Lake Texoma Going Over The Spillway In The Pouring Rain




In the midst of another big thunderstorm this morning, Lake Texoma is going over the spillway.


The Spillway Cam provided by KXII went offline, so we can’t watch the big event on TV, and I’m not driving from the West End where we live over to the Denison Dam in the pouring rain to watch it happen!


So, I guess I’m there in spirit while I write this post.


KXII just tweeted that all the counties surrounding the Lake Texoma watershed are experiencing flash flooding right now, and other lakes are full to overflowing in Texas and Oklahoma at this moment, too.


As a reporter, I’m thinking about the consequences of the continuing waves of thunderstorms and severe weather, not only for people who use the lakes for recreation, and for businesses dependent on lake recreation, but for farmers, ranchers and plant nurseries dependent on the land and the weather.


I’m thinking about construction projects on hold and local events being postponed or cancelled.


And I’m thinking about the future. When will the waves of thunderstorms come to an end?


Turns out, there’s a new satellite out there giving scientists more comprehensive information and the ability to make more accurate weather forecasts, along with new soil monitors collecting data on rainfall and runoff.

I’ll interrupt this post to say my husband just said the Spillway Cam is back on and Lake Texoma is flowing over the spillway. So, we’re watching it on TV after all!


OK, back to the future…


All the new technology is telling us that the wet weather is going to continue. Not just for the Texoma area, but for a MUCH larger area, nearly all of Texas.

The University of Texas at Austin predicts the probability of a wet summer, for most of the state of Texas is 90%, stating the following:


“The forecast, created by The University of Texas at Austin Jackson School of Geosciences and the Texas Water Development Board, should be welcome news to parts of the state suffering from a multiyear drought.


The new method is a statistical forecast model that looks at more localized data than the larger-scale dynamic climate models traditionally used to predict summer weather in Texas. The new model uses atmospheric pressure, land surface conditions and other factors in the spring to predict summer rainfall.”

 

The new forecasting model is expected to be 70% accurate, while old methods were only 50% accurate, or pretty much the same as guessing. Now we have 20% more certainty that the wave of  heavy rains will be continuing through June and July.

Oh boy…




Tell us what you think!

Lake Texoma Email Updates


 

Visit our Lake Texoma Sponsors!

Lake Texoma on Social Media

 
       

Lake Texoma Current Weather Alerts

There are no active watches, warnings or advisories.

 

Lake Texoma Weather Forecast

Wednesday

Chance Rain Showers

Hi: 80

Wednesday Night

Rain Showers Likely

Lo: 57

Thursday

Rain Showers Likely

Hi: 68

Thursday Night

Rain Showers

Lo: 59

Friday

Thunderstorms

Hi: 69

Friday Night

Rain Showers

Lo: 57

Saturday

Chance Rain Showers

Hi: 60

Saturday Night

Mostly Cloudy

Lo: 42


Lake Texoma Water Level (last 30 days)


Water Level on 4/2: 614.01 (-2.99)



Lake Texoma

Fishing Report from TPWD (Mar. 26)

FAIR. Water stained; 55 degrees; 2.96 feet below pool. Striped bass are in their spawning mindset and becoming more difficult to locate big fish. Live bait on deep flats and ledges near the big mineral arm and near the bridges. Swimbaits will work shallow in creeks and on points for bigger fish that will not leave the lake to spawn. Catfishing will pick up with the rain and inflow. Look for fish shallow near the rivers and on deep flats near marinas. Large hooks with several small shad or score a big gizzard shad and fish them on the bottom. Suspended bass are in marinas near docks and in the backs of pockets. Crankbaits and chatterbaits are working along with swimbaits near structure and brush. Water temperatures will hit 60 this week. Crappie can be caught near creeks and coves on brush and structure. Fish will be roaming shallow flats in 8-12 feet of water. Jigs and minnows slip cork fish or use electronics to locate more active fish. Report by Jacob Orr, Lake Texoma, Guaranteed Guide Service. Striped bass have been a challenge in deep water on Alabama rigs, swimbaits and bait. Warmer days will push fish to shallower water and structure. There are tons of baitfish throughout the lake. Stipers are in the middle of the spawning season, so this can slow the bite but the bite will be aggressive as fish spawn out. Report by John Blasingame, Adventure Texoma Outdoors.

More Fishing Reports