All of Tarrant County under drought conditions. Is relief in sight?
All of Tarrant County is under some level of drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Roughly 95% of the county is under severe drought conditions — which means the threat of wildfires is high and an outdoor burn ban is in effect.
A little over a fifth of the county is under a severe drought, mostly in the southwest corner that borders Parker, Hood and Johnson counties.
“A summer heat wave continues across much of the Southern U.S where widespread excessive heat warnings and heat advisories remain in effect,” according to a National Weather Service report.
Relief is not coming anytime soon. The weekend forecast calls for highs of 107 degrees for both Saturday and Sunday — and more triple digit temperatures are in the forecast next week.
The drought monitor uses a five-category system to rate the intensity of drought across the country.
D0 - Abnormally Dry
Producers begin supplemental feeding for livestock
Planting is postponed; forage germination is stunted; hay cutting is reduced
Grass fires increase
D1 - Moderate Drought
Dryland crops are stunted.
Early cattle sales begin.
Wildfire frequency increases.
D2 - Severe Drought
Pasture conditions are very poor.
Soil is hard, hindering planting; crop yields decrease.
Wildfire danger is severe; burn bans are implemented.
D3 - Extreme Drought
Soil has large cracks; soil moisture is very low; dust and sand storms occur.
Row and forage crops fail to germinate; decreased yields for irrigated crops and very large yield reduction for dryland crops are reported.
Need for supplemental feed, nutrients, protein, and water for livestock increases; herds are sold.
D4 - Exceptional Drought
Exceptional and widespread crop loss is reported; rangeland is dead; producers are not planting fields.
Seafood, forestry, tourism, and agriculture sectors report significant financial loss.
Extreme sensitivity to fire danger; firework restrictions are implemented.
