A Trace was the total rainfall last week. 2.09” of Evapotranspiration. Temperatures were generally above normal - morning lows in the 70s, afternoon highs in the 90s except two days above 100 degrees F - first one hundred degree days at this station. Heat Index tells what it was really like - everyday was above one hundred with the worst day hitting 125 degrees. Five days under Heat Advisory, two days with Extreme Heat Warning and one day with an Air Quality Alert. The Texas Power Grid shows to be running “Normal Conditions” however, the US Energy Department has issued an emergency order authorizing SSP grid operator to use backup generators as a last resort to avoid the possibility of rotating outages in the coming days. (This affects sixteen others states also.) Ground soil is dry, cracks are getting bigger. Grass in majority of yard has turned brown and is crunchy. Had to put a soaker hose around my gauges and weather station poles. Supplemental watering of container plants needed. Birds are using my water fountains and bird baths like it’s a spa. I don’t mind them using my fountains (even the Grackles) but it is annoying when they chunk the rocks out of them onto the ground. Seeing quite a bit of activity from hummingbirds, bumblebees, dragonflies and butterflies - all my favorites. Prairie restoration plants are looking wilty - they could really use some rain - even Sunflower plants. Story for the week - to quote Pete Delkus, “the gates of hell have opened”.