Drought conditions across north Texas worsened this month as rainfall continued to be scarce.  Measurable rainfall was recorded on only four days at Dallas/Fort Worth.  Dallas/Fort Worth was almost 23 inches below normal for the 18 months ending on July 31, Waco was over 16 inches below normal, and Denton and McKinney were both over 30 inches below normal for the same period.  Temperatures were well above normal, with this July ranking as the 9th warmest on record for the last 108 years.  The average high temperature this month was 3.0 degrees above normal, and the average low temperature was 2.5 degrees above normal.  In fact, 2006 now ranks as number one for Dallas/Fort Worth for the warmest mean temperature on record (69.9 degrees).  According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, drought conditions in north Texas ranged from severe drought (D2) to exceptional drought (D4), the worst possible category.  The area of exceptional drought encompassed the region from Bowie south to Cisco, east to Greenville, north to the Red River, and finally west again to Bowie.  This area includes the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex.  Indeed, many metroplex counties continued to impose burn bans and mandatory water restrictions.  Many cities prohibited watering between 10 AM and 6 PM, and voluntary conservation techniques, such as taking showers instead of baths, were stressed to citizens.  Homeowners were dealing with foundation problems, and trees which had been maintained for over 60 years were dying from lack of water.  Some communities tried to combat the drought conditions by reactivating wells which have not been used in over 15 years. Farmers continued to have a difficult time getting crops to produce this season.  Although cotton tends to grow best in hot weather, the extreme heat and dryness caused much of the cottonseed plant to germinate.  Cotton is Texas' number one cash crop, and represented $1 billion of the losses statewide due to the drought.  Hay also continued to decrease in quality and number.  Bales which were selling for $35 last year were selling for $80 this year.  Many farmers were forced to drive to other parts of the state or even to other states to buy cheaper hay.  Much of the state's corn and soybean crops were made into hay in order to feed livestock.  Wheat production across north Texas was 70% below normal.  In addition, many locations with very high rainfall deficits were having trouble finding enough grazing land for their cattle.  The Farm Service Agency expected many farmers to give up the farm business all together because of the rising costs due to the drought.  Although several counties were named disaster areas already this year, relief funds have been delayed in Congress.  The Texas Cooperative Extension recently estimated statewide drought losses at $4.1 billion.  North Texas alone has incurred around $1.9 billion.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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