If dry weather condition continues, extra water limitations possible this summertime

AUSTIN (KXAN) - - New forecasts from the Lower Colorado River Authority reveal that if drier-than-normal weather condition continues, the combined water storage in lakes Travis and Buchanan might drop listed below a limit that would activate additional water constraints in Austin this summer season.

Even with periodic rain occasions, much of Central Texas, including the Austin area, has actually stacked up a 16-20″ ″ rainfall deficit in the last year - - rains we ought to have gotten however haven't. This has led to low lake levels and serious drought conditions.

12-month rainfall deficit (Southern Regional Climate Center).

The dry, warm weather condition pattern led to record-low water inflows into the Highland Lakes in 2022. Even less water streamed into lakes Travis and Buchanan last year than it did during the record-hot 2011.

New forecasts from the Lower Colorado River Authority show that under continued dry or exceptionally dry conditions, Lake Travis may drop another 10 feet by the end of summertime. The combined water storage in lakes Travis and Buchanan might dip below 900,000 acre feet as early as June or July - - a level that would move Austin Water from phase one to stage 2 constraints.

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• Current phase 1 water limitations: 1x/week watering for automatic sprinklers during defined hours, 2x/week watering for hose-end sprinklers during specified hours
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• Stage 2 water limitations: 1x/week watering for all domestic clients during minimal hours
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If dry weather condition continues, LCRA lake level projections show an ongoing drop this summertime.

A conserving grace could be the long-awaited transition from La Niña to a wetter, cooler El Niño pattern. On Thursday, the Climate Prediction Center stated that our triple-dip La Niña pattern that has had a large hand in our multi-year drought is over, and a wetter El Niño pattern is expected to return later on this year.