Texans across the state are facing water restrictions as the state experiences its worst drought since 2011.
The video above is from a previous report.
Almost the entire state of Texas experiences an acute level of drought, and only a few corners of the state, such as El Paso, experience an “abnormal drought” amid this particularly hot summer.
And while the state sees some pockets of rain in late August, the drought will likely extend into winter due to current weather patterns that could lead to hotter, drier weather.
SEE ALSO: Severe drought leads to busiest wildfire season across Texas
What is the definition of dehydration?
Drought is generally defined as an extended period with little or no rainfall resulting in water shortage, according to National Center for Drought Mitigation.
Drought can start with a drought and develop rapidly within a month or two of dry conditions in summer and with more time during winter, said John Nielsen-Gammon, a Texas climate scientist and professor of governors at the University of Texas.& M University.
The US Drought Observatory has categorized drought conditions into five categories based on how unusually dry conditions are in an area at a particular time of year according to climate data, Nielsen-Gammon said.
In Texas, about 27% of the state suffers from “exceptional drought,” its most severe category, and about 62% falls under “extreme drought,” the second highest rating, According to the latest observer report.
What is causing the Texas 2022 drought?
Nielsen Gammon said Texas has been experiencing a drought since September 2021, due to several factors, including Climate patterns in the tropical Pacific.
When surface waters in the equatorial Pacific near Mexico and South America are warmer than normal, a climate pattern called El Niño can help increase precipitation in Texas and the southern United States.
But when it’s cooler than usual, the climate pattern is known as La Niña and tends to shift precipitation and cooler temperatures toward the northern United States, leaving the south with drier and hotter conditions.
La Niña primarily affects the United States during the winter, but now prefers drier conditions in the south. two winterexacerbating the drought in Texas.
This summer’s weather, including triple-digit temperatures, has also intensified drought conditions. Higher temperatures that also increased in general Because of climate changeIt facilitates evaporation of water and difficult for the soil to retain moisture.
“We’ve had several months of exceptionally high temperatures and less precipitation than usual, and as long as that happens, drought conditions are getting worse,” Nielsen-Gammon said.
What are the effects of this drought in Texas so far?
Drought conditions have mainly damaged agriculture in Texas so far. For example, Nielsen-Gammon said farm owners sold their livestock for meat or to other areas because they could not keep them under drought conditions.
“We have seen a significant increase in the sale of livestock, and in some cases entire herds, due to the lack of fodder, the lack of water and the high cost of bringing in feed and water from abroad,” he said. .
While this means that farm owners can still make some income for now, it also means They are giving away profitable livestock which they can use to raise more calves in the future. Rebuilding a good herd requires time and effort. For consumers, it can also mean High prices on the way.
In West Texas, which has been hit by drought since last August, The farmers said They are afraid of losing crops due to the lack of moisture in the ground. The drought has also increased the risk of wildfires and the need for firefighting resources.
See related: Drought has a major impact on crops and farmers in Waller County
Referring to the Falcon Reservoir, Nielsen Gammon said that in much of the state, the drought has not yet affected the water supply, but southern Texas and the areas served by the reservoirs along the Rio Grande have already seen water shortage concerns. receipt “Historically low levels” this summer.
Several public water systems across the state have issued varying levels of water restrictions or have asked the public to conserve water, According to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s list from earlier this month.
A few public water systems in Ovaldi, Denton and Kerr counties have also declared emergencies, a sign they may run out of water within 45 days, according to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
City officials in the North Texas town of Gunther warned in July that they… Can run out of water After residents failed to respond to calls for conservation and two water wells failed.
In Uvald County, five of the eight groundwater wells in the small town of Konkan have run out, requiring leaders to move water through the city each day, San Antonio Express News mentioned.
What do the forecasts say about how long the drought will last?
Parts of Texas, like Rio Grande ValleyIt has seen rain recently, and more areas of the state could see rain over the next two weeks thanks to Seasonal climate changes Cold fronts are moving south, said Brad Pugh, a meteorologist with the Federal Center for Climate Prediction.
This does not mean that the drought is over.
Pugh said the center expects La Niña to continue into the fall and likely into the winter. The chances of a La Niña phenomenon are expected to gradually decrease from 86% to 60% during the period from December to February, by center. Some projections suggest conditions in the Pacific could return to a “neutral” phase, with sea surface temperatures returning to near average, closer to spring.
SEE ALSO: Houston weather: 16 inches of rain in one month currently needed to end Southeast Texas drought
This means dry conditions in Texas can persist, especially later in the fall and winter, which could lead to multi-year droughts, Nielsen Gammon said.
“We’re in a fairly humid situation right now for the rest of August, which will at least help prevent the drought from getting worse,” he said. “But since the forecast favors drought conditions, it is likely that we will continue to be drought for several months in most places.”
Droughts “can last for several years or even decades,” Nielsen-Gammon said, but most only last from a few months to a few years because El Niño and La Niña shift irregularly each From two to seven years.
If the drought continues, what happens next?
Parts of the state are experiencing temperatures similar to those experienced during the 2011 Texas drought, Most registered year in the stateThere has been more rainfall this year than in 2011.
However, prolonged drought may affect crops in winter and spring and limit livestock forage.
“Soil moisture in West Central Texas is generally not sufficient to allow winter wheat to grow, germinate and stabilize, so rainfall in the next month or two will be critical to getting this crop off to a good start,” Nielsen-Gammon said. .
The 2011 drought cost a It is estimated at 7.62 billion dollars of crop and livestock losses. The economic effects of the current drought are not yet clear, but Nielsen Gammon said he expects it to be in the billions.
“The longer the drought lasts, the more the impact will start to shift from agricultural issues to water supply issues,” he said. He added that the depleted reservoirs will require more rain to recover.
What are the ways to conserve water?
Check to see if your city or public water system has issued a water restriction or water conservation order in operation TCEQ List.
Nielsen-Gammon said that one of the first recommended steps to conserve water is to reduce water use for landscapes.
If you will water your garden, It is best to avoid doing this in the middle of the day To try to prevent the water from evaporating. It is also recommended that the water flow close to the ground, especially if you use sprinklers.
You can also check for leaks in your home and turn off the tap when you’re not actively using water, such as when brushing, shaving or showering. Save a gallon of water.
You can also take bigger and longer-term steps with Change your garden to include Plants and herbs that require less waterprepare a rainwater collection system and create ways redirection And the Reuse of ‘gray water’ Like shower water.
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