Texas Climate Report: February 2013
The weather was variable in the month of February, and temperatures ranged from well above normal in the Rio Grande Valley, to well below normal in the Panhandle. While the majority of the state saw a deficit of precipitation, the Panhandle had a significant increase for the month, with areas from Lubbock north seeing nearly twice the normal amount. Most of this precipitation fell as the result of a historic blizzard that struck the area on the 25th and 26th of February, dropping nearly 2 feet of snow across much of the northern panhandle. Most of the precipitation that fell across the remainder of the state was due to the traditional passage of cold fronts, sending the state on a rollercoaster ride for temperatures. Overall, the month was much warmer for the southern half of the state due to overall southerly winds allowing for temperatures to hit the mid 70s for a good portion of the month.
The drought that has been present across the region for the past few years remained stable from the beginning to the end of the month. No areas saw significant increase in drought conditions, but due to the wet month in the panhandle it did see a decrease in drought severity with the northernmost counties of the panhandle fading from exceptional to extreme drought conditions.
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 |
63.2 |
+2.7 |
77 |
36.5 |
‑0.2 |
24 |
49.9 |
+1.3 |
6 |
0.58 |
43% |
0.21 |
416 |
0 |
| Amarillo |
52.5 |
‑1.7 |
72 |
27.1 |
+0.7 |
15 |
39.8 |
‑0.5 |
5 |
2.53 |
452% |
1.48 |
699 |
0 |
| Austin |
70.7 |
+5.5 |
85 |
47.2 |
+2.4 |
35 |
59.0 |
+4.0 |
8 |
0.38 |
19% |
0.18 |
183 |
22 |
| Brownsville |
79.2 |
+5.5 |
87 |
58.1 |
+3.4 |
41 |
68.7 |
+4.5 |
1 |
0.01 |
1% |
0.01 |
37 |
147 |
| College Station |
68.0 |
+3.2 |
79 |
47.2 |
+2.8 |
33 |
57.6 |
+3.0 |
7 |
1.10 |
39% |
0.48 |
207 |
7 |
| Corpus Christi |
75.8 |
+5.4 |
88 |
54.2 |
+3.7 |
38 |
65.0 |
+4.5 |
4 |
0.44 |
23% |
0.40 |
69 |
77 |
| Dallas‑Fort Worth |
63.1 |
+2.7 |
80 |
40.9 |
+1.5 |
29 |
52.0 |
+2.1 |
7 |
1.68 |
63% |
0.99 |
357 |
2 |
| Del Rio |
73.2 |
+4.6 |
83 |
46.8 |
+1.8 |
33 |
60.0 |
+3.2 |
0 |
0.00 |
0% |
0.00 |
147 |
15 |
| El Paso |
60.8 |
‑2.3 |
70 |
34.7 |
‑2.4 |
24 |
47.8 |
‑2.3 |
2 |
0.41 |
89% |
0.40 |
476 |
0 |
| Galveston |
68.0 |
+3.7 |
76 |
56.0 |
+5.1 |
48 |
62.0 |
+4.4 |
10 |
2.24 |
87% |
1.08 |
88 |
12 |
| Houston |
68.9 |
+2.6 |
79 |
47.9 |
+1.4 |
34 |
58.4 |
+2.0 |
10 |
1.32 |
41% |
0.36 |
183 |
5 |
| Lubbock |
57.4 |
‑1.5 |
73 |
29.7 |
‑0.4 |
20 |
43.6 |
‑0.9 |
5 |
1.31 |
175% |
0.48 |
594 |
0 |
| Midland |
63.4 |
+1.0 |
75 |
33.2 |
‑1.3 |
20 |
48.3 |
‑0.2 |
2 |
0.08 |
11% |
0.05 |
461 |
0 |
| Port Arthur |
67.9 |
+2.6 |
76 |
48.8 |
+2.3 |
37 |
58.4 |
+2.5 |
11 |
3.30 |
92% |
1.09 |
188 |
7 |
| San Angelo |
67.8 |
+4.3 |
79 |
36.4 |
‑0.6 |
23 |
52.1 |
+1.8 |
6 |
0.39 |
29% |
0.23 |
355 |
0 |
| San Antonio |
71.2 |
+4.3 |
81 |
46.9 |
+2.7 |
31 |
59.0 |
+3.4 |
5 |
0.10 |
6% |
0.07 |
173 |
13 |
| Victoria |
71.0 |
+2.9 |
81 |
48.2 |
+1.8 |
33 |
59.6 |
+2.3 |
9 |
1.36 |
65% |
1.05 |
159 |
16 |
| Waco |
66.0 |
+4.2 |
85 |
40.2 |
+0.4 |
26 |
53.1 |
+2.3 |
7 |
2.10 |
80% |
1.16 |
332 |
6 |
| Wichita Falls |
59.2 |
+0.9 |
76 |
33.3 |
‑0.2 |
22 |
46.2 |
+0.3 |
6 |
2.04 |
117% |
0.92 |
517 |
0 |
| Shreveport, LA |
61.7 |
+0.2 |
71 |
41.0 |
+1.3 |
31 |
51.3 |
+0.7 |
11 |
2.68 |
56% |
1.64 |
376 |
0 |
*Dep.: Departure of the monthly average temperature from the 1981-2010 monthly normal, which is provided by the National Climatic Data Center.
*Perc. Norm.: Monthly precipitation total divided by 1981-2010 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 |
| AGUA FRIA |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
| ALPINE |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
| ALPINE 7NW |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
| ALPINE CASPARIS AP |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
| BAKERSFIELD |
PECOS |
0.00 |
| BALMORHEA |
REEVES |
0.00 |
| BIG BEND RCH SP |
PRESIDIO |
0.00 |
| BIG SPRING |
HOWARD |
0.00 |
| BIG SPRING |
HOWARD |
0.00 |
| CAMP WOOD |
REAL |
0.00 |
| CHISOS BASIN |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
| CRANE 10N |
ECTOR |
0.00 |
| CRANE 2E |
CRANE |
0.00 |
| DERBY 1 S |
FRIO |
0.00 |
| DRYDEN TERRELL CO AP |
TERRELL |
0.00 |
| EL INDIO |
MAVERICK |
0.00 |
| FORT STOCKTON 38SE |
PECOS |
0.00 |
| FT DAVIS |
JEFF DAVIS |
0.00 |
| FT STOCKTON |
PECOS |
0.00 |
| GRANDFALLS 3 SSE |
WARD |
0.00 |
| HUDSPETH RIVER RANCH |
VAL VERDE |
0.00 |
| HUNT 10 W |
KERR |
0.00 |
| K‑BAR RCH |
ECTOR |
0.00 |
| KENT 8 SE |
JEFF DAVIS |
0.00 |
| KERMIT |
WINKLER |
0.00 |
| LAJITAS |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
| LAKE AMENT |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
| LANGTRY |
VAL VERDE |
0.00 |
| MARATHON |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
| MARATHON 40SSE |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
| MARFA MUNI AP |
PECOS |
0.00 |
| MCCAMEY |
UPTON |
0.00 |
| MERCEDES 6 SSE |
HIDALGO |
0.00 |
| MT LOCKE |
JEFF DAVIS |
0.00 |
| PANTHER JUNCTION |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
| PECOS MUNI AP |
REEVES |
0.00 |
| PERSIMMON GAP |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
| PORT ISABEL CAMERON AP |
CAMERON |
0.00 |
| PRESIDIO 2 |
PRESIDIO |
0.00 |
| RIO GRANDE VILLAGE |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
| ROBERT LEE |
COKE |
0.00 |
| ROCKSPRINGS 26SSW |
EDWARDS |
0.00 |
| SANDERSON |
TERRELL |
0.00 |
| TERLINGUA RCH |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
| VALENTINE |
JEFF DAVIS |
0.00 |
| VALENTINE 10 WSW |
PRESIDIO |
0.00 |
| VALENTINE 20 WNW |
JEFF DAVIS |
0.00 |
| VANDERPOOL 10 N |
BANDERA |
0.00 |
| Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| DALHART |
DALLAM |
7.36 |
| Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| DALHART |
DALLAM |
6.50 |
| Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| PERRYTON |
OCHILTREE |
34.1 |
| Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| MCALLEN MILLER INTL AP |
HIDALGO |
69.5 |
| Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| FOLLETT |
LIPSCOMB |
48.2 |
| Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| FALCON DAM |
STARR |
81.3 |
| Highest Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| MCALLEN MILLER INTL AP |
HIDALGO |
96 |
| Lowest Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| FOLLETT |
LIPSCOMB |
25 |
| Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| LIPSCOMB |
LIPSCOMB |
18.9 |
| Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| PORT ISABEL CAMERON AP |
CAMERON |
60.8 |
| Highest Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| PORT ISABEL CAMERON AP |
CAMERON |
73 |
| Lowest Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| LIPSCOMB |
LIPSCOMB |
1 |
New Monthly Records
| Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| BAKERSFIELD |
PECOS |
0.00 |
0.00 (1999) |
67 |
| BALMORHEA |
REEVES |
0.00 |
0.00 (2011) |
86 |
| BIG BEND RCH SP |
PRESIDIO |
0.00 |
0.00 (2011) |
17 |
| BIG SPRING |
HOWARD |
0.00 |
0.00 (2011) |
61 |
| BIG SPRING |
HOWARD |
0.00 |
0.00 (2011) |
60 |
| CAMP WOOD |
REAL |
0.00 |
0.00 (1999) |
64 |
| CHISOS BASIN |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
0.00 (2011) |
68 |
| CRANE 2E |
CRANE |
0.00 |
0.00 (2011) |
50 |
| DERBY 1 S |
FRIO |
0.00 |
0.00 (2011) |
30 |
| DRYDEN TERRELL CO AP |
TERRELL |
0.00 |
0.00 (2011) |
11 |
| EL INDIO |
MAVERICK |
0.00 |
0.00 (2011) |
35 |
| FT DAVIS |
JEFF DAVIS |
0.00 |
0.00 (2008) |
92 |
| FT STOCKTON |
PECOS |
0.00 |
0.00 (2011) |
64 |
| GRANDFALLS 3 SSE |
WARD |
0.00 |
0.00 (2008) |
86 |
| HUDSPETH RIVER RANCH |
VAL VERDE |
0.00 |
0.00 (1996) |
23 |
| HUNT 10 W |
KERR |
0.00 |
0.00 (2007) |
21 |
| KENT 8 SE |
JEFF DAVIS |
0.00 |
0.00 (2012) |
19 |
| LAJITAS |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
0.00 (2011) |
34 |
| LANGTRY |
VAL VERDE |
0.00 |
0.00 (2009) |
63 |
| MARATHON |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
0.00 (2011) |
65 |
| MCCAMEY |
UPTON |
0.00 |
0.00 (2008) |
77 |
| MERCEDES 6 SSE |
HIDALGO |
0.00 |
0.00 (1976) |
97 |
| MT LOCKE |
JEFF DAVIS |
0.00 |
0.00 (2009) |
76 |
| NEW BRAUNFELS MUNI AP |
GUADALUPE |
0.01 |
0.05 (2007) |
15 |
| PANTHER JUNCTION |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
0.00 (2008) |
57 |
| PERSIMMON GAP |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
0.00 (2011) |
29 |
| PORT ISABEL CAMERON AP |
CAMERON |
0.00 |
0.08 (2011) |
12 |
| ROBERT LEE |
COKE |
0.00 |
0.00 (1999) |
63 |
| ROCKSPRINGS 26SSW |
EDWARDS |
0.00 |
0.00 (2009) |
18 |
| SANDERSON |
TERRELL |
0.00 |
0.00 (1999) |
74 |
| SAN ANGELO WFO |
TOM GREEN |
0.33 |
0.40 (2008) |
12 |
| TERLINGUA RCH |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
0.00 (2011) |
17 |
| VALENTINE |
JEFF DAVIS |
0.00 |
0.00 (2011) |
33 |
| VALENTINE 10 WSW |
PRESIDIO |
0.00 |
0.00 (1999) |
76 |
| VANDERPOOL 10 N |
BANDERA |
0.00 |
0.00 (2011) |
17 |
| Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| AMARILLO INTL AP |
POTTER |
2.53 |
2.08 (1998) |
72 |
| BORGER HUTCHINSON CO AP |
HUTCHINSON |
2.24 |
1.29 (2010) |
14 |
| FOLLETT |
LIPSCOMB |
3.44 |
3.41 (1971) |
75 |
| PERRYTON 21 S |
OCHILTREE |
1.75 |
1.71 (1990) |
33 |
| SANFORD DAM |
HUTCHINSON |
2.40 |
1.17 (2012) |
17 |
| SHAMROCK 2 |
WHEELER |
4.25 |
2.42 (1997) |
46 |
| TULIA |
SWISHER |
2.84 |
2.64 (1998) |
64 |
| Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours Ever in the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| AMARILLO INTL AP |
POTTER |
1.48 |
1.28 (1971) |
72 |
| BORGER HUTCHINSON CO AP |
HUTCHINSON |
1.10 |
0.85 (2010) |
14 |
| COLETO CREEK RSVR |
GOLIAD |
1.47 |
1.00 (2010) |
10 |
| FOLLETT |
LIPSCOMB |
1.68 |
1.63 (1964) |
75 |
| LONGVIEW E TX RGNL AP |
GREGG |
2.52 |
2.13 (2012) |
14 |
| PINE SPRINGS NP |
CULBERSON |
0.88 |
0.63 (2005) |
14 |
| ROCKPORT ARANSAS CO AP |
ARANSAS |
2.73 |
1.94 (1999) |
14 |
| SHAMROCK 2 |
WHEELER |
1.52 |
1.32 (1997) |
46 |
| THREE RIVERS 8 NE |
LIVE OAK |
2.50 |
2.34 (1998) |
26 |
| TULIA |
SWISHER |
1.21 |
1.07 (1983) |
64 |
| Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| ANAHUAC |
CHAMBERS |
72.9 |
72.7 (1932) |
72 |
| FT HOOD |
BELL |
69.5 |
69.1 (1962) |
11 |
| Highest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| PORT ISABEL CAMERON AP |
CAMERON |
73 |
72 (2012) |
12 |
| SAM RAYBURN DAM |
JASPER |
69 |
69 (2008) |
43 |
| WELDER W'LIFE FOUND |
SAN PATRICIO |
70 |
70 (2012) |
19 |
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 |
68.6 |
98 (1916) |
44.1 |
9 (1948) |
1.74 |
5.16 (1979) |
2.78 (1943) |
0.6 |
3.6 |
6.0 |
298 |
29 |
| Amarillo |
62.5 |
96 (1907) |
33.3 |
‑3 (1948) |
1.39 |
4.14 (2000) |
3.13 (1922) |
0.1 |
13.0 |
6.0 |
532 |
2 |
| Austin |
72.2 |
98 (1971) |
51.3 |
18 (1948) |
2.76 |
7.54 (2006) |
3.46 (2006) |
0.2 |
0.6 |
9.2 |
162 |
61 |
| Brownsville |
78.9 |
106 (1984) |
59.6 |
28 (1901) |
1.23 |
6.46 (1903) |
5.38 (2007) |
1.0 |
0.0 |
4.4 |
43 |
174 |
| College Station |
71.7 |
96 (1946) |
51.0 |
17 (2002) |
3.17 |
8.66 (2012) |
4.20 (1980) |
0.1 |
0.9 |
8.3 |
172 |
59 |
| Corpus Christi |
75.9 |
102 (1989) |
56.3 |
24 (1980) |
1.89 |
7.69 (1903) |
4.66 (1903) |
0.7 |
0.2 |
5.3 |
81 |
115 |
| Dallas‑Fort Worth |
68.2 |
100 (1916) |
47.0 |
10 (1943) |
3.49 |
7.39 (2002) |
4.43 (2002) |
0.2 |
1.8 |
7.8 |
261 |
32 |
| Del Rio |
76.2 |
103 (1928) |
52.1 |
19 (1922) |
1.14 |
3.48 (2004) |
2.33 (1935) |
2.0 |
0.6 |
5.4 |
114 |
87 |
| El Paso |
70.3 |
93 (1907) |
42.9 |
14 (1971) |
0.26 |
2.26 (1958) |
1.32 (1883) |
0.0 |
2.5 |
2.4 |
270 |
10 |
| Galveston |
70.2 |
87 (2008) |
56.6 |
26 (1980) |
3.16 |
9.49 (1973) |
8.10 (1973) |
0.0 |
0.0 |
6.6 |
103 |
53 |
| Houston |
73.0 |
96 (1946) |
52.5 |
21 (1943) |
3.41 |
10.66 (1922) |
7.47 (1972) |
0.0 |
0.6 |
8.8 |
141 |
71 |
| Lubbock |
66.7 |
95 (1989) |
37.0 |
‑2 (1922) |
1.10 |
5.94 (2007) |
1.98 (2007) |
0.3 |
8.6 |
5.0 |
415 |
7 |
| Midland |
70.2 |
97 (1946) |
41.0 |
9 (1980) |
0.60 |
2.86 (1970) |
2.20 (1970) |
0.4 |
4.7 |
3.6 |
307 |
16 |
| Port Arthur |
71.8 |
95 (1946) |
52.2 |
23 (2002) |
3.53 |
10.21 (1949) |
6.04 (1979) |
0.0 |
0.5 |
7.4 |
148 |
55 |
| San Angelo |
71.1 |
98 (1908) |
44.4 |
8 (1980) |
1.50 |
5.00 (1953) |
4.65 (1953) |
0.6 |
3.5 |
5.6 |
257 |
33 |
| San Antonio |
73.5 |
100 (1991) |
50.8 |
19 (2002) |
2.31 |
7.24 (2007) |
3.59 (1992) |
0.4 |
1.0 |
8.8 |
154 |
65 |
| Victoria |
74.2 |
98 (1939) |
52.5 |
21 (2002) |
2.77 |
11.61 (1997) |
5.04 (1997) |
0.2 |
0.7 |
7.1 |
125 |
74 |
| Waco |
69.2 |
100 (1971) |
47.1 |
15 (1948) |
3.15 |
9.76 (2007) |
6.17 (2012) |
0.1 |
1.8 |
8.3 |
246 |
34 |
| Wichita Falls |
67.0 |
100 (1971) |
41.2 |
6 (1948) |
2.20 |
6.29 (1999) |
4.32 (1988) |
0.7 |
4.9 |
6.7 |
357 |
19 |
| Shreveport, LA |
69.5 |
92 (1974) |
46.3 |
15 (1943) |
4.14 |
11.99 (1945) |
5.43 (1945) |
0.0 |
1.9 |
9.2 |
251 |
31 |
| Climatic averages are based on 1981-2010 monthly normals, which are provided by the National Climatic Data Center. |
