TX State Climatologist - At Least 9 Counties In Current Drought Driest Since Record-Keeping Began

[hatrack]

DALLAS - The most parched areas of Texas have been wilting in the blistering heat for two years, but only now is it now official: This is their worst drought in recorded history.

Texas state climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon said Friday that at least nine of the 254 counties in Texas — the nation's most drought-stricken state — are suffering through their driest conditions since modern record-keeping began in 1895.

Making matters worse are the relentless 100-degree days across the southern portion of Texas that has been under drought conditions since September 2007.

EDIT

The worst hit counties are Bastrop, Caldwell and Lee in Central Texas, and Victoria, Bee, San Patricio, Live Oak, Jim Wells and Duval in south-central Texas, Nielsen-Gammon said. He studied precipitation over several three-year periods and concluded the historic drought level in those counties. Roughly half the state is under some form of drought. About 26 percent — a large swath of Central and South Texas — is suffering through the worst two categories of drought. Texas is the only state in the U.S. with areas enduring the worst category, according to the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture Drought Monitor map. Small areas in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Hawaii are in the second-worst category.

For the first time since 1904, the entire cotton crop was wiped out this year in Kleberg County, which borders two of the historically drought-stricken counties in South Texas and has seen only 2 inches of rain since January. The county typically gets 27 to 28 inches of rain in a 12-month period and produces between 30,000 and 40,000 acres of cotton.

EDIT

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32423004/ns/weather/

[Yunomi]

1. It's bad, folks.

We live in urban Travis County, and it's scary enough, but a good friend is in rural Bastrop Co. Her tank (pond) is dry, and neighbor's cattle are dying. Wild fires spring up constantly. Looks like it's only gonna get worse.

[Javaman]

5. Howdy, Neighbor...

I'm in north Austin, just north of the 183. While other areas of town have gotten a little rain from those late day heat showers, we haven't gotten a drop in almost 2 months.

How about you?

[Yunomi]

7. We've gotten a few drops in the last couple of months.

I get my exercise emptying the duck's kiddie pool onto the tomato and herb plants.

[Javaman]

8. My wife and I have been saving the water from our taps while we wait

for it to heat up.

I also am saving the water from my a/c condensation line. When it was real humid out, I was getting 6 to 8 gallons of water a day, but as things have gotten dryer, I am getting around 4 gallons a day now. :(

Trying my best to save my garden as best as I can.

I'm down to half a rain barrel. I fear, I will be losing my veggies soon, if things don't improve.

[liberaltrucker]

2. TX has a STATE climatologist? Not privatized to KBR?

:wow:


Seriously, it is really bad. Good vibes for my DU brothers
and sisters in Texas!

:grouphug:

[Manifestor_of_Light]

3. We have 254 counties, more than any other state.

And some counties are bigger than some other states.

[OnlinePoker]

4. Bad News for Whooping Cranes

The Wood Buffalo Whooping Crane flock winters in the Aransas Wildlife refuge on the Texas coast right in the middle of the drought zone. Last year, the flock lost a lot of birds as they had to go further afield in search of food (in good years, their primary foods are tiny crabs in the marshes of the refuge). No water means no refuge from predators so I expect a lot of the flock will fail again this year.

[Terry in Austin]

6. Water from the sky?!

What a concept!

They should have that here...

[pscot]

9. According to NASA's long range forecast

the current El Niño should bring some relief to Texas, beginning this fall. You have to scroll down a bit to the precip charts.

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions//multi_season/13_seasonal_outlooks/color/churchill.php