Drought persists despite rains

Despite the rains that have fallen in the state, the 46 municipalities of Guanajuato continue to present some degree of drought; even four of them, such as Moroleón Uriangato, Pénjamo, and Yuriria present status of extreme drought, as they have not yet been able to recover the optimal levels of water in the reservoirs.

According to the most recent report of the drought monitor of the National Water Commission (Conagua), 22 municipalities have a degree of severe drought, 20 have moderate drought and four have extreme drought; that is, 60.3% of the state surface has a moderate drought, 31.5% has severe drought and 2% has extreme drought.

According to the Conagua, during the first two weeks of June, there was above-normal rainfall in practically the entire country, which reduced the abnormally dry and drought areas, but more water is still needed to mitigate the effects of the lack of rainfall.

At the national level, the percentage of moderate to exceptional drought area was 67.41%, so there is still more than half of the national territory in drought conditions.

In Guanajuato, 22 municipalities have a moderate drought condition, which is characterized by major losses in crops and pastures, in addition to the extreme risk of forest fires, in addition to the generalized restrictions in the use of water due to its scarcity, These include San Miguel de Allende, Apaseo el Alto, Paseo el Grande, Atarjea, Comonfort, Doctor Mora, Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato, Ocampo, Salamanca, San Diego, San Felipe, San José Iturbide, San Luis de la Paz, Santa Catarina, Juventino Rosas, Tierra Blanca, Victoria, Villagrán and Xichú.

Meanwhile, there are 22 other municipalities that are in a severe drought condition and these are Abasolo, Acámbaro, Celaya, Manuel Doblado, Coroneo, Cortazar, Cuerámaro, Huanímaro, Irapuato, Jaral del Progreso, Jerécuaro, León, Pueblo Nuevo, Purísima del Rincón, Romita, Salvatierra, San Francisco del Rincón, Santiago Maravatío, Silao, Tarandacuao, Tarimoro and Valle de Santiago; Severe drought is characterized by probable crop or pasture losses, high fire risk, and water shortages are common, so the National Water Commission recommends the imposition of water use restrictions.

Meanwhile, there are four municipalities with extreme drought, and they are Moroleon Uriangato, Penjamo and Yuriria and in these areas is characterized by the presence of some damage to crops and pastures, plus there is a high risk of fires, low levels in rivers, streams, reservoirs, watering holes and wells and where the suggestion that the authorities make is to have a voluntary restriction on the use of water.

The Conagua estimated that around 250 millimeters of rain have fallen in Guanajuato, when the average for the season is 650 millimeters, which could be had, but which would be insufficient to recover the reservoirs, after two years in which it did not rain as estimated and generated that several dams are dry and that not even with the current rains has allowed them to recover.