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Texas Climate Report: October 1999

Precipitation continued to be below normal for most of Texas in October. Only the extreme north central and northeast parts of the state received rainfall above their 30-year normal. The lowest percentages of normal rainfall were measured in Houston (13%), Midland (16%), and Del Rio (17%). Temperatures, however, were lower relative to normal for much of Texas, which lessens the effects of the ongoing drought. Thirteen of the nineteen stations recorded below-normal temperatures, mostly in the western part of the state. The greatest negative departures were Austin (-3.4°F), Corpus Christi (1.8°F), and Brownsville (1.3°F). Dallas-Fort Worth experienced the greatest positive departure, 2.0°F above normal.

At the end of the first week of October, a low pressure system formed over the central Rockies. As this cyclone developed and moved southeastward, its associated cold front swept across Texas from the 7th through the 10th, bringing significant rainfall to many locations. The greatest rainfall occurred on the 8th in the eastern half of the state. Beaumont/Port Arthur and Texarkana both received over two inches and Longview had 1.89" of rainfall.

Another much larger system moved out of Canada into the Great Lakes, draping a cold front across the southern half of the country from the 15th through the 19th. Arctic air behind the front resulted in eleven record or tied record low daily maximum temperatures on the 18th and 19th and two record low minimum temperatures on the 18th. Significant rainfall associated with the front was mostly concentrated in South and Southeast Texas. Galveston received 1.45" on the 17th, and Corpus Christi received 1.34" on the 18th.

Unusually cool nighttime temperatures in South Texas resulted in an interesting record being tied; Brownsville recorded ten consecutive days with daily minima in the 50s or below from the 18th to the 27th, only the second time this has happened in an October in their recorded history. Near the month's end, a front extending from another Great Lakes low pressure system moved across Texas from the 29th through the 31st, bringing rain and cool temperatures to the state. The greatest precipitation amounts were measured on the 30th in Waco (1.64"), Tyler (1.36"), and Abilene (1.12").

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 79.4 +1.5 92 52.9 ‑1.9 33 66.1 ‑0.3 7 1.66 66% 1.14 87 130
Amarillo 73.4 +0.9 88 42.7 ‑1.8 32 58.0 ‑0.5 4 0.38 28% 0.20 226 16
Austin 83.7 +1.6 93 58.7 ‑1.3 46 71.2 +0.1 3 1.67 49% 1.01 41 242
Brownsville 85.7 +0.4 92 63.0 ‑3.1 48 74.3 ‑1.4 5 0.69 25% 0.65 13 312
College Station 83.2 +3.0 95 54.9 ‑3.7 40 69.0 ‑0.4 5 1.58 41% 0.84 53 184
Corpus Christi 83.2 ‑0.7 92 60.9 ‑3.0 47 72.1 ‑1.8 5 1.80 60% 1.43 23 251
Dallas‑Fort Worth 81.4 +2.9 93 56.9 +1.1 44 69.1 +1.9 6 2.26 64% 1.01 44 181
Del Rio 84.9 +3.2 94 57.6 ‑2.1 39 71.3 +0.6 3 0.39 17% 0.37 34 233
El Paso 78.5 +0.1 90 49.2 ‑0.4 36 63.9 ‑0.1 2 0.56 74% 0.54 108 81
Galveston 79.2 +1.7 88 66.0 ‑2.0 55 72.6 ‑0.2 6 3.00 106% 1.45 10 254
Houston 83.1 +1.5 91 54.8 ‑2.8 39 69.0 ‑0.6 4 0.56 13% 0.32 51 182
Lubbock 75.6 +0.9 89 45.2 ‑2.9 32 60.4 ‑1.0 5 0.61 33% 0.52 167 32
Midland 78.8 +1.5 93 48.9 ‑1.7 34 63.9 ‑0.1 4 0.28 16% 0.22 106 77
Port Arthur 80.4 +0.2 91 58.0 ‑1.2 45 69.2 ‑0.5 7 3.88 90% 2.80 39 177
San Angelo 81.0 +2.2 92 51.4 ‑2.2 34 66.2 6 0.94 39% 0.56 83 126
San Antonio 82.9 +1.2 93 56.3 ‑2.5 41 69.6 ‑0.6 3 1.29 41% 0.74 56 206
Victoria 85.3 +2.9 95 56.7 ‑4.2 42 71.0 ‑0.7 3 1.15 33% 1.13 38 231
Waco 82.9 +2.6 94 55.5 ‑1.3 37 69.2 +0.7 3 1.90 57% 1.90 49 187
Wichita Falls 78.7 +1.8 91 52.4 +0.2 40 65.6 +1.0 8 3.50 128% 1.10 85 110
Shreveport, LA 78.1 ‑0.6 88 52.8 ‑1.5 36 65.5 ‑1.0 6 3.21 86% 1.27 79 101
*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.

oct 1999 average temperatures
oct 1999 average precipitation

Monthly Extremes

Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value
PRESIDIO PRESIDIO 0.00
BALMORHEA REEVES 0.00
BOQUILLAS RS BREWSTER 0.00
CASTOLON BREWSTER 0.00
CORNUDAS SVC STN HUDSPETH 0.00
EAGLE MTN LAKE TARRANT 0.00
HUDSPETH RIVER RANCH VAL VERDE 0.00
LAJITAS BREWSTER 0.00
LANGTRY VAL VERDE 0.00
MC LEAN GRAY 0.00
PANHANDLE CARSON 0.00
PANTHER JUNCTION BREWSTER 0.00
PERRYTON 21 S OCHILTREE 0.00
PORT O CONNOR CALHOUN 0.00
STUDY BUTTE BREWSTER 0.00
WHEELER WHEELER 0.00
Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value
CHIRENO NACOGDOCHES 5.04
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours (inches)
Station County Value
BROADDUS 1 NE SAN AUGUSTINE 3.35
Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
DALHART 6 SW HARTLEY 53.9
Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
MCALLEN MILLER INTL AP HIDALGO 75.6
PORT ISABEL CAMERON 75.6
Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
FOLLETT LIPSCOMB 71.9
Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
CASTOLON BREWSTER 89.9
Highest Maximum Temperature  (°F)
Station County Value
CASTOLON BREWSTER 103
Lowest Maximum Temperature  (°F)
Station County Value
DIMMITT 2 N CASTRO 35
MT LOCKE JEFF DAVIS 35
MULESHOE #1 BAILEY 35
Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
DALHART 6 SW HARTLEY 35.6
Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
PORT ARANSAS NUECES 68.0
Highest Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
PORT ISABEL CAMERON 80
Lowest Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
FT DAVIS JEFF DAVIS 24

New Monthly Records

Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
PRESIDIO PRESIDIO 0.00 0.00 (1991) 69
BALMORHEA REEVES 0.00 0.00 (1996) 75
BOQUILLAS RS BREWSTER 0.00 0.00 (1987) 48
CASTOLON BREWSTER 0.00 0.00 (1992) 22
CORNUDAS SVC STN HUDSPETH 0.00 0.00 (1996) 57
EAGLE MTN LAKE TARRANT 0.00 0.41 (1987) 18
HUDSPETH RIVER RANCH VAL VERDE 0.00 0.05 (1991) 12
LAJITAS BREWSTER 0.00 0.00 (1995) 22
LANGTRY VAL VERDE 0.00 0.00 (1979) 50
LUFKIN 2 ANGELINA 1.78 1.85 (1995) 10
MC LEAN GRAY 0.00 0.00 (1992) 43
PANHANDLE CARSON 0.00 0.00 (1975) 71
PANTHER JUNCTION BREWSTER 0.00 0.00 (1991) 45
PERRYTON 21 S OCHILTREE 0.00 0.08 (1982) 21
PORT O CONNOR CALHOUN 0.00 0.00 (1995) 42
THREE RIVERS 8 NE LIVE OAK 0.30 0.45 (1995) 12
WHEELER WHEELER 0.00 0.00 (1992) 20
Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
SANTA ROSA 3 WNW HIDALGO 74.0 74.1 (1987) 13
SINTON 3 NW SAN PATRICIO 70.6 70.6 (1990) 35
Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
ARLINGTON SIX FLAGS TARRANT 69.3 69.3 (1894) 11
Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
BISHOP NUECES 81.8 82.9 (1938) 14
Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
FT DAVIS JEFF DAVIS 81.8 81.1 (1995) 24
GAINESVILLE 5 ENE COOKE 80.6 80.1 (1989) 13
Highest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
CANYON DAM COMAL 98 97 (1989) 36
FT DAVIS JEFF DAVIS 93 92 (1997) 24
Lowest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
BISHOP NUECES 54 65 (1949) 14
CATARINA DIMMIT 59 59 (1991) 21
CHOKE CANYON DAM LIVE OAK 54 55 (1993) 16
EL PASO 32 ENE HUDSPETH 39 40 (1984) 16
FLORESVILLE WILSON 53 54 (1976) 33
FT HANCOCK 8 SSE HUDSPETH 44 44 (1980) 24
FREER DUVAL 52 56 (1976) 29
KARNES CITY 2 N KARNES 53 56 (1991) 21
NIXON GONZALES 53 53 (1991) 43
POINT COMFORT CALHOUN 54 56 (1958) 34
SIERRA BLANCA 2 E HUDSPETH 38 40 (1976) 32
VICTORIA CP&L VICTORIA 55 64 (1913) 13
Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
VAN HORN CULBERSON 41.7 42.8 (1991) 47
ATHENS HENDERSON 50.1 50.2 (1987) 36
DELL CITY 5 SSW HUDSPETH 41.2 41.5 (1980) 19
DRIPPING SPRINGS 6 E HAYS 53.0 53.7 (1990) 15
GRANGER DAM WILLIAMSON 52.5 52.9 (1980) 20
KARNES CITY 2 N KARNES 56.4 56.4 (1990) 21
LYTLE 3 W MEDINA 56.1 56.3 (1995) 23
PEARSALL FRIO 49.8 50.3 (1993) 47
REFUGIO 2 NW REFUGIO 56.9 57.1 (1987) 15
SANTA ROSA 3 WNW HIDALGO 60.6 61.4 (1990) 13
SIERRA BLANCA 2 E HUDSPETH 37.1 39.4 (1976) 31
TORNILLO 2 SSE EL PASO 41.9 42.9 (1982) 19

Climatic Averages for November

  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 66.3 92 (1980) 43.4 13 (1887) 1.48 5.82 (1913) 2.43 (1975) 0.1 4.6 4.6 317 14
Amarillo 59.7 87 (1980) 32.3 0 (1976) 0.69 5.09 (1905) 3.01 (1905) 0.0 14.5 3.6 570 0
Austin 71.8 91 (1951) 49.9 20 (1976) 2.37 7.99 (1907) 5.09 (1974) 0.0 0.8 7.2 175 52
Brownsville 78.3 98 (1906) 59.0 27 (1911) 1.51 7.69 (1986) 4.08 (1986) 0.5 0.0 5.3 50 161
College Station 70.1 94 (1921) 49.4 19 (1976) 3.15 13.06 (1907) 5.56 (1907) 0.0 1.3 7.3 204 48
Corpus Christi 75.8 98 (1988) 55.6 28 (1993) 1.59 8.64 (1888) 4.61 (1892) 0.4 0.2 5.5 95 116
Dallas‑Fort Worth 66.8 89 (1989) 45.4 19 (1950) 2.29 7.94 (1918) 4.72 (1918) 0.0 2.3 6.0 275 11
Del Rio 71.7 96 (1988) 49.0 17 (1906) 0.92 4.54 (1913) 2.87 (1914) 0.3 1.0 4.4 171 33
El Paso 66.4 87 (1983) 38.4 1 (1976) 0.44 2.50 (1906) 1.19 (1943) 0.0 7.8 3.1 378 0
Galveston 69.3 85 (1988) 59.0 26 (1911) 3.37 16.18 (1940) 9.01 (1940) 0.0 0.1 7.2 123 99
Houston 72.4 89 (1989) 49.6 19 (1976) 3.79 14.10 (1943) 10.83 (1943) 0.0 1.2 8.1 181 61
Lubbock 63.2 89 (1916) 36.5 ‑1 (1957) 0.75 2.67 (1968) 1.57 (1968) 0.0 9.9 3.7 456 0
Midland 66.2 90 (1996) 38.9 10 (1938) 0.69 2.32 (1968) 2.16 (1975) 0.0 6.3 3.3 377 5
Port Arthur 71.3 90 (1905) 51.2 22 (1976) 4.85 22.74 (1902) 7.70 (1946) 0.0 0.8 7.8 177 63
San Angelo 68.2 93 (1980) 42.6 12 (1911) 1.08 3.55 (1968) 2.16 (1975) 0.2 5.1 4.1 299 11
San Antonio 71.9 94 (1988) 48.8 21 (1976) 2.62 6.79 (1907) 4.87 (1977) 0.1 1.8 6.6 180 42
Victoria 73.4 93 (1988) 52.4 24 (1976) 2.45 10.11 (1998) 6.63 (1982) 0.2 0.6 6.5 147 84
Waco 68.8 92 (1988) 46.6 17 (1976) 2.43 10.36 (1902) 4.26 (1952) 0.1 1.9 6.6 243 24
Wichita Falls 64.2 89 (1988) 40.6 14 (1950) 1.54 7.39 (1902) 3.15 (1902) 0.0 6.3 4.9 383 0
Shreveport, LA 68.0 88 (1984) 45.3 16 (1976) 4.45 10.81 (1987) 6.51 (1987) 0.0 2.7 8.1 264 15
Climatic averages are based on 1961-1990 monthly normals, which are provided by the National Climatic Data Center.
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