In 2011, Texas experienced its worst drought since the seven-year drought of the 1950’s.
AUSTIN, Texas — It was a year for record books.
In 2011, the lack of rain pushed Texas into its worst ever drought since the seven-year drought of the 1950’s.
In Central Texas and across the Hill Country, rivers ran dry and the Highland Lakes reached historic low levels.
The land that was usually covered by the high waters of the lakes west of Austin suddenly reappeared as temporary islands.
The year 2011 was the driest year ever for Texas, with an average of only 14.8 inches of rain statewide. High temperatures that summer also increased evaporation, further lowering river and lake levels.
Climate experts blamed the long dry spell on events in ocean waters far away, as the La Nina weather pattern kept the Pacific Ocean cooler than normal, meaning less rain for the Lone Star state.
The conditions fueled a series of wildfires across the state in early September 2011. The most devastating was the Bastrop Complex Fire in Bastrop County, which scorched over 34,000 acres and destroyed more than 1,300 homes
And the drought of 2011 didn’t end quickly. It persisted in some parts of Texas for five more years.
Of course, anyone who has lived around Central Texas long enough knows that periods of drought alternating with rainy spells tends to be the norm. Here’s hoping we’re a long way off from another drought like the one we experienced just 15 years ago.