Texas Climate Assessment Highlights Debate Over Extreme Weather Trends

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (FLAN 35) — A new assessment of Texas climate data is adding fuel to the national debate over whether recent drought, heat and severe-weather events demonstrate an escalating climate crisis.

The report from The Heartland Institute’s ClimateAtAGlance project examines more than a century of Texas weather and agricultural data from NOAA, USDA and other federal sources.

According to the assessment, Texas has not experienced a sustained increase in days reaching at least 100 degrees. It also says there is no clear long-term trend in the state’s hurricane or tornado frequency.

The report points to the 1950s as Texas’ worst long-term drought period in the modern record and argues that recent droughts remain within historical ranges.

Agriculture is presented as another counterpoint. The assessment says Texas cotton yields per acre have increased 168% since 1900, while corn yields have increased 575%.

The findings come as Florida and other states continue confronting questions about extreme heat, hurricanes, flooding and drought.

Climate scientists broadly agree that human-caused greenhouse gas emissions are driving long-term global warming, although individual weather trends can vary substantially by location and time period.

The Heartland Institute says its assessment is intended to provide reporters and policymakers with state-specific climate data.