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  • Texas A&M Expert: Rainfall From Harvey Shattered Every Record

    Texas A&M Expert: Rainfall From Harvey Shattered Every Record

    Hurricane Harvey was billed as a once-in-every-500-year event, and it more than lived up to its billing. It produced rainfall amounts that will re-write the weather books in Texas and the United States, says a Texas A&M University expert.

    Sep 7, 2017

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  • Last Month Was the Hottest February on Record in Texas

    Last Month Was the Hottest February on Record in Texas

    All-time records were set at 42 Texas weather stations last month and meteorologists say this winter is on track to be the warmest on record.

    Mar 2, 2017

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  • 2016 Climate Recap: Record Temperatures, Warm Winters and Heavy Showers

    2016 Climate Recap: Record Temperatures, Warm Winters and Heavy Showers

    Last year was the hottest on record globally. The 10 hottest years on record have all happened since 1998.

    Jan 18, 2017

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  • Texas A&M Expert: Polar Vortex Has Cold Air, But What Does It Really Mean?

    Texas A&M Expert: Polar Vortex Has Cold Air, But What Does It Really Mean?

    With a major cold air mass expected to cover most of the U.S. this week – as much as 75 percent of the country could experience temperatures below freezing — it’s the time of year when the term “polar vortex” creeps into the news.  But it might be a good time to set the record straight on what exactly a polar vortex is, says a Texas A&M University weather expert.

    Dec 6, 2016

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  • October Goes Down As 4th Warmest Ever, Says Texas A&M State Climatologist

    October Goes Down As 4th Warmest Ever, Says Texas A&M State Climatologist

    Warm temperatures in Texas dominated the month of October, so much so that the month will go down as the fourth warmest October in the state’s history, according to figures from the State Climatologist at Texas A&M University.

    Nov 2, 2016

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  • Texas Experiences Wettest August In 100 Years

    Texas Experiences Wettest August In 100 Years

    If you think August was a wet month in Texas, pick up your prize.  Preliminary totals indicate that August averaged about 5.69 inches of rain statewide, in a tie with 1914 for the wettest August on record, according to figures from the State Climatologist office at Texas A&M University.

    Aug 31, 2016

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  • As El Niño Fades, Expect Warmer And Drier Weather

    As El Niño Fades, Expect Warmer And Drier Weather

    The current El Niño that has lasted since summer of 2015 is on its way out and after one of the warmest winters on record in Texas, that could change weather patterns in the next few months, says Texas A&M University professor and State Climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon.

    May 6, 2016

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  • Wild Weather Patterns For Texas

    Wild Weather Patterns For Texas

    Texas has experienced extreme weather over the past five years – from historic droughts to the wettest month in the state’s history — and it’s difficult to say if the pattern will dramatically change over the next few years, says a Texas A&M professor who also serves as the State Climatologist.

    Feb 26, 2016

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  • Historic Rains Pound Texas, And More May Be Coming

    Historic Rains Pound Texas, And More May Be Coming

    The two flooding events in Texas in late October were record-setters, according to figures and rainfall analyses that go back to 1950. The Oct. 22-26 rainfall event was the wettest storm on record ever in Texas. The average two-day total across Texas was 2.42 inches, shattering the previous record of 2.14 inches set in December 1991, says John Nielsen-Gammon, professor of atmospheric sciences at Texas A&M University who also serves as the State Climatologist.

    Nov 4, 2015

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  • Texas is Getting Very Dry- Again

    Texas is Getting Very Dry- Again

    Don’t look now, but Texas has entered another drought, with at least 50 percent of the state rated as either abnormally dry or in moderate to severe drought status. But that could change again in the next few months, and you can thank the developing El Niño in the Pacific for promising precipitation prospects, says a Texas A&M University professor.

    Sep 1, 2015

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  • 60 Years Ago, Aggies Helped Give First Tornado Warnings

    60 Years Ago, Aggies Helped Give First Tornado Warnings

    In 1953, several tornadoes – including one that killed 114 people in Waco, Texas – prompted a group of government officials and scientists to say, enough is enough. There has to be some way to prepare people for such deadly storms.

    Jul 20, 2015

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  • May Wettest Month Ever in Texas

    May Wettest Month Ever in Texas

    If you think it has rained a lot in the last few weeks in Texas, your hunch is correct. Figures from the Office of the State Climatologist at Texas A&M University show that the month of May has been the wettest month ever in the state’s history, averaging 7.54 inches, besting the previous record of 6.66 inches in June of 2004.

    May 27, 2015

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  • Texas Drought Still Alive And Well

    Texas Drought Still Alive And Well

    Although some areas of Texas have received plentiful rains over the past several months, conditions from abnormally dry to exceptional drought still plague several areas of the state.  The Dallas-Fort Worth area, Wichita Falls area and parts of the northern Panhandle are still far below normal, he reports.

    Jan 27, 2015

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  • State’s Drought Is Easing Somewhat – But For How Long?

    State’s Drought Is Easing Somewhat – But For How Long?

    Texas’ lingering drought that started in 2011 has shown signs of easing in many parts of the state, but several areas are still in moderate-to-severe drought status, says State Climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon, who also serves as a professor of atmospheric sciences at Texas A&M University.

    Oct 24, 2014

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  • Most of Texas Still Thirsty

    Most of Texas Still Thirsty

    Recent rains have helped some areas, but most of Texas remains very dry: About 70 percent of the state is still in some form of drought ranging from moderate to exceptional, says a Texas A&M University expert.

    Jun 24, 2014

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  • Recent Rains Help, But Most Of Texas Is Still Very Thirsty

    Recent Rains Help, But Most Of Texas Is Still Very Thirsty

    Water has always been important to Texas, but perhaps never more than now, with the state attracting more and more industries, with the energy sector running at full speed and with agriculture ““ as always ““ leading the way. But Texas faces numerous water issues, and none may be bigger than the drought which has enveloped much of the state for years.

    Jun 17, 2014

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  • Is There A Link Between Hurricanes and Global Warming?

    Is There A Link Between Hurricanes and Global Warming?

    Q: Is there a relationship between global warming and hurricanes?

    Oct 2, 2013

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  • Drought Here To Stay, Could Last Another 15 Years, Says Texas A&M Expert

    Drought Here To Stay, Could Last Another 15 Years, Says Texas A&M Expert

    Despite recent rains, the historic Texas drought is still alive and well and about 93 percent of the state remains in drought conditions ranging from dry to exceptionally dry, says a Texas A&M University expert.

    Sep 26, 2013

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  • Three Month Drought Outlook

    Three Month Drought Outlook

    The National Weather Service (NWS) and National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), along with their NOAA partners, have released an updated Southern Plains Drought Outlook for August 2013. The Outlook details the current extent of the ongoing historic drought in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and along the Rio Grande River, and highlights the critical situation regarding the region's water resources. The Outlook also includes the forecast for temperature, precipitation, and drought through October 2013.

    Aug 1, 2013

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  • Texas Mean Annual Precipitation (1981-2010)

    Texas Mean Annual Precipitation (1981-2010)

    Check out the most recent precipitation analysis for the state of Texas done by the Oregon State University PRISM Team! It takes the mean rainfall over the 30 year period from 1981-2010 and overlays that information on a map of the state of Texas including county borders. This is a great resource for quickly referencing how much rainfall should be expected in one year for your area. 

    Apr 12, 2013

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  • The Year With No Winter

    The Year With No Winter

    To contradict Shakespeare, 2012 was not the winter of discontent — it may go down as the year without a winter at all in many parts of the country, and you can blame — or praise — the jet stream, says a Texas A&M University climate expert.

    Mar 30, 2012

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  • Much of Texas Still in a Drought

    Much of Texas Still in a Drought

    Despite recent rains, much of Texas is still in a severe drought and the long-term outlook is mixed, according to a Texas A&M University expert with a long track record of studying the state’s often mysterious weather conditions.

    Feb 16, 2012

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  • Texas Drought Officially the Worst Ever

    Texas Drought Officially the Worst Ever

    COLLEGE STATION, Aug. 4, 2011 – As Texas continues to bake in record heat, the drought news for the state continues to be bleak – Texas is now in the midst of its most severe one-year drought on record, according to John Nielsen-Gammon, the Texas State Climatologist and professor of atmospheric sciences at Texas A&M University.

    Aug 4, 2011

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  • Drought Scorches Texas and the Record Books

    Drought Scorches Texas and the Record Books

    COLLEGE STATION, July 6, 2011 – The months-long Texas drought is sapping the record books bone dry and is racking up dire statistics that have never been reached since reliable record-keeping was started 116 years ago, according to figures from Texas A&M University researchers.

    Jul 6, 2011

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  • Texas Drought Losses to Agriculture Approach $1.5 Billion

    Texas Drought Losses to Agriculture Approach $1.5 Billion

    COLLEGE STATION – Preliminary estimates of Texas drought losses have reached $1.2 billion and are expected to escalate higher this year as livestock producers continue to sell off herds and crop conditions deteriorate, according to economists with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

    May 18, 2011

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  • Texas Drought Setting More Records

    Texas Drought Setting More Records

    COLLEGE STATION, May 9, 2011 – The Texas drought has continued to worsen and the state has just experienced its driest seven consecutive months since record keeping began in 1895, says Texas State Climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon, who also serves as an atmospheric sciences professor at Texas A&M University. Historically, however, records show Texas is receiving increasingly more rain, he adds.

    May 9, 2011

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  • Drought Hampering Texas A&M Storm Chases

    Drought Hampering Texas A&M Storm Chases

    COLLEGE STATION, April 22, 2011 – The current Texas drought has put a dusty chokehold on the Texas A&M Storm Chasers, and since there has been little or no rain, that means storms have been a no-show this spring. But that might change in the days ahead, says Matt Raper, one of the team's leaders.

    Apr 22, 2011

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  • Texas Drought has Hit Critical Stage and May Worsen

    Texas Drought has Hit Critical Stage and May Worsen

    COLLEGE STATION, April 7, 2011 – The drought situation in Texas has reached the critical stage, says a Texas A&M University atmospheric scientist who also serves as climatologist for Texas, and the U.S. Drought Monitor has designated parts of central and eastern Texas as under "exceptional drought" in its latest assessment.

    Apr 7, 2011

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  • End of Hurricane Season

    End of Hurricane Season

    Q:   Nov. 30 is the end of hurricane season. Why are there so many hurricanes in some years, such as in 2005?

    Oct 13, 2010

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  • Virga

    Virga

    Q: Sometimes you hear the weather forecaster refer to “virga.” What is it?

    Aug 25, 2010

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  • Texas Drought Officially Over

    Texas Drought Officially Over

    The Texas drought – one of the worst the state has ever experienced – has officially ended, according to figures from Texas State Climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon, who also serves as a professor of atmospheric sciences at Texas A&M University.

    Feb 18, 2010

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  • El Niño and La Niña

    El Niño and La Niña

    Q:  With hurricane season here, you hear a lot about El Niño and La Niña. What’s the difference?

    Aug 27, 2009

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  • Snowfall Sets Texas State Record

    Snowfall Sets Texas State Record

    Committee declares March 2009 snowfall set the Texas state record

    Aug 21, 2009

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  • An Assessment of the Meteorological Severity of the 2008-2009 Texas Drought through July 2009

    An Assessment of the Meteorological Severity of the 2008-2009 Texas Drought through July 2009

    Presentation of An assessment of the meteorological severity of the 2008-2009 Texas drought through July 2009 - August 12, 2009 (PDF)

    Aug 12, 2009

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