Texas Heat Anticipated to Break Records in Coming Years

Is Texas getting too hot to handle as temperatures are on the rise year after year?

According to a recent Climate Report from Texas A&M, The Lone Star State is indeed rising in average temperatures as time goes by. In fact, it's projected that by the year 2036, the number of 100-degree days will quadruple from those in the 1980s.

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Also, the average annual surface temperature is expected to rise 3 degrees higher than the 1950 to 1999 average. This means that warmer weather is likely to allow dry conditions to develop earlier in the year. This, of course, leads to higher risk of wildfires in spring and summer across the state.

How does this impact farmers?

The way in which this can impact Texas farms is that as the temperatures slowly climb each year, growing season is increasing almost one week per decade. It's recommended that farmers plant earlier in the year, bit by bit, as they keep up with the shortening winter season.

What does this mean for rainfall and snow?

Well, the researchers mentioned that, although it's impossible to speak for the entirety of the state projections of drought trends "because of all the factors at play", they still anticipate over 50% increased frequency for urban flooding as compared to what we've seen from 2000 to 2018. With shorter winter seasons comes less snow and a decline at an even faster rate that what we've seen in Texas' history by 2036.

Will droughts be more commonplace by 2036?

Simply put, yes. The "majority of factors" indicate increased drought severity. Researchers also mentioned multidecadal variability and how that can impact projections of changing rainfall and drought capabilities across the state.

So, all in all, make sure you are aware that Texas is indeed rising in temperatures, albeit very slowly. For you farmers out there, make sure you keep an eye on these trends so you can get ahead of any shortened or changing growing seasons.