Significant, widespread drought conditions persisted across North Texas throughout the month.  This drought now ranks as the worst in North Texas since the severe multi-year drought of the 1950s.  The U.S. Drought Monitor continued to place the region in the exceptional drought category, D4, which is the worst possible category and is reserved for particularly damaging events.  Disaster declarations remained in place for Collin, Comanche, Hood, and Parker Counties in North Texas.  Federal law dictates that these as well as all bordering counties are eligible for federal disaster assistance.   This August marked the greatest number of 100-degree-days ever for the month at Waco, with a total of 27 days that reached or exceeded 100 degrees.  The previous record of 26 days was set in 1951.  Dallas/Fort Worth set a streak of 19 consecutive 100-degree-days, which ranked 6th on the list of longest 100-degree-day streaks.  In fact, Dallas County even considered declaring a heat emergency due to the very hot days and hot nights.Already low water resources dropped even further due to higher summertime water usage and evaporation rates. Most lakes remained well below conservation pool, and several were over 10 feet below normal. Water restrictions remained in effect for most towns and communities.  Although these restrictions have helped conserve the water that is available, water usage still measured close to 2 billion gallons per day across North Texas this month.  With this high demand combined with exceptionally low water resources, above normal precipitation over the next several months will likely be insufficient to return North Texas lakes to normal levels.  The Tarrant Regional Water District continued to employ water conservation methods.  The amount of water usually released from Lake Bridgeport into Eagle Mountain Lake was reduced in an effort to conserve water for customers in Parker, Wise, and Jack Counties.  This decrease in water sharing will affect recreational users and marina operations at Eagle Mountain Lake.Agricultural losses due to the drought continued to increase as the summer wore on.  Ranchers, facing a lack of grass to feed their cattle, had to use hay to supplement feedings.  As as result, hay prices increased dramatically, which forced producers to sell off cattle underweight rather than pay the high hay prices.  This in turn cost farmers even more money.  This will also impact the 2007 cow production numbers due to the fact that there will be fewer calves born because their will be fewer potential mothers.  Some ranchers had begun feeding their remaining herds corn husks because hay was so hard to come by.   In addition, crop production was poor for the year, with corn, sorghum, and sweet potatoes in particular taking a big hit. The USDA Farm Service Agency representative for Van Zandt and Henderson Counties reported an 80% loss of produce this season.  This includes all crops grown in these counties, including sweet potatoes, tomatoes, blueberries, and peaches.  This poor crop yield was repeated in numerous other counties across north Texas.   Scientists at Texas A&M reported this month that an estimated $4.1 billion was lost in livestock and crop production this year statewide.

Drought in MONTAGUE, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in COOKE, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in GRAYSON, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in FANNIN, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in WISE, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in DENTON, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in COLLIN, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in HUNT, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in ELLIS, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in MILLS, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in HAMILTON, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in BOSQUE, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in HILL, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in NAVARRO, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in HENDERSON, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in MILLS, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in CORYELL, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in MCLENNAN, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in BELL, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in LAMAR, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in YOUNG, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in JACK, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in DELTA, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in HOPKINS, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in STEPHENS, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in PALO PINTO, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in PARKER, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in TARRANT, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in DALLAS, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in ROCKWALL, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in KAUFMAN, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in VAN ZANDT, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in RAINS, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in EASTLAND, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in COMANCHE, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in ERATH, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in SOMERVELL, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in HOOD, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in JOHNSON, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in FALLS, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in LIMESTONE, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in FREESTONE, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in ANDERSON, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in MILAM, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in ROBERTSON, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in LEON, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-06 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Crop damage: 100M
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.