The historic drought continued across West Central Texas as a strong upper level high pressure ridge persisted across West Central Texas.  The U.S. Drought Monitor, issued through the National Mitigation Drought Center depicted exceptional drought over much of West Central Texas.  This was characterized by widespread crop and pasture losses, exceptional fire risk, shortages of water in reservoirs, streams and wells creating water emergencies.  A small of area of the region from northern Tom Green County to Shackelford County received very heavy rainfall.  This area was characterized as extreme drought.
According to the Texas Crop Weather Report prepared by the Texas A&M Agriculture Program, the following agricultural impacts were noted across West Central Texas as extremely hot, dry, and windy conditions continued.  Normally producers would be preparing fields for fall planting but no work was being done because of the extremely dry soils.  Rangeland and pasture conditions continued to deteriorate, and producers further decreased the size of their herds while increasing the amount of supplemental feed and water hauled. Hay was in very short supply. Most small livestock operators have already completely liquidated their herds. Some larger ranches were holding on to core herds, hoping for conditions to improve.  With hay prices as high as they���ve ever been, producers were looking for feeding options. Wildlife was suffering from drought and moving into towns looking for food and water.
San Angelo had one hundred 100 degree days while Abilene had eighty-one 100 degree days.  These shattered the old records.  Both San Angelo and Abilene also shared the all time warmest monthly average temperatures of 90 degrees at both locations.
Lake Ivie, which supplies water to Abilene and several other cities in West Texas, has dropped to 23 percent of its capacity.  If it does not receive adequate rainfall, the water supply could be depleted by December 2012.
From October 1 of 2010 through August 31 of 2011, the state climatologist stated that this was one of the driest periods on records for the entire state of Texas.  The following precipitation amounts were recorded in Abilene, San Angelo and Junction for that period.
Abilene received 13.26 inches of rain. Normal rainfall for this period is about 20.87 inches
San Angelo received 8.08 inches of rain. Normal rainfall for this period is about 17.96 inches.
Junction received 4.40 inches of rain.  Normal rainfall for this period is about 20.09 inches.

Drought in COKE, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 01-AUG-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitor placed Coke County in an exceptional drought category.

Drought in CONCHO, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 01-AUG-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitor placed Concho County in an exceptional drought category.

Drought in CROCKETT, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 01-AUG-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitor placed Crockett County in an exceptional drought category.

Drought in FISHER, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 01-AUG-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitor placed Fisher County in an exceptional drought category.

Drought in HASKELL, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 01-AUG-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitor placed Haskell County in an exceptional drought category.

Drought in IRION, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 01-AUG-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitor placed Irion County in an exceptional drought category.

Drought in JONES, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 01-AUG-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitor placed Jones County in an exceptional drought category.

Drought in KIMBLE, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 01-AUG-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitor placed Kimble County in an exceptional drought category.

Drought in MASON, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 01-AUG-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitor placed Mason County in an exceptional drought category.

Drought in MCCULLOCH, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 01-AUG-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitor placed McCulloch County in an exceptional drought category.

Drought in MENARD, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 01-AUG-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitor placed Menard County in an exceptional drought category.

Drought in NOLAN, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 01-AUG-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitor placed Nolan County in an exceptional drought category.

Drought in SAN SABA, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 01-AUG-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitor placed San Saba County in an exceptional drought category.

Drought in SCHLEICHER, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 01-AUG-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitor placed Schleicher County in an exceptional drought category.

Drought in BROWN, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitor placed Brown County in an extreme drought category.

Drought in COLEMAN, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitor placed Coleman County in an extreme drought category.

Drought in RUNNELS, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitor placed Runnels County in an extreme drought category.

Drought in CALLAHAN, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitor placed Callahan County in an extreme drought category.

Drought in TOM GREEN, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitor placed the northern half of Tom Green County in an extreme drought category.  The southern part of the county was rated as an exceptional drought.

Drought in SHACKELFORD, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 01-AUG-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitor placed Shackelford County in an exceptional drought category.

Drought in STERLING, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 01-AUG-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitor placed Sterling County in an exceptional drought category.

Drought in SUTTON, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 01-AUG-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitor placed Sutton County in an exceptional drought category.

Drought in TAYLOR, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 01-AUG-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitor placed Taylor County in an exceptional drought category.

Drought in THROCKMORTON, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 01-AUG-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitor placed Throckmorton County in an exceptional drought category.