Texas, 2023

Drought in Texas, August 1 to 31, 2023

August 1 to 31, 2023 · NWS EWX · 19 events in 19 counties and zones

The hot, dry summer continued this month. Nearly all of South Central Texas had less than normal rainfall.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 19 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
19

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 EWX wrote it up.

The hot, dry summer continued this month. Nearly all of South Central Texas had less than normal rainfall. Most of the area northeast of a line from Kerrville to Karnes City received less than 25% of normal, and for most of our counties the drought worsened. Frio and Edwards went into Severe (D2) drought. Atascosa, De Witt, Gonzales, Karnes, and Wilson went into Extreme (D3) drought from less than D2. Fayette and Lavaca went from less than D2 to Exceptional (D4) drought. Bexar, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Bastrop, and Lee went from D2 to D4. Real and Medina went from D2 to D3. Bandera, Blanco, Burnet Comal, Hays, Llano, Travis, and Williamson went from D3 to D4. Uvalde remained in D2. Gillespie, Kendall, and Kerr remained in D4. Area reservoirs continued to drop. Medina Lake dropped 1.2 feet and was 85.9 feet below normal conservation pool level. Lake Buchanan fell 3.9 feet to 26.1 feet below normal. Lake Travis was down 3.9 feet to 49.6 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 2.1 feet to 16.9 feet below normal. The Edwards Aquifer actually rose 0.7 feet but was still 31.3 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg and Kerrville Stage 4, Llano and Georgetown Stage 3, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Medina, Guadalupe, and upper Colorado Rivers, and below normal (10%-24%) on the San Antonio and lower Colorado Rivers. All of the counties in D2 or worse drought had outdoor burn bans in effect at the end of the month.

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 Austin/San Antonio, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 31, 11:04 PM CST, 56 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 31, 11:04 PM CST, 56 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio TX
1204 AM CDT Tue Aug 1 2023

...New AVIATION...

.SHORT TERM...
(Tonight through Tuesday night)
Issued at 240 PM CDT Mon Jul 31 2023

The heat rolls on with an excessive heat warning and heat advisory
now in effect through Tuesday evening across much of the central and
eastern portions of the region. A 596-597 dam mid-level ridge will
remained centered atop the Red River Valley during the short term
period. Temperatures peak in the 102 to 107 degree range while the
usual cooler valleys across the Hill Country and Southern Edwards
Plateau remain in the upper 90s and 100 to 102 degree range. As the
previous several days have shown, with humidity levels falling off
into the 20 to 30 percent range by late each afternoon, expect the
heat indices to trend of around/below the ambient temperatures with
highest values no greater than 109 degrees. Tuesday will possibly
shave a degree or two off our eastern counties as there is some hint
that a shortwave could round the base of the mid-level ridge from
Louisiana across HGX CWA and into our region. In addition to a
possible slight reduction in the heights, the shortwave may be able
to help result in some increased cloud production as well through
Tuesday afternoon. There could be a small opportunity for perhaps a
stray shower across our north-northeastern counties as well. Areas
father west may trend the opposite and slightly hotter on Tuesday
with fewer pockets of high level clouds. Otherwise, a persistent
forecast remains with warm and humid nights and continued light to
moderate south-southeast to east-southeasterly winds.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Wednesday through Monday)
Issued at 240 PM CDT Mon Jul 31 2023

Upper level ridging will remain the predominant synoptic influence
through the duration of the long term period. Hot high temperatures
will thus continue to be the primary weather impact through this
weekend and the beginning of next week. Heat headlines are likely to
continue over at least portions of South-Central Texas during each
afternoon period. Chances for widespread precipitation remain low,
though isolated storms could return by next Monday over areas
primarily east of I-35 as the axis of greatest mid-level heights
begins to drift west toward the Four Corners vicinity. With hot and
dry conditions continuing, elevated to near-critical fire weather
conditions will be a concern areawide. Refer to the Fire Weather
section below for additional information.

&&

.AVIATION...
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 1204 AM CDT Tue Aug 1 2023

VFR conditions will prevail at all sites through the period. A few
clouds around FL015 are possible around sunrise near SAT/SSF, but
there is a low probability of cigs developing. Winds will generally
be out of the SE during the afternoon and evening hours and breezy
at times, and light out of the SW during the late overnight and
morning hours. The exception is DRT where SE winds will prevail.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 240 PM CDT Mon Jul 31 2023

With hot and dry conditions forecast across the majority of the
region through early next week, fire weather will continue to be a
concern across the entirety of South-Central Texas. Minimum
humidities will range from as low as the upper teens over portions
of Hill Country and the Southern Edwards Plateau to the lower 30s
east of Interstate 35 during each afternoon period. While winds will
remain generally in the 10-15 MPH range each day, widespread dry to
extremely dry fuels forecast by the Texas A&M Forest Service will be
highly conducive for the ignition and spread of wildfires each
afternoon through the beginning of next week. We thus expect that
daily Rangeland Fire Danger Statements will be necessary across all
of our counties. Though meteorological conditions are currently
forecast to remain below critical fire weather & Red Flag Warning
thresholds, we will continue to monitor trends in winds, humidity,
and fire activity through the period and make adjustments as
necessary. Take extra care to prevent the ignition and spread of
wildfires through the beginning of next week.

&&

.CLIMATE...
Issued at 321 AM CDT Mon Jul 31 2023

(Record Highs/Year Reached)

        7/31      8/01      8/02      8/03      8/04
AUS   103/2013  105/2011  106/2011  105/2011  105/2011
ATT   106/1923  107/2011  107/2011  107/1923  107/2011
SAT   103/2013  103/2013  103/2011  103/2022  103/2022
DRT   106/1912  106/2012  106/2012  106/1996  105/2022

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Austin Camp Mabry             106  79 105  78 /  10   0   0   0
Austin Bergstrom Intl Airport 104  76 103  77 /  10   0   0   0
New Braunfels Muni Airport    104  75 103  76 /   0   0   0   0
Burnet Muni Airport           104  76 103  76 /  10   0   0   0
Del Rio Intl Airport          106  79 105  80 /   0   0   0   0
Georgetown Muni Airport       105  78 104  77 /  10   0   0   0
Hondo Muni Airport            104  73 102  75 /   0   0   0   0
San Marcos Muni Airport       103  75 103  76 /   0   0   0   0
La Grange - Fayette Regional  104  77 102  77 /  10   0   0   0
San Antonio Intl Airport      103  76 102  78 /   0   0   0   0
Stinson Muni Airport          104  76 103  78 /   0   0   0   0

&&

.EWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Excessive Heat Warning until 9 PM CDT this evening for Bastrop-
Burnet-Fayette-Lee-Llano-Travis-Williamson.

Heat Advisory until 9 PM CDT this evening for Atascosa-Bandera-
Bexar-Blanco-Caldwell-Comal-De Witt-Frio-Gillespie-Gonzales-
Guadalupe-Hays-Karnes-Kendall-Kerr-Lavaca-Medina-Wilson.

&&

Short-Term...Brady
Long-Term...Quigley
Aviation...Gale
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 31, 3:27 AM CST, 20 hours 33 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio TX
427 AM CDT Mon Jul 31 2023

TXZ171>173-183>194-202>209-217>225-228-010930-
Llano-Burnet-Williamson-Val Verde-Edwards-Real-Kerr-Bandera-
Gillespie-Kendall-Blanco-Hays-Travis-Bastrop-Lee-Kinney-Uvalde-
Medina-Bexar-Comal-Guadalupe-Caldwell-Fayette-Maverick-Zavala-
Frio-Atascosa-Wilson-Karnes-Gonzales-De Witt-Lavaca-Dimmit-
427 AM CDT Mon Jul 31 2023

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for South-Central Texas..

.DAY ONE...Today And Tonight.

Elevated afternoon into early evening temperatures and heat index
values are expected across South Central Texas. Excessive Heat
Warnings and Heat Advisories are in effect for eastern portions
of South Central Texas from 10 AM CDT to 8 PM CDT.

Elevated to near critical fire weather conditions are possible
along and west of the I-35 corridor this afternoon and early
evening. The combination of hot temperatures, low afternoon
humidities, and occasionally breezy winds continue to promote
drying of fuels.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday.

Elevated afternoon into early evening temperatures and heat index
values are expected for much of the next week across South
Central Texas. Additional Excessive Heat Warnings and Heat
Advisories will likely be needed for portions of the region
Tuesday through Sunday. There remains a risk for heat related
illnesses for those spending extended time outdoors and not taking
proper precautions.

Elevated to near critical fire weather conditions are possible
along and west of the I-35 corridor each afternoon for the next
several days. The combination of hot temperatures, low afternoon
humidities, and occasionally breezy winds continue to promote
drying of fuels.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not anticipated.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

19 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Gillespie

When
August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Gillespie forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
30.318, -98.946 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The hot, dry summer continued this month. Nearly all of South Central Texas had less than normal rainfall. Most of the area northeast of a line from Kerrville to Karnes City received less than 25% of normal, and for most of our counties the drought worsened. Frio and Edwards went into Severe (D2) drought. Atascosa, De Witt, Gonzales, Karnes, and Wilson went into Extreme (D3) drought from less than D2. Fayette and Lavaca went from less than D2 to Exceptional (D4) drought. Bexar, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Bastrop, and Lee went from D2 to D4. Real and Medina went from D2 to D3. Bandera, Blanco, Burnet Comal, Hays, Llano, Travis, and Williamson went from D3 to D4. Uvalde remained in D2. Gillespie, Kendall, and Kerr remained in D4. Area reservoirs continued to drop. Medina Lake dropped 1.2 feet and was 85.9 feet below normal conservation pool level. Lake Buchanan fell 3.9 feet to 26.1 feet below normal. Lake Travis was down 3.9 feet to 49.6 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 2.1 feet to 16.9 feet below normal. The Edwards Aquifer actually rose 0.7 feet but was still 31.3 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg and Kerrville Stage 4, Llano and Georgetown Stage 3, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Medina, Guadalupe, and upper Colorado Rivers, and below normal (10%-24%) on the San Antonio and lower Colorado Rivers. All of the counties in D2 or worse drought had outdoor burn bans in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Kendall

When
August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Kendall forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
29.945, -98.712 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The hot, dry summer continued this month. Nearly all of South Central Texas had less than normal rainfall. Most of the area northeast of a line from Kerrville to Karnes City received less than 25% of normal, and for most of our counties the drought worsened. Frio and Edwards went into Severe (D2) drought. Atascosa, De Witt, Gonzales, Karnes, and Wilson went into Extreme (D3) drought from less than D2. Fayette and Lavaca went from less than D2 to Exceptional (D4) drought. Bexar, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Bastrop, and Lee went from D2 to D4. Real and Medina went from D2 to D3. Bandera, Blanco, Burnet Comal, Hays, Llano, Travis, and Williamson went from D3 to D4. Uvalde remained in D2. Gillespie, Kendall, and Kerr remained in D4. Area reservoirs continued to drop. Medina Lake dropped 1.2 feet and was 85.9 feet below normal conservation pool level. Lake Buchanan fell 3.9 feet to 26.1 feet below normal. Lake Travis was down 3.9 feet to 49.6 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 2.1 feet to 16.9 feet below normal. The Edwards Aquifer actually rose 0.7 feet but was still 31.3 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg and Kerrville Stage 4, Llano and Georgetown Stage 3, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Medina, Guadalupe, and upper Colorado Rivers, and below normal (10%-24%) on the San Antonio and lower Colorado Rivers. All of the counties in D2 or worse drought had outdoor burn bans in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Kerr

When
August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Kerr forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
30.062, -99.350 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The hot, dry summer continued this month. Nearly all of South Central Texas had less than normal rainfall. Most of the area northeast of a line from Kerrville to Karnes City received less than 25% of normal, and for most of our counties the drought worsened. Frio and Edwards went into Severe (D2) drought. Atascosa, De Witt, Gonzales, Karnes, and Wilson went into Extreme (D3) drought from less than D2. Fayette and Lavaca went from less than D2 to Exceptional (D4) drought. Bexar, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Bastrop, and Lee went from D2 to D4. Real and Medina went from D2 to D3. Bandera, Blanco, Burnet Comal, Hays, Llano, Travis, and Williamson went from D3 to D4. Uvalde remained in D2. Gillespie, Kendall, and Kerr remained in D4. Area reservoirs continued to drop. Medina Lake dropped 1.2 feet and was 85.9 feet below normal conservation pool level. Lake Buchanan fell 3.9 feet to 26.1 feet below normal. Lake Travis was down 3.9 feet to 49.6 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 2.1 feet to 16.9 feet below normal. The Edwards Aquifer actually rose 0.7 feet but was still 31.3 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg and Kerrville Stage 4, Llano and Georgetown Stage 3, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Medina, Guadalupe, and upper Colorado Rivers, and below normal (10%-24%) on the San Antonio and lower Colorado Rivers. All of the counties in D2 or worse drought had outdoor burn bans in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Uvalde

When
August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Uvalde forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
29.357, -99.762 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The hot, dry summer continued this month. Nearly all of South Central Texas had less than normal rainfall. Most of the area northeast of a line from Kerrville to Karnes City received less than 25% of normal, and for most of our counties the drought worsened. Frio and Edwards went into Severe (D2) drought. Atascosa, De Witt, Gonzales, Karnes, and Wilson went into Extreme (D3) drought from less than D2. Fayette and Lavaca went from less than D2 to Exceptional (D4) drought. Bexar, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Bastrop, and Lee went from D2 to D4. Real and Medina went from D2 to D3. Bandera, Blanco, Burnet Comal, Hays, Llano, Travis, and Williamson went from D3 to D4. Uvalde remained in D2. Gillespie, Kendall, and Kerr remained in D4. Area reservoirs continued to drop. Medina Lake dropped 1.2 feet and was 85.9 feet below normal conservation pool level. Lake Buchanan fell 3.9 feet to 26.1 feet below normal. Lake Travis was down 3.9 feet to 49.6 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 2.1 feet to 16.9 feet below normal. The Edwards Aquifer actually rose 0.7 feet but was still 31.3 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg and Kerrville Stage 4, Llano and Georgetown Stage 3, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Medina, Guadalupe, and upper Colorado Rivers, and below normal (10%-24%) on the San Antonio and lower Colorado Rivers. All of the counties in D2 or worse drought had outdoor burn bans in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Medina

When
August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Medina forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
29.356, -99.110 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The hot, dry summer continued this month. Nearly all of South Central Texas had less than normal rainfall. Most of the area northeast of a line from Kerrville to Karnes City received less than 25% of normal, and for most of our counties the drought worsened. Frio and Edwards went into Severe (D2) drought. Atascosa, De Witt, Gonzales, Karnes, and Wilson went into Extreme (D3) drought from less than D2. Fayette and Lavaca went from less than D2 to Exceptional (D4) drought. Bexar, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Bastrop, and Lee went from D2 to D4. Real and Medina went from D2 to D3. Bandera, Blanco, Burnet Comal, Hays, Llano, Travis, and Williamson went from D3 to D4. Uvalde remained in D2. Gillespie, Kendall, and Kerr remained in D4. Area reservoirs continued to drop. Medina Lake dropped 1.2 feet and was 85.9 feet below normal conservation pool level. Lake Buchanan fell 3.9 feet to 26.1 feet below normal. Lake Travis was down 3.9 feet to 49.6 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 2.1 feet to 16.9 feet below normal. The Edwards Aquifer actually rose 0.7 feet but was still 31.3 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg and Kerrville Stage 4, Llano and Georgetown Stage 3, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Medina, Guadalupe, and upper Colorado Rivers, and below normal (10%-24%) on the San Antonio and lower Colorado Rivers. All of the counties in D2 or worse drought had outdoor burn bans in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Real

When
August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Real forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
29.832, -99.822 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The hot, dry summer continued this month. Nearly all of South Central Texas had less than normal rainfall. Most of the area northeast of a line from Kerrville to Karnes City received less than 25% of normal, and for most of our counties the drought worsened. Frio and Edwards went into Severe (D2) drought. Atascosa, De Witt, Gonzales, Karnes, and Wilson went into Extreme (D3) drought from less than D2. Fayette and Lavaca went from less than D2 to Exceptional (D4) drought. Bexar, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Bastrop, and Lee went from D2 to D4. Real and Medina went from D2 to D3. Bandera, Blanco, Burnet Comal, Hays, Llano, Travis, and Williamson went from D3 to D4. Uvalde remained in D2. Gillespie, Kendall, and Kerr remained in D4. Area reservoirs continued to drop. Medina Lake dropped 1.2 feet and was 85.9 feet below normal conservation pool level. Lake Buchanan fell 3.9 feet to 26.1 feet below normal. Lake Travis was down 3.9 feet to 49.6 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 2.1 feet to 16.9 feet below normal. The Edwards Aquifer actually rose 0.7 feet but was still 31.3 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg and Kerrville Stage 4, Llano and Georgetown Stage 3, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Medina, Guadalupe, and upper Colorado Rivers, and below normal (10%-24%) on the San Antonio and lower Colorado Rivers. All of the counties in D2 or worse drought had outdoor burn bans in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Bandera

When
August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Bandera forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
29.747, -99.246 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The hot, dry summer continued this month. Nearly all of South Central Texas had less than normal rainfall. Most of the area northeast of a line from Kerrville to Karnes City received less than 25% of normal, and for most of our counties the drought worsened. Frio and Edwards went into Severe (D2) drought. Atascosa, De Witt, Gonzales, Karnes, and Wilson went into Extreme (D3) drought from less than D2. Fayette and Lavaca went from less than D2 to Exceptional (D4) drought. Bexar, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Bastrop, and Lee went from D2 to D4. Real and Medina went from D2 to D3. Bandera, Blanco, Burnet Comal, Hays, Llano, Travis, and Williamson went from D3 to D4. Uvalde remained in D2. Gillespie, Kendall, and Kerr remained in D4. Area reservoirs continued to drop. Medina Lake dropped 1.2 feet and was 85.9 feet below normal conservation pool level. Lake Buchanan fell 3.9 feet to 26.1 feet below normal. Lake Travis was down 3.9 feet to 49.6 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 2.1 feet to 16.9 feet below normal. The Edwards Aquifer actually rose 0.7 feet but was still 31.3 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg and Kerrville Stage 4, Llano and Georgetown Stage 3, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Medina, Guadalupe, and upper Colorado Rivers, and below normal (10%-24%) on the San Antonio and lower Colorado Rivers. All of the counties in D2 or worse drought had outdoor burn bans in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Bastrop

When
August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Bastrop forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
30.104, -97.312 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The hot, dry summer continued this month. Nearly all of South Central Texas had less than normal rainfall. Most of the area northeast of a line from Kerrville to Karnes City received less than 25% of normal, and for most of our counties the drought worsened. Frio and Edwards went into Severe (D2) drought. Atascosa, De Witt, Gonzales, Karnes, and Wilson went into Extreme (D3) drought from less than D2. Fayette and Lavaca went from less than D2 to Exceptional (D4) drought. Bexar, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Bastrop, and Lee went from D2 to D4. Real and Medina went from D2 to D3. Bandera, Blanco, Burnet Comal, Hays, Llano, Travis, and Williamson went from D3 to D4. Uvalde remained in D2. Gillespie, Kendall, and Kerr remained in D4. Area reservoirs continued to drop. Medina Lake dropped 1.2 feet and was 85.9 feet below normal conservation pool level. Lake Buchanan fell 3.9 feet to 26.1 feet below normal. Lake Travis was down 3.9 feet to 49.6 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 2.1 feet to 16.9 feet below normal. The Edwards Aquifer actually rose 0.7 feet but was still 31.3 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg and Kerrville Stage 4, Llano and Georgetown Stage 3, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Medina, Guadalupe, and upper Colorado Rivers, and below normal (10%-24%) on the San Antonio and lower Colorado Rivers. All of the counties in D2 or worse drought had outdoor burn bans in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Bexar

When
August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Bexar forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
29.449, -98.520 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The hot, dry summer continued this month. Nearly all of South Central Texas had less than normal rainfall. Most of the area northeast of a line from Kerrville to Karnes City received less than 25% of normal, and for most of our counties the drought worsened. Frio and Edwards went into Severe (D2) drought. Atascosa, De Witt, Gonzales, Karnes, and Wilson went into Extreme (D3) drought from less than D2. Fayette and Lavaca went from less than D2 to Exceptional (D4) drought. Bexar, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Bastrop, and Lee went from D2 to D4. Real and Medina went from D2 to D3. Bandera, Blanco, Burnet Comal, Hays, Llano, Travis, and Williamson went from D3 to D4. Uvalde remained in D2. Gillespie, Kendall, and Kerr remained in D4. Area reservoirs continued to drop. Medina Lake dropped 1.2 feet and was 85.9 feet below normal conservation pool level. Lake Buchanan fell 3.9 feet to 26.1 feet below normal. Lake Travis was down 3.9 feet to 49.6 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 2.1 feet to 16.9 feet below normal. The Edwards Aquifer actually rose 0.7 feet but was still 31.3 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg and Kerrville Stage 4, Llano and Georgetown Stage 3, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Medina, Guadalupe, and upper Colorado Rivers, and below normal (10%-24%) on the San Antonio and lower Colorado Rivers. All of the counties in D2 or worse drought had outdoor burn bans in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Blanco

When
August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Blanco forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
30.266, -98.400 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The hot, dry summer continued this month. Nearly all of South Central Texas had less than normal rainfall. Most of the area northeast of a line from Kerrville to Karnes City received less than 25% of normal, and for most of our counties the drought worsened. Frio and Edwards went into Severe (D2) drought. Atascosa, De Witt, Gonzales, Karnes, and Wilson went into Extreme (D3) drought from less than D2. Fayette and Lavaca went from less than D2 to Exceptional (D4) drought. Bexar, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Bastrop, and Lee went from D2 to D4. Real and Medina went from D2 to D3. Bandera, Blanco, Burnet Comal, Hays, Llano, Travis, and Williamson went from D3 to D4. Uvalde remained in D2. Gillespie, Kendall, and Kerr remained in D4. Area reservoirs continued to drop. Medina Lake dropped 1.2 feet and was 85.9 feet below normal conservation pool level. Lake Buchanan fell 3.9 feet to 26.1 feet below normal. Lake Travis was down 3.9 feet to 49.6 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 2.1 feet to 16.9 feet below normal. The Edwards Aquifer actually rose 0.7 feet but was still 31.3 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg and Kerrville Stage 4, Llano and Georgetown Stage 3, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Medina, Guadalupe, and upper Colorado Rivers, and below normal (10%-24%) on the San Antonio and lower Colorado Rivers. All of the counties in D2 or worse drought had outdoor burn bans in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Burnet

When
August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Burnet forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
30.788, -98.182 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The hot, dry summer continued this month. Nearly all of South Central Texas had less than normal rainfall. Most of the area northeast of a line from Kerrville to Karnes City received less than 25% of normal, and for most of our counties the drought worsened. Frio and Edwards went into Severe (D2) drought. Atascosa, De Witt, Gonzales, Karnes, and Wilson went into Extreme (D3) drought from less than D2. Fayette and Lavaca went from less than D2 to Exceptional (D4) drought. Bexar, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Bastrop, and Lee went from D2 to D4. Real and Medina went from D2 to D3. Bandera, Blanco, Burnet Comal, Hays, Llano, Travis, and Williamson went from D3 to D4. Uvalde remained in D2. Gillespie, Kendall, and Kerr remained in D4. Area reservoirs continued to drop. Medina Lake dropped 1.2 feet and was 85.9 feet below normal conservation pool level. Lake Buchanan fell 3.9 feet to 26.1 feet below normal. Lake Travis was down 3.9 feet to 49.6 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 2.1 feet to 16.9 feet below normal. The Edwards Aquifer actually rose 0.7 feet but was still 31.3 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg and Kerrville Stage 4, Llano and Georgetown Stage 3, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Medina, Guadalupe, and upper Colorado Rivers, and below normal (10%-24%) on the San Antonio and lower Colorado Rivers. All of the counties in D2 or worse drought had outdoor burn bans in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Caldwell

When
August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Caldwell forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
29.837, -97.620 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The hot, dry summer continued this month. Nearly all of South Central Texas had less than normal rainfall. Most of the area northeast of a line from Kerrville to Karnes City received less than 25% of normal, and for most of our counties the drought worsened. Frio and Edwards went into Severe (D2) drought. Atascosa, De Witt, Gonzales, Karnes, and Wilson went into Extreme (D3) drought from less than D2. Fayette and Lavaca went from less than D2 to Exceptional (D4) drought. Bexar, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Bastrop, and Lee went from D2 to D4. Real and Medina went from D2 to D3. Bandera, Blanco, Burnet Comal, Hays, Llano, Travis, and Williamson went from D3 to D4. Uvalde remained in D2. Gillespie, Kendall, and Kerr remained in D4. Area reservoirs continued to drop. Medina Lake dropped 1.2 feet and was 85.9 feet below normal conservation pool level. Lake Buchanan fell 3.9 feet to 26.1 feet below normal. Lake Travis was down 3.9 feet to 49.6 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 2.1 feet to 16.9 feet below normal. The Edwards Aquifer actually rose 0.7 feet but was still 31.3 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg and Kerrville Stage 4, Llano and Georgetown Stage 3, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Medina, Guadalupe, and upper Colorado Rivers, and below normal (10%-24%) on the San Antonio and lower Colorado Rivers. All of the counties in D2 or worse drought had outdoor burn bans in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Comal

When
August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Comal forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
29.808, -98.278 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The hot, dry summer continued this month. Nearly all of South Central Texas had less than normal rainfall. Most of the area northeast of a line from Kerrville to Karnes City received less than 25% of normal, and for most of our counties the drought worsened. Frio and Edwards went into Severe (D2) drought. Atascosa, De Witt, Gonzales, Karnes, and Wilson went into Extreme (D3) drought from less than D2. Fayette and Lavaca went from less than D2 to Exceptional (D4) drought. Bexar, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Bastrop, and Lee went from D2 to D4. Real and Medina went from D2 to D3. Bandera, Blanco, Burnet Comal, Hays, Llano, Travis, and Williamson went from D3 to D4. Uvalde remained in D2. Gillespie, Kendall, and Kerr remained in D4. Area reservoirs continued to drop. Medina Lake dropped 1.2 feet and was 85.9 feet below normal conservation pool level. Lake Buchanan fell 3.9 feet to 26.1 feet below normal. Lake Travis was down 3.9 feet to 49.6 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 2.1 feet to 16.9 feet below normal. The Edwards Aquifer actually rose 0.7 feet but was still 31.3 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg and Kerrville Stage 4, Llano and Georgetown Stage 3, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Medina, Guadalupe, and upper Colorado Rivers, and below normal (10%-24%) on the San Antonio and lower Colorado Rivers. All of the counties in D2 or worse drought had outdoor burn bans in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Guadalupe

When
August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Guadalupe forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
29.583, -97.949 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The hot, dry summer continued this month. Nearly all of South Central Texas had less than normal rainfall. Most of the area northeast of a line from Kerrville to Karnes City received less than 25% of normal, and for most of our counties the drought worsened. Frio and Edwards went into Severe (D2) drought. Atascosa, De Witt, Gonzales, Karnes, and Wilson went into Extreme (D3) drought from less than D2. Fayette and Lavaca went from less than D2 to Exceptional (D4) drought. Bexar, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Bastrop, and Lee went from D2 to D4. Real and Medina went from D2 to D3. Bandera, Blanco, Burnet Comal, Hays, Llano, Travis, and Williamson went from D3 to D4. Uvalde remained in D2. Gillespie, Kendall, and Kerr remained in D4. Area reservoirs continued to drop. Medina Lake dropped 1.2 feet and was 85.9 feet below normal conservation pool level. Lake Buchanan fell 3.9 feet to 26.1 feet below normal. Lake Travis was down 3.9 feet to 49.6 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 2.1 feet to 16.9 feet below normal. The Edwards Aquifer actually rose 0.7 feet but was still 31.3 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg and Kerrville Stage 4, Llano and Georgetown Stage 3, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Medina, Guadalupe, and upper Colorado Rivers, and below normal (10%-24%) on the San Antonio and lower Colorado Rivers. All of the counties in D2 or worse drought had outdoor burn bans in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Hays

When
August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Hays forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
30.058, -98.031 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The hot, dry summer continued this month. Nearly all of South Central Texas had less than normal rainfall. Most of the area northeast of a line from Kerrville to Karnes City received less than 25% of normal, and for most of our counties the drought worsened. Frio and Edwards went into Severe (D2) drought. Atascosa, De Witt, Gonzales, Karnes, and Wilson went into Extreme (D3) drought from less than D2. Fayette and Lavaca went from less than D2 to Exceptional (D4) drought. Bexar, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Bastrop, and Lee went from D2 to D4. Real and Medina went from D2 to D3. Bandera, Blanco, Burnet Comal, Hays, Llano, Travis, and Williamson went from D3 to D4. Uvalde remained in D2. Gillespie, Kendall, and Kerr remained in D4. Area reservoirs continued to drop. Medina Lake dropped 1.2 feet and was 85.9 feet below normal conservation pool level. Lake Buchanan fell 3.9 feet to 26.1 feet below normal. Lake Travis was down 3.9 feet to 49.6 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 2.1 feet to 16.9 feet below normal. The Edwards Aquifer actually rose 0.7 feet but was still 31.3 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg and Kerrville Stage 4, Llano and Georgetown Stage 3, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Medina, Guadalupe, and upper Colorado Rivers, and below normal (10%-24%) on the San Antonio and lower Colorado Rivers. All of the counties in D2 or worse drought had outdoor burn bans in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Llano

When
August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Llano forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
30.706, -98.684 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The hot, dry summer continued this month. Nearly all of South Central Texas had less than normal rainfall. Most of the area northeast of a line from Kerrville to Karnes City received less than 25% of normal, and for most of our counties the drought worsened. Frio and Edwards went into Severe (D2) drought. Atascosa, De Witt, Gonzales, Karnes, and Wilson went into Extreme (D3) drought from less than D2. Fayette and Lavaca went from less than D2 to Exceptional (D4) drought. Bexar, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Bastrop, and Lee went from D2 to D4. Real and Medina went from D2 to D3. Bandera, Blanco, Burnet Comal, Hays, Llano, Travis, and Williamson went from D3 to D4. Uvalde remained in D2. Gillespie, Kendall, and Kerr remained in D4. Area reservoirs continued to drop. Medina Lake dropped 1.2 feet and was 85.9 feet below normal conservation pool level. Lake Buchanan fell 3.9 feet to 26.1 feet below normal. Lake Travis was down 3.9 feet to 49.6 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 2.1 feet to 16.9 feet below normal. The Edwards Aquifer actually rose 0.7 feet but was still 31.3 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg and Kerrville Stage 4, Llano and Georgetown Stage 3, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Medina, Guadalupe, and upper Colorado Rivers, and below normal (10%-24%) on the San Antonio and lower Colorado Rivers. All of the counties in D2 or worse drought had outdoor burn bans in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Travis

When
August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Travis forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
30.335, -97.782 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The hot, dry summer continued this month. Nearly all of South Central Texas had less than normal rainfall. Most of the area northeast of a line from Kerrville to Karnes City received less than 25% of normal, and for most of our counties the drought worsened. Frio and Edwards went into Severe (D2) drought. Atascosa, De Witt, Gonzales, Karnes, and Wilson went into Extreme (D3) drought from less than D2. Fayette and Lavaca went from less than D2 to Exceptional (D4) drought. Bexar, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Bastrop, and Lee went from D2 to D4. Real and Medina went from D2 to D3. Bandera, Blanco, Burnet Comal, Hays, Llano, Travis, and Williamson went from D3 to D4. Uvalde remained in D2. Gillespie, Kendall, and Kerr remained in D4. Area reservoirs continued to drop. Medina Lake dropped 1.2 feet and was 85.9 feet below normal conservation pool level. Lake Buchanan fell 3.9 feet to 26.1 feet below normal. Lake Travis was down 3.9 feet to 49.6 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 2.1 feet to 16.9 feet below normal. The Edwards Aquifer actually rose 0.7 feet but was still 31.3 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg and Kerrville Stage 4, Llano and Georgetown Stage 3, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Medina, Guadalupe, and upper Colorado Rivers, and below normal (10%-24%) on the San Antonio and lower Colorado Rivers. All of the counties in D2 or worse drought had outdoor burn bans in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Williamson

When
August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Williamson forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
30.648, -97.601 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The hot, dry summer continued this month. Nearly all of South Central Texas had less than normal rainfall. Most of the area northeast of a line from Kerrville to Karnes City received less than 25% of normal, and for most of our counties the drought worsened. Frio and Edwards went into Severe (D2) drought. Atascosa, De Witt, Gonzales, Karnes, and Wilson went into Extreme (D3) drought from less than D2. Fayette and Lavaca went from less than D2 to Exceptional (D4) drought. Bexar, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Bastrop, and Lee went from D2 to D4. Real and Medina went from D2 to D3. Bandera, Blanco, Burnet Comal, Hays, Llano, Travis, and Williamson went from D3 to D4. Uvalde remained in D2. Gillespie, Kendall, and Kerr remained in D4. Area reservoirs continued to drop. Medina Lake dropped 1.2 feet and was 85.9 feet below normal conservation pool level. Lake Buchanan fell 3.9 feet to 26.1 feet below normal. Lake Travis was down 3.9 feet to 49.6 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 2.1 feet to 16.9 feet below normal. The Edwards Aquifer actually rose 0.7 feet but was still 31.3 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg and Kerrville Stage 4, Llano and Georgetown Stage 3, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Medina, Guadalupe, and upper Colorado Rivers, and below normal (10%-24%) on the San Antonio and lower Colorado Rivers. All of the counties in D2 or worse drought had outdoor burn bans in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Lee

When
August 1, 12:00 AM CST to August 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Lee forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
30.311, -96.966 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The hot, dry summer continued this month. Nearly all of South Central Texas had less than normal rainfall. Most of the area northeast of a line from Kerrville to Karnes City received less than 25% of normal, and for most of our counties the drought worsened. Frio and Edwards went into Severe (D2) drought. Atascosa, De Witt, Gonzales, Karnes, and Wilson went into Extreme (D3) drought from less than D2. Fayette and Lavaca went from less than D2 to Exceptional (D4) drought. Bexar, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Bastrop, and Lee went from D2 to D4. Real and Medina went from D2 to D3. Bandera, Blanco, Burnet Comal, Hays, Llano, Travis, and Williamson went from D3 to D4. Uvalde remained in D2. Gillespie, Kendall, and Kerr remained in D4. Area reservoirs continued to drop. Medina Lake dropped 1.2 feet and was 85.9 feet below normal conservation pool level. Lake Buchanan fell 3.9 feet to 26.1 feet below normal. Lake Travis was down 3.9 feet to 49.6 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 2.1 feet to 16.9 feet below normal. The Edwards Aquifer actually rose 0.7 feet but was still 31.3 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg and Kerrville Stage 4, Llano and Georgetown Stage 3, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Medina, Guadalupe, and upper Colorado Rivers, and below normal (10%-24%) on the San Antonio and lower Colorado Rivers. All of the counties in D2 or worse drought had outdoor burn bans in effect at the end of the month.

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 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, August 2023

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: 1133723, 1133724, 1133725, 1133726, 1133734, 1133735, 1133736, 1133737, 1133738, 1133739, 1133740, 1133741, 1133742, 1133743, 1133744, 1133745, 1133746, 1133747, 1133748.