Texas, 1998

Drought in Texas, July 1 to 31, 1998

July 1 to 31, 1998 · NWS FWD · 46 events in 46 counties and zones

The severe drought that began across north Texas in April persisted through July. 84 inches below normal.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 46 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
46

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS FWD wrote it up.

The severe drought that began across north Texas in April persisted through July. In the period from April 1, 1998 through July 31, 1998, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport was 8.18 inches below normal on rainfall, while Waco was running 9.84 inches below normal. The Drought Severity Index (Long Term, Palmer) showed north Texas under extreme drought conditions, with the Crop Moisture Index indicating extremely dry soil moisture conditions. The dry and hot conditions across north Texas placed a high stress on crops, and an increase in grasshopper infestation caused additional reductions in crop yields. Excessive heat, combined with empty stock tanks and a near total loss of the alfalfa crop, severely stressed the ranching and dairy industries. The drought of 1998 has caused an estimated $1.5 billion dollars damage to the agribusiness industry statewide through July. However, specific damage amounts by county in north Texas in July were unavailable.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

46 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Anderson

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Anderson forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
31.813, -95.653 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Bell

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Bell forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
31.038, -97.478 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Bosque

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Bosque forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
31.900, -97.634 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Collin

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Collin forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
33.188, -96.572 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Comanche

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Comanche forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
31.948, -98.558 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Cooke

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Cooke forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
33.639, -97.213 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Coryell

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Coryell forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
31.391, -97.799 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Dallas

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Dallas forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
32.767, -96.778 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Delta

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Delta forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
33.386, -95.672 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Denton

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Denton forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
33.205, -97.117 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Eastland

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Eastland forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
32.327, -98.832 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Ellis

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Ellis forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
32.348, -96.794 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Erath

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Erath forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
32.236, -98.218 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Falls

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Falls forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
31.253, -96.936 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Fannin

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Fannin forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
33.594, -96.107 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Freestone

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Freestone forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
31.705, -96.149 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Grayson

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Grayson forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
33.627, -96.678 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Hamilton

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Hamilton forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
31.705, -98.111 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Henderson

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Henderson forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
32.212, -95.854 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Hill

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Hill forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
31.991, -97.132 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Hood

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Hood forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
32.430, -97.832 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Hopkins

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Hopkins forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
33.150, -95.564 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Hunt

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Hunt forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
33.124, -96.085 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Jack

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Jack forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
33.234, -98.172 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Johnson

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Johnson forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
32.379, -97.366 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Kaufman

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Kaufman forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
32.599, -96.288 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Lamar

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Lamar forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
33.667, -95.571 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Lampasas

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Lampasas forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
31.196, -98.241 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Leon

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Leon forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
31.297, -95.996 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Limestone

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Limestone forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
31.546, -96.580 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, McLennan

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
McLennan forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
31.552, -97.202 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Milam

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Milam forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
30.786, -96.977 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Mills

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Mills forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
31.495, -98.595 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Montague

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Montague forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
33.676, -97.725 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Navarro

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Navarro forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
32.047, -96.472 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Palo Pinto

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Palo Pinto forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
32.753, -98.313 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Parker

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Parker forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
32.778, -97.805 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Rains

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Rains forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
32.870, -95.793 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Robertson

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Robertson forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
31.027, -96.513 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Rockwall

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Rockwall forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
32.898, -96.408 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Somervell

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Somervell forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
32.222, -97.774 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Stephens

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Stephens forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
32.736, -98.836 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Tarrant

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Tarrant forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
32.772, -97.291 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Van Zandt

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Van Zandt forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
32.564, -95.836 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Wise

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Wise forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
33.216, -97.654 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Young

When
July 1, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Young forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
33.177, -98.688 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Drought
A drought reaching severe (D2) or worse on the US Drought Monitor, or with notable impacts.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Texas in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, July 1998

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5661073, 5661074, 5661075, 5661076, 5661077, 5661078, 5661079, 5661080, 5661081, 5661082, 5661083, 5661084, 5661175, 5661176, 5661177, 5661178, 5661179, 5661180, 5661181, 5661182, 5661183, 5661184, 5661185, 5661186, 5661187, 5661188, 5661189, 5661190, 5661191, 5661192, 5661193, 5661194, 5661195, 5661196, 5661197, 5661198, 5661199, 5661200, 5661201, 5661202, and more.