September storms bring welcome rain to parched region

Rain that fell over the Labor Day weekend is expected to persist into the week and, if the storms linger, could eventually ease drought conditions in Central Texas, meteorologists said.

Austin announced Stage 1 water restrictions — during which residents can only water on assigned days and times — a little more than 10 days ago after water storage at lakes Travis and Buchanan dropped below 1.4 million acrefeet. Although nearly an inch of rain has fallen in the Austin area since then, the soaking won’t affect the drought just yet, University of Texas meteorology lecturer Troy Kimmel said. But significant chances for thunderstorms remain in the forecast over the next several days, Kimmel said.

“Hopefully in about a week, we’ll have some good news that this 1- to 4-inch rainfall total will be materialized, then maybe we’ll get a little relief,” Kimmel said. “It’s not going to wipe (the drought) out, but at least it’ll alleviate it.”

Slow and steady rain that soaks into the ground would be preferable to quick and heavy precipitation that can cause flash flooding, Kimmel said.

Over the weekend, 0.84 inches of rain was recorded at Camp Mabry, Austin’s main weather station, and 0.78 inches fell at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, National Weather Service meteorologist Cory Van Pelt said.

Meanwhile, parts of South Texas have seen more than 9 inches of rain since Monday. Weather service forecaster Nick Hampshire told The Associated Press some

RALPH BARRERA / AMERICAN-STATESMAN The weather forecast predicted spotty rain showers, but a sudden downpour in downtown Austin on Tuesday caught many unprepared on slick streets.

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