Rain, finally (5.26.14)

I don't remember the last time we had a significant amount of rainfall. A look at the drought map of Texas will show that we are in what is called "exceptional drought", the most extreme category. Exceptional indeed! On Friday we had 1.89 inches of rain, the most in any single month since 2010, and then an additional 4 inches fell on Saturday through Monday. Tonight there is flooding in south Lubbock and cars are floating in the parking lots of some businesses.

It is interesting that there is not much complaining about this; we all know that this is the fourth year of a record drought, one that is even worse than the historic drought of the mid-1950s and even the Dust Bowl days. These rains have done done wonders in terms of spirits and optimism, and they have had the very practical benefit of coming just in time to allow the dryland cotton crop to be planted before the insurance cut-off date, past which the crop would be uninsurable. So in spite of flooding and hail damage, West Texans are grateful for the rains; the most we have had in many years. The drought is not over, not by a mile, but at least we can plant the crops, the playa lakes are recharged and some of the small towns around here that are about to run out of water have extra time to wait for more rain.

Here are a couple of photos from my research farm.