If we do not get any significant rain soon, our drought conditions could linger for another year or two. That prediction came on Wednesday from the state's official climatologist.
"Drought like this has happened before in the past in this region," said Dr. John Nielson Gammon. "About five or six times over the century or so. That much is not unusual. Unfortunately, it looks like it might continue."
Gammon was the featured speaker for Wednesday's South Texas Drought and Fire Weather Symposium on Del Mar College's West Campus. He said the time has come to be concerned about the drought's future ramifications, adding that this could well be a history making drought.
"October and November combined were the second driest October and November on record for the state," Gammon said. "And it looks like this could continue for a third and fourth year, which will be rivaling the drought of the 1950s as the drought of record."
"Yes, this long-term drought is having an effect on our water supplies," said John Metz of the National Weather Service. "We've seen it where it's been dryer before in the last decade. We've seen lake levels below where they are now, so it's not in a desperate situation yet; but if we do continue with a drought pattern for a year or two, it will get to a desperate situation."
Ironically, Metz said overall rainfall has increased from South Texas up to the Great Lakes over the past century.
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