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Texas Climate Report: May 2001

The above normal temperatures that were seen in April continued through much of May for most areas in Texas. The mean temperature in El Paso was 76°F, which was 4.2°F above the average. Although most of Texas experienced warmer than normal temperatures, the majority of sites were only slightly above the mean; however, the mean temperature for both Amarillo and Austin was 0.3°F below normal. Rainfall was mixed throughout Texas, with many areas exceeding normal rainfall, while other sites received much less than normal rainfall. Galveston and Port Arthur received only 1.06" and 1.41" of rain respectively, which is 30% or lower of the normal monthly rainfall. Lubbock and Victoria managed to get 4.20" and 6.01" respectively, which is well over mean rainfall amounts.

The month started with a stationary front positioned across the Panhandle, along with a center of low pressure in SE New Mexico. This pattern continued through the 4th when the low slowly moved through Texas. Copious amounts of rain fell over much of Texas as this system moved across the state during the 5th and 6th. The majority of May’s rainfall totals occurred during this first week. The greatest 24-hour rainfall amounts were acquired during this event in which Austin received 2.23", and Victoria got 4.54". While this system lingered, temperatures remained mild throughout the state.

Following the movement of the front, temperatures began to rise as high pressure moved over the state. This pattern was short-lived as a weak cold front entered on the 12th, bringing scattered showers to some areas. Sunny skies and warm temperatures followed until the 19th when another weak impulse moved through the state, again bringing some light showers to some areas, primarily to the Panhandle. Western Texas was experiencing warm temperatures as Del Rio tied a record on the 17th at 101°F, and Midland broke a record on the same day at 101°F as well. San Angelo tied a record on the same day at 100°F.

The most active weather occurred during the latter part of the month. A strong cold front roared through the state on the 21st bringing relatively cold Canadian air and some light rain to most areas. This contributed to six record low temperatures or tied record lows on the 22nd and/or the 23rd throughout the state. Following this front were other weak impulses that delivered trace amounts of precipitation to mostly eastern Texas. Some of the warmest temperatures were observed on the 27th and 28th as return flow from a high located in the eastern part of the country brought warm southerly winds from the Gulf of Mexico. Record warmth was observed on the 27th, at Midland, which was 102°F.

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 85.0 +0.6 97 62.6 +1.5 43 73.8 +1.1 6 3.63 122% 1.52 3 285
Amarillo 78.2 ‑0.9 92 52.1 +0.5 39 65.1 ‑0.3 12 3.05 123% 1.37 75 88
Austin 87.0 +2.3 93 65.8 ‑0.7 54 76.4 +0.8 9 3.27 68% 1.62 0 362
Brownsville 89.6 +1.8 95 71.5 ‑0.5 65 80.6 +0.7 5 0.49 17% 0.46 0 487
College Station 88.6 +4.6 94 66.3 +1.3 53 77.5 +2.9 13 4.90 102% 1.82 0 393
Corpus Christi 87.2 +1.0 92 68.7 ‑0.8 60 77.9 4 1.55 47% 0.81 0 407
Dallas‑Fort Worth 83.9 +1.0 92 64.5 +1.9 53 74.2 +1.4 9 5.58 114% 2.90 0 293
Del Rio 93.5 +5.3 104 68.8 +2.5 53 81.1 +3.8 4 1.33 66% 1.23 0 506
El Paso 90.2 +3.1 101 61.8 +5.3 51 76.0 +4.2 1 0.18 72% 0.18 0 351
Galveston 82.8 +3.0 86 72.4 +0.6 66 77.6 +1.8 6 1.06 30% 0.47 0 396
Houston 86.6 +2.0 92 65.2 +0.8 52 75.9 +1.4 9 3.53 67% 1.35 0 344
Lubbock 83.7 +0.6 95 56.5 +0.7 44 70.1 +0.7 11 4.20 179% 1.77 24 189
Midland 89.8 +2.4 102 61.9 +3.8 49 75.9 +3.1 6 1.14 58% 0.64 0 348
Port Arthur 85.5 +1.4 90 65.6 ‑0.7 51 75.6 +0.4 8 1.39 24% 0.79 0 338
San Angelo 88.1 +0.7 100 63.1 +2.0 44 75.6 +1.4 7 2.51 84% 1.70 2 339
San Antonio 86.0 +0.7 94 66.5 +0.8 54 76.3 +0.8 9 2.48 59% 1.33 0 357
Victoria 86.8 +1.5 92 67.6 ‑0.1 57 77.2 +0.6 8 6.01 134% 5.25 0 390
Waco 85.9 +1.5 91 65.3 +1.1 47 75.6 +1.3 6 3.54 77% 2.08 0 335
Wichita Falls 84.2 +0.9 93 62.3 +3.2 48 73.3 +2.1 8 3.55 87% 2.09 2 266
Shreveport, LA 85.5 +2.3 91 63.7 +1.7 50 74.6 +2.0 10 4.31 83% 1.84 0 308
*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.

may 2001 average temperatures
may 2001 average precipitation

Monthly Extremes

Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value
BON WIER 2 ENE NEWTON 0.00
CRANDALL 2 NW KAUFMAN 0.00
EXXON GAS PLANT KLEBERG 0.00
FT HANCOCK 8 SSE HUDSPETH 0.00
MARATHON BREWSTER 0.00
PAINT ROCK CONCHO 0.00
TORNILLO 2 SSE EL PASO 0.00
Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value
CLARENDON DONLEY 12.52
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours (inches)
Station County Value
CLARENDON DONLEY 9.25
Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
PANHANDLE CARSON 63.1
Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
FALCON DAM STARR 84.0
Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
CHANNING 2 HARTLEY 76.4
Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
CASTOLON BREWSTER 101.5
Highest Maximum Temperature  (°F)
Station County Value
HEATH CANYON BREWSTER 116
Lowest Maximum Temperature  (°F)
Station County Value
DALHART 6 SW HARTLEY 46
Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
WELLINGTON COLLINGSWORTH 41.7
Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
PORT ARANSAS NUECES 74.1
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND CAMERON 74.1
Highest Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
GOLIAD GOLIAD 86
Lowest Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
WELLINGTON COLLINGSWORTH 31

New Monthly Records

Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
FT HANCOCK 8 SSE HUDSPETH 0.00 0.00 (2000) 29
LAMPASAS LAMPASAS 0.45 0.75 (1937) 100
MARATHON BREWSTER 0.00 0.00 (1998) 60
PAINT ROCK CONCHO 0.00 0.24 (1945) 81
TORNILLO 2 SSE EL PASO 0.00 0.00 (2000) 22
Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
CLARENDON DONLEY 12.52 10.65 (1978) 89
HART CASTRO 6.68 6.41 (1999) 44
MULESHOE NWR BAILEY 6.76 6.36 (1999) 20
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours Ever in the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
CLARENDON DONLEY 9.25 5.71 (1958) 89
AQUILLA 1 SSE HILL 3.56 3.05 (1994) 10
DEKALB BOWIE 4.75 4.60 (1989) 53
FLOMOT 4 NE MOTLEY 4.36 2.93 (1996) 51
MULESHOE NWR BAILEY 4.60 3.52 (1988) 20
PLAINVIEW HALE 5.28 3.96 (1967) 92
SHAMROCK 2 WHEELER 5.65 4.43 (1990) 37
TURKEY HALL 4.20 3.40 (1943) 45
Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
WELLINGTON COLLINGSWORTH 63.8 64.1 (1976) 40
Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
BRACKETTVILLE KINNEY 77.0 79.0 (1921) 69
Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
LAKE FORK RSVR WOOD 85.9 83.5 (2000) 13
PORT O CONNOR CALHOUN 89.3 85.2 (1985) 41
WACO DAM MCLENNAN 86.5 86.4 (1984) 30
Highest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
CASTOLON BREWSTER 114 114 (1989) 23
PERSIMMON GAP BREWSTER 110 109 (2000) 17
Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
WELLINGTON COLLINGSWORTH 41.7 50.7 (1983) 40
Highest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
BAY CITY WTR WKS MATAGORDA 78 78 (2000) 55
CHISOS BASIN BREWSTER 78 75 (2000) 48
DAINGERFIELD 9 S MORRIS 76 76 (2000) 39
GOLIAD GOLIAD 86 80 (1996) 62
MT LOCKE JEFF DAVIS 69 68 (1996) 56
PANTHER JUNCTION BREWSTER 79 78 (2000) 38
PINE SPRINGS CULBERSON 74 74 (1996) 11
Lowest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
HORDS CREEK DAM COLEMAN 36 36 (1979) 46
WELLINGTON COLLINGSWORTH 31 36 (1984) 40

Climatic Averages for June

  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 91.4 110 (1907) 68.9 44 (1919) 2.86 9.60 (1961) 4.35 (1941) 19.0 0.0 6.0 0 456
Amarillo 87.6 108 (1998) 60.7 38 (1917) 3.70 10.73 (1965) 6.15 (1960) 12.8 0.0 8.9 6 279
Austin 91.1 108 (1998) 71.5 51 (1926) 3.72 14.96 (1981) 8.65 (1941) 20.8 0.0 6.8 0 489
Brownsville 91.0 103 (1918) 74.9 56 (1919) 2.73 13.80 (1887) 8.18 (1942) 22.9 0.0 6.3 0 540
College Station 90.3 108 (1901) 71.0 53 (1970) 3.68 15.03 (1905) 6.70 (1905) 19.7 0.0 6.5 0 471
Corpus Christi 90.4 106 (1998) 73.4 56 (1919) 3.38 13.35 (1973) 8.26 (1924) 19.4 0.0 6.6 0 507
Dallas‑Fort Worth 91.9 113 (1980) 70.0 48 (1903) 2.98 11.58 (1928) 4.14 (1928) 19.5 0.0 6.4 0 480
Del Rio 93.6 112 (1988) 71.7 49 (1919) 2.11 13.71 (1935) 8.88 (1935) 24.7 0.0 5.2 0 531
El Paso 96.5 114 (1994) 64.3 46 (1988) 0.67 3.18 (1984) 1.82 (1897) 26.0 0.0 3.1 0 462
Galveston 85.0 99 (1918) 77.2 57 (1903) 4.44 15.49 (1919) 12.56 (1961) 1.1 0.0 7.2 0 483
Houston 90.1 103 (1980) 70.6 52 (1970) 4.96 16.28 (1989) 10.35 (1989) 18.4 0.0 8.5 0 462
Lubbock 90.0 114 (1994) 64.3 39 (1917) 2.75 8.48 (2000) 5.70 (1967) 16.9 0.0 6.7 0 366
Midland 93.4 116 (1994) 65.7 47 (1983) 1.55 5.10 (1940) 3.95 (1940) 20.9 0.0 5.2 0 438
Port Arthur 89.4 106 (1902) 72.0 53 (1903) 5.59 18.90 (1989) 10.20 (1961) 17.1 0.0 7.9 0 471
San Angelo 92.7 110 (1994) 66.4 40 (1912) 2.33 6.01 (1982) 3.88 (1999) 21.0 0.0 5.4 0 435
San Antonio 91.8 107 (1998) 72.6 48 (1919) 3.81 11.95 (1986) 6.30 (1986) 20.7 0.0 6.4 0 516
Victoria 90.7 107 (1934) 72.7 54 (1919) 4.89 12.68 (1973) 9.30 (1977) 20.1 0.0 7.5 0 501
Waco 92.0 109 (1980) 70.9 52 (1964) 3.28 12.06 (1961) 6.40 (1938) 22.1 0.0 6.7 0 495
Wichita Falls 91.5 117 (1980) 68.0 50 (1928) 3.52 8.60 (1989) 5.36 (1985) 20.8 0.0 6.6 0 444
Shreveport, LA 89.7 104 (1936) 69.0 52 (1977) 4.29 17.11 (1989) 8.00 (1902) 17.2 0.0 7.9 0 432
Climatic averages are based on 1961-1990 monthly normals, which are provided by the National Climatic Data Center.
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