A few rounds of rain and isolated thunderstorms associated with a late-season cold front dropped bands of 1.5 to 2.5 inches of rain in Hidalgo/Willacy, and northeast Brooks to northern Kenedy, on April 17th/18th.  The welcome rain and unseasonably cool daytime temperatures contributed to reductions in the coverage of Exceptional (D4) and Extreme (D3) Drought conditions in these areas.  Locations in the upper Valley and Rio Grande Plains missed out, with D3 to D4 conditions prevailing.

Drought in STARR, TEXAS
From 20-APR-21 00:00:00 to 26-APR-21 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Beneficial rainfall occurred across populated southern Starr County on April 16th/17th, providing some relief to drought conditions in the area. Exceptional (D4) Drought was removed from southern Starr County, which returned to Extreme (D3) Drought.

Drought in SOUTHERN HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS
From 20-APR-21 00:00:00 to 30-APR-21 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Beneficial rainfall of 1.5 to 2.5 inches occurred across eastern Hidalgo County (between Edinburg and Monte Alto) early on April 18th, providing some relief to drought conditions in the area. Exceptional (D4) Drought was completely removed from Southern Hidalgo County, and Extreme (D3) Drought was also trimmed away from more of far Southern Hidalgo County.

Drought in NORTHERN HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS
From 20-APR-21 00:00:00 to 30-APR-21 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Beneficial rainfall occurred across the southeast portion Northern Hidalgo County early on April 18th, providing some relief to drought conditions in the area. Exceptional (D4) Drought was removed from southeastern portions of Northern Hidalgo County, which returned to Extreme (D3) Drought.  On April 27th, a sliver of D3 conditions near the Starr County line with degrade to D4, as this area missed out on earlier rainfall and combined with a several day period of warmth and low humidity to push into the Exceptional category.

Drought in INLAND KENEDY COUNTY, TEXAS
From 20-APR-21 00:00:00 to 30-APR-21 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Beneficial rainfall occurred across Inland Kenedy County (north and south) on late April 17th/early April 18th - generally one half to on inch, providing some relief to drought conditions in the area. Exceptional (D4) Drought was removed from far southwestern Kenedy County, and Extreme (D3) Drought was also trimmed away from far northern as well as southeastern portions of Kenedy County, returning those areas to Severe (D2) Drought.

Drought in COASTAL KENEDY COUNTY, TEXAS
From 20-APR-21 00:00:00 to 30-APR-21 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Beneficial rainfall of 0.5 to 1.5 inches occurred across southern and northern Coastal Kenedy County in mid-April (late 17th/early 18th), providing some relief to drought conditions in the area. Extreme (D3) Drought was trimmed out of far northern and far southern portions of Coastal Kenedy.

Drought in WILLACY, TEXAS
From 20-APR-21 00:00:00 to 30-APR-21 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Beneficial rainfall estimated between 1 and 2.5 inches occurred across Willacy County during the pre-dawn hours on April 18th, providing some relief to drought conditions in the area. The small area of Exceptional (D4) Drought was removed, and Extreme (D3) Drought was removed from western and central portions of Willacy County.

Drought in COASTAL WILLACY, TEXAS
From 20-APR-21 00:00:00 to 30-APR-21 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Beneficial rainfall, generally 1.5 to 2.5 inches, fell across Coastal Willacy County during the pre-dawn hours of  April 18th, providing some relief to drought conditions in the area. All but a sliver of  Severe (D2) Drought, in the northwest corner of the zone, was removed.

Drought in CAMERON, TEXAS
From 20-APR-21 00:00:00 to 30-APR-21 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

A couple of pockets of beneficial rainfall occurred across southern Cameron County near the Rio Grande, and northern Cameron County near the Willacy County line early on April 18th, providing some relief to drought conditions in the area. Extreme (D3) Drought was removed from Cameron County and Severe (D2) Drought was trimmed slightly.