College Station Monthly Summary: December 2002
December temperatures were close to normal, despite some considerable fluctuations from day to day. The 5th and 6th saw mean temperatures 12°F below normal, while the 17th and 18th means were 17°F and 19°F above normal, respectively. For the month, College Station was only 0.6°F above normal, but precipitation was above normal with 7.58" for the month, ending the year with an annual rainfall total of 42.86", which is 3.19" greater than normal. Brazos county, as well as several areas around the state, experienced some strong to severe storms on the 23rd, with a reported tornado in Navasota, 1.75" hail in Bryan and 1.36" of precipitation recorded at Easterwood. Prior to a weak frontal passage on the 19th, College Station experienced a warm spell, with temperatures reaching 20°F above normal on the 18th. But the greatest precipitation for a single day fell on the 4th as a front passed through, delivering 2.35" of rain, and dropping temperatures over 20°F between the 4th and 5th.
| |
Daily Temperature |
Daily Precipitation |
Monthly Temperature Summary |
| Day |
Maximum |
Minimum |
*Departure |
Total |
Mean |
Value |
*Departure |
| 1 |
59°F |
39°F |
‑6°F |
|
Maximum |
62.6°F |
‑0.2°F |
| 2 |
73°F |
42°F |
+2°F |
|
Minimum |
43.0°F |
+1.5°F |
| 3 |
70°F |
62°F |
+11°F |
0.18" |
Average |
52.8°F |
+0.6°F |
| 4 |
70°F |
39°F |
0°F |
2.35" |
Degree Days |
Total |
*Departure |
| 5 |
49°F |
36°F |
‑12°F |
|
Heating |
380 |
‑33 |
| 6 |
53°F |
31°F |
‑12°F |
|
Cooling |
12 |
‑2 |
| 7 |
57°F |
36°F |
‑8°F |
|
Numberof Days: |
Total |
*Departure |
| 8 |
61°F |
50°F |
+2°F |
0.16" |
Maximum ≥ 90°F |
0 |
0 |
| 9 |
50°F |
44°F |
‑6°F |
0.98" |
Maximum ≤ 32°F |
0 |
0 |
| 10 |
51°F |
44°F |
‑6°F |
0.01" |
Minimum ≤ 32°F |
2 |
‑6 |
| 11 |
55°F |
37°F |
‑7°F |
|
|
| 12 |
55°F |
48°F |
‑2°F |
1.05" |
Monthly Precipitation Summary |
| 13 |
58°F |
39°F |
‑4°F |
|
Precipitation |
Value |
*Departure |
| 14 |
63°F |
33°F |
‑4°F |
|
Monthly Total |
7.58" |
+4.35" |
| 15 |
72°F |
42°F |
+5°F |
|
Year-to-date Total |
42.86" |
+3.19" |
| 16 |
73°F |
58°F |
+14°F |
|
Days ≥ 0.01" |
10 |
+2 |
| 17 |
76°F |
61°F |
+16°F |
|
|
| 18 |
76°F |
65°F |
+18°F |
|
Monthly Extremes |
| 19 |
65°F |
48°F |
+6°F |
0.54" |
Extreme |
Value |
Date(s) |
| 20 |
65°F |
36°F |
0°F |
|
Highest Temperature |
76°F |
17th, 18th |
| 21 |
72°F |
41°F |
+6°F |
|
Lowest Temperature |
29°F |
25th |
| 22 |
67°F |
42°F |
+4°F |
T |
Max. 24-hour Precip. |
2.38" |
3rd-4th |
| 23 |
75°F |
45°F |
+9°F |
1.36" |
Maximum Wind Gust |
45 mph |
23rd |
| 24 |
45°F |
35°F |
‑11°F |
T |
|
| 25 |
47°F |
29°F |
‑13°F |
|
Record Book for December |
| 26 |
51°F |
36°F |
‑8°F |
|
Highest Temperature |
89°F |
1922 |
| 27 |
64°F |
35°F |
0°F |
|
Lowest Temperature |
2°F |
1989 |
| 28 |
66°F |
37°F |
+2°F |
|
Highest Minimum |
74°F |
1982 |
| 29 |
72°F |
47°F |
+10°F |
T |
Lowest Maximum |
23°F |
1990 |
| 30 |
71°F |
55°F |
+13°F |
0.93" |
Wettest Month |
12.66" |
1913 |
| 31 |
60°F |
41°F |
+0°F |
0.02" |
Driest Month |
0.00" |
1947 |
| |
Wettest 24 Hours |
7.54" |
1913 |
"T" indicates daily precipitation ≤ 0.005".
BOLDFACE indicates an extreme daily value for the month.
ITALICS indicates a daily record was set or tied.
*Departure from the 1971‑2000 normal. |
*New Records Set
| Day |
Parameter |
Value |
Old Record |
Year |
| 18th |
Tied highest minimum temperature |
65°F |
65°F |
1957 |
*Near Records Set
| Day |
Parameter |
Value |
Record |
Year |
| 17th |
Tied 4th highest maximum temperature |
76°F |
81°F |
1924 |
| 18th |
Tied 4th highest maximum temperature |
76°F |
84°F |
1924 |
*NOTE: Records from 1910 through July 1951 are based on observations taken at the Texas Agricultural
Experiment Station main farm located 7 miles SW of College Station. Records from August 1951 through
the present are based on observations taken at Easterwood Field. |
January Normals for College Station
| Beginning of the month: |
62°F/41°F |
Monthly precipitation: |
3.32" |
| Middle of the month: |
61°F/40°F |
Precipitation days: |
9 |
| End of the month: |
63°F/42°F |
Days ≤ 32°F: |
11 |
