Burn Bans
Drought
Monthly Change in Drought Monitor Classification
March 3- Washington county has been removed from the exceptional drought stage and dropped two stages to severe drought.
Brenham Banner Press, Staff, March 3, 2012
March 4- For the first time in over a year Tom Green County has dropped below the Severe Drought stage increasing the water table and farmers hopes.
San Angelo Standard Times, Matthew Waller, March 4, 2012
March 5- The drought has significantly improved over the past few months after a devastating and costly 2011.
The Battalion, Natalee Blanchet, March 5, 2012
March 16- The drought of last year may be more devastating than expected as estimates for the economic impact are above the 5.2 billion dollar mark set last year for the effects of the drought.
San Antonio Express News, William Pack, March 16, 2012
March 30- Brazos County has officially been removed from the drought as reports the US Drought Monitor and the State Climatologist Dr. John Nielsen Gammon.
The Eagle, Matthew Watkins, March 30, 2012
March 31- The drought still continues across western Texas, while in Eastern Texas the improvement has been dramatic. La Nina is expected to phase out by summer, but dry conditions will still be in effect
Times Record News, AgriLife, March 31, 2012
Water Supply
March 1- The city of Buda will ease water restrictions as the Edwards Aquifer lowered drought resrictions from stage 3 to stage 2.
Hays Free Press, Wes Ferguson, March 1, 2012
March 2- Denton County recieved the Rain Catcher Award for its efforts at harvesting rainfall at the Denton County Administrative Complex.
NBC5 News, Sara Story, March 2, 2012
March 4- The League City drought contingency plan has been updated due to the confusion surrounding the plan over last years drought.
The Daily News, Christopher Smith Gonzalez, March 4, 2012
March 5- The recent rainfall has not been enough to replenish the Colorado River basin, so if the drought worsens this summer mid-coast rice farmers may loose irrigation waters and thus loose the farms and the duck hunting in the marshes.
Lone Star Outdoor News, Bill Miller, March 5, 2012
March 5- The San Antonio Water System has lifted stage 1 water restrictions.
San Antonio Express News, Colin McDonald, March 5, 2012
March 6- The Harker Heights City Council is deliberating a plan to connect the cities water with the Central Texas Water Supply Corporation in order to better prepare for water shortages this summer.
Killeen Daily Herald, Kim Steele, March 6, 2012
March 13- Lake levels have filled across North Texas allowing recreation to continue, but Lake Lavon is still 4 feet below capacity.
CW 33 News, Charles Bassett, March 13, 2012
March 20- Last years drought increased water usage to an all time high last year as the city of Amarillo used 2.6 billion gallons more water than usual in 2011.
Amarillo Globe News, Kevin Welch, March 20, 2012
March 20- Enhanced stage 3 water restrictions are still in place for the NTMWD because of the inability to use water from Lake Texoma due to the invasive species of Zebra Mussels in the lake.
NBC5 News, Ray Villeda, March 20, 2012
March 30- Water will soon be released from Caballo Lake and will flow down to the borderland and allow for irrigation water to finally reach dry farms.
KFOX 14 News, Ric Dupont, March 30, 2012
Agricultural Impacts
March 2- The Colorado River Authority has announced that it will not release water for Texas Rice farmers this summer. This will severely limit the growth of rice along the Colorado River, which makes up 3/4 of the state's rice production.
WFAA News, AP, March 2, 2012
March 3- The crop outlook is looking up as the drought has substantially improved. Winter wheat is looking great across central Texas and new forage has grown in pastures allowing for the dependance on hay to drop. The panhandle on the other hand is still suffering from drought and extreme wind.
Times Record News, Texas Agrilife Extension Service, March 3, 2012
March 5- At the Houston Rodeo drought was still on the minds of ranchers and corporations looking to sell and buy cattle at the cattle auction.
The Houston Chronicle, Zain Shauk, March 5, 2012
March 23- The production of honey dropped drastically last year from a combination of extreme heat and dryness killing off many colonies of bees. This year has been very wet and honey production has already made up for last year's losses for many farmers.
The Austin American Statesman, Ciara O'Rourke, March 23, 2012
March 28- The peach crop has made a surprising comeback after the worst drought in Texas history. Even the pear, grape, and blackberry crop is flourishing this spring
KVUE News, Andrew Horansky, March 29, 2012
Inclement Weather
Cold/ Winter Weather
March 9- Sleet and other wintry precipitation is blamed for many accidents in Lubbock as it fell overnight and into the weekend.
Lubbock Avalanche Journal, Irie Price, March 9, 2012
Heat
March 1- The Houston area broke heat records on February 29 as the highest low temperature was recorded at 71 degrees at Bush Airport, 7 degrees above the previous record. The heat is expected to persist until a cold front later in the week.
The Houston Chronicle, Eric Berger, March 1, 2012
Flooding/Rainfall
March 10- Heavy rains are blamed for the spilling of thousands of gallons of sewer into Cedar Bayou in Baytown.
The Houston Chronicle, Dana Thompson, March 10, 2012
March 12- Heavy rains brought flooding to parts of Brazos county closing roads such as FM 247 east of Madisonville.
KBTX News, Rashi Vats, March 12, 2012
March 20- Heavy rains have fallen across North Texas leading to road flooding, the need for high water rescues, and the issuing of a flash flood watch.
FOX 4 News, Alice Wolke, March 20, 2012
March 20- Severe Storms have caused substantial flooding across Central Texas as evacuations were ordered for parts of Belton and Killeen and roads were closed across the region. Between 3 and 7 inches of rain were recorded throughout the event and several school districts are delayed or closed due to the storms.
KWTX News, Staff, March 20, 2012
March 29- Portions of the Crossroads were drenched with upwards of 6 inches of rain, washing out FM 1353 and causing power outages in Beeville.
The Victoria Advocate, Sonny Long, March 29, 2012
Severe Weather
March 12- A lightning strike is blamed for a house fire in College Station on Sunday
The Eagle, Staff, March 12, 2012
March 20- Severe Storms brought flooding rains, strong winds, and lightning to the DFW area. By the time the storms cleared, the area had seen over 4 inches of rain, dozens of flight cancellations, and thousands of power outages.
The Fort Worth Star Telegram, Domingo Ramirez, March 20, 2012
March 21- Lightning is the most likely cause of a house fire in League City.
The Daily News, Staff, March 21, 2012
March 21- Three tornadoes touched down near San Antonio hitting Devine and Natalia, Texas. Two of the tornadoes were rated EF2 and the third was rated an EF1.
WOAI News, Staff, March 21, 2012
March 30- A severe storm sat on the city of McAllen for 4 hours dumping a record 4.37 inches of rain on the city and piling up hail and damaging homes.
The Houston Chronicle, Lynn Brezosky, March 30, 2012
Other Climate Impacts
Academics/Athletics
March 9- Cold rain caused the Abilene ISD Invitational Baseball Tournament to be canceled, forcing coaches to redraw schedules.
Abilene Reporter News, Staff, March 9, 2012
March 9- The drought has made athletics in the Midland school district difficult as the ground is so tough that players are getting injured more easily.
NewsWest 9, Anayeli Ruiz, March 9, 2012
March 10- Galveston County sports were loaded with cancellations due to the wet, windy weather.
The Daily News, Staff, March 10, 2012
March 16- Rain forced a delay in the State Tennis Tournament and limited the number of matches that can be played when play resumes.
The Rockport Pilot, March 16, 2012
Animals/Aquatic Life
March 1- Bird migrations have changed this winter as a result of the drought in Texas making food and nesting grounds scarce.
AP, Ramit Plushnick, March 1, 2012
March 3- The Reilly's horse rescue center in Albernathy is suffering due to the drought because of increased feed costs, a drop in adoptions, and less productive forage land.
Plainview Herald, Jessica Thorton, March 3, 2012
March 6- The drought has delayed the release of endangered Pronghorns into West Texas for more study on their population decline.
AP, Jamie Stengle, March 6, 2012
March 29- Donkeys and mules have been abandoned across the state as the drought made keeping them more expensive for ranchers.
AP, Janet McConnaughey, March 29, 2012
March 30- All of the wet weather has made conditions for bugs a lot better, especially for mosquito hawks, fire ants and mosquitoes.
The Austin American Statesman, Benjamin Wermund, March 30, 2012
Construction
March 15- The Memorial Woods Townhomes gated community is looking for a new erosion plan for the banks of Spring Creek as high rainfalls, in combination with last year's drought, have caused extensive erosion which is threatening homes.
KHOU News, Courtney Zubowski, March 15, 2012
Economics
March 22- The drought's effects on the state are much worse than previously expected, with $2.4 billion more in agricultural losses expected in addition to the already record high impact.
The Houston Chronicle, William Pack, March 22, 2012
March 28- The previous year's drought exposed a major problem in Texas's economy as our dependance on water will only increase over time.
The Austin-American Statesman, Laylan Copelin, March 28, 2012
Homes/Gardening/Trees
March 2- An 80 year old Pecan Tree in San Antonio was claimed by the drought so the owners are chopping it down and turning it into a dining table.
The Houston Chronicle, Tracy Hobson Lehmann, March 2, 2012
March 9- Temperatures and rainfall have made the perfect combination for an early show of West Texas spring flowers.
San Angelo Standard Times, John Begnaud, March 9, 2012
March 14- The drought claimed thousands of trees across Montgomery County costing hundreds of thousands of dollars for removal and even more fro replanting.
The Woodlands Villager, March 14, 2012
Hunting/Fishing
March 14- The past years drought devastated the white tailed deer herd across the state and a poor hunting season is expected for this year for deer and fowl.
The Houston Chronicle, Shannon Tompkins, March 14, 2012
March 24- Turkey hunting this season may be better than expected even after wildfires and the drought destroyed much of their habitat.
The Fort Worth Star Telegram, Bob Hood, March 24, 2012
Recreation/Leisure
March 10- People attending SXSW had to bundle up and wear raincoats as rain fell on the festival.
KVUE News, Ashley Goudeau, March 10, 2012
March 10- The Luminaria Festival in San Antonio was delayed due to rains.
San Antonio Express News, Deborak Martin, March 10, 2012
March 29- The Houston Open was delayed due to rain.
AP, Chris Duncan, March 29, 2012
Roads/Traffic/Travel
March 20- Rains have again delayed the opening of the new Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge in Dallas as a few minor constructions are still to be completed.
WFAA News, Brad Watson, March 20, 2012
March 21- Rainfall has made potholes more prevalent across the DFW area as water gets underneath roadways and causes buckling.
NBC 5 News, Ken Kalthoff, March 21, 2012
