AUSTIN, Texas — Drought conditions continue across the Lone Star State.
According to recent drought monitor data, the lack of rainfall, especially in the Hill Country, leaves much of our area in “severe” to “extreme” drought conditions. Groundwater and reservoir levels have continued to drop in the Central Texas area amid very large precipitation deficits.
Conditions like these often lead local leaders to issue burn bans, preventing outdoor burning to reduce the risk of wildfires. Out of the 254 counties in Texas, nearly half are under burn bans as of March 11, including much of the KVUE viewing area.
The following Central Texas counties are currently under active burn bans: Travis, Hays, Fayette, Blanco, Gillespie, Llano, Mason and Burnet.
The counties in the KVUE viewing area that are not currently under burn bans are Williamson, Bastrop, Lee and Caldwell.
The Texas A&M Forest Service has a regularly updated, interactive burn ban map for the whole state. It can be viewed below or here.