Weekly Climate Summary: 03/20/2022
Dry western trends continued throughout this week with most counties in the west experiencing less than 0.1” of precipitation. Specifically, The Big Bend Country, Panhandle, Hill Country, Southern Gulf Coast, and South Texas all experienced less than 0.1” of precipitation and were the driest regions in the state. The only exception in these regions were Lipscomb and Gray counties which observed 0.15-0.6” of precipitation. To the east, there was higher precipitation accumulation, specifically along the northern Gulf Coast and in the Piney Woods Region. Overall these regions averaged between 0.15-1.8” of precipitation, however, Wharton and San Augustine counties observed 1.8-2.1”, Angelia and Shelby counties observed 2.1-2.4”, and Panola County was the wettest in the state observing 2.4-2.7”.
Throughout this week, most regions of the state experienced near normal temperatures within 0-2 °F of normal. Starting in the Big Bend Region, temperatures were within the normal outside of Brewster County where temperatures were 2-4 °F cooler than normal, and Wrinkler, Ward, Ector, and Crane Counties where temperatures were 4-6 °F cooler than normal. Similar conditions were seen in the Western Panhandle as well as the Hill Country. Several counties in these regions recorded temperatures 2-4 °F cooler than normal and Schleicher, Menard, and Kimble counties observed temperatures 4-6 °f cooler than normal. Along the Rio Grande Border, temperatures were 2-4 °F warmer than normal however the remainder of South Texas and along the Gulf Coast observed cooler than normal temperatures. These regions experienced temperatures 0-4 °F cooler than normal outside of Atascosa, McMullen, Wharton, Matagorda, Goliad, and Victoria counties which all observed temperatures 4-6 °F cooler than normal. The Piney Woods region experienced similar conditions as well with the majority of counties experiencing temperatures within 0-4 °F cooler than normal, and Hardin, Tyler, and Leon counties experiencing temperatures 4-6 °F cooler than normal. The most extreme departure in the state was seen in Jasper County where temperatures were 6-8 °F cooler than normal. The Eastern Panhandle, Red River Valley, and North Central Texas experienced temperatures warmer than normal, with the majority of counties in these regions recording temperatures 0-4°F warmer than normal. Foard, Knox, Jones, and Erath counties experienced more extreme positive temperature departures of 4-6 °F warmer than normal.
On March 14th and 15th, two confirmed tornadoes made impacts in Texas. The first tornado was denoted as the Leonard Tornado and was classified as an EF1. This tornado touched down in Fannin County West of Leonard at 23:10 UTC and lasted until 23:17 UTC on March 14th. This tornado had an estimated peak wind speed of 95 mph. It traveled a length of 3.2787 miles and had a max width of 150 yards. No fatalities or injuries were reported from this tornado, however, there was damage reported to several metal barns, one family home, and many trees. The second tornado was denoted as the Santa Fe Tornado and was classified as an EF0. This tornado touched down in Galveston County northwest of Sante Fe at 04:50 UTC and lasted until 04:51 UTC on March 15th. This tornado had an estimated peak wind speed of 85 mph. It traveled a length of 250 yards and had a max width of 30 yards. No fatalities or injuries were reported from this tornado, with minor infrastructural damage.
In addition to the Tornadoes on March 14th and 15th, Hail reports were made across many counties. Henderson, Grayson, Brazos, Rockwall, Denton, Dallas, Ellis, and McLennan counties all reported 1.0” hail. Rusk and Ellis counties reported 1.25” hail. Anderson and Kaufman counties reported 1.5” hail. Fort Bend, San Augustine, Angelina, Robertson, Trinity, Fannin, and Collin counties reported the most extreme hail at 1.75”.
