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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.

may 2002 average temperatures
may 2002 average precipitation

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.
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