September is starting out with more of what we saw in August. For the month of August, I measured a total of 0.46 inches of rain compared to the long-term average of 1.95 inches (about 24%). 0.45 of that came in two scattered evening storms near the end of the month. That 0.46 inches is all the rain we have received since the floor rains stopped on July 16, about 13% of the long-term average for that period. The effects of the heat and dry spell are beginning to show them selves as plants are going into dormancy and trees are showing signs of stress. Grasses are going brown throughout the county and we are under a 90-day burn ban as a result. The USGS reports the Llano River at Hwy 87 is still flowing well with a reported flow rate of 201 cfs vs the 53-year median of 111 cfs. The drought condition is unchanged since last week.