It wasn't quite fry-an-egg-on-the-car-hood hot this May, but it definitely felt like opening-the-oven-door hot.

• To add to the melt-y feeling, Central Texas continues to be parched, with rainfall year-to-date trailing the normal accumulation by a third, per National Weather Service data.

Why it matters: The hot, dry weather means the amount of water available to wash dishes, bathe and drink — as well as for use in factories and power plants — is very slowly declining.

• Lakes Travis and Buchanan, the chief water supply reservoirs for Central Texas, are now at 70% capacity.

Between the lines: Austin announced Stage 1 Watering Restrictions — the mildest limits — will go into effect June 6.

• The total hours for watering via automatic irrigation systems will be cut from 15 to 13 (now midnight-8am and 7pm-midnight).
• Kevin Critendon, assistant director of Environmental Planning and Development Services for the city of Austin, said the city sees the restrictions "as an opportunity, and obligation, to inform citizens about the current situation with drought and lake volumes."

By the numbers: Overall, the high temperature in May was, on average, about 7.5 degrees hotter than normal.

What they're saying: The record heat "is not a fluke," National Weather Service meteorologist Andrew Quigley told Axios.

• The cycle of Pacific Ocean temperatures known as La Niña is leading to above-normal temperatures — and below-normal precipitation — in Central Texas.

Zoom out: The state climatologist reported last year that Central Texas will get hotter and drier in coming decades as the global climate changes.

• The typical number of 100-degree days annually between 2000 and 2018 could come close to doubling by 2036.

What's next: The U.S. Climate Prediction Center forecasts "persistent drought" for Central Texas through the end of August.

Go deeper

A bit of Austin technology is floating around in space.

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched last week from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station carrying tech equipment with local ties.

• The project will allow students to learn about space by interacting directly with satellites through code.

State of play: IBM's Austin-based space team partnered with software company EnduroSat to send small satellites on the SpaceX rocket — loaded with open source, AI and cloud technologies — that will remain in space and process data in real time.

Why it matters: The move could make space more accessible to school-aged children.

• Through the IBM Cloud, high school students will be able to access data from various sensors, take pictures and perform calculations to get the results back on Earth.

What they're saying: Austin-based Naeem Altaf, IBM's chief technology officer of space, said this work to "democratize access to space" aims to further accelerate space exploration and innovation.

• "The actionable insights gained will be communicated back to IBM Cloud on Earth, a hybrid solution extending from terrestrial networks to the far edge in space," Altaf said.

Flashback: We spoke to Altaf in November about IBM's Space Tech Hub team in Austin, which partners with space agencies, universities and space tech companies.

🚨 The Department of Justice will review local law enforcement's response to the Uvalde mass shooting. (Axios)

"I think things have gotten so bad that everybody's getting more rational, at least that's my hope."

🎁 Tesoros Trading Company, seller of folk arts and crafts from around the world, is closing the South Congress shop it has occupied for 14 years at the end of June. (Austin Business Journal)

🏀 Iowa State star basketball player Tyrese Hunter is transferring to Texas, instantly boosting the Longhorns' prospects for next season. (Hookem)

🎨 An exhibit dedicated to the work of street artist Banksy will pop up in Austin in July. (KVUE)

🌸 Growth is effortless with our Local Job Board.

1. Executive Director at Congregation Beth Israel.
2. Manager, Content Design at Paypal.
3. Social Media Manager at Made In.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring? Post a job.

👋 Asher here.

Hankering for a late afternoon snack, my wife and I recently stopped at Cuantos Tacos at the Arbor Food Park, by the corner of Navasota and 12th.

A lovely, semi-wooded lot, the Arbor is one of those spaces that's hard to imagine will still be around in a few years.

• It's spacious and low key, full of picnic tables in a corner of Austin bursting with development pressure.
• It's also home to a handful of other food trailers, including pizza joint Sammataro and Venezuelan eatery Cachitos512.

What to get: We ordered champiñones (mushrooms), cachete (beef cheek), suadero (brisket), and carnitas tacos — all served on golden Nixtamal tortillas — and each was juicier than the last.

• The tacos are small — maybe three bites each, but they're rich and full of flavor. You'll think about these tacos for hours afterwards.

The secret weapon might be the salsas. The salsa roja carries a deep smokiness that punches up the already amazing tacos.

Details: Open 11am-10pm, Wednesdays through Saturdays.

🏆 Pro tip: Definitely pick up the charro beans, made with glossy chunks of campechano meat — "not vegetarian or vegan," the Cuantos menu dutifully notes.

Elon Musk, CEO of Austin-based Tesla and world's richest person, has been experiencing some very public angst about his deal to buy Twitter.

Driving the news: Musk has suggested in a series of tweets that the original agreed upon price could be cut up to 25%.

• Yes, but: Twitter's board has said no dice — and that they plan to "enforce" the merger agreement with Musk.

We decided to take a look at other things that kind of dough could buy.

📬 How would you spend $44 billion? Hit reply to this email.