New report shows record drought, heat

KXAN (AUSTIN) - When your shoes are melting and beads of sweat roll down your face just on the walk to your car, you already know it is hot.

But Central Texas is seeing one of the hottest, driest summers in decades, according to a new report by an area climatologist.

"This is about a twice-every-century event," said state climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon.

A new assessment of the meteorological severity of the 2008-09 Texas drought through July 2009 has been released by Nielsen-Gammon.

See the entire report online here.

The new report looks at the meteorological severity of the 2008-09 Texas drought as of August 1,2009, putting the present drought into a historical perspective.

"We find that, compared to historical droughts of the 20th and 21st centuries, the 2008-09 Texas drought is probably the most severe drought on record from a precipitation standpoint alone in Bastrop, Caldwell and Lee counties," the report states.

The report also states December 2008 through February 2009 was the driest December-February in history, with records going back to 1895.

Dr. Travis Miller, AgriLife Extension agronomist, said the drought is not only impacting major agricultural operations but also water supplies "for more than 30% of the state of Texas."

East Austin farmers said the lack of water is making this the toughest summer they have had.

 "Oh mercy, it’s scary,” said Carol Ann Sayle, Co Owner of Boggy Creek Farm and Farmer’s Market. “Water is it, you don’t have water you don’t farm anymore.”

A drip irrigation system conserves the well water at Boggy Creek Farms but that is only part of the battle.

 "Anything you put water on the pestulants come to it,” said Larry Butler, Co Owner, Boggy Creek Farm and Farmer’s Market. “It’s either fire ants or aphids or mil bugs or stink bugs."

The state climatologist, Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon adds that it is not just crops, wildlife and livestock are also diminishing in these unusually high temperatures and drought.

 "This whole area of South Central Texas down to the border is experiencing drought, this qualifies for the history books in one way or another," said Nielsen-Gammon.

Critters are searching out water and further damaging under  developed and wilted crops.

"The birds come along and they want a drink of water so they pull the stick and get them a drink of water,” said Butler. “If you think birds are dumb you better think again."

It is survival of the fittest and smartest. It is the worst year this farm has seen.

"Normally we would have cucumbers and squash growing here and tomatoes and all of that died,” said Sayle.

At their farmers market it is slim pickings this year compared with their usual robust variety.

"Not a complete loss but actually financially the worst year ever," said Sayle.

Texas corn farmers are expected to lose more than 600 million dollars this year. Meanwhile cotton and wheat farmers will suffer more than 1-billion in combined losses. The state climatologist says this only happens about twice a century; an anomaly farmers are hoping to put behind them soon.

"I've cover cropped half the farm because that will now give us a head start on nurturing the soil for fall,” said Sayle. “That's what we are looking forward to the future the next season.”