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Texas Climate Report: October 2003

Severe weather characterized the beginning of October in Texas. On the 5th a stationary front created instability in the atmosphere which triggered showers and thunderstorms. The High Plains region of Texas experienced one tornado, numerous large hail reports up to 2.75" in diameter, and high winds. The Eastern region of Texas, including the Bryan/College Station area reportedly experienced damage from a weak tornado on the 5th as well. As the stationary front lingered, large hail reports were also noted on the 6th in the High Plains. A waterspout associated with a rain shower moved on shore and into Harris County on the 8th and was reported as a tornado with little damage. An additional front and low-pressure disturbance caused unstable conditions in the Houston area on the 9th, with six reports of tornadoes.

Austin, San Antonio, and Victoria were the only cities to report below normal mean temperatures at 1.6°F, 0.1°F, and 0.4°F below normal respectively.  Precipitation was above normal in half of the first-order stations, and below normal in the other half. North of a line from El Paso to Dallas/Fort Worth experienced below normal precipitation. The Southern half of the state with the exception of a small area, including Austin and San Antonio, received above normal precipitation for the month of October. Copious precipitation fell in Port Arthur with 9.58", which is 205% of the normal expected monthly rainfall. Brownsville and College Station reaped the benefits of numerous stationary fronts with rainfall totals of 6.89" and 6.82" respectively. The month of October came to a close with above-normal temperatures and little precipitation.

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 77.9 +0.3 89 55.5 +1.1 37 66.7 +0.7 7 1.81 62% 0.89 50 110
Amarillo 75.5 +3.7 90 48.3 +3.7 31 61.9 +3.7 3 0.95 63% 0.91 148 60
Austin 83.7 +2.3 94 61.1 +1.3 46 72.4 +1.8 7 1.03 26% 0.48 11 247
Brownsville 84.2 +0.2 90 67.1 +1.2 49 75.6 +0.6 12 6.90 183% 2.60 8 347
College Station 81.1 ‑0.9 90 60.2 +1.2 49 70.6 +0.1 8 6.81 161% 3.12 12 196
Corpus Christi 82.7 ‑0.9 90 65.0 +1.0 49 73.8 7 3.58 91% 1.65 10 289
Dallas‑Fort Worth 80.1 +2.2 91 57.4 +1.0 38 68.7 +1.5 5 0.78 19% 0.47 30 152
Del Rio 81.7 89 60.5 41 71.1 9 4.47 224% 3.23 18 216
El Paso 81.4 +3.5 89 55.5 +3.7 33 68.5 +3.6 5 0.33 41% 0.28 41 155
Galveston 80.6 +0.9 88 68.5 +0.1 54 74.6 +0.5 5 4.38 126% 1.62 5 308
Houston 82.1 +0.1 90 61.3 +2.5 48 71.7 +1.3 7 4.99 111% 3.96 12 228
Lubbock 79.2 +4.8 92 51.3 +4.3 36 65.2 +4.5 5 0.72 42% 0.24 72 87
Midland 79.4 +2.0 92 55.2 +3.9 39 67.3 +2.9 6 0.79 45% 0.45 41 122
Port Arthur 80.9 +0.4 89 59.8 +0.2 44 70.3 +0.2 6 9.58 205% 4.24 19 194
San Angelo 78.0 +0.2 89 54.3 +1.3 41 66.2 +0.8 6 3.38 132% 1.85 49 92
San Antonio 81.5 ‑0.5 91 59.7 +0.3 45 70.6 ‑0.1 7 1.94 50% 1.19 16 197
Victoria 82.6 ‑0.4 91 61.1 ‑0.5 47 71.8 ‑0.5 12 4.53 106% 1.89 12 231
Waco 81.4 +1.0 92 57.1 +0.4 43 69.2 +0.6 6 3.88 106% 3.52 18 157
Wichita Falls 81.7 +4.6 95 53.7 +1.3 40 67.7 +3.0 1 0.01 0% 0.01 46 139
Shreveport, LA 79.6 +1.3 91 56.2 +1.2 46 67.9 +1.2 6 1.92 43% 1.08 32 128
*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.
oct 2003 average temperatures
oct 2003 average precipitation

Monthly Extremes

Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value
BENJAMIN 15 W KING 0.00
BOWIE MONTAGUE 0.00
BURKBURNETT WICHITA 0.00
CORNUDAS SVC STN HUDSPETH 0.00
CROWELL FOARD 0.00
DUNDEE 6 NNW ARCHER 0.00
ELECTRA WICHITA 0.00
FT GRIFFIN SHACKELFORD 0.00
HENRIETTA CLAY 0.00
LAKE KEMP BAYLOR 0.00
LOS ANGELES 4 WSW LA SALLE 0.00
NEWPORT 1SW JACK 0.00
OLNEY 5 NNW ARCHER 0.00
PADUCAH 15 S KING 0.00
PADUCAH 10S COTTLE 0.00
PORT O CONNOR CALHOUN 0.00
SCOTLAND ARCHER 0.00
STRATFORD SHERMAN 0.00
VERNON WILBARGER 0.00
WICHITA FALLS 6 SW WICHITA 0.00
Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value
THOMPSONS 3 WSW FORT BEND 11.18
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours (inches)
Station County Value
ENCINAL WEBB 8.50
Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
DALHART 6 SW HARTLEY 56.8
Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND CAMERON 77.0
Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
CHISOS BASIN BREWSTER 70.4
Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
EL CAMPO WHARTON 87.0
Highest Maximum Temperature  (°F)
Station County Value
PADUCAH 15 S KING 98
Lowest Maximum Temperature  (°F)
Station County Value
CHISOS BASIN BREWSTER 36
Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
DALHART 6 SW HARTLEY 39.9
Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND CAMERON 71.4
Highest Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
EL CAMPO WHARTON 81
Lowest Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
DALHART 6 SW HARTLEY 21

New Monthly Records

Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
BENJAMIN 15 W KING 0.00 0.00 (2001) 20
BOWIE MONTAGUE 0.00 0.00 (1921) 77
CORNUDAS SVC STN HUDSPETH 0.00 0.00 (1999) 60
CORRIGAN 1 ENE POLK 1.86 2.28 (1996) 11
CROWELL FOARD 0.00 0.00 (2001) 83
DUNDEE 6 NNW ARCHER 0.00 0.00 (1992) 66
ELECTRA WICHITA 0.00 0.00 (1992) 55
GAINESVILLE 5 ENE COOKE 0.19 0.42 (1992) 16
GORDONVILLE GRAYSON 0.22 1.02 (1948) 10
HENRIETTA CLAY 0.00 0.00 (1952) 99
LAKE KEMP BAYLOR 0.00 0.00 (1987) 33
NEW BOSTON BOWIE 0.72 1.06 (1983) 21
NEWPORT 1SW JACK 0.00 0.00 (1987) 51
OLNEY 5 NNW ARCHER 0.00 0.00 (1952) 58
PADUCAH 15 S KING 0.00 0.00 (2001) 29
PADUCAH 10S COTTLE 0.00 0.00 (1992) 29
PORT O CONNOR CALHOUN 0.00 0.00 (2001) 45
STRATFORD SHERMAN 0.00 0.00 (2001) 74
VERNON WILBARGER 0.00 0.00 (1992) 68
Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
CALLIHAM MCMULLEN 7.52 6.44 (2002) 25
FALCON DAM STARR 6.90 6.25 (1963) 41
HARLINGEN CAMERON 11.09 10.73 (1958) 86
HEBBRONVILLE JIM HOGG 9.05 8.76 (1958) 89
PINE SPRINGS CULBERSON 4.67 3.97 (1990) 20
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours Ever in the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
HARLINGEN RIO GRANDE AP CAMERON 3.89 3.29 (1998) 16
LAREDO INTL AP WEBB 3.50 2.70 (1946) 27
CALLIHAM MCMULLEN 6.47 3.30 (2002) 25
CHOKE CANYON DAM LIVE OAK 5.00 4.00 (2002) 20
CRANFILLS GAP BOSQUE 3.50 3.30 (1993) 12
DE LEON 5 SW COMANCHE 3.36 3.28 (1993) 10
FALCON DAM STARR 3.40 2.90 (1988) 41
HEBBRONVILLE JIM HOGG 4.20 3.00 (1995) 89
HORDS CREEK DAM COLEMAN 3.80 3.80 (1974) 50
LAREDO 2 WEBB 4.75 3.91 (1971) 40
MC COOK HIDALGO 7.44 6.78 (1971) 55
PERSIMMON GAP BREWSTER 2.00 1.40 (2000) 21
PIDCOKE CORYELL 2.87 2.61 (1976) 20
PINE SPRINGS CULBERSON 2.70 2.40 (1990) 20
RIO GRANDE CITY STARR 5.00 4.86 (1998) 92
SHEFFIELD PECOS 4.18 3.60 (1981) 43
TERLINGUA RCH BREWSTER 2.00 1.85 (2000) 11
Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
WINKLER CO AP WINKLER 70.5 70.2 (1950) 57
COPPER BREAKS SP HARDEMAN 67.2 65.8 (1989) 14
CORNUDAS SVC STN HUDSPETH 64.5 64.2 (1992) 38
DALHART 6 SW HARTLEY 56.8 55.8 (1989) 13
DENVER CITY YOAKUM 64.7 64.2 (1998) 13
EL PASO 32 ENE HUDSPETH 66.0 64.9 (2001) 20
LAKE FORK RSVR WOOD 68.9 67.7 (2000) 15
LITTLEFIELD LAMB 64.2 63.2 (1973) 34
MULESHOE NWR BAILEY 62.8 62.4 (1998) 22
GEORGETOWN LAKE WILLIAMSON 70.3 70.3 (1991) 17
PLAINS YOAKUM 64.3 63.7 (1950) 44
TORNILLO 2 SSE EL PASO 66.4 65.7 (1987) 23
Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
DENVER CITY YOAKUM 79.5 78.6 (1992) 13
EL PASO 32 ENE HUDSPETH 79.7 79.7 (1995) 20
MULESHOE NWR BAILEY 79.9 79.6 (1989) 23
PORT ARANSAS NUECES 83.0 82.8 (1998) 17
Highest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
EL PASO 32 ENE HUDSPETH 93 91 (2000) 20
Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
CORNUDAS SVC STN HUDSPETH 49.1 48.3 (1983) 39
EL PASO 32 ENE HUDSPETH 52.2 51.6 (2001) 20
KENT 8 SE JEFF DAVIS 50.8 50.7 (1995) 11
LA TUNA 1 S EL PASO 53.6 53.1 (1972) 56
LITTLEFIELD LAMB 50.5 48.8 (1983) 35
PLAINS YOAKUM 50.1 49.7 (1983) 47
Highest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
EL CAMPO WHARTON 81 76 (2002) 24
TORNILLO 2 SSE EL PASO 65 65 (1998) 23

Climatic Averages for November

  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 65.1 92 (1980) 42.3 13 (1887) 1.30 5.82 (1913) 2.43 (1975) 0.0 5.3 4.7 353 15
Amarillo 58.4 87 (1980) 31.8 0 (1976) 0.68 5.09 (1905) 3.01 (1905) 0.0 15.9 4.1 594 0
Austin 70.1 91 (1951) 49.3 20 (1976) 2.68 10.00 (2001) 7.55 (2001) 0.0 0.8 8.2 205 51
Brownsville 76.8 98 (1906) 58.6 27 (1911) 1.75 7.69 (1986) 4.08 (1986) 0.5 0.0 5.9 69 166
College Station 70.9 94 (1921) 49.1 19 (1976) 3.18 13.06 (1907) 5.56 (1907) 0.0 1.5 8.4 203 53
Corpus Christi 74.9 98 (1988) 55.4 28 (1993) 1.74 8.64 (1888) 4.61 (1892) 0.4 0.2 6.3 103 122
Dallas‑Fort Worth 65.1 89 (1989) 45.1 19 (1950) 2.57 7.94 (1918) 4.72 (1918) 0.0 2.6 6.4 312 15
Del Rio 70.9 96 (1988) 49.2 17 (1906) 0.96 4.54 (1913) 2.87 (1914) 0.2 1.1 5.0 183 41
El Paso 65.5 87 (1983) 39.8 1 (1976) 0.42 2.50 (1906) 1.19 (1943) 0.0 8.1 3.1 386 2
Galveston 71.3 85 (1988) 59.4 26 (1911) 3.64 16.18 (1940) 9.01 (1940) 0.0 0.1 8.7 112 122
Houston 72.0 89 (1989) 49.8 19 (1976) 4.19 14.10 (1943) 10.83 (1943) 0.0 1.3 8.6 189 65
Lubbock 61.6 89 (1916) 34.5 ‑1 (1957) 0.71 3.37 (2001) 1.59 (2001) 0.0 10.3 3.7 491 0
Midland 65.8 90 (1996) 38.8 10 (1938) 0.65 2.32 (1968) 2.16 (1975) 0.0 6.9 3.1 380 4
Port Arthur 70.9 90 (1905) 50.8 22 (1976) 4.75 22.74 (1902) 7.70 (1946) 0.0 0.8 8.4 181 63
San Angelo 66.5 93 (1980) 41.4 12 (1911) 1.10 3.55 (1968) 2.57 (2001) 0.1 5.8 4.2 330 16
San Antonio 71.4 94 (1988) 48.6 21 (1976) 2.58 8.58 (2000) 4.87 (1977) 0.1 1.9 7.3 197 57
Victoria 73.0 93 (1988) 52.3 24 (1976) 2.64 10.11 (1998) 6.63 (1982) 0.1 0.6 7.5 145 83
Waco 67.8 92 (1988) 45.8 17 (1976) 2.61 10.36 (1902) 4.26 (1952) 0.1 2.9 7.5 271 34
Wichita Falls 63.7 89 (1988) 40.1 14 (1950) 1.68 7.39 (1902) 3.15 (1902) 0.0 6.6 5.5 395 10
Shreveport, LA 66.8 88 (1984) 45.3 16 (1976) 4.68 10.81 (1987) 6.51 (1987) 0.0 3.0 8.9 296 24
Climatic averages are based on 1971-2000 monthly normals, which are provided by the National Climatic Data Center.
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