Tropical Storm Don Does Little to Alleviate Extreme Drought

Tropical Storm Don was all style and no substance for southern Texas. Some areas near the Mexican border have been parched with less than three inches of rain since Oct. 1, 2010, and the tropical storm brought only a drizzle to some locales.

Cities such as Brownsville received 2.97 inches of rain from Oct. 1 through June 13. Tropical Storm Don only brought .63 inches of precipitation to Brownsville, a city right on the border with Mexico known for its spring break activities. Brownsville's driest year on record from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30 has been 5.29 inches set in 1902-1903. Unless more tropical waves bring precipitation to the area, the driest period on record in southern Texas may persist.

Other towns have fared even worse. Falcon Dam has gotten only 1.03 inches of rain since last October. La Joya only .89 inches. Both places received less than .15 inches of rain from T.S. Don.

It could be worse. The areas of Texas that got little-to-no rain are still not in the worst possible drought conditions. Counties in extreme southeast Texas are in a moderate to extreme drought. An exceptional drought , meaning a once-in-a-century event, now covers 75 percent of Texas.

Just a year ago, 82 percent of the state had no drought whatsoever. Only small portions were even abnormally dry. Since then, Texas has roasted in record heat waves, endured numerous wildfires and suffered heat-related deaths.

CBSDFW.com reported the elderly are most at risk, even in cities with electrical grids and air conditioning. Three elderly ladies died from heat-related illnesses in mid-July after the area saw 19-straight days of 100 degree heat.

There is no relief in sight as of yet. The Dallas-Fort Worth area has seen 30 consecutive days of 100 degree temperatures dating to July 2. It's the second-most consecutive days on record. With summer temperatures still expected through September, the record for most days above 100 for a calendar year is within reach. The record for most consecutive days at 100 or higher was set in 1980 from late June to early August. Excessive heat warnings are in effect until Aug. 4 as hot temperatures and high humidity levels continue.

There is one hope to bring relief to the area, but it may not happen for over a week. The next tropical wave in the Atlantic is forming just east of the Caribbean. National Hurricane Center forecasters say it has a near 100 percent chance of becoming Tropical Storm Emily and may grow larger as it spends more time in the warm waters of the mid-Atlantic.