Parts of Texas are in the middle of a severe drought and many cities received less than one-half of their normal spring rainfall, according to figures released today from the National Weather Service and the Texas State Climatologist.
John Nielsen-Gammon, state climatologist and professor of meteorology at Texas A&M University, says many parts of the state received little or no rain during June, adding that some of the most severe drought conditions in the United States exist in Texas.
"Houston, for example, has just been through its driest June in the past 100 years," he explains.
"That contrasts significantly to this time last year. In 2004 for Texas as a whole, it was the wettest June on record."
In 2002, a developing drought in Texas was averted by tropical rains from storms during the first two weeks of July. "But this year, I don't think we'll be so lucky," he predicts.
Nielsen-Gammon says the United State Drought Monitor, released this week, shows about one-third of the state in drought status, with another one-third experiencing abnormally dry conditions.
"The lack of rainfall comes at a critical time of the year," Nielsen-Gammon says.
"June is normally one of the wettest months of the year in most parts of the state. Now it's July, when rainfall typically decreases. It means conditions will deteriorate rapidly even if the dry weather continues for just a few more weeks."
Victory Murphy of the National Weather Service regional headquarters in Fort Worth adds that after a wet winter, "things changed dramatically in April from a Del Rio-to-Childress line, with the onset of dryness through June, leading to our drought conditions.
"The lower Rio Grande Valley has seen significantly below normal rainfall since January, with many areas receiving less than 30 percent of normal yearly rainfall through June."
"While much of South, Central and East Texas are suffering from a very dry spring, an area that's really hurting is a strip along the Red River about 50 miles wide," says Travis Miller, a professor and soil expert in the Texas Cooperative Extension program.
"There are five or six counties in that area that are severely dry. Much of the dryland cotton in the Rio Grande Valley and adjacent counties in South Texas is being abandoned. We've gone from surplus moisture to severe drought in several locations across the state."
Miller says the next big set of problems could occur for central Texas.
"The lack of rain places corn under stress and makes plants vulnerable for the development of aflatoxins. At high levels, aflatoxins, natural compounds produced by mold, restrict the usage of corn and greatly lower prices paid to farmers."
Nielsen-Gammon says one culprit in the drought is the jet stream, which normally takes several dips into Texas during the spring. "The good news is Texas had very few tornadoes," he explains. "The bad news is Texas had very little rain."
Burn bans are now in effect for at least 99 Texas counties, Nielsen-Gammon says. In urban areas, the dry weather has led to heavy use of public water supplies for irrigation of lawns and gardens.
"But with water demand likely to remain high for the rest of the summer, we may see water rationing phased in at some locations," he adds. "It's not too late to work harder at conserving water."