College Station Monthly Summary: February 2003

The month of February began quite mild for the Brazos Valley area. A cold front moved through the area on the 4th, causing temperatures to drop considerably from the previous day. Cold air was advected into the area on the 6th through the 8th, dropping temperatures another 15°F. High temperatures remained in the lower to mid 40s for a few days before finally moderating to the lower 60s on the 9th. This system brought precipitation to the area with a reported total of 0.86" from the 5th-9th at Easterwood Airport. Quite mild temperatures prevailed over the area until the 16th when the next system made its way across Texas. High temperatures dropped by twenty to twenty five degrees, and brought dry air in behind it. This was a very short lived system however, and temperatures were back in the lower 60s the following day. A stationary front was draped across the state on the 20th, which triggered numerous showers and thunderstorms in conjunction with a low pressure system. The south central and eastern regions of Texas received ample precipitation from this system. A 24-hour precipitation record was reported in College Station when 4.76" fell on the 20th. The previous 24-hour precipitation record was 3.81" from 1927. The low pressure system finally moved out on the 22nd, allowing for high pressure to dominate and temperatures to moderate to the upper 60s and lower 70s. On the 23rd, big changes began in the state of Texas with the movement of a very intense polar air mass into the area. Cold air advection accompanied this strong front with high temperatures in the teens in the panhandle, to the 50s in extreme southern Texas. The College Station area experienced highs in the upper 30s on the 25th and 26th. Frozen precipitation blanketed a majority of the state on the 24th, and College Station received frozen rain, and mist early in the morning on the 25th. For the month, the Bryan/College area had 11 near records and three new records were set. For temperatures A maximum temperature of 33°F was reported on the 25th, which was a new record low for the date. Finally the cold weather retreated on the 28th, with highs in the 50s and lingering showers from a low pressure system situated near the area.

*New Records Set

*Near Records Set

March Normals for College Station