NWS: Prepare for scorching summer with little rain

The National Weather Service has issued its seasonal outlook for summer for South Central Texas — and you should prepare for a scorcher of a season. It’s likely going to be hot, hot, hot.

The weather service predicts that above-normal temperatures are likely across almost all of South Central Texas for the rest of June and into July and August.

The NWS also expects lowerthan-normal precipitation for much of the region, which means it’s unlikely that the extreme or exceptional drought gripping the region will end.

The heat and dryness also might make for an even worse wildfire season, the weather service said.

The climate pattern known as La Niña is likely responsible for some of the record-breaking heat this spring and the abovenormal temperatures that are expected this summer, NWS meteorologist Keith White said.

The summer doesn’t officially start until Tuesday, but San Antonio already has recorded 15 days with a high of 100 degrees or hotter, according to the NWS website.

This past spring was among the top five warmest on record for the region, White said. May was the warmest on record for San Antonio and a good portion of the region. The record-breaking heat has led some locals to see electricity bills double or nearly double.

Drier than normal conditions also persisted in Bexar County, which recorded its fifth-driest spring on record. San Antonio International Airport recorded 4.58 inches of rain from Jan. 1 through June, a deficiency of 9.84 inches.

With few exceptions, South Central Texas has seen less than half of the usual rainfall over the past three to six months. And that has led to a worsening of the drought.

According to White, more than 70 percent of the region is experiencing extreme or exceptional drought, and significant relief is unlikely unless tropical systems arrive.

In terms of fire weather, South Central Texas already has seen an active spring. With a slight break in the last week or two, the wildfires in the region have started to pick up again, White said.

According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, some portions of South Central Texas are nearing record values in its calculations for fire danger for this time of year. Northeastern Hill Country, which saw fewer rain events, is especially dire.

In the longer term, the National Interagency Fire Center outlook predicts a significant wildfire potential for South Central Texas through August. Chances of wildfires may increase to above normal for the region by September if conditions don’t improve, White said.

One potential positive outcome of the region’s summer forecast might be a lower-thannormal chance of heavy rains, which often lead to flash or river flooding, White said.

Kin Man Hui/Staff photographer The National Weather Service predicts that above-normal temperatures are likely across almost all of South Central Texas for the rest of June and into July and August.