Continued record to near record heat, frequently breezy to windy conditions, low humidity for the time of year, and lack of rainfall allowed the 2009 Drought to peak before the end of August, ensuring massive dryland crop, pastureland, and livestock loss.  The agricultural loss in the heart of Deep South Texas dryland crop country will be one of the worst in recent times.  The pattern, featuring a persistent high pressure ridge above the surface from the southwest U.S. through the central Gulf of Mexico, would begin to break at month's end, but the rains were far too little, far too late, to save much of the crop yield.

Drought in WILLACY, TEXAS
From 18-AUG-09 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-09 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

A continued lack of rainfall over most of Willacy County intensified the drought conditions the middle of August. The Exceptional (D4) drought spread across the remainder of Willacy County the middle of the month.  The Exceptional (D4) drought encompassed the entire county the middle of August through the end of the month.  Massive dryland crop, pastureland, and some livestock damage was reported by the USDA Farm Service Agency in Raymondville which serves Willacy County.  Final estimates, likely to be well into the millions of dollars, will be available soon.

Drought in CAMERON, TEXAS
From 18-AUG-09 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-09 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 20.70M
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

A continued lack of rainfall over most of Cameron County intensified the drought conditions the middle of August. The Exceptional (D4) drought spread across the remainder of Cameron County the middle of the month.  The long duration extreme to exceptional drought, which prevailed for most of July and August, resulted in massive dryland crop and pastureland losses for the entire event.  The USDA Farm Service Agency in San Benito reported at the end of August, prior to the September 1 plowing date, was more than $20 million in damage to cotton, corn, sorghum, sugar cane, and pastureland, county-wide.

Drought in COASTAL CAMERON, TEXAS
From 18-AUG-09 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-09 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

A continued lack of rainfall over most of Cameron County intensified the drought conditions the middle of August. The Exceptional (D4) drought spread across the remainder of Cameron County the middle of the month.  The long duration extreme to exceptional drought, which prevailed for most of July and August, resulted in massive dryland crop and pastureland losses for the entire event.  The USDA Farm Service Agency in San Benito reported at the end of August, prior to the September 1 plowing date, was more than $20 million in damage to cotton, corn, sorghum, sugar cane, and pastureland, county-wide.  These damages are reported for the Cameron County listing; please refer to them there.

Drought in HIDALGO, TEXAS
From 18-AUG-09 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-09 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought conditions intensified across portions of Hidalgo County the middle of August.  A continued lack of rainfall over most of Hidalgo County resulted in Exceptional (D4) drought conditions across the eastern one third of the county and Extreme (D3) drought conditions across the western and southern two thirds of the county the middle of August through the end of the month.  The persistence of extreme to exceptional drought for much of July and August cost tens of millions of dollars in dryland crop, pastureland, and some livestock damage and loss.  A final estimate will be available from the USDA Farm Service Agency in McAllen/Weslaco soon.