Drought conditions held steady the first week of May with little to no rain falling during the week across the region.  A five day period of occasional strong to severe thunderstorms (May 8-12) would manifest in one level of drought improvement across locations in the Rio Grande Plains and Lower Rio Grande Valley.

Drought in CAMERON, TEXAS
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 14-MAY-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Inland Cameron County continued to be one of the driest areas across the Rio Grande Valley into mid May.  D2 (severe) drought conditions prevailed through the 14th.

Drought in HIDALGO, TEXAS
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 14-MAY-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Hidalgo County saw no improvement in drought conditions. D2 (severe) drought remained only in a sliver on the far eastern boundary of the county, while the rest of the county was in D1 (moderate) and D0 (abnormally dry) drought conditions. Periodic rainfall between th 8th and 12th would improve drought conditions, removing the entire county from anything more than moderate (D1) by the 15th.

Drought in BROOKS, TEXAS
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Brooks County remained in moderate (D1) to severe (D2) drought through the month of May.  Through May 14th, D2 (severe) held across the eastern third of the county; after May 14th, the D2 area shifted to the northern sliver of the county, including Falfurrias, with the remainder of the county at D1.

Drought in COASTAL CAMERON, TEXAS
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 14-MAY-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Coastal Cameron County saw no change in drought conditions and remained among the worst levels in Deep South Texas/Rio Grande Valley region. D3 (extreme) drought conditions prevailed through May 14th. Relief would arrive during the second week of the month and manifest in lower drought levels beginning on the 15th.

Drought in COASTAL WILLACY, TEXAS
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 14-MAY-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Coastal Willacy County saw no change in drought conditions and remained among the worst levels in Deep South Texas/Rio Grande Valley region. D3 (extreme) drought conditions prevailed through May 14th. Relief would arrive during the second week of the month and manifest in lower drought levels beginning on the 15th.

Drought in ZAPATA, TEXAS
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 14-MAY-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Zapata County saw a slight increase in D3 (extreme) drought conditions across the northern third of the county. The remainder of the the county so no change in drought conditions with the southern tip of the county remaining in D1 (moderate) drought conditions and the middle of the county staying in D2 (severe) drought conditions. Periodic rains between the 8th and 12th would improve drought somewhat beginning on the 15th.

Drought in JIM HOGG, TEXAS
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Jim Hogg County saw little change in drought conditions through May, despite periodic rainfall, especially between the 8th and 12th. Conditions in the county began with a wide range from south to north, with D0 (abnormally dry) across the southern tier and D2 to D3 (severe to extreme) conditions across the north/northwest sliver, with D1 (moderate) in the central portions.  These conditions would persist through the month, with D2 confined to the extreme northwest/north until near month's end when extreme (D3) conditions returned to near Hebbronville.

Drought in KENEDY, TEXAS
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 14-MAY-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Kenedy County continued to be one of the driest counties across Deep South Texas into mid May; coastal regions continued at D3 (extreme) with inland locations at D2 (severe) through the 14th. Occasional thunderstorms the second week of the month would help reduce the drought a bit after the 14th.

Drought in WILLACY, TEXAS
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 14-MAY-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Inland Willacy County continued to be one of the driest regions across the Rio Grande Valley into mid May.  D2 (severe) drought conditions prevailed through the 14th.