Texas rains

The landfall of hurricane Dolly in late July, and now tropical storm Edouard today, will go a long way towards alleviating the drought that has been raging in the southern half of Texas. Areas west and southwest of Houston were recently rated in "exceptional drought" by NOAA, and eastern TX (which received most of the rain from Edouard) was in at least moderate drought (see figure at right). Since January 1, nearly all of the southern half of Texas had rainfall deficits of 4-8", and Edouard's totals will help bring things closer to normal. While tropical cyclones receive much press coverage for their disruptions to daily life, they also are critical components of the water cycle for much of the US. Dolly's rains fell along the Rio Grande and reached into New Mexico and Okla., and it looks like Edouard's moisture will also move NW through TX and into Okla (perhaps ending the recent streak of very high temperatures... over 105F in much of the state).