National Weather Service meteorologist "Skip" Ely said the dry pattern is caused by a persistent area of high pressure that has dominated North Texas weather since the end of June, blocking normal moisture flows across the South.
What all this shows is not that Netanyahu is wrong to fear such a resolution, but that a resolution will be a symptom of an already existing problem and blocking it will not end the problem.
On Thursday, Republicans forced the delay with a parliamentary manoeuvre blocking the Senate Democratic leader's motion to end debate on Mr Hagel's nomination and proceed to an up-or-down vote on confirmation.