Parts of Texas have seen more rain than sunshine this month as the rich Gulf of Mexico moisture is pulled from the southeast. While it may seem like all it has done is rain, the data suggests otherwise.

What You Need To Know

  • Only 25 percent of the state is in a drought, down from 75 percent two weeks ago

  • Austin at Camp Mabry has recorded nearly five inches of rain this month

  • The San Antonio International Airport has recorded more than 4.5 inches of rain in May

  • May is the wettest month in North Texas, more than six inches of rain has fallen

For nearly two weeks, our forecast included daily rain chances. While it did not rain all day, for everyone at the same time, beneficial rain drastically changed our drought. 

In the latest drought monitor suggests that only 25 percent of the state is in a drought. The most noticeable improvement was in the Rio Grande Valley and the Bush Country where drought is gone.

Austin at Camp Mabry

So far this month, Camp Mabry has recorded just less than five inches of rain at 4.79 inches. This preliminary total is 0.22 inches above normal for this time of the year. 

The wettest May ever recorded at Camp Mabry was just six years. The site recorded a record-setting 17.59 inches. 

Right now, May 2021 wouldn't even make the top 10 list.

San Antonio International Airport

Many of you might remember how dry 2020 was. We were more than 11 inches of rain below normal for the entire year. Conditions didn't improve at the start of 2021, but heavy rain at the end of April and consistent rain so far this month have given parts of South-Central Texas a rain surplus for the first time in months. 

So far this month, the airport has recorded 4.5 inches of rain which is 0.54 inches more than normal. 

What is more impressive is how much rain we've seen since the start of spring i.e., March, April, and May. 

Since March 1, the airport has recorded 11.16 inches of rain which is nearly 2.5 inches more than normal. That is good news for our drought conditions which were rough about two weeks ago. 

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

Typically, May is the wettest month in North Texas. In 2015, the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport recorded almost 17 inches of rain which is more than triple the normal rainfall for the month. 

While heavy rain this month did lead to flash flooding and high water rescues, May 2021 won't crack the top five.

So far, DFW has recorded 6.07 inches of rain which is nearly 2 inches above normal for this time of year.