The rain divide: flooding in East Texas, drought in West Texas
Normally, more rain falls in East Texas than West Texas, but the gap is much wider this year. Repeated storms pummeled East Texas starting in April, dumping massive amounts of rain that caused widespread flooding. Meanwhile, little rain has fallen in West Texas; many areas have received less than 1 inch.
Precipitation levels this year
compared to the norm
Amarillo
-100%
Normal
+100%
+180%
Wichita Falls
+59%
Lubbock
Fort Worth
Dallas
+89%
Odessa
El Paso
-56%
Waco
San Angelo
Pecos
Huntsville
+160%
Austin
Houston
Big Bend
National Park
-80%
Del Rio
-75%
San Antonio
Laredo
Brownsville
Cumulative precipitation this year compared to previous years
Huntsville
This year
60.8
Huntsville recorded more
than 9 inches of rain on May 2
three months worth of rain
in just a day.
60 inches
1991-2020 average
Other years
Dallas
35.1
Wichita Falls
It didn’t rain in El Paso
from April 2 to June 18
this year.
30
Del Rio
24.2
22.1
19.6
Big Bend
National Park
20
13.8
El Paso
8.8
10
5.6
2
1.7
0.8
0.9
0
Jun.
Jan.
Jun.
Jun.
Jan.
Jun.
Jan.
Jun.
Jan.
Jun.
Jan.
Jan.
Precipitation levels this year compared
to the norm
-100%
Normal
+100%
+180%
Amarillo
Wichita Falls
+59%
Dallas
+89%
El Paso
-56%
Odessa
Huntsville
+160%
Austin
Del Rio
-75%
Houston
San Antonio
Big Bend
National Park
-80%
Laredo
Brownsville
Cumulative precipitation this year
compared to previous years
Huntsville, in east Texas, recorded more than 9
inches of rain on May 2, three months worth of
rain in just a day. Meanwhile, it didn’t rain in El
Paso, in far West Texas, from April 2 to June 18
this year.
This year
Huntsville
1991-2020 average
60.8
60 inches
Other years
Dallas
35.1
Wichita Falls
30
24.2
22.1
19.6
20
13.8
0
Jun.
Jan.
Jun.
Jan.
Jun.
Jan.
Del Rio
Big Bend
National Park
20 inches
El Paso
8.8
10
5.6
2
1.7
0.8
0.9
0
Jun.
Jan.
Jun.
Jan.
Jan.
Jun.
Precipitation levels this year
compared to the norm
Amarillo
-100%
Normal
+100%
+180%
Wichita Falls
+59%
Lubbock
Fort Worth
Dallas
+89%
Odessa
El Paso
-56%
Waco
San Angelo
Pecos
Huntsville
+160%
Austin
Houston
Big Bend
National Park
-80%
Del Rio
-75%
San Antonio
Laredo
Huntsville
60.8
60 inches
Brownsville
Huntsville recorded more
than 9 inches of rain on May 2,
three months worth of rain
in just a day.
Cumulative precipitation this year compared to previous years
Dallas
This year
40
1991-2020 average
35.1
Other years
Wichita Falls
30 inches
30
Del Rio
24.2
22.1
19.6
It didn’t rain in El Paso
from April 2 to June 18
this year.
20
20
20 inches
20 inches
Big Bend
National Park
13.8
8.8
10 inches
10
10
10
10
El Paso
5.6
2
1.7
0.8
0.9
0
Jan.
Jun.
Jan.
Jun.
Jan.
Jun.
Jan.
Jun.
Jan.
Jun.
Jan.
Jun.