Texas is now 93 percent covered in extreme drought. That means water shortages are apparent, agricultural losses may mount and rain has been in short supply. The U.S. Drought Monitor reports Texas barely got some relief from the last week of drought conditions but it means very little in terms of the overall outlook for the state.
Several urban areas of Texas will see little relief over the next week. The Dallas-Fort Worth area has had 54 days of 100 degree heat or greater. If the forecast holds, 2011 will become the second-greatest number of days over 100 in the city's history. The record is 69 days set in 1980. Dallas already had 40 days in a row over 100 degrees from July 2 to Aug. 10, barely missing the 1980 record by two consecutive days.
Houston isn't looking much better. The next five days are also going to hit the century mark, which would break the 1980 record of 32 days in a row for reaching 100 degrees. Houston normally sees only four days in a given year above 100 degrees due to its coastal location. The area is currently under an exceptional drought due to lack of rain.
The only part of the state not suffering through the worst drought is extreme southern Texas near the Mexico border. They received some rain from Tropical Storm Don back in early July.
Even with the worst drought Texas has seen in decades, it isn't as bad as it could be. The 10-year drought from the 1940s and 1950s completely dried up Lakes Buchanan and Travis. Both reservoirs are about half full as they supply Austin with the city's water. The Lower Colorado River Authority maintains water flowing into both lakes was at 10 percent or lower since June. Austin has had 52 100-degree days. June and July were the hottest on record in Texas.
Texas has been relatively lucky when it comes to the recent weather and wildfires. As of right now, only four large fires are currently burning. Most of the 2,300 acres of fires have been extinguished with no loss of life or property despite dozens of homes that were evacuated.
There is no relief in sight for Texas. A huge dome of high pressure continues to dominate the atmosphere, which isn't letting in any tropical moisture that can fall onto the landscape. Perhaps when the 2011 hurricane season picks up in September there will be some dowsing precipitation that will cool off the Lone Star State.
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