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There’s an old saying in Texas: If you don’t like the weather, just wait a little while and it’ll change. This saying couldn’t be more true when referring to springtime weather in Central Texas, and campers and others heading to LCRA’s parks should pay attention and be prepared for whatever weather comes along. The months of March, April and May typically display wild swings in the temperature along with a general increase in rain and thunderstorms. When heading out of doors, don’t get caught without a jacket or rain gear just in case. May is usually the wettest and stormiest month of the entire year. But this spring may be a little different from the majority of years, with mostly warm temperatures and drier-than-normal weather expected. A developing drought looks to be the dominant weather story this spring across Central Texas. The latest forecast data indicates a moderate-to-strong La Nina pattern in the Pacific will likely persist into summer, causing drier than normal weather conditions across much of Texas. With the storm track staying primarily to our north, warm air will most often win out over the cold, limiting the periods of cold weather. The threat for freezing temperatures should end around mid March across the Hill Country and in early March across Central Texas, so if you plan on camping Easter weekend or during spring break, you may be in luck. While cold fronts will still push into Texas throughout spring, it appears most of them will be fairly weak. Warm, almost summer-like temperatures look to make an early appearance this year. Readings in the 90s may begin showing up by April. Rain is expected to be below normal through most of spring. Many of the cold fronts will come through with little or no rain. Even though rainfall will be below normal, I still expect a fairly active period of severe storms during April and May. The greatest severe weather threats most likely will be large hail and damaging winds. Due to the dry weather, another threat this year will be wildfires. Windy conditions and dry vegetation will create favorable conditions for fires. Before going to the parks, check the burn ban in your county. To protect yourself from severe storms and wildfires, whether outdoors or at your home, always have a NOAA All-Hazards radio on hand. Keep an eye to the sky and be prepared for rapidly changing weather. |
Bob Rose,
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