Drought in Texas, August 1 to 31, 2009

Name: Drought in Texas, August 1 to 31, 2009
Start: 2009-08-01T00:00
End: 2009-08-31T23:59
Location: Texas

August 1 to 31, 2009 · NWS FWD · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

Drought conditions continued to worsen across Milam, Falls, and Bell County and remained stagnant across Robertson, Leon, and Limestone County. Topsoil moisture was very short and supplemental feeding costs increased significantly with hay nearly double the price from a year ago.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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: $87,000
Events: 6

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.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Fort Worth, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 31, 10:28 PM CST, 1 hour 32 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 31, 10:28 PM CST, 1 hour 32 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
1128 PM CDT FRI JUL 31 2009

.AVIATION...
VFR WITH SOME HIGH CLOUDS AND GENERALLY LIGHT SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL
PREVAIL THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. CONVECTION IN THE TX
PANHANDLE HAS EVOLVED INTO A WEAK SQUALL LINE...AND WILL CONTINUE
TO TRACK SOUTHEAST TOWARD NORTH TEXAS. CURRENT EXTRAPOLATION
SUGGESTS IT WILL IMPACT METROPLEX TAFS STARTING AT 13-14Z. MODELS
STRUGGLING TO IDENTIFY LATEST CONVECTIVE TRENDS...BUT THE 4KM WRF
SEEMS TO BE THE BEST SOLUTION...ALTHOUGH IT APPEARS TO BE A FEW
HOURS TOO SLOW. EXPECT LINE OF STORMS TO PUSH THROUGH IN THE
MORNING HOURS...AND CONTINUE TO TRACK SOUTHEAST DURING THE DAY.
BEHIND THE LINE WINDS MAY BRIEFLY SWITCH AROUND TO THE NORTH...BUT
WILL BE LIGHT AND CONFUSED. AIRMASS SHOULD BE WORKED OVER BEHIND
THE LINE AND WILL SHOW THE VCTS ENDING BY EARLY AFTERNOON FOR THE
METROPLEX. WACO HOWEVER...WILL HAVE BEST CHANCES OF THUNDER FROM
LATE MORNING INTO MID AFTERNOON.

&&

.UPDATE...
OUTFLOW BOUNDARY EVIDENT FROM SOUTH OF GAINESVILLE THROUGH
SOUTHWEST COLLIN COUNTY...THEN DOWN INTO EASTERN ELLIS COUNTY.
STRONG CONVECTION WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...EXTENDING FROM
DALLAS INTO SOUTHERN COLLIN AND SOUTHERN DENTON COUNTIES...WILL
FOLLOW THE BOUNDARY NORTHEAST FOR A FEW MORE HOURS. EXPECT THIS
ACTIVITY TO BEGIN DIMINISH AS WE NEAR MIDNIGHT. STATIFORM
PRECIPITATION EXTENDING SOUTHWARD IN CORYELL COUNTY WILL DIMINISH
ON THE SOUTH TWO-THIRDS...BUT THE NORTHERN PART SHOULD HOLD ON A
LITTLE LONGER BEING CLOSER TO THE MAIN CONVECTION.

CONVECTION BREWING OVER THE TEXAS PANHANDLE IS EXPECTED TO WORK
INTO CWA SATURDAY MORNING WITH MORE HEAVY RAINFALL.

HAVE ADJUSTED LOWS TONIGHT AS SOME SITES HAVE ALREADY REACHED IT.

75

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 328 PM CDT FRI JUL 31 2009/
THERE ARE TWO AREAS OF INTEREST FOR THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT. THE
FIRST WILL BE ACROSS THE SOUTHERN ZONES THIS EVENING IN THE
VICINITY OF A WEAK...STALLED...FRONTAL BOUNDARY. THESE STORMS
WILL PULSE UP AND DOWN AND MAY COME CLOSE TO SEVERE LIMITS WITH
BRIEF DOWNBURST WINDS AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL THE PRIMARY
HAZARD.

THE SECOND AREA OF INTEREST FOR STORMS LATER TONIGHT THROUGH
SATURDAY MORNING WILL BE MAINLY ACROSS THE NORTHERN HALF OF NORTH
TEXAS WHEN AN MCS DEVELOPS OVER THE HIGH PLAINS AND MOVES
SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE RED RIVER. IT APPEARS THE BEST CHANCE FOR
STORMS SATURDAY MORNING WILL BE IN THE NORTHEAST ZONES.

RAIN AND THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL DECREASE SUNDAY AS UPPER LEVEL
HIGH PRESSURE SLOWLY BUILDS EAST AND THE LONG WAVE TROUGH AXIS
SHIFTS INTO THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY REGION. THE WEATHER MONDAY
THROUGH NEXT FRIDAY WILL BE DOMINATED BY UPPER LEVEL HIGH PRESSURE
WITH MOSTLY SUNNY DAYS...CLEAR NIGHTS...AND HIGH TEMPERATURES
WARMING BACK ABOVE SEASONAL NORMALS.  79

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
DALLAS-FT. WORTH, TX  73  95  75  99  77 / 100  60  20  10   5
WACO, TX              75  98  75 100  76 /  40  50  20  10   5
PARIS, TX             72  89  71  95  73 /  20  60  20  20   5
DENTON, TX            71  95  72  99  75 /  80  60  20  10   5
MCKINNEY, TX          70  93  71  97  72 / 100  60  20  20   5
DALLAS, TX            73  95  78  99  78 / 100  60  20  20   5
TERRELL, TX           72  94  74  98  74 /  20  60  20  20   5
CORSICANA, TX         75  95  74  98  74 /  20  60  20  20   5
TEMPLE, TX            73  97  74  98  72 /  30  40  20  10   5

&&

.FWD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.

&&

92/75

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 31, 9:22 PM CST, 2 hours 38 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
1022 PM CDT FRI JUL 31 2009

TXZ091>095-100>107-115>123-129>135-141>148-156>162-174-175-020330-
MONTAGUE-COOKE-GRAYSON-FANNIN-LAMAR-YOUNG-JACK-WISE-DENTON-COLLIN-
HUNT-DELTA-HOPKINS-STEPHENS-PALO PINTO-PARKER-TARRANT-DALLAS-
ROCKWALL-KAUFMAN-VAN ZANDT-RAINS-EASTLAND-ERATH-HOOD-SOMERVELL-
JOHNSON-ELLIS-HENDERSON-COMANCHE-MILLS-HAMILTON-BOSQUE-HILL-NAVARRO-
FREESTONE-ANDERSON-LAMPASAS-CORYELL-BELL-MCLENNAN-FALLS-LIMESTONE-
LEON-MILAM-ROBERTSON-
1022 PM CDT FRI JUL 31 2009

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.
SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE BETWEEN DALLAS...PARIS AND
SULPHUR SPRING THROUGH MIDNIGHT. HEAVY RAINFALL AND WIND GUSTS OF
35 TO 40 MPH ARE THE MAIN THREATS.

LATER TONIGHT...THERE IS A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS GENERALLY
NORTHWEST OF A EASTLAND TO SHERMAN LINE. SOME OF THESE STORMS WILL HEAVY
RAINFALL AND WINDS TO 60 MPH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

ANOTHER SQUALL LINE OR THUNDERSTORM COMPLEX WILL SPREAD THROUGH
THE ENTIRE CWA SATURDAY. HEAVY RAINFALL AND DAMAGING WINDS WILL
BE MAIN THREATS.

A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUES SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH
SUNDAY MORNING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
LIMITED SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUEST NEAR DAYBREAK OVER THE
NORTHWEST COUNTIES.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 31, 6:16 PM CST, 5 hours 44 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
716 PM CDT FRI JUL 31 2009

TXZ130-131-010045-
HOOD TX-ERATH TX-
716 PM CDT FRI JUL 31 2009

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR...
  NORTHEASTERN ERATH COUNTY
  HOOD COUNTY

AT 716 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 11 MILES WEST OF GRANBURY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
35 MPH.

CITIES IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE GRANBURY...LIPAN...OAK TRAIL
SHORES AND MORGAN MILL.

VERY HEAVY RAIN AND WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH ARE LIKELY WITH THIS STORM.

LAT...LON 3252 9808 3251 9806 3253 9806 3256 9803
      3256 9762 3235 9761 3228 9796 3216 9806
      3239 9825
TIME...MOT...LOC 0016Z 234DEG 33KT 3239 9796

92

Special weather statement, Jul 31, 7:04 PM CST, 4 hours 56 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
804 PM CDT FRI JUL 31 2009

TXZ118-010130-
TARRANT TX-
804 PM CDT FRI JUL 31 2009

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR...
  WESTERN TARRANT COUNTY

AT 804 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A
CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ENTERING FAR SOUTHWESTERN PORTIONS
OF TARRANT COUNTY. THE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

VERY HEAVY RAIN AND WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH ARE LIKELY WITH THIS STORM.
AT 804 PM CDT...THE LEADING EDGE OF THE STRONG OUTFLOW WINDS WAS
NEAR BENBROOK...AND WILL CONTINUE SPREADING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 25
MPH.

LAT...LON 3277 9719 3255 9713 3256 9754 3288 9754
      3289 9735
TIME...MOT...LOC 0104Z 222DEG 23KT 3266 9742

25

Special weather statement, Jul 31, 7:29 PM CST, 4 hours 31 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
829 PM CDT FRI JUL 31 2009

TXZ103-118-119-010200-
DENTON TX-TARRANT TX-DALLAS TX-
829 PM CDT FRI JUL 31 2009

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR...
  WESTERN DALLAS COUNTY
  SOUTHERN DENTON COUNTY
  TARRANT COUNTY

AT 827 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED
STRONG OUTFLOW WINDS. AT THAT TIME...THE LEADING EDGE OF THE OUTFLOW
EXTENDED FROM HASLET...TO HURST...TO MANSFIELD...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
30 MPH.

VERY HEAVY RAIN AND WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH ARE LIKELY WITH THESE
STORMS.

LAT...LON 3299 9695 3259 9681 3255 9702 3255 9720
      3266 9745 3298 9755 3300 9753 3300 9739
      3313 9739 3322 9729
TIME...MOT...LOC 0127Z 237DEG 27KT 3300 9743 3284 9720
          3255 9708

25

Local storm report, Jul 31, 7:53 PM CST, 4 hours 7 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
853 PM CDT FRI JUL 31 2009

..TIME..    ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE..    ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0800 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 N ALVARADO            32.48N  97.21W
07/31/2009                   JOHNSON            TX   BROADCAST MEDIA

            DAMAGE TO SEVERAL RVS AND SOME OUT BUILDINGS. UNKNOWN
            SPEED

Special weather statement, Jul 31, 7:57 PM CST, 4 hours 3 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
857 PM CDT FRI JUL 31 2009

TXZ103-104-119-010230-
DENTON TX-COLLIN TX-DALLAS TX-
857 PM CDT FRI JUL 31 2009

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR...
  SOUTHWESTERN COLLIN COUNTY
  DALLAS COUNTY
  DENTON COUNTY

AT 857 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED
STRONG OUTFLOW WINDS. AT THAT TIME...THE LEADING EDGE OF THE OUTFLOW
EXTENDED FROM PONDER TO COPPELL TO HUTCHINS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30
MPH.

VERY HEAVY RAIN AND WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH ARE LIKELY.

AN URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL
1045 PM FOR SOUTHWESTERN DALLAS COUNTY.

LAT...LON 3339 9713 3316 9669 3299 9652 3255 9652
      3255 9702 3299 9703 3299 9717 3313 9739
      3324 9738
TIME...MOT...LOC 0157Z 237DEG 27KT 3318 9731 3296 9695
          3267 9676

25

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Milam

When: August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Milam forecast zone
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: Other Federal Agency
Coordinates: 30.786, -96.977 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

According to the U.S Drought Monitor, at the beginning of the month Extreme to Exceptional Drought continued across the county with the worst conditions occurring across the southern half of the county. By the end of the month, almost the entire county was experiencing Execptional Drought Conditions.

Drought, Bell

When: August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Bell forecast zone
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: Other Federal Agency
Coordinates: 31.038, -97.478 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

According to the U.S Drought Monitor, at the beginning of the month Severe to Extreme Drought continued across the county with the worst conditions occurring across the southern half of the county. By the end of the moth, conditions worsened and most of the entire county was experiencing Exceptional Drought.

Drought, Robertson

When: August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Robertson forecast zone
Crop damage: $10,000
Reported by: Other Federal Agency
Coordinates: 31.027, -96.513 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

According to the U.S Drought Monitor, the entire county experienced extreme drought for the month.

Drought, Leon

When: August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Leon forecast zone
Crop damage: $10,000
Reported by: Other Federal Agency
Coordinates: 31.297, -95.996 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

According to the U.S Drought Monitor, Severe to Extreme Drought continued across the county with the worst conditions occurring across the southern half of the county.

Drought, Limestone

When: August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Limestone forecast zone
Crop damage: $7,000
Reported by: Other Federal Agency
Coordinates: 31.546, -96.580 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

According to the U.S Drought Monitor, Severe to Extreme Drought was observed across the southern half of the county.

Drought, Falls

When: August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Falls forecast zone
Crop damage: $10,000
Reported by: Other Federal Agency
Coordinates: 31.253, -96.936 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

According to the U.S Drought Monitor, Severe to Extreme Drought was observed across the county with the southern half experiencing the worst conditions.

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

Every storm in Texas in 2009 Every state in 2009 This day in weather history Warnings in Texas, August 2009

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: 193161, 193163, 193165, 193166, 193167, 193168.