Drought among the worst in Texas in past 500 years

Medina Dam is seen from Old Medina Dam Road south of the dam, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2014.

Medina Dam is seen from Old Medina Dam Road south of the dam, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2014. Photo: Jerry Lara, San Antonio Express-News Photo: Jerry Lara, San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 140 Caption Close Drought among the worst in Texas in past 500 years 1 / 140 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — Will record-breaking droughts become the “new normal” for South Texas?

That question was posed by the state Climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon at a meeting of the Edwards Aquifer Authority board Tuesday.

The current drought, which started four years ago, is among the five worst in the past 500 years, he said. If it continues to be as dry as it is has been, the drought could be the third worst.

El Niño conditions “definitely seem to be on the way,” he said, which could usher in a cool, wet winter and up to 5 inches of additional rainfall.

In the long term, because of changes in the global climate, South Texas “could see both worse droughts and worse floods,” Nielsen-Gammon said.