Texas is now in its worst-ever one-year drought, according to John Nielsen-Gammon, the Texas State Climatologist and professor of atmospheric sciences at Texas A&M; University. The epic heat wave and lack of rainfall is baking Texas dry, leaving the nation’s second largest agricultural producer reeling. The records set for Texas tell the story of a polluted climate killing the state:
— Hottest month ever (July)
— Hottest July ever, average temperature 87.2°F (previous record 86.5°F in 1998)
— Hottest June ever (fifth hottest month ever), average temperature 85.2°F
— Least year-to-date precipitation, 6.53 inches (historical average 16.03 inches; previous record 9.36 inches in 1917)
— Driest consecutive 8, 9, and 10 months, 7.25 inches 8.35 inches, and 9.17 inches respectively
— Driest 12 months ending in July, 15.16 inches (previous record 16.46 inches in 1925)
— 99.93 percent of the state is in some level of drought
— 73.49 percent of the state is in exceptional drought
“These statistics rank the current drought as the most severe one-year drought ever for Texas,” Nielsen-Gammon explains. “Never before has so little rain been recorded prior to and during the primary growing season for crops, plants and warm-season grasses.”
In coming years, the climate is expected to worsen for Texas, in large part because of the fossilized carbon extracted from underneath the now-dying land. “Triple-digit temperatures will be the norm in Texas within a few decades, and 115-degree heat won’t be surprising,” Nielsen-Gammon warned last year.