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Texas Climate Report: November 2002

The month of November was quite a contrast compared to the previous month in the precipitation sense. Many stations in Texas for the month of October received ample rainfall which greatly exceeded the monthly normal values. On the other hand, the month was very dry across much of the due to high pressure and dry fronts passing through the area.

November in Texas did begin slightly soggy, as a stationary front parked itself along the Rio Grande Valley triggering numerous showers and thunderstorms as it lingered through the 4th. The South Central region of the state was quite fortunate to receive abundant rainfall during this time, as a low pressure system trained along the stationary front on the 3rd and 4th. College Station reaped the benefits of this low pressure presence, with a 24-hour total of 4.56", on the 4th, as well as Austin (3.06"), San Antonio (1.14"), and Brownsville (1.02"). This was a new 24-hour precipitation record for College Station, exceeding the previous record of 3.61" from 1914. After this system moved out, high pressure dominated the state allowing temperatures to enter a warming trend.

Record highs of 80 degrees or more were reported in many areas on the 10th. A frontal system passed through the state on the 11th and 12th, lowering the temperatures temporarily before again moderating. A more intense cold frontal boundary swept through the state on the 15th, dropping temperatures by 10°F-15°F statewide. This was a rather dry air mass that brought little precipitation. A large arctic air mass made its way southward on the 25th dropping temperatures to 30s for highs in the panhandle, and the lower 50s in South Texas. On the 28th temperatures finally began to moderate to the 50s, with a high pressure ridge prominently positioned over the state.

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 62.5 ‑2.6 83 39.7 ‑2.6 29 51.1 ‑2.6 5 0.93 72% 0.50 414 5
Amarillo 56.4 ‑2.0 75 31.7 ‑0.1 15 44.0 ‑1.1 2 0.04 6% 0.03 623 0
Austin 68.1 ‑2.0 88 46.3 ‑3.0 36 57.2 ‑2.5 5 3.04 113% 1.23 241 15
Brownsville 75.7 ‑1.1 86 56.7 ‑1.9 43 66.2 ‑1.5 7 4.22 241% 2.68 63 109
College Station 67.4 ‑3.5 86 46.1 ‑3.0 33 56.8 ‑3.2 7 6.00 189% 4.66 257 17
Corpus Christi 71.7 ‑3.2 84 53.2 ‑2.2 42 62.5 ‑2.6 3 2.21 127% 1.79 108 38
Dallas‑Fort Worth 65.0 ‑0.1 86 42.6 ‑2.5 28 53.8 ‑1.3 4 0.52 20% 0.23 335 8
Del Rio 68.3 ‑2.6 90 46.6 ‑2.6 35 57.5 ‑2.6 4 0.73 76% 0.57 227 8
El Paso 64.2 ‑1.3 76 40.1 +0.3 30 52.1 ‑0.6 0 0.00 0% 0.00 377 0
Galveston 69.8 ‑1.5 83 56.6 ‑2.8 46 63.2 ‑2.2 5 2.93 80% 1.40 102 55
Houston 68.8 ‑3.2 84 48.8 ‑1.0 37 58.8 ‑2.1 8 4.20 100% 2.32 201 24
Lubbock 59.8 ‑1.8 79 35.1 +0.6 22 47.5 ‑0.6 4 0.38 54% 0.14 517 0
Midland 60.9 ‑4.9 78 38.8 25 49.9 ‑2.4 4 0.47 72% 0.28 449 3
Port Arthur 69.2 ‑1.7 83 48.9 ‑1.9 34 59.0 ‑1.9 7 2.95 62% 2.07 204 32
San Angelo 63.2 ‑3.3 83 39.7 ‑1.7 26 51.5 ‑2.5 5 0.52 47% 0.24 403 5
San Antonio 69.4 ‑2.0 84 46.2 ‑2.4 35 57.8 ‑2.2 4 2.08 81% 1.19 217 11
Victoria 70.8 ‑2.2 84 48.7 ‑3.6 40 59.8 ‑2.9 5 3.70 140% 2.33 172 23
Waco 67.3 ‑0.5 85 43.5 ‑2.3 28 55.4 ‑1.4 6 1.35 52% 0.67 295 14
Wichita Falls 62.9 ‑0.8 85 38.3 ‑1.8 22 50.6 ‑1.3 3 0.67 40% 0.48 431 8
Shreveport, LA 64.0 ‑2.8 84 42.0 ‑3.3 29 53.0 ‑3.1 9 3.53 75% 1.48 363 11
*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.

nov 2002 average temperatures
nov 2002 average precipitation

Monthly Extremes

Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value
EL PASO INTL AP EL PASO 0.00
CASTOLON BREWSTER 0.00
DALHART 6 SW HARTLEY 0.00
DARROUZETT LIPSCOMB 0.00
DEKALB BOWIE 0.00
EXXON GAS PLANT KLEBERG 0.00
FT HANCOCK 8 SSE HUDSPETH 0.00
GOLIAD 1 SE GOLIAD 0.00
HARTLEY 4 ESE HARTLEY 0.00
KNAPP 2 SW SCURRY 0.00
LA TUNA 1 S EL PASO 0.00
LAJITAS BREWSTER 0.00
STUDY BUTTE BREWSTER 0.00
TORNILLO 2 SSE EL PASO 0.00
Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value
PORT ISABEL CAMERON 12.82
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours (inches)
Station County Value
PORT ISABEL CAMERON 7.80
Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
DALHART 6 SW HARTLEY 41.0
Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
PORT ISABEL CAMERON 67.4
Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
DALHART 6 SW HARTLEY 55.2
Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
PRESIDIO PRESIDIO 75.8
Highest Maximum Temperature  (°F)
Station County Value
HEATH CANYON BREWSTER 95
Lowest Maximum Temperature  (°F)
Station County Value
BROWNSVILLE CAMERON 8
Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
DALHART 6 SW HARTLEY 26.7
Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
PORT ISABEL CAMERON 59.8
Highest Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
BROWNSVILLE CAMERON 76
Lowest Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
LIPSCOMB LIPSCOMB 8

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 (1999) 123
CASTOLON BREWSTER 0.00 0.00 (1999) 27
DALHART 6 SW HARTLEY 0.00 0.00 (1999) 14
DARROUZETT LIPSCOMB 0.00 0.00 (2001) 56
DEKALB BOWIE 0.00 0.48 (1949) 52
FARMERSVILLE HUNT 0.15 0.16 (1949) 54
FT HANCOCK 8 SSE HUDSPETH 0.00 0.00 (1999) 32
GOLIAD 1 SE GOLIAD 0.00 0.00 (1970) 49
HARTLEY 4 ESE HARTLEY 0.00 0.00 (1999) 57
KNAPP 2 SW SCURRY 0.00 0.00 (1999) 66
LA TUNA 1 S EL PASO 0.00 0.00 (1999) 57
LAJITAS BREWSTER 0.00 0.00 (1999) 22
MERIDIAN BOSQUE 0.54 0.71 (1989) 21
TORNILLO 2 SSE EL PASO 0.00 0.00 (1999) 24
Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
HARLINGEN RIO GRANDE AP CAMERON 5.57 4.46 (1998) 14
LEXINGTON LEE 8.98 8.19 (1985) 40
MERCEDES 6 SSE HIDALGO 6.67 5.10 (1922) 85
PORT ISABEL CAMERON 12.82 7.47 (1943) 68
RAYMONDVILLE WILLACY 4.67 4.66 (1914) 88
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours Ever in the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
HARLINGEN RIO GRANDE AP CAMERON 4.55 2.67 (1998) 14
BEAUMONT RSCH CTR JEFFERSON 4.15 4.05 (1978) 39
CALDWELL BURLESON 4.25 3.55 (1985) 40
CHIRENO NACOGDOCHES 5.76 3.50 (2000) 14
FRANKLIN ROBERTSON 4.89 2.92 (1990) 37
LEXINGTON LEE 4.95 4.61 (1985) 40
LUFKIN 2 ANGELINA 4.88 4.08 (2000) 13
MERCEDES 6 SSE HIDALGO 4.53 3.40 (1928) 85
MIDWAY 4 NE MADISON 5.40 4.62 (1985) 23
NACOGDOCHES NACOGDOCHES 3.83 3.79 (1987) 29
NEWTON NEWTON 3.75 3.55 (1987) 19
PORT ISABEL CAMERON 7.80 3.20 (1986) 68
WILDWOOD TYLER 6.30 4.48 (2001) 11
Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
PLEASANTON ATASCOSA 59.0 59.2 (1997) 11
Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
BROWNSVILLE CAMERON 73.1 73.1 (1920) 14
HAMILTON 2E HAMILTON 63.4 64.6 (1979) 22
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND CAMERON 73.2 74.1 (1995) 10
Highest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
NACOGDOCHES NACOGDOCHES 88 88 (1989) 29
TOLEDO BEND DAM NEWTON 85 85 (2000) 27
Lowest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
BROWNSVILLE CAMERON 8 45 (1920) 14
Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
BARDWELL DAM ELLIS 36.2 38.0 (1995) 36
FT DAVIS JEFF DAVIS 29.8 31.2 (1904) 26
PLEASANTON ATASCOSA 45.8 47.1 (1992) 11
SOMERVILLE DAM BURLESON 39.6 39.7 (1993) 33
Highest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
BROWNSVILLE CAMERON 76 76 (1918) 16
DENVER CITY YOAKUM 51 51 (2001) 11
KENT 8 SE JEFF DAVIS 60 59 (1995) 11
Lowest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
MCALLEN MILLER INTL AP HIDALGO 32 32 (1992) 42

Climatic Averages for December

  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 56.9 89 (1955) 33.9 ‑7 (1989) 1.27 6.69 (1926) 4.57 (1911) 0.0 14.1 5.1 608 1
Amarillo 49.8 83 (1939) 24.1 ‑8 (1989) 0.61 4.52 (1959) 3.13 (1943) 0.0 27.1 4.2 874 0
Austin 62.3 90 (1955) 41.9 4 (1989) 2.44 16.14 (1913) 6.34 (1913) 0.0 4.9 7.9 406 13
Brownsville 70.2 94 (1977) 52.0 16 (1989) 1.11 6.95 (1940) 3.93 (1940) 0.1 0.8 7.2 186 80
College Station 62.8 89 (1922) 41.5 2 (1989) 3.23 12.66 (1913) 7.54 (1913) 0.0 6.1 8.6 413 14
Corpus Christi 68.0 91 (1977) 48.1 13 (1989) 1.75 9.80 (1991) 6.81 (1991) 0.1 1.6 6.6 249 51
Dallas‑Fort Worth 56.5 90 (1951) 36.8 ‑1 (1989) 2.57 8.75 (1991) 4.22 (1991) 0.0 9.8 6.4 571 2
Del Rio 63.5 90 (1977) 41.2 10 (1989) 0.75 3.93 (1937) 2.40 (1994) 0.0 4.6 5.5 384 4
El Paso 57.4 80 (1973) 33.4 ‑5 (1880) 0.77 3.94 (1914) 1.76 (1987) 0.0 17.6 4.3 623 0
Galveston 64.3 80 (1918) 51.8 14 (1989) 3.53 10.28 (1887) 6.30 (1995) 0.0 0.9 8.5 245 30
Houston 64.6 85 (1995) 42.8 7 (1989) 3.69 14.38 (1923) 7.47 (1914) 0.0 5.1 9.4 367 25
Lubbock 53.2 83 (1939) 26.1 ‑2 (1989) 0.67 2.80 (1942) 1.50 (1942) 0.0 22.6 4.4 770 0
Midland 58.4 85 (1954) 31.2 ‑1 (1989) 0.65 3.30 (1986) 1.58 (1979) 0.0 17.8 3.6 622 0
Port Arthur 63.9 86 (1933) 44.5 12 (1989) 5.25 17.98 (1982) 9.98 (1982) 0.0 3.8 9.2 349 23
San Angelo 59.3 91 (1954) 33.5 ‑4 (1989) 0.94 3.98 (1991) 2.71 (1984) 0.0 14.2 4.7 562 1
San Antonio 64.0 90 (1955) 40.8 6 (1989) 1.96 13.96 (1991) 6.90 (1991) 0.0 6.2 7.8 391 15
Victoria 65.2 88 (1964) 45.2 9 (1989) 2.47 6.97 (1975) 6.12 (1975) 0.0 3.1 8.1 317 29
Waco 59.1 91 (1955) 37.5 ‑4 (1989) 2.76 11.76 (1913) 7.98 (1997) 0.0 9.4 6.7 512 6
Wichita Falls 54.5 88 (1954) 31.3 ‑7 (1989) 1.68 6.93 (1991) 3.12 (1926) 0.0 17.2 5.1 676 1
Shreveport, LA 58.5 84 (1955) 38.3 5 (1989) 4.55 15.55 (1884) 7.18 (1904) 0.0 10.8 9.7 522 7
Climatic averages are based on 1971-2000 monthly normals, which are provided by the National Climatic Data Center.
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