As of Sept. 17th

The latest U.S. drought monitor data has been released and like expected, the rain from last weekend really put a big dent in the Texas drought. The map above shows that the southern parts of Central Texas that were dealing with extreme and exceptional droughts, are now downgraded to moderate and severe conditions. So yes the drought does continue but it is not nearly as bad as it was. South Texas and the Hill country also saw the benefit of the rain as the deep maroon colors (exceptional drought) have shrunk. I mentioned this on air before that it will take several rain events like this past one to completely get rid of drought conditions across the area. Since it looks like hurricanes this season will stay away from Texas, we will have to rely on a wet fall and winter. And if you have been reading the Weather Blog, you would know that is what is in the forecast, thanks to the El Nino we are in. — First Alert 25 Meteorologist Conley Isom

State Drought Monitor

Even though parts of Central Texas are receiving some much needed rain, the southern half of the area is still dealing with dangerous, drought conditions. The image above shows that counties like Bell, Williamson, and Milam are currently under an “exceptional” drought. The amazing part is the sharp gradient between Bell county and McLennan county. In fact, parts of Waco are only dealing with a “moderate” drought.

So what kind of impacts are we seeing from this drought? For one thing, many of our counties are still under Burn Bans, especially farther south into the Hill country and the Brazos Valley. Another impact is on local agriculture, where hay prices are double what they were last year and livestock liquidation has doubled. The fire danger is also elevated but so far the winds have not been nearly as strong as what they were in the spring.

There is some good news that may help the drought situation. The weather pattern is going into an El Nino, which typically means above average rainfall for the Fall and Winter. This agrees with many of the atmospheric signals we are seeing in the weather data. So hopefully as we head into next Spring, the drought will be gone. However, the impacts may last for years. — First Alert 25 Meteorologist Conley Isom

It has been amazing and sad to see the damage from the wildfires near Los Angeles. Firefighters are beginning to gain some ground but as of Thursday, the fire is only 38% contained. The wildfire has destroyed 64 homes, burned three people and left two firefighters dead. Firefighters have been conducting an aerial assault on the fire to complement efforts on the ground. Helicopters have doused the fire with 1.7 million gallons of water — enough to fill about three Olympic-sized swimming pools — while airplanes have dropped 670,000 gallons of retardant on the fire. The sad part is U.S. Forest officials believe the fire was started by a person and not mother nature. — First Alert 25 Meteorologist Conley Isom

Click here to see an amazing time lapse of the fire near L.A.

Radar estimated rain totals for July across Texas.

The month of July has been very hot and dry across most of Central Texas. The Waco airport made it into the triple digits 18 times and received just under 3 inches of rain. However, from the map above, you can see other parts of the state did better or worse when it comes to rain. West Texas, the Panhandle, and north Texas all received up to 8 inches of rain. On the flip side, most of south Texas and the coastal regions got almost noting. And that is why that part of the state is dealing with extreme drought conditions. For us in Central Texas, we are stuck in the middle but drought conditions are much worse for our southern counties than our northern counties. The good news is if the El Nino weather pattern holds like most forecasters believe, then our fall and winter season could be rather wet. Of course, the damage from this drought has already been done. — First Alert 25 Meteorologist Conley Isom

Latest Texas Drought Map

The National Weather Service in Fort Worth has sent out a drought update for the area. Below are some of the highlights:

• The drought is getting worse.
• The corn crop has suffered because of the extreme heat.
• Fire danger is becoming elevated for the July and August.
• Many places went with little or no rain through most of June. Although the recent rains may have a helped a little.
• The forecast calls for me hot and dry weather for the rest of the summer.

You can read the full report by clicking here. — First Alert 25 Meteorologist Conley Isom

Forecast for the 4th of July

The 4th of July weekend is almost here and it is going to be a hot one. No rain is expected on Independence Day and afternoon temperatures are going to soar into the lower 100s. Factor in the humidity, heat index values will be around 105. This may be just below heat advisory criteria but it will be close. So if you plan to be outdoors Saturday afternoon, take it easy, drinks lots of water to stay hydrated, wear the sun screen, and lastly, have fun!

One last note: Be careful shooting fireworks. Even with the recent rains, the ground is still very dry and many of our counties are under burn bans. Check with local officials to see if your county is under firework restriction. The good news, most city firework shows are a go!– First Alert 25 Meteorologist Conley Isom

As of Sunday, June 28th, the Waco airport has hit 100 degrees or higher 13 times and has hit the century mark 9 straight days. For Temple, we have seen 8 days at or above 100 degrees and 7 straight days of triple digit  heat. We are definitely on pace for the hottest summer on record. However, it looks like we will get a break from the 100 degree heat as a weak cold front moves in on Monday. To be honest, there is not much difference between upper 90s and low 100s. It will still be very warm! The front also promises to bring us a few scattered storms but they will be hit or miss, so not everyone will see the rain. We sure could use it because more counties are being added to the burn ban map. Plus, with the fourth of July next week, things could turn dangerous with fireworks and dry grass. I encourage you to be careful if you plan to shoot fireworks this year. We will have more on the fourth of July forecast as we go through the week. –First Alert 25 Meteorologist Conley Isom

On Saturday, June 13th, the official observing station at the Waco airport hit 100 degrees, making it the first 100 degree day. (CORRECTION: AFTER POSTING, THE OFFICIAL HIGH TEMP WAS 101 DEGREES!) Technically, it is not summer yet. That happens next Saturday, June 21st. However, mother nature decided to bring summer early with a strong upper level high pressure system that will keep us dry and hot for the next 7-10 days. We have not seen much rain across the region in the past couple of months so I have a feeling this is only the beginning of a long and hot summer! — First Alert 25 Meteorologist Conley Isom

It looks like summer is coming early to Central Texas. With no significant chance for rain anytime soon, thoughts of drought and burn bans come to mind. The map above shows most of south Texas still under severe drought conditions, but not nearly as bad as it was earlier this year. For our area, places from Killeen, Temple, and into the Brazos Valley are dealing with a moderate drought. Mother nature typically turns off the faucets in June, July, and August, so if we do not see much rain, the drought conditions are only going to get worse. F0r burn bans, as of June 8th, we have two counties under them; Mills and Lampasas. More maybe added soon and you can find the latest burn ban map on the Texas Forestry Service site. — First Alert 25 Meteorologist Conley Isom

Heat Index Chart

As the summer heat begins, temperatures will start to climb closer and closer to 100 degrees. However, it is the combination of the heat and humidity that really makes it feel uncomfortable to be outdoors. We call this value the heat index or “feel like temperature.” You can calculate this number by using the chart above. Just take note of the temperature and relative humidity and see where those two come together. This will give you an estimate of what it feels like outside. Here are some facts about Texas heat:

• About 175 people die from heat in America every year
• Men sweat more than women, making men more susceptible to heat illness
• Whenever the forecast calls for heat index values over 105 degrees for more than 3 hours in the afternoon, heat advisories are issued
• Drink lots of water, wear sunscreen, and take breaks to avoid overheating