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Texas Climate Report: March 2006

This March started off very warm for most of the state. Record highs were set all around the state with temperatures in the low-to-mid 90s! Abilene and San Angelo both reported record highs on the 1st with a high of 95°F and DFW set a new record with 93°F. Wichita Falls reached 98°F topping the previous record of 92°F. However, relief was on the way.

A cold front moved through these areas of the state and helped to drop the temperatures. On the 8th and 9th storms developed in the Low Rolling Plains region and produced some hail and most of the central portion of the state reported light precipitation. Nevertheless, temperatures during this period continued to be above average for most of the state. Lubbock reported a record high of 88°F on the 7th. The next weather system that moved through proved to be the story of the month.

On the 18th and 19th a strong cold front began pushing its way across the state. As the front approached, it set off a training effect over a southwest-to-northeast line, including Abilene and Dallas/Fort Worth, on the 18th overnight into the 19th. Abilene reported maximum daily rainfall records for the 18th with a total of 1.61". The Dallas/Fort Worth area also reported record rainfall. On the 19th the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport reported 3.44", Love Field reported 6.90", and Arlington reported 6.08"! This heavy rainfall caused widespread problems in the Metroplex due to flooding. Also associated with this front were severe storms. As the front moved through, a squall line formed in West Texas and moved all the way across the state. The most severe weather was located in the South Central and Edwards Plateau regions of the state. A tornado was reported near Uvalde during the night between the 19th and 20th. However, despite the severe weather and heavy rains that were associated with the front, the cold air behind the front brought welcome relief to the above average temperatures the state had been expecting for the first half of the month. Amarillo reported low temperatures of 20°F, 19°F, and 22°F on the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd, respectively. Amarillo also reported 0.8" of snow on the 22nd. The 24th saw many stations in Central Texas set record low temperatures. College Station tied a record low temperature with 31°F, Austin recorded a record low temperature of 28°F, San Antonio set a low temperature record with 34°F, and DFW reported a record low of 30°F. Houston reported a record low temperature of 36°F on the 25th.

Another weak front moved slowly across the state during the 27th and 28th. The front stalled for a few hours just west of Waco and produced heavy rains in Austin and College Station. Austin Mabry reported 3.26" and College Station reported 2.87" on the 28th. These rainfall totals set new records for maximum daily rainfall totals in both locations. The Austin Mabry total also set a new record for the highest daily rainfall total during the month of March.

Overall, temperatures around the state were 3°F-4°F above normal. Areas along the coast were, on average, 4°F above normal and received 34% of their normal rainfall. South Texas was well below average for precipitation and well above average for average temperatures. This has put South Texas under exceptional drought conditions according to the United States Drought Monitor. Areas in the North and West of the state are seeing improved conditions. However, the Climate Prediction Center has predicted above average temperatures for the entire state for the month of April. Hopefully, April can bring some showers and cooler temperatures to the southern areas of the state.

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 71.8 +2.7 95 48.5 +4.7 26 60.2 +3.8 5 2.61 185% 1.61 207 66
Amarillo 61.6 ‑0.6 82 34.8 +1.2 19 48.2 +0.3 6 1.56 138% 0.95 514 2
Austin 76.3 +3.8 91 55.2 +4.3 34 65.7 +4.0 10 7.54 352% 3.46 91 120
Brownsville 82.7 +4.7 97 65.2 +5.7 43 74.0 +5.2 2 0.42 45% 0.23 23 308
College Station 74.5 +1.9 86 55.2 +4.7 31 64.9 +3.3 6 4.80 169% 2.87 101 106
Corpus Christi 80.8 +5.0 91 61.7 +5.5 37 71.2 +5.2 5 0.33 19% 0.23 41 241
Dallas‑Fort Worth 72.6 +4.3 93 51.7 +5.3 30 62.1 +4.7 6 4.40 144% 3.44 170 89
Del Rio 79.8 +3.8 93 56.0 +4.4 33 67.9 +4.1 3 0.16 17% 0.12 63 160
El Paso 72.4 +2.2 83 45.7 +2.0 32 59.0 +2.0 0 0.00 0% 0.00 189 12
Galveston 73.6 +3.6 84 61.0 +2.8 44 67.3 +3.2 5 1.35 49% 1.08 44 124
Houston 75.2 +1.9 85 55.9 +4.6 36 65.6 +3.3 9 2.36 70% 1.45 90 116
Lubbock 67.4 +1.2 89 40.4 +4.2 26 53.9 +2.7 5 1.62 213% 1.06 347 11
Midland 70.4 ‑0.5 89 44.5 +3.7 24 57.4 +1.5 6 1.78 424% 1.00 243 18
Port Arthur 75.7 +3.7 82 56.0 +3.6 36 65.8 +3.6 6 1.43 38% 0.72 74 107
San Angelo 74.0 +2.9 95 47.7 +4.4 23 60.9 +3.7 4 1.92 194% 1.04 183 63
San Antonio 79.2 +4.9 93 55.9 +6.0 32 67.5 +5.4 7 1.36 72% 0.88 73 160
Victoria 78.6 +5.2 88 55.1 +1.2 28 66.9 +3.2 3 0.45 20% 0.30 87 151
Waco 73.6 +3.4 86 51.3 +4.5 31 62.4 +3.9 10 3.27 132% 1.48 149 80
Wichita Falls 71.9 +4.7 98 46.2 +5.1 27 59.1 +4.9 7 2.74 121% 1.77 238 63
Shreveport, LA 71.6 +1.9 87 50.6 +3.4 32 61.1 +2.6 8 5.07 121% 2.36 179 67
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.

mar 2006 average temperatures
mar 2006 average precipitation

Monthly Extremes

Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value
PRESIDIO PRESIDIO 0.00
EL PASO INTL AP EL PASO 0.00
MARFA MUNI AP PECOS 0.00
BALMORHEA REEVES 0.00
BIG BEND RCH SP PRESIDIO 0.00
CASTOLON BREWSTER 0.00
DELL CITY 5 SSW HUDSPETH 0.00
EL PASO #2 EL PASO 0.00
FORT STOCKTON 38SE PECOS 0.00
LAJITAS BREWSTER 0.00
LOMA ALTA MCMULLEN 0.00
MARATHON BREWSTER 0.00
MARFA 2 PRESIDIO 0.00
PANTHER JUNCTION BREWSTER 0.00
STUDY BUTTE BREWSTER 0.00
TERLINGUA RCH BREWSTER 0.00
TORNILLO 2 SSE EL PASO 0.00
Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value
CLARKSVILLE 2NE RED RIVER 10.15
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours (inches)
Station County Value
DALLAS LOVE FLD DALLAS 6.90
Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
HARTLEY HARTLEY 45.5
Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
MCALLEN MILLER INTL AP HIDALGO 74.8
Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
DUMAS MOORE 59.4
Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
HEATH CANYON BREWSTER 89.5
Highest Maximum Temperature  (°F)
Station County Value
BENAVIDES 2 DUVAL 101
HEATH CANYON BREWSTER 101
LA JOYA HIDALGO 101
ZAPATA 1 S ZAPATA 101
Lowest Maximum Temperature  (°F)
Station County Value
CHANNING 2 HARTLEY 28
FRIONA PARMER 28
SANFORD DAM HUTCHINSON 28
VEGA 2 NW OLDHAM 28
Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
BRAVO HARTLEY 30.0
HARTLEY HARTLEY 30.0
Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
PORT ISABEL CAMERON 66.5
Highest Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
HARLINGEN RIO GRANDE AP CAMERON 74
Lowest Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
DENISON DAM GRAYSON -20

New Monthly Records

Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
PRESIDIO PRESIDIO 0.00 0.00 (2005) 79
EL PASO INTL AP EL PASO 0.00 0.00 (2002) 127
BALMORHEA REEVES 0.00 0.00 (2002) 81
BIG BEND RCH SP PRESIDIO 0.00 0.00 (2005) 12
CASTOLON BREWSTER 0.00 0.00 (2002) 29
DELL CITY 5 SSW HUDSPETH 0.00 0.00 (1996) 25
DEL RIO 2 NW VAL VERDE 0.05 0.15 (2002) 10
HUNT 10 W KERR 0.33 0.71 (1996) 13
LAJITAS BREWSTER 0.00 0.00 (2002) 25
MARATHON BREWSTER 0.00 0.00 (2002) 64
MARFA 2 PRESIDIO 0.00 0.00 (1982) 43
PANTHER JUNCTION BREWSTER 0.00 0.00 (2002) 51
STUDY BUTTE BREWSTER 0.00 0.00 (1998) 12
TERLINGUA RCH BREWSTER 0.00 0.00 (2002) 12
TORNILLO 2 SSE EL PASO 0.00 0.00 (1996) 26
Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
AUSTIN‑CAMP MABRY TRAVIS 7.54 7.23 (1926) 111
BURLESON JOHNSON 7.22 7.05 (2002) 18
COPPERAS COVE 5 NW CORYELL 7.25 4.83 (1985) 22
DRIPPING SPRINGS 6 E HAYS 5.40 4.74 (1990) 22
KOPPERL 5 NNE HILL 4.82 4.82 (2001) 19
LEATHERWOOD RCH ERATH 6.95 4.90 (1998) 14
MORGAN MILL ERATH 5.73 4.55 (1977) 52
ROSSER KAUFMAN 6.58 6.22 (1992) 59
WATER VALLEY 11 NNE COKE 4.68 3.77 (1979) 45
WAXAHACHIE ELLIS 7.55 7.30 (1977) 103
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours Ever in the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
AUSTIN‑CAMP MABRY TRAVIS 3.46 3.00 (1900) 111
DALLAS LOVE FLD DALLAS 6.90 6.02 (1977) 93
BISHOP NUECES 2.29 1.92 (1936) 30
BURLESON JOHNSON 4.60 3.00 (2002) 18
CLEBURNE 7 SE JOHNSON 3.10 2.78 (1995) 12
COPPERAS COVE 5 NW CORYELL 5.05 3.30 (1989) 22
CRESSON 3NW HOOD 4.34 4.01 (1989) 57
DRIPPING SPRINGS 6 E HAYS 2.88 2.47 (1992) 22
HAWKINS WOOD 3.12 3.00 (1989) 48
LEATHERWOOD RCH ERATH 4.75 2.77 (1998) 14
LITTLEFIELD LAMB 1.49 1.42 (1999) 38
MORGAN MILL ERATH 4.02 3.85 (1977) 52
RAINBOW SOMERVELL 4.53 4.50 (1977) 70
ROCKWALL ROCKWALL 6.70 4.10 (1977) 64
WATER VALLEY 11 NNE COKE 3.50 2.42 (1977) 45
WHITNEY DAM BOSQUE 2.75 2.64 (1977) 57
WINNSBORO 6 SW WOOD 2.98 2.90 (1987) 51
Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
PRESIDIO PRESIDIO 69.4 68.4 (1967) 64
WINKLER CO AP WINKLER 62.1 62.0 (1974) 60
BENAVIDES 2 DUVAL 72.8 70.7 (1992) 25
CASTOLON BREWSTER 70.3 68.8 (2000) 25
CHOKE CANYON DAM LIVE OAK 71.1 70.2 (2000) 22
DELL CITY 5 SSW HUDSPETH 57.0 56.4 (2004) 25
FT WORTH WSFO TARRANT 61.8 61.6 (2004) 13
HEATH CANYON BREWSTER 71.5 69.5 (2004) 11
KARNES CITY 2 N KARNES 67.8 67.6 (1985) 20
KENT 8 SE JEFF DAVIS 56.0 55.4 (2004) 12
LAJITAS BREWSTER 68.5 68.5 (2000) 22
MATHIS 4 SSW JIM WELLS 70.5 69.6 (2000) 39
MT VERNON FRANKLIN 63.3 61.1 (1974) 34
PERSIMMON GAP BREWSTER 65.3 64.5 (2000) 23
STUDY BUTTE BREWSTER 71.1 66.9 (2004) 12
TILDEN 4 SSE MCMULLEN 71.5 70.4 (1904) 41
WELDER W'LIFE FOUND SAN PATRICIO 69.7 68.9 (2004) 10
ZAPATA 1 S ZAPATA 74.0 74.0 (1909) 34
Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
HARLINGEN RIO GRANDE AP CAMERON 85.2 84.0 (1953) 18
CORPUS CHRISTI INTL AP NUECES 80.8 80.8 (1991) 120
BENAVIDES 2 DUVAL 84.6 83.8 (1984) 29
CHOKE CANYON DAM LIVE OAK 82.5 81.1 (2000) 22
GRANGER DAM WILLIAMSON 75.3 75.0 (2000) 26
HEATH CANYON BREWSTER 89.5 87.2 (2000) 11
KARNES CITY 2 N KARNES 80.3 79.6 (1984) 28
MT VERNON FRANKLIN 74.1 73.8 (1967) 35
PORT ISABEL CAMERON 80.7 80.4 (1945) 63
SAN ANTONIO/SEAWORLD BEXAR 80.1 78.8 (2000) 16
STUDY BUTTE BREWSTER 87.8 85.7 (2000) 12
VALENTINE JEFF DAVIS 75.6 75.6 (1989) 25
Highest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
FT WORTH NAS TARRANT 95 95 (1967) 31
MINERAL WELLS AP PALO PINTO 98 96 (1995) 49
ACTON RCH CROCKETT 90 90 (2000) 14
BENBROOK DAM TARRANT 94 93 (1956) 51
BIG LAKE 2 REAGAN 94 94 (1998) 35
BRECKENRIDGE STEPHENS 98 96 (1946) 68
COPE RCH REAGAN 96 95 (1971) 36
DENVER CITY YOAKUM 90 89 (1998) 14
FT MCKAVETT MENARD 91 90 (2000) 12
FT WORTH WSFO TARRANT 94 94 (1995) 13
GAINESVILLE 5 ENE COOKE 93 91 (1995) 19
HORDS CREEK DAM COLEMAN 94 94 (1994) 50
LA JOYA HIDALGO 101 100 (2002) 11
MT VERNON FRANKLIN 90 87 (1995) 35
PROCTOR RSVR COMANCHE 96 95 (1995) 42
PUTNAM CALLAHAN 97 97 (1974) 43
STAMFORD 1 JONES 94 93 (1997) 25
Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
WINKLER CO AP WINKLER 47.5 45.1 (1985) 60
BENAVIDES 2 DUVAL 61.0 60.9 (1992) 25
CASTOLON BREWSTER 53.4 53.1 (2004) 26
CHOKE CANYON DAM LIVE OAK 59.7 59.4 (2004) 23
CRYSTAL CITY ZAVALA 60.3 60.0 (2000) 54
FT WORTH WSFO TARRANT 52.1 51.6 (2004) 13
LAJITAS BREWSTER 50.4 49.9 (1994) 22
MT VERNON FRANKLIN 52.5 50.2 (1974) 34
STUDY BUTTE BREWSTER 54.4 52.4 (2004) 12
TILDEN 4 SSE MCMULLEN 60.1 57.1 (1974) 41
ZAPATA 1 S ZAPATA 62.1 61.9 (1967) 37
Highest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
DALLAS FT WORTH AP TARRANT 72 72 (1991) 108
HARLINGEN RIO GRANDE AP CAMERON 74 74 (1998) 18
HOUSTON HOBBY AP HARRIS 72 72 (1985) 65
ALICE INTL AP JIM WELLS 72 72 (1949) 12
PALACIOS MUNI AP MATAGORDA 72 72 (1995) 62
HOUSTON INTERCONT AP HARRIS 72 72 (1995) 113
HONDO MUNI AP MEDINA 70 70 (1985) 31
DALLAS LOVE FLD DALLAS 72 72 (1982) 93
FT WORTH MEACHAM FLD TARRANT 71 68 (1950) 29
TYLER POUNDS FLD SMITH 70 69 (1948) 29
JUNCTION KIMBLE CO AP KIMBLE 67 67 (1963) 29
ARLINGTON SIX FLAGS TARRANT 69 68 (2004) 16
BEAUMONT RSCH CTR JEFFERSON 71 71 (1997) 42
BURLESON JOHNSON 70 69 (1998) 18
CHOKE CANYON DAM LIVE OAK 71 71 (2000) 23
CLEVELAND LIBERTY 70 70 (1985) 40
DEWEYVILLE NEWTON 72 70 (2002) 19
FERRIS ELLIS 70 70 (1982) 39
FT WORTH WSFO TARRANT 71 68 (2002) 13
HOUSTON‑PORT HARRIS 73 71 (2002) 14
LAVON DAM COLLIN 69 68 (1998) 51
LEXINGTON LEE 70 70 (1998) 39
MADISONVILLE MADISON 71 71 (1998) 56
MATHIS 4 SSW JIM WELLS 72 72 (1975) 41
MC LEAN GRAY 65 63 (1907) 36
MT PLEASANT TITUS 71 71 (1985) 60
MT VERNON FRANKLIN 73 69 (1985) 34
NACOGDOCHES NACOGDOCHES 71 71 (1985) 32
ORANGE 9 N ORANGE 72 70 (2002) 19
PARIS LAMAR 70 69 (1985) 99
PLEASANTON ATASCOSA 71 71 (1998) 16
SAM RAYBURN DAM JASPER 71 70 (1982) 39
TEXARKANA BOWIE 70 69 (1991) 33
WRIGHT PATMAN DAM CASS 71 70 (1985) 32
WASHINGTON SP WASHINGTON 71 71 (1985) 50
WELDER W'LIFE FOUND SAN PATRICIO 72 71 (2002) 11
WELLINGTON COLLINGSWORTH 62 62 (2004) 39
Lowest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
DENISON DAM GRAYSON -20 7 (1948) 60

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.
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