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Texas Climate Report: December 2008

Precipitation woes continued throughout the state in December 2008, where 8 first-order stations recorded less than 20% of their normal precipitation for the month. In Texas, there were only 3 first-order stations which reached at least 50% of normal precipitation, but no station received even 75% of their normal precipitation for December. Several counties have issued burn bans which have been in effect for several months.

Temperatures were also warmer than average for all but one Texas first order station. Galveston alone recorded mean monthly temperatures slightly cooler than normal. However, 6 first order stations recorded temperatures at least two degrees warmer than average. Several cold fronts, including a few bitterly cold air masses, dropped the temperatures rather low, seen by Amarillo’s absolute minimum temperature of 6°F. La Nina conditions are forecast to continue through this spring.

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 60.2 +3.3 79 32.7 ‑1.2 18 46.5 +1.1 1 0.01 1% 0.01 570 4
Amarillo 55.2 +5.4 75 23.4 ‑0.7 6 39.3 +2.3 2 0.05 8% 0.03 791 0
Austin 65.6 +3.3 81 41.3 ‑0.6 28 53.5 +1.4 8 0.40 16% 0.26 373 21
Brownsville 73.5 +3.3 84 53.3 +1.3 36 63.4 +2.3 6 0.47 42% 0.25 143 98
College Station 64.6 +1.8 81 40.6 ‑0.9 29 52.6 +0.4 9 0.80 25% 0.23 398 22
Corpus Christi 70.6 +2.6 90 48.7 +0.6 30 59.7 +1.6 5 0.43 25% 0.15 225 65
Dallas‑Fort Worth 61.1 +4.6 83 36.8 24 49.0 +2.3 4 0.27 11% 0.15 499 9
Del Rio 66.1 +2.6 80 39.9 ‑1.3 28 53.0 +0.6 2 0.41 55% 0.38 367 2
El Paso 61.7 +4.3 72 33.8 +0.4 22 47.8 +2.4 3 0.27 35% 0.24 527 0
Galveston N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 8 0.44 12% 0.13 N/A N/A
Houston 66.2 +1.6 80 45.1 +2.3 31 55.6 +1.9 13 1.68 46% 0.50 319 38
Lubbock 57.5 +4.3 80 27.7 +1.6 15 42.6 +2.9 1 0.01 1% 0.01 687 0
Midland 61.5 +3.1 81 30.3 ‑0.9 19 45.9 +1.1 0 0.00 0% 0.00 583 0
Port Arthur 65.4 +1.5 78 46.0 +1.5 30 55.7 +1.5 13 2.55 49% 0.76 318 36
San Angelo 64.0 +4.7 82 33.0 ‑0.5 21 48.5 +2.1 1 0.04 4% 0.04 507 4
San Antonio 67.8 +3.8 85 42.2 +1.4 30 55.0 +2.6 6 0.25 13% 0.19 327 26
Victoria 68.3 +3.1 84 43.6 ‑1.6 27 56.0 +0.8 6 0.42 17% 0.19 315 41
Waco 62.5 +3.4 81 34.6 ‑2.9 22 48.5 +0.2 6 0.68 25% 0.30 510 8
Wichita Falls 56.7 +2.2 81 29.1 ‑2.2 14 42.9 2 1.05 63% 0.69 679 1
Shreveport, LA 59.5 +1.0 77 37.0 ‑1.3 23 48.2 ‑0.2 10 3.14 69% 1.69 516 4
*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.

dec 2008 average temperatures
dec 2008 average precipitation

Monthly Extremes

Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value
BRONTE 11 NNE COKE 0.00
PRESIDIO PRESIDIO 0.00
MIDLAND INTL AP MIDLAND 0.00
BIG SPRING HOWARD 0.00
CLARENDON DONLEY 0.00
ABILENE 2 TAYLOR 0.00
ASPERMONT STONEWALL 0.00
BALLINGER 2 NW RUNNELS 0.00
BENAVIDES 2 DUVAL 0.00
BENJAMIN 15 W KING 0.00
BIG BEND RCH SP PRESIDIO 0.00
BIG SPRING HOWARD 0.00
BOOKER LIPSCOMB 0.00
BRAZOS PALO PINTO 0.00
BRECKENRIDGE STEPHENS 0.00
BROWNFIELD 2 TERRY 0.00
BROWNWOOD 2ENE BROWN 0.00
CANADIAN 22SE HEMPHILL 0.00
CANYON RANDALL 0.00
CHILDRESS 2 CHILDRESS 0.00
COLORADO CITY MITCHELL 0.00
CONCHO PARK IVIE RSVR CONCHO 0.00
COPE RCH REAGAN 0.00
DERBY 1 S FRIO 0.00
DUMONT KING 0.00
EAGLE PASS MAVERICK 0.00
EL PASO #2 EL PASO 0.00
FLOMOT 2E MOTLEY 0.00
FLOMOT 4 NE MOTLEY 0.00
FLOYDADA FLOYD 0.00
FLOYDADA 9 SE FLOYD 0.00
FT GRIFFIN SHACKELFORD 0.00
FT HANCOCK 8 SSE HUDSPETH 0.00
FORT STOCKTON 38SE PECOS 0.00
GAIL BORDEN 0.00
HAMLIN 1 SW JONES 0.00
HAPPY 4NW RANDALL 0.00
HART CASTRO 0.00
HASKELL HASKELL 0.00
HORDS CREEK DAM COLEMAN 0.00
HUDSPETH RIVER RANCH VAL VERDE 0.00
HUMBLE PUMP STN 5 WN SUTTON 0.00
JAYTON KENT 0.00
KERMIT WINKLER 0.00
KNAPP 2 SW SCURRY 0.00
LAKE ALAN HENRY GARZA 0.00
LANGTRY VAL VERDE 0.00
LAWN TAYLOR 0.00
LIPAN PALO PINTO 0.00
MATADOR MOTLEY 0.00
MC LEAN GRAY 0.00
MEMPHIS HALL 0.00
MERKEL 12 SW TAYLOR 0.00
MIDLAND 4 ENE MIDLAND 0.00
NORTHFIELD MOTLEY 0.00
ODESSA ECTOR 0.00
ODESSA 1SE ECTOR 0.00
ODESSA 5WSW ECTOR 0.00
PADUCAH COTTLE 0.00
PADUCAH 15 S KING 0.00
PADUCAH 10S COTTLE 0.00
PAINT ROCK CONCHO 0.00
PANHANDLE CARSON 0.00
PITCHFORK RCH DICKENS 0.00
PLAINVIEW WATER PRODUCTION HALE 0.00
POST GARZA 0.00
RICHLAND SPRINGS SAN SABA 0.00
ROSCOE NOLAN 0.00
ROTAN FISHER 0.00
SAN ANGELO WFO TOM GREEN 0.00
SILVERTON BRISCOE 0.00
SILVER VALLEY COLEMAN 0.00
SOUTH CAMP 6666 KING 0.00
SOUTHLAND GARZA 0.00
SPUR DICKENS 0.00
STAMFORD 1 JONES 0.00
STERLING CITY STERLING 0.00
TELEGRAPH KIMBLE 0.00
GORDON 1 SW PALO PINTO 0.00
TURKEY HALL 0.00
UMBARGER RANDALL 0.00
VANDERPOOL 10 N BANDERA 0.00
WATER VALLEY 11 NNE COKE 0.00
WELLINGTON COLLINGSWORTH 0.00
Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value
SAM RAYBURN DAM JASPER 5.06
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours (inches)
Station County Value
MADISONVILLE MADISON 3.00
Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
DUMAS MOORE 34.2
LIPSCOMB LIPSCOMB 34.2
Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
PORT ISABEL CAMERON AP CAMERON 63.8
Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
DUMAS MOORE 48.3
Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
HARLINGEN RIO GRANDE AP CAMERON 74.1
Highest Maximum Temperature  (°F)
Station County Value
ALICE INTL AP JIM WELLS 93
FALFURRIAS BROOKS 93
LA JOYA HIDALGO 93
RIO GRANDE CITY STARR 93
Lowest Maximum Temperature  (°F)
Station County Value
FOLLETT LIPSCOMB 11
PERRYTON OCHILTREE 11
Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
LIPSCOMB LIPSCOMB 17.5
Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND CAMERON 55.3
Highest Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
C C BOTANICAL GARDENS NUECES 76
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
SAN ANTONIO STINSON AP BEXAR 0.02 0.06 (2004) 11
ROCKPORT ARANSAS CO AP ARANSAS 0.18 0.18 (2005) 10
PRESIDIO PRESIDIO 0.00 0.00 (2004) 70
MIDLAND INTL AP MIDLAND 0.00 0.00 (2003) 79
BIG SPRING HOWARD 0.00 0.00 (2003) 58
CLARENDON DONLEY 0.00 0.00 (2003) 96
CONROE MONTGOMERY CO AP MONTGOMERY 1.53 1.58 (2004) 11
ARLINGTON MUNI AP TARRANT 0.43 1.11 (2003) 10
HOUSTON HOOKS MEM AP HARRIS 1.08 1.60 (2004) 11
ASPERMONT STONEWALL 0.00 0.00 (1996) 95
BALLINGER 2 NW RUNNELS 0.00 0.00 (2005) 105
BENAVIDES 2 DUVAL 0.00 0.00 (2007) 35
BENJAMIN 15 W KING 0.00 0.00 (2003) 21
BIG BEND RCH SP PRESIDIO 0.00 0.00 (2007) 13
BIG SPRING HOWARD 0.00 0.00 (2003) 58
BOOKER LIPSCOMB 0.00 0.00 (1976) 63
BRAZOS PALO PINTO 0.00 0.00 (1996) 68
BRECKENRIDGE STEPHENS 0.00 0.00 (1996) 68
BROWNFIELD 2 TERRY 0.00 0.00 (2003) 56
BROWNWOOD 2ENE BROWN 0.00 0.00 (2005) 102
CANYON RANDALL 0.00 0.00 (1996) 78
CHALK MTN ERATH 0.10 0.16 (1977) 44
CHILDRESS 2 CHILDRESS 0.00 0.05 (2003) 11
CLODINE FORT BEND 0.84 0.89 (1957) 51
COLORADO CITY MITCHELL 0.00 0.00 (1999) 75
COMMERCE 4SW HUNT 0.14 0.35 (1950) 10
CONCHO PARK IVIE RSVR CONCHO 0.00 0.00 (2005) 10
COPE RCH REAGAN 0.00 0.00 (2005) 57
CRANFILLS GAP BOSQUE 0.36 0.74 (2003) 16
DACUS MONTGOMERY 0.80 0.89 (1999) 52
DERBY 1 S FRIO 0.00 0.00 (2007) 29
DUMONT KING 0.00 0.00 (2003) 36
EAGLE PASS MAVERICK 0.00 0.00 (2005) 103
FLOMOT 4 NE MOTLEY 0.00 0.00 (2005) 54
FLOYDADA FLOYD 0.00 0.00 (2005) 55
FLOYDADA 9 SE FLOYD 0.00 0.00 (2003) 58
FT GRIFFIN SHACKELFORD 0.00 0.00 (2007) 12
FT HANCOCK 8 SSE HUDSPETH 0.00 0.00 (2005) 38
GAIL BORDEN 0.00 0.00 (2005) 63
HAMLIN 1 SW JONES 0.00 0.00 (2003) 69
HART CASTRO 0.00 0.00 (2003) 47
HASKELL HASKELL 0.00 0.00 (1996) 104
HORDS CREEK DAM COLEMAN 0.00 0.00 (2003) 49
HOUSTON‑PORT HARRIS 1.30 1.43 (2007) 12
HOUSTON NWSO GALVESTON 1.35 1.81 (1993) 18
HUDSPETH RIVER RANCH VAL VERDE 0.00 0.00 (2003) 21
HUMBLE PUMP STN 5 WN SUTTON 0.00 0.00 (2007) 49
JAYTON KENT 0.00 0.00 (2005) 44
JOE POOL LAKE DALLAS 0.20 0.23 (1989) 16
KATY WOLF HILL HARRIS 0.79 1.35 (1981) 29
KNAPP 2 SW SCURRY 0.00 0.00 (2003) 65
LAKE ALAN HENRY GARZA 0.00 0.00 (2003) 15
LANGTRY VAL VERDE 0.00 0.00 (2004) 53
LAWN TAYLOR 0.00 0.00 (2003) 56
LIPAN PALO PINTO 0.00 0.00 (2003) 54
LONDON 3 N MENARD 0.06 0.06 (2003) 10
MATADOR MOTLEY 0.00 0.00 (1996) 55
MATHIS 4 SSW JIM WELLS 0.09 0.11 (2005) 45
MC LEAN GRAY 0.00 0.00 (1979) 45
MEMPHIS HALL 0.00 0.00 (2005) 92
MIDLAND 4 ENE MIDLAND 0.00 0.00 (2004) 81
MONTGOMERY MONTGOMERY 0.95 0.97 (1980) 50
NEW SUMMERFIELD 2W CHEROKEE 1.10 1.28 (1993) 10
NORTHFIELD MOTLEY 0.00 0.00 (2003) 60
ODESSA ECTOR 0.00 0.00 (1996) 55
PADUCAH COTTLE 0.00 0.00 (2005) 53
PADUCAH 15 S KING 0.00 0.00 (1996) 32
PADUCAH 10S COTTLE 0.00 0.00 (2005) 35
PAINT ROCK CONCHO 0.00 0.00 (2005) 83
PANHANDLE CARSON 0.00 0.00 (2005) 75
PITCHFORK RCH DICKENS 0.00 0.00 (2005) 25
POINT COMFORT CALHOUN 0.25 0.26 (1972) 48
POST GARZA 0.00 0.00 (2003) 88
RICHLAND SPRINGS SAN SABA 0.00 0.00 (2007) 57
ROSCOE NOLAN 0.00 0.00 (2003) 73
ROTAN FISHER 0.00 0.00 (2003) 74
SILVERTON BRISCOE 0.00 0.00 (2005) 67
SILVER VALLEY COLEMAN 0.00 0.00 (2003) 34
SOUTH CAMP 6666 KING 0.00 0.09 (1976) 14
SPUR DICKENS 0.00 0.00 (2003) 69
STAMFORD 1 JONES 0.00 0.00 (2005) 85
STERLING CITY STERLING 0.00 0.00 (2005) 79
TELEGRAPH KIMBLE 0.00 0.00 (2007) 58
GORDON 1 SW PALO PINTO 0.00 0.00 (1996) 49
TURKEY HALL 0.00 0.00 (2003) 51
UMBARGER RANDALL 0.00 0.00 (2003) 66
VANDERPOOL 10 N BANDERA 0.00 0.00 (2005) 13
WATER VALLEY 11 NNE COKE 0.00 0.00 (2003) 46
WELLINGTON COLLINGSWORTH 0.00 0.00 nbsp;(2003) 55
WOODVILLE TYLER 1.65 2.31 (2007) 20
Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
ODESSA ECTOR 52.0 49.9 (1951) 14
Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
PERSIMMON GAP BREWSTER 68.5 68.1 (2005) 22
TORNILLO 2 SSE EL PASO 63.8 63.2 (1995) 27
Highest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
ALICE INTL AP JIM WELLS 93 92 (1953) 11
ANDREWS ANDREWS 81 81 (2005) 38
BISHOP NUECES 92 92 (2007) 24
BROWNFIELD 2 TERRY 82 82 (1971) 56
CRANE 2E CRANE 84 83 (1987) 36
DENVER CITY YOAKUM 82 80 (2005) 18
DIMMITT 2 N CASTRO 78 78 (1970) 46
KAUFMAN 3 SE KAUFMAN 88 88 (1955) 101
LA JOYA HIDALGO 93 93 (2007) 12
LAKE TAWAKONI RAINS 86 84 (1982) 32
LITTLEFIELD LAMB 79 79 (2006) 41
MATHIS 4 SSW JIM WELLS 89 89 (1978) 41
MORTON COCHRAN 80 80 (2003) 44
NAVARRO MILLS DAM NAVARRO 83 83 (2007) 34
PERSIMMON GAP BREWSTER 84 84 (2002) 22
REFUGIO 2 NW REFUGIO 85 84 (1996) 20
SILVERTON BRISCOE 81 80 (1995) 45
SINTON 3 NW SAN PATRICIO 90 89 (1978) 37
STILLHOUSE HOLLOW DAM BELL 83 83 (1999) 30
TAHOKA LYNN 83 83 (1937) 69
TURKEY HALL 83 83 (2006) 35
Lowest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
HALLSVILLE 1 W HARRISON 33 33 (2005) 10
Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
CHILDRESS 2 CHILDRESS 27.0 27.6 (2005) 11
RUSK CHEROKEE 27.0 27.7 (1989) 61
Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
LA TUNA 1 S EL PASO 35.8 34.2 (1994) 59
ODESSA ECTOR 38.9 35.9 (2001) 14
Highest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
ALICE INTL AP JIM WELLS 73 72 (1948) 11
COTULLA LA SALLE CO AP LA SALLE 67 67 (2006) 10
SAN ANTONIO STINSON AP BEXAR 69 69 (2007) 11
HUNTSVILLE MUNI AP WALKER 70 70 (2007) 10
ARLINGTON SIX FLAGS TARRANT 67 66 (2001) 16
CANYON DAM COMAL 69 69 (2007) 37
CENTERVILLE LEON 70 70 (1982) 62
CROCKETT HOUSTON 70 70 (2007) 71
DRIPPING SPRINGS 6 E HAYS 67 67 (1998) 25
FERRIS ELLIS 70 67 (1966) 43
FREDERICKSBURG GILLESPIE 67 67 (2007) 72
GAINESVILLE 5 ENE COOKE 64 63 (2001) 22
GONZALES 1N GONZALES 70 69 (1998) 41
GRANGER DAM WILLIAMSON 68 68 (1998) 21
HILLSBORO HILL 68 67 (1966) 88
LA GRANGE FAYETTE 71 71 (2007) 43
LAKE FORK RSVR WOOD 66 66 (2007) 20
LAKE TAWAKONI RAINS 68 66 (1982) 33
LUFKIN 11 NW ANGELINA 68 68 (2007) 11
MARLIN 3 NE FALLS 70 69 (1991) 52
MEDINA 1NE BANDERA 66 66 (1998) 28
POTEET ATASCOSA 70 70 (1994) 64
SAN ANTONIO 8 NNE BEXAR 69 69 (1998) 12
SMITHVILLE BASTROP 72 72 (1956) 76
WARREN 2 S TYLER 69 69 (1970) 30
WAXAHACHIE ELLIS 68 68 (1998) 93
Lowest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
HARLINGEN RIO GRANDE AP CAMERON 31 31 (1997) 21
HOUSTON HOOKS MEM AP HARRIS 27 27 (2004) 10

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 55.2 90 (1911) 31.8 ‑9 (1947) 0.97 4.35 (1968) 2.18 (1961) 0.0 16.5 5.1 678 0
Amarillo 48.9 83 (1927) 22.6 ‑11 (1984) 0.63 2.67 (1999) 1.74 (1968) 0.0 27.5 4.3 920 0
Austin 60.3 90 (1971) 40.0 ‑2 (1949) 1.89 9.21 (1991) 4.41 (1991) 0.0 6.6 7.7 475 7
Brownsville 68.7 93 (1971) 50.5 18 (1881) 1.36 5.11 (1945) 3.00 (1988) 0.1 1.0 7.7 206 54
College Station 60.6 90 (1999) 39.8 ‑3 (1949) 3.32 15.60 (1991) 5.63 (1991) 0.0 7.7 8.7 472 13
Corpus Christi 66.0 91 (1971) 46.2 14 (1962) 1.62 10.78 (1958) 6.38 (1958) 0.1 2.5 7.7 299 32
Dallas‑Fort Worth 54.1 93 (1911) 34.0 ‑2 (1949) 1.90 9.07 (1932) 4.01 (2002) 0.0 13.4 7.1 650 3
Del Rio 62.8 92 (1911) 39.7 12 (1918) 0.57 4.12 (1931) 1.91 (1994) 0.0 5.9 4.8 423 2
El Paso 57.2 80 (1970) 32.9 ‑8 (1962) 0.45 1.84 (1949) 1.28 (1896) 0.0 17.8 4.7 632 0
Galveston 61.9 78 (2006) 49.7 11 (1886) 4.08 10.75 (1991) 5.38 (1923) 0.0 1.9 10.5 316 18
Houston 62.3 87 (1902) 41.2 5 (1930) 3.68 13.11 (1891) 5.89 (1891) 0.0 6.3 10.5 427 15
Lubbock 51.9 87 (1914) 24.4 ‑16 (1963) 0.50 4.05 (1949) 1.96 (1939) 0.0 24.8 4.2 818 0
Midland 56.8 84 (1974) 29.6 ‑8 (1962) 0.53 4.99 (1939) 2.56 (1939) 0.0 19.3 3.9 680 0
Port Arthur 61.5 84 (1909) 42.9 11 (1930) 5.69 14.87 (1991) 6.94 (1998) 0.0 4.9 10.2 411 11
San Angelo 57.9 91 (1911) 31.8 1 (1947) 0.82 3.65 (1961) 2.49 (1961) 0.0 16.4 5.1 617 0
San Antonio 62.1 89 (1971) 38.6 0 (1949) 1.66 8.52 (1968) 3.18 (1968) 0.0 7.8 7.6 455 7
Victoria 62.8 88 (1971) 43.6 12 (1949) 2.44 7.76 (1991) 4.70 (1991) 0.0 4.1 8.8 372 18
Waco 57.0 90 (1943) 35.1 ‑5 (1949) 1.90 6.56 (1932) 4.79 (1998) 0.0 12.4 7.4 589 2
Wichita Falls 52.1 87 (1969) 28.9 ‑12 (1947) 1.12 4.48 (1968) 2.25 (1919) 0.0 20.5 4.9 762 0
Shreveport, LA 56.2 85 (1950) 36.5 ‑2 (1930) 4.60 12.96 (1999) 7.52 (1885) 0.0 12.7 9.7 597 6
Climatic averages are based on 1971-2000 monthly normals, which are provided by the National Climatic Data Center.
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