The typically sizzling Texas summer does not make its official appearance until Monday and the countryside is already wilted or parched, depicting scenery common to mid-July.
“The long-range forecast for the summer isn’t much help, but summer is normally hot and dry anyway, so that would be a reasonable expectation,” said Dr. John W. Neilsen-Gammon, state climatologist and Texas A&M University professor of atmospheric sciences at College Station.
In a non-drought situation, the soil and plants stockpile precipitation that falls during May and June, traditionally the two wettest months of the year “and then squeak their way through during July and August,” Neilsen-Gammon said.
But May and June thus far have brought less than 25 percent of normal precipitation to large portions of Central and Southeast Texas, he said.
Although Texas has experienced mid-summer drought-breakers, such as in 2002, a hot June typically is followed about 70 percent of the time by a hot July, he said.
There is no rain in sight for the foreseeable future, Neilsen-Gammon said.
“An upper level ridge has parked itself over Texas,” he said. “It brings hot dry air from the high terrain of Mexico that acts as a lid to convection and a block to storms. This pattern will apparently remain locked in for at least the next week.”
Though scientists predict the weather pattern called El Nino will appear this fall for a wet autumn and winter, Texas residents must endure months of hot, dry weather stacked upon drought-worn turf.
Dr. Travis Miller, Texas A&M University professor and extension program leader for soil and crop sciences, said spring rains “reduced the scope of the drought slightly, but high temperatures and dry weather are resulting in increased drought, and the resultant impact on agriculture and urban areas alike.”
Texas AgriLife Extension’s drought monitor (http://agrilife.tamu.edu/drought/) shows that much of Central and South Texas is in either extreme or exceptional drought, while large parts of the Edwards Plateau and the South Plains are in moderate to severe drought.
“At our Beeville station, we have recorded 0.35 inches of precipitation in 2009, or the lowest on record for the January to June interval in over 100 years of keeping weather records,” Miller said.
Jon Gersbach, Texas AgriLife Extension Service county agent for ag and natural resources in Milam County, said some areas of Milam County received some rain recently, and “it was all beneficial, but we were very dry to start with, and it ran out quickly.”
“A 1-inch rain would be a tremendous benefit,” Gersbach said.
While most of the corn crop is nearing harvest time, milo and cotton, as well as pastures and hay meadows, would benefit from rain.
Dirk Aaron, Texas AgriLife Extension Service agent in Bell County, said the region started off “with a bang and then it was a bust” with timely rainfall, but insufficient moisture for drought recovery. Then days of 100-degree temperatures dried up soils. Thus, crops are suffering, pastures are drying out and stock ponds have low water levels, Aaron said.
While cotton crops may survive some hot and dry weather, corn is dependent upon adequate rainfall when it nears harvest time, Aaron said. The nearer the harvest, the thirstier the corn stalks. Unless Bell County receives rainfall soon, corn fields may produce 50 bushels per acre, while in a good year, yields are 100 to 115 bushels per acre, Aaron said.
Agriculture is not the only victim of drought, Gersbach said. Hot temperatures and dry weather are affecting landscapes.
Most turf grasses need the equivalent of about 2 inches of rainfall per week, which is just more than 54,000 gallons of water on an acre, Gersbach said. This water comes in the form of rainfall, irrigation, as well as moisture that is present and available in the soil profile. Turf will need about 1,250 gallons of water per 1,000 square feet per week.
“Remember that our water is a very precious natural resource, and should be managed wisely,” Gersbach said. “If you must irrigate, apply it only in a manner that does not waste water.”
Gersbach recommends using drip or soaker hoses, watering early in the morning to reduce evaporation, making sure automatic irrigation systems are operating properly and watering only when plants need it.
Water when plants begin to heavily droop or when grass blades curl up and turn blue-gray, avoid irrigating at night, as this invites disease issues to a landscape. Mulch bedding plants to keep soil cooler and to maintain moisture and make sure potted plants have enough soil and space to hold moisture. Plants should be watered every three to four days, Gersbach said.
