Drought conditions maintained their levels through mid July across Deep South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley.  A record heat, but also somewhat humid, period to start the month was followed by a brief period of unsettled weather on July 8th, particularly in Starr and Zapata County, which temporarily remained below severe drought (D2) conditions.  Some rainfall over the Lower Rio Grande Valley on the 11th would be the last for awhile, and hot, dry, windy conditions would soon return worsening drought conditions in these areas later in the month.
Damage to dryland crops, particularly cotton, began in earnest during July.  Emptying water stocks would force some cattle ranchers to sell off some of the herd early.  Irrigation of citrus and other fruits, however, was able to continue due to abundant stores of water at Falcon and  Amistad reservoirs, much from the torrential rains of the Summer of 2008.  Full damage statistics will be listed in the August Storm Data report.

Drought in BROOKS, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-09 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-09 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Virtually no rainfall during the entire month ensured nearly all of Brooks County, including the western portion of the King Ranch, would remain in exceptional (D4) drought for July.  Only the extreme southern portion of the county would remain in slightly better (extreme, D3) conditions until the last few days, when these areas also slipped into exceptional conditions.  Cattle in the area had to be sold as water stocks dried up; cotton and corn began withering heavily in the hot, breezy weather.

Drought in KENEDY, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-09 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-09 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Light rainfall that occurred on July 11th was nowhere near enough to reduce the exceptional drought which had dominated the King Ranch since June.  Exceptional (D4) drought conditions began taking a toll on cattle, cotton, and corn on the Ranch in July, and would continue through the entire month.

Drought in WILLACY, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-09 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-09 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Extreme (D3) to Exceptional (D4) Drought conditions prevailed across Willacy County through July, as limited rainfall on the 11th was not enough to bring appreciable moisture to crops and livestock.  Fields of cotton and corn began withering in the strong July sunshine, frequent gusty winds, record heat, and frequently lower than average humidity.  Exceptional Drought prevailed across the northeast half of the county, with Extreme Drought elsewhere.

Drought in HIDALGO, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-09 00:00:00 to 13-JUL-09 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought conditions continued across portions of Hidalgo County the first two weeks of July. Extreme (D3) drought conditions occurred across the northeastern tip of Hidalgo County and Severe (D2) drought conditions across the north and central quarter of the Hidalgo County the first two weeks of July.

Drought in COASTAL WILLACY, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-09 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-09 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Extreme (D3) to Exceptional (D4) Drought conditions prevailed across coastal Willacy County through July, as limited rainfall on the 11th was not enough to bring appreciable moisture to crops and livestock.  Fields of cotton and corn began withering in the strong July sunshine, frequent gusty winds, record heat, and frequently lower than average humidity.  Exceptional Drought prevailed across the north half of the coastal zone, including Port Mansfield, with Extreme Drought elsewhere.

Drought in JIM HOGG, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-09 00:00:00 to 20-JUL-09 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought conditions continued across Jim Hogg County the first three weeks of July.  Exceptional (D4) conditions prevailed over the eastern third of the county, dropping sharply to Severe (D2) across the western third, with Extreme (D3) in the central third.  A spell of locally heavy rainfall with thunderstorms on the 7th would help slow the worsening drought, but Extreme to Exceptional conditions would spread westward later in the month.  Cattle herds' water stock began drying up, and some sales began as the heat and wind took their toll.

Drought in CAMERON, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-09 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-09 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Severe (D2) to Extreme (D3) Drought conditions prevailed across Cameron County through July, as rainfall on the 11th combined with prior rains in June and slightly lower temperatures in some areas kept drought from worsening too fast.  However, the continuation of above average temperatures with frequently gusty winds began taking a toll on crops and livestock.  Fields of cotton and corn began withering in the strong July sunshine, as well as gusty winds and frequently lower than average humidity, particularly toward the Hidalgo County line.  Extreme Drought prevailed mainly east of Highway 77, with Severe Drought elsewhere.

Drought in COASTAL CAMERON, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-09 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-09 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Extreme (D3) Drought conditions prevailed across Coastal Cameron County through July, as rainfall on the 11th missed the area from South Padre Island through Port Isabel, Bayview, and Arroyo City. Lower temperatures in some areas may have kept drought from worsening.  However, the continuation of above average temperatures with frequently gusty winds began taking a toll on crops and livestock.  Fields of cotton and corn began withering in the strong July sunshine, as well as gusty winds.