Texas Climate Report: March 2005
The month of March started off with little out of the ordinary occurring across much of the state. Temperatures started off slightly below normal, especially across the eastern half of the state. Precipitation was not a major problem in most areas, with little in the way of heavy rainfall. However, Galveston received 1.12" on the 2nd and 1.67" on the 7th.
Again, severe weather and precipitation were absent for the most part from the weather pattern in the week that followed. The 12th was the warmest day for the month for most first-order stations, but was quickly followed by an abrupt cooling trend. The 16th was reported to have the lowest average temperature for this March across most of the state.
Severe weather finally made its way into the picture on the 19th with numerous reports of large hail. Hail 2.00" in diameter was reported in Caldwell, with numerous reports of 1.75" hail across Southeast Texas. Temperatures were well below normal across the state starting off the third week of March but recovered to more normal levels by the end of the week.
The first tornado reports of the month came on the 25th, with two reports in Travis County just outside of Austin. The end of March brought air much cooler than normal across much of the state, with many first-order stations reporting temperatures more than ten degrees below average on the 26th and 27th. The 26th was also a soggy day across North Central Texas with rainfall totals of 0.91" in Dallas, 1.23" in Denton, and 1.06" in Paris.
For the month in general, stations had temperatures that were just slightly below normal, with the exception being Deep South Texas. The Edwards Plateau, South Central, and Upper Coastal regions experienced above normal precipitation, while North Central and East Texas were drier than average.
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 |
67.9 |
‑1.2 |
85 |
43.5 |
‑0.3 |
29 |
55.7 |
‑0.7 |
6 |
2.19 |
155% |
1.31 |
289 |
9 |
| Amarillo |
58.8 |
‑3.4 |
83 |
32.3 |
‑1.3 |
21 |
45.6 |
‑2.3 |
10 |
1.92 |
170% |
1.09 |
595 |
0 |
| Austin |
71.8 |
‑0.7 |
85 |
49.6 |
‑1.3 |
37 |
60.7 |
‑1.0 |
12 |
4.30 |
201% |
1.01 |
164 |
39 |
| Brownsville |
80.5 |
+2.5 |
92 |
58.5 |
‑1.0 |
45 |
69.5 |
+0.7 |
6 |
0.24 |
26% |
0.12 |
19 |
166 |
| College Station |
71.2 |
‑1.4 |
86 |
49.5 |
‑1.0 |
36 |
60.3 |
‑1.3 |
12 |
3.81 |
134% |
1.62 |
168 |
30 |
| Corpus Christi |
76.1 |
+0.3 |
94 |
56.5 |
+0.3 |
43 |
66.3 |
+0.3 |
13 |
2.46 |
141% |
1.20 |
56 |
101 |
| Dallas‑Fort Worth |
67.8 |
‑0.5 |
87 |
45.7 |
‑0.7 |
32 |
56.7 |
‑0.7 |
8 |
2.17 |
71% |
1.39 |
259 |
10 |
| Del Rio |
75.6 |
‑0.4 |
88 |
49.5 |
‑2.1 |
34 |
62.6 |
‑1.2 |
6 |
1.74 |
181% |
0.82 |
106 |
39 |
| El Paso |
67.5 |
‑2.7 |
79 |
43.2 |
‑0.5 |
29 |
55.4 |
‑1.6 |
3 |
0.08 |
31% |
0.06 |
293 |
2 |
| Galveston |
70.2 |
+0.2 |
81 |
57.2 |
‑1.0 |
45 |
63.7 |
‑0.4 |
6 |
3.92 |
142% |
1.67 |
91 |
59 |
| Houston |
72.0 |
‑1.3 |
86 |
51.4 |
+0.1 |
40 |
61.7 |
‑0.6 |
9 |
4.05 |
121% |
1.19 |
144 |
51 |
| Lubbock |
64.2 |
‑2.0 |
84 |
36.7 |
+0.5 |
26 |
50.5 |
‑0.7 |
6 |
0.73 |
96% |
0.30 |
444 |
0 |
| Midland |
66.8 |
‑4.1 |
80 |
38.9 |
‑1.9 |
29 |
52.8 |
‑3.1 |
4 |
0.45 |
107% |
0.20 |
371 |
0 |
| Port Arthur |
70.8 |
‑1.2 |
83 |
50.9 |
‑1.5 |
38 |
60.9 |
‑1.3 |
9 |
2.95 |
79% |
0.93 |
163 |
41 |
| San Angelo |
68.7 |
‑2.4 |
80 |
41.7 |
‑1.6 |
26 |
55.2 |
‑2.0 |
5 |
2.81 |
284% |
1.68 |
297 |
2 |
| San Antonio |
73.5 |
‑0.8 |
89 |
49.2 |
‑0.7 |
33 |
61.3 |
‑0.8 |
9 |
2.00 |
106% |
0.86 |
146 |
41 |
| Victoria |
74.7 |
+1.3 |
94 |
52.1 |
‑1.8 |
37 |
63.4 |
‑0.3 |
9 |
4.76 |
212% |
1.77 |
106 |
65 |
| Waco |
69.6 |
‑0.6 |
86 |
46.4 |
‑0.4 |
30 |
58.0 |
‑0.5 |
8 |
1.26 |
51% |
0.64 |
229 |
19 |
| Wichita Falls |
66.8 |
‑0.4 |
88 |
41.3 |
+0.2 |
31 |
54.0 |
‑0.2 |
4 |
0.41 |
18% |
0.24 |
334 |
5 |
| Shreveport, LA |
69.0 |
‑0.7 |
86 |
47.2 |
|
35 |
58.1 |
‑0.4 |
9 |
1.91 |
46% |
0.64 |
231 |
24 |
*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 |
| PRESIDIO |
PRESIDIO |
0.00 |
| BIG BEND RCH SP |
PRESIDIO |
0.00 |
| CORNUDAS SVC STN |
HUDSPETH |
0.00 |
| FT HANCOCK 8 SSE |
HUDSPETH |
0.00 |
| Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| REFUGIO 3 SW |
REFUGIO |
8.31 |
| Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| REFUGIO 3 SW |
REFUGIO |
5.33 |
| Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| STRATFORD |
SHERMAN |
42.0 |
| Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| DONNA |
HIDALGO |
71.5 |
| Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| CHANNING 2 |
HARTLEY |
55.4 |
| Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| GARCIASVILLE 2 ESE |
STARR |
84.3 |
| Highest Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| GARCIASVILLE 2 ESE |
STARR |
100 |
| Lowest Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| DEWEYVILLE |
NEWTON |
16 |
| ORANGE 9 N |
ORANGE |
16 |
| Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| STRATFORD |
SHERMAN |
26.0 |
| Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| PORT ISABEL |
CAMERON |
60.4 |
| Highest Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| CORPUS CHRISTI NAS |
NUECES |
71 |
| DONNA |
HIDALGO |
71 |
| MERCEDES 6 SSE |
HIDALGO |
71 |
| PORT ISABEL |
CAMERON |
71 |
| PORT MANSFIELD |
WILLACY |
71 |
| SOUTH PADRE ISLAND |
CAMERON |
71 |
| Lowest Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| DALHART MUNI AP |
DALLAM |
9 |
| STRATFORD |
SHERMAN |
9 |
New Monthly Records
| Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| PRESIDIO |
PRESIDIO |
0.00 |
0.00 (2002) |
78 |
| BIG BEND RCH SP |
PRESIDIO |
0.00 |
0.00 (2002) |
11 |
| CORNUDAS SVC STN |
HUDSPETH |
0.00 |
0.00 (2002) |
61 |
| FT HANCOCK 8 SSE |
HUDSPETH |
0.00 |
0.00 (2002) |
32 |
| TYLER |
SMITH |
1.95 |
1.96 (1996) |
22 |
| WACO |
MCLENNAN |
0.66 |
1.12 (2003) |
10 |
| Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| PORT O CONNOR |
CALHOUN |
7.03 |
4.63 (1979) |
44 |
| REFUGIO 3 SW |
REFUGIO |
8.31 |
7.42 (2000) |
10 |
| WELDER W'LIFE FOUND |
SAN PATRICIO |
8.06 |
7.74 (1992) |
37 |
| Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours Ever in the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| CHEAPSIDE |
GONZALES |
2.22 |
2.03 (1999) |
12 |
| COMMERCE 4SW |
HUNT |
1.80 |
1.69 (1999) |
10 |
| REFUGIO 3 SW |
REFUGIO |
5.33 |
5.03 (2000) |
10 |
| Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| KENT 8 SE |
JEFF DAVIS |
50.5 |
50.7 (1990) |
11 |
| Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| EL PASO 32 ENE |
HUDSPETH |
61.9 |
62.3 (1991) |
19 |
| Lowest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| DEWEYVILLE |
NEWTON |
16 |
37 (1989) |
18 |
| ORANGE 9 N |
ORANGE |
16 |
37 (1989) |
18 |
| Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| ACTON RCH |
CROCKETT |
35.2 |
36.3 (1996) |
13 |
| LA GRANGE |
FAYETTE |
44.7 |
44.9 (1965) |
41 |
Climatic Averages for April
| |
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 |
77.3 |
102 (1925) |
51.8 |
25 (1973) |
1.67 |
9.80 (1890) |
4.63 (1914) |
2.5 |
0.6 |
5.1 |
113 |
94 |
| Amarillo |
70.6 |
98 (1989) |
41.7 |
13 (1920) |
1.33 |
6.45 (1997) |
2.68 (1911) |
0.7 |
4.3 |
5.4 |
291 |
18 |
| Austin |
78.9 |
99 (1939) |
57.6 |
30 (1926) |
2.51 |
19.82 (1915) |
10.00 (1915) |
1.6 |
0.0 |
7.2 |
44 |
147 |
| Brownsville |
82.3 |
102 (1984) |
65.2 |
37 (1903) |
1.96 |
10.35 (1991) |
9.37 (1991) |
3.1 |
0.0 |
4.0 |
7 |
287 |
| College Station |
78.8 |
98 (1893) |
56.9 |
28 (1973) |
3.20 |
12.50 (1957) |
5.30 (1953) |
0.7 |
0.1 |
6.9 |
40 |
127 |
| Corpus Christi |
80.7 |
102 (1984) |
62.3 |
33 (1987) |
2.05 |
9.21 (2004) |
7.19 (1956) |
1.9 |
0.0 |
5.2 |
19 |
229 |
| Dallas‑Fort Worth |
75.9 |
100 (1925) |
54.0 |
29 (1989) |
3.20 |
17.64 (1922) |
8.81 (1922) |
0.9 |
0.2 |
7.2 |
74 |
72 |
| Del Rio |
82.7 |
106 (1984) |
58.5 |
33 (1987) |
1.71 |
7.51 (1981) |
4.57 (1969) |
6.6 |
0.0 |
5.2 |
27 |
207 |
| El Paso |
78.1 |
98 (1989) |
51.1 |
23 (1983) |
0.23 |
2.24 (1931) |
1.08 (1966) |
2.3 |
0.9 |
1.7 |
100 |
72 |
| Galveston |
75.2 |
92 (1953) |
64.7 |
38 (1938) |
2.56 |
11.04 (1904) |
9.23 (1904) |
0.0 |
0.0 |
5.5 |
15 |
163 |
| Houston |
79.1 |
95 (1987) |
57.9 |
31 (1987) |
3.60 |
10.92 (1976) |
8.16 (1976) |
0.9 |
0.1 |
7.0 |
48 |
147 |
| Lubbock |
74.7 |
100 (1989) |
45.4 |
18 (1920) |
1.29 |
6.18 (1915) |
2.18 (1997) |
1.6 |
1.4 |
5.0 |
182 |
48 |
| Midland |
78.8 |
101 (1996) |
48.6 |
20 (1973) |
0.73 |
3.59 (1931) |
2.00 (1931) |
3.8 |
0.9 |
3.2 |
120 |
77 |
| Port Arthur |
77.8 |
94 (1987) |
58.6 |
32 (1987) |
3.84 |
15.30 (1973) |
10.09 (1973) |
0.3 |
0.0 |
6.7 |
41 |
140 |
| San Angelo |
79.0 |
107 (1925) |
51.0 |
23 (1926) |
1.60 |
5.10 (1977) |
3.32 (1971) |
4.7 |
0.8 |
4.6 |
93 |
107 |
| San Antonio |
80.4 |
101 (1996) |
56.9 |
31 (1987) |
2.60 |
11.64 (1915) |
6.78 (1915) |
2.2 |
0.0 |
7.3 |
42 |
161 |
| Victoria |
79.2 |
100 (1920) |
60.1 |
33 (1987) |
2.97 |
11.70 (1997) |
9.87 (1991) |
0.8 |
0.0 |
6.4 |
28 |
181 |
| Waco |
77.6 |
101 (1963) |
54.2 |
27 (1975) |
2.99 |
13.37 (1957) |
5.09 (1957) |
1.4 |
0.2 |
6.7 |
77 |
111 |
| Wichita Falls |
75.5 |
102 (1972) |
49.3 |
24 (1975) |
2.62 |
8.50 (1957) |
4.09 (1967) |
1.9 |
0.7 |
6.5 |
140 |
66 |
| Shreveport, LA |
76.6 |
96 (1887) |
53.8 |
31 (1989) |
4.42 |
21.84 (1991) |
10.44 (1991) |
0.1 |
0.2 |
8.2 |
89 |
87 |
| Climatic averages are based on 1971-2000 monthly normals, which are provided by the National Climatic Data Center. |
