(July 19, 2008)—The drought is back in varying degrees for more than 90 percent of the state.
A year ago, nearly all of the state was free of any drought stage, but now about 4.5 percent of the state is in the grip of an exceptional drought, which is the most severe stage on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Parts or all of as many as 20 counties in the north part of South Texas are in exceptional drought including Bexar, Travis, Bastrop and Hays Counties.
In Central Texas, extreme drought has been declared for much of Falls, Milam and Robertson Counties, an area that wasn’t even classified as abnormally dry at the beginning of June, the National Weather Service said.
Parts of Lampasas, Bell and McLennan Counties are in a severe drought, the Weather Service says.
The most immediate impact of the dry conditions is a jump in the number of grassfires.
Area departments responded to a series of mostly small fires Friday and without significant rain, conditions remain prime for more.
Bans on outdoor burning are now in effect in Bell, Bosque, Coryell, Falls, Freestone, Hill, Lampasas, Leon, Limestone, McLennan, Mills, Robertson, San Saba and Williamson Counties.
There’s no immediate relief in sight in this area, but the National Weather Service says other parts of the state are above normal for July rainfall.
El Paso has had three times its normal rainfall so far this month.
Lubbock is also a little ahead of its normal.
Both areas are feeling some influence of the monsoon season that's west of a line between Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the Guadalupe Mountains in far West Texas.
Wildfire Resources
Texas Emergency Management Situation Reports From The Governor's Division Of Emergency Management
Texas Wildfire Information And Reports From The Texas Forest Service
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Farm And Ranch Safety Tips
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