U.S. Drought Getting Worse In TX & OK

Reuters reports that exceptional drought, the most severe category measured by climatologists, now encompassed more than 70% of Texas and more than 40% of Oklahoma. The drought has also stretched farther into Kansas, a key cattle state and a major grain and soybean producer, as heavy rains missed the region to the north and temperatures topped 110 degrees in some areas.

In the throes of its third worst drought on record, Texas has been the hardest hit state. The weather forecast promised little relief, with below normal precipitation expected across the southern Plains for at least the next two weeks.

The “exceptional” drought covered 71.6% of Texas as of July 12, up from 71.3% the prior week, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The drought intensified in northeast Texas and eased slightly in far southern Texas, it said.

Meanwhile, conditions worsened in Oklahoma and Kansas. The area gripped by extreme to exceptional drought grew to encompass 58.04% of Oklahoma and 17.08% of Kansas by July 12, up from 44.18% and 13.75% respectively a week ago. ◆