According to the latest report of the U.S. Drought Monitor, more than 90 percent of the state was in one level of an extreme Texas drought by the last week of July. Mark Welch, Extension economist announced: “It does look like the drought of 2011 will be the costliest drought in Texas history.” and “It’s a three, four, five billion dollar impact right now, just in Texas. This is a big deal”.
In fact, the lack of rain, the brushfires and daytime high temperatures continue to challenge and have set historical records in many parts of the state. This current drought that has hit Texas of the United Statesis similar to some of the 1930s, a natural disaster year of Dust Bowl with 200 days without rain. The state’s five main field crops including wheat, corn, hay, sorghum and cotton have been devastated. The wheat yield is half that of a normal year and hay crop is faring even worse. Moreover, the 2011 drought has caused oyster production to fall although initially residents hoped that they would have a good harvest to compensate for the oysters lost in the Gulf oil spill.
Severe drought spreading over many parts of Texas in the United States set historical records of losses like some of the 1930s when Dust Bowl was caused by days without rain in this state
The area has received less than three inches of rain this year and 60 100-degree days
The drought of 2011 will be the costliest drought in Texas history, breaking the previous single-year record of $4.1 billion set in 2006
The scene of drought-stricken wheat field near Hermleigh, Texas
A mussel shell lying on the bank of a dried-up creek bed near Lake Arlington in Arlington, Texas at temperatures of 108 Fahrenheit (42 Celsius), a record level in the area
Texas State Park police Officer Thomas Bigham walking across the cracked lake bed of O.C. Fisher Lake on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2011 in San Angelo, Texas
A bacteria called Chromatiaceae has turned the 1-to-2 acres of O.C. Fisher Lake water remaining the color red
The remains of a carp are seen on O.C. Fisher Lake. Because of the long periods of 100 plus degree days and the lack of rain in the drought -stricken region, Lake Arlington has been dried up over 5400 acres
A "pray for rain" sign is seen on the fence of a ranch near Hondo, Texas
In Photos: Severe Texas Drought July 2011
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