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Texas Climate Report: April 2000

Texas experienced more moderate temperatures for the month of April as nine stations recorded below average mean monthly temperatures, while the rest recorded closer to normal temperatures than in previous months. This month marks the first time since December 1999 in which a first order station recorded below normal monthly temperatures, a welcome break in the recent heat wave for many portions of the state. Austin recorded the greatest negative departure (-2.3°F), and El Paso had the greatest positive departure (+4.9°F) of all the first-order stations. Eight stations received greater than average precipitation for the month, with Port Arthur recording the highest amount in the state (8.77", 250% of normal). The lowest amounts of precipitation were in the Edwards Plateau, South Central, Southern, and the Lower Valley.

April began with significant rain showers and severe weather as a low pressure system centered over West Texas moved across the state. In Southern Texas, Laredo (Webb County), reported 2.50" diameter hail on the 1st. Houston received 2.68" of rain on the 2nd, and another 1.46" on the 3rd, the majority of their monthly total. Beaumont/Port Arthur recorded nearly three inches of rain over this same two day period. Temperatures drastically warmed in the next two days as much of the state experienced highs in the middle 80s. However, a cool front from the Pacific Northwest entered on the 6th, bringing with it cooler temperatures and more rain for portions of the state. After the front exited the state, temperatures then began to gradually warm up through the 10th.

Another low pressure system developed in East Texas along a stationary front extending across the state, bringing severe weather and copious amounts of rain for much of the Upper Coast and East Texas on the 11th and 12th. In the Edwards Plateau region, Irion, Schleicher, and Brown counties had reports of hail up to 2.75" in diameter on the 11th. Sixty mph winds destroyed a carport in Dallas, and near Waxahachie, a three-mile stretch of southbound I-35 was closed due to flooding, also on the 11th. Beaumont/Port Arthur received the greatest rain total with 5.75" falling on the 12th. Other significant rain was measured in Longview (1.94"), Waco (1.81"), and Victoria (1.76") on the 12th.

Hot temperatures returned to the state as several high temperature records were set from the 20th to the 23rd. Maximum temperatures of 97°F at Austin Bergstrom and 98°F at Austin Mabry and San Antonio International Airport were all records for the April 23rd. The month ended with a low moving out of the Rockies bringing severe weather to the Low Rolling Plains and North Central Texas. On the 29th, Jones and Motley counties reported 3 to 4 inch hail, and a half-mile wide tornado was spotted near Olney (Young County) on the 30th. Also on the 30th, brief tornado touchdowns were seen in Motley and Cottle counties, and a tornado damaged trailer homes and power lines in Throckmorton County.

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 81.4 +3.6 98 54.0 +1.1 33 67.7 +2.3 4 0.64 34% 0.49 85 173
Amarillo 72.8 +1.3 93 42.7 +0.6 30 57.8 +1.0 4 0.43 43% 0.23 220 14
Austin 80.7 +1.3 98 59.9 +0.1 43 70.3 +0.7 5 2.40 94% 1.27 30 198
Brownsville 85.1 +1.1 93 66.2 ‑0.3 50 75.7 +0.4 4 0.39 25% 0.34 2 330
College Station 79.8 +1.5 91 56.2 ‑1.8 38 68.0 ‑0.2 5 1.96 58% 0.82 54 153
Corpus Christi 82.9 +1.2 96 63.4 +0.2 46 73.2 +0.7 3 1.02 59% 0.94 5 257
Dallas‑Fort Worth 75.4 ‑0.9 90 55.1 +0.4 41 65.2 ‑0.3 10 4.28 122% 2.91 77 93
Del Rio 87.3 +3.9 101 62.5 +3.3 40 74.9 +3.6 4 0.90 45% 0.88 15 318
El Paso 82.6 +3.9 95 54.0 +6.0 40 68.3 +4.9 1 0.28 140% 0.28 49 159
Galveston 76.8 +3.3 85 65.3 +0.3 52 71.0 +1.7 4 2.25 93% 1.14 16 206
Houston 79.4 +1.0 87 56.3 ‑1.8 38 67.8 ‑0.5 7 5.52 172% 2.89 50 143
Lubbock 77.0 +1.6 93 47.2 +0.5 33 62.1 +1.0 4 1.67 172% 1.45 135 55
Midland 82.0 +2.2 95 52.8 +3.4 36 67.4 +2.8 1 0.19 23% 0.19 83 162
Port Arthur 78.1 ‑0.2 86 58.6 ‑0.9 44 68.3 ‑0.6 3 8.67 247% 5.77 42 150
San Angelo 84.0 +2.8 98 55.9 +3.2 32 70.0 +3.0 4 0.57 34% 0.45 64 221
San Antonio 81.7 +1.4 98 59.7 +1.3 39 70.7 +1.4 5 1.22 49% 0.68 29 207
Victoria 81.7 +1.5 91 59.7 ‑1.3 42 70.7 +0.1 6 2.96 123% 1.78 21 200
Waco 77.4 ‑0.6 94 55.5 ‑0.7 39 66.5 ‑0.6 5 2.82 88% 1.78 72 124
Wichita Falls 75.0 ‑0.8 91 50.4 +0.1 36 62.7 ‑0.4 10 2.81 93% 1.09 122 59
Shreveport, LA 74.3 ‑2.8 86 52.8 ‑1.3 36 63.5 ‑2.1 9 5.67 151% 1.57 103 67
*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.

apr 2000 average temperatures
apr 2000 average precipitation

Monthly Extremes

Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value
PRESIDIO PRESIDIO 0.00
VAN HORN CULBERSON 0.00
ANDREWS ANDREWS 0.00
CANDELARIA PRESIDIO 0.00
CATARINA DIMMIT 0.00
CHAPMAN RCH NUECES 0.00
CORNUDAS SVC STN HUDSPETH 0.00
DELL CITY 5 SSW HUDSPETH 0.00
EL PASO 32 ENE HUDSPETH 0.00
FT STOCKTON PECOS 0.00
GARDEN CITY GLASSCOCK 0.00
LA JOYA HIDALGO 0.00
LA TUNA 1 S EL PASO 0.00
MONAHANS WARD 0.00
PORT ISABEL CAMERON 0.00
SHEFFIELD PECOS 0.00
VALENTINE JEFF DAVIS 0.00
WHITSETT LIVE OAK 0.00
Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value
CENTER SHELBY 10.08
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours (inches)
Station County Value
PORT ARTHUR SE TX AP JEFFERSON 5.77
Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
DALHART 6 SW HARTLEY 53.2
Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
FALCON DAM STARR 77.8
Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
FOLLETT LIPSCOMB 68.4
Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
HEATH CANYON BREWSTER 94.9
Highest Maximum Temperature  (°F)
Station County Value
BOQUILLAS RS BREWSTER 109
HEATH CANYON BREWSTER 109
Lowest Maximum Temperature  (°F)
Station County Value
DALHART 6 SW HARTLEY 39
Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
DALHART 6 SW HARTLEY 35.7
Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
PORT ISABEL CAMERON 70.5
Highest Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
WESLACO HIDALGO 77
Lowest Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
DALHART 6 SW HARTLEY 24
LIPSCOMB LIPSCOMB 24

New Monthly Records

Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
PRESIDIO PRESIDIO 0.00 0.00 (1999) 70
VAN HORN CULBERSON 0.00 0.00 (1998) 55
ANDREWS ANDREWS 0.00 0.00 (1998) 42
CANDELARIA PRESIDIO 0.00 0.00 (1998) 58
CATARINA DIMMIT 0.00 0.00 (1998) 36
CHAPMAN RCH NUECES 0.00 0.00 (1984) 41
CORNUDAS SVC STN HUDSPETH 0.00 0.00 (1999) 54
DELL CITY 5 SSW HUDSPETH 0.00 0.00 (1999) 20
EL PASO 32 ENE HUDSPETH 0.00 0.00 (1995) 17
FT STOCKTON PECOS 0.00 0.00 (1998) 57
GARDEN CITY GLASSCOCK 0.00 0.00 (1998) 87
LA TUNA 1 S EL PASO 0.00 0.00 (1998) 57
MONAHANS WARD 0.00 0.00 (1998) 39
PORT ISABEL CAMERON 0.00 0.00 (1999) 68
SHEFFIELD PECOS 0.00 0.00 (1998) 40
VALENTINE JEFF DAVIS 0.00 0.00 (1999) 22
WHITSETT LIVE OAK 0.00 0.00 (1974) 34
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours Ever in the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
HOUSTON BARKER HARRIS 4.72 3.74 (1992) 53
COPPERAS COVE 5 NW CORYELL 2.68 1.75 (1995) 16
KOUNTZE HARDIN 4.00 2.58 (1999) 14
NEW CANEY 2 E MONTGOMERY 3.88 3.65 (1972) 44
RANSOM CANYON LUBBOCK 1.68 1.67 (1997) 13
Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
CORNUDAS SVC STN HUDSPETH 64.2 64.0 (1986) 31
HUDSPETH RIVER RANCH VAL VERDE 70.6 70.5 (1989) 12
MT LOCKE JEFF DAVIS 63.0 62.9 (1986) 53
Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
HARLINGEN RIO GRANDE AP CAMERON 87.2 86.8 (1953) 12
DELL CITY 5 SSW HUDSPETH 85.4 85.2 (1989) 21
FT DAVIS JEFF DAVIS 84.8 83.1 (1989) 23
UVALDE 3 SW UVALDE 86.0 85.8 (1998) 13
VALENTINE JEFF DAVIS 84.7 84.6 (1989) 21
Highest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
ALVIN BRAZORIA 96 94 (1999) 37
BOQUILLAS RS BREWSTER 109 108 (1996) 23
COPE RCH REAGAN 98 98 (1999) 33
COPPER BREAKS SP HARDEMAN 98 98 (1999) 11
EL PASO 32 ENE HUDSPETH 93 93 (1989) 15
FT DAVIS JEFF DAVIS 92 92 (1996) 23
FT HANCOCK 8 SSE HUDSPETH 98 98 (1989) 25
LAJITAS BREWSTER 105 103 (1989) 20
REFUGIO 2 NW REFUGIO 95 94 (1986) 14
SAN ANTONIO/SEAWORLD BEXAR 97 97 (1996) 12
STAMFORD 1 JONES 98 98 (1984) 21
WACO DAM MCLENNAN 94 94 (1987) 30
WELDER W'LIFE FOUND SAN PATRICIO 94 91 (1996) 10
Lowest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
ROTAN FISHER 46 46 (1989) 35
Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
COPPER BREAKS SP HARDEMAN 48.3 48.1 (1999) 11
EL PASO 32 ENE HUDSPETH 49.1 48.8 (1989) 15
TORNILLO 2 SSE EL PASO 48.2 47.9 (1990) 18
WINTERS 1 NNE RUNNELS 54.1 54.0 (1972) 30
Highest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
HONDO MUNI AP MEDINA 72 72 (1999) 24
FT WORTH MEACHAM FLD TARRANT 71 70 (1999) 23
ARLINGTON SIX FLAGS TARRANT 72 72 (1894) 11
BRADY MCCULLOCH 71 71 (1970) 63
BROWNSVILLE CAMERON 76 76 (1922) 15
COPE RCH REAGAN 68 68 (1985) 31
KERRVILLE 3 NNE KERR 69 69 (1999) 25
PANDALE 11 NE VAL VERDE 71 71 (1994) 18
PORT ARANSAS NUECES 76 76 (1991) 13
SAN ANTONIO/SEAWORLD BEXAR 72 72 (1999) 12
Lowest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
MINERAL WELLS AP PALO PINTO 28 29 (1975) 44

Climatic Averages for May

  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 84.4 107 (1967) 61.1 33 (1907) 2.97 13.19 (1957) 6.78 (1908) 8.3 0.0 7.5 7 245
Amarillo 79.1 103 (1996) 51.6 26 (1907) 2.48 9.81 (1951) 6.75 (1951) 4.7 0.1 7.9 89 102
Austin 84.7 104 (1925) 66.5 40 (1925) 4.78 14.10 (1895) 6.16 (1929) 6.7 0.0 9.3 0 329
Brownsville 87.8 102 (1999) 72.0 41 (1895) 2.94 9.12 (1982) 7.38 (1929) 9.2 0.0 5.2 0 462
College Station 84.0 101 (1906) 65.0 42 (1954) 4.80 14.70 (1929) 7.36 (1983) 4.5 0.0 8.0 0 298
Corpus Christi 86.2 103 (1984) 69.5 45 (1925) 3.33 10.44 (1941) 6.60 (1926) 5.1 0.0 6.4 0 400
Dallas‑Fort Worth 82.9 107 (1927) 62.6 34 (1903) 4.88 13.66 (1982) 6.99 (1908) 4.5 0.0 8.7 0 246
Del Rio 88.2 108 (1927) 66.3 45 (1970) 2.03 10.23 (1957) 3.97 (1942) 13.7 0.0 6.9 0 381
El Paso 87.1 104 (1951) 56.5 31 (1967) 0.25 4.22 (1992) 2.40 (1992) 12.8 0.0 2.1 7 217
Galveston 79.8 94 (1984) 71.8 52 (1954) 3.59 11.03 (1991) 7.71 (1975) 0.1 0.0 6.4 0 335
Houston 84.6 99 (1996) 64.4 44 (1978) 5.24 15.87 (1907) 10.36 (1989) 4.7 0.0 8.0 0 295
Lubbock 83.1 105 (1996) 55.8 29 (1917) 2.35 12.69 (1941) 5.14 (1949) 8.1 0.1 6.8 25 162
Midland 87.4 108 (1989) 58.1 34 (1970) 1.98 7.63 (1992) 4.75 (1968) 11.7 0.0 5.6 10 252
Port Arthur 84.1 101 (1905) 66.3 45 (1917) 5.71 20.58 (1923) 12.76 (1923) 2.7 0.0 7.5 0 316
San Angelo 87.4 107 (1989) 61.1 35 (1967) 3.00 11.24 (1987) 3.12 (1987) 11.7 0.0 7.3 7 292
San Antonio 85.3 103 (1989) 65.7 43 (1984) 4.22 14.07 (1935) 6.82 (1937) 7.7 0.0 8.9 0 326
Victoria 85.3 102 (1928) 67.7 45 (1954) 4.50 14.66 (1993) 8.45 (1972) 5.8 0.0 7.1 0 360
Waco 84.4 102 (1985) 64.2 37 (1981) 4.58 15.00 (1965) 7.18 (1953) 7.5 0.0 8.6 0 288
Wichita Falls 83.3 108 (1998) 59.1 36 (1979) 4.07 13.22 (1982) 5.70 (1975) 8.3 0.0 8.6 10 202
Shreveport, LA 83.2 102 (1998) 62.0 42 (1960) 5.18 14.47 (1884) 8.35 (1908) 3.7 0.0 9.0 0 239
Climatic averages are based on 1961-1990 monthly normals, which are provided by the National Climatic Data Center.
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