Recap of July 2011 Austin Forum

Mark ShaferSouthern Climate Impacts Planning Program

July 2011 Drought ForumAustin, TX

National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS)

Status and Evolution of the Drought

Seasonal Climate and Drought Outlook

South Central U.S. Droughts & La Nina

Drought Context: 5 months ago Drought began in earnest in October 2010

Oct 2010-June 2011 driest 9-month period on record in TX

Heat building across the region June hottest ever recorded in Texas

Development was consistent with La Nina Climate variability most likely explained current

drought conditions Rapid onset and magnitude beyond observational record

Indicators pointed toward a re-development of La Nina in Fall 2011

Impacts of the 2010-2011 Drought

Over 3.2 million acres burned in Texas

Drought losses at least $1.2 billion in Texas (at the time; current estimates in region near $8B)

Cattle Industry thinning herds Will take years to recover

their losses

When is Drought a News Story? Clearly relate current conditions

to historical conditions

Create simple graphics summarizing the current situation

Be proactive with local reporters

More timely communications from water utilities regarding upcoming water restrictions

State Drought Planning and Response

More frequent assessments and updates of states’ drought plans

Improve drought-related triggers and indicators for planning responses

Assure triggers are implemented

Enhance ongoing interactions between the research community and decision-makers

Summary Guidance on product interpretation

Especially relating to drivers and drought forecasts Preparing summaries for the public

Systematic assessments of impacts

Post products and narratives understandable to the lay-person

Include more state extension agents

Help obtaining data at the local or basin scale

Best practices document for improving coordination among federal, state, and local agencies

Webinars: Managing Drought

Webinar Series Goals To improve communication among agencies and

organizations in the Southern Plains who are being affected by the historic and exceptional drought

To provide information on available resources and assistance to help monitor and manage drought

To understand the impacts of drought in this region from the perspective of those who are tasked with managing it

To document impacts that will help improve the weekly U.S. Drought Monitor assessment and our understanding of how drought impacts evolve and decay

Webinar Format 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month at 11:00 a.m.

Central Time Overview of regional drought conditions and

outlook for next several weeks to months led by the Drought Monitor authors

Discussion Topic Alternating between an impact type (wildfire,

agriculture) and a resource (monitoring tools, assistance programs)

Comments & Updates from State Climatologists Open-ended time for questions and comments

Topics So Far Historical Context and Evolution of the Drought (Sep

29) La Nina and Prospects for Continued Drought (Oct 13) Flash Drought (Oct 27) Water Resources (Dec 1) Cattle & Livestock (Dec 8)

To sign up, see http://www.southernclimate.org

PDF Summaries

Distributing Results NIDIS Drought Portal (slides and pdf

summaries) http://www.drought.gov/portal/server.pt/community/south

ern_plains

SCIPP Website (pdf summaries) http://www.southernclimate.org

Youtube (webinar recordings) http://www.youtube.com/user/SCIPP01

Facebook (pdf summaries) Southern Climate Impacts Planning Program

Other Activities Conversations with state officials

Updating state drought plans Surveys of information flow

Numerous town hall meetings

Media Interviews

Informal Publications OCS/Mesonet Ticker:

http://ticker.mesonet.org/ Climate Abyss:

http://blog.chron.com/climateabyss/

Talking About Drought Can Be Tough…