AUSTIN – The drought that has gripped Central Texas is approaching the severity of Texas' most famous drought, the 1950s dry spell that lasted several years, Lower Colorado River Authority officials say.
But the current drought, which began in the fall of 2007, has seen more intense concentrations of high temperatures and less rainfall than the majority of the earlier drought. "It was hot, yes, it was dry" in the 1950s, said LCRA meteorologist Bob Rose, "but it wasn't crazy hot like this year." Soil moisture is negligible now. And with spotty precipitation, "we haven't been able to generate any runoff" to replenish reservoirs, he said. "What makes our current drought unique is not the duration but the severity," Rose said this week at a drought briefing for meteorologists and reporters.
Officials said the Highland Lakes continue to have plenty of water to meet needs across Central Texas. But they said they will ask their customers to put in mandatory restrictions, probably next month, on nonessential uses, such as lawn and landscape watering, swimming pools and car washing. Some LCRA customers, like the city of Austin, have already activated mandatory water restrictions.
The restrictions come as the region continues to be suffocated by oppressive heat. The period between June 22 and July 21 is the warmest 30-day period on record. The temperatures averaged 89.7 degrees.
EDIT
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-texdraught_24tex.ART.State.Edition1.4bed360.html