Published: July 25, 2008 10:42 am      

Doused by Dolly

Thirsty Centex landscapes drink up droplets of delight

As residents in South Texas begin clean-up after Hurricane Dolly struck the coast, Central Texans are celebrating the rain dropped by the outer storm bands on parched yards.

Hurricane Dolly, which was upgraded to a Category 2 hurricane before it hit land, poured heavy rain and up to 100 mph winds in South Texas, said the Associate Press on Thursday. President Bush declared South Texas a disaster area to release federal funding to 15 counties, and insurance estimators put the losses at $750 million.

The outermost edge of the storm blew through Central Texas Thursday leaving just over an inch (1.08 in) of rain in San Marcos, which brought the total rainfall this month to 2.67 in. The average rainfall for July is 2.12 in.

The San Marcos River flow rose to 151 cfs from 125 cfs in about two hours Thursday afternoon, reported the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Web site.

The wet weather drove concert-goers inside the San Marcos Activity Center for Summer in the Parks’ presentation of Salsa Del Rio Thursday night.

San Marcos Electric Utility officials said power outages were kept to a minimum with only one momentary outage caused by a tree-limb on an electrical wire.

Red Cross of Central Texas reported earlier this week that it would be sending seven volunteers to southern San Antonio to help evacuees, keeping about 20 volunteers on stand-by. No evacuees were expected to come to San Marcos.

Despite the rain and temperatures in the 70s, the burn ban remains in effect in Hays County.