La Canicula kept the Rio Grande Valley and Deep South Texas firmly in it���s grip for the first half of the month, allowing the hot, dry, and breezy weather to combine with already dry soil conditions and further deepen drought conditions across the region.  By the middle of the month, the ridge shifted northeastward and allowed tropical moisture to stream in from the Gulf of Mexico. This moisture, combined with a trough of low pressure along the Gulf Coast, allowed for isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms to develop starting on the 20th and continuing through the end of the month. Rainfall totals varied greatly across the region, generally between a quarter to half an inch, with heavier amounts in the coastal counties. The welcomed rains allowed for some greening of the grass, but had little to no effect on drought conditions. Extreme to exceptional drought conditions still held firmly across much of the area.

Drought in ZAPATA, TEXAS
From 06-AUG-13 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Despite isolated showers and thunderstorms dropping some much welcome rainfall during the last two weeks of the month, drought conditions did not improve across Zapata County. Hot and breezy conditions combined with dry soils to allow drought conditions to worsen across the county. The eastern third of the county and the far northwestern corner of the county experienced Severe (D2) drought conditions. A sliver of Extreme (D3) drought conditions nudged in along the far eastern border, while a swath of Moderate (D1) drought conditions remained in the middle of the county.

Drought in JIM HOGG, TEXAS
From 06-AUG-13 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Despite isolated showers and thunderstorms dropping some much welcome rainfall (the COOP site in Hebbronville recorded 0.69 inches) during the last two weeks of the month, drought conditions did not improve across Jim Hogg County. Hot and breezy conditions combined with dry soils to allow drought conditions to worsen across the county. The southeast corner of the county slide into Exceptional (D4) drought, while a sliver of Severe (D2) drought clinged along the northern county border. The rest of the county remained entrenched firmly in Extreme (D3) drought conditions.

Drought in STARR, TEXAS
From 06-AUG-13 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Despite isolated showers and thunderstorms dropping some much welcome rainfall during the last two weeks of the month, drought conditions did not improve across Starr County. Hot and breezy conditions combined with dry soils to allow drought conditions to worsen across the county. Exceptional (D4) drought conditions spread north, fully encompassing the eastern half of Starr County. The western half of the county continued to experience Extreme (D3) drought.

Drought in BROOKS, TEXAS
From 06-AUG-13 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Despite isolated showers and thunderstorms dropping some much welcome rainfall (Brooks County Airport, in Falfurrias, recorded 1.43 inches of rain)  during the last two weeks of the month, drought conditions did not improve across Brooks County. Hot and breezy conditions combined with dry soils to allow drought conditions to worsen across the county. Exceptional (D4) drought conditions pushed north to affect the southern third of the county. The rest of Brooks County remained in Extreme (D3) drought.

Drought in HIDALGO, TEXAS
From 06-AUG-13 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Despite isolated showers and thunderstorms dropping some much welcome rainfall across portions of Hidalgo County (McAllen Miller Airport recorded only 0.2 inches of rain) during the last two weeks of the month, drought conditions did not improve. Exceptional (D4) drought conditions engulfed the entire county.

Drought in KENEDY, TEXAS
From 06-AUG-13 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Despite isolated showers and thunderstorms dropping some much welcome rainfall across portions of Kenedy County (a COOP site in Sarita reported 1.22 inches of rain) during the last two weeks of the month, drought conditions did not improve. Exceptional (D4) drought conditions encroached across the southwest corner of Kenedy County.  The remainder of the county continued to be entrenched in Extreme (D3) drought conditions.

Drought in WILLACY, TEXAS
From 06-AUG-13 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Despite isolated showers and thunderstorms dropping some much welcome rainfall across portions of Willacy County during the last two weeks of the month, drought conditions did not improve. Exceptional (D4) drought conditions spread across the western half of the county, effectively splitting it in half.  The eastern half of the county remained in Extreme (D3) drought conditions.

Drought in CAMERON, TEXAS
From 06-AUG-13 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Despite isolated showers and thunderstorms dropping some much welcome rainfall (Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport received 1.38 inches of rain and Valley International Airport in Harlingen received 1.93 inches) across portions of Cameron County during the last two weeks of the month, drought conditions did not improve. Exceptional (D4) drought conditions spread across the western half of the county, effectively splitting it in half.  The eastern half of the county remained in Extreme (D3) drought conditions.