Recent precipitation has helped drought conditions in Blanco County slightly, though serious drought conditions remain. The National Weather Service in Austin/San Antonio reported 4-6 inches of estimated precipitation over the 10 days ending Sunday throughout most of Blanco County. Some areas of the county, mainly in the northeast portion, received a reported 2-4 inches of estimated precipitation during that period.
In the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, issued last Thursday, the portion of Blanco County in exceptional drought dropped from 92.03 percent to 48.19 percent. Exceptional drought is the highest of five stages on the monitor.
That’s the first change in drought levels in the county since the March 11 drought monitor, when 71.74 percent of the county was listed at that level. The week prior, in the March 4 drought monitor, none of the county was listed in exceptional drought.
The remaining 51.81 percent of Blanco County is listed in extreme drought, which is the fourth of five steps on the monitor, in the latest monitor. The majority of the county has been listed in exceptional or extreme drought since the Jan. 28 monitor.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index for Tuesday listed Blanco County in the 200-300 range, which is the second of seven steps on the index. The county’s average was 218 on Tuesday, up 13 points from Monday, with a low point of 85 and a high point of 326.
The NWS forecast for Blanco County includes a chance of showers and thunderstorms Wednesday and a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms Sunday and Monday.
While there’s some precipitation in the forecast and Blanco County is not under a burn ban, it’s still important to be careful and aware of outdoor activities that can cause a fire. Fire prevention tips from the Texas A&M Forest Service include: - Never leave your grill unattended. Wind gusts may blow embers into dry vegetation, potentially starting a wildfire.
- Ensure your grill is kept clean of excess grease to prevent flare-ups.
- Place your grill in an open space away from tall or dry grass, shrubs, wood piles or other flammable materials. Also, avoid placing your grill underneath a tree or on a wooden patio deck.
- After grilling, allow time for the coals to completely cool. Smoldering coals may reignite and release embers, which may be blown into nearby vegetation.
- If you pull a boat or camper, ensure the tow chains are correctly connected and not dragging on the roadway, creating sparks.
- Park in designated spaces and avoid driving over and parking on dry grass — the heat from your vehicle can easily ignite the grass.
For more information about protecting your home from a potential wildfire, visit https://tfsweb.tamu. edu/ProtectYourHome/.
