Issue date: 6/30/09 Section: News

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Though Aggieland has already endured hot weather for weeks, the driest month of the year, July, is still to come and with it comes the "dog days of summer," the hottest days of the year.

"Ordinarily in June, it's a bit windier and not as hot," said John Nielson-Gammon, atmospheric science professor and local climate specialist. "But this summer there seems to be an exception to that."

The lack of rainfall during May and June is historically unusual, Nielson-Gammon said. The most recent summer on record that it was this dry in College Station was 1998.

Conditions such as this, he said, only happen once or twice a century.

"We've had high pressure preventing rain," Nielson-Gammon said. "And the less rain we get, the more the ground dries out and heats up during the day."

With temperatures already in the mid-90s by morning and no measurable rain since May 24, Nielson-Gammon said, College Station is experiencing severe drought conditions.

College Station is classified as a D2 drought. The highest drought classification is D5.

"At the rate we're going were going to get to D4," he said.

Consequently, College Station residents should prepare for above-normal temperatures in the upper 90s throughout July and August, Nielson-Gammon said.

Though summer 2008 was also fairly warm and dry, Nielson-Gammon said, the big difference this summer season is the historically low amount of rainfall.

May showers usually measure up to an average of five inches, he said. Last year, it rained four inches in May in College Station.

This May, College Station received 1.14 inches of rainfall.

The longer we go without rainfall, the number of 100-degree days will increase, Nielson-Gammon said.

The only chance for rain and consequently lower temperatures in July and August depends on the formation of a front or tropical system, said atmospheric science graduate student Larry Hooper.

"It's one thing to be very warm and hot, but it's another thing to be hot and dry," Hooper said. "And we've definitely been both for several weeks now."

This winter, however, College Station is expected to have below normal temperatures, Nielson-Gammon said.

Residents will almost certainly have a cooler winter than last year, he said, and there is also fair chance for above normal rainfall.

However, Hooper said, the weather in July and August may go above or below normal in temperatures and rainfall - it is hard to tell just yet.

"If we don't have a tropical system for this summer, we're probably going to be above normal conditions," he said.

Despite conditions, Aggieland is not as dry as central and south Texas cities, such as San Antonio and Austin, which are in extreme drought.

College Station will likely be in a drought until fall, Hooper said, and residents should be aware of the risk of heat exhaustion in this dry, sultry climate.

"It's already in the 90s by 9:30 a.m., don't go jogging at 3 in the afternoon," he said. "I see some people with their facebook [statuses] saying 'that wasn't a good idea,' [after exercising mid-day]."

It's best to exercise outside before 9 a.m. and after 9 p.m., Hooper said.

Also, water the lawn in the evening because if it is watered mid-day, he said, the water will evaporate.

Landscape irrigation using automatic in-ground or hose-end sprinkler systems is prohibited between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., in accordance with College Station Water Services' Drought Contingency Plan, updated in April. However, exemptions apply. To learn more visit www.cstx.gov/index.aspx?page=1058.

To save energy and money while beating the heat, keep the thermostat as high as comfortably possible, said College Station Utilities energy auditor Bryan Henry.

Air conditioning contributes to 48 percent to 50 percent of energy usage in the average College Station home during summertime, he said. Air conditioning systems should be serviced to ensure they run efficiently while keeping the air filter clean.

Also, washing clothes and using the dishwasher after sunset decreases the heavy load mid-day activities bring to their energy system, he said.

"[However] you can only do so much with the intense heat we're experiencing now," Henry said.

Preventing water waste
Avoid watering with automatic or hose-end sprinklers between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Use drip irrigation or soaker hoses in landscape beds.

Don't allow irrigation water to run off your property into the street.

Fix sprinkler heads and valves that are broken, leaking or out of alignment.

Install a rain shut-off sensor on your automatic landscape irrigation system.

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