Texas Climate Report: August 2008
August 2008 did not follow the trend of the previous summer months of June and July. The beginning of the month started rather warm, with mean daily temperatures a few degrees above average. During the first of the month, Tropical Storm Edouard, a relatively weak system, moved into the Houston area, giving some drought relief to parts of southeastern Texas.
During the middle of the month, however, a strong low pressure system swept through a large swath of Texas, giving impressive rainfall totals and much needed rain to many parts of Texas. Thus, as seen on the map below, only two stations received slightly less than average precipitation (Brownsville at 87% and Austin at 95%) and most received well above average rain including Del Rio and Waco which received over 500% their normal rainfall, with totals of 11.32" and 10.33", respectively. These totals actually break the record rainfall totals for August for these particular stations.
Temperatures were variable during August around the state. Much of West and West Central Texas recorded cooler than average temperatures, while East and Far South Texas recorded warmer than average temperatures. However, early August showed much warmer temperatures than usual, while later in the month (with the low and plentiful rainfall) temperatures were much cooler than normal. Highs around Texas remained in the lower to middle 80s for several days during the middle of August. Thus, mean monthly temperatures remained around average, as seen in San Angelo and Port Arthur, with slight variability in different regions. As a whole, mean temperature departures are small for most of the first-order stations.
Hurricane Gustav threatened the Texas coast for some time, although most impacts will be some East Texas rainfall in early September. The tropics are active, as three Tropical Storms linger out in the Atlantic: Hanna, Ike, and Josephine. Hanna should have no bearing on Texas, and computer models show Josephine continuing in the Eastern Atlantic. Ike, however, is forecast to cross Cuba and may be a factor in the coming 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 |
91.1 |
‑2.6 |
103 |
69.7 |
‑1.7 |
64 |
80.4 |
‑2.2 |
13 |
6.31 |
240% |
2.15 |
0 |
488 |
| Amarillo |
85.7 |
‑3.0 |
96 |
63.5 |
‑0.3 |
59 |
74.6 |
‑1.7 |
8 |
4.43 |
151% |
1.81 |
0 |
305 |
| Austin |
97.5 |
+1.9 |
105 |
74.9 |
+1.6 |
70 |
86.2 |
+1.7 |
9 |
2.39 |
103% |
1.92 |
0 |
665 |
| Brownsville |
92.7 |
+0.1 |
96 |
77.7 |
+2.4 |
72 |
85.2 |
+1.2 |
6 |
2.61 |
87% |
2.06 |
0 |
635 |
| College Station |
94.4 |
‑1.8 |
105 |
75.5 |
+2.3 |
72 |
85.0 |
+0.3 |
9 |
6.49 |
247% |
2.09 |
0 |
628 |
| Corpus Christi |
91.4 |
‑2.0 |
97 |
75.2 |
+0.7 |
72 |
83.3 |
‑0.6 |
8 |
6.02 |
170% |
4.29 |
0 |
573 |
| Dallas‑Fort Worth |
96.5 |
+1.7 |
107 |
76.9 |
+2.9 |
70 |
86.7 |
+2.3 |
7 |
2.82 |
139% |
0.94 |
0 |
679 |
| Del Rio |
93.5 |
‑2.5 |
103 |
74.3 |
+0.2 |
70 |
83.9 |
‑1.2 |
9 |
11.32 |
524% |
6.24 |
0 |
596 |
| El Paso |
89.6 |
‑2.4 |
98 |
68.7 |
‑1.5 |
64 |
79.2 |
‑1.9 |
14 |
2.61 |
149% |
0.59 |
0 |
448 |
| Galveston |
89.4 |
+0.1 |
94 |
78.7 |
‑0.8 |
73 |
84.0 |
‑0.4 |
10 |
7.68 |
182% |
2.11 |
0 |
599 |
| Houston |
92.6 |
‑0.9 |
101 |
75.3 |
+2.3 |
72 |
84.0 |
+0.7 |
11 |
7.45 |
195% |
2.81 |
0 |
594 |
| Lubbock |
89.3 |
‑0.7 |
100 |
65.8 |
‑0.2 |
60 |
77.5 |
‑0.5 |
8 |
3.48 |
147% |
2.45 |
0 |
396 |
| Midland |
90.6 |
‑2.2 |
103 |
67.8 |
‑0.1 |
63 |
79.2 |
‑1.2 |
8 |
2.42 |
137% |
1.39 |
0 |
448 |
| Port Arthur |
91.0 |
‑0.7 |
97 |
74.1 |
+0.9 |
71 |
82.5 |
|
12 |
11.66 |
240% |
4.69 |
0 |
553 |
| San Angelo |
93.1 |
|
105 |
69.4 |
|
64 |
81.2 |
‑0.1 |
11 |
3.59 |
175% |
1.08 |
0 |
510 |
| San Antonio |
93.9 |
‑0.8 |
100 |
74.8 |
+1.2 |
71 |
84.4 |
+0.2 |
10 |
4.98 |
194% |
1.89 |
0 |
610 |
| Victoria |
94.8 |
+1.1 |
102 |
74.1 |
‑0.5 |
70 |
84.4 |
+0.2 |
9 |
4.20 |
138% |
1.87 |
0 |
609 |
| Waco |
95.2 |
‑1.7 |
105 |
73.6 |
+0.1 |
70 |
84.4 |
‑0.8 |
13 |
10.33 |
558% |
3.88 |
0 |
608 |
| Wichita Falls |
96.1 |
+0.3 |
109 |
73.1 |
+1.8 |
67 |
84.6 |
+1.1 |
8 |
7.38 |
309% |
5.82 |
0 |
615 |
| Shreveport, LA |
91.7 |
‑1.7 |
105 |
73.5 |
+1.2 |
70 |
82.6 |
‑0.3 |
14 |
5.73 |
211% |
1.37 |
0 |
555 |
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 |
| MENTONE |
LOVING |
0.00 |
| STUDY BUTTE 30NNE |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
| Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| BAYTOWN |
HARRIS |
13.30 |
| Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| BREMOND |
ROBERTSON |
8.49 |
| Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| DOG CANYON |
CULBERSON |
67.0 |
| Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| DALLAS FT WORTH AP |
TARRANT |
86.7 |
| Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| DOG CANYON |
CULBERSON |
77.1 |
| Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| AUSTIN 8SSE |
TRAVIS |
98.2 |
| Highest Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| HONDO MUNI AP |
MEDINA |
112 |
| Lowest Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| MT LOCKE |
JEFF DAVIS |
59 |
| Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| DOG CANYON |
CULBERSON |
56.8 |
| Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| PORT ARANSAS |
NUECES |
79.3 |
| PORT ISABEL |
CAMERON |
79.3 |
| Highest Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| DALLAS FT WORTH AP |
TARRANT |
84 |
| DALLAS REDBIRD AP |
DALLAS |
84 |
| Lowest Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| DELL CITY 5 SSW |
HUDSPETH |
50 |
| VIGO PARK |
SWISHER |
50 |
New Monthly Records
| Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| ALICE INTL AP |
JIM WELLS |
6.33 |
2.61 (1948) |
11 |
| WACO RGNL AP |
MCLENNAN |
10.33 |
9.98 (1914) |
107 |
| TYLER POUNDS FLD |
SMITH |
11.53 |
4.06 (1944) |
29 |
| ALVORD 3 N |
WISE |
5.45 |
4.29 (2005) |
10 |
| AMISTAD DAM |
VAL VERDE |
12.41 |
11.14 (1972) |
45 |
| ATLANTA |
CASS |
11.99 |
7.69 (1964) |
59 |
| BAYTOWN |
HARRIS |
13.30 |
10.57 (1996) |
26 |
| BRAVO |
HARTLEY |
7.73 |
6.14 (1952) |
60 |
| BREMOND |
ROBERTSON |
13.12 |
10.64 (1995) |
46 |
| CENTERVILLE |
LEON |
10.18 |
9.70 (1983) |
69 |
| COMMERCE 4SW |
HUNT |
4.87 |
4.13 (1949) |
13 |
| DAINGERFIELD 9 S |
MORRIS |
9.40 |
7.48 (1964) |
61 |
| ENCINAL |
WEBB |
10.35 |
9.46 (1916) |
94 |
| FALCON DAM |
STARR |
11.21 |
8.87 (1967) |
46 |
| FT GRIFFIN |
SHACKELFORD |
4.54 |
4.09 (1990) |
11 |
| FRANKLIN |
ROBERTSON |
8.54 |
7.79 (1983) |
43 |
| FRIONA |
PARMER |
7.29 |
6.83 (1966) |
71 |
| GILMER 4 WNW |
UPSHUR |
10.72 |
7.22 (1977) |
75 |
| HARLETON |
HARRISON |
7.60 |
7.33 (1964) |
56 |
| HAWKINS |
WOOD |
8.74 |
7.79 (1974) |
53 |
| LA JOYA |
HIDALGO |
3.48 |
2.43 (1996) |
11 |
| LIPSCOMB |
LIPSCOMB |
8.32 |
8.14 (1986) |
56 |
| LLANO 18 S |
LLANO |
4.36 |
4.24 (2004) |
11 |
| LUMBERTON |
HARDIN |
10.84 |
10.68 (1998) |
13 |
| MC LEAN |
GRAY |
8.60 |
6.69 (1969) |
50 |
| MIDWAY 4 NE |
MADISON |
8.78 |
7.24 (1996) |
29 |
| PERSIMMON GAP |
BREWSTER |
5.34 |
4.17 (1986) |
18 |
| PITTSBURG 5 SSE |
CAMP |
8.21 |
7.52 (1977) |
56 |
| ROSEBUD |
FALLS |
9.15 |
7.21 (2001) |
34 |
| RUSK |
CHEROKEE |
10.25 |
8.87 (1996) |
65 |
| SANTA ROSA 3 WNW |
HIDALGO |
7.02 |
6.98 (1999) |
22 |
| SHAMROCK 2 |
WHEELER |
5.91 |
5.80 (1966) |
40 |
| STOCKDALE 6N |
WILSON |
11.83 |
8.92 (2001) |
33 |
| THORNTON 1 SSE |
LIMESTONE |
11.27 |
9.69 (1966) |
62 |
| TYLER |
SMITH |
10.07 |
6.53 (1996) |
25 |
| WHITE RIVER RESERVOIR |
CROSBY |
6.92 |
5.45 (2001) |
11 |
| Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours Ever in the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| LONGVIEW 11 SE |
RUSK |
3.80 |
3.69 (2001) |
32 |
| ALICE INTL AP |
JIM WELLS |
1.77 |
1.13 (2002) |
11 |
| MCALLEN MILLER INTL AP |
HIDALGO |
5.39 |
3.26 (1977) |
43 |
| WICHITA FALLS MUNI AP |
WICHITA |
5.82 |
4.67 (2005) |
105 |
| TYLER POUNDS FLD |
SMITH |
6.66 |
2.34 (2004) |
29 |
| ATLANTA |
CASS |
4.15 |
3.92 (1951) |
59 |
| BAYTOWN |
HARRIS |
5.55 |
4.40 (2003) |
26 |
| BONITA 4 NW |
MONTAGUE |
3.98 |
1.88 (1950) |
11 |
| BRAVO |
HARTLEY |
3.53 |
3.26 (1960) |
60 |
| BREMOND |
ROBERTSON |
8.49 |
7.27 (1995) |
46 |
| CHARLIE |
CLAY |
2.81 |
2.42 (2005) |
13 |
| HARLETON |
HARRISON |
3.67 |
3.53 (1974) |
56 |
| ITASCA |
HILL |
3.95 |
3.83 (1942) |
24 |
| LA JOYA |
HIDALGO |
1.37 |
1.00 (2007) |
11 |
| LIPSCOMB |
LIPSCOMB |
4.52 |
3.43 (1969) |
56 |
| LUBBOCK 6 NNE |
LUBBOCK |
2.85 |
1.86 (1998) |
11 |
| MIDWAY 4 NE |
MADISON |
3.02 |
2.45 (1998) |
29 |
| PERSIMMON GAP |
BREWSTER |
2.08 |
1.90 (1995) |
18 |
| PITTSBURG 5 SSE |
CAMP |
3.25 |
2.95 (1968) |
56 |
| PORT ARANSAS |
NUECES |
2.74 |
2.47 (1996) |
21 |
| ROSEBUD |
FALLS |
5.30 |
3.62 (1966) |
34 |
| SCOTLAND |
ARCHER |
2.24 |
2.24 (2005) |
12 |
| TYLER |
SMITH |
6.47 |
4.24 (1992) |
25 |
| Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| FT DAVIS |
JEFF DAVIS |
81.8 |
81.9 (1906) |
33 |
| HEBBRONVILLE |
JIM HOGG |
91.8 |
92.0 (1973) |
43 |
| LA JOYA |
HIDALGO |
95.9 |
96.7 (1996) |
13 |
| MATAGORDA 2 |
MATAGORDA |
87.5 |
88.1 (2006) |
65 |
| TORNILLO 2 SSE |
EL PASO |
88.9 |
88.9 (2006) |
27 |
| Highest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| HONDO MUNI AP |
MEDINA |
112 |
106 (1986) |
29 |
| SANFORD DAM |
HUTCHINSON |
106 |
106 (2003) |
14 |
| Lowest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| BIG SPRING |
HOWARD |
70 |
71 (1996) |
46 |
| CHILDRESS 2 |
CHILDRESS |
69 |
70 (2005) |
11 |
| CHISOS BASIN |
BREWSTER |
65 |
65 (2004) |
54 |
| CONCHO PARK IVIE RSVR |
CONCHO |
72 |
72 (2004) |
10 |
| DEL RIO 2 NW |
VAL VERDE |
76 |
78 (1998) |
13 |
| HALLSVILLE 1 W |
HARRISON |
74 |
74 (2001) |
10 |
| HENDERSON |
RUSK |
73 |
73 (2001) |
66 |
| HUDSPETH RIVER RANCH |
VAL VERDE |
68 |
75 (1998) |
18 |
| LANGTRY |
VAL VERDE |
76 |
78 (1980) |
35 |
| PERSIMMON GAP |
BREWSTER |
73 |
77 (1996) |
20 |
| ROSCOE |
NOLAN |
69 |
69 (1993) |
71 |
| STERLING CITY |
STERLING |
69 |
71 (1967) |
41 |
| WINTERS 1 NNE |
RUNNELS |
69 |
69 (1971) |
41 |
| Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| BROWNSVILLE INTL AP |
CAMERON |
77.7 |
77.7 (1980) |
129 |
| ALICE INTL AP |
JIM WELLS |
75.4 |
75.0 (2007) |
11 |
| LIVINGSTON 2 NNE |
POLK |
75.5 |
75.2 (1951) |
71 |
| LUFKIN 11 NW |
ANGELINA |
71.8 |
71.8 (1998) |
12 |
| Highest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| DALLAS FT WORTH AP |
TARRANT |
84 |
84 (1999) |
110 |
| LONGVIEW 11 SE |
RUSK |
79 |
79 (2000) |
32 |
| CANDELARIA |
PRESIDIO |
79 |
79 (1964) |
41 |
| CRYSTAL CITY |
ZAVALA |
81 |
81 (2006) |
57 |
| HOUSTON NWSO |
GALVESTON |
80 |
80 (1997) |
22 |
| KERRVILLE 3 NNE |
KERR |
76 |
76 (2006) |
33 |
| LAKE FORK RSVR |
WOOD |
82 |
81 (1999) |
20 |
| LAKE TAWAKONI |
RAINS |
80 |
80 (1999) |
33 |
| GEORGETOWN LAKE |
WILLIAMSON |
80 |
80 (2006) |
29 |
| PADUCAH 15 S |
KING |
82 |
80 (2006) |
12 |
| SAM RAYBURN DAM |
JASPER |
79 |
78 (2005) |
40 |
| Lowest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| CASTOLON |
BREWSTER |
65 |
65 (2004) |
25 |
| DELL CITY 5 SSW |
HUDSPETH |
50 |
53 (1986) |
28 |
| HUDSPETH RIVER RANCH |
VAL VERDE |
60 |
62 (2005) |
18 |
Climatic Averages for September
| |
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 |
86.7 |
107 (2000) |
64.4 |
38 (1989) |
2.91 |
11.03 (1974) |
6.70 (1961) |
12.5 |
0.0 |
6.5 |
18 |
327 |
| Amarillo |
81.8 |
103 (1995) |
56.3 |
30 (1984) |
1.88 |
6.42 (1923) |
3.49 (1900) |
7.0 |
0.2 |
6.4 |
56 |
173 |
| Austin |
90.1 |
112 (2000) |
68.8 |
41 (1942) |
2.91 |
20.78 (1921) |
19.03 (1921) |
18.2 |
0.0 |
7.2 |
2 |
439 |
| Brownsville |
89.4 |
105 (2000) |
72.6 |
51 (1909) |
5.31 |
30.57 (1886) |
12.09 (1967) |
20.0 |
0.0 |
9.3 |
0 |
494 |
| College Station |
90.9 |
112 (2000) |
68.5 |
41 (1901) |
3.91 |
12.13 (1958) |
6.83 (1896) |
18.1 |
0.0 |
7.0 |
0 |
440 |
| Corpus Christi |
89.9 |
109 (2000) |
71.6 |
52 (2000) |
5.03 |
20.33 (1967) |
8.76 (1967) |
18.7 |
0.0 |
9.0 |
0 |
485 |
| Dallas‑Fort Worth |
87.7 |
111 (2000) |
67.2 |
40 (1942) |
2.42 |
10.80 (1932) |
9.57 (1932) |
15.5 |
0.0 |
6.1 |
2 |
376 |
| Del Rio |
90.6 |
110 (2000) |
69.4 |
43 (1908) |
2.06 |
17.15 (1964) |
5.52 (1970) |
20.2 |
0.0 |
5.7 |
2 |
453 |
| El Paso |
87.1 |
104 (1982) |
63.7 |
41 (1945) |
1.61 |
6.68 (1974) |
2.52 (1958) |
14.3 |
0.0 |
6.5 |
9 |
305 |
| Galveston |
86.5 |
104 (2000) |
75.6 |
52 (1942) |
5.76 |
26.01 (1885) |
11.65 (1961) |
4.7 |
0.0 |
9.5 |
0 |
482 |
| Houston |
89.3 |
109 (2000) |
68.4 |
45 (1942) |
4.33 |
13.37 (1913) |
7.98 (1976) |
15.9 |
0.0 |
8.9 |
1 |
412 |
| Lubbock |
83.4 |
105 (1930) |
58.4 |
33 (1983) |
2.57 |
13.93 (1936) |
5.50 (1936) |
9.2 |
0.0 |
6.3 |
33 |
223 |
| Midland |
86.1 |
107 (1953) |
61.6 |
36 (1989) |
2.31 |
9.70 (1980) |
4.37 (1986) |
11.9 |
0.0 |
6.0 |
19 |
281 |
| Port Arthur |
88.0 |
105 (2000) |
69.4 |
45 (1967) |
6.10 |
21.96 (1980) |
15.01 (1980) |
13.0 |
0.0 |
10.0 |
1 |
417 |
| San Angelo |
86.6 |
107 (2005) |
63.0 |
35 (1913) |
2.95 |
11.00 (1980) |
6.25 (1980) |
13.2 |
0.0 |
5.4 |
12 |
321 |
| San Antonio |
90.0 |
111 (2000) |
68.8 |
41 (1942) |
3.00 |
15.78 (1946) |
7.28 (1973) |
18.4 |
0.0 |
6.5 |
2 |
439 |
| Victoria |
89.9 |
111 (2000) |
70.3 |
45 (1942) |
5.00 |
19.05 (1978) |
7.83 (1978) |
18.5 |
0.0 |
9.9 |
1 |
454 |
| Waco |
90.1 |
111 (2000) |
67.0 |
39 (1942) |
2.88 |
11.17 (1913) |
6.03 (1936) |
18.3 |
0.0 |
6.6 |
6 |
416 |
| Wichita Falls |
87.5 |
111 (2000) |
63.7 |
38 (1989) |
3.19 |
10.23 (1980) |
6.22 (1980) |
15.1 |
0.0 |
6.4 |
18 |
339 |
| Shreveport, LA |
87.6 |
109 (2000) |
66.4 |
42 (1984) |
3.21 |
16.46 (1913) |
7.04 (1913) |
14.4 |
0.0 |
6.9 |
6 |
353 |
| Climatic averages are based on 1971-2000 monthly normals, which are provided by the National Climatic Data Center. |
