Texas Climate Report: May 2002
Last month saw extremes on both sides of the temperature scale. Due to the passage of frequent cold fronts, average temperature deviations neared 4°F in some locations across the state. Many records and near records were set. The lowest minimum temperature reported was 39°F in Amarillo and Lubbock, and the highest maximum temperature was reported in Del Rio at 105°F. This month also saw many severe storm events. At the beginning of the month hail and tornado reports were numerous in the Abilene, San Angelo, and Amarillo areas, mainly caused by frontal or dry line boundaries.
May is known to be one of the wettest months of the year for many locations around the state; however this year was an exception to the rule. Precipitation was well below normal for the vast majority of the state with the exception of Abilene and Dallas/Fort Worth, which received above normal measurements of 3.24", and 5.40" respectively. Drought conditions have worsened across all of the southern and western portions of the state with below normal precipitation expected through the month of June as well. The US Drought Monitor has drought conditions from near normal in north central and northeast Texas to extreme in the Big Bend, Lower Valley and far northwest portions of the panhandle. As a result of the extremely dry conditions, burn bans have been issued for numerous counties.
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 |
84.2 |
‑0.5 |
100 |
60.1 |
‑0.9 |
46 |
72.1 |
‑0.7 |
8 |
3.24 |
114% |
1.66 |
16 |
244 |
| Amarillo |
81.6 |
+3.0 |
95 |
51.2 |
‑0.5 |
39 |
66.4 |
+1.2 |
6 |
1.05 |
42% |
0.65 |
79 |
129 |
| Austin |
88.7 |
+3.9 |
96 |
67.3 |
+1.9 |
55 |
78.0 |
+2.9 |
5 |
1.25 |
25% |
1.03 |
0 |
411 |
| Brownsville |
90.5 |
+3.6 |
96 |
72.6 |
+1.0 |
63 |
81.5 |
+2.2 |
3 |
1.96 |
79% |
1.76 |
0 |
518 |
| College Station |
87.7 |
+2.4 |
94 |
65.2 |
‑0.1 |
50 |
76.4 |
+1.1 |
6 |
0.89 |
18% |
0.59 |
1 |
363 |
| Corpus Christi |
88.1 |
+2.5 |
94 |
70.9 |
+1.4 |
57 |
79.5 |
+2.0 |
4 |
3.11 |
89% |
1.76 |
0 |
456 |
| Dallas‑Fort Worth |
81.2 |
‑2.0 |
92 |
62.8 |
‑0.2 |
50 |
72.0 |
‑1.1 |
10 |
5.40 |
105% |
1.69 |
12 |
237 |
| Del Rio |
92.5 |
+3.8 |
105 |
70.8 |
+4.1 |
60 |
81.7 |
+4.0 |
6 |
1.81 |
78% |
0.80 |
0 |
525 |
| El Paso |
89.5 |
+2.8 |
102 |
60.5 |
‑0.1 |
49 |
75.0 |
+1.3 |
0 |
0.00 |
0% |
0.00 |
0 |
316 |
| Galveston |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
2.34 |
N/A |
N/A |
| Houston |
85.4 |
‑0.1 |
91 |
68.6 |
+2.5 |
52 |
77.0 |
+1.2 |
7 |
1.79 |
35% |
0.91 |
1 |
380 |
| Lubbock |
85.4 |
+2.6 |
96 |
54.9 |
‑0.7 |
39 |
70.1 |
+0.9 |
3 |
0.37 |
16% |
0.27 |
32 |
200 |
| Midland |
87.9 |
+1.1 |
98 |
60.3 |
+1.5 |
43 |
74.1 |
+1.3 |
1 |
0.11 |
6% |
0.11 |
8 |
296 |
| Port Arthur |
84.7 |
+0.4 |
90 |
67.7 |
+1.3 |
51 |
76.2 |
+0.8 |
4 |
1.30 |
22% |
1.07 |
3 |
358 |
| San Angelo |
89.4 |
+3.8 |
104 |
63.3 |
+2.7 |
49 |
76.3 |
+3.2 |
3 |
0.46 |
15% |
0.43 |
2 |
362 |
| San Antonio |
86.7 |
+0.7 |
94 |
66.8 |
+1.3 |
49 |
76.8 |
+1.0 |
5 |
2.26 |
48% |
1.40 |
1 |
375 |
| Victoria |
87.7 |
+2.6 |
96 |
67.7 |
‑0.4 |
53 |
77.7 |
+1.1 |
5 |
2.02 |
39% |
1.12 |
0 |
401 |
| Waco |
86.0 |
+1.2 |
94 |
63.0 |
‑0.3 |
47 |
74.5 |
+0.4 |
6 |
3.25 |
73% |
2.60 |
4 |
307 |
| Wichita Falls |
81.8 |
‑1.7 |
93 |
58.5 |
‑0.8 |
44 |
70.2 |
‑1.2 |
7 |
1.58 |
40% |
1.08 |
25 |
193 |
| Shreveport, LA |
82.9 |
‑0.3 |
91 |
62.9 |
+0.2 |
49 |
72.9 |
‑0.1 |
8 |
2.47 |
47% |
0.79 |
9 |
264 |
*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.
|
Monthly Extremes
| Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| EL PASO INTL AP |
EL PASO |
0.00 |
| BALMORHEA |
REEVES |
0.00 |
| BON WIER 2 ENE |
NEWTON |
0.00 |
| CONLEN |
DALLAM |
0.00 |
| DELL CITY 5 SSW |
HUDSPETH |
0.00 |
| EL PASO #2 |
EL PASO |
0.00 |
| EL PASO 32 ENE |
HUDSPETH |
0.00 |
| GONZALES 1N |
GONZALES |
0.00 |
| HUMBLE PUMP STN 5 WN |
SUTTON |
0.00 |
| LA TUNA 1 S |
EL PASO |
0.00 |
| MORTON |
COCHRAN |
0.00 |
| PECOS 8 W |
REEVES |
0.00 |
| PORT O CONNOR |
CALHOUN |
0.00 |
| POST |
GARZA |
0.00 |
| ROBERT LEE |
COKE |
0.00 |
| SIERRA BLANCA 2 E |
HUDSPETH |
0.00 |
| STRATFORD |
SHERMAN |
0.00 |
| VEGA 2 NW |
OLDHAM |
0.00 |
| YSLETA |
EL PASO |
0.00 |
| Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| RISING STAR 5 NNE |
EASTLAND |
9.66 |
| Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| BRIDGEPORT |
WISE |
3.85 |
| Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| DALHART 6 SW |
HARTLEY |
63.1 |
| Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| CASTOLON |
BREWSTER |
86.5 |
| Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| LAVON DAM |
COLLIN |
74.9 |
| Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| BOQUILLAS RS |
BREWSTER |
102.2 |
| Highest Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| CASTOLON |
BREWSTER |
112 |
| Lowest Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| POST |
GARZA |
53 |
| Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| WELLINGTON |
COLLINGSWORTH |
44.9 |
| Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| SOUTH PADRE ISLAND |
CAMERON |
75.0 |
| Highest Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| BEEVILLE 5 NE |
BEE |
80 |
| PALACIOS MUNI AP |
MATAGORDA |
80 |
| FALFURRIAS |
BROOKS |
80 |
| LAREDO 2 |
WEBB |
80 |
| PIERCE 1 E |
WHARTON |
80 |
| Lowest Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| WELLINGTON |
COLLINGSWORTH |
27 |
New Monthly Records
| Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| EL PASO INTL AP |
EL PASO |
0.00 |
0.00 (2000) |
123 |
| BALMORHEA |
REEVES |
0.00 |
0.00 (2000) |
78 |
| BENJAMIN 15 W |
KING |
0.46 |
0.50 (1996) |
18 |
| BROWNFIELD 2 |
TERRY |
0.02 |
0.11 (1991) |
49 |
| CEDAR CREEK 5 S |
BASTROP |
0.48 |
0.71 (1998) |
24 |
| CHANNING 2 |
HARTLEY |
0.14 |
0.30 (1998) |
25 |
| CONLEN |
DALLAM |
0.00 |
0.07 (1970) |
58 |
| DELL CITY 5 SSW |
HUDSPETH |
0.00 |
0.00 (2000) |
22 |
| DUMONT |
KING |
0.11 |
0.45 (1976) |
31 |
| EL PASO 32 ENE |
HUDSPETH |
0.00 |
0.00 (2000) |
19 |
| GONZALES 1N |
GONZALES |
0.00 |
0.06 (1996) |
64 |
| HUMBLE PUMP STN 5 WN |
SUTTON |
0.00 |
0.40 (1960) |
52 |
| LA TUNA 1 S |
EL PASO |
0.00 |
0.00 (2000) |
56 |
| LEVELLAND |
HOCKLEY |
0.06 |
0.23 (2000) |
61 |
| MORTON |
COCHRAN |
0.00 |
0.04 (2000) |
57 |
| MT LOCKE |
JEFF DAVIS |
0.01 |
0.12 (1945) |
67 |
| MUNDAY |
KNOX |
0.22 |
0.40 (1996) |
89 |
| OZONA |
CROCKETT |
0.02 |
0.30 (1998) |
51 |
| PADUCAH 15 S |
KING |
0.12 |
0.43 (1988) |
31 |
| PADUCAH 10S |
COTTLE |
0.12 |
0.18 (1976) |
29 |
| PANDALE 11 NE |
VAL VERDE |
0.15 |
0.31 (1983) |
20 |
| PORT O CONNOR |
CALHOUN |
0.00 |
0.00 (1998) |
42 |
| POST |
GARZA |
0.00 |
0.00 (1962) |
84 |
| ROBERT LEE |
COKE |
0.00 |
0.05 (1962) |
57 |
| SIERRA BLANCA 2 E |
HUDSPETH |
0.00 |
0.00 (1977) |
40 |
| SOUTH CAMP 6666 |
KING |
0.19 |
0.33 (1976) |
11 |
| STRATFORD |
SHERMAN |
0.00 |
0.00 (1916) |
74 |
| VEGA 2 NW |
OLDHAM |
0.00 |
0.15 (1945) |
60 |
| YSLETA |
EL PASO |
0.00 |
0.00 (2000) |
64 |
| Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| PERRYTON 21 S |
OCHILTREE |
7.44 |
6.07 (1987) |
25 |
| Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours Ever in the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| BORGER |
HUTCHINSON |
3.82 |
3.79 (1959) |
52 |
| YOUNGSPORT |
BELL |
2.68 |
1.85 (1995) |
10 |
| Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| CANDELARIA |
PRESIDIO |
80.1 |
79.4 (1996) |
33 |
| EL CAMPO |
WHARTON |
79.5 |
79.2 (1949) |
25 |
| Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| LAVON DAM |
COLLIN |
74.9 |
77.1 (1976) |
48 |
| Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| MCALLEN |
HIDALGO |
93.1 |
93.1 (1974) |
56 |
| SANTA ROSA 3 WNW |
HIDALGO |
93.9 |
93.5 (1998) |
16 |
| Highest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| KENT 8 SE |
JEFF DAVIS |
100 |
99 (1998) |
12 |
| PLEASANTON |
ATASCOSA |
105 |
104 (1998) |
12 |
| Lowest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| BISHOP |
NUECES |
68 |
72 (2000) |
19 |
| DEWEYVILLE |
NEWTON |
63 |
65 (1994) |
16 |
| ORANGE 9 N |
ORANGE |
63 |
65 (1994) |
16 |
| Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| PRESIDIO |
PRESIDIO |
70.9 |
69.1 (1996) |
59 |
| WINKLER CO AP |
WINKLER |
64.3 |
63.5 (1996) |
57 |
| CANDELARIA |
PRESIDIO |
61.7 |
59.7 (1966) |
34 |
| CASTOLON |
BREWSTER |
71.0 |
70.7 (1996) |
21 |
| GRANDFALLS 3 SSE |
WARD |
61.9 |
61.2 (1996) |
40 |
| Highest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| BAY CITY WTR WKS |
MATAGORDA |
78 |
78 (2001) |
56 |
| EL CAMPO |
WHARTON |
78 |
77 (1971) |
25 |
| HOUSTON‑PORT |
HARRIS |
79 |
79 (2000) |
12 |
| PEARSALL |
FRIO |
77 |
77 (1989) |
47 |
| PIERCE 1 E |
WHARTON |
80 |
80 (1990) |
81 |
| WACO DAM |
MCLENNAN |
76 |
76 (1989) |
31 |
| Lowest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| BARDWELL DAM |
ELLIS |
43 |
43 (1994) |
34 |
| PORT O CONNOR |
CALHOUN |
50 |
51 (1955) |
43 |
| WELLINGTON |
COLLINGSWORTH |
27 |
31 (2001) |
41 |
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 |
91.1 |
110 (1907) |
68.5 |
44 (1919) |
3.06 |
9.60 (1961) |
4.35 (1941) |
18.7 |
0.0 |
6.4 |
0 |
442 |
| Amarillo |
87.4 |
108 (1998) |
61.1 |
38 (1917) |
3.28 |
10.73 (1965) |
6.15 (1960) |
12.8 |
0.0 |
8.3 |
7 |
285 |
| Austin |
90.9 |
108 (1998) |
71.1 |
51 (1926) |
3.81 |
14.96 (1981) |
8.65 (1941) |
20.8 |
0.0 |
7.5 |
0 |
495 |
| Brownsville |
90.5 |
103 (1918) |
74.9 |
56 (1919) |
2.93 |
13.80 (1887) |
8.18 (1942) |
24.2 |
0.0 |
6.6 |
0 |
545 |
| College Station |
91.7 |
108 (1901) |
71.5 |
53 (1970) |
3.79 |
15.03 (1905) |
6.70 (1905) |
20.9 |
0.0 |
7.4 |
0 |
497 |
| Corpus Christi |
90.2 |
106 (1998) |
73.5 |
56 (1919) |
3.53 |
13.35 (1973) |
8.26 (1924) |
20.6 |
0.0 |
6.7 |
0 |
520 |
| Dallas‑Fort Worth |
91.1 |
113 (1980) |
70.7 |
48 (1903) |
3.23 |
11.58 (1928) |
4.14 (1928) |
20.3 |
0.0 |
7.0 |
0 |
478 |
| Del Rio |
93.7 |
112 (1988) |
72.1 |
49 (1919) |
2.34 |
13.71 (1935) |
8.88 (1935) |
24.7 |
0.0 |
6.1 |
0 |
545 |
| El Paso |
95.3 |
114 (1994) |
68.8 |
46 (1988) |
0.87 |
3.18 (1984) |
1.82 (1897) |
25.9 |
0.0 |
3.5 |
0 |
497 |
| Galveston |
86.6 |
99 (1918) |
77.8 |
57 (1903) |
4.04 |
15.49 (1919) |
12.56 (1961) |
2.8 |
0.0 |
8.0 |
0 |
515 |
| Houston |
90.7 |
103 (1980) |
71.8 |
52 (1970) |
5.35 |
19.21 (2001) |
11.02 (2001) |
20.1 |
0.0 |
9.7 |
0 |
485 |
| Lubbock |
90.0 |
114 (1994) |
64.1 |
39 (1917) |
2.98 |
8.48 (2000) |
5.70 (1967) |
17.4 |
0.0 |
7.4 |
2 |
381 |
| Midland |
92.7 |
116 (1994) |
66.4 |
47 (1983) |
1.71 |
5.10 (1940) |
3.95 (1940) |
21.3 |
0.0 |
4.9 |
0 |
438 |
| Port Arthur |
89.4 |
106 (1902) |
72.3 |
53 (1903) |
6.58 |
18.90 (1989) |
10.20 (1961) |
16.6 |
0.0 |
9.2 |
0 |
480 |
| San Angelo |
90.8 |
110 (1994) |
67.6 |
40 (1912) |
2.52 |
6.01 (1982) |
3.88 (1999) |
20.0 |
0.0 |
6.2 |
0 |
442 |
| San Antonio |
91.4 |
107 (1998) |
71.6 |
48 (1919) |
4.30 |
11.95 (1986) |
6.30 (1986) |
20.6 |
0.0 |
7.7 |
0 |
505 |
| Victoria |
90.3 |
107 (1934) |
73.3 |
54 (1919) |
4.96 |
12.68 (1973) |
9.30 (1977) |
20.2 |
0.0 |
8.4 |
0 |
514 |
| Waco |
92.0 |
109 (1980) |
70.6 |
52 (1964) |
3.08 |
12.06 (1961) |
6.40 (1938) |
21.9 |
0.0 |
7.3 |
0 |
497 |
| Wichita Falls |
91.7 |
117 (1980) |
67.8 |
50 (1928) |
3.69 |
8.60 (1989) |
5.36 (1985) |
19.9 |
0.0 |
7.2 |
0 |
448 |
| Shreveport, LA |
89.8 |
104 (1936) |
69.9 |
52 (1977) |
5.05 |
17.11 (1989) |
8.00 (1902) |
17.7 |
0.0 |
8.6 |
0 |
436 |
| Climatic averages are based on 1971-2000 monthly normals, which are provided by the National Climatic Data Center. |
