Here is a quick rundown of the current drought and extreme heat we are currently in here in Austin. Lake Travis elevation during past droughts: 1. 614.18 - August 14, 1951 2. 615.02 - November 1963 3. 631.19 - September 4, 2009 Historical Lake Levels The current lake levels are mirroring the 1963 levels very closely. In July 1961 the Lake level was 680.82. After that it declined steadily until it reached its low of 615.02 in November of 1963. From May 1963 to September 1963 the lake level dropped from 658 to 619 feet....about 10 feet/month. This is very similar to our current status. The lake level was at 689.89 in July 2007. Since then it has declined steadily to its present level of 633 feet. From May thru July it has dropped about 7 feet/month. The rate has picked up the past couple of weeks and is approaching 8-10 feet/month loss now. Central Texas Drought:Central Texas Drought Rainfall records indicate that past 23 months have been the driest on record in SA. During this 23 month period SA recorded 24.38 inches of rain. The previous driest period was 28.94 inches of rain from November 1908 to September 1910. Records in SA date back to 1885. The 23 month drought has been the 13th driest in Austin history and the driest in Austin since extreme drought of 1954-1956. From September 2007 to July 2009 Austin has recorded 34.46 inches of rain. The driest period in Austin was from October 1916 to August 1918 when only 31.94 inches of rain were recorded. Records at Mabry date back to 1856. This is one of the most severe droughts in Austin history. It is the lack of rain in combination with the extreme heat that has caused this. 2008 was the 4th driest year on record with only 16.07 inches of rain at Mabry. 2009 rainfall shows 11.48 inches of rain recorded at Mabry this year. Currently 16.8% of Texas is in the most extreme drought category - Exceptional drought. 26.6% of Texas is in the most 2 severe drought categories. This includes most of Central Texas, the eastern Hill Country, and the coastal plains region. June 2009 was 2nd hottest month on record in Austin. There were 16 triple digit days in the month of June. This included 10 straight days of triple digits at the end of the month. July 2009 was the hottest month on record in Austin. There were 26 recorded triple digit days this July. July Temperature records from Mabry: 1. 89.5 - July 2009 (highest in 145 years) 2. 89.1 - July 1860 August 2009 was the hottest August on record in Austin. There were 25 triple digit days in August. This including 16 straight days near the beginning of the month. Average August temperature (Austin Mabry): 1. 89.1 - 2009 2. 88.5 - 2006 This was the hottest 3 summer months in August recorded history (June 1st through August 31st). Average Temperature June-August (Austin Mabry): 1. 88.4 - 2009 2. 86.7 - 1998/2008 The Austin record for triple digit days in a single year are: 1. 69 - 1925 2. 68 - 2009 (as of September 3rd 2009) 3. 66 - 1923 4. 50 - 2008 5. 42 - 2000 Included in these 68 triple digit days the past 3 months, Austin has had 26 days of 104 degrees or hotter, and another 15 days at 103 degrees...for a total of 41 days of 103 degrees or hotter weather.
The 69 days of triple digits record will be history. WIth the lack of activity in the tropics, you have to wonder what sort of system is going to get us the 8 to 10 inches of rain to break this thing.
I had read that some areas will require 36 inches of rain to get out of the drought. That will take some time.
Here are some pics I found from 7/26/09 online: images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/3/8/6/7/6/ar124862806967683.jpg&imgrefurl=http://activerain.com/blogsview/1168089/austin-the-drought-in-pictures&usg=__hd3HnYRr2JxJH_MqOOlC_tTKg7g=&h=375&w=500&sz=40&hl=en&start=17&um=1&tbnid=4730DML7gfdVvM:&tbnh=98&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dlake%2Btravis%2Bdrought%26hl%3Den%26um%3D1 At that time the elevation was 638. It has been 3 weeks and the elevation of the lake is now 633.
I have to keep telling people new to Austin that this is indeed not normal weather and that even we are not happy about it, it sucks. I wondered this past winter when it was so mild how we were going to pay for it during the summer. Now we know.
According to News 8 Austin we are at 62 triple digit days this summer now. Looks like we had a little bit of rain over the weekend but I don't think it helped much. Lake level is now 633.03. I will update original post.
The Link Bergstrom set a high record yesterday of 103, but what's more impressive is that it was Day 51 of temps 100 or more. That breaks the previous record of 50 set in 1998. Mabry also set new record high of 105 on Sunday and is now 6 days away from tying the record of 69 days of 100 degrees or higher, which was set in 1925. Current forecast has highs of 100 or more through Wednesday, then around 98 or 99 through the weekend. Unless it rains, we'll probably tie the record by Saturday or Sunday. Looking at past records, October only has one day at/above 100 so we can take solace in the fact that once September passes, probably no more 100 degree days. September has a lot of 100 degree record high days so we'll have to endure that possibility. Would not be surprised to see at least 10 more days of 100 or more past the record of 69 days. Finally, they haven't mentioned it yet, but we've surpassed that all time record of 30-day temps again. Back at the beginning of August the NWS noted that we had a 30-day average of 89.5 degrees. Since then we've been close 90 degree average so we've set a new 30-day record high average. My guess is that when this summer ends we'll shatter the record for all-time hottest summer in Austin. Not sure if they use June-Aug or June 21st through Sept 21st. Either way, we'll probably break that record as well.
Today should make Day 66 over 100F putting 2009 in a tie for second hottest on record and tomorrow is more of the same. What's really depressing is that we've also had like a dozen days of 99F weather. The only good side-effect of this heat is that I've drank a ****-ton of frozen margaritas this summer.
If we hit triple digits today we will tie for 2nd place all-time in Austin with 66. Again that will be the longest run since 1925....84 year high. My house is now in Cat 2 water resriction. Luckily we got a little shower last night around 9pm or so. Good thing b/c I usually water on Wednesdays and Saturdays and my new water restrictions only allow me to water on Saturdays. So this rain happened on my usual watering day....yeh! Looks like we could get more rain today through Sunday.
just gives us 3 more days of 100.. and then send in the coldest norther in the history of September. Please!
Another vote for the record. We definitely have the record for highest average temp, but how in Hell we don't get the total 100 degree days mark is baffling to me. I've been looking at the monthly averages for 1925 June-Aug and I'm wondering how there could be more 100s than this year. The monthly averages are less than this year. Might have to make a trip to the library to see the actual data from that year.
Month of August wrapped and August was the hottest month in August recorded history: Average August temperature (Austin Mabry): 1. 89.1 - 2009 2. 88.5 - 2006 This was also the hottest 3 summer months in Austin recorded history: Average Temperature June-August (Austin Mabry): 1. 88.4 - 2009 2. 86.7 - 1998/2008 August finished with 25 triple digit days. Our current total is still 67.
Good link. As far as Austin Mabry goes, we had the 2nd hottest June on record, hottest July on record, hottest August on record, hottest period from June 1- August 31 on record, and 2nd most triple digit days on record with 67 (record is 69). It is looking like we will finish up in 2nd place there unless we get another heat wave in September. Rain on forecast over the next week should help cool things down just a bit. Lake level is now 631.57 (9/3/09)
While we are talking history? Anybody remember early september in 2000? Hot as hell. 8/31 - 107 9/01 - 107 9/02 - 107 9/03 - 110 9/04 - 110 9/05 - 112
Had to drive home this evening in deep water. Something was happening that seemed to be like rain, from what I remember. YEA!!!!
It did rain....in Austin...and that was gerat for our water supply and lawns. The lake did not see much of that and is still dropping though. Need some real rain in the Hill Country or farther upstream. Level now is 630.96.
Great chance for rain this week. Lake level is now 630.46. Average level for September is 665. So we are 35 feet below the usual monthly average. Crazy.