Texas rains bring end to second-worst drought category

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Ongoing rainfall across much of Texas has brought additional improvement in drought conditions.

The U.S. Drought Monitor map released Thursday shows Texas with no areas in extreme drought, the second worst category.

The last time the state was without extreme drought was in late November 2010. The following year was the state’s driest year ever and began the state’s second worst drought behind the one in the 1950s.

About 85 percent of the state is out of drought.

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May and June are the state’s wettest months.

Forecasters say a weaker-than-anticipated El Nino that brought with it rain, snow and sleet to Texas is expected to persist and intensify through next winter.

Precipitation amounts may diminish this summer but fall and winter are predicted to have greater chances of above-normal rainfall.