Cedar Creek Lake is looking a lot better these days as water again rises under the piers of businesses and homes, but the lake is still about 4.25 feet low. It's a got a ways to go before things are back to normal, but there is hope for more improvement. The lake level is already significantly higher than Cedar Creek Lake reservoir monitors had predicted it would be a couple of months ago. The National Weather Service released a report today indicating that for the upcoming week for Texas and the Gulf Coast region the weather is "likely to feature heavy to very heavy precipitation" in the amount of two to five inches. The rain, if it indeed comes to the Northeast Texas area, will provide temporary, short-term drought relief, but it may have little impact on long-term water shortages, according to the climate scientists. The next weather forecast will be issued by the federal agency on March 1. In the meantime, the lake is looking far more inviting to weekend residents and other visitors, who appear to be returning as they always do this time of year. Several area business owners and their employees said things have picked up some in recent weeks. The pictures posted below show how two locations on the lake looked during the drought, and how they look today. The new pictures were taken Feb. 15, and the old pictures were taken in late 2011. Ranchers are ecstatic to see their livestock water tanks brimming full again, and the golf courses look much better with the water traps featuring water rather than beds of sand. Everyone needs to continue their prayers, rain dances or whatever it was that induced the skies to unexpectedly grace the Cedar Creek Lake area with so much rain during the past couple of months.