More triple-digit temperatures coupled with little rain prompted Montgomery County commissioners to issue a 30-day burn ban Tuesday.
“We’ve reached that threshold,” Fire Marshal Jimmy Williams said about dry conditions across the county.
Most of Montgomery County is now at more than 600 on the Keetch-Byram Drought Index, which is used to determine forest fire potential.
The index ranges from 0 to 800, with an index of 0 representing no moisture depletion and an index of 800 meaning absolutely dry conditions.
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Justin Ballard, Houston Chronicle newsroom meteorologist, said the ongoing heat dome will result in sunny skies and rain chances of less than 10 percent in most areas.
Heat index values will be between 108 and 112 Tuesday across the Houston area with heat index values topping 108 degrees Wednesday, Ballard said.
More than 78 percent of the state is “abnormally dry,” including Montgomery County, based on the latest update from the U.S. Drought Monitor, a partnership of academic and government scientists.
Nearly half of the state is under moderate drought, the second-lowest level in the U.S. Drought Monitor’s scale, and the southeastern tip of Harris County is under severe drought.
Some light is visible at the end of the tunnel, Ballard said.
Forecast guidance late this week and into the weekend does indicate the gradual retreat of the heat dome. While the system likely isn’t going to retreat far enough to provide significant cooling, it could ease enough to bring additional clouds and rain chances to Southeast Texas.
Williams said if the county gets measurable rain, the ban could be lifted.
