Mosquito outlook for Texas as activity ramps up
TEXAS (KFDX/KJTL) — If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring? For Texans, unfortunately, the answer is mosquitos.
Springtime in the Lone Star State means the temperatures are on the rise, and with April and May typically bringing the largest amount of rainfall every year, it's the perfect breeding ground for one of nature's peskiest insects.
Not only can mosquitos be an absolute nuisance for Texans planning any outdoor activities, but they can also carry harmful and sometimes fatal diseases, including the West Nile virus, yellow fever, and malaria.
Below is a forecast and outlook for mosquito season in Texas as summertime approaches.
Average annual mosquito activity in Texas
A chart listing the level of mosquito activity for various metropolitan areas in Texas can be found below:
On average in Texas, mosquito activity is relatively low in January through March and begins ramping up in April and May. By June, mosquito activity is high throughout the state.
Typically, mosquito activity in Texas reaches peak levels in July and August before tapering off in September and October, eventually returning to relatively low across the state for November and December.
Highest and lowest mosquito activity in Texas
Mosquitos thrive in warm and humid conditions. Unfortunately, most of Texas becomes warmer and more humid as spring turns to summer, making most of the state the perfect breeding ground for mosquitos.
As seen in the chart above, warmer and more humid areas of Texas, such as El Paso, McAllen, and Harlingen, have the highest peak mosquito activity, each reaching the highest level of extreme activity during the summer months.
Conversely, areas of Texas that are less humid on average, such as Lubbock and Amarillo, see lower levels of mosquito activity during peak summer months.
Is mosquito season in Texas coming early this year?
Higher than average rainfall across most of Texas as temperatures continue to rise could very likely signal an early mosquito season in the state.
Currently, mosquito activity across a majority of Texas appears to be higher than average as April draws to a close.
According to the mosquito-forecast.org five-day mosquito forecast for Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio, mosquito activity through Sunday, April 28, 2024, ranges from high to very high and above the April average.
If the current trend of elevated mosquito activity continues to increase into May and June, Texas could be in for not just an early mosquito season, but a highly active one.
How Texans can prepare for peak mosquito season
Thankfully, there's a tool available to help Texans stay aware as peak mosquito season approaches.
Mosquito-forecast.org is a website that uses AI algorithms to track mosquito activity across the world. They provide a five-day outlook for mosquito activity, as well as the average monthly mosquito activity for any given region.
In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has some basic guidelines Texans can follow to both prevent an infestation of mosquitos and avoid being bitten by the insects and the potentially harmful diseases they may carry.
According to experts, individuals can avoid being bitten by mosquitos by observing the following practices as mosquito activity intensifies in Texas:
- Avoid dawn and dusk, when mosquitos are most active
- Wear long sleeves and long pants to limit access to skin
- Apply insect repellant when outdoors
- Use screens on doors and windows
- Use air conditioning
- Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out items that hold water, such as tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpots, or trash containers