Texas Climate Report: April 2004
The month of April was very eventful for the state of Texas. Temperatures in West Texas were about a degree below normal, while temperatures in most of East Texas were a little above normal. Precipitation was above normal for 15 of the 19 first-order stations. Lubbock, Midland, Victoria, and Waco had over 200% of their normal precipitation; Abilene had over 300%; and Corpus Christi and El Paso received over 400%. Impressive totals for the month included San Antonio (5.02"), Abilene (5.03"), Houston (5.56"), Victoria (6.29"), Waco (8.46"), and Corpus Christi (9.21").
Severe weather was very prominent across the state during the month. During the first week, a low pressure system slowly made its way across the state dropping large hail throughout Texas. The largest reports topped 4 inches in Reeves County on April 2nd and in Brewster County on April 5th. On the 6th, the same system caused five tornadoes in the Upper Coast region near Victoria. A cold front moved over the southern portion of the state on the 8th-10th and brought several more reports of hail including 4.25" in Montgomery County on the 10th. Easter weekend saw winter-like temperatures and wet weather across the state.
Following the passage of the cold front, a high pressure system moved over the state. Temperatures warmed up to the upper 70s and 80s during the second week, and only a trace of rain fell in the first-order stations between the 12th and the 16th. The end of the week also saw the first 90 degree temperatures in the state.
More severe weather hit on the week of the 19th as a cold front brought heavy rains to the state. Four tornadoes occurred in the Low Rolling Plains between Abilene and Wichita Falls on the 23rd. On the 24th and 25th, San Antonio and Victoria had over an inch of rain, College Station received 2.49", Waco recorded 4.91" of precipitation, and Corpus Christi shattered a record with 6.18" on the 25th. This was over 2 inches more than the previous record, set back in 1966. The month ended in fitting fashion as a low pressure system caused two tornadoes, one near San Angelo and the other near Wichita Falls, as well as several hail and wind reports. The largest hail fell in Coleman Country and was measured at 4.25" in diameter.
For the entire month, there were 17 tornadoes reported, 46 wind reports, and 290 hail reports. Of those reports, 10 of the wind reports were above 65 knots (75 mph), and 28 of the hail reports were larger than 2.00" in diameter.
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 |
74.1 |
‑3.2 |
88 |
52.0 |
+0.2 |
35 |
63.1 |
‑1.5 |
9 |
5.03 |
301% |
2.42 |
114 |
62 |
Amarillo |
67.2 |
‑3.4 |
85 |
43.2 |
+1.5 |
25 |
55.2 |
‑1.0 |
10 |
2.65 |
199% |
1.05 |
295 |
6 |
Austin |
77.3 |
‑1.6 |
87 |
59.3 |
+1.7 |
42 |
68.3 |
|
10 |
3.97 |
158% |
1.80 |
38 |
145 |
Brownsville |
82.4 |
+0.1 |
89 |
67.0 |
+1.8 |
49 |
74.7 |
+0.9 |
6 |
2.85 |
145% |
1.60 |
6 |
300 |
College Station |
78.5 |
‑0.3 |
86 |
59.1 |
+2.2 |
43 |
68.8 |
+0.9 |
9 |
4.20 |
131% |
1.38 |
40 |
162 |
Corpus Christi |
79.2 |
‑1.5 |
85 |
63.5 |
+1.2 |
47 |
71.3 |
‑0.2 |
8 |
9.21 |
449% |
6.18 |
21 |
219 |
Dallas‑Fort Worth |
75.8 |
‑0.1 |
84 |
56.5 |
+2.5 |
39 |
66.2 |
+1.2 |
10 |
2.96 |
92% |
2.00 |
57 |
100 |
Del Rio |
77.7 |
‑5.0 |
87 |
59.7 |
+1.2 |
42 |
68.7 |
‑1.9 |
10 |
3.34 |
195% |
1.52 |
29 |
150 |
El Paso |
75.1 |
‑3.0 |
85 |
52.5 |
+1.4 |
39 |
63.8 |
‑0.8 |
6 |
1.06 |
461% |
0.46 |
100 |
72 |
Galveston |
76.3 |
+1.1 |
81 |
64.8 |
+0.1 |
49 |
70.5 |
+0.5 |
6 |
2.50 |
98% |
1.06 |
21 |
196 |
Houston |
78.8 |
‑0.3 |
86 |
60.2 |
+2.3 |
46 |
69.5 |
+1.0 |
7 |
5.56 |
154% |
3.17 |
33 |
176 |
Lubbock |
72.4 |
‑2.3 |
88 |
48.1 |
+2.7 |
29 |
60.2 |
+0.2 |
8 |
2.98 |
231% |
1.01 |
172 |
37 |
Midland |
74.7 |
‑4.1 |
87 |
50.4 |
+1.8 |
37 |
62.5 |
‑1.2 |
4 |
1.88 |
258% |
1.56 |
113 |
47 |
Port Arthur |
77.7 |
‑0.1 |
83 |
58.7 |
+0.1 |
41 |
68.2 |
|
7 |
2.83 |
74% |
1.46 |
40 |
143 |
San Angelo |
75.8 |
‑3.2 |
90 |
52.0 |
+1.0 |
34 |
63.9 |
‑1.1 |
10 |
1.91 |
119% |
1.27 |
110 |
85 |
San Antonio |
76.7 |
‑3.7 |
84 |
57.7 |
+0.8 |
40 |
67.2 |
‑1.4 |
11 |
5.02 |
193% |
2.09 |
43 |
116 |
Victoria |
78.9 |
‑0.3 |
85 |
60.0 |
‑0.1 |
44 |
69.5 |
‑0.2 |
9 |
6.29 |
212% |
3.04 |
32 |
171 |
Waco |
76.0 |
‑1.6 |
86 |
57.4 |
+3.2 |
38 |
66.7 |
+0.8 |
11 |
8.46 |
283% |
5.07 |
54 |
112 |
Wichita Falls |
75.9 |
+0.4 |
89 |
51.2 |
+1.9 |
35 |
63.5 |
+1.1 |
9 |
1.83 |
70% |
0.59 |
103 |
69 |
Shreveport, LA |
76.3 |
‑0.3 |
87 |
54.5 |
+0.7 |
38 |
65.4 |
+0.2 |
8 |
5.17 |
117% |
2.05 |
75 |
93 |
Bold-italics indicate a value broke or tied the record from a previous year. *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 |
BOQUILLAS RS |
BREWSTER |
0.24 |
Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
Station |
County |
Value |
EL INDIO |
MAVERICK |
11.67 |
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours (inches) |
Station |
County |
Value |
CORPUS CHRISTI NAS |
NUECES |
7.38 |
Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
DALHART 6 SW |
HARTLEY |
50.9 |
Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
BROWNSVILLE INTL AP |
CAMERON |
74.7 |
Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
DALHART 6 SW |
HARTLEY |
65.2 |
Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
CASTOLON |
BREWSTER |
88.8 |
Highest Maximum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
BOQUILLAS RS |
BREWSTER |
101 |
Lowest Maximum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
PINE SPRINGS NP |
CULBERSON |
36 |
MT LOCKE |
JEFF DAVIS |
36 |
Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
DALHART 6 SW |
HARTLEY |
36.5 |
Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
PORT ISABEL |
CAMERON |
67.2 |
Highest Minimum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
BROWNSVILLE INTL AP |
CAMERON |
76 |
BROWNSVILLE |
CAMERON |
76 |
Lowest Minimum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
DALHART MUNI AP |
DALLAM |
22 |
DALHART 6 SW |
HARTLEY |
22 |
DIMMITT 2 N |
CASTRO |
22 |
LIPSCOMB |
LIPSCOMB |
22 |
MIAMI |
ROBERTS |
22 |
PANHANDLE |
CARSON |
22 |
New Monthly Records
Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
CORPUS CHRISTI INTL AP |
NUECES |
9.21 |
8.04 (1956) |
118 |
CORPUS CHRISTI NAS |
NUECES |
10.38 |
9.37 (1997) |
59 |
ACTON RCH |
CROCKETT |
3.89 |
2.29 (1997) |
10 |
AQUILLA 1 SSE |
HILL |
6.42 |
5.40 (1997) |
13 |
BANKERSMITH |
GILLESPIE |
8.86 |
6.32 (1997) |
20 |
CALLIHAM |
MCMULLEN |
6.20 |
5.56 (1992) |
25 |
CHALK MTN |
ERATH |
8.08 |
6.83 (1969) |
41 |
CHOKE CANYON DAM |
LIVE OAK |
6.67 |
5.68 (1997) |
20 |
COMFORT 2 |
KENDALL |
8.47 |
6.70 (1997) |
14 |
CRYSTAL CITY |
ZAVALA |
6.04 |
5.08 (1979) |
63 |
DE LEON 5 SW |
COMANCHE |
4.36 |
3.62 (1993) |
12 |
DENVER CITY |
YOAKUM |
6.05 |
2.10 (1993) |
14 |
EL PASO 32 ENE |
HUDSPETH |
1.46 |
0.80 (1991) |
21 |
EL INDIO |
MAVERICK |
11.67 |
6.94 (1981) |
26 |
FLAT |
CORYELL |
5.84 |
5.54 (1995) |
12 |
FT MCKAVETT |
MENARD |
5.57 |
2.64 (1999) |
10 |
FT DAVIS |
JEFF DAVIS |
4.03 |
3.98 (1987) |
86 |
FT HANCOCK 8 SSE |
HUDSPETH |
1.49 |
1.30 (1983) |
33 |
FRIONA |
PARMER |
4.81 |
4.01 (1952) |
67 |
GRANGER DAM |
WILLIAMSON |
6.61 |
6.34 (1997) |
24 |
HEATH CANYON |
BREWSTER |
2.50 |
1.84 (1997) |
10 |
HONDO |
MEDINA |
10.73 |
10.21 (1926) |
82 |
HUDSPETH RIVER RANCH |
VAL VERDE |
5.61 |
2.58 (1990) |
15 |
HUNT 10 W |
KERR |
6.83 |
4.30 (1997) |
12 |
INGRAM #2 |
KERR |
7.51 |
5.98 (1997) |
16 |
KERRVILLE 3 NNE |
KERR |
8.08 |
7.13 (1977) |
30 |
LEATHERWOOD RCH |
ERATH |
3.85 |
3.66 (1997) |
13 |
LEVELLAND |
HOCKLEY |
4.36 |
4.34 (1997) |
63 |
LYTLE 3 W |
MEDINA |
7.61 |
6.20 (1977) |
28 |
MEDINA 1NE |
BANDERA |
9.19 |
8.23 (1977) |
31 |
MERIDIAN |
BOSQUE |
7.85 |
7.08 (1990) |
21 |
MONAHANS |
WARD |
2.74 |
2.31 (1969) |
42 |
MULESHOE NWR |
BAILEY |
3.27 |
3.22 (1997) |
23 |
NEW SUMMERFIELD 2W |
CHEROKEE |
6.26 |
5.10 (1993) |
12 |
NORTHINGTON RCH |
KENDALL |
8.51 |
6.28 (1997) |
18 |
PEARSALL |
FRIO |
7.27 |
6.97 (1977) |
95 |
PINE SPRINGS |
CULBERSON |
2.81 |
2.66 (1942) |
24 |
PRADE RCH |
REAL |
8.36 |
6.84 (1977) |
39 |
REFUGIO 3 SW |
REFUGIO |
9.93 |
2.78 (1993) |
10 |
REFUGIO 2 NW |
REFUGIO |
8.74 |
4.77 (1995) |
17 |
ROCKPORT |
ARANSAS |
9.66 |
6.25 (1976) |
44 |
RUNGE |
KARNES |
9.87 |
9.54 (1949) |
103 |
SAN ANTONIO/SEAWORLD |
BEXAR |
8.58 |
7.99 (1991) |
16 |
SISTERDALE |
KENDALL |
8.86 |
7.21 (1997) |
13 |
THORNDALE |
MILAM |
6.21 |
5.58 (1977) |
36 |
THREE RIVERS 8 NE |
LIVE OAK |
7.83 |
7.40 (1992) |
16 |
TORNILLO 2 SSE |
EL PASO |
2.04 |
0.67 (1983) |
25 |
TOW |
LLANO |
6.48 |
5.50 (1997) |
27 |
VANDERPOOL 4N |
BANDERA |
5.83 |
4.05 (1997) |
10 |
WEST |
MCLENNAN |
6.88 |
6.54 (1995) |
11 |
WHITEHOUSE 2 SE |
SMITH |
8.23 |
6.68 (1997) |
12 |
WINTERS 1 NNE |
RUNNELS |
4.89 |
4.84 (1977) |
35 |
WOODSON |
THROCKMORTON |
6.12 |
3.61 (1950) |
15 |
YOUNGSPORT |
BELL |
6.92 |
4.36 (2000) |
11 |
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours Ever in the Month (inches) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
CORPUS CHRISTI NAS |
NUECES |
7.38 |
5.58 (1997) |
59 |
MCALLEN MILLER INTL AP |
HIDALGO |
3.56 |
3.29 (1966) |
42 |
ALICE |
JIM WELLS |
4.37 |
3.85 (1966) |
89 |
ANTELOPE |
JACK |
5.65 |
4.83 (1990) |
67 |
BANKERSMITH |
GILLESPIE |
3.55 |
2.78 (1990) |
20 |
BISHOP |
NUECES |
2.21 |
2.05 (1941) |
27 |
CHOKE CANYON DAM |
LIVE OAK |
2.49 |
2.14 (1985) |
20 |
COMFORT 2 |
KENDALL |
2.25 |
2.20 (1997) |
14 |
COTTONWOOD |
GILLESPIE |
4.30 |
3.80 (1977) |
83 |
DENVER CITY |
YOAKUM |
4.25 |
1.10 (1999) |
14 |
DIALVILLE 2 W |
CHEROKEE |
5.30 |
5.05 (1982) |
99 |
DUBLIN 2SE |
ERATH |
6.09 |
6.00 (1990) |
99 |
EL INDIO |
MAVERICK |
5.60 |
4.57 (1981) |
26 |
FT DAVIS |
JEFF DAVIS |
2.50 |
1.80 (1941) |
86 |
GORDONVILLE |
GRAYSON |
4.33 |
3.07 (2002) |
10 |
GRANGER DAM |
WILLIAMSON |
2.80 |
2.80 (1997) |
24 |
HEATH CANYON |
BREWSTER |
0.96 |
0.80 (1997) |
10 |
HONDO |
MEDINA |
4.63 |
4.50 (1926) |
82 |
HUDSPETH RIVER RANCH |
VAL VERDE |
2.80 |
1.42 (1990) |
15 |
HUNT 10 W |
KERR |
4.00 |
2.48 (1999) |
12 |
INGRAM #2 |
KERR |
3.26 |
2.62 (1943) |
16 |
KERRVILLE 3 NNE |
KERR |
3.64 |
2.60 (1977) |
30 |
KNAPP 2 SW |
SCURRY |
3.45 |
2.59 (1941) |
68 |
LAKE PALO PINTO |
PALO PINTO |
1.58 |
1.31 (1997) |
10 |
LEATHERWOOD RCH |
ERATH |
2.05 |
1.68 (1994) |
13 |
MULESHOE NWR |
BAILEY |
1.58 |
1.55 (1997) |
23 |
NEW SUMMERFIELD 2W |
CHEROKEE |
4.54 |
2.63 (2003) |
12 |
REFUGIO 3 SW |
REFUGIO |
3.47 |
1.40 (2000) |
10 |
ROBSTOWN |
NUECES |
4.35 |
3.78 (1969) |
56 |
TORNILLO 2 SSE |
EL PASO |
1.40 |
0.35 (1996) |
25 |
VALLEY MILLS |
BOSQUE |
3.31 |
2.10 (1996) |
12 |
VANDERPOOL 4N |
BANDERA |
2.70 |
1.62 (1995) |
10 |
WEST |
MCLENNAN |
5.00 |
3.00 (1995) |
11 |
WHITNEY DAM |
BOSQUE |
5.75 |
4.79 (1952) |
55 |
WOODSON |
THROCKMORTON |
3.74 |
2.42 (1951) |
15 |
Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
DENVER CITY |
YOAKUM |
72.7 |
73.8 (1990) |
13 |
KENT 8 SE |
JEFF DAVIS |
71.9 |
74.0 (1992) |
10 |
MASON |
MASON |
74.3 |
75.2 (1983) |
27 |
Lowest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
ACTON RCH |
CROCKETT |
50 |
53 (1997) |
10 |
ARANSAS WR |
ARANSAS |
57 |
59 (1997) |
42 |
BISHOP |
NUECES |
57 |
59 (1949) |
21 |
CANYON DAM |
COMAL |
49 |
49 (1987) |
41 |
DENVER CITY |
YOAKUM |
44 |
45 (2000) |
13 |
EL CAMPO |
WHARTON |
57 |
57 (1949) |
30 |
FOWLERTON |
LA SALLE |
55 |
55 (1997) |
42 |
GOLDTHWAITE 1 WSW |
MILLS |
49 |
49 (1997) |
41 |
KENT 8 SE |
JEFF DAVIS |
40 |
41 (1989) |
10 |
GEORGETOWN LAKE |
WILLIAMSON |
48 |
48 (1992) |
23 |
REFUGIO 2 NW |
REFUGIO |
56 |
57 (1997) |
17 |
Highest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
BROWNSVILLE |
CAMERON |
76 |
76 (2001) |
17 |
GAINESVILLE 5 ENE |
COOKE |
68 |
67 (2002) |
16 |
Climatic Averages for May
|
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 |
84.7 |
109 (2000) |
61.0 |
33 (1907) |
2.83 |
13.19 (1957) |
6.78 (1908) |
8.7 |
0.0 |
7.7 |
20 |
253 |
Amarillo |
78.6 |
103 (1996) |
51.7 |
26 (1907) |
2.50 |
9.81 (1951) |
6.75 (1951) |
4.0 |
0.1 |
8.3 |
94 |
90 |
Austin |
84.8 |
104 (1925) |
65.4 |
40 (1925) |
5.03 |
14.10 (1895) |
6.16 (1929) |
7.3 |
0.0 |
9.5 |
2 |
323 |
Brownsville |
86.9 |
102 (1999) |
71.6 |
41 (1895) |
2.48 |
9.12 (1982) |
7.38 (1929) |
11.9 |
0.0 |
5.0 |
0 |
457 |
College Station |
85.3 |
101 (1906) |
65.3 |
42 (1954) |
5.05 |
14.70 (1929) |
7.36 (1983) |
5.8 |
0.0 |
8.6 |
5 |
324 |
Corpus Christi |
85.6 |
103 (1984) |
69.5 |
45 (1925) |
3.48 |
10.44 (1941) |
6.60 (1926) |
5.5 |
0.0 |
6.6 |
0 |
402 |
Dallas‑Fort Worth |
83.2 |
107 (1927) |
63.0 |
34 (1903) |
5.15 |
13.66 (1982) |
6.99 (1908) |
5.3 |
0.0 |
9.0 |
13 |
265 |
Del Rio |
88.7 |
109 (2000) |
66.7 |
45 (1970) |
2.31 |
10.23 (1957) |
6.53 (2003) |
15.2 |
0.0 |
7.3 |
1 |
401 |
El Paso |
86.7 |
104 (1951) |
60.6 |
31 (1967) |
0.38 |
4.22 (1992) |
2.40 (1992) |
13.2 |
0.0 |
2.8 |
8 |
262 |
Galveston |
81.4 |
94 (1984) |
72.3 |
52 (1954) |
3.70 |
11.03 (1991) |
7.71 (1975) |
0.1 |
0.0 |
6.5 |
0 |
367 |
Houston |
85.5 |
99 (1996) |
66.1 |
44 (1978) |
5.15 |
15.87 (1907) |
10.36 (1989) |
6.4 |
0.0 |
8.2 |
2 |
328 |
Lubbock |
82.8 |
109 (2000) |
55.6 |
29 (1917) |
2.31 |
12.69 (1941) |
5.14 (1949) |
8.6 |
0.0 |
7.1 |
38 |
179 |
Midland |
86.8 |
108 (2000) |
58.8 |
34 (1970) |
1.79 |
7.63 (1992) |
4.75 (1968) |
12.5 |
0.0 |
6.1 |
18 |
254 |
Port Arthur |
84.3 |
101 (1905) |
66.4 |
45 (1917) |
5.83 |
20.58 (1923) |
12.76 (1923) |
2.5 |
0.0 |
7.2 |
1 |
324 |
San Angelo |
85.6 |
109 (2000) |
60.6 |
35 (1967) |
3.09 |
11.24 (1987) |
3.12 (1987) |
11.4 |
0.0 |
7.1 |
13 |
277 |
San Antonio |
86.0 |
103 (1989) |
65.5 |
43 (1984) |
4.72 |
14.07 (1935) |
6.82 (1937) |
8.3 |
0.0 |
9.2 |
1 |
344 |
Victoria |
85.1 |
102 (1928) |
68.1 |
45 (1954) |
5.12 |
14.66 (1993) |
8.45 (1972) |
6.3 |
0.0 |
7.4 |
1 |
368 |
Waco |
84.8 |
102 (1985) |
63.3 |
37 (1981) |
4.46 |
15.00 (1965) |
7.18 (1953) |
7.6 |
0.0 |
9.0 |
7 |
292 |
Wichita Falls |
83.5 |
110 (2000) |
59.3 |
36 (1979) |
3.92 |
13.22 (1982) |
5.70 (1975) |
7.9 |
0.0 |
8.6 |
23 |
220 |
Shreveport, LA |
83.2 |
102 (1998) |
62.7 |
42 (1960) |
5.25 |
14.47 (1884) |
8.35 (1908) |
3.9 |
0.0 |
9.6 |
8 |
242 |
Climatic averages are based on 1971-2000 monthly normals, which are provided by the National Climatic Data Center. |