Burn bans popping up as Texas dries out

Texas's worst drought since the 1950s officially ended earlier this summer, but the state is quickly drying up after weeks without rain.

This summer's heat started off milder than normal due to the wet ground and increased vegetation growth from record-breaking spring rains, but after three weeks without a drop of rain over most of the state, the formerly green ground is turning brown and the heat is catching up.

Hot air dries out the ground, and the dryness levels are now reaching a critical level increasing wildfire potential over much of southeast Texas. This dryness has already prompted Walker County to issue a burn ban, joining 27 other Texas counties also under a burn ban.

No burn ban is currently in effect for Harris County, but if rains continues to stay away, a burn ban is highly likely later this summer.