Q: Can a drought affect our overnight temperatures?A: Yes it can, says Brent McRoberts of Texas A&M University. “A drought can cause overnight temperatures to be slightly lower than normal overnight lows without a drought,” he explains. “Morning lows are directly correlated to how much warmth the Earth’s surface is able to lose during the hours without daylight. During a drought, the moisture content of both the ground soil and of the atmosphere are lower than normal. This often times leads to less overnight clouds. Clouds act as a blanket for overnight temperatures, and without them, the surface loses heat more efficiently. This causes the night temperatures to be lower than those observed when not in a drought.”Q: So can drought affect daytime temperatures?A: The answer again is yes, McRoberts says. “This effect is similar to why drought can affect overnight temperatures,” he notes. “Daytime highs can be hotter during a drought due to the lack of moisture in the atmosphere. The lack of moisture inhibits cloud formation. Without clouds to shield the surface or moisture to help absorb the suns energy, the surface of the Earth receives more of the sun’s energy and consequently heats quicker. This effect can create higher daytime temperatures.”Q: Can a drought affect our overnight temperatures?A: Yes it can, says Brent McRoberts of Texas A&M University. “A drought can cause overnight temperatures to be slightly lower than normal overnight lows without a drought,” he explains. “Morning lows are directly correlated to how much warmth the Earth’s surface is able to lose during the hours without daylight. During a drought, the moisture content of both the ground soil and of the atmosphere are lower than normal. This often times leads to less overnight clouds. Clouds act as a blanket for overnight temperatures, and without them, the surface loses heat more efficiently. This causes the night temperatures to be lower than those observed when not in a drought.”Q: So can drought affect daytime temperatures?A: The answer again is yes, McRoberts says. “This effect is similar to why drought can affect overnight temperatures,” he notes. “Daytime highs can be hotter during a drought due to the lack of moisture in the atmosphere. The lack of moisture inhibits cloud formation. Without clouds to shield the surface or moisture to help absorb the suns energy, the surface of the Earth receives more of the sun’s energy and consequently heats quicker. This effect can create higher daytime temperatures.”