Fires In Texas

[Knowmystuff]

I was sent this today...some stunning pictures of some fires and drought conditions in Texas this year...noticed this is from a Boston source!

Everyone I talked to says this is the worst they have even seen in Texas...icluding my 87 year old grandfather who lived through the dust bowl in the 1930s and the major drought in the 1950s.

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2011/0 ... fires.html

 

[Old Bearkat]

To be worse than the 50's drought, it will have to go on for at least 3 more years. The reason the fires are worse this time is that it was normal dry before the 50's drought, so there was not that much to burn, whereas this time the drought was preceded by a period of above normal rain.

 

[Knowmystuff]

I have been told the wind this time has been very unusual, blowing constantly and harder than normal. And there is a lot more brush to be burned no than in the 1950s, more land was farmed or grazed then and less mesquite and ceder trees...so there is more fuel for the fires.

 

[rainjacktx]

What makes this drought so bad is a combination of what ONK said and the heat. The 50's drought was not coupled with record setting heat.

It's a pretty hot summer when three consecutive 95 degree days is considered a cooling trend.

 

[donhardin]

Usually the first liar doesn't stand a chance. I'll just say whatever you measure these past few months in Texas, this time around is bad!

Don Hardin
Abilene, Texas

 

[Old Bearkat]

Looking at the radar the past few says, it looks like the fires may have been quenched somewhat.