Texas Climate Report: February 2009

The trend of February followed closely to that of January: precipitation deficits and warm temperatures. Although generally wetter than January, only 5 stations received at least 50% of their normal precipitation. Lubbock was the only first-order station to slide over its normal rainfall total at 103%. However, West Texas was especially dry; neither El Paso nor Del Rio received any measurable precipitation for the entire month. A significant portion of statewide rainfall was due to a line of severe storms which made their way through the state in the middle of the month, causing some damage to Texas residents and spawning at least 3 confirmed tornadoes. La Nina conditions have dominated throughout the past few months, bringing dry, warm conditions to Texas.

Temperatures across the state were unusually high, reaching more than 8°F above average in San Antonio. The lowest departure from the mean temperature was in El Paso, where the average monthly temperature deviated from the mean by an increase of approximately 3°F. Several locations recorded temperatures well into the 90s during the month. In fact, maximum monthly temperatures across the state averaged almost 7°F above normal, with some stations reporting temperatures more than 9°F above average. Southerly flow from the gulf characterized much of the latter part of the month, warming temperatures to well above normal values. The La Nina is expected to weaken and dissipate as early as May, which may bring more normal conditions to the state.

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	68.8	+8.1	93	40.2	+3.7	24	54.5	+5.9	1	0.29	26%	0.29	308	22
Amarillo	62.2	+8.1	79	29.0	+2.0	15	45.6	+5.0	2	0.45	82%	0.45	536	0
Austin	73.4	+8.3	91	48.5	+4.5	30	60.9	+6.3	4	1.47	74%	0.70	155	51
Brownsville	78.5	+6.3	86	59.8	+6.5	41	69.2	+6.5	3	0.47	40%	0.45	36	161
College Station	72.6	+7.1	86	48.2	+4.8	30	60.4	+5.9	7	0.68	29%	0.31	162	42
Corpus Christi	77.2	+7.5	90	54.0	+4.7	30	65.6	+6.1	4	0.10	5%	0.05	66	92
Dallas‑Fort Worth	67.4	+7.3	86	44.2	+5.5	26	55.8	+6.4	2	0.72	30%	0.39	273	24
Del Rio	76.0	+8.0	94	47.0	+2.9	29	61.5	+5.4	0	0.00	0%	0.00	136	45
El Paso	68.5	+5.1	83	38.2	+0.7	26	53.4	+2.9	0	0.00	0%	0.00	332	11
Galveston	68.6	+4.2	75	55.4	+3.9	43	62.0	+4.0	7	1.06	41%	0.82	102	26
Houston	72.4	+5.9	85	50.0	+5.7	33	61.2	+5.8	9	1.52	51%	0.61	145	44
Lubbock	65.8	+8.0	85	33.0	+4.1	14	49.4	+6.1	1	0.73	103%	0.73	433	1
Midland	69.0	+6.0	90	36.5	+2.4	20	52.8	+4.2	2	0.22	38%	0.21	347	11
Port Arthur	70.1	+4.8	80	49.7	+3.8	32	59.9	+4.3	9	1.43	43%	0.63	165	31
San Angelo	72.3	+8.8	96	39.5	+3.5	19	55.9	+6.2	2	0.48	41%	0.48	275	28
San Antonio	76.1	+9.0	90	49.7	+7.3	30	62.9	+8.2	4	0.65	37%	0.45	117	63
Victoria	76.0	+9.4	87	49.1	+2.4	26	62.6	+5.9	3	0.19	9%	0.07	128	66
Waco	70.2	+7.9	85	43.2	+3.9	24	56.7	+5.9	3	1.35	56%	0.89	252	27
Wichita Falls	66.1	+8.0	91	37.3	+3.9	21	51.7	+6.0	3	0.68	43%	0.24	375	9
Shreveport, LA	65.8	+3.8	80	42.9	+2.6	27	54.3	+3.1	9	1.63	39%	0.68	311	19
*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
DRYDEN TERRELL CO AP	TERRELL	0.00
PRESIDIO	PRESIDIO	0.00
DEL RIO INTL AP	VAL VERDE	0.00
EL PASO INTL AP	EL PASO	0.00
AGUA FRIA	BREWSTER	0.00
AMISTAD DAM	VAL VERDE	0.00
BENAVIDES 2	DUVAL	0.00
BRACKETTVILLE	KINNEY	0.00
C C BOTANICAL GARDENS	NUECES	0.00
DELL CITY 5 SSW	HUDSPETH	0.00
DEL RIO 2 NW	VAL VERDE	0.00
DERBY 1 S	FRIO	0.00
EL PASO #2	EL PASO	0.00
EL INDIO	MAVERICK	0.00
FALLS CITY 7 WSW	WILSON	0.00
FT HANCOCK 8 SSE	HUDSPETH	0.00
LA TUNA 1 S	EL PASO	0.00
LAJITAS	BREWSTER	0.00
LANGTRY	VAL VERDE	0.00
LOMA ALTA	MCMULLEN	0.00
MCALLEN	HIDALGO	0.00
MILLER RCH	SAN SABA	0.00
MT LOCKE	JEFF DAVIS	0.00
PEARSALL	FRIO	0.00
RIOMEDINA	MEDINA	0.00
ROCKPORT	ARANSAS	0.00
ROCKSPRINGS 26SSW	EDWARDS	0.00
TEAGUE RCH	GILLESPIE	0.00
TERLINGUA	BREWSTER	0.00
TORNILLO 2 SSE	EL PASO	0.00
VANDERPOOL 10 N	BANDERA	0.00
Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station	County	Value
WILDWOOD	TYLER	5.29
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours (inches)
Station	County	Value
WILDWOOD	TYLER	4.05
Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station	County	Value
LIPSCOMB	LIPSCOMB	42.5
STRATFORD	SHERMAN	42.5
Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station	County	Value
MCALLEN MILLER INTL AP	HIDALGO	70.3
Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station	County	Value
DOG CANYON	CULBERSON	58.7
Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station	County	Value
LA JOYA	HIDALGO	83.9
Highest Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station	County	Value
LA JOYA	HIDALGO	103
Lowest Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station	County	Value
HASKELL	HASKELL	35
Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature&nbnbsp;(°F)
Station	County	Value
LIPSCOMB	LIPSCOMB	22.8
Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station	County	Value
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND	CAMERON	63.2
Highest Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station	County	Value
C C BOTANICAL GARDENS	NUECES	75
Lowest Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station	County	Value
DUMAS	MOORE	5

New Monthly Records

Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station	County	Value	Previous Record	Yrs. Data
VICTORIA RGNL AP	VICTORIA	0.19	0.20 (1954)	63
PRESIDIO	PRESIDIO	0.00	0.00 (2008)	76
DEL RIO INTL AP	VAL VERDE	0.00	0.00 (1974)	103
EL PASO INTL AP	EL PASO	0.00	0.00 (1999)	131
PINE SPRINGS NP	CULBERSON	0.02	0.05 (2008)	10
AMISTAD DAM	VAL VERDE	0.00	0.00 (1976)	44
BENAVIDES 2	DUVAL	0.00	0.00 (2008)	34
BRACKETTVILLE	KINNEY	0.00	0.00 (2002)	96
DELL CITY 5 SSW	HUDSPETH	0.00	0.00 (2008)	27
DEL RIO 2 NW	VAL VERDE	0.00	0.00 (2002)	13
DERBY 1 S	FRIO	0.00	0.00 (2008)	26
EL INDIO	MAVERICK	0.00	0.00 (2002)	31
FALLS CITY 7 WSW	WILSON	0.00	0.00 (2007)	60
FT HANCOCK 8 SSE	HUDSPETH	0.00	0.00 (2008)	37
LA TUNA 1 S	EL PASO	0.00	0.00 (2008)	60
LAJITAS	BREWSTER	0.00	0.00 (2008)	30
LANGTRY	VAL VERDE	0.00	0.00 (2008)	60
LIVINGSTON 2 NNE	POLK	0.43	0.85 (1943)	71
MCALLEN	HIDALGO	0.00	0.00 (2008)	65
MILLER RCH	SAN SABA	0.00	0.11 (1999)	46
MT LOCKE	JEFF DAVIS	0.00	0.00 (1999)	72
PEARSALL	FRIO	0.00	0.00 (2008)	99
RIOMEDINA	MEDINA	0.00	0.00 (2007)	76
ROCKPORT	ARANSAS	0.00	0.00 (1976)	49
ROCKSPRINGS 26SSW	EDWARDS	0.00	0.00 (2008)	14
TEAGUE RCH	GILLESPIE	0.00	0.12 (2007)	59
TORNILLO 2 SSE	EL PASO	0.00	0.00 (1999)	30
VANDERPOOL 10 N	BANDERA	0.00	0.00 (2007)	13
VANDERPOOL 4N	BANDERA	0.11	0.12 (2007)	15
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours Ever in the Month (inches)
Station	County	Value	Previous Record	Yrs. Data
WILDWOOD	TYLER	4.05	2.90 (2004)	16
Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station	County	Value	Previous Record	Yrs. Data
DALLAS REDBIRD AP	DALLAS	56.8	56.4 (1999)	11
DENTON MUNI AP	DENTON	53.5	53.5 (1999)	12
ALICE INTL AP	JIM WELLS	67.4	65.5 (2008)	12
NEW BRAUNFELS MUNI AP	GUADALUPE	62.6	61.2 (2000)	13
PINE SPRINGS NP	CULBERSON	51.5	51.5 (2000)	11
FT WORTH ALLIANCE AP	TARRANT	55.9	55.9 (2000)	12
ABERNATHY	HALE	46.8	44.0 (2005)	11
BRACKETTVILLE 22 N	KINNEY	58.9	56.8 (1995)	11
LA JOYA	HIDALGO	69.6	69.4 (2008)	11
LANGTRY	VAL VERDE	59.8	59.8 (1999)	35
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND	CAMERON	68.5	67.3 (2008)	13
WHITNEY DAM	BOSQUE	56.3	56.3 (1976)	56
Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station	County	Value	Previous Record	Yrs. Data
ROBERT GRAY AAF	BELL	71.1	71.0 (1954)	11
DALLAS REDBIRD AP	DALLAS	68.1	67.7 (1999)	11
DENTON MUNI AP	DENTON	67.0	67.0 (1999)	12
BURNET MUNI AP	BURNET	70.9	70.8 (1999)	11
ALICE INTL AP	JIM WELLS	81.6	80.7 (2008)	12
NEW BRAUNFELS MUNI AP	GUADALUPE	77.0	75.5 (2008)	13
PINE SPRINGS NP	CULBERSON	64.3	62.9 (2000)	11
ABERNATHY	HALE	65.6	61.7 (2008)	11
BURLESON	JOHNSON	69.2	68.2 (2000)	20
CANYON DAM	COMAL	73.0	72.4 (1976)	43
CHARLOTTE 5 NNW	ATASCOSA	80.2	80.2 (2008)	47
CHOKE CANYON DAM	LIVE OAK	78.0	77.8 (2008)	26
CONCHO PARK IVIE RSVR	CONCHO	70.8	70.4 (1999)	11
DEL RIO 2 NW	VAL VERDE	76.6	76.0 (1999)	13
DRIPPING SPRINGS 6 E	HAYS	72.7	72.6 (1999)	25
KERRVILLE 3 NNE	KERR	73.0	72.6 (1999)	34
LAKE KEMP	BAYLOR	67.7	66.9 (2000)	32
LEXINGTON	LEE	72.3	71.7 (1999)	45
LLANO	LLANO	75.3	75.3 (1925)	104
POINT COMFORT	CALHOUN	73.3	73.2 (1976)	43
REFUGIO 3 SW	REFUGIO	76.2	75.6 (2008)	12
ROCKPORT	ARANSAS	73.3	71.9 (1999)	49
SAN ANTONIO 8 NNE	BEXAR	74.9	74.4 (1999)	12
SOMERVILLE DAM	BURLESON	74.2	72.1 (1999)	44
THOMPSONS 3 WSW	FORT BEND	77.0	74.8 (1962)	45
Highest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station	County	Value	Previous Record	Yrs. Data
DENTON MUNI AP	DENTON	89	87 (2008)	12
BURNET MUNI AP	BURNET	87	86 (1997)	11
ALICE INTL AP	JIM WELLS	98	96 (1954)	12
MCALLEN MILLER INTL AP	HIDALGO	101	99 (1996)	49
HONDO MUNI AP	MEDINA	97	96 (1986)	32
NEW BRAUNFELS MUNI AP	GUADALUPE	94	92 (2008)	13
JUNCTION KIMBLE CO AP	KIMBLE	95	93 (2008)	32
PRESIDIO	PRESIDIO	96	95 (1940)	69
MIDLAND INTL AP	MIDLAND	90	90 (1986)	79
PINE SPRINGS NP	CULBERSON	79	75 (2000)	11
FT STOCKTON PECOS AP	PECOS	94	94 (2003)	11
CONROE MONTGOMERY CO AP	MONTGOMERY	84	83 (2001)	12
HOUSTON HOOKS MEM AP	HARRIS	85	83 (2001)	12
CORSICANA CAMPBELL FLD	NAVARRO	84	84 (2000)	10
ALPINE	BREWSTER	86	86 (1932)	75
ASPERMONT	STONEWALL	92	92 (1996)	45
BENAVIDES 2	DUVAL	100	99 (1986)	30
BROWNWOOD 2ENE	BROWN	98	96 (1926)	77
CHARLOTTE 5 NNW	ATASCOSA	100	99 (1996)	47
CONCHO PARK IVIE RSVR	CONCHO	94	89 (2008)	11
DELL CITY 5 SSW	HUDSPETH	87	85 (1986)	28
DENVER CITY	YOAKUM	87	84 (2008)	18
EDEN	CONCHO	94	92 (1957)	47
FT MCKAVETT	MENARD	94	93 (2008)	16
FT HANCOCK 8 SSE	HUDSPETH	87	86 (2000)	34
GRANDFALLS 3 SSE	WARD	94	93 (1986)	42
HONDO	MEDINA	97	95 (2008)	81
LA JOYA	HIDALGO	103	99 (2008)	14
LAJITAS	BREWSTER	98	96 (1996)	29
MCALLEN	HIDALGO	100	99 (1962)	65
MT LOCKE	JEFF DAVIS	79	79 (1962)	61
OZONA	CROCKETT	92	91 (2008)	50
PADUCAH 15 S	KING	90	89 (2000)	11
PENWELL	ECTOR	90	90 (1986)	34
REFUGIO 3 SW	REFUGIO	88	88 (2006)	12
WHITE RIVER RESERVOIR	CROSBY	87	87 (2000)	12
Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station	County	Value	Previous Record	Yrs. Data
DALLAS REDBIRD AP	DALLAS	45.4	45.2 (1999)	11
ALICE INTL AP	JIM WELLS	53.3	53.1 (2001)	12
ARLINGTON MUNI AP	TARRANT	44.4	44.1 (2005)	10
FT WORTH ALLIANCE AP	TARRANT	43.0	42.4 (2000)	12
FT WORTH WSFO	TARRANT	43.9	43.7 (2005)	15
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND	CAMERON	63.2	61.6 (2008)	14
WACO DAM	MCLENNAN	43.0	42.4 (2005)	34
Highest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station	County	Value	Previous Record	Yrs. Data
ROBERT GRAY AAF	BELL	67	66 (1956)	11
DALLAS FT WORTH AP	TARRANT	68	68 (2008)	111
DALLAS REDBIRD AP	DALLAS	68	67 (2008)	11
COLUMBUS	COLORADO	68	68 (1989)	46
NEW BRAUNFELS MUNI AP	GUADALUPE	69	69 (2008)	13
DALLAS LOVE FLD	DALLAS	68	67 (2008)	96
PINE SPRINGS NP	CULBERSON	54	51 (2002)	11
FT STOCKTON PECOS AP	PECOS	63	59 (1999)	11
CONROE MONTGOMERY CO AP	MONTGOMERY	68	68 (2008)	12
ARLINGTON MUNI AP	TARRANT	67	67 (2001)	10
HOUSTON HOOKS MEM AP	HARRIS	69	69 (2008)	12
BURLESON	JOHNSON	66	66 (2000)	21
CHARLOTTE 5 NNW	ATASCOSA	74	69 (1996)	46
DEWEYVILLE	NEWTON	68	68 (2001)	23
HILLSBORO	HILL	66	66 (1999)	93
KERRVILLE 3 NNE	KERR	64	64 (2000)	35
ORANGE 9 N	ORANGE	68	68 (2001)	23
WACO DAM	MCLENNAN	65	62 (2003)	34
WELLINGTON	COLLINGSWORTH	54	53 (1995)	42
Lowest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station	County	Value	Previous Record	Yrs. Data
BRACKETTVILLE 22 N	KINNEY	23	23 (2003)	11

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	7.54 (2006)	3.46 (2006)	0.6	0.8	7.9	163	59
Brownsville	78.0	106 (1984)	59.5	28 (1901)	0.93	6.46 (1903)	5.38 (2007)	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	3.48 (2004)	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	87 (2008)	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	5.94 (2007)	1.98 (2007)	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	7.24 (2007)	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	9.76 (2007)	4.22 (2007)	0.3	2.1	7.9	235	39
Wichita Falls	67.2	100 nbsp;(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.