Texas Climate Report: December 2004
Unlike the rest of 2004, December was much drier than normal. Despite some arctic air at the end of the month, a large portion of the state was above average for temperatures as well. The month began cool and dry with a cold front pushing through the state during the 5th-6th. The heaviest rainfall was in East Texas and along the Upper Coast, but totals barely exceeded an inch over those two days. A high pressure system settled over the state and temperatures warmed significantly until a dry cold front began to pass over on the 11th. Lows in the western half of the state dropped to the 20s and 10s during the middle of the month.
Another high pressure system warmed temperatures over their normals once again. On the 22nd, however, a large trough brought a mass of arctic air over the state. High temperatures dropped from the 60s and 70s to the 20s and 30s. A low pressure system brought heavy snow to much of the state giving many people a white Christmas. On the 24th-26th, snowfall totals reached as high as 12.5" in Victoria – a new daily and monthly record. Corpus Christi received 4.0", and Houston and Galveston saw snow on Christmas for the first time in their history.
The month ended with another warm up as highs reached near 80°F in the south. For the month, only Lubbock (103%) and Brownsville (132%) were above normal for precipitation. Temperatures were below normal across the entire southern half of the state with the exception of San Antonio. Temperatures in the northern half was well above normal for the month of December.
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 |
59.0 |
+2.1 |
72 |
35.5 |
+1.6 |
16 |
47.3 |
+1.9 |
2 |
0.73 |
57% |
0.43 |
542 |
0 |
| Amarillo |
53.9 |
+4.1 |
70 |
25.9 |
+1.8 |
0 |
39.9 |
+2.9 |
4 |
0.48 |
79% |
0.27 |
773 |
0 |
| Austin |
63.4 |
+1.1 |
80 |
41.5 |
‑0.4 |
24 |
52.5 |
+0.4 |
4 |
0.33 |
14% |
0.11 |
387 |
6 |
| Brownsville |
73.0 |
+2.8 |
85 |
51.7 |
‑0.3 |
28 |
62.4 |
+1.3 |
7 |
1.46 |
132% |
0.67 |
156 |
82 |
| College Station |
63.5 |
+0.7 |
78 |
41.5 |
|
25 |
52.5 |
+0.3 |
6 |
1.07 |
33% |
0.30 |
387 |
8 |
| Corpus Christi |
69.1 |
+1.1 |
87 |
45.2 |
‑2.9 |
22 |
57.1 |
‑1.0 |
2 |
0.48 |
27% |
0.27 |
265 |
29 |
| Dallas‑Fort Worth |
60.0 |
+3.5 |
75 |
37.7 |
+0.9 |
18 |
48.9 |
+2.2 |
3 |
0.65 |
25% |
0.57 |
494 |
2 |
| Del Rio |
64.5 |
+1.0 |
80 |
38.4 |
‑2.8 |
21 |
51.4 |
‑1.0 |
3 |
0.40 |
53% |
0.35 |
413 |
0 |
| El Paso |
54.8 |
‑2.6 |
67 |
32.7 |
‑0.7 |
16 |
43.8 |
‑1.6 |
4 |
0.36 |
47% |
0.34 |
654 |
0 |
| Galveston |
63.6 |
‑0.7 |
78 |
50.5 |
‑1.3 |
32 |
57.0 |
‑1.1 |
9 |
2.55 |
72% |
0.94 |
258 |
19 |
| Houston |
64.2 |
‑0.4 |
79 |
43.4 |
+0.6 |
28 |
53.8 |
+0.1 |
8 |
1.95 |
53% |
0.99 |
350 |
11 |
| Lubbock |
56.5 |
+3.3 |
75 |
28.0 |
+1.9 |
3 |
42.3 |
+2.6 |
5 |
0.69 |
103% |
0.50 |
697 |
0 |
| Midland |
57.3 |
‑1.1 |
73 |
31.2 |
|
16 |
44.2 |
‑0.6 |
4 |
0.11 |
17% |
0.06 |
632 |
0 |
| Port Arthur |
63.2 |
‑0.7 |
77 |
43.5 |
‑1.0 |
26 |
53.3 |
‑0.9 |
13 |
2.78 |
53% |
0.78 |
366 |
12 |
| San Angelo |
60.1 |
+0.8 |
75 |
33.0 |
‑0.5 |
17 |
46.6 |
+0.2 |
2 |
0.38 |
40% |
0.33 |
564 |
0 |
| San Antonio |
65.3 |
+1.3 |
81 |
41.0 |
+0.2 |
24 |
53.1 |
+0.7 |
2 |
0.08 |
4% |
0.06 |
368 |
7 |
| Victoria |
66.1 |
+0.9 |
80 |
42.8 |
‑2.4 |
21 |
54.4 |
‑0.8 |
8 |
1.91 |
77% |
1.52 |
332 |
12 |
| Waco |
61.3 |
+2.2 |
77 |
38.3 |
+0.8 |
21 |
49.8 |
+1.5 |
4 |
1.30 |
47% |
0.77 |
468 |
4 |
| Wichita Falls |
58.1 |
+3.6 |
73 |
32.8 |
+1.5 |
11 |
45.4 |
+2.5 |
3 |
0.76 |
45% |
0.54 |
599 |
0 |
| Shreveport, LA |
60.3 |
+1.8 |
75 |
37.4 |
‑0.9 |
22 |
48.8 |
+0.4 |
7 |
2.78 |
61% |
1.52 |
496 |
2 |
*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 |
| COTULLA LA SALLE CO AP |
LA SALLE |
0.00 |
| PRESIDIO |
PRESIDIO |
0.00 |
| BELMONT |
GONZALES |
0.00 |
| BIG WELLS 2W |
DIMMIT |
0.00 |
| CHARLOTTE 5 NNW |
ATASCOSA |
0.00 |
| EL INDIO |
MAVERICK |
0.00 |
| FLORESVILLE |
WILSON |
0.00 |
| HEATH CANYON |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
| KINGSBURY |
GUADALUPE |
0.00 |
| LANGTRY |
VAL VERDE |
0.00 |
| MEDINA 1NE |
BANDERA |
0.00 |
| MIDLAND 4 ENE |
MIDLAND |
0.00 |
| PEARSALL |
FRIO |
0.00 |
| POTEET |
ATASCOSA |
0.00 |
| RICHLAND SPRINGS |
SAN SABA |
0.00 |
| RIOMEDINA |
MEDINA |
0.00 |
| SABINAL |
UVALDE |
0.00 |
| SISTERDALE |
KENDALL |
0.00 |
| STERLING CITY 8 NE |
STERLING |
0.00 |
| STUDY BUTTE |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
| TERLINGUA RCH |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
| WHITEHOUSE 2 SE |
SMITH |
0.00 |
| Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| KOUNTZE |
HARDIN |
6.25 |
| Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| HEMPHILL 6 NE |
SABINE |
2.10 |
| Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| DALHART 6 SW |
HARTLEY |
34.9 |
| Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| BROWNSVILLE INTL AP |
CAMERON |
62.4 |
| Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| CHANNING 2 |
HARTLEY |
49.9 |
| Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| BROWNSVILLE INTL AP |
CAMERON |
73.0 |
| Highest Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| FALCON DAM |
STARR |
89 |
| Lowest Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| SANFORD DAM |
HUTCHINSON |
1 |
| Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| LIPSCOMB |
LIPSCOMB |
17.9 |
| Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| PORT ISABEL |
CAMERON |
52.2 |
| Highest Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| BROWNSVILLE |
CAMERON |
74 |
| Lowest Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| HART |
CASTRO |
-11 |
New Monthly Records
| Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| COTULLA LA SALLE CO AP |
LA SALLE |
0.00 |
0.00 (1977) |
90 |
| HONDO MUNI AP |
MEDINA |
0.02 |
0.07 (1990) |
27 |
| PRESIDIO |
PRESIDIO |
0.00 |
0.00 (1996) |
68 |
| BELLVILLE 6 NNE |
AUSTIN |
0.40 |
0.71 (1999) |
24 |
| BIG WELLS 2W |
DIMMIT |
0.00 |
0.00 (2003) |
78 |
| CALDWELL |
BURLESON |
0.58 |
0.60 (1985) |
41 |
| CALLIHAM |
MCMULLEN |
0.09 |
0.12 (1996) |
25 |
| CANYON DAM |
COMAL |
0.11 |
0.21 (1989) |
37 |
| CHARLOTTE 5 NNW |
ATASCOSA |
0.00 |
0.00 (1973) |
43 |
| CHEAPSIDE |
GONZALES |
0.10 |
0.21 (1948) |
11 |
| EL INDIO |
MAVERICK |
0.00 |
0.00 (2003) |
26 |
| FLAT |
CORYELL |
0.41 |
0.73 (2003) |
13 |
| FLORESVILLE |
WILSON |
0.00 |
0.00 (1995) |
83 |
| HEATH CANYON |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
0.00 (2003) |
10 |
| LANGTRY |
VAL VERDE |
0.00 |
0.00 (2003) |
49 |
| LYTLE 3 W |
MEDINA |
0.08 |
0.08 (1985) |
29 |
| MEDINA 1NE |
BANDERA |
0.00 |
0.00 (1999) |
32 |
| MIDLAND 4 ENE |
MIDLAND |
0.00 |
0.00 (2003) |
78 |
| NORTHINGTON RCH |
KENDALL |
0.23 |
0.25 (2003) |
19 |
| PEARSALL |
FRIO |
0.00 |
0.00 (2003) |
92 |
| POTEET |
ATASCOSA |
0.00 |
0.00 (1973) |
61 |
| RICHLAND SPRINGS |
SAN SABA |
0.00 |
0.00 (2003) |
53 |
| RIOMEDINA |
MEDINA |
0.00 |
0.00 (1990) |
67 |
| SABINAL |
UVALDE |
0.00 |
0.00 (1973) |
86 |
| SAN ANTONIO/SEAWORLD |
BEXAR |
0.07 |
0.14 (2003) |
14 |
| SEGUIN 1 SSW |
GUADALUPE |
0.01 |
0.17 (2003) |
13 |
| SISTERDALE |
KENDALL |
0.00 |
0.20 (2003) |
15 |
| SPEAKS 2 |
LAVACA |
0.50 |
0.51 (1967) |
37 |
| STERLING CITY 8 NE |
STERLING |
0.00 |
0.00 (2003) |
25 |
| TERLINGUA RCH |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
0.00 (2001) |
10 |
| VALLEY MILLS |
BOSQUE |
0.44 |
1.08 (1993) |
11 |
| WHITEHOUSE 2 SE |
SMITH |
0.00 |
1.94 (1993) |
13 |
| WIMBERLEY 1 NW |
HAYS |
0.14 |
0.36 (1990) |
20 |
| Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| BISHOP |
NUECES |
55.0 |
55.8 (1944) |
17 |
| Highest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| PORT ARANSAS |
NUECES |
80 |
79 (2003) |
16 |
| Lowest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| BISHOP |
NUECES |
35 |
40 (2000) |
20 |
| EDEN |
CONCHO |
24 |
25 (1972) |
39 |
| FREER |
DUVAL |
34 |
34 (1998) |
27 |
| ODESSA |
ECTOR |
27 |
28 (1980) |
11 |
| SANFORD DAM |
HUTCHINSON |
1 |
12 (1998) |
12 |
| STUDY BUTTE |
BREWSTER |
32 |
37 (1998) |
11 |
| VALENTINE |
JEFF DAVIS |
30 |
30 (1997) |
21 |
| Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| PLEASANTON |
ATASCOSA |
37.5 |
38.0 (1997) |
11 |
| TERLINGUA RCH |
BREWSTER |
31.4 |
31.7 (2000) |
11 |
| Highest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| BROWNSVILLE |
CAMERON |
74 |
74 (1909) |
17 |
| Lowest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| BISHOP |
NUECES |
23 |
28 (2003) |
17 |
| BROWNSVILLE |
CAMERON |
2 |
24 (1917) |
17 |
| DENVER CITY |
YOAKUM |
1 |
3 (1990) |
14 |
| DIMMITT 2 N |
CASTRO |
-8 |
-6 (1982) |
42 |
| FT WORTH WSFO |
TARRANT |
15 |
15 (1996) |
10 |
| FREER |
DUVAL |
18 |
18 (1966) |
29 |
| HART |
CASTRO |
-11 |
-7 (1987) |
18 |
| LAKE ALAN HENRY |
GARZA |
10 |
10 (1998) |
11 |
| SANFORD DAM |
HUTCHINSON |
-3 |
4 (1998) |
12 |
| SILVERTON |
BRISCOE |
-10 |
-6 (1989) |
42 |
| TULIA |
SWISHER |
-10 |
-4 (1990) |
56 |
Climatic Averages for January
| |
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 |
55.2 |
90 (1911) |
31.8 |
‑9 (1947) |
0.97 |
4.35 (1968) |
2.18 (1961) |
0.0 |
16.5 |
5.1 |
678 |
0 |
| Amarillo |
48.9 |
83 (1927) |
22.6 |
‑11 (1984) |
0.63 |
2.67 (1999) |
1.74 (1968) |
0.0 |
27.5 |
4.3 |
920 |
0 |
| Austin |
60.3 |
90 (1971) |
40.0 |
‑2 (1949) |
1.89 |
9.21 (1991) |
4.41 (1991) |
0.0 |
6.6 |
7.7 |
475 |
7 |
| Brownsville |
68.7 |
93 (1971) |
50.5 |
18 (1881) |
1.36 |
5.11 (1945) |
3.00 (1988) |
0.1 |
1.0 |
7.7 |
206 |
54 |
| College Station |
60.6 |
90 (1999) |
39.8 |
‑3 (1949) |
3.32 |
15.60 (1991) |
5.63 (1991) |
0.0 |
7.7 |
8.7 |
472 |
13 |
| Corpus Christi |
66.0 |
91 (1971) |
46.2 |
14 (1962) |
1.62 |
10.78 (1958) |
6.38 (1958) |
0.1 |
2.5 |
7.7 |
299 |
32 |
| Dallas‑Fort Worth |
54.1 |
93 (1911) |
34.0 |
‑2 (1949) |
1.90 |
9.07 (1932) |
4.01 (2002) |
0.0 |
13.4 |
7.1 |
650 |
3 |
| Del Rio |
62.8 |
92 (1911) |
39.7 |
12 (1918) |
0.57 |
4.12 (1931) |
1.91 (1994) |
0.0 |
5.9 |
4.8 |
423 |
2 |
| El Paso |
57.2 |
80 (1970) |
32.9 |
‑8 (1962) |
0.45 |
1.84 (1949) |
1.28 (1896) |
0.0 |
17.8 |
4.7 |
632 |
0 |
| Galveston |
61.9 |
78 (1989) |
49.7 |
11 (1886) |
4.08 |
10.75 (1991) |
5.38 (1923) |
0.0 |
1.9 |
10.5 |
316 |
18 |
| Houston |
62.3 |
87 (1902) |
41.2 |
5 (1930) |
3.68 |
13.11 (1891) |
5.89 (1891) |
0.0 |
6.3 |
10.5 |
427 |
15 |
| Lubbock |
51.9 |
87 (1914) |
24.4 |
‑16 (1963) |
0.50 |
4.05 (1949) |
1.96 (1939) |
0.0 |
24.8 |
4.2 |
818 |
0 |
| Midland |
56.8 |
84 (1974) |
29.6 |
‑8 (1962) |
0.53 |
4.99 (1939) |
2.56 (1939) |
0.0 |
19.3 |
3.9 |
680 |
0 |
| Port Arthur |
61.5 |
84 (1909) |
42.9 |
11 (1930) |
5.69 |
14.87 (1991) |
6.94 (1998) |
0.0 |
4.9 |
10.2 |
411 |
11 |
| San Angelo |
57.9 |
91 (1911) |
31.8 |
1 (1947) |
0.82 |
3.65 (1961) |
2.49 (1961) |
0.0 |
16.4 |
5.1 |
617 |
0 |
| San Antonio |
62.1 |
89 (1971) |
38.6 |
0 (1949) |
1.66 |
8.52 (1968) |
3.18 (1968) |
0.0 |
7.8 |
7.6 |
455 |
7 |
| Victoria |
62.8 |
88 (1971) |
43.6 |
12 (1949) |
2.44 |
7.76 (1991) |
4.70 (1991) |
0.0 |
4.1 |
8.8 |
372 |
18 |
| Waco |
57.0 |
90 (1943) |
35.1 |
‑5 (1949) |
1.90 |
6.56 (1932) |
4.79 (1998) |
0.0 |
12.4 |
7.4 |
589 |
2 |
| Wichita Falls |
52.1 |
87 (1969) |
28.9 |
‑12 (1947) |
1.12 |
4.48 (1968) |
2.25 (1919) |
0.0 |
20.5 |
4.9 |
762 |
0 |
| Shreveport, LA |
56.2 |
85 (1950) |
36.5 |
‑2 (1930) |
4.60 |
12.96 (1999) |
7.52 (1885) |
0.0 |
12.7 |
9.7 |
597 |
6 |
| Climatic averages are based on 1971-2000 monthly normals, which are provided by the National Climatic Data Center. |
