Heat Baking the Water Right Out of Texas
Lone Star State's parched conditions are worsening
Updated 7:30 PM CST, Wed, Jul 15, 2009
Oven-like heat continues to bake Texas, and the map that charts drought in the United States shows the worst-stricken areas of Texas have wilted further.
It's already the hottest July on record for many cities, and the month is only halfway over.
The U.S. Drought Monitor map released Thursday shows areas of Central and South Texas in extreme and exceptional drought expanded since last week. The two worst stages of drought now cover 14.1 percent of the state, up from 11.1 last week.
Texas is the only spot in the nation with extreme and exceptional drought. Conditions are worst far south of the Metroplex in Austin, San Antonio and Corpus Christi, which have gone for months without much rain.
The water levels at Lake Travis outside of Austin have fallen so low, residents can walk their dogs on the dry lake bed.
The lake is losing about a foot of water per week. The last public boat ramp is expected to close this week.
Parts of the state, though, are getting some rain. The map shows no drought in nearly 38 percent of Texas -- the Trans Pecos region and parts of the High Plains in West Texas.
Slight chances for rain are possible in the Panhandle and along the Gulf Coast on Wednesday.
Copyright Associated Press / NBC Dallas-Fort Worth
First Published: Jul 15, 2009 7:19 PM CST
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