Texas Climate Report: December 1999
Precipitation was once again lacking for most of Texas as thirteen of the nineteen stations had below-normal measurements for December. The Edwards Plateau, Southern Texas, and the Lower Valley regions recorded the lowest percentages of their normal precipitation for the month. Midland recorded no precipitation for December, while Del Rio and San Angelo had only 2% and 11%, respectively. Due to two snow-producing cold fronts in the Panhandle, Amarillo received 416% and Lubbock received 349% of normal precipitation for the month. Temperatures also followed a now familiar pattern; all stations but El Paso and Midland recorded above-normal temperatures for December. The greatest departures from normal were in the Low Rolling Plains and North Central Texas. Dallas-Fort Worth was 4.6°F above normal, and Wichita Falls was 4.0°F above normal. Temperatures along the Gulf Coast were generally less than 1.0°F above normal.
The first week in December saw a cold front sweep across the state as a low pressure system moved out of the Rockies into the Plains on the 2nd. Numerous accounts of wind damage and hail were reported in North Central Texas. Krum in Denton County had a report of hail 2.75" in diameter while Perrin in Jack County reported 1.75" hail on the 2nd. As the low moved across the Panhandle, it left over ten inches of snow in some in some areas on the 4th. Cold air behind the front brought near-record lows to many stations in Texas, and a temperature of 19°F in Austin on the 6th shattered the previous low of 27°F for that date set in 1990.
Another low pressure system moved into the Panhandle on the 8th producing similar effects. Hail was reported in Taylor and Callahan counties and wind damage was reported in Kaufman County. Snow fell once again across much of the Panhandle on the 8th bringing much-needed moisture to that region. A low pressure system taking a more southerly route moved out of Mexico across the heart of Texas on the 11th and 12th. Significant rain fell on the 12th in much of North Central, East, and Southeast Texas, including Longview (2.10"), Waco (1.66"), Texarkana (1.43"), Tyler (1.22"), and Lufkin (0.99").
Most of Texas experienced unseasonably warm weather the last week of 1999. Alice had the nation's high of 82°F on the 29th, and along with Kingsville on the 30th and Cotulla on the 31st also had the nation's high of 86°F on those days.
Monthly Summary for Selected Cities
| |
TMAX (°F) |
TMIN (°F) |
TAVG (°F) |
PRCP |
*Deg. Days |
| Station |
Mean |
*Dep. |
Max. |
Mean |
*Dep. |
Min. |
Mean |
*Dep. |
Days ≥ 0.01" |
Mo. Total |
*Perc. Norm. |
Gr'st 24 hr. |
*HDD |
*CDD |
| Abilene |
61.9 |
+4.9 |
80 |
33.6 |
‑0.3 |
18 |
47.7 |
+2.2 |
3 |
0.35 |
34% |
0.33 |
531 |
0 |
| Amarillo |
50.3 |
+0.2 |
68 |
24.8 |
+1.1 |
13 |
37.5 |
+0.6 |
6 |
0.93 |
216% |
0.52 |
844 |
0 |
| Austin |
67.5 |
+5.5 |
83 |
43.8 |
+2.6 |
32 |
55.6 |
+4.0 |
5 |
1.15 |
61% |
0.75 |
304 |
18 |
| Brownsville |
73.5 |
+1.8 |
85 |
50.9 |
‑1.5 |
38 |
62.2 |
+0.1 |
5 |
0.32 |
26% |
0.14 |
133 |
58 |
| College Station |
66.5 |
+5.0 |
83 |
38.2 |
‑3.0 |
26 |
52.4 |
+1.0 |
8 |
1.54 |
54% |
0.81 |
397 |
12 |
| Corpus Christi |
71.8 |
+3.5 |
85 |
46.4 |
‑2.0 |
31 |
59.1 |
+0.8 |
1 |
0.25 |
20% |
0.25 |
206 |
33 |
| Dallas‑Fort Worth |
62.6 |
+5.1 |
79 |
40.4 |
+4.1 |
26 |
51.5 |
+4.6 |
5 |
2.55 |
139% |
1.48 |
421 |
9 |
| Del Rio |
67.1 |
+3.6 |
86 |
40.7 |
+0.1 |
26 |
53.9 |
+1.8 |
1 |
0.01 |
2% |
0.01 |
339 |
1 |
| El Paso |
55.7 |
‑1.8 |
68 |
31.1 |
+0.4 |
18 |
43.4 |
‑0.7 |
2 |
0.63 |
111% |
0.62 |
662 |
0 |
| Galveston |
65.4 |
+3.5 |
76 |
50.8 |
‑0.1 |
38 |
58.1 |
+1.7 |
8 |
5.81 |
166% |
1.85 |
226 |
20 |
| Houston |
67.1 |
+2.4 |
80 |
40.3 |
‑1.9 |
28 |
53.7 |
+0.2 |
7 |
2.20 |
64% |
1.07 |
355 |
11 |
| Lubbock |
54.8 |
+0.7 |
70 |
26.9 |
‑0.3 |
16 |
40.9 |
+0.3 |
4 |
1.05 |
198% |
0.65 |
740 |
0 |
| Midland |
59.2 |
+0.8 |
76 |
30.9 |
+0.1 |
20 |
45.0 |
+0.4 |
0 |
0.00 |
0% |
0.00 |
610 |
0 |
| Port Arthur |
66.6 |
+2.4 |
80 |
42.0 |
‑2.3 |
32 |
54.3 |
|
9 |
4.03 |
84% |
1.41 |
340 |
16 |
| San Angelo |
63.4 |
+4.4 |
82 |
34.9 |
+1.9 |
20 |
49.1 |
+3.1 |
1 |
0.09 |
11% |
0.09 |
488 |
1 |
| San Antonio |
67.8 |
+4.3 |
83 |
40.1 |
‑0.7 |
25 |
54.0 |
+1.8 |
7 |
0.52 |
34% |
0.27 |
346 |
11 |
| Victoria |
70.2 |
+4.2 |
83 |
42.3 |
‑2.9 |
27 |
56.2 |
+0.6 |
7 |
1.02 |
50% |
0.60 |
283 |
17 |
| Waco |
63.7 |
+4.4 |
82 |
39.1 |
+1.8 |
24 |
51.4 |
+3.1 |
7 |
2.82 |
152% |
1.86 |
426 |
12 |
| Wichita Falls |
60.3 |
+5.4 |
81 |
33.3 |
+2.5 |
22 |
46.8 |
+4.0 |
3 |
0.72 |
56% |
0.36 |
558 |
1 |
| Shreveport, LA |
61.9 |
+3.4 |
78 |
37.3 |
|
24 |
49.6 |
+1.6 |
10 |
3.82 |
93% |
1.29 |
477 |
6 |
*Dep.: Departure of the monthly average temperature from the 1961-1990 monthly normal, which is provided by the National Climatic Data Center.
*Perc. Norm.: Monthly precipitation total divided by 1961-1990 monthly normal, which is provided by the National Climatic Data Center.
*Deg. Days: Computed daily as the departure of the daily average temperature from 65°F and aggregated over the entire month.
*Heating degree day (HDD): Each unit corresponds to a -1°F departure of a daily average temperature from 65°F.
*Cooling degree day (HDD): Each unit corresponds to a +1°F departure of a daily average temperature from 65°F.
|
Monthly Extremes
| Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| ODESSA SCHLEMEYER FLD |
ECTOR |
0.00 |
| MIDLAND INTL AP |
MIDLAND |
0.00 |
| BIG SPRING |
HOWARD |
0.00 |
| ACKERLY 4SE |
HOWARD |
0.00 |
| ALICE |
JIM WELLS |
0.00 |
| BALMORHEA |
REEVES |
0.00 |
| BATESVILLE |
ZAVALA |
0.00 |
| BIG SPRING |
HOWARD |
0.00 |
| BOERNE |
KENDALL |
0.00 |
| BRACKETTVILLE |
KINNEY |
0.00 |
| CAMP WOOD |
REAL |
0.00 |
| CANDELARIA |
PRESIDIO |
0.00 |
| CARRIZO SPRINGS 3W |
DIMMIT |
0.00 |
| CARTA VALLEY |
EDWARDS |
0.00 |
| CASTOLON |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
| CATARINA |
DIMMIT |
0.00 |
| CHAPMAN RCH |
NUECES |
0.00 |
| CHISOS BASIN |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
| COLORADO CITY |
MITCHELL |
0.00 |
| COPE RCH |
REAGAN |
0.00 |
| CORNUDAS SVC STN |
HUDSPETH |
0.00 |
| DELL CITY 5 SSW |
HUDSPETH |
0.00 |
| DERBY 1 S |
FRIO |
0.00 |
| DUNDEE 6 NNW |
ARCHER |
0.00 |
| EL INDIO |
MAVERICK |
0.00 |
| EXXON GAS PLANT |
KLEBERG |
0.00 |
| FORSAN |
HOWARD |
0.00 |
| FT STOCKTON |
PECOS |
0.00 |
| GAIL |
BORDEN |
0.00 |
| GARDEN CITY |
GLASSCOCK |
0.00 |
| JAYTON |
KENT |
0.00 |
| KNAPP 2 SW |
SCURRY |
0.00 |
| LAGUNA 3N |
UVALDE |
0.00 |
| LAJITAS |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
| LEAKEY |
REAL |
0.00 |
| LENORAH |
MARTIN |
0.00 |
| MEDINA 1NE |
BANDERA |
0.00 |
| MEDINA LAKE |
MEDINA |
0.00 |
| MIDLAND 4 ENE |
MIDLAND |
0.00 |
| OAK CREEK LAKE |
COKE |
0.00 |
| PANTHER JUNCTION |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
| PORT O CONNOR |
CALHOUN |
0.00 |
| ROCKSPRINGS 26SSW |
EDWARDS |
0.00 |
| ROSCOE |
NOLAN |
0.00 |
| SHEFFIELD |
PECOS |
0.00 |
| STERLING CITY 8 NE |
STERLING |
0.00 |
| STUDY BUTTE |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
| TRENT |
TAYLOR |
0.00 |
| WATER VALLEY 11 NNE |
COKE |
0.00 |
| Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| JASPER |
JASPER |
6.76 |
| Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| FARMERSVILLE |
HUNT |
4.70 |
| Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| DALHART 6 SW |
HARTLEY |
34.2 |
| Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| PORT ISABEL |
CAMERON |
64.1 |
| Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| DIMMITT 2 N |
CASTRO |
48.7 |
| Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| RIO GRANDE CITY |
STARR |
74.9 |
| Highest Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| RIO GRANDE CITY |
STARR |
89 |
| Lowest Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| CHANNING 2 |
HARTLEY |
27 |
| Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| DALHART 6 SW |
HARTLEY |
17.8 |
| Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| PORT ISABEL |
CAMERON |
56.4 |
| Highest Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| PORT ISABEL |
CAMERON |
73 |
| Lowest Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| BRAVO |
HARTLEY |
8 |
New Monthly Records
| Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| MIDLAND INTL AP |
MIDLAND |
0.00 |
0.00 (1996) |
70 |
| BIG SPRING |
HOWARD |
0.00 |
0.00 (1996) |
49 |
| ACKERLY 4SE |
HOWARD |
0.00 |
0.00 (1996) |
38 |
| ALICE |
JIM WELLS |
0.00 |
0.00 (1997) |
80 |
| BALMORHEA |
REEVES |
0.00 |
0.00 (1996) |
72 |
| BATESVILLE |
ZAVALA |
0.00 |
0.00 (1993) |
35 |
| BELLVILLE 6 NNE |
AUSTIN |
0.71 |
0.94 (1981) |
20 |
| BIG SPRING |
HOWARD |
0.00 |
0.00 (1996) |
49 |
| BOERNE |
KENDALL |
0.00 |
0.00 (1950) |
104 |
| BRACKETTVILLE |
KINNEY |
0.00 |
0.00 (1985) |
88 |
| CAMP WOOD |
REAL |
0.00 |
0.00 (1973) |
48 |
| CANDELARIA |
PRESIDIO |
0.00 |
0.00 (1998) |
57 |
| CARRIZO SPRINGS 3W |
DIMMIT |
0.00 |
0.00 (1985) |
67 |
| CARTA VALLEY |
EDWARDS |
0.00 |
0.00 (1990) |
32 |
| CASTOLON |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
0.00 (1996) |
23 |
| CATARINA |
DIMMIT |
0.00 |
0.00 (1997) |
36 |
| CHAPMAN RCH |
NUECES |
0.00 |
0.00 (1997) |
39 |
| CHISOS BASIN |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
0.00 (1996) |
53 |
| COLORADO CITY |
MITCHELL |
0.00 |
0.00 (1996) |
69 |
| COPE RCH |
REAGAN |
0.00 |
0.00 (1996) |
51 |
| CORNUDAS SVC STN |
HUDSPETH |
0.00 |
0.00 (1996) |
55 |
| DACUS |
MONTGOMERY |
0.89 |
0.97 (1980) |
46 |
| DELL CITY 5 SSW |
HUDSPETH |
0.00 |
0.00 (1998) |
19 |
| DERBY 1 S |
FRIO |
0.00 |
0.04 (1985) |
20 |
| DUNDEE 6 NNW |
ARCHER |
0.00 |
0.00 (1951) |
71 |
| EL INDIO |
MAVERICK |
0.00 |
0.00 (1985) |
22 |
| FORSAN |
HOWARD |
0.00 |
0.00 (1996) |
50 |
| FT STOCKTON |
PECOS |
0.00 |
0.00 (1996) |
54 |
| GAIL |
BORDEN |
0.00 |
0.00 (1996) |
56 |
| GARDEN CITY |
GLASSCOCK |
0.00 |
0.00 (1996) |
84 |
| JAYTON |
KENT |
0.00 |
0.00 (1998) |
39 |
| KNAPP 2 SW |
SCURRY |
0.00 |
0.00 (1996) |
58 |
| LAJITAS |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
0.00 (1998) |
19 |
| LEAKEY |
REAL |
0.00 |
0.00 (1993) |
13 |
| LENORAH |
MARTIN |
0.00 |
0.00 (1996) |
45 |
| LUFKIN 2 |
ANGELINA |
2.45 |
3.91 (1996) |
10 |
| MEDINA 1NE |
BANDERA |
0.00 |
0.03 (1966) |
31 |
| MIDLAND 4 ENE |
MIDLAND |
0.00 |
0.00 (1996) |
74 |
| MIDWAY 4 NE |
MADISON |
0.67 |
0.68 (1980) |
21 |
| OAK CREEK LAKE |
COKE |
0.00 |
0.00 (1998) |
38 |
| PANTHER JUNCTION |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
0.00 (1996) |
45 |
| PORT O CONNOR |
CALHOUN |
0.00 |
0.00 (1989) |
40 |
| ROSCOE |
NOLAN |
0.00 |
0.00 (1996) |
64 |
| SHEFFIELD |
PECOS |
0.00 |
0.00 (1996) |
36 |
| SISTERDALE |
KENDALL |
0.25 |
0.26 (1993) |
10 |
| STERLING CITY 8 NE |
STERLING |
0.00 |
0.00 (1996) |
20 |
| TRENT |
TAYLOR |
0.00 |
0.00 (1996) |
55 |
| UVALDE 3 SW |
UVALDE |
0.10 |
0.10 (1990) |
12 |
| WATER VALLEY 11 NNE |
COKE |
0.00 |
0.00 (1996) |
37 |
| Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours Ever in the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| FARMERSVILLE |
HUNT |
4.70 |
3.80 (1998) |
49 |
| MIAMI |
ROBERTS |
2.55 |
1.90 (1959) |
91 |
| PAMPA 2 |
GRAY |
0.83 |
0.81 (1987) |
36 |
| UMBARGER |
RANDALL |
1.77 |
1.64 (1987) |
57 |
| WOLFE CITY |
HUNT |
4.30 |
3.79 (1971) |
51 |
| Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| GAINESVILLE 5 ENE |
COOKE |
47.3 |
47.0 (1991) |
13 |
| PORT ARANSAS |
NUECES |
61.5 |
61.4 (1996) |
10 |
| SAN ANTONIO/SEAWORLD |
BEXAR |
55.7 |
55.2 (1993) |
10 |
| Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| DEKALB |
BOWIE |
60.4 |
59.4 (1996) |
19 |
| GAINESVILLE 5 ENE |
COOKE |
59.2 |
57.7 (1996) |
13 |
| JAYTON |
KENT |
62.0 |
60.8 (1996) |
26 |
| LAKE FORK RSVR |
WOOD |
60.9 |
60.1 (1992) |
11 |
| LANGTRY |
VAL VERDE |
67.4 |
66.5 (1993) |
17 |
| REFUGIO 2 NW |
REFUGIO |
72.8 |
71.1 (1996) |
13 |
| SAN ANTONIO/SEAWORLD |
BEXAR |
68.3 |
65.6 (1996) |
10 |
| Highest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| BARDWELL DAM |
ELLIS |
82 |
82 (1995) |
27 |
| FREER |
DUVAL |
88 |
88 (1990) |
25 |
| LAKE FORK RSVR |
WOOD |
79 |
76 (1995) |
11 |
| PORT ARANSAS |
NUECES |
79 |
79 (1998) |
11 |
| STILLHOUSE HOLLOW DAM |
BELL |
83 |
83 (1995) |
26 |
| Highest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| LAKE FORK RSVR |
WOOD |
65 |
64 (1998) |
11 |
| MT VERNON |
FRANKLIN |
66 |
66 (1966) |
31 |
| PARIS |
LAMAR |
66 |
66 (1998) |
93 |
Climatic Averages for January
| |
TMAX (°F) |
TMIN (°F) |
PRCP (inches) |
No. Days in Month |
Deg. Days |
| Station |
Avg. |
Record |
Avg. |
Record |
Avg. |
Gr'st Mo. |
Gr'st 24 hr. |
≥ 90°F |
≤ 32°F |
PRCP ≥ 0.01" |
HDD |
CDD |
| Abilene |
54.8 |
90 (1911) |
30.8 |
‑9 (1947) |
1.03 |
4.35 (1968) |
2.18 (1961) |
0.0 |
17.7 |
4.5 |
688 |
0 |
| Amarillo |
49.0 |
83 (1927) |
21.2 |
‑11 (1984) |
0.50 |
2.67 (1999) |
1.74 (1968) |
0.0 |
27.5 |
3.9 |
927 |
0 |
| Austin |
58.9 |
90 (1971) |
38.6 |
‑2 (1949) |
1.71 |
9.21 (1991) |
4.41 (1991) |
0.0 |
8.7 |
7.3 |
514 |
12 |
| Brownsville |
68.9 |
93 (1971) |
49.9 |
18 (1881) |
1.56 |
5.11 (1945) |
3.00 (1988) |
0.1 |
1.2 |
8.0 |
232 |
59 |
| College Station |
58.4 |
90 (1999) |
38.7 |
‑3 (1949) |
2.65 |
15.60 (1991) |
5.63 (1991) |
0.0 |
9.1 |
8.5 |
522 |
11 |
| Corpus Christi |
65.0 |
91 (1971) |
45.3 |
14 (1962) |
1.71 |
10.78 (1958) |
6.38 (1958) |
0.1 |
3.5 |
8.3 |
338 |
31 |
| Dallas‑Fort Worth |
54.1 |
93 (1911) |
32.7 |
‑2 (1949) |
1.83 |
9.07 (1932) |
3.15 (1998) |
0.0 |
15.7 |
6.7 |
670 |
0 |
| Del Rio |
61.9 |
92 (1911) |
38.5 |
12 (1918) |
0.56 |
4.12 (1931) |
1.91 (1994) |
0.0 |
7.2 |
4.8 |
465 |
6 |
| El Paso |
56.1 |
80 (1970) |
29.4 |
‑8 (1962) |
0.40 |
1.84 (1949) |
1.28 (1896) |
0.0 |
19.6 |
4.3 |
688 |
0 |
| Galveston |
58.3 |
78 (1989) |
47.1 |
11 (1886) |
3.26 |
10.75 (1991) |
5.38 (1923) |
0.0 |
2.5 |
9.6 |
396 |
15 |
| Houston |
61.0 |
87 (1902) |
39.7 |
5 (1930) |
3.29 |
13.11 (1891) |
5.89 (1891) |
0.0 |
6.5 |
10.0 |
468 |
16 |
| Lubbock |
52.9 |
87 (1914) |
24.6 |
‑16 (1963) |
0.39 |
4.05 (1949) |
1.96 (1939) |
0.0 |
25.4 |
3.5 |
812 |
0 |
| Midland |
56.5 |
84 (1974) |
28.5 |
‑8 (1962) |
0.40 |
4.99 (1939) |
2.56 (1939) |
0.0 |
20.4 |
3.4 |
698 |
0 |
| Port Arthur |
60.3 |
84 (1909) |
41.5 |
11 (1930) |
4.77 |
14.87 (1991) |
6.94 (1998) |
0.0 |
6.5 |
9.9 |
450 |
13 |
| San Angelo |
56.8 |
91 (1911) |
30.6 |
1 (1947) |
0.80 |
3.65 (1961) |
2.49 (1961) |
0.0 |
17.7 |
4.5 |
660 |
0 |
| San Antonio |
60.8 |
89 (1971) |
37.9 |
0 (1949) |
1.71 |
8.52 (1968) |
3.18 (1968) |
0.0 |
9.5 |
7.7 |
494 |
8 |
| Victoria |
62.8 |
88 (1971) |
42.5 |
12 (1949) |
2.16 |
7.76 (1991) |
4.70 (1991) |
0.0 |
5.3 |
8.0 |
403 |
21 |
| Waco |
56.1 |
90 (1943) |
34.2 |
‑5 (1949) |
1.65 |
6.56 (1932) |
4.79 (1998) |
0.0 |
13.6 |
6.6 |
620 |
6 |
| Wichita Falls |
52.0 |
87 (1969) |
27.6 |
‑12 (1947) |
1.04 |
4.48 (1968) |
2.25 (1919) |
0.0 |
21.6 |
4.4 |
781 |
0 |
| Shreveport, LA |
55.4 |
85 (1950) |
34.8 |
‑2 (1930) |
3.88 |
12.96 (1999) |
7.52 (1885) |
0.0 |
14.1 |
9.4 |
623 |
6 |
| Climatic averages are based on 1961-1990 monthly normals, which are provided by the National Climatic Data Center. |
