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Texas Climate Report: February 2002

Cooler and drier than normal can best characterize February for Texas. All stations reported cooler than normal temperatures, from -0.9°F in Amarillo to -5.6°F in College Station, and all stations except Abilene, El Paso, and Midland reported below normal precipitation. Numerous low temperature records were set around the state on the 26th, 27th, and/or the 28th, including College Station, Dallas/Fort Worth, Corpus Christi, Victoria, Waco, Wichita Falls and Shreveport. Low temperatures in the teens were felt across much of the state following this arctic front.

A strong cold front moved through the state at the beginning of the month, bringing high temperatures into the 40s and 50s around the state. A subtropical jet helped to deliver some moisture to El Paso and Western sections of the state on the 4th, contributing to 0.55" of El Paso’s monthly rain. A low developed in the southern part of the state on the 5th, which helped to bring some moisture to much of the state, with Waco getting 1.42" of precipitation.

Temperatures moderated during the middle of the month with high pressure in control. A couple of weak cold fronts moved through the area, with only slightly cooler temperatures behind each one and little to no precipitation. Towards the latter part of the month, a very strong arctic cold front moved into the area. Temperatures on the 25th ranged from the 70s to the 80s for most areas, then from the 30s to 50s on the 26th, and several temperature records were broken. Unfortunately there was no precipitation associated with this frontal passage, but there were some strong winds with it. Temperatures were slow to rebound with the conclusion of the month still below normal form all areas.

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 58.5 ‑2.2 83 32.9 ‑3.6 16 45.7 ‑2.9 4 1.16 103% 0.73 533 2
Amarillo 54.0 ‑0.1 80 25.4 ‑1.6 10 39.7 ‑0.9 2 0.19 35% 0.16 702 0
Austin 63.3 ‑1.8 79 39.0 ‑5.0 25 51.1 ‑3.5 2 0.66 33% 0.65 380 0
Brownsville 69.0 ‑3.2 84 50.2 ‑3.1 41 59.6 ‑3.1 8 0.98 83% 0.41 179 35
College Station 62.1 ‑3.4 78 35.8 ‑7.6 17 48.9 ‑5.6 3 1.63 68% 1.15 445 0
Corpus Christi 68.7 ‑1.0 88 43.7 ‑5.6 24 56.2 ‑3.3 3 0.28 15% 0.26 252 12
Dallas‑Fort Worth 58.9 ‑1.2 75 35.0 ‑3.7 19 47.0 ‑2.4 4 0.94 40% 0.85 501 0
Del Rio 67.5 ‑0.5 85 40.3 ‑3.8 20 53.9 ‑2.2 2 0.02 2% 0.02 307 3
El Paso 59.3 ‑4.1 76 34.9 ‑2.6 22 47.1 ‑3.4 4 1.22 313% 0.58 496 0
Galveston 61.1 ‑3.3 74 47.5 ‑4.0 32 54.3 ‑3.7 6 0.71 27% 0.51 295 3
Houston 63.0 ‑3.5 79 38.4 ‑5.9 22 50.7 ‑4.7 5 0.89 30% 0.53 395 2
Lubbock 57.4 ‑0.4 81 27.3 ‑1.6 11 42.3 ‑1.0 2 0.51 72% 0.48 629 0
Midland 58.0 ‑5.0 83 30.8 ‑3.3 17 44.4 ‑4.2 2 1.00 172% 0.63 572 2
Port Arthur 62.3 ‑3.0 77 41.1 ‑4.8 21 51.7 ‑3.9 6 0.92 27% 0.56 367 4
San Angelo 60.7 ‑2.8 82 32.7 ‑3.3 15 46.7 ‑3.0 4 1.10 93% 0.78 508 3
San Antonio 64.7 ‑2.4 81 36.9 ‑5.5 17 50.8 ‑3.9 3 0.42 24% 0.36 389 0
Victoria 65.4 ‑1.2 82 39.5 ‑7.2 21 52.5 ‑4.2 5 0.33 16% 0.23 349 5
Waco 60.1 ‑2.2 78 34.8 ‑4.5 18 47.5 ‑3.3 3 1.68 69% 1.51 483 2
Wichita Falls 57.7 ‑0.4 82 32.1 ‑1.3 15 44.9 ‑0.8 4 1.06 67% 0.70 557 0
Shreveport, LA 58.4 ‑3.6 73 35.6 ‑4.7 20 47.0 ‑4.2 5 3.03 72% 1.93 497 0
*Dep.: Departure of the monthly average temperature from the 1971-2000 monthly normal, which is provided by the National Climatic Data Center.
*Perc. Norm.: Monthly precipitation total divided by 1971-2000 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.

feb 2002 average temperatures
feb 2002 average precipitation

Monthly Extremes

Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value
ALICE JIM WELLS 0.00
BRACKETTVILLE KINNEY 0.00
CASTOLON BREWSTER 0.00
COMFORT 2 KENDALL 0.00
CORNUDAS SVC STN HUDSPETH 0.00
CUERO DEWITT 0.00
DEL RIO 2 NW VAL VERDE 0.00
EL INDIO MAVERICK 0.00
ENCINAL WEBB 0.00
GOLIAD 1 SE GOLIAD 0.00
LAGUNA 3N UVALDE 0.00
MIDLAND 4 ENE MIDLAND 0.00
MIDWAY 4 NE MADISON 0.00
PORT O CONNOR CALHOUN 0.00
ROCKSPRINGS 26SSW EDWARDS 0.00
SCOTLAND ARCHER 0.00
STRATFORD SHERMAN 0.00
STUDY BUTTE BREWSTER 0.00
WELLINGTON COLLINGSWORTH 0.00
Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value
FAIRFIELD 3 W FREESTONE 4.65
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours (inches)
Station County Value
TOWN BLUFF DAM TYLER 2.12
Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
DALHART 6 SW HARTLEY 35.0
Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND CAMERON 60.9
Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
PERRYTON OCHILTREE 49.7
Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
RIO GRANDE CITY STARR 74.5
Highest Maximum Temperature  (°F)
Station County Value
BRACKETTVILLE KINNEY 92
LA JOYA HIDALGO 92
SANTA ROSA 3 WNW HIDALGO 92
Lowest Maximum Temperature  (°F)
Station County Value
STRATFORD SHERMAN 24
Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
DALHART 6 SW HARTLEY 18.5
Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND CAMERON 52.5
Highest Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
BROWNSVILLE INTL AP CAMERON 69
MCALLEN MILLER INTL AP HIDALGO 69
ALICE JIM WELLS 69
BROWNSVILLE CAMERON 69
Lowest Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
BRAVO HARTLEY 1

New Monthly Records

Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
ALICE JIM WELLS 0.00 0.00 (1999) 82
BRACKETTVILLE KINNEY 0.00 0.00 (1999) 93
CASTOLON BREWSTER 0.00 0.00 (2001) 26
COMFORT 2 KENDALL 0.00 0.00 (1999) 12
CORNUDAS SVC STN HUDSPETH 0.00 0.00 (2000) 56
CUERO DEWITT 0.00 0.00 (1988) 98
EL INDIO MAVERICK 0.00 0.00 (2001) 24
ENCINAL WEBB 0.00 0.00 (2001) 86
GOLIAD 1 SE GOLIAD 0.00 0.00 (2001) 48
HOUSTON NWSO GALVESTON 0.40 0.59 (1907) 14
MIDLAND 4 ENE MIDLAND 0.00 0.00 (2000) 78
MIDWAY 4 NE MADISON 0.00 0.07 (1996) 22
MONTGOMERY MONTGOMERY 0.25 0.39 (1976) 48
PORT O CONNOR CALHOUN 0.00 0.00 (2001) 42
REFUGIO 2 NW REFUGIO 0.13 0.18 (1996) 15
STRATFORD SHERMAN 0.00 0.00 (1999) 74
UVALDE 3 SW UVALDE 0.05 0.30 (1994) 15
WELLINGTON COLLINGSWORTH 0.00 0.00 (1991) 46
Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
DELL CITY 5 SSW HUDSPETH 1.20 1.11 (2001) 20
EL PASO 32 ENE HUDSPETH 1.32 1.16 (1995) 19
LA TUNA 1 S EL PASO 1.43 1.27 (1973) 54
SIERRA BLANCA 2 E HUDSPETH 1.37 0.88 (1997) 35
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours Ever in the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
EL PASO 32 ENE HUDSPETH 0.58 0.48 (1995) 19
LA TUNA 1 S EL PASO 0.93 0.90 (1958) 54
Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
HONDO MUNI AP MEDINA 49.3 50.3 (1985) 24
ARLINGTON SIX FLAGS TARRANT 45.2 45.4 (1994) 11
ARANSAS WR ARANSAS 52.1 52.3 (1968) 33
BISHOP NUECES 55.1 55.3 (1947) 17
BOQUILLAS RS BREWSTER 50.0 52.1 (1985) 26
BROWNSVILLE CAMERON 60.2 60.8 (1910) 14
CHISOS BASIN BREWSTER 43.3 46.2 (1960) 50
DEWEYVILLE NEWTON 50.7 50.8 (1989) 16
HOUSTON‑PORT HARRIS 54.7 56.5 (1994) 10
HUDSPETH RIVER RANCH VAL VERDE 49.9 50.2 (1997) 12
LAJITAS BREWSTER 49.8 54.0 (1985) 21
ORANGE 9 N ORANGE 50.7 50.8 (1989) 16
PANDALE 1 N VAL VERDE 47.2 47.5 (1966) 27
PINE SPRINGS CULBERSON 39.5 41.1 (1997) 12
PLEASANTON ATASCOSA 53.0 54.6 (1997) 11
PORT ARANSAS NUECES 56.6 56.6 (1994) 13
REFUGIO 2 NW REFUGIO 53.9 56.2 (1989) 15
SIERRA BLANCA 2 E HUDSPETH 38.7 41.2 (1966) 30
UVALDE 3 SW UVALDE 50.7 51.9 (1989) 14
Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
BALMORHEA REEVES 59.6 59.8 (1997) 72
BROWNSVILLE CAMERON 69.2 70.9 (1910) 14
CASTOLON BREWSTER 69.6 70.7 (1992) 22
CHISOS BASIN BREWSTER 54.8 55.4 (1992) 53
LAJITAS BREWSTER 68.4 70.9 (1992) 22
MARFA 2 PRESIDIO 57.8 58.5 (1966) 41
PINE SPRINGS CULBERSON 51.0 52.2 (1997) 13
SIERRA BLANCA 2 E HUDSPETH 53.2 56.3 (1966) 31
VICTORIA CP&L VICTORIA 66.4 67.1 (1919) 16
WELDER W'LIFE FOUND SAN PATRICIO 67.0 68.5 (1993) 11
Highest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND CAMERON 88 86 (1997) 10
Lowest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
PINE SPRINGS CULBERSON 27 31 (1994) 13
Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
COLUMBUS COLORADO 29.9 32.4 (1978) 40
HONDO MUNI AP MEDINA 33.4 39.4 (1980) 25
AUSTIN BERGSTROM AP TRAVIS 32.3 36.5 (1978) 54
YOAKUM LAVACA 36.9 37.2 (1978) 54
ARANSAS WR ARANSAS 42.6 44.1 (1968) 36
BARDWELL DAM ELLIS 28.4 28.4 (1978) 35
BOQUILLAS RS BREWSTER 30.0 32.3 (1998) 26
CAMP WOOD REAL 31.1 32.2 (1978) 39
CARTA VALLEY EDWARDS 32.6 33.4 (1964) 32
CHISOS BASIN BREWSTER 31.8 33.6 (1960) 50
CHOKE CANYON DAM LIVE OAK 41.3 41.8 (1985) 19
DEKALB BOWIE 31.4 33.4 (1989) 20
DEWEYVILLE NEWTON 39.2 41.5 (1988) 16
DRIPPING SPRINGS 6 E HAYS 36.4 37.8 (1985) 18
EMORY RAINS 30.7 30.8 (1982) 34
FOWLERTON LA SALLE 37.7 37.8 (1983) 36
HICO HAMILTON 30.0 30.3 (1984) 78
HOUSTON‑PORT HARRIS 42.9 45.3 (2001) 11
HUDSPETH RIVER RANCH VAL VERDE 34.0 38.2 (1997) 12
JUNCTION 4 SSW KIMBLE 26.9 27.3 (1988) 70
LAJITAS BREWSTER 31.1 34.7 (1984) 22
LYTLE 3 W MEDINA 37.3 37.5 (1978) 26
ORANGE 9 N ORANGE 39.2 41.5 (1988) 16
PANDALE 1 N VAL VERDE 30.7 32.2 (1978) 30
PANDALE 11 NE VAL VERDE 32.2 32.5 (1984) 21
PINE SPRINGS CULBERSON 28.1 30.1 (1997) 12
PLEASANTON ATASCOSA 37.9 43.8 (1997) 11
POTEET ATASCOSA 36.9 36.9 (1947) 57
PRADE RCH REAL 29.7 30.4 (1963) 34
PROCTOR RSVR COMANCHE 27.9 28.5 (1978) 38
REFUGIO 2 NW REFUGIO 40.6 46.1 (1988) 15
SANTA ROSA 3 WNW HIDALGO 47.2 49.5 (1988) 15
SAN ANTONIO/SEAWORLD BEXAR 40.1 40.9 (1989) 13
SIERRA BLANCA 2 E HUDSPETH 24.2 24.8 (1994) 31
SOMERVILLE DAM BURLESON 31.0 33.4 (1978) 36
UVALDE 3 SW UVALDE 34.4 40.4 (1988) 14
Lowest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
COLUMBUS COLORADO 8 13 (1996) 40
BENAVIDES 2 DUVAL 20 21 (1974) 24
BISHOP NUECES 23 23 (1936) 17
CARTA VALLEY EDWARDS 12 12 (1974) 32
CHARLOTTE 5 NNW ATASCOSA 14 16 (1985) 39
CHOKE CANYON DAM LIVE OAK 20 20 (1985) 19
FOWLERTON LA SALLE 19 20 (1974) 36
HUDSPETH RIVER RANCH VAL VERDE 15 21 (1994) 12
LAJITAS BREWSTER 20 21 (1985) 22
LYTLE 3 W MEDINA 15 15 (1996) 26
MATHIS 4 SSW JIM WELLS 19 22 (1985) 35
OZONA CROCKETT 9 9 (1985) 44
PANDALE 1 N VAL VERDE 12 12 (1978) 30
REFUGIO 2 NW REFUGIO 19 21 (1988) 15
SAN ANTONIO/SEAWORLD BEXAR 19 19 (1989) 13
UVALDE 3 SW UVALDE 12 20 (1988) 14
WASHINGTON SP WASHINGTON 15 16 (1985) 48

Climatic Averages for March

  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 69.1 98 (1916) 43.8 9 (1948) 1.41 5.16 (1979) 2.78 (1943) 0.6 3.9 5.3 299 28
Amarillo 62.2 96 (1907) 33.6 ‑3 (1948) 1.13 4.14 (2000) 3.13 (1922) 0.1 14.4 5.4 542 2
Austin 72.5 98 (1971) 50.9 18 (1948) 2.14 7.23 (1926) 3.00 (1900) 0.6 0.8 7.9 163 59
Brownsville 78.0 106 (1984) 59.5 28 (1901) 0.93 6.46 (1903) 2.76 (1997) 1.6 0.1 4.2 45 179
College Station 72.6 96 (1946) 50.5 17 (1943) 2.84 8.03 (1926) 4.20 (1980) 0.1 1.2 8.1 149 42
Corpus Christi 75.8 102 (1989) 56.2 24 (1980) 1.74 7.69 (1903) 4.66 (1903) 1.1 0.3 5.1 77 121
Dallas‑Fort Worth 68.3 100 (1916) 46.4 10 (1943) 3.06 6.69 (1995) 4.39 (1977) 0.2 2.1 7.5 248 10
Del Rio 76.0 103 (1928) 51.6 19 (1922) 0.96 3.20 (1990) 2.33 (1935) 2.3 0.7 4.9 111 86
El Paso 70.2 93 (1907) 43.7 14 (1971) 0.26 2.26 (1958) 1.32 (1883) 0.0 4.4 2.2 272 8
Galveston 70.0 85 (1879) 58.2 26 (1980) 2.76 9.49 (1973) 8.10 (1973) 0.0 0.2 7.4 94 65
Houston 73.3 96 (1946) 51.3 21 (1943) 3.36 10.66 (1922) 7.47 (1972) 0.1 1.3 9.1 156 63
Lubbock 66.2 95 (1989) 36.2 ‑2 (1922) 0.76 3.56 (1941) 1.80 (1973) 0.2 8.6 4.1 419 7
Midland 70.9 97 (1946) 40.8 9 (1980) 0.42 2.86 (1970) 2.20 (1970) 0.5 4.9 2.6 302 15
Port Arthur 72.0 95 (1946) 52.4 23 (1989) 3.75 10.21 (1949) 6.04 (1979) 0.0 0.6 8.0 143 55
San Angelo 71.1 98 (1908) 43.3 8 (1980) 0.99 5.00 (1953) 4.65 (1953) 0.8 4.0 4.6 258 30
San Antonio 74.3 100 (1991) 49.9 19 (1980) 1.89 6.12 (1992) 3.59 (1992) 0.9 1.5 7.9 149 68
Victoria 73.4 98 (1939) 53.9 21 (1980) 2.25 11.61 (1997) 5.04 (1997) 0.4 0.5 7.0 113 84
Waco 70.2 100 (1971) 46.8 15 (1948) 2.48 8.38 (1905) 3.90 (1912) 0.3 2.1 7.9 235 39
Wichita Falls 67.2 100 (1971) 41.1 6 (1948) 2.27 6.29 (1999) 4.32 (1988) 0.7 5.5 6.4 354 19
Shreveport, LA 69.7 92 (1974) 47.2 15 (1943) 4.18 11.99 (1945) 5.43 (1945) 0.1 2.4 9.7 247 31
Climatic averages are based on 1971-2000 monthly normals, which are provided by the National Climatic Data Center.
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