Burn Bans
Drought
Monthly Change in Drought Monitor Classification
October 1 – El Niño is expected to bring an increase in rainfall to the San Antonio, which would be good news to the extreme drought that has gripped the area for all of 2009. However, the forecasted precipitation is based on probabilities, and there is some worry for the San Antonio Water Systems if the forecast does not pan out as expected.
October 3 – In Nacogdoches the month of September brought nearly twice the amount of precipitation that fell in August. The 2.82 inches of September rain kept the county out of the drought that is affecting much of the state, but Lake Nacogdoches is still more than three feet below normal.
October 8 – The release of the Federal Drought Report indicates that the rains that have fallen over Texas recently have helped relieve some of the counties hit hardest by the extreme drought.
October 10 – Although the Associated Press is still reporting that about 6.8 percent of Texas is still classified under the most extreme drought, Bell County has seen some relief recently. Since the beginning of August, parts of the Bell County have seen more than 12 inches of rain. Some areas have picked up nearly seven inches in the first ten days of October alone.
October 11 – Scientists are hopeful the tree ring records from Central Texas will help chart patterns of rainfall and drought back to 16th century. The severity of the 1950s drought will be compared to those before records were kept, because most water resource planners use the 1950s drought as a benchmark for the worst case scenario.
October 16 – The latest United States Drought Monitor reflected the positive effects recent rainfall has had in Hays County as the "Exceptional Drought" classification was lifted this week. San Marcos has received over 10 inches of rain since late August, streamflows are almost back to normal levels, and the Edwards Aquifer has seen a significant increase in its water level. Recent rainfall has also benefitted New Braunfels.
October 23 – Allergy sufferers in the Austin area that normally suffer from ragweed pollen have gotten a break this year after the severe summer drought killed off many of the plants. However, those suffering from cedar allergies may be in for a rough winter because of the recent rainfall and expectation of a wet winter.
October 30 – The cotton crop in the Low Rolling Plains was down this year, but for the first time in many years, losses are exclusively from other factors other than the boll weevil. The pest caused more the $200 million in damages annually as recently as the 1990s, but this year's loss in overall cotton yield is being blamed on drought.
Fires
October 31 – A volunteer fire fighter in Howard County believes that the months of November and December could be busy months for his department after the first hard freeze. All of the vegetation springing up from rainfall in the past month will die and leave a high fuel supply for any downed electrical lines and other fire sources.
Water Supply
October 2 – Columnist Ashley Sanchez says that pictures cannot do justice when describing the emptiness of Lake Travis compared to its usual vastness when filled to capacity. Lakes Travis and Buchanan, supplying much of Central Texas with its water supply, is only 39% full.
October 3 – The city of Mart, already dealing with a shrinking revenue base, has decided not to spend the $1 million needed to fix Battle Lake Dam. Because it is not considered crucial for flood prevention and is not a source of public drinking water, the state did not offer to help foot the bill after the dam collapsed in May.
October 8 – Despite all the rain in the Austin-San Antonio area, the stored water that is available to Central Texas customers has not improved. The lack of improvement means that municipal, industrial, and agricultural users of the Lower Colorado River Authority will be facing even tougher water restrictions.
October 10 – The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) has announced that the water supplies to rice farmers may be severely curtailed next year. LCRA provides irrigation to 350 farmers and can legally discontinue or severely restrict water supplies if certain conditions are met. Rice farmers in attendance at an agricultural luncheon were stunned by the news of pending restrictions.
October 17 – Cow Creek Groundwater District board members voted to reduce the current drought restrictions from Stage 5 to Stage 4, allowing residents to water their lawns for the first time since June 2008.
October 18 – Thousands of Texas youngsters have taken part in a two-week water conservation program with cartoon character Major Rivers and his horse, Aquifer. It is estimated that 10 million gallons of water were conserved last year because of the program.
October 20 – Water from the Colorado River feeding the lower basin counties of Wharton, Colorado and Matagorda might be curtailed in the near future. Lower Colorado River Authority authorities say that the lake levels might soon fall below a trigger point that would force them to cut off water to downstream farmers.
October 25 – About 70 rice farmers, along with elected officials and business people having a stake in the rice industry got two days of attention from the LCRA board of directors meeting in Matagorda Tuesday and Wednesday. The meeting was held because Lakes Buchanan and Travis were below the triggering point for curtailing interruptible irrigation to rice farmers.
October 25 – A pipeline carrying recycled wastewater to golf courses and others will be built starting in February using a $22 million federal grant and should be up and running by the end of next year. The use of recycled water is common practice in Florida and California and would help ease the burden placed on water supplies during a drought.
Agricultural Impacts
October 5 – Although Texas has seen an improvement in the rain situation from the summer, the effects of the drought are still being felt all over the state. Producers affected are encouraged to sign up for the Livestock Forage Program focusing on grazing crops or the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program focused on row crops.
October 7 – The Texas Crop Report indicates that the recent rains throughout Texas have helped grasses grow and winter crops establish themselves in North Texas. In the Rolling Plains, the wet weather has helped stimulate the growth of cool-season grasses and winter wheat.
October 7 – Even with the devastating drought across Texas this year's corn crops across much of West Central Texas were deemed outstanding. Though it takes a great deal of investment, farmers credit new technologies for the crop's ability to withstand extreme dryness and heat.
October 7 – Dairy farmers have not been immune to the tough economic times or the severe drought that plagued much of Texas. Thousands of dairy cows will disappear as many dairy producers will either go out of business or participate in the national herd reduction program.
October 9 – The late season rains and cooler temperatures that did nothing for the summer cotton crops across the High Plains have enhanced the corn crop. The region avoided the disastrous drought plaguing the rest of the state, and those fortunate enough to avoid major hailstorms produced an excellent corn crop yield.
October 10 – West Texas wineries are still doing good business despite a far less than ideal grape crop this year. Harvesting and processing of the grapes was scaled back this year in comparison to years past because of hail damage and late frosts.
October 12 – The director of the National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment presented information on the effects of climate change on Texas Agriculture at the South Texas Farm and Ranch Show. Emphasized was the need to plan ahead for both the direct and indirect consequences of a changing Texas environment.
October 12 – The last month in Victoria County has brought anywhere from 7-14 inches of much needed rainfall and greened up the pastures in Victoria County. However, the wetter weather has brought a reemergence of unwanted armyworms, which can consume massive amounts of forage in just a few days.
October 13 – The local cotton crop in the greater Lubbock area is forecasted to be smaller than originally anticipated. The forecast, originating from the United States Agriculture Department, is expected to be around 3.8 million bales rather than the 4 million plus bales originally anticipated.
October 15 – The 31 counties across the Central and North Rolling Plains, known as Big Country, never recovered from early season drought, making for a rough cotton harvest over the next few weeks. Irrigated cotton is expected to do well, but much of the 90% of the Big Country cotton crop that relies solely on rainfall burned up in the searing summer heat.
October 17 – Texas is still expected to have a decent year for the pecan crop, despite recent rains delaying their harvest. This year's crop is projected to top 60 million pounds, more than doubling the 2008 crop, though the extreme summer drought left a large percentage of the crop undesirable.
October 25 – Some peanut farmers in West Texas say that are expecting harvest from average to good this season due to the rain in early August. However, others are reporting that their crops will not be as good because they were damaged by hail this year.
October 25 – The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension program reported that the South Plains soil moisture was short to adequate which lead to some field drying out. In the Panhandle, wet and wintery weather has slowed harvest and the heavy rains in East Texas led to delayed planting of winter pastures.
October 28 – The cooler than normal weather during October has slowed the destruction to pastures and small grain fields caused by armyworms, but there are still areas where the pests remain a problem. An expert with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension explains that a hard freeze is the only sure way to completely stop armyworms.
Inclement Weather
Cold
October 2 – Several cities in the Panhandle of Texas saw temperatures dip to record lows, and in some cases, below freezing. The cold spot was Dimmit, where the mercury dipped to 28 degrees, which was in stark contrast to the high temperature of 95 degrees two days earlier in nearby Plainview.
October 19 – Tenants of a Lubbock apartment complex have been without hot water or heat for the past month after a car crash disabled the gas line going to six of the buildings.
Flooding
October 6 – The heavy rainfall over the past week has forced forecasters at the National Weather Service to put out a flood warning for the Sabine River for the past two days. The river was already 18.3 feet high and is expect to rise to nearly 27 feet by the end of Tuesday.
October 6 – A city council meeting in Leon Valley (Bexar County) was attended by dozens of homeowners who shared their views on a proposed flood control plan that would force roughly 30 families out of their homes. The reaction was split between acceptance and opposition by the families who would be forced out of their homes.
October 14 – Flooding rains have left much of East Texas underwater, with several roads and low-lying areas under water. Crews from the Texas Department of Transportation worked around the clock to monitor roads, and several schools were closed or delayed.
October 17 – New Braunfels has seen numerous floods over the years that have caused millions of dollars in damage. The city is vulnerable to flooding because of the region's rocky soil and its location between the Dry Comal and Guadalupe River Basins, which conspire to funnel heavy rainfall downstream through New Braunfels.
October 19 – The newly established Texas State International Flash Flood Laboratory met in Austin to discuss the need for more research focusing specifically on flash floods. The laboratory is located in Central Texas, considered to be the flash flood capital of Texas, with a goal of saving lives by doing research and disseminating information on flash floods.
October 20 – Texas Department of Transportation workers are finally finished clearing a large logjam that was caused by more than a foot of rain falling on September 12. The rain fell upstream in the Salado Creek watershed and caused authorities to close the FM 1915 bridge in eastern Milam County.
October 22 – The city of Fort Worth received heavy rainfall, which caused several sewer pipes to overflow after the rainwater entered the pipes.
October 22 – Flash flooding claimed the life of a 47-year old woman near Burnet after attempting to cross a low-water crossing in a Jeep. The remnants of Tropical Storm Rick provided moisture for thunderstorms that dropped more than 9 inches of precipitation.
October 22 – A family was trapped in their Highland Lakes home because of flooding rains with little chance to escape before neighbors came to their rescue. Rescuers couldn't reach the family because of a low-water crossing being flooded, leading a brave neighbor to trudge through thigh-high water to help in escaping rising water.
October 22 – An overabundance of rainfall has closed parts of Lake Waco, with the water level expected to rise up to eight feet the next several days according to the Army Corps of Engineers.
October 26 – In Central Texas, several families were trapped in their homes after heavy rains pounded the area. Other Central Texas residents were without power after the storm crossed the state, and according to Austin City officials, several rail systems and roads were closed.
October 28 – Recent rains have caused the Sabine River to flood roads and fields for miles near the Gladewater Bridge. In Gregg County, some roads were impassable, with cars and trucks submerged under water and with water creeping up to the airport runway.
October 29 – Texas Task Force 1 was placed on alert in advance of extremely heavy rainfall expected across eastern portions of the state. Six swift water rescue teams, along with helicopter rescue technicians, equipped with special equipment were on standby for deployment in cities needing flooding assistance.
October 30 – Heavy rainfall caused a number of sewer overflows in the city of Waco. Officials say the overflows have been contained but advised against swimming in area lakes, streams, and ponds until further notice.
Heat
October 5 – A Tarrant County woman who left her toddler inside an SUV all day while at work has been charged with a homicide. The incident occurred on September 3, a day when the high temperature reached 96 degrees.
Hurricanes
October 1 – At least four new lawsuits have been filed in Jefferson County against insurance companies over hurricane damage from hurricane Ike.
October 4 – Galveston's population has dropped about 20 percent since Hurricane Ike, putting the city well below the 50,000 mark to receive federal funding that supports repairs to the island. During the 2000 census the Galveston population was more than 57,000 people, while the post-Hurricane Ike population has dropped down to nearly 45,000 people.
October 11 – Though Hurricane Ike struck the Texas coastline more than a year ago, some homeowners have yet to receive housing assistance funds. Though hundreds of millions of dollars in grant money were set aside to assist homeowners back in February, no money to date has been spent from the federal funding.
October 15 – With the help of student researchers, the Northern Gulf Institute and the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies launched two weather balloons at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to monitor Tropical Storm Patricia.
October 15 – Data from Hurricane Katrina and four other hurricanes is being used by researchers from Texas A&M and Johns Hopkins to accurately predict how many outages will occur across a region as a hurricane is approaching. Variables included, but not limited to, in the outage assessment model are locations of previous outages, each area's power system, hurricane wind speeds, soil moisture, land use, and topography.
October 16 – The Texas Insurance Commissioner has denied a request to raise windstorm policy rates by 10 percent for residents along the coast. The requested increase was proposed in August, but was rejected because of the hardship felt by those who suffered through Hurricane Ike.
October 21 – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has launched a new project to help restore the large oyster reef in the Galveston Bay that was destroyed by Hurricane Ike. Six families, along with the department, are hanging mesh bags filled with oyster larvae to help rebuild the reef.
Severe Weather
October 2 – A powerful storm damaged a barn and shed in Prairie Valley, while also downing many trees and tearing the roof off a house. This same storm uprooted and damaged old-growth live oak trees and turned over an RV and several tents in Clifton.
October 4 – Organizers of the Bike MS: Valero Ride to the River had to cancel the second day of the bike race because of severe thunderstorms, which put the bikers at risk. Rain pounded riders for much of the first day of the event, with hundreds of participants opting to stay at home.
October 4 – The rain record set back in 1942 at the San Antonio International Airport was broken when more than 5 inches of rain fell. The rain accompanied a severe thunderstorm that caused flash flooding, power outages and several water rescues in the area.
October 4 – The massive amounts of rain that have fallen over San Antonio caused a roof of a business Northeast side of town to collapse.
October 5 – The National Weather Service announced that Guadalupe County received over 8 inches of rain in a 24 hour period, which was too much weight to bear for the roof of a local business. Reports estimate that nearly 6 to 12 inches of rain fell between San Antonio and New Braunfels, and east to Hallettsville.
October 9 – A storm that barreled through East Texas caused power outages, tore down trees, and even took roofs off some buildings. Damage was reported along a long stretch of Highway 80 from Mineola to Longview.
October 9 – A severe storm that hit Nacogdoches County caused power outages that left 5,000 customers without power according to Deep East Texas Electric Coop.
October 10 – A storm accompanying a cold front knocked out power in nearly 1,000 homes in Marshall County in addition to causing one minor injury. Several homes and businesses were damaged by the strong winds likely caused by a downburst, a phenomenon that is difficult to predict, can strike without warning, and produce hurricane force winds.
October 12 – Severe storms that ripped through East Texas the previous week brought a major scare to an Ore City family after a tree crashed on their roof. The tree fell early in the morning and left the family only one window to exit their mobile home, which was heavily damaged. A disaster relief fund has been set up to aid the family in restoring the place they had called home for only two months.
October 20 – Severe weather striking El Paso early in the week caused power outages and toppled several trees in the Westway area. Gusts up to 70 miles per hour were reported at El Paso International Airport.
October 26 – Residents of Celina awoke to tree branches knocked down after thunderstorms hit the area, and on Highway 380, hail made for dangerous driving conditions.
October 27 – Four people were killed in a small plane crash that was found in a muddy area of a ranch in Duval County that was only accessible by off road vehicles. According to authorities, the crash may have happened during the thunderstorms that moved through the state.
Other Climate Impacts
Academics/Athletics
October 26 – The first game of the Texas A&M baseball Fall World Series was cancelled due to heavy rain and will not be made up. Instead, the series will only consist of four games instead of the five originally scheduled.
October 26 – Flooding and heavy rains forced UTSA golf officials to cancel the first two rounds of the UTSA-hosted Alamo Invitation. Officials deemed the Briggs Ranch Golf Club unplayable, and following the cancellations, the invitation will only consist of one round.
October 29 – A scheduler for area soccer games in Plano says a series of storms has washed out more than 1,400 games since the middle of September. Because of the variety of uses for city fields, schedulers must balance keeping the fields in good condition with the demands placed on it by thousands of participants in various sports and leagues.
October 30 – A lack of dry days has delayed construction on several projects started by the Longview Independent School District intended to be finished by August 2010. The district was ahead of schedule when the school year started, but rainy weather over the last five weeks has left crews behind schedule in completing the construction of three new elementary schools, a middle school, and additions to three other buildings.
Air/Water Quality
October 1 – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposal that would place a limit on greenhouse gas emissions, which would affect a number of proposed coal-fired power plants in Texas. Under the proposal, these power plants would be required to install expensive new controls to limit the amount of carbon dioxide released from their smokestacks.
October 6 – Allergy sufferers are having a particularly troublesome fall in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, which has prompted the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America to list the Metroplex as the No. 13 "Most Challenging Place to Live with Fall Allergies."
October 12 – The owner of Inlet Protection Company located in Gonzales manufactures a device that keeps debris out of storm water drains, since much of the water flows back into rivers and streams. He is hoping that cities in Texas will adopt his product to replace sandbags as a means of keeping debris out of storm drains.
October 21 – 40 knot winds and 5 foot waves prevented vessels from starting clean up 18,000 gallons of fuel that were spilled in the Gulf of Mexico. The spill occurred after a crude oil tanker collided with a service vessel in rough seas about 50 miles southeast of Galveston.
Animals/Aquatic Life
October 2 – With all the rain in North Texas, mosquitoes are becoming a major problem. Dallas city officials say that at least 40 positive cases of the West Nile virus have been found already, with more expected to surface as long as a rainy pattern continues.
October 6 – After a dry summer the mild wet weather means more mosquitoes are out in Mudville, and they have been ambushing people, particularly at football games. According to Bell County extension agents the mosquitoes are expected to stick around until cooler and drier weather replaces the mild, humid conditions which have made insect repellent a valuable commodity.
October 13 – Recent rainfall has led to a marked increase in the number of fire ant mounds popping up from the ground in North Texas, as the ants will raise their mounds to keep above a rising water table. One owner of a pest control service says the fire ants are the worst he seen in over a decade.
October 13 – Scientists are becoming more optimistic about the outlook for the endangered Houston toads after recent heavy rains have helped to replenish the ponds and marshlands that make up their habitat. Only 300 of the toads remain wild from a population that was once estimated at 50,000 in South Central Texas.
October 14 – Giant salvinia was discovered in the Angelina River leaving Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials concerned about runoff from recent rainfall. The concern is that the infestation, arguably the most problematic aquatic vegetation according to experts, is drifting closer to the main portion of Sam Rayburn Reservoir.
October 18 – Scientists have been tracking butterfly migration from the United States to Mexico by assigning tags to monarchs who are identified by butterfly watchers. The director of Wildseed Farms, a butterfly house located in Fredericksburg, noticed that the butterflies curved around the area of Central Texas with exceptional drought conditions.
October 24 – Non-migratory birds change their eating habits in the Texas winter, switching from a diet consisting mostly of insects in the spring and summer to one consisting mainly of seeds and fruits. Experts suggest placing a variety of bird feed in your yard if looking to enhance the diversity of bird species visiting your yard.
October 29 – A Texas A&M entomologist says the number of fire ant mounds popping recently has been alarming, and the large number can be attributed to very wet weather recently.
Economics
October 14 – Residents in Victoria are concerned that electricity bills may remain higher than normal this winter since the seasonal outlook calls for below normals temperatures. After a summer of record setting heat in which air conditioning was costlier than normal, the winter forecast would cause heating bills to also be higher than usual.
October 16 – The snowbirds that call Texas home during the winter have return earlier than normal this year due to unseasonable cold in the Midwest. More than 60,000 Winter Texans temporarily move to Texas each year, contributing more than $600 million to local economies, though it is feared that many will remain in the cold this year due to the recession.
October 21 – Forecasters in Amarillo are predicting a wetter, cooler winter with a higher than average potential for storms bringing heavy snow. Despite this forecast, Excel Energy officials are predicating this winter could be more cost effective for customers, with the savings resulting from gas prices being substantially lower than last year.
October 27 – Roofers in the Dallas/Fort Worth area are swamped with work because of all the heavy rainfall in October. According to roofers, the roof systems cannot drain the water fast enough, so water builds up against chimneys causing leaks and water damage.
October 29 – Heating companies in the El Paso area are staying busy thanks to recent weather that has brought cold, snow, and wind, and the expectation is to stay busy through the rest of the winter season.
Homes/Gardening/Trees
October 8 – The Lufkin Texas Forest Service are now dealing with a pine beetle infestation on private and federal properties due to the extreme dry weather across Texas this summer. These pests will not infect healthy trees, so it is recommended to keep trees watered and make sure they receive plenty of nutrients.
October 8 – The maple trees in Lost Maples State Natural area have been through their roughest year since records have been kept due to the extreme heat and lack of rainfall this summer. This has put the trees, particularly the smaller ones, under a large amount of stress, which has caused many to change about six weeks ahead of schedule.
October 11 – Five Texas cities rank in the Top 20 American cities for risk of an increase in rodent presence in homes according to two world-renowned rodent experts. Houston ranks number3 behind New York, NY and Atlanta, GA based on factors that include infrastructure, congestion, the economy, and local climate.
October 20 – Galveston County that survived Hurricane Ike, which killed thousands of trees last year, are now being attacked by pine bark beetles. Officials say that the beetles have always been present in the county, but this year has been exceptionally bad. Experts hope if the winter is wetter and cooler than normal as expected, the beetles should die down.
October 23 – Homeowners in the Coastal Bend are taking advantage of some much needed rainfall to replace plants that were killed during the exceptional drought that has lasted most of 2009. Local nurseries advise using native plants that are more likely to last through the local climatic fluctuations.
October 28 – The drought and heat of the summer destroyed many lawns across the Austin area, which has piqued the interest for low-maintenance grass. Researchers at the University of Texas are exploring grasses that are resistant to drought conditions and require less water.
Hunting/Fishing
October 1 – 510 trees that were damaged by Hurricane Ike are being removed from historic Galveston. According to city officials, the trees were under more than 6 feet of saltwater during the hurricane with replanting expected to start next fall.
October 3 – Despite the wetter and cooler than normal weather in September, this has been one of the best dove hunting months in decades for dove hunters in West Texas.
October 7 – The wetter weather in September and October has been very beneficial for fish and wildlife, but it is having negative effects for deer hunters. The rain has made natural vegetation grow very quickly, and when abundant, the vegetation can make it very difficult to hunt wildlife.
October 24 – Thanks to two years of drought in South Texas, the prospects for the upcoming quail hunting season look extremely bleak. The most fertile quail hunting ground in the state will likely see only about half of the normal activity hunters would normally see, though late summer and early fall rains are providing some with a glimmer of hope.
October 24 – With the start of deer hunting season around the corner, a district leader of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department says much of the deer population has fled Central and South Texas. However, recent rainfall bodes well should lead to more healthy deer and survival of the fawn crop down the road.
October 24 – McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge was once a region that was teeming with ducks on a vast expanse of marsh, but Hurricane Ike and other natural disasters have taken their toll in the past several years. However, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service counts indicate most duck species are faring very well, perhaps leaving the best crop in several years.
October 28 – The Lower Colorado River Authority continues to advise residents that the drought in Central Texas is not over despite two weeks of heavy rainfall that have caused flooding in some areas. However, the recent rains have raised the spirits of anglers in the area since the refilling of lakes where vegetation grew during drought attracts more and more game fish.
October 31 – Experts believe that growth in the acorn crop and general vegetation due to recent rainfall will make deer hunting season a challenge this year. The abundance of forage will make deer less likely to be lured to feeders, though conditions for hunting are better in the Panhandle than the rest of the state.
October 31 – Recent moisture that has returned to Texas after prolonged drought could be detrimental to hunters planning on targeting their favorite spot during the early season. Ducks will be more scattered after recent rain has left more water sources.
Recreation/Leisure
October 3 – Mother Nature played a prominent role in Day 2 of the Austin City Limits (ACL) music festival taking place in the state capital. Rain wasn't enough to keep spectators away from the live music, but did provide an annoyance to a large portion of the audience. However, some hearty souls embraced the wet weather.
October 8 – With the 24-day Texas State Fair, located in Dallas, at its halfway point, the National Weather Service says it has rained every day except one since the beginning of October. The rain has caused the midway to periodically shut down but has been a boost to many of the indoor events.
October 11 – The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) air show in Midland was forced to improvise its schedule after CAF officials determined the clouds were too low. Rather than flying, the 60-70 planes involved in the event paraded past spectators.
October 18 – The director of the Heart of Texas Fair and Rodeo said attendance was down about 20 percent this year according to preliminary figures. He assigns blame for the drop in attendance to the fair held annually in Waco entirely to weather conditions.
October 19 – The Texas State Fair held in Dallas had to deal with 14 days of rain over its 24 day run, but that did not stop patrons from enjoying the festivities and making the last weekend the biggest weekend in the history of the fair.
October 19 – The sunny skies and cooler temperatures made a great weekend for Woodlands residents who attended the Grogan's Mill Fall Arts and Craft Show and the Grogan's Farmers Market.
October 23 – Heavy rains on Lake Caddo have forced officials at Johnson's Ranch Marina to stage operations at higher ground for about a week. Johnson's Ranch is believed to be the oldest inland marina in Texas and was under a foot of water after recent rainfall raised the level of the lake more than 3 feet above flood stage.
October 31 – October finished with ideal weather for trick-or-treating in East Texas despite a month that saw over ten inches of precipitation, including 3-7 inches in a recent storm.
Traffic
October 5 – An East Texas woman ended up trapped in her car northeast of Gilmer after heavy rains submerged the car in water. Department of Public Safety and fire rescue officials rescued the woman just a few minutes before the oxygen supply she was breathing would have disappeared.
October 9 – A couple in tried to across a flooded intersection in Grayson County and had to be rescued by police and firefighters.
October 13 – Extremely heavy rainfall closed roads, caused minor flooding, and was to blame for several traffic accidents in the Longview area. Several railroad passes were shut down, and Longview police reported Lois Jackson Park was submerged by rainwater within feet of Bill Owens Parkway.
October 14 – A truck driver blamed poor visibility caused by fog for an accident on Highway 75 in Collin County that kept traffic at a snail's pace for more than seven hours. Luckily, the driver was not injured and no other vehicles were directly involved when the trucked jackknifed when attempting to avoid construction barriers that were barely visible.
October 15 – Heavy rainfall contributed to a traffic accident involving two Cass County narcotics officers, each of whom was seriously injured but expected to make a recovery.
October 16 – The Texas Department of Transportation has started construction on a low-lying section of FM 506 in Cameron County that was flooded for several weeks in the aftermath of Hurricane Dolly.
October 21 – Police responded to 18 traffic accidents early Wednesday because of heavy rainfall on the highways in the Tarrant County. There were six major accidents in Arlington alone between 7:00am - 8:30am, but fortunately no injuries were reported.
October 27 – According to Austin police, heavy rains caused two 18-wheeler accidents. The first 18-wheeler jackknifed and blocked off two northbound lanes of I-35 near Stassney Lane and the other 18-wheeler dumped a full load of materials, forcing traffic to be rerouted.
October 27 – According to the Texas Department of Transportation, heavy rainfall in North Texas has delayed several road projects, one project being the restriping of I-635.
October 23 – High water forced officials from the Texas Department of Transportation to close a stretch of FM 2087 in southern Gregg County. The Sabine River reached 33.7 feet, more than 8 feet above flood stage, at a location less than 0.25 miles from the highway.
October 30 – Severe weather accompanied by heavy rainfall caused slick roads across the Nacogdoches area, causing several accidents and forcing road closures. An 18-wheeler hydroplaned and overturned on U.S. Hwy. 259 and an accident on Highway 7 near Martinsville resulted in two deaths.
