Texas Hill Country Drought 2011
The Bottom Of The Lake
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Where Is The Rain?
Austin, Texas is in the midst of the worst drought in many, many years. The worst recorded drought was from 1950-1957. Texas has surpassed that record this year! With temperatures soaring over one hundred degrees daily and no substantial rain, the area is drying up fast.
Most of Texas is suffering from the lack of rain and a severe drought has been declared over much of the state. Dallas received rain this weekend, a drop in the bucket, but very welcome relief from soaring temperatures and arid weather.
Central Texas is currently under a high pressure system that is keeping us hot and dry. That system moved this past weekend. Beautiful, dark clouds moved in and the temperatures dropped slightly, but there was no significant rainfall.
Dry Lake Bottom
Area Lakes
Lake Travis is not a constant level lake. Over the last few years, we have seen it's lake levels recede only to rise again in a rainy season. Currently the lake is below 47% full. During the last drought a couple of years ago, the lake levels were 50% full. September began a rainy season that filled the area lakes completely.
Local residents have their eyes set on any potential storm systems brewing in the Gulf for relief from this intense time of drought. The last Tropical Storm fizzled as it hit the coast around Corpus Christi. Most of the coastal area received very little rain.
Meanwhile, once green lawns are charred from the hot sunny days and lack of moisture. Local lake parks are closed as are their boat ramps. Local trees appear droopy and some are losing their leaves and branches as the hot winds blow. Animals are thirsty and are venturing into unlikely places to seek water. On a local new report last evening, it was noted that many animals are leaving their babies behind due to the lack of moisture available to care for them. A baby squirrel was shown, abandoned by its mother because of the current arrid conditions.
What Can We Expect?
Unless the residing high pressure system moves, there will be no rain. As this current pressure system moves allowing the moisture from the Gulf to come up into Texas and the cooler weather fronts are able to fall Southward as Fall approaches, we will again have increased opportunities for moisture in the area. To refill the Lakes quickly, a Tropical Storm could provide inches of rain in a short period of time and could trigger local flooding.
Divine intervention on our behalf would be nice. Many local residents are praying for rain. LORD, PLEASE LET IT RAIN!
