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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.

sep 2004 average temperatures
sep 2004 average precipitation

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.
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