Thunderstorms during an El Nino period tend to produce more rain in a shorter period and forecasters say that there is a 40 to 50 percent chance of above-normal rainfall on the lower Guadalupe this spring.
The Victoria Advocate, David Tewes, March 18, 2010

Heat

Residents in San Angelo learned how unpredictable Texas weather can be firsthand on the 14th as the recorded high temperature was 87 degrees, the hottest temperature for the United States. The very next day a cold front pushed through with 0.09 inches of rain at the Mathis Field and temperatures remaining in the 40s for most of the day.
San Antonio Standard-Times, Justin Zamudio, March 15, 2010

Winter might finally be gone from North Texas, as for the first time since October 20th, the temperature at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport reached 80 degrees. This officially ended the second-longest stretch of under-80 degree high temperatures since the winter of 1918-1919.
The Star-Telegram (Fort Worth), March 30, 2010

Hurricanes/Tropics

Two antique dealers who had their business damaged by Hurricane Ike have reopened their doors after moving to San Angelo. When Ike hit, there was 4 feet of water in their shop and many of the antiques were floating in the water.
San Antonio Express-News, Becca Nelson Sankey, March 7, 2010

A year and a half after Hurricane Ike hit the coast of Texas, federal, state, county, and city officials are reaching out and helping local communities in Texas City by offsetting the cost of debris removal and repairs to damaged infrastructure.
The Anahuac Progess, March 17, 2010

Nearly 500 families are still living in Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) housing units a year-and-a-half after Hurricane Ike destroyed their homes, down from the 3,700 trailers in use just after the storm. The FEMA disaster housing program ends July 9th, and as of April 1st, residents of the trailers will be expected to pay a monthly rent.
The Beaumont Enterprise, March 19, 2010

A year and a half after Hurricane Ike damaged the sewer and water systems of Bermuda Beach Drive, the city of Galveston has still not made necessary repairs. Residents of the area are angered that the city has not rebuilt the beach-front road that runs parallel to the Gulf of Mexico and holds area water and sewer pipes.
Galveston County Daily news, Rhiannon Meyers, March 20, 2010

The Weather Research Center in Houston predicts that Texas has a 60 percent chance that a tropical storm or hurricane will make landfall during the 2010 hurricane season. Overall, the Center believes that there will be about 25 hurricane days and 57 tropical storm days in the Atlantic basin.
The Houston Business Journal, March 26, 2010

A 36-unit apartment complex called the Reef on Galveston Island, which has been an eyesore since being severely damaged by Hurricane Ike more than a year and a half ago, will finally be repaired after coming under new ownership.
Galveston County Daily News, Laura Elder, March 30, 2010

Severe Weather

Severe weather has been no stranger to the state of Texas this winter and many people are wondering what kind of severe weather they can expect this spring. The National Weather Service in Fort Worth will be answering questions about the 2010 severe weather season on March 15 at the North Central Texas College as part of the Skywarn severe weather program.
The Graham Leader, March 2, 2010

North Texas EMS operators are using weather maps to help predict where the most 9-1-1 calls will come from during bad weather. According to officials, the maps help improve ambulance time and allow managers to place ambulances in better spots to respond to emergencies.
KDAF (Dallas-Fort Worth), Monique Bird, March 2, 2010

The Victoria Police Department and the Office for Emergency Management are reminding people to call power companies, and not 9-1-1, to report power outages. El Nino is projected to bring an above normal amount of severe weather to the area this spring, which means power outages will be more likely.
The Victoria Advocate, March 5, 2010

This spring it is expected that Central Texas will be cooler, wetter, and much stormier thanks to El Nino, which also leads to above-normal server weather for south central United States.
Temple Daily News, March 7, 2010

Winds up to 60 mph hit the El Paso Borderland and caught residents off guard. Trees and flags could be seen swaying in the wind and city officials reminded residents to drive carefully, because large gusts could topple their vehicle at any moment.
KFOX (El Paso), March 8, 2010

Just weeks after being hit by a large snow storm, North Texas was hit by its first round of severe weather this season. The line of storms swept through the area during the afternoon and brought wind gusts up to 60 mph.
Times Record News (Wichita Falls), Lynn Walker, March 9, 2010

Winds between 40 and 50 mph ripped through the El Paso area and brought cold weather in their wake. The winds knocked down a backyard metal patio in Central El Paso, and in Horizon City, the winds knocked down signs and kicked up a significant amount of debris.
KVIA (El Paso), March 10, 2010

As spring gets closer and the threat of severe weather increases, local schools in Dallas are preparing. The schools, along with emergency responders and the Dallas Red Cross, did drills and tabletop exercises to prepare for any scenario that might occur due to upcoming, inclement spring weather.
KTXA (Dallas-Fort Worth), March 13, 2010

With five tornadoes already confirmed in Northeast Texas since January 20th, the National Weather Service (NWS) in Fort Worth is helping citizen prepare for severe weather season. The NWS will hold a "Last Chance" Skywarn conference to discuss thunderstorm formation, severe weather production, and features associated with severe thunderstorms.
The Star-Telegram (Fort Worth), March 23, 2010

A severe thunderstorm watch was issued for all of North Texas as a line of thunderstorms passed through the area. According to an NBC meteorologist, nickel-sixed hail fell near Bridgeport and Decatur and strong winds and rain accompanied the line of showers and thunderstorms.
KXAS (Dallas-Fort Worth), Frank Heinz, March 25, 2010

Fire fighters in El Paso responded to 39 wind-related calls in one day, including five brush fires, downed wires, downed electric poles, debris on roads and roof damage. Emergency officials reminded the public that high winds can cause vehicles to leave roadways and that blowing dust can lower visibility.
KFOX (El Paso), March 27, 2010

The devastating Fort Worth tornado that changed the face of the downtown area happened exactly 10 years ago and caused $450 million in damage. However, the forced movement of tenants from the towering Bank One Tower that was damaged actually served to spur development of other downtown areas.
Dallas Morning News, Michael E. Young, March 28, 2010

Other Climate Impacts

Academics/Athletics

High school softball and baseball games around the state were forced to be postponed because of rain and wet field conditions.
Abilene Reporter-News, March 1, 2010

The school superintendent in San Angelo recently approved a revision of the spring semester in wake of recent snow storms. The superintendent, along with the school board, decided that students do not have to make up the snow day they were given.
San Angelo Standard-Times, March 8, 2010

The Dickinson versus Santa Fe baseball game has been postponed twice because of weather. The first time the game was postponed was due to wet field conditions from earlier rains and this time around, fog was so dense that visibility from home plate was only about 10 yards beyond the infield dirt.
Galveston County Daily News, Evan Mohl, March 12, 2010

Inclement weather led to the West Texas A&M softball team postponing their game against Texas A&M-Kingsville, with the three game series scheduled to start two days later.
Amarillo Globe-News, Lance Lahnert, March 19, 2010

For the second straight season, the Gulf Coast Volleyball Association had to delay its season opening tournament because of weather related events. Last year the group had to wait for damages caused by Hurricane Ike to be repaired and this year the group had to postpone the game because of rain and wind.
Galveston County Daily News, Joshua Buckley,March 21, 2010

Recent rains and winter snows that left the past winter as one of the snowiest winters in history has delayed the opening of a new school in Keller ISD. Construction of the new Timberview Middle school is behind schedule and has left parents very unhappy, as other school construction in the area has stayed on schedule.
WFAA (Dallas-Fort Worth), Casey Norton, March 25, 2010

A cold snap forced the cancellation of the Horned Frog Invitational, which left many of the state's runners with nowhere to practice and no chance to lower their times. Coaches and athletes said that they realize cold weather is part of the game in track, but were shocked to see it occur so late in March.
The Star-Telegram (Fort Worth), March 25, 2010

Women track members who attended the two-day Texas Southern University Relay were only able to run one day. Downpours forced event officials to cancel the first day of races, leaving runners only one day to lower their times.
The Rice Thresher (Rich University), Natalie Clericuzio, March 25, 2010

Animals/Aquatic Life

Fire Fighters were called to a home in Santa Fe, Texas to rescue a duck stuck in a chimney. Fire Fighters believe the duck fell into the chimney, which was missing a roof covering due to the strong winds of Hurricane Ike.
KVE (Austin), Chris Paschenko, March 4, 2010

Red ants in the Kingsville area are out and about and the surge in fire ant activity is because of the recent weather. Last year, the unusually hot and dry weather kept the ants below the soil surface where it was cooler, but this is not the case this year. Officials say to treat individual mounds with a fast acting granular insecticide to help control the ants.
Kingsville Record and Bishop News, John Ford, March 7, 2010

This year mosquitoes are going to be out with vengeance according to the Assistant Director of Environmental Health for Dallas County. All the wet weather in North Texas has created perfect breeding grounds for the mosquitoes, but there is some good news as it appears this season's breed is not disease-carrying.
KDAF (Dallas-Fort Worth), Vanessa Brown, March 11, 2010

Frisco animal control officers have seen an increase in the call volume as the weather has warmed up and brought more wildlife such as coyotes closer to homes. Residents are warned that if they see any wildlife to not run off, shoot at, or try to trap the animal, but rather to just call the police department.
Frisco Enterprise (Plano), March 11, 2010

A conservation group called the Aransas Project filed a lawsuit that blames Texas environmental regulators for the recent, record die-off of the whooping crane. The suit claims that the state allowed too much water to be drawn from the whooping crane habitat during the recent drought.
Dallas Morning News, Associated Press, March 15, 2010

The whooping crane is struggling to survive in Texas and the droughts of last year can be given at least some of the blame. The drought from winter decreased the number of blue crabs along the coast of Texas which is the main staple of the whooping crane diet.
The Victoria Advocate, Ray Kirkwood, March 17, 2010

An Orange County resident says that crawfish season is starting slow for his business as low temperatures have kept the crawfish from moving much and making harvesting very difficult. As the weather warms he expects to see more crawfish become ready for harvest and hopes that a decrease in prices will follow.
The Record (Orange), March 18, 2010

This year's fall and spring rains have helped make conditions favorable for increased bee activity in Texas. This concern has led to a Texas AgriLife Extension Service advisory to bee-proof homes by filling in potential nesting sites such as tree cavities and holes in outside walls.
The Kingsville Record and Bishop News, John Ford, March 28, 2010

The weather is the main culprit for the massive absence of Monarch butterflies at the Zilker Garden Festival in Austin. Their growth in the northern US last summer was low because of abnormally cold and rainy weather and torrential February rains in Mexico were to blame for the low numbers.
YNN Austin, Chie Saito, March 28, 2010

Climate/Environment

Fast moving winds associated with a dryline and surface low pressure forced the Texas Tech Air Quality Research Unit to place Wichita Falls under an Orange Alert. The alert meant that people who were sensitive to dust and pollen should stay indoors, and additionally, the area was placed under a Red Flag warning.
Times Record News (Wichita Falls), Lynn Walker, March 10, 2010

This year, the recipient of the Environmental Excellence Award was awarded in the Amarillo area, and is the highest honor a Texas research project can receive. According to officials at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Amarillo deals with emissions from feed lots and blowing dust unlike bigger cities that are concerned with auto emissions.
KWES (Midland), Ryan Cody, March 26, 2010

Construction/Repairs

The Caprock Plains Wind Energy Association will host its first Wind Energy Expo share the benefits, particularly the economic benefits, of wind energy in the South Plains to the general public. The meeting will allow the public to ask specific questions from the 25 wind-related companies in attendance.
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Alyssa Dizon, March 3, 2010

Dana Peak Park was reopened after the US Corps of Engineers repaired damages caused by the Central Texas flooding in 2007. The park was completely submerged by water at the height of the flooding, which prompted the closing of a park that saw more than 3 million visitors in 2006.
KXXV (Waco), Louis Ojeda, March 5, 2010

Roofers in El Paso are very busy because of all the windy weather, leaving a local construction manager very busy with the thousands and thousands of roofs that need to be repaired because of the 65 mph winds that have been hitting the city. Residents can use roof cement to temporarily fix loose shingles before contractors come and fix them.
KFOX (El Paso), March 27, 2010

Construction

The city of Dallas has decided to extend its storm debris pick up until April 10th, with city workers working overtime and Saturdays to ensure all the debris is cleaned up. After the snow storm that hit Dallas on February 11 and 12 there has been an increase of debris that need to be picked up by sanitation workers.
Pegasus News (Dallas-Fort Worth), March 8, 2010

Final construction on a 20-story-high-rise in San Antonio has been delayed because of inclement weather. Construction officials say the delay will no be particularly lengthy and that the high-rise should be complete in time for a June move-in.
San Antonio Express-News, Jason Buch, March 11, 2010

Construction on the Texas A&M campus seems to be everywhere with five projects starting soon and the Memorial Student Center with more than two years of construction ahead of it. The Military Walk project is underway but according to officials, the cold-season rains in College Station have delayed the Military Walk project.
The Battalion (Texas A&M University), Matt Woolbright, March 23, 2010

Economics

Though her son and some neighbors saw decreases in their electric bills following the installation of "smart meters", an Arlington woman is shocked at how high her electric bills have been. There has been a great debate to as to "weather" or not the higher bills are the result of the extreme cold this winter or the new technology.
Dallas Morning news, March 6, 2010

Texas has been slow to spend the $327 million it received from the Department of Energy to help weatherize the homes of the elderly and low-income families. Some are worried that the money will not be spent by the March 2012 deadline, with a cap of $6,500 per household.
Dallas Morning News, Randy Lee Loftis, March 31, 2010

Homes/Gardening/Trees

East Texas can expect a sea of blue when driving down the highways. Agriculture experts say that all the recent rainfall in addition to two years of drought has really helped the bluebonnets germinate, and experts expect this bluebonnet season to be the best season since 2007.
Dallas Morning News, Eric Aasen, March 1, 2010

The snow has all melted away but the debris from this winter's storms is still visible in many parts of the state. In Southlake, Colleyville, and Grapevine, residents are still in need of debris pickup. Nearly 208 tons of debris has been collected in Southlake so far and officials say a good amount still remains on the ground in neighborhoods.
The Star-Telegram (Fort Worth), March 2, 2010

All the wet weather has set up the perfect scenario for an abundance of wildflowers this season. Experts say that the 16.33 inches of rain that North Texas received from September to November has helped the wildflowers germinate. Officials also say that picking the flowers is legal, but recommend not overdoing it so that everyone can enjoy the flowers.
The Star-Telegram (Fort Worth), Susan McFarland, March 4, 2010

Allergy suffers are expected to have a bad season this year and experts say that allergy season is coming to Central Texas earlier than normal this year and could be the worst season in six years. Allergists blame this on all the recent rains that have caused plants to grow big and pollinate early.
KXXV (Waco), Henry Rosoff, March 4, 2010

This upcoming spring is expected to be a "knockout" wildflower season around Central Texas and one of the best in a number of years. This is following a year that one expert deemed the worst in the past 30 years for wildflowers due to drought, which has kept the numbers down the past several years.
Austin American-Statesman, Judy Wiley, March 6, 2010

Recent cold weather in North Texas has delayed the growing season, but that delay is over, and allergy suffers are being warned that this allergy season could be a very bad one. A heavy mixture of pollen is saturating North Texas as trees, flowers, trees and grasses begin to grow.
Dallas Morning News, Sherry Jacobson, March 12, 2010

The second week of April is likely to be when the first wildflowers will be seen according to a Texas botanist. The wildflower season in Texas this spring should be remarkable because of all the heavy rains brought by El Nino and because the state is now out of the drought that plagued many areas in 2009.
Herald-Zeitung (New Braunfels), March 12, 2010
San Antonio Express-News, March 12, 2010

Spring time in North Texas produces some of the highest levels of pollen in the entire country, causing misery for allergy sufferers. Though it is recommended to control your environment by ridding allergens, there is only so much that can be done before it becomes fruitless to clear the air of allergy triggers.
Dallas Morning News Daphne Howland, March 19, 2010

With so much wet weather hitting the Panhandle, foundations of homes are in danger of shifting since most homes in Amarillo sit on clay soil that is capable of shifting when oversaturated. Experts advise residents to put dirt next to the foundation to prevent movement.
KWES (Midland), March 19, 2010

Amarillo is expecting its last freeze of the winter and gardeners are preparing themselves and their plants. Nursery owners in the city reminded residents to completely wrap their fruit trees in cloths and to spray with a frost protector as cold weather approaches.
KVII (Amarillo), Billy Loftin, March 19, 2010

The Azaleas of Texas have finally bloomed after the usually cold and wet weather delayed blooming. Only a few of the blooms could be seen during the Azalea Trail event, and gardeners were worried that continued cooler weather during spring could hurt the plant.
Culture Map Houston, Clifford Pugh, March 21, 2010

The March 2010 allergies have been unlike any seen in five years and the Dallas area allergy forecast does not look to be any better. Allergists are calling this year's allergy season the "perfect storm" of pollen because all the cooler weather made trees hold back their pollen production, which is now in full swing as the weather has warmed.
WFAA (Dallas-Fort Worth), Janet St. James, March 31, 2010

Residents in Lockhart are glad El Nino is back as over the last two years, the drought has caused area residents to miss seeing the wildflowers. Residents boast that roads between Lockhart and La Grange and also between Bastrop and Delhi are some of the best for seeing wildflowers this year.
KVUE (Austin), March 31, 2010

Hunting/Fishing

Drought conditions over the past few years will mean a smaller number of turkeys will be available this season for hunting. According the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the drought has taken a serious toll on turkeys in the Hill Country and South Texas because there has not been enough moisture to keep eggs at proper temperatures and provide fresh green growth and insects.
Austin American-Statesman, Mike Leggett, March 13, 2010

Texas bass fishermen are excited about the possibility of a good season, and some impressive weights have already been recorded since the beginning of the year.
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Will Leschper, March 14, 2010

Expectations for this spring's turkey season are only fair after back-to-back years of dry conditions negatively impacted nesting success across much of Texas. However, don't expect the less than ideal outlook to scare turkey hunters away. On a bright note, the wet weather of 2007 produced a good crop of turkeys that could result in above normal breeding activity this year with better conditions and would bode well for future hunting seasons.
San Marcos Daily Record, Jim Darnell, March 18, 2010

A Fort Worth man's body was finally recovered from Hill County Lake following delays due to cold weather and high winds. Officials believe the man drowned after his boat capsized on the water while he was fishing.
The Star-Telegram (Fort Worth), March 23, 2010

Turkey hunting season begins very soon and the crop of turkeys is heavily dependent on how the drought affected the hatching and nesting of young turkeys. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists say that an area of West Central Texas between I-10 and I-20 will be one of the highest turkey densities in the state.
Lubock Avalanche-Journal, Will Leschper, March 28, 2010

Recreation/Leisure

The 82nd Annual Zilker Kite Festival had to be rescheduled for March 14th because of rain chances. Event organizers said that the rain chances were too high to launch kites and felt they would have a better festival if it was rescheduled. The rescheduled event drew a huge crowd as the weather was perfect and made for a successful festival despite the delay.
Austin American-Statesman, March 7, 2010

For the past several years, the Seguin Gazette Enterprise Wildflower Photo Contest has been cancelled due to drought conditions and a lack of wildflowers. However, because of all the wet weather this year, the contest is back on and the first place winner will be on the front page of the Mother's Day edition of the newspaper.
Seguin Gazette, March 12, 2010

More than 30,000 visitors attended the Sweetwater Jaycees' World's Largest Rattlesnake Round-Up and organizers say the beautiful weather was a big reason for the large turnout. The recent cold weather made it more difficult for rattlesnake hunters, as the total weight of rattlesnakes turned in was only about half of that turned in last year.
Abilene Reporter-News, Celinda Emison, March 14, 2010

After rain and wet weather caused delays, the PK Speedway at Possum Kingdom Lake is officially open for business. The PK Speedway and Family Fun Center offers entertainment for all ages and includes a go kart track, arcade games, and a putt-putt golf course.
Mineral Wells Index, Libby Cluett, March 16, 2010

The turnout for Spring Break at South Padre Island was expected to be the largest in five years, and the South Padre Island Convention and Visitors Bureau gave much of the credit to the nice weather, in addition to warnings from the government to stray away from competing destinations in Mexico.
San Antonio Express-News, Lynn Brezosky17, 2010, March

Organizers still expected to see great crowds for the annual Nacogdoches Azalea Trail despite poor weather and late blooming due to a colder than normal winter. The trail is the largest draw of the year that brings visitors into Nacogdoches, the oldest town in Texas.
KTRE (Nacogdodges), Holley Nees, March 19, 2010

In Tyler, downpours drenched many local events including the Azalea Trail event, the Arts and Crafts Fair, and the Tyler Rotary Chili Cook-Off. Even though it was raining heavily, vendors and patrons attended the events, including 20 of the 30 expected vendors.
KLTV (Tyler), Sara Story, March 21, 2010

The student recreation leisure pool opened for the warm weather season at Texas Tech University and will gradually increase its hours as the weather warms up.
The Daily Toreador (Texas Tech University), March 28, 2010

Roads/Traffic/Travel

Recent inclement weather in North Texas has caused several landslides, which are occurring on highways, streets and fields. The cause of the soil shifting and sliding is all the recent moisture, and in Tarrant County, the Texas Department of Transportation is monitoring three major landslides and several smaller ones.
KDAF (Dallas-Fort Worth), Dan X. McGraw, March 1, 2010

Rain in Dallas has caused more damage to already-damaged North Texas highways and city officials say that there are several mudslides around the area that cannot be fixed until the summer. Recent rains are pushing the mudslides further downhill, leaving city officials concerned about Interstate-30.
WFAA (Dallas-Fort Worth), Jonathan Betz, March 9, 2010

Police in Amarillo say that speed, foggy weather, and wet roads were the reasons the driver of a car was seriously injured in a crash.
Amarillo Globe-News, Joe Gamm, March 9, 2010

Blowing dust force drivers in Martin County to use extra caution when traveling. The low visibility was on State Highway 176, State Highway 137, and almost all Farm-to-Market roads. County officials reminded drivers to slow down and pull over to the shoulder when visibility gets too low to drive.
KOSA (Odessa), March 10, 2010

Snow on the first day of spring caused an accident that killed one person and closed down Interstate 30 in the Dallas/Fort Worth area for eight hours. Officials say that icy roads led to the accident that involved five cars and two 18-wheelers after nearly 6 inches of snow fell in parts of Collin County.
Dallas Morning News, March 21, 2010

A Pflugerville man was killed after his car hit a block of ice and turned over according to officials with the Texas Department of Public Safety. A winter storm in North Texas left many cars and trucks covered in ice, and as they began to travel on I-35, the ice blocks fell from their trucks and were left on the roads.
The Llano News, March 24, 2010