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Texas Climate Report: September 2006

With cooler temperatures and much needed rainfall, September 2006 provided some much needed drought relief to many areas across the state. The statewide mean temperature for the month was 0.8°F below normal and 9 stations reported above average precipitation totals. However, not all was well, as Central Texas, including Waco, Austin, and College Station, reported below average precipitation totals.

Temperatures across the state were mild compared to most Septembers. Amarillo reported the coldest mean temperature with 64.3°F, which was 4.8°F below normal. Other stations including El Paso, Midland, Abilene, and Lubbock, all reported mean temperatures at least 2°F below normal. Temperatures on the east side of the state were warmer than the west, but were just about on average, with a few stations above average. Waco reported the largest departure from normal with a mean temperature of 79.2°F, which was 0.6°F above normal. Waco also reported the highest average maximum temperature for the month with 92.4°F. Waco reported the highest absolute maximum temperature for the entire state with 103°F on the 1st. In fact, the 1st proved to be the warmest day of the month with many stations reporting their absolute maximum temperature values on that day. A front then moved through the state and resulted in much cooler temperatures. Austin set record lows on the 7th and 8th, and Amarillo, Abilene, and Midland set records for the lowest maximum temperature on the 4th and 5th.

Precipitation provided relief for many areas while leaving others dry. The Dallas/Fort Worth area received above average precipitation for the first time since April. During this period from April to August, the Dallas/Fort Worth area averaged only 43% of the normal rainfall. However, during this month the area received 107% of their normal rainfall. The same can be said about Wichita Falls. During the period from April to August, this area average 39% of their normal rainfall totals, but reported 112% this month. El Paso is continuing to see very high rainfall totals, with 4.99" reported this month, over three times the normal amount. However, some areas did not see the above average rainfall totals. Most of Central and East Central Texas reported below average rainfall totals. Waco reported only 43% of its normal rainfall, and Austin only reported 60% of its normal. While Galveston was above average Houston, Port Arthur, and Victoria all reported below average rainfall totals. However, San Antonio, an area that has been greatly affected by the current drought reported an above average rainfall total. This is the first month of 2006 where San Antonio has reported above average precipitation. For the 8-month period of January through August, the average percent of normal was only 46%. With an El Nino forecast, precipitation is expected to increase across the state which will hopefully bring some relief to the many areas across the state still affected by the drought.

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 84.4 ‑2.3 94 62.0 ‑2.4 48 73.2 ‑2.3 4 3.17 109% 1.45 4 257
Amarillo 75.8 ‑6.0 88 52.8 ‑3.5 41 64.3 ‑4.8 7 1.10 59% 0.63 62 49
Austin 91.7 +1.6 101 68.7 ‑0.1 57 80.2 +0.7 8 3.00 103% 1.19 0 463
Brownsville 91.0 +1.6 97 73.7 +1.1 63 82.3 +1.3 10 3.67 69% 1.83 0 529
College Station 90.4 ‑0.5 99 68.6 +0.1 57 79.5 ‑0.2 6 2.69 69% 2.26 0 441
Corpus Christi 89.2 ‑0.7 98 72.8 +1.2 65 81.0 +0.2 8 7.11 141% 2.67 0 491
Dallas‑Fort Worth 88.6 +0.9 100 66.6 ‑0.6 53 77.6 +0.1 4 2.60 107% 1.13 0 386
Del Rio 90.2 ‑0.4 99 69.8 +0.4 61 80.0 5 2.38 116% 1.24 0 457
El Paso 82.2 ‑4.9 90 60.8 ‑2.9 52 71.5 ‑3.9 10 4.99 310% 1.60 0 201
Galveston 87.2 +0.7 91 75.7 +0.1 67 81.5 +0.4 9 6.40 111% 3.38 0 500
Houston 89.8 +0.5 96 69.0 +0.6 57 79.4 +0.5 9 3.22 74% 1.41 0 441
Lubbock 80.0 ‑3.4 93 57.2 ‑1.2 45 68.6 ‑2.3 9 4.87 189% 2.41 22 137
Midland 82.4 ‑3.7 92 60.5 ‑1.1 49 71.4 ‑2.5 5 1.23 53% 0.92 5 205
Port Arthur 88.1 +0.1 93 68.9 ‑0.5 56 78.5 ‑0.2 10 5.61 92% 1.80 0 412
San Angelo 85.6 ‑1.0 96 62.4 ‑0.6 50 74.0 ‑0.8 4 2.60 88% 1.78 2 280
San Antonio 90.6 +0.6 100 68.8 57 79.7 +0.3 8 4.11 137% 1.90 0 447
Victoria 89.9 97 68.4 ‑1.9 58 79.2 ‑0.9 10 3.94 79% 1.67 0 434
Waco 92.3 +2.2 103 66.0 ‑1.0 51 79.2 +0.6 6 1.24 43% 0.93 0 433
Wichita Falls 86.6 ‑0.9 98 61.5 ‑2.2 48 74.0 ‑1.6 6 3.56 112% 1.22 1 278
Shreveport, LA 89.7 +2.1 98 64.5 ‑1.9 50 77.1 +0.1 5 2.97 93% 2.12 0 371
*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 2006 average temperatures
sep 2006 average precipitation

Monthly Extremes

Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value
BOQUILLAS RS BREWSTER 0.15
Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value
LA JOYA HIDALGO 12.86
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours (inches)
Station County Value
WELDER W'LIFE FOUND SAN PATRICIO 7.87
Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
HARTLEY HARTLEY 63.0
MT LOCKE JEFF DAVIS 63.0
Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND CAMERON 84.1
Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
PINE SPRINGS CULBERSON 73.1
Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
PRESIDIO PRESIDIO 96.3
Highest Maximum Temperature  (°F)
Station County Value
GREENVILLE KGVL RADIO HUNT 109
Lowest Maximum Temperature  (°F)
Station County Value
BUSHLAND 1 WSW POTTER 55
PANHANDLE CARSON 55
Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
DELL CITY 5 SSW HUDSPETH 49.3
Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND CAMERON 78.5
Highest Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND CAMERON 84
Lowest Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
MULESHOE 19 S BAILEY 36
LIPSCOMB LIPSCOMB 36

New Monthly Records

Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
MCALLEN MILLER INTL AP HIDALGO 11.21 10.89 (2003) 43
DELL CITY 5 SSW HUDSPETH 5.13 4.90 (2004) 27
EL INDIO MAVERICK 7.53 6.79 (1996) 28
LA JOYA HIDALGO 12.86 7.28 (1998) 11
LAKE ALAN HENRY GARZA 4.87 4.47 (1995) 13
TILDEN 10 S MCMULLEN 8.02 6.85 (2001) 10
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours Ever in the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
CROSS MCMULLEN 2.82 2.45 (2002) 10
FORSAN HOWARD 4.00 3.20 (1988) 58
LA JOYA HIDALGO 4.27 2.30 (2002) 11
LAKE ALAN HENRY GARZA 1.71 1.45 (1996) 13
VANDERPOOL 10 N BANDERA 3.11 2.87 (2002) 11
VANDERPOOL 4N BANDERA 4.34 3.32 (1995) 12
Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
BRAVO HARTLEY 63.4 64.7 (1996) 33
CHANNING 2 HARTLEY 63.7 64.9 (1996) 20
COPPER BREAKS SP HARDEMAN 71.3 71.4 (1996) 18
DELL CITY 5 SSW HUDSPETH 67.1 69.1 (1991) 27
LAKE ALAN HENRY GARZA 70.5 71.9 (2003) 13
LAMESA 1 SSE DAWSON 67.8 67.8 (1974) 74
PERRYTON OCHILTREE 64.1 64.5 (1996) 38
SANFORD DAM HUTCHINSON 68.4 68.5 (2003) 12
Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
BOYS RANCH OLDHAM 78.5 79.2 (1991) 25
CARTA VALLEY EDWARDS 81.7 83.1 (1974) 38
CHANNING 2 HARTLEY 76.0 76.6 (1996) 20
CORNUDAS SVC STN HUDSPETH 80.2 80.8 (1974) 37
LA TUNA 1 S EL PASO 81.5 83.4 (1991) 55
LAKE ALAN HENRY GARZA 81.3 82.5 (2003) 13
PINE SPRINGS CULBERSON 73.1 73.4 (1991) 18
Highest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
GREENVILLE KGVL RADIO HUNT 109 109 (2000) 100
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND CAMERON 94 94 (2005) 11
Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
BRAVO HARTLEY 49.6 49.9 (1989) 33
CHANNING 2 HARTLEY 51.5 52.4 (1973) 20
DAINGERFIELD 9 S MORRIS 62.9 62.9 (1968) 47
DELL CITY 5 SSW HUDSPETH 49.3 54.0 (1988) 27
DEL RIO 2 NW VAL VERDE 67.1 67.2 (2001) 11
EVANT 1 SSW CORYELL 60.4 60.7 (1981) 39
GILMER 4 WNW UPSHUR 57.2 57.9 (1968) 62
LAKE ALAN HENRY GARZA 59.8 61.4 (2003) 13
MT LOCKE JEFF DAVIS 51.4 51.4 (1975) 62
SANFORD DAM HUTCHINSON 56.4 56.8 (2003) 12
Highest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
CENTER SHELBY 79 79 (1939) 65
MARSHALL HARRISON 81 80 (1939) 80
LONGVIEW 11 SE RUSK 80 80 (1978) 30
SAN ANTONIO INTL AP BEXAR 80 80 (1980) 122
ALICE INTL AP JIM WELLS 80 78 (1950) 10
HOUSTON INTERCONT AP HARRIS 81 81 (1962) 117
JUNCTION KIMBLE CO AP KIMBLE 78 78 (2005) 30
PALESTINE ANDERSON 80 79 (2000) 67
ANGLETON 2 W BRAZORIA 82 82 (1998) 88
ATHENS HENDERSON 80 79 (1959) 44
BEAUMONT CITY JEFFERSON 80 80 (1962) 55
CARTHAGE PANOLA 79 78 (1961) 50
CENTERVILLE LEON 79 79 (2002) 66
CHARLOTTE 5 NNW ATASCOSA 80 80 (2005) 45
CLEBURNE JOHNSON 78 78 (2000) 96
CLEVELAND LIBERTY 77 76 (2002) 41
CROCKETT HOUSTON 79 77 (2000) 68
DENISON DAM GRAYSON 80 79 (1985) 56
DEWEYVILLE NEWTON 81 77 (2002) 20
GONZALES 1N GONZALES 79 79 (2000) 42
GREENVILLE KGVL RADIO HUNT 80 80 (2000) 101
HARLINGEN CAMERON 81 81 (1996) 81
HOUSTON‑PORT HARRIS 82 82 (2003) 15
HOUSTON NWSO GALVESTON 80 80 (2000) 17
JOHNSON CITY BLANCO 77 77 (2000) 37
KARNES CITY 2 N KARNES 80 80 (1985) 22
LA JOYA HIDALGO 81 80 (2005) 10
LAKE FORK RSVR WOOD 80 78 (2000) 18
LAKE TAWAKONI RAINS 80 78 (2002) 31
LEXINGTON LEE 79 79 (2005) 42
LIVINGSTON 2 NNE POLK 79 78 (1970) 70
MC COOK HIDALGO 81 81 (1996) 60
MT PLEASANT TITUS 81 79 (2000) 57
MT VERNON FRANKLIN 81 80 (2005) 40
NAVARRO MILLS DAM NAVARRO 79 77 (1985) 42
ORANGE 9 N ORANGE 81 77 (2002) 20
OZONA CROCKETT 74 74 (2000) 51
PANTHER JUNCTION BREWSTER 74 74 (1989) 46
RIO GRANDE CITY STARR 80 80 (1996) 75
RUSK CHEROKEE 77 76 (1993) 57
SAM RAYBURN DAM JASPER 79 76 (2002) 37
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND CAMERON 84 84 (2003) 13
TOWN BLUFF DAM TYLER 78 77 (2002) 53
SUGAR LAND FORT BEND 80 80 (2002) 86
TEXARKANA BOWIE 79 77 (1980) 34
WRIGHT PATMAN DAM CASS 80 77 (1959) 31
TILDEN 4 SSE MCMULLEN 79 79 (2005) 40
TYLER SMITH 79 79 (2000) 23
WACO DAM MCLENNAN 79 79 (1989) 34
WELDER W'LIFE FOUND SAN PATRICIO 82 80 (1996) 13
WILLS POINT VAN ZANDT 81 79 (1954) 83

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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