A recent National Weather Service (NWS) report deems 2023 as Midland’s drier years in history, revealing the town’s desperate need of rain, a recent Midland Reporter-Telegram report stated.
According to a recent NWS report, 0.33 inches of rain were recorded in July, and 1.79 inches have “fallen through July 31 during the calendar year.”
Through July 1, a total of 7.61 inches dropped, recording 5.82 inches below the normal rate. The amount is the lowest to be reported by the network, with only one record of 0.16 inches from 2011 found to be lower.
The numbers were supported by the Keetch-Byram Drought Index, which is often used by the Texas A&M Forest Service to identify drought conditions. The index measured Midland County to be in its driest category with a score of 622.
“The index states that a score of 600 to 800 is 'often associated with more severe drought with increased wildfire occurrence,'" the Midland Reporter-Telegram report stated. “Intense, deep-burning fires with extreme intensities can be expected. Live fuels can also be expected to burn actively at these levels.”
The U.S. Drought Monitor places found Midland County to be inside a region impacted by “moderate” to “severe” drought. The county is now one of 159 counties to be placed on a burn ban.
“The U.S. Monthly Drought Outlook shows Midland County inside a region where drought will persist or drought development is likely,” the Midland Reporter-Telegram report stated. “The same can be said of the U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook. So, the dry conditions have been impactful.”
The sum compares to the 2.23 inches of rain recorded during the same period last year, through July 31 in 2022. According to the NWS report, a total of 9.40 fell during the entire year.
Projections made by The Climate Prediction Center suggest equal chances of typical rainfall for the remaining months of this year, estimated to be 5.9 inches. Even so, this year will still result in one of the town’s driest months of the year in Midland’s history.