2011 drought/heat costliest ever for Texas Ag. Half-billion trees dead.

Dead trees are still falling on homes and roads all over Texas. State and private tree removal services have termed the situation unprecedented. They are overwhelmed.

One local note from Austin, Texas: Based on records dating back to 1898, seven of the ten years with the most 100-degree days have occurred since 1998, when armchair skeptics tried to fool people into thinking that Global Warming had ended. The 90 days of 100-degree (and above) temperatures in 2011 dwarfed second-place 2009, which had 68. Evaporation rates during both years were indescribable. The drought began to reestablish itself after the rainy season ended early again this year, but the promise of an El Nino and increased rainfall in Texas should help offset some of the heavy agricultural losses in the rest of The World's Bread Basket.

I'll hush so you can get to the link.

http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/hill_country/2011-drought-costliest-in-history