Posted: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 07:44 PM - 11,773 Readers

By: Robert Quigley

Last summer, as one of the worst droughts in Central Texas’ recorded history baked the earth and dried up rivers and lakes, it seemed like it would never rain again.

Then, when it rained, it poured.

Camp Mabry in Austin received 25.52 inches of rain in the past six months, which is 9.64 inches above normal for that period of time. The National Weather Service says the long-range forecast calls for the wetter-than-usual pattern to continue until June.

The Climate Prediction Center’s forecast calls for “greater chance for below normal temperature and greater chances for above normal precipitation during the March, April and May time frame,” according to the weather service.

San Antonio received 31.09 inches of rain the past six months, the National Weather Service says, which is the wettest six months on record for that city since 1875. Rainfall totals, the service says, are 150 to 250 percent higher than normal in many parts of the region.

The prolonged rain, which officially has ended the drought, is good news for those who plan to hit the lakes this summer. Lake Travis, which had dried up to puddles in some places over the summer, is less than 11 feet from being full.

However, the weather service says the saturation also brings an increased danger of flooding during future rain events.

“With the wetter than normal conditions currently in place there is a greater chance for widespread significant flooding … especially during moderate to heavy rainfall events,” the weather service said.

The service also says the wet soil also is making it harder for farmers to work in the fields, and could affect spring planting.