Comal County’s drought index averaged 561 on Oct. 22, up four points from the previous day, with readings ranging from 292 to 680. The Texas A&M Forest Service’s daily county summary shows that one average does not describe conditions everywhere in Comal County.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index runs from zero for saturated soil to 800 for extreme drought. Its 388-point spread across Comal County indicates substantially different dryness readings within the county. The index is a measure of drought conditions, not a report of a fire or a forecast that one will occur.
From the source record
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index runs from 0 (saturated soil) to 800 (extreme drought).Texas A&M Forest Service ↗
Residents planning outdoor burning should check the county’s current burn status and weather conditions; the drought index is not a burn-ban order. The county’s outdoor burning guidance directs residents to verify whether a ban is in effect, understand applicable rules and check wind speeds before burning.
The next daily drought-index reading will show whether the county average and range have changed. Residents can inspect the Forest Service’s county data and the county’s Fire Marshal page for current outdoor burn status; the Oct. 22 index alone does not establish what burning is allowed today.