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Is Central Texas still in drought? Maps show change before and after last week's floods

Some areas of Texas received up to 20 inches of rain last week as remnants from two tropical systems met over the state, unleashing flash floods that proved both deadly and destructive. The storms delivered a dramatic burst of moisture to a parched landscape, but even with that, much of Texas remains locked in abnormally dry conditions and drought, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor maps. The flooding came on the heels of an early and intense heat wave, with triple-digit temperatures gripping parts of the state as early as mid-May — nearly two months ahead of schedule. Temperatures soared as high as 113 degrees along the Texas-Mexico border, and June ended as the seventh-hottest month on record. While the recent rain did lead to a notable reduction in drought coverage across parts of the state, it wasn't enough to bring widespread or lasting relief. Large swaths of Texas remain in severe to exceptional drought — the three highest categories — including the Texas Hill Country, which saw the greatest devastation from last week's flash flood that came hours ahead of Fourth of July celebrations, killing at least 120 with 170 still missing. No drought: 62.15% Abnormally dry to exceptional drought (D0–D4): 37.85% Moderate to exceptional drought (D1–D4): 29.50% Severe to exceptional drought (D2–D4): 22.20% Extreme to exceptional drought (D3–D4): 13.48% Exceptional drought (D4): 5.75% Drought Severity and Coverage Index (DSCI): 109 The Drought Severity and Coverage Index describes the overall intensity and geographic extent of drought conditions in a given area. No drought: 68.71% of Texas Abnormally dry to exceptional drought (D0–D4): 31.29% Moderate to exceptional drought (D1–D4): 23.04% Severe to exceptional drought (D2–D4): 16.29% Extreme to exceptional drought (D3–D4): 10.21% Exceptional drought (D4): 4.38% Drought Severity and Coverage Index (DSCI): 85 This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Is Central Texas still in drought? See maps after last week's floods