Burn Bans

Drought

Monthly Change in Drought Monitor Classification

Drought is back in North Texas, but rain may return next week -- The final drought monitor of September showed Tarrant and Dallas counties in an area of severe drought. For ranchers the rain can’t come fast enough. Ranchers are growing impatient with the long-range forecasts promising El Niño and a wetter-than-normal winter. The drought can be considered a flash drought in the amount of time it took for conditions to go downhill compared to a regular drought. Short-term rain deficits can be helped by a wetter-than-normal October.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Bill Hanna, October 1, 2015

Drought returning to Panhandle-South Plains -- The drought is back for most of southern Texas Panhandle and southern High Plains. Despite recent rains received across the state the the overall trend is still toward an intensifying drought. Dry weather is expected through the upcoming week, which will not help the current conditions whatsoever.
Plainview Daily Herald, Doug McDonough, October 2, 2015

Central Texas drought worsens -- The drought situation continues to worsen with central Texas hardly receiving any rainfall. In fact, since the beginning of the month, Austin has recorded zero inches of rainfall. The most recent drought monitor shows extreme drought is spreading into central Texas. With the 7-day forecast only showing a low chance of rain for one of the days, drought conditions look to continue to decline.
KEYE, Collin Myers, October 8, 2015

Extreme Drought Is Back In North Texas(But Rain Is On The Way) -- The latest drought monitor has parts of east-central Texas in exceptional drought, the worst category. Drought numbers now look similar to what they were one year ago, before the spring rains. However, widespread rain is on the way to Texas. Forecasts expect most of the state to receive around two inches of rain through the end of the week into the weekend.
KERA, Eric Aasen, October 20, 2015

Heavy October Rain Lessens Drought Conditions in Texas -- This week's updated drought monitor looks nothing like last week’s. Heavy rain over the weekend significantly reduced drought statewide. Now, more than 84 percent of the state is drought free. It is difficult to think 4 years ago, Texas had about the same percentage of the state in the most extreme drought category.
NBC DFW, Staff Writer, October 29, 2015

Wildfire

County set for National 4-H Week -- Almost half of the Texas counties are under a burn ban right now. During a two hour meeting at the 4-H conference, the court tabled voting on maybe instituting a burn ban. This topic will be placed on the agenda for the next meetings with commissioners keeping an eye on the weather.  
Jacksboro Newspapers, Brian Smith, October 1, 2015

Burn ban violations despite high fire risk -- Dry soils and plants in Travis County have led to an increase fire risk. Even with burn bans in effect, some residents are still burning brush or trash piles and violating the burn ban. Not only are fires coming from brush or trash burning, many fires have started from barbecue grills and cigarettes. While the number of citations given for violating the burn ban is unknown, a citation can be up to a $500 fine.
KEYE, Adam Hammons, October 6, 2015

Extreme fire danger Monday -- The National Weather Service said all the variables are coming together to make the fire danger extremely high. They have placed Wichita Falls and all of western North Texas in a fire weather watch until the end of the day. A weak cold front will move through bumping the winds into the 25-35mph range and dropping humidity values as low as fifteen percent. With the temperatures staying relatively warm, the combination puts the risk of wildfires high.  
Times Record News, Lynn Walker, October 12, 2015

Gray County Commissioners reinstitute burn ban -- Grayson County Fire Marshal Kevin Walton shocked listeners when he stood up to the podium. He said the drought index is suppose to increase by 50 on the Keetch-Byram Drought Index in the next two weeks, which is cause for the burn ban to be reinstituted. However this ban does not prohibit grilling outdoors, firefighting training, and other public necessity activities that would otherwise be limited under the ban.
Herald Democrat, William Wadsack, October 13, 2015

Elevated Fire Danger to Continue for Several More Days -- A large, 1,500 acre fire in Bastrop County is still spreading and is 15 percent contained according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. Heading into the fall, climatology will eventually win out and moisture will return to the state. Unfortunately it looks as if that will not happen for a few weeks. Currently 143 Texas counties are under burn bans.
KBTX, Clay Falls, October 14, 2015

No Rain Coming as Texas Wildfire Scorches Dry, Hard-Hit Area -- A wildfire in Bastrop County has burned roughly 6 square miles and wiped out nearly 3 dozen homes. It was a good day for firefighting because of improving conditions. County officials have advised 400 homes to be evacuated. The cause of the blaze is unknown, but it is being fueled by hot, dry weather.
NBC News, Staff Writer, October 15, 2015

Weekend Weather could help in battle against Texas wildfires -- The Hidden Pines fire is about halfway controlled that has burned almost 4,600 acres. A DC-10 jet tanker dropped nearly 12,000 gallons of fire retardant on the area, which helped close gaps in the fire. The fire has not made any large gains over the past 24 hours.
Business Insider, Associated Press, October 17, 2015

Texas National Guard fights Bastrop wildfire -- The fire in Bastrop County that has burned 6 square miles to the east of Austin appears to be getting under control. Challenging topography in the area makes it difficult to fight large fires quickly. The county has dealt with fires before, but the help the community receives is greatly appreciated.
Fx Report Daily, Iris Duncan, October 17, 2015

Destructive Hidden Planes Fire Prompts State Disaster for Bastrop County, Texas -- Bastrop County officials reported at least nine home have been destroyed in the wildfire that has been burning since October 13th. Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared a state of disaster for the county even with the fire 50 percent contained. More than 150 residents were threatened by the fire and some were given mandatory evacuation orders.
AccuWeather, Katy Galimberti, October 19, 2015

Central Texas Fire Evacuees Allowed Back Home -- The fire in Bastrop county is 80 percent contained after burning about 70 homes. Now that the fire is almost completely contained, talks of recovery are being started. Area officials are letting evacuated residents back into the area to access damage, but not cleanup. The rain expected at the end of the week will help with firefighting, but could cause more problems with runoff.
Houston Public Media, Ed Mayberry, October 20, 2015

Wildfires Like the ‘New Normal’ for Bastrop County -- Experts have observed an increase in frequency and intensity in Bastrop County. According to the Texas Forest Service, only one fire burned more than 5,000 acres from 1985 to 2000. Since then Texas has seen fires of that magnitude almost every year. Wildfires in Texas might just be a new normal because it has not taken a turn for the better over the past 15 years.
Texas Observer, Hannah McBride, October 22, 2015

Agriculture

Harvest-ready cotton survives rain; much more could be trouble -- Director of policy analysis and research for Plains Cotton Growers predicts recent wet weather will delay the harvest, but not quality of cotton. Open cotton bowls prefer light wind and little dirt in the air, which has been the case lately. Farmers are hoping to harvest the cotton as soon as possible to ensure good quality.
Lubbock-Avalanche-Journal, Josie Musico, October 5, 2015

Tuesday’s daylight reveals extent of Monday’s storm: Cotton crops destroyed -- Some farmers' crops have been destroyed due to a severe storm with high winds and large hail in west El Paso County. The storm turned once-green cotton fields into a mixture of mud and destroyed cotton bolls. The cotton on one farmer’s land was scheduled to be harvested the following week, but the storm added one more thing farmers have had to endure this year. With cotton prices continuing to be low and materials needed to maintain the crop, farmers have had to make tough decisions with their crops this year.
El Paso Herald, Chris Babcock, October 6, 2015

Pumpkin shortage likely due to rain -- Across the US, summer rains hurt pumpkin yields for this upcoming fall season, but one of the largest pumpkin farms in the nation is in Floydada, Texas. Due to the nationwide shortage, Floydada is seeing an increase in traffic. They have shipped across the country, which is unusual, but want to help people who were affected by the decreased yields. Farm assistant is suggesting to buy pumpkin goods early for Halloween or Thanksgiving.
KFDA, Staff Writer, October 7, 2015

Expert says organic fruit, nuts have a market, but growing a challenge in Texas -- The challenge of growing organically may be worth it for Texas fruit growers, according to the recent Texas Fruit Conference. A statement made during the conference said consumers are interested in locally grown fruit and may pay a premium for it as well. A study has shown Texas had the second highest growth in the number of farmers markets in 2011. Locally grown organic fruit may require new skills, but the public perceives it as environmentally friendly.
AgriLife, Kathleen Phillips, October 11, 2015

Texas crop, weather for October 14, 2015 -- Dryland cotton looks to be an above average crop this year due to the warmer fall weather. The higher than average temperatures allowed the cotton to catch up on maturity in the Rolling and High Plains areas. The San Angelo crop was not fortunate because June and July were not blessed with rain. It was a different story in the Upper Gulf Coast area with early spring rains delaying planting followed by hot, dry weather. This combination combined for yields to be below the five-year average.
AgriLife Today, Robert Burns, October 14, 2015

El Niño driven rains could help, hinder Texas crop production -- Rare amounts of moisture will stream into Texas and the southwest this coming weekend as a three-sided weather event develops. For farmers across the southwest harvesting summer crops, the rain is not arriving at the opportune time and most likely will delay harvest. For those who took the risk of planting winter crops in wake of a cooler, wetter season benefited from early season rains.
Southwest Farm Press, Logan Hawkes, October 21, 2015

Texas crop, weather for Oct. 27 -- According to an AgriLife specialist, rain could not have come at a better time for pecan crops but may have damaged others. Where there was too much rain, upwards of 10 inches, most crops did not benefit. The rain this past weekend came as a surprise to forecasters. The rain was mostly concentrated over Texas instead of spreading farther into Oklahoma and Kansas.
AgriLife Today, Robert Burns, October 27, 2015

Texas produce dodges hurricane bullet -- Last weekend most of Texas saw some form of rain. However, despite flooding across the state fresh produce was spared from disastrous results. After a lousy 2014 onion crop season planters are more optimistic for this year. Farmers are anxiously awaiting the forecasted El Niño, which is associated with above-normal rainfall. Onion crops can withstand rain, but it all depends on how much rain falls and how intense it is.
Produce Network, Tim Linden, October 28, 2015

Heavy weather considerations for peanut producers -- The biggest problem over the past week for peanut growers has been too much rain. Some farmers were caught with their crop already dug and letting them dry out on the ground. Last week’s rain came at an inopportune time due to it coinciding with peanut harvest. Rains can harm peanuts already dug, which in turn affects the quality and yield of the product.
Southwest Farm Press, Logan Hawkes, October 28, 2015

Incliment Weather

Cooler Weather

Rain less likely Sunday, cooler weather staying -- According to a local meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Lubbock, the best chances of rain will be along the Texas-Mexico border. However, rain the rest of the weekend is possible in the area. Overnight lows in the 50s and daytime highs in the 70s will stay for the weekend and into the first part of the week, but then more seasonal temperatures will arrive by midweek.
Lubbock Avalanche Journal, AJ Media, October 3, 2015

Great Weekend Weather Continues -- The weekend will continue to be a pleasant one for north Texas with highs in the low 80s with low humidity. During the middle of the week and upper-level low pressure system will make its way into west Texas. Its positioning will mostly bring rain to the western portions of the state, but there is a chance for some storms in the Metroplex.
CBS Dallas, Jeff Ray, October 3, 2015

Cool front bringing fall weather to North Texas this weekend -- Fall-like temperatures will arrive to north Texas Friday morning as a cold front moves through the area. Morning lows will be in the upper 40s and 50s and afternoon highs in the upper 70s and lower 80s during the weekend. However, fire danger remains high due to the low humidity associated with the cold front and lack of rain over the past two months.
WFAA, Wes Houx, October 16, 2015

Flooding/Rainfall

An end to the beautiful weather in sight; Rain on the way -- This past weekend, Corpus Christi experienced some of its nicest weather since last spring. Moisture left over from Hurricane Marty in the Pacific will move into the western portion of the state. Locally the temperatures should remain in the upper 80s with winds from the northeast.
KRISTV, John Honore, October 4, 2015

Rainy weekend push 2015 to 6th wettest year -- The Amarillo area received a total of 1.25 inches of rain over the weekend, which brought the total to the sixth wettest year on record. Local meteorologists for the National Weather Service expect more rain to move up higher on the list. They predict, with a wetter-than-normal fall and winter, the area could move up to fourth or maybe third on the list. Additionally, a city engineer has said the infrastructure has held up very well despite the large amounts of rain the city has received.
Amarillo-Globe News, Robert Stein, October 5, 2015

Heavy rain leads to flooding in the Borderland -- El Paso had an interesting weather week with thunderstorms and tornado warnings. Over the past few days the area has received a fair amount of rain and with the drainage systems not being able to handle the load, streets are being flooded with water. Rain is in the forecast for the next few days, but the El Paso Water Utilities center has sandbags in stock for people to pick up to protect their homes.
KFOX, Marcel Clarke, October 7, 2015

Heavy rains bring flash floods, road closures to South Texas -- Up to 10 inches of rainfall fell overnight in parts of the Texas Hill Country, which include Rio, Uvalde, Zavala, and other counties west of San Antonio. According to the Nation Weather Service, the Rio Grande River is expected to flow at 10 feet, which is 7 feet above its normal level of 3 feet. Isolated showers are expected to continue throughout the day.
KTRK, Staff Writer, October 9, 2015

Areas south, east of city tally most rainfall -- Thursday’s downpour resulted in areas near San Angelo to receive almost an inch of rain with areas to the south and east  receiving over two and a half inches. Unfortunately, this rainfall had no effect on the reservoirs.
San Antonio Standard-Times, Andrew Atterbury, October 9, 2015

Rio Grande Rises After Rain -- The south Texas border received heavy rain Friday, which resulted in the Rio Grande River rising. According to the National Weather Service, the river was flowing at 9.1 feet on Saturday. This level is about a foot above the flood stage so flood warnings have been extended until Sunday evening.
KGNS, Christian von Preysing, October 10, 2015

Less rain leads to Texas drought, lower humidity -- An estimated 14 million are now living in drought-affected areas in Texas. Three months ago only one percent of Texas was in drought, and now more than fifty percent of the state is. According to the Texas state climatologist, Dr. Nielsen-Gammon, the dry conditions have not impacted the water supplies. He also stated a super strong El Niño does not imply super wet conditions. However, normal rains during the winter should be enough to put the flash drought to rest.
The Houston Chronicle, Eric Berger, October 11, 2015

Heavy rain threat increases this week -- Two different storm systems are forecasted to collide with tropical moisture from the Gulf to being a threat of heavy rains. The Lubbock area should see an increase in showers and thunderstorms Wednesday afternoon. Heavy rain is expected into Friday, but the complexity of the different storm systems makes it difficult to accurately predict rainfall totals.
KTRE, Cutter Martin, October 18, 2015

Wet Weather on the way -- The Corpus Christi is going to see a drastic change in weather during the upcoming week. A very wet pattern will arrive bringing chances of flooding in the region. A low pressure system from the west will move into the area and tap into the gulf moisture. Heavy showers and thunderstorms are possible from Thursday through Saturday evening.
KRIS, John Honore, October 18, 2015

In time for F1, rain to help dampen fire, pose flood risk for burned areas -- For the first time in several weeks, heavy rain is in the forecast for Texas. For Central Texas, where dry conditions have led to large wildfires, this news is hugely welcomed. The bad news with this event is with the lack of vegetation due to fires, runoff is a bigger concern than usual. The area, as well as much of the state, can use a lot of rain, but too much rain could be dangerous.
The Austin American-Statesman, Roberto Villalpando, October 19, 2015

Humidity returns, and later this week so does a lot of rain -- One more nice weather day is in store for the Houston area before a large pattern change is expected. Storm systems will combine with tropical moisture from the gulf later this week to set up a heavy rainmaking event. Forecast models have been all over the place with none really agreeing with each other. This kind of setup makes it difficult to predict how much rain the area will get.
The Houston Chronicle, Eric Berger, October 19, 2015

Flash flood watch posted for several East Texas counties -- The significant rain event expected at the end of the week has caused the National Weather Service to post a flash flood watch for counties in east Texas. The timing for rainfall is Friday and Saturday with 1 to 3 inches expected across the area and 5 to 7 inches in isolated areas. Turn around, don’t drown!
KLTV, Daniel Graves, October 21, 2015

Forecast calls for 3-6 inches of rain for Dallas area, but some could see more -- After months of not much rainfall at all, the National Weather Service is predicting 3 to 6 inches in and around Dallas. According to the latest data some areas could see more and some could see less, but either way a widespread rainfall event is expected. A flash flood watch will be in affect early Friday morning and should linger for another 48 hours after.
Dallas Morning News, Robert Wilonsky, October 22, 2015

A heavy rain event to unfold this weekend -- Several factors have been coming together to make meteorologists more confident in a heavy rain event this weekend. Low pressure from the southwest US combined with deep, Gulf moisture will set stage one of two rain events. How much additional moisture the state gets from Hurricane Patricia will determine rainfall estimates for the second event.
KTRE, Brad Hlozek, October 22, 2015

Flooding strands motorists in Fort Worth, causes flight delays at D/FW Airport -- Firefighters in Fort Worth received at least 25 high-water calls and completed four high water rescues Friday night. Rain fell steadily Friday and is expected to continue into the night Saturday. As rainfall totals surpassed 12 inches in some areas, drivers and air travelers had a difficult time arriving at their destination.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Staff Writer, October 23, 2015

Rain totals: 4+ inches in Abilene, parts of Big Country -- Drought over the past few months of dry weather has seen some relief due to rainfall over the past couple of days. Some rainfall totals were measured above 4 inches. More rainfall is expected in the area through the weekend so these totals will most likely rise.
KTXS, Hayden Nix, October 23, 2015

Flash flood threat ends for North Texas -- Dallas/Fort Worth Airport recorded 7.54 inches of rain from Thursday to Saturday. This was the most in a three-day span since 1991 bringing the total to the 7th wettest year on record. All across the state emergency crews have had to deal with flood related rescues. There is a slight chance of rain for Sunday, but nothing compared to the last three days causing the flash-flood threat to end for the DFW Metroplex.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Bill Hanna, October 24, 2015

Latest on flooding Rains SE Texas -- The tropical moisture that caused the heavy rain is now to the east of the Houston area. Another 1 to 2 inches is expected today, but flash flooding is not likely. The bigger threat will be wind from the low pressure system. Gusts could reach as high 40 mph in the Houston area. Other than high water spots and gusty winds, no other severe weather is expected for the remainder of the weekend.
ABC 13, Staff Writer, October 24, 2015

Texas man swept away in flood found alive -- The Memorial Day floods in Houston helped authorities learn a lesson in order to lower the number of stranded drivers and complete high water rescues. A man walking his dog when he was washed away by floodwaters. A passerby spotted him and warned emergency officials. Eventually the man was found safe and rescued.
KXXV, Staff Writer, October 25, 2015

Rain douses burn bans in East Texas -- Counties in East Texas had burn bans rescinded due to soaking rains over the weekend. The state’s drought index was well below the number needed for burn bans in one East Texas county. Drought indices are expected to stay the same or drop due to more rain expected Halloween weekend. Although nothing like last weekend is expected, a soaking rain could be in the works.
Longview News-Journal, Glenn Evans, October 26, 2015

Rain extinguishes Bell County burn ban; cleanup begins  -- The burn ban in Bell County was lifted after 6 to 8 inches of rain fell throughout the county. The county had been under burn ban conditions for three months. Emergency officials had ample resources to respond to weather related emergencies and no one was seriously injured.
Temple Daily Telegram, Janice Gibbs, October 26, 2015

Another bout of heavy rain set to move in this weekend -- There are plenty of outdoor activities this Halloween weekend, but an active storm track might say otherwise. Unlike Friday night football games, trick-or-treaters are expected to stay dry. The timing of this weekend’s system is expected to be at its peak overnight Friday and Saturday morning.
KTRE, Brad Hlozek, October 29, 2015

High-water rescues across Houston overnight -- Some parts of the Houston area received around 5 inches of rain in a couple of hours. The Houston Fire Department responded to 130 high water rescues early Friday morning, with most incidents coming from stranded vehicles. Currently there are reports of two weather related fatalities overnight.
KHOU, Staff Writer, October 31, 2015

One dead, two missing after flood water hit southern Travis County -- Two people swept away by flash flood waters in Travis county have been reported missing. The Austin Fire Department reported it responded to a total of 478 weather related incidents through the city. The body of a man was found in southern Travis County and officials believe the man was one who was reported missing earlier in the morning.
The Austin American-Statesman, Staff Writer, October 30, 2015

Evacuation in Bastrop along Colorado River -- Bastrop County Emergency Management officials evacuated areas along the Colorado River. The river is expected to crest around 31 feet, which is considered major flood stage. Historic rains in the area Friday prompted officials to make the evacuation decision as of 9:30 Saturday morning. Flood waters of this magnitude can engulf houses and put residents at severe risk.
KEYE, Sigfrid Rydquist, October 31, 2015

Flooding in Central Texas After Rain Pounds Austin, San Antonio -- Forecasters are expecting another round of storms to be on their way in the upcoming week. With parts of the area receiving upwards of 16 inches of rain Texas cannot handle another soaking. The storm system that produced heavy rains and winds prompted evacuations in areas South of Austin.
KERA, Staff Writer, October 30, 2015

Severe Weather

Tornado warning for Fabens-Tornillo area -- A tornado warning was issued for the Fabbens-Tornillo area set to expire by 8:15 p.m. However a tornado was not spotted on the ground, but rotation in clouds was confirmed. This warning, as well as all warnings, stress the safety tips for warnings. Know the signs of a tornado and be alert to the sky. Tornado forecasting is not perfect and tornadoes do occur without a warning. Have a home safety plan ready in case of weather emergencies.
KVIA, Staff Writer, October 5, 2015

Deadly Floods, Possible Tornadoes Strike Texas As Storm Sweeps Through -- At least two people have passed away and two are missing after another round of heavy rain hit Texas. Some areas received more than a foot of rain causing many areas of flash flooding. Residents along the San Marcos and Blanco rivers were evacuated due to river surges upwards of 13 feet above flood stages. There were numerous reports of tornado touchdowns and tornado-like damages.
NBC News, Erik Ortiz, October 30, 2015

Storm, winds damage at least 70 La Porte houses -- A tornado with winds up to 115 mph was reported early Saturday morning in La Porte, Texas. Damage varied across the town with trees being knocked down and roofs being ripped of houses. At least 70 homes were damaged.
KHOU, Samantha Ptashkin, October 31, 2015

Heat

Temperatures warming up midweek -- Southeast Texas is enjoying lots of sunshine and cooler, more fall-like temperatures. Daytime highs are in the low 80s. During the mid part of the week the winds will shift from the northeast to southeast bringing a slight chance for some rain.  The temperatures will stay relatively cool for the remainder of the week.
KPRC, Khambrel Marshall, October 3, 2015

Hot Columbus Day -- Despite a cold front arriving in the Houston area tonight, daytime temperatures could break the record of 96 degrees. The weak front will pass tonight bringing a slight chance for showers in the early morning hours. Tuesday morning temperatures will be pleasant, but expect them to rise quickly into the low 90s. Another cold front will arrive later this week, which should bring fantastic weather for the weekend.
ABC13, Staff Writer, October 12, 2015

Tuesday’s Weather: Plenty of sunshine! Lower humidity, but warm -- The early part of the week looks to be filled with sunshine, but it will feel relatively cool due to the low humidity values. Warm temperatures are still expected, and with dry, low humidity conditions also expected, high fire danger is a downside. The rest of the week will continue to warm, and dry with a chance for rain early next week.
KLTV, Cedric Haynes, October 13, 2015

DFW reaches new record high temperature; grass fires north, south of Dallas -- The Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport reached 95 degrees just before 4 p.m., which marks the highest temperature recorded for October 15. Accompanying the record temperature are low humidities and moderate winds, producing a high fire danger. Wildfires have burned more than 4,200 acres and claimed over a dozen homes. Forecast models have indicated a pattern shift in the next week, which should bring rain and cooler temperatures to Texas.  
Dallas Morning News, Robert Wilonsky, October 15, 2015

ENSO

LCRA forecaster: Cold days to arrive this month, winter to be wetter -- The outlook for fall has a strong El Niño in place, and forecasters say Texas should begin to see the wet influence in the latter half of October. Rainfall should begin to trend above normal and temperatures should begin to trend cooler. El Niño helped maintain the ridge of high-pressure over Texas, which is associated with hot, dry conditions, but as we move further into fall we should see more typical conditions from an El Niño event.
The Austin American-Statesman, Patrick Beach, October 1, 2015

Change on way after dry, warm September -- For Longview and most of East Texas, 2015 has been a year of extremes: dry and wet. Record rainfall fell in the spring and now the area is close to a record dry September. According to a National Weather Service meteorologist, the same trend will continue for the next week or so, but look out for those cool, wet conditions in the second half of the month.
Longview News-Journal, Matthew Prosser, October 2, 2015

Wet winter on the way, thanks to Classic El Niño -- Most residents in Texas have heard the phrase El Niño being discussed heavily, but those same people are wondering when it will actually show its might. For Texas the forecast hints at the effects being seen in beginning this month. The reasons for these effects are an active southern track across Texas, which should bring above normal precipitation for most of Texas, and especially the southeast portion of the state.
Dallas Morning News, Michael Young, October 6, 2015

El Nino, Where Art Thou? -- Most Texans have heard the term El Niño, but where is it? It is certainly taking place with temperatures in the eastern Pacific being the warmest since the 1950s. While most people want a definitive answer, it is more complicated than that with several other meteorological phenomena occurring. The current factors can be related to the warm, dry weather Texas is currently seeing, but expect these conditions to change in the upcoming few weeks.
KTRE, Cutter Martin, October 14, 2015

El Niño looks to bring cooler, wetter winter to Texas -- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has issued its outlook for the coming winter. NOAA calls for a cooler and wetter winter In Texas between November and January. The jet stream should ride lower than normal into the South, which should keep temperatures chilly and bring storm systems along with it.
KPRC, Erick Braate, October 15, 2015

Wet forecast a sign of El Nino’s growing influence on DFW’s weather -- Round two of rain will arrive in the DFW metroplex, and National Weather Service meteorologist is forecasting 2 inches of rain. This system will not break any totals from last week, but it could still cause flooding in low lying areas. With another storm system in the works for next week, this could be the start of the El Niño pattern.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Bill Hanna, October 29, 2015

Tropical Weather

After a glorious fall weekend, the Gulf becomes “interesting” next week -- A dramatic change in weather is expected late next week, but with the event being so far out the impacts locally cannot be determined with much accuracy. Currently an area of disturbed weather in Central America could make its way into Mexico and into Texas. The likelihood of this occurring is 50 percent, but if it does it would be a large rain producer for the southern portion of the state.
The Houston Chronicle, Eric Berger, October 16, 2015

Other Climate Impacts

Frozen, soaked, scorched: The first three quarters of the year in San Angelo weather -- The first three seasons of 2015 in San Angelo was a textbook year. Cold in the winter, rainy in the spring, and hot in the summer. Will the end of the year be as textbook as the beginning of the year? The National Weather Service forecasts a mild, damp end of the year, which reflects the El Niño conditions currently in place in the Pacific Ocean.
The San Antonio Standard-Times, Ngan Ho, October 7, 2015

Economics

Hot Temperatures Cause High Electricity Demand -- The Electric Reliability Council of Texas sent a warning to the Rio Grande Valley stating there was not enough electricity being produced and it could not be imported fast enough. The two transmission lines come from Corpus Christi, but Brownsville Public Utilities Board says that is not enough. A new transmission line from Laredo to Brownsville is projected and a new power plant is expected to be completed by next summer. Until the Valley can get more power, conservation is important.
KRGV, Staff Writer, October 13, 2015

Home insurance prices climb in Texas -- Texas ranks third on the most expensive homeowner’s insurance list. A spokesperson for the Insurance Council of Texas says it has to do with Texas receiving all of the weather phenomena. Texas weather swings from one extreme to the next and annual premiums will most likely climb even higher. The average premium price has risen more than 26 percent from 2010 to 2014.
KXAN, Rachel Glaser, October 26, 2015

Flood damage could hit $3 billion -- Two record breaking rain events in the state could cost Texas as much as $3 billion in damages mostly due to road repair and public infrastructure. High water spots have been a regular occurrence during these events, and most of the damage has been linked to standing water. FEMA’s National Flood insurance program does not cover damage to public infrastructure like roads. These costs could still increase with above average rainfall expected through the winter season.
The Houston Chronicle, Dylan Baddour, October 27, 2015

Homes/Gardening

Despite heat, drought, Winter Garden growers in better shape this year -- According to a horticulturist, Winter Garden growers in Texas are in good shape despite hot temperatures and hardly any rain. The combination of irrigation wells being filled this spring and cool weather in the forecast, planters have the ideal growing conditions for crops like spinach, cabbage, onions, cucumbers, and more.
High Plains Journal, Robert Burns, October 2, 2015

RE-LEAF: Fall planting season has arrived -- For gardeners across Texas, winter plants are best planted this month. Most plants do best growing roots during the warmer, moister conditions of the fall rather than cool temperatures during the winter. Rains during the fall can also help plants receive the water needed to last throughout the winter.
Odessa American, Debbie Frost, October 11, 2015

Hunting/Fishing

Quail numbers have rebounded following abundant rainfall -- With quail season beginning in Texas on Halloween, it looks as if hunters will be in for a treat. The quail numbers plummeted during the recent drought, but with more rain during this spring quails have returned. The bird census for this year is the fourth highest count since 1978.
Dallas Morning News, Ray Sasser, October 17, 2015

Health

Got the sniffles? Allergies to blame -- Most allergies in the central Texas have been linked to the dryness of the air. Until central Texas receives more rainfall, most allergens will continue to linger around and perhaps increase. Unfortunately the 7-day forecast does not show any good signs for rain. Current allergens include mold, ragweed, fall elm, and pigweed. Notably, ragweed has seen a large increase in number over the course of the past week.
KEYE, Collin Myers, October 8, 2015

Roads/Traffic/Travel

Flooded Interstate 45 backs up traffic 12 miles in North Texas -- Relief efforts have been started by emergency responders after flooding has caused a 12 mile traffic jam. Interstate 45 near Corsicana is flooded after more than 13 inches of rain fell Friday. Texas Governor has ramped up state emergency response and approved the use of state resources for rapid deployment to assist local officials in preparation for flood rescues.
KTRK, Staff Writer, October 23, 2015

Technology

Pro/Con: Should power lines be buried? -- Crossroads has had its share of unusual weather events with the flooding of the Guadalupe River and Tropical Storm Bill making landfall this summer. Although these events did not cause many power outages for residents, it has still caused some headache. Supporters of putting power lines underground argue it ensures reliability and looks nicer than above ground lines, but critics fire back by saying it is not cost-effective.
Victoria Advocate, Jessica Priest, October 4, 2015

NOAA awards $5.7 million to improve hazardous weather forecasts -- NOAA Administrator Kathryn Sullivan announced a $5.7 million in cooperative research agreement and grants to improve forecasting of hazardous events. Texas will benefit from the $1.9 million VORTEX-SE program, which focuses on the evolution of tornado formation. Along with field research, this program will focus on public perceptions of tornado risk and the best method for communicating forecasts with the public.
NOAA News, Staff Writer, October 9, 2015

Recreation/Leisure/Athletics

High School Football games Rescheduled for Inclement Weather -- Forecasters are expecting another round of heavy rains Halloween weekend, but nothing compared to last weekend. Several North Texas school districts have moved high school football games up a day instead of being rained out or delayed again.
NBC DFW, Todd Davis, October 27, 2015