Today marks 70 days of 100°+  temperatures in Austin this year, breaking the previous record set in 2009. Austinites have needed to work extra hard this summer to keep up the city’s “cool factor”… 

Slacklining. Lines are strung between trees, bridge abutments and railings around Lady Bird Lake. And yes, sometimes we see these guys fall into the lake.

Pilates on SUP. These hard-core pilates enthusiasts have impressive balance on their Stand Up Paddleboards. And yes, sometimes we see them accidentally fall off  into the water.

Adidas photo shoot. We wondered what was going on last week when this two-story raft slowly drifted by. And yes, these people jumped into the lake and swam around. (Normally swimming is prohibited in this part of the lake.) 

Bat watching. More kayaks and canoes are around in the evenings since the bats now leave the Congress Avenue bridge well before sunset. I’ve read that the bats are having a harder time finding food at night so they leave earlier in the evening. And yes, often boaters jump into the lake to cool off!

Central Texas is suffering from an Exceptional Drought. According to the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), we have just completed the driest 10-month period since Texas began keeping records in 1895. A New York Times editorial this week noted that Texas has received less than half its average rainfall this year. 

Little rain with high temperatures have made for a brutal summer. Sometime this week we will break the previous record of 69 days of 100+ temperatures (set in 2009). But Austinites are trying to stay optimistic.

We were hopeful when dark clouds gathered over downtown Austin one evening this week. But alas…no rain.  

The downtown sky looked threatening during this week’s Concert in the Park. Several times the announcer for the brass quintet said that he would be thrilled if the concert was rained out. Each time the audience nodded their heads in agreement and turned around to look at the clouds above the city skyline. Once again…no rain.

The little people over at Compass Learning are looking very optimistic. Their raincoats might be melting in the brutal sun, but they are certainly not getting wet.

Along with many churches and synagogues in the area, my congregation has been praying for rain all summer. Our choir is singing “Let It Rain” this Sunday…perhaps this will help?

Oh yeah…it’s August in Austin. 

Today’s high was 107° F. So far temperatures have reached 100° F or more for 48 days this year. The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for our area through Friday.

Austinites are reverse-hibernating and staying indoors. Bill and I are catching up on reading and I’m doing some long-delayed photo scanning/archiving. Fortunately for Bill there are two frozen yogurt/smoothie shops within one block of our apartment. 

The extreme heat combined with our ongoing drought has caused the downtown landscape to turn brown and dusty. The trees around Lady Bird Lake are looking stressed. Most grass and flowers have given up.

First the City of Austin cancelled the annual July 4th fireworks display due to the extreme drought conditions. Then the Austin Symphony cancelled their annual July 4th concert too. Temperatures soared to 100+ degrees every day.


This was definitely not the July 4th weekend we had planned…but there were still signs of life downtown:

Boats filled Lady Bird Lake each day. 

Larger-than-usual crowds watched the bats at the Congress Avenue Bridge. 

Children enjoyed the newly-refurbished water fountain at Butler Park. 

Workers removed all the glass balcony panels at the W and started to install temporary wooden panels instead. 

Our resident saxophonist got in some good practice sessions under the First Street bridge.