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Texas Climate Report: December 1998

1998 ended with most Texans dealing with slightly above normal mean monthly temperatures. Temperature departures from normal were very small at all of the first order stations in Texas this month. December precipitation was above normal in parts of Central and East Texas, with the areas in the west (High Plains, Trans Pecos, Edwards Plateau, and Southern regions) receiving below normal monthly precipitation. The month began somewhat warm and ended with the Lone Star State experiencing strong winter conditions. An interesting side note for 1998 was that 1998 in Austin tied the year of 1933 for the warmest year on record. The average temperature for 1998 in Austin was 70.8°F.

The first week of December brought warmer than normal temperatures to areas in Southern Texas. New daily high temperature records and high minimum temperature records were set on a number of occasions in such cities as: Galveston, Midland, Houston, College Station, and Austin. On December 3rd, late afternoon and evening thunderstorms dropped 1.48" of rain at Dallas/Fort Worth setting a new 24-hour rainfall record for that date. December 7th finally brought the first freezing temperature to Midland. The temperature barely dropped to 32°F, but when it did it set a new record for the date of the latest freeze at Midland.

An upper level storm system moved east across the state dropping heavy snow in West Texas and cold rain in north, central and southern areas between the 10th and the 11th. New 24-hour rainfall records were set at both Dallas/Fort Worth and Waco on the 10th when 1.13" and 2.57" of rain fell on both cities respectively. In Midland, 9.5" of snow had fallen to the ground by mid-afternoon on the 11th. This total set a record 24-hour snowfall total and a record for the most snow in any given month. This latter record breaks the old record of 9" for one month set in January 1985.

With storm systems tracking to the north of Texas during the middle of December, the weather was pleasant with milder than normal temperatures encompassing the state. This all changed however for the final 10 days of the month. A strong cold front pushed all the way through Texas by the 22nd bringing freezing temperatures down behind it. Roads were an icy glaze in North and Central Texas due to the frigid temperatures and a storm system responsible for freezing precipitation. Some holiday travelers had to be extremely cautious of the treacherous driving conditions, while others were left stranded because of road closures and long airport delays. Eventually by the very end of the month, the arctic air was receding with the temperatures in Texas cities beginning to climb back to more normal seasonal values.

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 56.6 ‑0.4 76 33.4 ‑0.5 13 45.0 ‑0.5 6 1.37 133% 0.59 615 1
Amarillo 50.9 +0.8 72 25.2 +1.5 0 38.0 +1.1 4 0.41 95% 0.29 828 0
Austin 61.3 ‑0.7 80 44.4 +3.2 25 52.8 +1.2 6 1.56 83% 0.88 405 35
Brownsville 71.7 85 52.2 ‑0.2 34 62.0 ‑0.1 6 0.29 23% 0.16 193 107
College Station 61.1 ‑0.4 82 42.5 +1.3 24 51.8 +0.4 19 4.90 173% 1.61 436 36
Corpus Christi 67.9 ‑0.4 84 49.8 +1.4 31 58.8 +0.5 7 0.72 57% 0.38 261 77
Dallas‑Fort Worth 55.7 ‑1.8 77 38.3 +2.0 20 47.0 +0.1 9 4.43 241% 1.48 559 9
Del Rio 63.9 +0.4 76 40.6 25 52.3 +0.2 3 0.24 39% 0.21 390 4
El Paso 57.8 +0.3 69 33.7 +3.0 21 45.7 +1.6 3 0.34 60% 0.25 590 0
Galveston 64.1 +2.2 79 51.7 +0.8 34 57.9 +1.5 10 3.69 105% 2.45 276 61
Houston 65.1 +0.4 84 45.1 +2.9 27 55.1 +1.6 10 4.01 116% 2.24 349 50
Lubbock 54.8 +0.7 73 27.4 +0.2 7 41.1 +0.5 1 0.26 49% 0.26 732 0
Midland 57.1 ‑1.3 77 30.9 +0.1 13 44.0 ‑0.6 4 0.58 104% 0.52 644 1
Port Arthur N/A N/A N/A 47.3 +3.0 28 N/A N/A 12 2.79 58% 1.54 N/A N/A
San Angelo 59.8 +0.8 79 33.3 +0.3 18 46.5 +0.5 5 0.49 62% 0.30 566 0
San Antonio 62.8 ‑0.7 80 42.6 +1.8 23 52.7 +0.5 7 0.39 26% 0.26 404 32
Victoria 64.2 ‑1.8 82 45.3 +0.1 27 54.7 ‑0.9 10 3.59 176% 2.02 355 45
Waco 57.5 ‑1.8 79 39.3 +2.0 23 48.4 +0.1 7 4.08 219% 2.57 526 18
Wichita Falls 53.6 ‑1.3 76 33.0 +2.2 13 43.3 +0.5 5 1.94 150% 1.08 664 0
Shreveport, LA 58.1 ‑0.4 81 40.4 +3.1 22 49.2 +1.2 14 6.24 152% 1.57 501 22
*Dep.: Departure of the monthly average temperature from the 1961-1990 monthly normal, which is provided by the National Climatic Data Center.
*Perc. Norm.: Monthly precipitation total divided by 1961-1990 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 1998 average temperatures
dec 1998 average precipitation

Monthly Extremes

Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value
BENJAMIN 15 W KING 0.00
BOQUILLAS RS BREWSTER 0.00
CANDELARIA PRESIDIO 0.00
DELL CITY 5 SSW HUDSPETH 0.00
DUMONT KING 0.00
ENCINAL WEBB 0.00
FT HANCOCK 8 SSE HUDSPETH 0.00
FREER DUVAL 0.00
FREER 18 WNW WEBB 0.00
JAYTON KENT 0.00
LAJITAS BREWSTER 0.00
MARATHON BREWSTER 0.00
OAK CREEK LAKE COKE 0.00
PADUCAH 10S COTTLE 0.00
POST GARZA 0.00
WELLINGTON COLLINGSWORTH 0.00
WHITE RIVER RESERVOIR CROSBY 0.00
Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value
GREENVILLE KGVL RADIO HUNT 10.86
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours (inches)
Station County Value
GREENVILLE KGVL RADIO HUNT 5.62
Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
PERRYTON OCHILTREE 34.0
Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
WESLACO HIDALGO 63.4
Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
PERRYTON OCHILTREE 47.6
Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
WESLACO HIDALGO 74.1
Highest Maximum Temperature  (°F)
Station County Value
RIO GRANDE CITY STARR 90
Lowest Maximum Temperature  (°F)
Station County Value
PERRYTON OCHILTREE 8
Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
DALHART 6 SW HARTLEY 17.6
Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND CAMERON 57.2
Highest Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND CAMERON 76
Lowest Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
DALHART 6 SW HARTLEY -6
STRATFORD SHERMAN -6

New Monthly Records

Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
BENJAMIN 15 W KING 0.00 0.00 (1996) 14
BOQUILLAS RS BREWSTER 0.00 0.00 (1996) 44
CANDELARIA PRESIDIO 0.00 0.00 (1985) 56
DELL CITY 5 SSW HUDSPETH 0.00 0.00 (1996) 18
DUMONT KING 0.00 0.00 (1996) 27
ENCINAL WEBB 0.00 0.00 (1997) 81
FT HANCOCK 8 SSE HUDSPETH 0.00 0.00 (1996) 28
FREER DUVAL 0.00 0.00 (1997) 45
FREER 18 WNW WEBB 0.00 0.00 (1990) 20
JAYTON KENT 0.00 0.00 (1996) 38
LAJITAS BREWSTER 0.00 0.00 (1992) 18
MARATHON BREWSTER 0.00 0.00 (1997) 54
OAK CREEK LAKE COKE 0.00 0.00 (1996) 37
PADUCAH 10S COTTLE 0.00 0.00 (1996) 26
POST GARZA 0.00 0.00 (1996) 79
WELLINGTON COLLINGSWORTH 0.00 0.00 (1996) 46
Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
ALVARADO 4NE JOHNSON 4.82 4.08 (1987) 10
GREENVILLE KGVL RADIO HUNT 10.86 8.39 (1923) 93
KOUNTZE HARDIN 9.08 8.38 (1949) 13
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours Ever in the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
ALVARADO 4NE JOHNSON 2.09 1.41 (1995) 10
FARMERSVILLE HUNT 3.80 3.41 (1991) 48
GREENVILLE KGVL RADIO HUNT 5.62 3.46 (1997) 93
LAVON DAM COLLIN 4.03 3.30 (1991) 45
ROCKWALL ROCKWALL 4.77 3.23 (1991) 54
Highest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
GALVESTON GALVESTON 81 80 (1918) 124
COLDSPRING 5 SSW SAN JACINTO 83 82 (1995) 35
DEWEYVILLE NEWTON 82 79 (1996) 12
EL PASO 32 ENE HUDSPETH 75 69 (1996) 12
ORANGE 9 N ORANGE 82 79 (1996) 12
PERSIMMON GAP BREWSTER 83 83 (1994) 13
PORT ARANSAS NUECES 79 79 (1993) 10
TEXARKANA BOWIE 80 80 (1996) 27
WRIGHT PATMAN DAM CASS 81 81 (1966) 24
Lowest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
HARLINGEN RIO GRANDE AP CAMERON 37 44 (1961) 12
JUNCTION KIMBLE CO AP KIMBLE 26 30 (1964) 22
CHANNING 2 HARTLEY 11 15 (1996) 11
FREER DUVAL 34 38 (1963) 24
MONAHANS WARD 25 27 (1989) 34
Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
BURLESON JOHNSON 39.8 39.5 (1991) 12
Highest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
GALVESTON SCHOLES FLD GALVESTON 71 71 (1982) 124
CORPUS CHRISTI NAS NUECES 74 74 (1949) 53
PALACIOS MUNI AP MATAGORDA 72 71 (1949) 54
GALVESTON GALVESTON 73 71 (1982) 124
TYLER POUNDS FLD SMITH 68 68 (1948) 23
PALESTINE ANDERSON 71 69 (1956) 64
ARANSAS WR ARANSAS 75 71 (1994) 32
BARDWELL DAM ELLIS 66 65 (1992) 26
BAYTOWN HARRIS 72 71 (1995) 16
BLANCO BLANCO 67 67 (1927) 93
BRACKETTVILLE KINNEY 67 67 (1994) 57
BRADY MCCULLOCH 64 64 (1984) 59
BURLESON JOHNSON 68 65 (1992) 12
CANYON DAM COMAL 69 67 (1982) 29
CARTHAGE PANOLA 69 68 (1982) 46
CHANNING 2 HARTLEY 44 42 (1971) 12
CROCKETT HOUSTON 68 68 (1982) 64
DALHART 6 SW HARTLEY 40 38 (1992) 10
DEWEYVILLE NEWTON 72 70 (1991) 13
DRIPPING SPRINGS 6 E HAYS 67 66 (1991) 15
EAGLE MTN LAKE TARRANT 65 65 (1992) 18
FRANKLIN ROBERTSON 69 68 (1991) 30
FREDERICKSBURG GILLESPIE 65 65 (1994) 62
GONZALES 1N GONZALES 69 69 (1974) 34
GRANDFALLS 3 SSE WARD 56 56 (1984) 36
GRANGER DAM WILLIAMSON 68 67 (1992) 18
GRAPEVINE DAM TARRANT 65 65 (1984) 45
GUTHRIE KING 54 53 (1992) 29
HENDERSON RUSK 68 68 (1956) 55
HUDSPETH RIVER RANCH VAL VERDE 63 62 (1993) 10
JEFFERSON MARION 67 65 (1984) 19
KAUFMAN 3 SE KAUFMAN 67 67 (1956) 95
KERRVILLE 3 NNE KERR 66 64 (1984) 24
LA GRANGE FAYETTE 71 70 (1971) 35
LAKE FORK RSVR WOOD 64 64 (1992) 10
LANGTRY VAL VERDE 64 62 (1984) 15
LONGVIEW GREGG 69 69 (1908) 73
MEDINA 1NE BANDERA 66 65 (1994) 23
MC GREGOR MCLENNAN 66 66 (1992) 40
MINEOLA 8 ENE WOOD 67 67 (1982) 28
NACOGDOCHES NACOGDOCHES 72 69 (1996) 23
GEORGETOWN LAKE WILLIAMSON 67 66 (1992) 18
ORANGE 9 N ORANGE 72 70 (1991) 13
PANDALE 1 N VAL VERDE 62 62 (1986) 27
PARIS LAMAR 66 65 (1966) 92
PENWELL ECTOR 56 56 (1980) 24
POINT COMFORT CALHOUN 72 69 (1990) 29
PORT O CONNOR CALHOUN 72 70 (1978) 37
RED ROCK BASTROP 70 68 (1994) 30
ROCKPORT ARANSAS 73 73 (1983) 37
SAN SABA SAN SABA 66 65 (1984) 52
SAN ANTONIO/SEAWORLD BEXAR 67 66 (1991) 10
SINTON 3 NW SAN PATRICIO 72 71 (1994) 31
SPUR DICKENS 56 55 (1951) 63
TEXARKANA BOWIE 66 64 (1982) 27
TYLER SMITH 68 67 (1996) 15
WAXAHACHIE ELLIS 68 67 (1966) 86

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 54.8 90 (1911) 30.8 ‑9 (1947) 1.03 4.35 (1968) 2.18 (1961) 0.0 17.7 4.5 688 0
Amarillo 49.0 83 (1927) 21.2 ‑11 (1984) 0.50 2.51 (1939) 1.74 (1968) 0.0 27.5 3.9 927 0
Austin 58.9 90 (1971) 38.6 ‑2 (1949) 1.71 9.21 (1991) 4.41 (1991) 0.0 8.7 7.3 514 12
Brownsville 68.9 93 (1971) 49.9 18 (1881) 1.56 5.11 (1945) 3.00 (1988) 0.1 1.2 8.0 232 59
College Station 58.4 88 (1897) 38.7 ‑3 (1949) 2.65 15.60 (1991) 5.63 (1991) 0.0 9.1 8.5 522 11
Corpus Christi 65.0 91 (1971) 45.3 14 (1962) 1.71 10.78 (1958) 6.38 (1958) 0.1 3.5 8.3 338 31
Dallas‑Fort Worth 54.1 93 (1911) 32.7 ‑2 (1949) 1.83 9.07 (1932) 3.15 (1998) 0.0 15.7 6.7 670 0
Del Rio 61.9 92 (1911) 38.5 12 (1918) 0.56 4.12 (1931) 1.91 (1994) 0.0 7.2 4.8 465 6
El Paso 56.1 80 (1970) 29.4 ‑8 (1962) 0.40 1.84 (1949) 1.28 (1896) 0.0 19.6 4.3 688 0
Galveston 58.3 78 (1989) 47.1 11 (1886) 3.26 10.75 (1991) 5.38 (1923) 0.0 2.5 9.6 396 15
Houston 61.0 87 (1902) 39.7 5 (1930) 3.29 13.11 (1891) 5.89 (1891) 0.0 6.5 10.0 468 16
Lubbock 52.9 87 (1914) 24.6 ‑16 (1963) 0.39 4.05 (1949) 1.96 (1939) 0.0 25.4 3.5 812 0
Midland 56.5 84 (1974) 28.5 ‑8 (1962) 0.40 4.99 (1939) 2.56 (1939) 0.0 20.4 3.4 698 0
Port Arthur 60.3 84 (1909) 41.5 11 (1930) 4.77 14.87 (1991) 6.94 (1998) 0.0 6.5 9.9 450 13
San Angelo 56.8 91 (1911) 30.6 1 (1947) 0.80 3.65 (1961) 2.49 (1961) 0.0 17.7 4.5 660 0
San Antonio 60.8 89 (1971) 37.9 0 (1949) 1.71 8.52 (1968) 3.18 (1968) 0.0 9.5 7.7 494 8
Victoria 62.8 88 (1971) 42.5 12 (1949) 2.16 7.76 (1991) 4.70 (1991) 0.0 5.3 8.0 403 21
Waco 56.1 90 (1943) 34.2 ‑5 (1949) 1.65 6.56 (1932) 4.79 (1998) 0.0 13.6 6.6 620 6
Wichita Falls 52.0 87 (1969) 27.6 ‑12 (1947) 1.04 4.48 (1968) 2.25 (1919) 0.0 21.6 4.4 781 0
Shreveport, LA 55.4 85 (1950) 34.8 ‑2 (1930) 3.88 12.11 (1885) 7.52 (1885) 0.0 14.1 9.4 623 6
Climatic averages are based on 1961-1990 monthly normals, which are provided by the National Climatic Data Center.
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