outlook+water: Drought down (but not out), El Niño almost certain this summer, warmer-than-normal temps and near-normal rainfall expected

Summary: Drought down (but not out), with 61% of the state abnormally dry or worse. The Climate Prediction Center’s El Niño Watch continues with a 90% chance of El Niño conditions forming during May-June-July. Warmer-than-normal conditions are expected for the entire state, with normal rainfall for everyone except Far West Texas, where drier-than-normal conditions are expected.

outlook+water: Under an El Niño watch, drought stable (but expected to continue)

Summary: The Climate Prediction Center has issued an El Niño Watch with a 62% chance of conditions forming during May-June-July with an 80% chance in late summer. The amount of the state under drought conditions remained the same from four weeks ago at 58%, with drought intensity decreasing in the southern third of the coastal plains. Warmer than normal temperatures are expected over the next three months, with normal rainfall except for the High Plains and Far West Texas, where drier than normal conditions are expected.