Drought conditions begin to improve across the Rio Grande Valley and Deep South Texas by the end of the month. An upper level disturbance and a weak low pressure system over the northern Sierra Madre mountains produced strong thunderstorms on the 27th. Most of the activity affected the western portions, producing widespread rainfall amounts of generally 2 inches or less. The combination of the upper level disturbance and old boundaries produced another round of strong thunderstorms on the 28th. These storms affected mainly the central and coastal counties of Deep South Texas. Rainfall amounts of 1 to 4 inches fell across southern Hidalgo, and portions of Willacy and Cameron counties. This was the first significant rainfall event since early January 2013. Despite the end of month rain event, dry conditions persisted during the month. Extreme (D3) drought conditions returned across much of Zapata, Jim Hogg and western Brooks counties, along with southeastern Hidalgo and southern Cameron counties. Exceptional (D4) drought conditions continued across Starr, Hidalgo, eastern Brooks, Kenedy, and Willacy counties, by April 30th.

Drought in ZAPATA, TEXAS
From 30-APR-13 00:00:00 to 30-APR-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Significant rainfall of 1 to 2 inches fell across portions of Zapata County during the last week of April.  This rainfall allowed for  improvement in drought conditions across much of the county. Extreme (D3) drought conditions returned to the northern two thirds of the county, while exceptional (D4) drought conditions remained over the southern third.

Drought in CAMERON, TEXAS
From 30-APR-13 00:00:00 to 30-APR-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Significant rainfall of 1 to 4 inches fell across much of Cameron County during the last week of April.  This rainfall allowed for the exceptional (D4) drought conditions that encompassed much of the county to be relegated to only the NW and NE corners of the county, while the rest of the county improved to extreme (D3) drought conditions.

Drought in WILLACY, TEXAS
From 30-APR-13 00:00:00 to 30-APR-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Significant rainfall of 1 to 3 inches fell across portions of Willacy County during the last week of April.  This rainfall allowed for improvement in drought conditions across the south central section of the county; exceptional (D4) drought conditions improved to extreme (D3) drought conditions, while the rest of the county remained entrenched in exceptional (D4) drought conditions.

Drought in BROOKS, TEXAS
From 30-APR-13 00:00:00 to 30-APR-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Significant rainfall of 1 to 2 inches fell across portions of Brooks County during the last week of April.  This rainfall allowed for slight improvement in drought conditions across the western central section of the county where exceptional (D4) drought conditions improved to extreme (D3) drought conditions, while the rest of the county remained entrenched in exceptional (D4) drought conditions.

Drought in JIM HOGG, TEXAS
From 30-APR-13 00:00:00 to 30-APR-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Significant rainfall of 1 to 2 inches fell across portions of Jim Hogg County during the last week of April.  This rainfall allowed for  improvement in drought conditions across much of the county. Extreme (D3) drought conditions returned to the county, except for a sliver of exceptional (D4) drought conditions along the far southern border.