TYLER, Texas — Drought is slowly overtaking East Texas.
According to U.S. Drought Monitor's data, drought has significantly increased in East Texas over the past week.
Most of East Texas is sitting under a level 1 Moderate Drought. That often means that streams run low and wildfire frequency increases. Level 2 Severe drought is seeping farther south into parts of Smith, Cherokee and Anderson counties. The drought category is usually accompanied by hard, dry soil and severe wildfire danger.
The last time measurable rain fell in East Texas was on September 25. That means the entire month of October has been dry. That is something to watch. Historically, October is the second rainiest month in Tyler. On average, we receive 4.31" of rain in October. So far, we have only picked up a trace amount.
Between this time last month and now, drought has spread across the Piney Woods. According to the Climate Prediction Center, drought is forecasted to persist or even worsen across much of East Texas through the rest of fall and winter.
However, there may be some light at the end of the tunnel. Rain chances are picking up at the end of October. That's when a cold front will slide in and potentially spark up a few scattered showers.
