Texas Climate Report: September 2003
A few events of severe weather in Texas occurred in the month of September. High wind and hail reports were numerous on the 4th, 7th, and the 9th-11th, and a tornado was reported in the Corpus Christi area on the 14th. The High Plains region was the recipient of most of the severe weather this month, caused by cold fronts moving across the state. The storms on the 9th and 10th were caused by a low pressure disturbance in South Texas.
Seventeen of the nineteen first-order stations topped off the month of September with temperatures below normal. Temperatures ranged from 0.1°F-4.3°F below average compared to the monthly normal readings. Midland and El Paso were the exceptions, with temperatures 1.1°F-2.2°F above normal respectively. Pertaining to precipitation, twelve first-order stations were above the monthly normal rainfall
Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Port Arthur, San Antonio, and Victoria reported quite impressive precipitation totals for the month: 15.13", 10.73", 9.70", 9.21", and 8.38", respectively. Cold fronts that caused severe weather in the northern portion of the state became stationary when they reached the South Central, Southern, Upper Coast, and Lower Valley regions of Texas. Stationary fronts over the course of the month acted as a track for one disturbance after another to saturate the same areas, especially Brownsville, causing minor flooding in the process. The month of September concluded with beautiful clear days, and cool crisp nights. The first taste of fall is officially here.
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 |
83.9 |
‑2.8 |
94 |
62.6 |
‑1.8 |
54 |
73.2 |
‑2.3 |
6 |
1.02 |
35% |
0.67 |
0 |
254 |
| Amarillo |
80.4 |
‑1.4 |
96 |
55.0 |
‑1.3 |
45 |
67.7 |
‑1.4 |
7 |
1.81 |
96% |
1.07 |
32 |
120 |
| Austin |
88.2 |
‑1.9 |
97 |
68.7 |
‑0.1 |
58 |
78.5 |
‑1.0 |
8 |
2.08 |
71% |
1.13 |
0 |
411 |
| Brownsville |
88.4 |
‑1.0 |
95 |
73.4 |
+0.8 |
67 |
80.9 |
‑0.1 |
16 |
15.13 |
285% |
5.31 |
0 |
485 |
| College Station |
85.4 |
‑5.5 |
92 |
67.5 |
‑1.0 |
56 |
76.5 |
‑3.2 |
8 |
6.25 |
160% |
2.81 |
0 |
354 |
| Corpus Christi |
86.3 |
‑3.6 |
96 |
71.7 |
+0.1 |
66 |
79.0 |
‑1.8 |
12 |
10.73 |
213% |
4.69 |
0 |
427 |
| Dallas‑Fort Worth |
84.1 |
‑3.6 |
93 |
64.9 |
‑2.3 |
56 |
74.5 |
‑3.0 |
6 |
3.99 |
165% |
2.70 |
0 |
294 |
| Del Rio |
87.2 |
‑3.4 |
96 |
69.3 |
‑0.1 |
62 |
78.2 |
‑1.8 |
7 |
3.36 |
163% |
2.48 |
0 |
403 |
| El Paso |
90.0 |
+2.9 |
96 |
65.1 |
+1.4 |
58 |
77.6 |
+2.2 |
3 |
0.08 |
5% |
0.04 |
0 |
386 |
| Galveston |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
9 |
6.89 |
120% |
1.46 |
N/A |
N/A |
| Houston |
86.3 |
‑3.0 |
92 |
69.0 |
+0.6 |
55 |
77.7 |
‑1.2 |
9 |
6.79 |
157% |
3.04 |
0 |
387 |
| Lubbock |
84.1 |
+0.7 |
95 |
57.5 |
‑0.9 |
47 |
70.8 |
‑0.1 |
3 |
0.19 |
7% |
0.17 |
9 |
189 |
| Midland |
85.8 |
‑0.3 |
95 |
64.3 |
+2.7 |
57 |
75.0 |
+1.1 |
2 |
0.86 |
37% |
0.85 |
0 |
306 |
| Port Arthur |
85.7 |
‑2.3 |
91 |
68.1 |
‑1.3 |
55 |
76.9 |
‑1.8 |
8 |
9.77 |
160% |
4.42 |
0 |
365 |
| San Angelo |
84.6 |
‑2.0 |
94 |
63.4 |
+0.4 |
55 |
74.0 |
‑0.8 |
4 |
3.16 |
107% |
2.70 |
0 |
279 |
| San Antonio |
85.7 |
‑4.3 |
94 |
67.7 |
‑1.1 |
57 |
76.7 |
‑2.7 |
13 |
9.21 |
307% |
2.81 |
0 |
357 |
| Victoria |
86.7 |
‑3.2 |
95 |
68.5 |
‑1.8 |
55 |
77.6 |
‑2.5 |
15 |
8.38 |
168% |
3.35 |
0 |
387 |
| Waco |
86.8 |
‑3.3 |
96 |
64.4 |
‑2.6 |
56 |
75.6 |
‑3.0 |
6 |
4.23 |
147% |
3.17 |
0 |
327 |
| Wichita Falls |
83.5 |
‑4.0 |
94 |
62.4 |
‑1.3 |
51 |
72.9 |
‑2.7 |
4 |
1.97 |
62% |
1.72 |
0 |
244 |
| Shreveport, LA |
85.4 |
‑2.2 |
90 |
65.5 |
‑0.9 |
52 |
75.4 |
‑1.6 |
7 |
2.93 |
91% |
1.28 |
1 |
320 |
*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 |
| LA TUNA 1 S |
EL PASO |
0.00 |
| LOS ANGELES 4 WSW |
LA SALLE |
0.00 |
| PORT O CONNOR |
CALHOUN |
0.00 |
| Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| FREEPORT 2 NW |
BRAZORIA |
17.11 |
| Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| HUNTSVILLE MUNI AP |
WALKER |
6.11 |
| Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| DALHART 6 SW |
HARTLEY |
64.5 |
| Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| SOUTH PADRE ISLAND |
CAMERON |
82.6 |
| Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| CHISOS BASIN |
BREWSTER |
77.3 |
| Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| CASTOLON |
BREWSTER |
95.2 |
| Highest Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| HEATH CANYON |
BREWSTER |
105 |
| Lowest Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| DALHART MUNI AP |
DALLAM |
60 |
| MT LOCKE |
JEFF DAVIS |
60 |
| Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| DALHART 6 SW |
HARTLEY |
49.4 |
| Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| SOUTH PADRE ISLAND |
CAMERON |
77.3 |
| Highest Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| SOUTH PADRE ISLAND |
CAMERON |
84 |
| Lowest Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| DIMMITT 2 N |
CASTRO |
35 |
| LIPSCOMB |
LIPSCOMB |
35 |
New Monthly Records
| Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| LA TUNA 1 S |
EL PASO |
0.00 |
0.00 (2002) |
54 |
| PORT O CONNOR |
CALHOUN |
0.00 |
0.00 (2000) |
43 |
| Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| MCALLEN MILLER INTL AP |
HIDALGO |
10.89 |
9.74 (1990) |
40 |
| ACKER RCH |
MCMULLEN |
8.23 |
6.59 (1995) |
22 |
| CALLIHAM |
MCMULLEN |
8.51 |
5.86 (1985) |
21 |
| CHOKE CANYON DAM |
LIVE OAK |
11.42 |
7.83 (2002) |
20 |
| CRANFILLS GAP |
BOSQUE |
8.11 |
4.00 (1996) |
12 |
| DACUS |
MONTGOMERY |
10.90 |
10.32 (1979) |
50 |
| HOUSTON NWSO |
GALVESTON |
16.23 |
12.26 (1998) |
14 |
| MASON |
MASON |
11.81 |
10.09 (1952) |
48 |
| MERCEDES 6 SSE |
HIDALGO |
15.59 |
14.02 (1971) |
83 |
| PLEASANTON |
ATASCOSA |
10.47 |
10.10 (2002) |
14 |
| SAN ANTONIO/SEAWORLD |
BEXAR |
7.94 |
5.03 (1988) |
15 |
| THREE RIVERS 8 NE |
LIVE OAK |
10.58 |
10.53 (2002) |
16 |
| WEST |
MCLENNAN |
6.66 |
4.10 (1995) |
11 |
| Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours Ever in the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| BREMOND |
ROBERTSON |
3.23 |
2.67 (1976) |
40 |
| CALLIHAM |
MCMULLEN |
3.63 |
3.20 (1982) |
21 |
| CHOKE CANYON DAM |
LIVE OAK |
4.02 |
2.57 (2002) |
20 |
| CRANFILLS GAP |
BOSQUE |
3.11 |
2.05 (1992) |
12 |
| MC LEAN |
GRAY |
5.37 |
5.10 (1981) |
47 |
| RICHLAND SPRINGS |
SAN SABA |
5.50 |
5.00 (1980) |
53 |
| SANFORD DAM |
HUTCHINSON |
1.71 |
1.35 (2002) |
10 |
| SHAMROCK 2 |
WHEELER |
4.92 |
3.52 (1988) |
40 |
| WEST |
MCLENNAN |
2.53 |
2.00 (1992) |
11 |
| Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| FT WORTH MEACHAM FLD |
TARRANT |
74.0 |
74.3 (2001) |
25 |
| CHOKE CANYON DAM |
LIVE OAK |
78.1 |
79.1 (2001) |
20 |
| FLATONIA |
FAYETTE |
74.5 |
74.9 (1979) |
88 |
| GAINESVILLE 5 ENE |
COOKE |
71.7 |
72.2 (1996) |
16 |
| LAKE ALAN HENRY |
GARZA |
71.9 |
72.1 (1996) |
10 |
| PLEASANTON |
ATASCOSA |
78.8 |
78.8 (2001) |
12 |
| Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| HONDO MUNI AP |
MEDINA |
85.4 |
85.4 (1991) |
26 |
| ACTON RCH |
CROCKETT |
83.3 |
84.0 (1993) |
12 |
| CHOKE CANYON DAM |
LIVE OAK |
86.6 |
88.4 (2002) |
20 |
| FLATONIA |
FAYETTE |
82.7 |
84.5 (2001) |
89 |
| FOWLERTON |
LA SALLE |
86.5 |
87.0 (1967) |
42 |
| GAINESVILLE 5 ENE |
COOKE |
81.0 |
81.2 (1991) |
16 |
| LAKE ALAN HENRY |
GARZA |
82.5 |
82.7 (1996) |
10 |
| LYTLE 3 W |
MEDINA |
86.0 |
87.2 (1994) |
27 |
| MATAGORDA 2 |
MATAGORDA |
84.5 |
84.5 (1979) |
56 |
| Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| LAKE ALAN HENRY |
GARZA |
61.4 |
61.5 (1996) |
10 |
| SOMERVILLE DAM |
BURLESON |
59.9 |
60.8 (1999) |
37 |
| Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| BROWNSVILLE |
CAMERON |
74.2 |
74.2 (1921) |
16 |
| Highest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| HOUSTON‑PORT |
HARRIS |
82 |
82 (2000) |
13 |
| LA TUNA 1 S |
EL PASO |
77 |
77 (1948) |
54 |
| SOUTH PADRE ISLAND |
CAMERON |
84 |
83 (1995) |
10 |
Climatic Averages for October
| |
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 |
77.6 |
103 (1979) |
54.4 |
23 (1993) |
2.90 |
10.88 (1941) |
6.08 (1981) |
2.2 |
0.3 |
6.2 |
93 |
118 |
| Amarillo |
71.8 |
99 (2000) |
44.6 |
12 (1993) |
1.50 |
7.64 (1941) |
3.03 (1998) |
0.8 |
2.3 |
5.0 |
239 |
26 |
| Austin |
81.4 |
100 (1938) |
59.8 |
30 (1993) |
3.97 |
12.63 (1925) |
7.51 (1998) |
4.4 |
0.0 |
7.4 |
32 |
207 |
| Brownsville |
84.0 |
99 (1900) |
65.9 |
35 (1993) |
3.78 |
17.12 (1958) |
9.09 (1996) |
6.2 |
0.0 |
7.3 |
6 |
332 |
| College Station |
82.0 |
102 (1938) |
59.0 |
29 (1993) |
4.22 |
18.77 (1994) |
13.39 (1994) |
3.2 |
0.1 |
7.6 |
25 |
196 |
| Corpus Christi |
83.6 |
98 (1950) |
64.0 |
28 (1993) |
3.94 |
12.03 (1997) |
7.96 (1995) |
5.5 |
0.0 |
6.7 |
12 |
300 |
| Dallas‑Fort Worth |
77.9 |
106 (1951) |
56.4 |
24 (1917) |
4.11 |
14.18 (1981) |
4.85 (1959) |
3.0 |
0.1 |
6.9 |
52 |
118 |
| Del Rio |
81.7 |
106 (1979) |
60.5 |
28 (1993) |
2.00 |
11.69 (1930) |
7.60 (1969) |
5.1 |
0.1 |
5.7 |
24 |
217 |
| El Paso |
77.9 |
96 (1994) |
51.8 |
25 (1970) |
0.81 |
5.15 (1884) |
1.84 (1883) |
2.4 |
0.5 |
4.9 |
89 |
71 |
| Galveston |
79.7 |
94 (1952) |
68.4 |
39 (1993) |
3.49 |
17.78 (1871) |
14.01 (1901) |
0.1 |
0.0 |
6.8 |
6 |
286 |
| Houston |
82.0 |
99 (1900) |
58.8 |
29 (1993) |
4.50 |
17.64 (1949) |
9.31 (1984) |
3.1 |
0.1 |
7.5 |
37 |
196 |
| Lubbock |
74.4 |
100 (2000) |
47.0 |
18 (1993) |
1.70 |
10.80 (1983) |
5.82 (1983) |
1.2 |
1.0 |
5.1 |
163 |
46 |
| Midland |
77.4 |
101 (2000) |
51.3 |
24 (1993) |
1.77 |
7.45 (1986) |
3.59 (1985) |
2.4 |
0.3 |
4.7 |
103 |
83 |
| Port Arthur |
80.5 |
99 (1905) |
59.6 |
30 (1993) |
4.67 |
15.09 (1970) |
9.26 (1902) |
1.5 |
0.1 |
6.5 |
34 |
195 |
| San Angelo |
77.8 |
100 (1951) |
53.0 |
26 (1997) |
2.57 |
8.68 (1981) |
5.11 (1959) |
2.7 |
0.3 |
5.6 |
84 |
112 |
| San Antonio |
82.0 |
99 (1991) |
59.4 |
27 (1993) |
3.86 |
18.07 (1998) |
13.35 (1998) |
4.9 |
0.0 |
6.9 |
33 |
215 |
| Victoria |
83.0 |
109 (1926) |
61.6 |
31 (1993) |
4.26 |
17.25 (1960) |
8.15 (1994) |
4.9 |
0.0 |
7.3 |
22 |
248 |
| Waco |
80.4 |
101 (1989) |
56.7 |
25 (1993) |
3.67 |
10.51 (1984) |
5.72 (1974) |
4.5 |
0.1 |
6.9 |
58 |
170 |
| Wichita Falls |
77.1 |
102 (2000) |
52.4 |
21 (1993) |
3.11 |
11.77 (1941) |
5.61 (1959) |
3.3 |
0.4 |
7.0 |
106 |
99 |
| Shreveport, LA |
78.3 |
99 (1938) |
55.0 |
28 (1993) |
4.45 |
14.02 (1949) |
6.83 (1949) |
1.8 |
0.2 |
7.4 |
78 |
119 |
| Climatic averages are based on 1971-2000 monthly normals, which are provided by the National Climatic Data Center. |
