Texas Climate Report: September 2004
The state of Texas experienced an abnormal September in many ways. The month began with a continuation of cool, dry weather from August. The Gulf Coast experienced some heavy showers with Galveston recording 1.89" of rain on the 3rd and Corpus Christi receiving 3.89" on the 4th. A cold front moved across the state beginning on the 5th, and high temperatures dropped to the 80s across the state. A high pressure system then settled over the state, and the weather was warm and dry for over a week. A few scattered showers appeared during the end of the second week of September, but little else occurred until the third week of the month. Showers began to soak most of west Texas beginning on the 20th due to a low pressure system in the southwest United States. A frontal system that began to move over the state on the 22nd became stationary and dropped copious amounts of rain on several stations. From the 22nd-28th, rainfall totals topped 2 inches: Amarillo (3.28"), Del Rio (3.04"), Lubbock (4.37"), Midland (4.32"), and San Angelo (2.01"). There were also some reports of hail during these days including 2.50" in Tom Green County on the 23rd.
Also during this time, an event with little precedence occurred – the remnants of Hurricane Ivan curved back into the Gulf, and it intensified back to tropical storm strength. The storm hit land again just east of Port Arthur, and moved parallel to the coast bringing over an inch of rain to Port Arthur and Corpus Christi. For the month, the western half of the state was wet and cool while the eastern half received little rainfall and hot temperatures. Five stations had less than an inch of rain for the entire month: Abilene, El Paso, Waco, Wichita Falls, and College Station (2nd driest September ever).
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 |
85.4 |
‑1.3 |
93 |
62.4 |
‑2.0 |
46 |
73.9 |
‑1.6 |
4 |
0.20 |
7% |
0.12 |
1 |
275 |
| Amarillo |
82.6 |
+0.8 |
97 |
57.3 |
+1.0 |
45 |
70.0 |
+0.9 |
8 |
3.80 |
202% |
1.76 |
18 |
175 |
| Austin |
90.6 |
+0.5 |
96 |
69.5 |
+0.7 |
63 |
80.0 |
+0.5 |
3 |
1.57 |
54% |
1.43 |
0 |
458 |
| Brownsville |
90.5 |
+1.1 |
93 |
73.2 |
+0.6 |
69 |
81.8 |
+0.8 |
15 |
4.05 |
76% |
1.30 |
0 |
513 |
| College Station |
91.2 |
+0.3 |
99 |
70.2 |
+1.7 |
63 |
80.7 |
+1.0 |
4 |
0.26 |
7% |
0.13 |
0 |
477 |
| Corpus Christi |
89.6 |
‑0.3 |
95 |
72.5 |
+0.9 |
68 |
81.0 |
+0.2 |
12 |
8.73 |
174% |
3.89 |
0 |
488 |
| Dallas‑Fort Worth |
89.1 |
+1.4 |
96 |
67.6 |
+0.4 |
59 |
78.4 |
+0.9 |
3 |
1.02 |
42% |
0.78 |
0 |
407 |
| Del Rio |
89.1 |
‑1.5 |
97 |
69.2 |
‑0.2 |
57 |
79.2 |
‑0.8 |
7 |
3.96 |
192% |
2.05 |
0 |
434 |
| El Paso |
85.2 |
‑1.9 |
97 |
62.4 |
‑1.3 |
55 |
73.8 |
‑1.6 |
7 |
0.89 |
55% |
0.56 |
1 |
274 |
| Galveston |
89.0 |
+2.5 |
96 |
76.9 |
+1.3 |
73 |
83.0 |
+1.9 |
3 |
2.44 |
42% |
1.89 |
0 |
547 |
| Houston |
91.4 |
+2.1 |
98 |
71.0 |
+2.6 |
64 |
81.2 |
+2.3 |
5 |
1.01 |
23% |
1.01 |
0 |
495 |
| Lubbock |
82.1 |
‑1.3 |
94 |
58.9 |
+0.5 |
47 |
70.5 |
‑0.4 |
9 |
5.38 |
209% |
2.33 |
12 |
185 |
| Midland |
83.4 |
‑2.7 |
98 |
62.7 |
+1.1 |
50 |
73.1 |
‑0.8 |
12 |
5.31 |
230% |
2.39 |
1 |
251 |
| Port Arthur |
91.1 |
+3.1 |
99 |
70.3 |
+0.9 |
60 |
80.7 |
+2.0 |
6 |
1.75 |
29% |
1.20 |
0 |
479 |
| San Angelo |
85.9 |
‑0.7 |
95 |
63.3 |
+0.3 |
46 |
74.6 |
‑0.2 |
7 |
2.05 |
69% |
1.48 |
0 |
296 |
| San Antonio |
90.5 |
+0.5 |
95 |
70.5 |
+1.7 |
64 |
80.5 |
+1.1 |
6 |
1.92 |
64% |
0.63 |
0 |
472 |
| Victoria |
90.9 |
+1.0 |
96 |
69.6 |
‑0.7 |
60 |
80.2 |
+0.1 |
9 |
2.54 |
51% |
1.44 |
0 |
467 |
| Waco |
90.3 |
+0.2 |
97 |
65.3 |
‑1.7 |
55 |
77.8 |
‑0.8 |
3 |
0.80 |
28% |
0.79 |
0 |
390 |
| Wichita Falls |
89.1 |
+1.6 |
99 |
63.8 |
+0.1 |
52 |
76.5 |
+0.9 |
5 |
0.99 |
31% |
0.97 |
0 |
351 |
| Shreveport, LA |
89.0 |
+1.4 |
98 |
67.7 |
+1.3 |
59 |
78.3 |
+1.3 |
4 |
3.61 |
112% |
3.21 |
0 |
406 |
*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 |
| FERRIS |
ELLIS |
0.00 |
| QUANAH 2 SW |
HARDEMAN |
0.00 |
| Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| MULESHOE 19 S |
BAILEY |
13.02 |
| Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| BORGER |
HUTCHINSON |
6.27 |
| Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| MT LOCKE |
JEFF DAVIS |
64.5 |
| Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| ROCKPORT |
ARANSAS |
83.4 |
| Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| MT LOCKE |
JEFF DAVIS |
75.6 |
| Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| GARCIASVILLE 2 ESE |
STARR |
93.7 |
| Highest Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| WINKLER CO AP |
WINKLER |
105 |
| HEATH CANYON |
BREWSTER |
105 |
| Lowest Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| DALHART 6 SW |
HARTLEY |
55 |
| STRATFORD |
SHERMAN |
55 |
| Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| DALHART 6 SW |
HARTLEY |
50.9 |
| Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| SOUTH PADRE ISLAND |
CAMERON |
78.0 |
| Highest Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| PORT ARANSAS |
NUECES |
82 |
| SOUTH PADRE ISLAND |
CAMERON |
82 |
| Lowest Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| VEGA 2 NW |
OLDHAM |
37 |
New Monthly Records
| Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| BAYTOWN |
HARRIS |
0.59 |
1.28 (1993) |
22 |
| CEDAR CREEK 5 S |
BASTROP |
0.40 |
0.75 (1988) |
24 |
| CENTERVILLE |
LEON |
0.12 |
0.47 (1952) |
64 |
| CORRIGAN 1 ENE |
POLK |
1.20 |
2.33 (1993) |
12 |
| FERRIS |
ELLIS |
0.00 |
0.00 (1956) |
55 |
| FRANKLIN |
ROBERTSON |
0.38 |
0.47 (1999) |
39 |
| HEMPHILL 6 NE |
SABINE |
0.91 |
1.07 (1993) |
11 |
| HORDS CREEK DAM |
COLEMAN |
0.10 |
0.22 (1999) |
52 |
| LAKE BRIDGEPORT DAM |
WISE |
0.41 |
0.62 (1948) |
11 |
| LAKE FORK RSVR |
WOOD |
0.48 |
0.64 (1994) |
16 |
| NEW SUMMERFIELD 2W |
CHEROKEE |
0.70 |
0.92 (1999) |
11 |
| QUANAH 2 SW |
HARDEMAN |
0.00 |
0.00 (1938) |
97 |
| ROSSER |
KAUFMAN |
0.22 |
0.30 (1956) |
60 |
| SISTERDALE |
KENDALL |
0.27 |
0.30 (1999) |
14 |
| THOMPSONS 3 WSW |
FORT BEND |
0.17 |
0.45 (1975) |
47 |
| WATSON |
BURNET |
0.24 |
0.52 (1999) |
37 |
| Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| ACTON RCH |
CROCKETT |
5.24 |
4.24 (1996) |
12 |
| BORGER |
HUTCHINSON |
7.29 |
5.19 (1950) |
56 |
| DALHART 6 SW |
HARTLEY |
3.05 |
2.81 (1990) |
15 |
| DELL CITY 5 SSW |
HUDSPETH |
4.90 |
4.77 (1991) |
25 |
| DENVER CITY |
YOAKUM |
10.97 |
4.52 (1991) |
15 |
| DIMMITT 2 N |
CASTRO |
9.68 |
5.84 (1986) |
46 |
| HEATH CANYON |
BREWSTER |
3.05 |
2.33 (1997) |
10 |
| HEREFORD |
DEAF SMITH |
7.83 |
5.29 (1999) |
72 |
| MULESHOE #1 |
BAILEY |
9.12 |
5.16 (1927) |
81 |
| SANFORD DAM |
HUTCHINSON |
4.89 |
3.94 (1996) |
11 |
| TERLINGUA RCH |
BREWSTER |
4.40 |
3.01 (1995) |
11 |
| Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours Ever in the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| ACTON RCH |
CROCKETT |
2.54 |
2.07 (1996) |
12 |
| BORGER |
HUTCHINSON |
6.27 |
3.05 (1978) |
56 |
| DELL CITY 5 SSW |
HUDSPETH |
1.70 |
1.49 (1996) |
25 |
| DENVER CITY |
YOAKUM |
5.61 |
1.95 (1991) |
15 |
| DIMMITT 2 N |
CASTRO |
4.15 |
3.71 (1986) |
46 |
| EL PASO 32 ENE |
HUDSPETH |
1.75 |
1.25 (1996) |
21 |
| FRIONA |
PARMER |
2.30 |
2.05 (1964) |
67 |
| MULESHOE #1 |
BAILEY |
4.41 |
3.82 (1981) |
81 |
| SANFORD DAM |
HUTCHINSON |
3.60 |
1.71 (2003) |
11 |
| TERLINGUA RCH |
BREWSTER |
1.65 |
1.11 (1993) |
11 |
| VALLEY MILLS |
BOSQUE |
3.55 |
3.00 (2001) |
10 |
| Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| TERLINGUA RCH |
BREWSTER |
72.4 |
72.4 (1993) |
11 |
| Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| THOMPSONS 3 WSW |
FORT BEND |
82.1 |
81.7 (1995) |
41 |
| Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| HEATH CANYON |
BREWSTER |
92.6 |
94.6 (2003) |
10 |
| Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| ROCKPORT |
ARANSAS |
92.0 |
91.2 (1995) |
45 |
| Highest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| ALVIN |
BRAZORIA |
99 |
99 (1995) |
36 |
| THOMPSONS 3 WSW |
FORT BEND |
100 |
100 (1999) |
43 |
| Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| MCALLEN |
HIDALGO |
64.8 |
67.2 (1974) |
59 |
| TERLINGUA RCH |
BREWSTER |
59.1 |
59.6 (1994) |
11 |
| Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| SOUTH PADRE ISLAND |
CAMERON |
78.0 |
77.7 (1995) |
11 |
| Highest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| DALHART 6 SW |
HARTLEY |
66 |
64 (1989) |
12 |
| DENVER CITY |
YOAKUM |
69 |
68 (2000) |
14 |
| DIMMITT 2 N |
CASTRO |
65 |
65 (1995) |
42 |
| MORTON |
COCHRAN |
70 |
67 (2000) |
39 |
| OLTON |
LAMB |
67 |
67 (2000) |
34 |
| PINE SPRINGS |
CULBERSON |
70 |
70 (2001) |
16 |
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. |
