Texas Climate Report: February 2003
Rather mild weather characterized the beginning of the month of February. Temperatures ranged from the lower 70s in the Panhandle to the lower 80s in West Texas. This unseasonably warm weather soon came to an end on the 3rd when a cold front moved across the state. This frontal system was rather dry, and moderated temperatures to typical February normals. By the 7th, an area of extremely cold arctic air had plummeted southward. Temperatures ranged from the lower 30s in the Amarillo area, to the upper 40s in Brownsville. This storm system brought a fair amount of precipitation to the state: Beaumont/Port Arthur (1.09"), College Station (0.79"), Houston (0.85"), Longview (0.80"), Lufkin (0.66"), and Tyler (0.60").
Temperatures stayed fairly cold for 2 days before the next system moved into the state on the 9th. This system moderated temperatures into the 50s and 60s across the state, and brought a few showers and thunderstorms with it as well. Temperatures stayed quite mild until the 14th when the next low pressure and cold frontal system moved across Texas. By the 15th, the temperature contrast across the state was quite evident. In Amarillo temperatures were in the 30s, and in the lower 80s in Brownsville. Cold air trekked southward across the state and by the 16th most of the state had high temperatures in the 40s with high pressure domination. With high pressure shifting eastward, temperatures warmed to near normal values for the month of February.
On the 20th an arctic frontal system brought rain showers and dropped temperatures to the 40s and 50s. Ample amounts of precipitation were reported in College Station with 4.20" (a new 24-hour precipitation record), Austin (2.62"), Lufkin (2.38"), and Temple (1.00"). With the retreat of high pressure temperatures warmed to 60s and 70s by the 22nd. The passage of a polar front on the 24th caused an amazing temperature contrast across the state from the teens in the Panhandle to the 70s in the Lower Valley region of Texas. Numerous areas in Texas experienced winter precipitation on the 24th, which included the regions of the High Plains, Low Rolling Plains, and the North Central Texas. On the 25th and 26th the majority of the state reported highs in the 30s and 40s. Temperature moderation occurred by the 27th, and the month of February came to a close with relatively normal readings.
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 |
57.4 |
‑3.3 |
82 |
34.9 |
‑1.6 |
15 |
46.1 |
‑2.5 |
6 |
0.93 |
82% |
0.74 |
526 |
4 |
| Amarillo |
51.0 |
‑3.1 |
76 |
24.1 |
‑2.9 |
4 |
37.6 |
‑3.0 |
6 |
0.20 |
36% |
0.17 |
761 |
0 |
| Austin |
59.6 |
‑5.5 |
78 |
42.8 |
‑1.2 |
24 |
51.2 |
‑3.4 |
10 |
3.86 |
194% |
2.56 |
386 |
6 |
| Brownsville |
70.5 |
‑1.7 |
83 |
52.7 |
‑0.6 |
35 |
61.6 |
‑1.1 |
8 |
0.55 |
47% |
0.24 |
153 |
65 |
| College Station |
59.1 |
‑6.4 |
76 |
42.5 |
‑0.9 |
29 |
50.8 |
‑3.7 |
11 |
7.31 |
307% |
5.05 |
397 |
4 |
| Corpus Christi |
65.7 |
‑4.0 |
87 |
48.9 |
‑0.4 |
33 |
57.3 |
‑2.2 |
3 |
1.34 |
73% |
0.94 |
236 |
27 |
| Dallas‑Fort Worth |
54.6 |
‑5.5 |
77 |
36.6 |
‑2.1 |
20 |
45.6 |
‑3.8 |
10 |
3.07 |
130% |
1.06 |
541 |
4 |
| Del Rio |
64.5 |
‑3.5 |
80 |
43.6 |
‑0.5 |
27 |
54.1 |
‑2.0 |
7 |
0.43 |
45% |
0.17 |
305 |
7 |
| El Paso |
61.2 |
‑2.2 |
76 |
39.1 |
+1.6 |
28 |
50.2 |
‑0.3 |
7 |
1.37 |
351% |
1.02 |
409 |
0 |
| Galveston |
61.0 |
‑3.4 |
73 |
49.8 |
‑1.7 |
38 |
55.4 |
‑2.6 |
6 |
1.63 |
62% |
0.70 |
262 |
1 |
| Houston |
61.6 |
‑4.9 |
77 |
46.0 |
+1.7 |
32 |
53.8 |
‑1.6 |
11 |
4.08 |
137% |
1.30 |
314 |
6 |
| Lubbock |
57.5 |
‑0.3 |
80 |
29.1 |
+0.2 |
12 |
43.3 |
|
2 |
0.06 |
8% |
0.05 |
598 |
0 |
| Midland |
58.6 |
‑4.4 |
82 |
34.2 |
+0.1 |
17 |
46.4 |
‑2.2 |
3 |
0.72 |
124% |
0.64 |
512 |
0 |
| Port Arthur |
61.5 |
‑3.8 |
75 |
46.1 |
+0.2 |
32 |
53.8 |
‑1.8 |
8 |
5.83 |
174% |
2.85 |
310 |
4 |
| San Angelo |
59.4 |
‑4.1 |
79 |
35.8 |
‑0.2 |
18 |
47.6 |
‑2.1 |
7 |
1.57 |
133% |
1.11 |
481 |
1 |
| San Antonio |
62.5 |
‑4.6 |
83 |
43.6 |
+1.2 |
27 |
53.1 |
‑1.6 |
15 |
2.15 |
123% |
0.89 |
339 |
12 |
| Victoria |
64.5 |
‑2.1 |
84 |
45.6 |
‑1.1 |
31 |
55.1 |
‑1.6 |
13 |
1.65 |
81% |
0.76 |
289 |
17 |
| Waco |
56.5 |
‑5.8 |
73 |
38.7 |
‑0.6 |
22 |
47.6 |
‑3.2 |
10 |
2.56 |
105% |
1.00 |
481 |
1 |
| Wichita Falls |
53.9 |
‑4.2 |
85 |
31.8 |
‑1.6 |
15 |
42.8 |
‑2.9 |
7 |
0.83 |
53% |
0.43 |
617 |
6 |
| Shreveport, LA |
55.6 |
‑6.4 |
73 |
39.4 |
‑0.9 |
31 |
47.5 |
‑3.7 |
15 |
7.66 |
182% |
2.11 |
483 |
1 |
Bold-italics indicate a value broke or tied the record from a previous year.
*Dep.: Departure of the monthly average temperature from the 1971-2000 monthly normal, which is provided by the National Climatic Data Center.
*Perc. Norm.: Monthly precipitation total divided by 1971-2000 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 |
| BENJAMIN 15 W |
KING |
0.00 |
| BRAVO |
HARTLEY |
0.00 |
| CHAPMAN RCH |
NUECES |
0.00 |
| CROWELL |
FOARD |
0.00 |
| DUMAS |
MOORE |
0.00 |
| FLOYDADA |
FLOYD |
0.00 |
| LUBBOCK 6 NNE |
LUBBOCK |
0.00 |
| WHEELER |
WHEELER |
0.00 |
| Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| MAUD |
BOWIE |
10.51 |
| Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| DEWEYVILLE #2 |
NEWTON |
6.28 |
| Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| PERRYTON |
OCHILTREE |
32.6 |
| Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| BROWNSVILLE |
CAMERON |
62.6 |
| Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| PERRYTON |
OCHILTREE |
45.7 |
| Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| HEATH CANYON |
BREWSTER |
73.8 |
| Highest Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| FT STOCKTON PECOS AP |
PECOS |
94 |
| Lowest Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| PERRYTON |
OCHILTREE |
8 |
| Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| LIPSCOMB |
LIPSCOMB |
19.2 |
| Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| BROWNSVILLE |
CAMERON |
54.7 |
| Highest Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| BROWNSVILLE |
CAMERON |
70 |
| LA JOYA |
HIDALGO |
70 |
| MC COOK |
HIDALGO |
70 |
| Lowest Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| LIPSCOMB |
LIPSCOMB |
-2 |
New Monthly Records
| Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| BENJAMIN 15 W |
KING |
0.00 |
0.00 (1996) |
18 |
| BRAVO |
HARTLEY |
0.00 |
0.00 (2000) |
59 |
| CHAPMAN RCH |
NUECES |
0.00 |
0.00 (1989) |
40 |
| CROWELL |
FOARD |
0.00 |
0.00 (1996) |
84 |
| DUMAS |
MOORE |
0.00 |
0.00 (1999) |
52 |
| FLOYDADA |
FLOYD |
0.00 |
0.00 (1999) |
58 |
| WHEELER |
WHEELER |
0.00 |
0.00 (1995) |
19 |
| Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| CENTER |
SHELBY |
8.90 |
8.23 (1991) |
62 |
| ATLANTA |
CASS |
8.82 |
8.30 (1983) |
46 |
| CALDWELL |
BURLESON |
9.40 |
9.24 (1992) |
39 |
| DELL CITY 5 SSW |
HUDSPETH |
1.88 |
1.20 (2002) |
21 |
| DEWEYVILLE |
NEWTON |
9.80 |
8.09 (1997) |
34 |
| HARLETON |
HARRISON |
8.77 |
7.83 (1989) |
50 |
| NEUVILLE |
SHELBY |
8.94 |
7.61 (1946) |
39 |
| ORANGE 9 N |
ORANGE |
9.80 |
8.09 (1997) |
34 |
| TORNILLO 2 SSE |
EL PASO |
1.51 |
1.24 (1995) |
24 |
| Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours Ever in the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| COLLEGE STN |
BRAZOS |
5.05 |
3.82 (1898) |
107 |
| PALESTINE |
ANDERSON |
2.75 |
2.52 (1932) |
67 |
| BREMOND |
ROBERTSON |
2.93 |
2.91 (1986) |
40 |
| CALDWELL |
BURLESON |
5.20 |
3.30 (1965) |
39 |
| CEDAR CREEK 5 S |
BASTROP |
3.16 |
2.80 (1992) |
24 |
| DEWEYVILLE |
NEWTON |
5.10 |
4.00 (1995) |
34 |
| DIME BOX |
LEE |
4.16 |
3.82 (1949) |
55 |
| GAINESVILLE 5 ENE |
COOKE |
2.58 |
2.23 (1997) |
16 |
| LA GRANGE |
FAYETTE |
4.05 |
3.65 (1990) |
85 |
| LEXINGTON |
LEE |
4.30 |
2.55 (1965) |
41 |
| LUFKIN 11 NW |
ANGELINA |
3.23 |
2.93 (1997) |
21 |
| MADISONVILLE |
MADISON |
3.54 |
3.40 (1931) |
67 |
| ORANGE 9 N |
ORANGE |
5.10 |
4.00 (1995) |
34 |
| ROCKDALE |
MILAM |
3.15 |
2.43 (1992) |
39 |
| SEGUIN 1 SSW |
GUADALUPE |
2.10 |
1.92 (2000) |
11 |
| SMITHVILLE |
BASTROP |
3.95 |
3.51 (1924) |
80 |
| SOMERVILLE DAM |
BURLESON |
3.78 |
2.25 (1992) |
37 |
| THORNDALE |
MILAM |
3.48 |
2.99 (1986) |
35 |
| VALLEY MILLS |
BOSQUE |
1.90 |
1.70 (2001) |
11 |
| WHITEHOUSE 2 SE |
SMITH |
2.69 |
2.60 (2000) |
10 |
| WIMBERLEY 1 NW |
HAYS |
3.33 |
2.27 (1998) |
18 |
| Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| CHANNING 2 |
HARTLEY |
35.8 |
35.8 (1994) |
15 |
| SANFORD DAM |
HUTCHINSON |
37.0 |
37.7 (1994) |
10 |
| Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| FT WORTH MEACHAM FLD |
TARRANT |
54.1 |
54.8 (1948) |
24 |
| ARLINGTON SIX FLAGS |
TARRANT |
54.4 |
56.9 (1997) |
12 |
| BISHOP |
NUECES |
65.8 |
66.9 (1941) |
18 |
| COPPER BREAKS SP |
HARDEMAN |
52.8 |
53.2 (1993) |
14 |
| FT MCKAVETT |
MENARD |
59.7 |
60.9 (2002) |
10 |
| FOWLERTON |
LA SALLE |
64.4 |
64.4 (1978) |
39 |
| PLEASANTON |
ATASCOSA |
65.0 |
65.5 (1997) |
12 |
| SANFORD DAM |
HUTCHINSON |
49.4 |
50.1 (1997) |
10 |
| SOUTH PADRE ISLAND |
CAMERON |
65.0 |
65.4 (1994) |
11 |
| WELDER W'LIFE FOUND |
SAN PATRICIO |
65.9 |
67.0 (2002) |
12 |
| Highest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| BEAUMONT RSCH CTR |
JEFFERSON |
86 |
86 (1954) |
36 |
| BOYS RANCH |
OLDHAM |
83 |
82 (1996) |
23 |
| EL PASO 32 ENE |
HUDSPETH |
83 |
76 (2000) |
17 |
| PORT ARANSAS |
NUECES |
85 |
79 (1997) |
16 |
| Lowest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| BISHOP |
NUECES |
36 |
40 (1942) |
18 |
| BRACKETTVILLE 22 N |
KINNEY |
37 |
38 (1996) |
12 |
| BROWNSVILLE |
CAMERON |
47 |
47 (1908) |
15 |
| CHANNING 2 |
HARTLEY |
11 |
12 (1996) |
15 |
| COPPER BREAKS SP |
HARDEMAN |
19 |
20 (1996) |
14 |
| DENVER CITY |
YOAKUM |
20 |
22 (1993) |
12 |
| FT MCKAVETT |
MENARD |
27 |
35 (1880) |
10 |
| HUDSPETH RIVER RANCH |
VAL VERDE |
35 |
35 (1996) |
14 |
| PLEASANTON |
ATASCOSA |
35 |
35 (1996) |
12 |
| SOUTH PADRE ISLAND |
CAMERON |
38 |
45 (1996) |
11 |
| STERLING CITY |
STERLING |
23 |
23 (1989) |
32 |
| WELDER W'LIFE FOUND |
SAN PATRICIO |
36 |
37 (1996) |
12 |
| Highest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| EL CAMPO |
WHARTON |
68 |
68 (1957) |
27 |
| EL PASO 32 ENE |
HUDSPETH |
52 |
50 (1989) |
20 |
| WACO DAM |
MCLENNAN |
62 |
62 (1976) |
29 |
| Lowest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| PILOT POINT ISL DU BOI |
DENTON |
1 |
3 (1985) |
40 |
Climatic Averages for March
| |
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 |
69.1 |
98 (1916) |
43.8 |
9 (1948) |
1.41 |
5.16 (1979) |
2.78 (1943) |
0.6 |
3.9 |
5.3 |
299 |
28 |
| Amarillo |
62.2 |
96 (1907) |
33.6 |
‑3 (1948) |
1.13 |
4.14 (2000) |
3.13 (1922) |
0.1 |
14.4 |
5.4 |
542 |
2 |
| Austin |
72.5 |
98 (1971) |
50.9 |
18 (1948) |
2.14 |
7.23 (1926) |
3.00 (1900) |
0.6 |
0.8 |
7.9 |
163 |
59 |
| Brownsville |
78.0 |
106 (1984) |
59.5 |
28 (1901) |
0.93 |
6.46 (1903) |
2.76 (1997) |
1.6 |
0.1 |
4.2 |
45 |
179 |
| College Station |
72.6 |
96 (1946) |
50.5 |
17 (2002) |
2.84 |
8.03 (1926) |
4.20 (1980) |
0.1 |
1.2 |
8.1 |
149 |
42 |
| Corpus Christi |
75.8 |
102 (1989) |
56.2 |
24 (1980) |
1.74 |
7.69 (1903) |
4.66 (1903) |
1.1 |
0.3 |
5.1 |
77 |
121 |
| Dallas‑Fort Worth |
68.3 |
100 (1916) |
46.4 |
10 (1943) |
3.06 |
7.39 (2002) |
4.43 (2002) |
0.2 |
2.1 |
7.5 |
248 |
10 |
| Del Rio |
76.0 |
103 (1928) |
51.6 |
19 (1922) |
0.96 |
3.20 (1990) |
2.33 (1935) |
2.3 |
0.7 |
4.9 |
111 |
86 |
| El Paso |
70.2 |
93 (1907) |
43.7 |
14 (1971) |
0.26 |
2.26 (1958) |
1.32 (1883) |
0.0 |
4.4 |
2.2 |
272 |
8 |
| Galveston |
70.0 |
85 (1879) |
58.2 |
26 (1980) |
2.76 |
9.49 (1973) |
8.10 (1973) |
0.0 |
0.2 |
7.4 |
94 |
65 |
| Houston |
73.3 |
96 (1946) |
51.3 |
21 (1943) |
3.36 |
10.66 (1922) |
7.47 (1972) |
0.1 |
1.3 |
9.1 |
156 |
63 |
| Lubbock |
66.2 |
95 (1989) |
36.2 |
‑2 (1922) |
0.76 |
3.56 (1941) |
1.80 (1973) |
0.2 |
8.6 |
4.1 |
419 |
7 |
| Midland |
70.9 |
97 (1946) |
40.8 |
9 (1980) |
0.42 |
2.86 (1970) |
2.20 (1970) |
0.5 |
4.9 |
2.6 |
302 |
15 |
| Port Arthur |
72.0 |
95 (1946) |
52.4 |
23 (2002) |
3.75 |
10.21 (1949) |
6.04 (1979) |
0.0 |
0.6 |
8.0 |
143 |
55 |
| San Angelo |
71.1 |
98 (1908) |
43.3 |
8 (1980) |
0.99 |
5.00 (1953) |
4.65 (1953) |
0.8 |
4.0 |
4.6 |
258 |
30 |
| San Antonio |
74.3 |
100 (1991) |
49.9 |
19 (2002) |
1.89 |
6.12 (1992) |
3.59 (1992) |
0.9 |
1.5 |
7.9 |
149 |
68 |
| Victoria |
73.4 |
98 (1939) |
53.9 |
21 (2002) |
2.25 |
11.61 (1997) |
5.04 (1997) |
0.4 |
0.5 |
7.0 |
113 |
84 |
| Waco |
70.2 |
100 (1971) |
46.8 |
15 (1948) |
2.48 |
8.38 (1905) |
3.90 (1912) |
0.3 |
2.1 |
7.9 |
235 |
39 |
| Wichita Falls |
67.2 |
100 (1971) |
41.1 |
6 (1948) |
2.27 |
6.29 (1999) |
4.32 (1988) |
0.7 |
5.5 |
6.4 |
354 |
19 |
| Shreveport, LA |
69.7 |
92 (1974) |
47.2 |
15 (1943) |
4.18 |
11.99 (1945) |
5.43 (1945) |
0.1 |
2.4 |
9.7 |
247 |
31 |
| Climatic averages are based on 1971-2000 monthly normals, which are provided by the National Climatic Data Center. |
