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Texas Climate Report: January 2008

During the month of January during a La Nina event, the southern United States would normally expect above average temperatures with below average precipitation. The current La Nina in the equatorial Pacific has been especially pronounced with sea surface temperatures running as much as 2°F below normal. As a result, most of the first order stations in Texas recorded above average temperatures and below average precipitation. Only a handful of stations in portions of central and southeast Texas recorded below average temperatures, and departures from normal were less than 1°F at these stations. The greatest departures above normal were found in North Texas. Dallas/Fort Worth’s average temperature of 46.9°F was 2.8°F above normal, while Wichita Fall’s average temperature of 44.3°F was 3.8°F above normal. Amarillo and Lubbock’s average temperatures were 2.0°F and 2.4°F above normal, respectively. While several cold fronts affected the state during the month, the progressive pattern across the United States prevented any significant intrusions of arctic from invading most of the state.

For the most part it was a very dry month across Texas as would be expected during a La Nina event. Only 5 of the first order stations (Port Arthur, Galveston, Houston, Victoria, and Corpus Christi) recorded above average precipitation. A series of upper level disturbances combined with cold fronts moving through the region provided the above average rainfall. Conversely, the Panhandle and West Texas saw very little rainfall. Wichita Falls only recorded one precipitation day for a total of 0.01". Amarillo and Lubbock recorded less than half their average precipitation amounts. Abilene recorded 0.08" and Midland recorded 0.03" of rainfall.

The Climate Prediction Center predicts that La Nina conditions are expected to have the greatest impact on temperature and precipitation in February relative to previous months. Thus, Texas can expect more of the same conditions in February. However, a few strong cold fronts moving south into the state cannot be ruled out.

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 57.2 +2.0 78 31.5 ‑0.3 14 44.4 +0.9 3 0.08 8% 0.07 632 1
Amarillo 52.6 +3.7 73 23.1 +0.5 8 37.8 +2.0 2 0.24 38% 0.23 835 0
Austin 60.9 +0.6 80 39.8 ‑0.2 25 50.4 +0.2 7 0.82 43% 0.40 458 14
Brownsville 70.4 +1.7 88 52.3 +1.8 37 61.3 +1.7 7 1.34 99% 0.99 170 65
College Station 60.3 ‑0.3 79 39.5 ‑0.3 25 49.9 ‑0.3 11 2.05 62% 0.67 479 17
Corpus Christi 65.8 ‑0.2 86 46.8 +0.6 32 56.3 +0.2 10 1.77 109% 0.87 294 29
Dallas‑Fort Worth 57.4 +3.3 80 36.4 +2.4 23 46.9 +2.8 3 0.27 14% 0.20 569 15
Del Rio 62.6 ‑0.2 79 39.1 ‑0.6 23 50.8 ‑0.5 4 0.08 14% 0.04 433 0
El Paso 56.5 ‑0.7 69 34.0 +1.1 18 45.2 +0.1 2 0.14 31% 0.09 607 0
Galveston 61.1 ‑0.8 75 49.0 ‑0.7 38 55.0 ‑0.8 11 6.04 148% 2.12 308 6
Houston 62.0 ‑0.3 79 42.4 +1.2 27 52.2 +0.4 12 4.62 126% 1.73 407 17
Lubbock 55.5 +3.6 75 25.4 +1.0 12 40.5 +2.4 1 0.07 14% 0.07 752 0
Midland 57.5 +0.7 77 28.0 ‑1.6 14 42.8 ‑0.4 1 0.03 6% 0.03 681 0
Port Arthur 60.8 ‑0.7 78 43.1 +0.2 30 52.0 ‑0.2 14 6.93 122% 2.14 408 13
San Angelo 59.1 +1.2 79 30.5 ‑1.3 12 44.8 ‑0.1 3 0.39 48% 0.38 623 2
San Antonio 63.2 +1.1 80 40.5 +1.9 26 51.8 +1.5 7 0.42 25% 0.11 414 13
Victoria 64.2 +1.4 81 40.9 ‑2.7 23 52.6 ‑0.6 11 3.52 144% 1.14 391 13
Waco 57.6 +0.6 79 34.2 ‑0.9 16 45.9 ‑0.2 8 0.67 35% 0.18 594 9
Wichita Falls 58.8 +6.7 82 29.8 +0.9 16 44.3 +3.8 1 0.01 1% 0.01 644 9
Shreveport, LA 55.1 ‑1.1 76 35.8 ‑0.7 21 45.5 ‑0.9 10 2.65 58% 0.69 610 10
*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.

jan 2008 average temperatures
jan 2008 average precipitation

Monthly Extremes

Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value
GRAHAM YOUNG 0.00
BIG SPRING HOWARD 0.00
ABERNATHY HALE 0.00
ANSON JONES 0.00
BENJAMIN 15 W KING 0.00
BIG SPRING HOWARD 0.00
BRAVO HARTLEY 0.00
BROWNFIELD 2 TERRY 0.00
CONLEN DALLAM 0.00
COPE RCH REAGAN 0.00
COPPER BREAKS SP HARDEMAN 0.00
CROSBYTON CROSBY 0.00
CROWELL FOARD 0.00
DELL CITY 5 SSW HUDSPETH 0.00
DIMMITT 2 N CASTRO 0.00
DUMONT KING 0.00
DUNDEE 6 NNW ARCHER 0.00
EL INDIO MAVERICK 0.00
FLOMOT 2E MOTLEY 0.00
FLOMOT 4 NE MOTLEY 0.00
FLOYDADA FLOYD 0.00
FLOYDADA 9 SE FLOYD 0.00
FT GRIFFIN SHACKELFORD 0.00
FT HANCOCK 8 SSE HUDSPETH 0.00
GAIL BORDEN 0.00
HART CASTRO 0.00
HARTLEY 4 ESE HARTLEY 0.00
HASKELL HASKELL 0.00
HUDSPETH RIVER RANCH VAL VERDE 0.00
JAYTON KENT 0.00
JUNCTION 4 SSW KIMBLE 0.00
KENT 8 SE JEFF DAVIS 0.00
KERMIT WINKLER 0.00
KNAPP 2 SW SCURRY 0.00
LA TUNA 1 S EL PASO 0.00
LAKE ALAN HENRY GARZA 0.00
LAKE KEMP BAYLOR 0.00
LAMESA 1 SSE DAWSON 0.00
LEVELLAND HOCKLEY 0.00
LUBBOCK 6 NNE LUBBOCK 0.00
MATADOR MOTLEY 0.00
MEMPHIS HALL 0.00
MIDLAND 4 ENE MIDLAND 0.00
MONAHANS WARD 0.00
MORTON COCHRAN 0.00
NORTHFIELD MOTLEY 0.00
PADUCAH COTTLE 0.00
PADUCAH 15 S KING 0.00
PADUCAH 10S COTTLE 0.00
PANHANDLE CARSON 0.00
PEARSALL FRIO 0.00
PITCHFORK RCH DICKENS 0.00
QUANAH 2 SW HARDEMAN 0.00
RHINELAND #2 KNOX 0.00
RIOMEDINA MEDINA 0.00
ROCKSPRINGS 26SSW EDWARDS 0.00
ROSCOE NOLAN 0.00
SANFORD DAM HUTCHINSON 0.00
SCOTLAND ARCHER 0.00
SHALLOWATER LUBBOCK 0.00
SILVERTON BRISCOE 0.00
SLATON LUBBOCK 0.00
SOUTH CAMP 6666 KING 0.00
SOUTHLAND GARZA 0.00
STAMFORD 1 JONES 0.00
STERLING CITY STERLING 0.00
TAHOKA LYNN 0.00
TRUSCOTT 3 W KNOX 0.00
UMBARGER RANDALL 0.00
VANDERPOOL 10 N BANDERA 0.00
VERNON WILBARGER 0.00
WHEELER WHEELER 0.00
WHITE DEER CARSON 0.00
WHITE RIVER RESERVOIR CROSBY 0.00
Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value
ANGLETON 2 W BRAZORIA 8.48
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours (inches)
Station County Value
ANGLETON BRAZORIA AP BRAZORIA 3.39
Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
HARTLEY HARTLEY 32.1
Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
BROWNSVILLE INTL AP CAMERON 61.3
Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
HARTLEY HARTLEY 45.5
Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
MCALLEN MILLER INTL AP HIDALGO 70.6
LA JOYA HIDALGO 70.6
Highest Maximum Temperature  (°F)
Station County Value
EDINBURG HIDALGO 95
Lowest Maximum Temperature  (°F)
Station County Value
BRAVO HARTLEY 27
COPPER BREAKS SP HARDEMAN 27
STRATFORD SHERMAN 27
Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
MULESHOE 19 S BAILEY 16.8
Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND CAMERON 54.2
Highest Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
ANGLETON 2 W BRAZORIA 75
Lowest Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
ODESSA SCHLEMEYER FLD ECTOR -1

New Monthly Records

Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
GRAHAM YOUNG 0.00 0.00 (1986) 92
BIG SPRING HOWARD 0.00 0.00 (1987) 56
ARLINGTON MUNI AP TARRANT 0.05 0.48 (2003) 10
ABERNATHY HALE 0.00 0.00 (2006) 62
ANSON JONES 0.00 0.00 (1976) 46
BENJAMIN 15 W KING 0.00 0.00 (2003) 24
BIG SPRING HOWARD 0.00 0.00 (1987) 56
BRAVO HARTLEY 0.00 0.00 (2003) 61
BROWNFIELD 2 TERRY 0.00 0.00 (2006) 55
CHARLIE CLAY 0.01 0.27 (2003) 11
CONLEN DALLAM 0.00 0.00 (2003) 62
COPE RCH REAGAN 0.00 0.00 (2006) 57
COPPER BREAKS SP HARDEMAN 0.00 0.00 (2003) 14
CROSBYTON CROSBY 0.00 0.00 (2006) 112
CROWELL FOARD 0.00 0.00 (2003) 89
DELL CITY 5 SSW HUDSPETH 0.00 0.00 (2006) 23
DIMMITT 2 N CASTRO 0.00 0.00 (2003) 44
DUMONT KING 0.00 0.00 (2006) 35
DUNDEE 6 NNW ARCHER 0.00 0.00 (1986) 73
EL INDIO MAVERICK 0.00 0.00 (2002) 28
FLOMOT 4 NE MOTLEY 0.00 0.00 (2003) 55
FLOYDADA FLOYD 0.00 0.00 (2006) 59
FLOYDADA 9 SE FLOYD 0.00 0.00 (2003) 56
FT GRIFFIN SHACKELFORD 0.00 0.00 (2003) 11
FT HANCOCK 8 SSE HUDSPETH 0.00 0.00 (2006) 37
FT WORTH WSFO TARRANT 0.28 0.41 (1997) 14
GAIL BORDEN 0.00 0.00 (2003) 67
HART CASTRO 0.00 0.00 (2003) 44
HARTLEY 4 ESE HARTLEY 0.00 0.00 (2003) 58
HASKELL HASKELL 0.00 0.00 (1986) 104
HUDSPETH RIVER RANCH VAL VERDE 0.00 0.00 (2003) 19
JAYTON KENT 0.00 0.00 (2006) 42
JUNCTION 4 SSW KIMBLE 0.00 0.00 (1990) 81
KENT 8 SE JEFF DAVIS 0.00 0.00 (2006) 19
KNAPP 2 SW SCURRY 0.00 0.00 (2003) 68
LA TUNA 1 S EL PASO 0.00 0.00 (2000) 56
LAKE ALAN HENRY GARZA 0.00 0.03 (2006) 14
LAKE KEMP BAYLOR 0.00 0.00 (1986) 38
LAMESA 1 SSE DAWSON 0.00 0.00 (2003) 90
LEVELLAND HOCKLEY 0.00 0.00 (2006) 67
LUBBOCK 6 NNE LUBBOCK 0.00 0.00 (2006) 11
MATADOR MOTLEY 0.00 0.00 (2003) 56
MEMPHIS HALL 0.00 0.00 (2003) 79
MIDLAND 4 ENE MIDLAND 0.00 0.00 (1971) 81
MONAHANS WARD 0.00 0.00 (2003) 41
MORTON COCHRAN 0.00 0.00 (2006) 59
NORTHFIELD MOTLEY 0.00 0.00 (2003) 61
PADUCAH COTTLE 0.00 0.00 (1986) 45
PADUCAH 15 S KING 0.00 0.00 (1986) 31
PADUCAH 10S COTTLE 0.00 0.00 (2006) 30
PANHANDLE CARSON 0.00 0.00 (2003) 76
PEARSALL FRIO 0.00 0.00 (2002) 95
PITCHFORK RCH DICKENS 0.00 0.00 (2006) 24
QUANAH 2 SW HARDEMAN 0.00 0.00 (2006) 98
RIOMEDINA MEDINA 0.00 0.00 (1999) 77
ROCKSPRINGS 26SSW EDWARDS 0.00 0.00 (2000) 13
ROSCOE NOLAN 0.00 0.00 (1997) 70
SANFORD DAM HUTCHINSON 0.00 0.00 (2006) 14
SILVERTON BRISCOE 0.00 0.00 (1998) 66
SLATON LUBBOCK 0.00 0.00 (1998) 56
SOUTH CAMP 6666 KING 0.00 0.00 (1976) 14
STAMFORD 1 JONES 0.00 0.00 (1974) 79
STERLING CITY STERLING 0.00 0.00 (2006) 74
TAHOKA LYNN 0.00 0.00 (2006) 74
TRUSCOTT 3 W KNOX 0.00 0.00 (1986) 38
UMBARGER RANDALL 0.00 0.00 (2003) 66
VANDERPOOL 10 N BANDERA 0.00 0.00 (1999) 12
VERNON WILBARGER 0.00 0.00 (2006) 66
WHEELER WHEELER 0.00 0.00 (2003) 26
WHITE RIVER RESERVOIR CROSBY 0.00 0.00 (2006) 11
WOODSON THROCKMORTON 0.03 0.26 (2003) 19
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours Ever in the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
EDINBURG HIDALGO 1.42 1.28 (2007) 11
Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
NEW BRAUNFELS MUNI AP GUADALUPE 37.8 38.1 (1997) 12
FT WORTH ALLIANCE AP TARRANT 31.3 32.5 (2001) 10
ABERNATHY HALE 21.7 23.0 (2007) 10
CARRIZO SPRINGS 3W DIMMIT 33.3 33.6 (1977) 70
DEL RIO 2 NW VAL VERDE 36.2 36.6 (2007) 12
JUNCTION 4 SSW KIMBLE 24.6 25.0 (1930) 71
KENT 8 SE JEFF DAVIS 28.4 28.8 (1992) 14
MULESHOE NWR BAILEY 18.0 19.2 (1994) 26
PADUCAH 15 S KING 25.3 26.4 (2003) 10
PANDALE 1 N VAL VERDE 29.0 29.2 (2006) 36
SAN ANTONIO 8 NNE BEXAR 37.6 37.7 (2007) 11
WHITE RIVER RESERVOIR CROSBY 23.6 26.3 (2007) 11
Highest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
DALLAS FT WORTH AP TARRANT 68 67 (1911) 110
DALLAS REDBIRD AP DALLAS 66 65 (2002) 11
FT WORTH NAS TARRANT 65 64 (2004) 30
FT WORTH MEACHAM FLD TARRANT 65 64 (2004) 29
ARLINGTON MUNI AP TARRANT 66 65 (2002) 11
FT WORTH ALLIANCE AP TARRANT 65 64 (2004) 10
ANGLETON 2 W BRAZORIA 75 70 (2007) 84
ARLINGTON SIX FLAGS TARRANT 65 65 (2002) 18
BAYTOWN HARRIS 68 68 (2004) 22
CHILDRESS 2 CHILDRESS 49 48 (2005) 11
CROCKETT HOUSTON 70 70 (1950) 70
FT WORTH WSFO TARRANT 65 65 (2004) 13
JEFFERSON MARION 66 66 (2000) 22
LA GRANGE FAYETTE 69 69 (2002) 43
LA TUNA 1 S EL PASO 52 52 (1957) 53
LAKE FORK RSVR WOOD 64 64 (2005) 20
LAKE KEMP BAYLOR 55 55 (2005) 32
LEXINGTON LEE 69 68 (2005) 42
MC GREGOR MCLENNAN 66 65 (2005) 48
MT PLEASANT TITUS 69 66 (2005) 59
PLEASANTON ATASCOSA 68 68 (2005) 16
SAM RAYBURN DAM JASPER 68 68 (2007) 40
Lowest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
CONCHO PARK IVIE RSVR CONCHO 19 19 (2004) 10
COPPER BREAKS SP HARDEMAN 2 6 (2004) 17
PLEASANTON ATASCOSA 19 20 (1996) 16

Climatic Averages for February

  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 60.7 94 (1904) 36.5 ‑7 (1985) 1.13 4.07 (1903) 2.17 (1903) 0.1 9.9 4.8 477 5
Amarillo 54.1 88 (1963) 27.0 ‑16 (1899) 0.55 2.93 (1903) 1.89 (1911) 0.0 21.4 4.4 699 0
Austin 65.1 99 (1996) 44.0 7 (1951) 1.99 9.41 (1903) 3.73 (1958) 0.3 3.5 6.9 319 18
Brownsville 72.2 94 (1986) 53.3 12 (1899) 1.18 10.25 (1958) 4.98 (1958) 0.3 0.4 5.4 125 76
College Station 65.5 99 (1996) 43.4 1 (1899) 2.38 9.82 (1992) 5.05 (2003) 0.2 3.7 7.4 309 14
Corpus Christi 69.7 97 (1986) 49.3 11 (1899) 1.84 8.11 (1982) 5.80 (1893) 0.3 1.2 6.3 191 43
Dallas‑Fort Worth 60.1 96 (1904) 38.7 ‑8 (1899) 2.37 7.40 (1997) 4.06 (1965) 0.1 7.1 6.2 448 7
Del Rio 68.0 99 (1996) 44.1 11 (1951) 0.96 7.82 (1949) 5.62 (1921) 0.4 2.7 4.9 262 18
El Paso 63.4 86 (1904) 37.5 5 (1899) 0.39 1.92 (2005) 1.10 (1888) 0.0 10.5 3.1 424 2
Galveston 64.4 83 (1932) 51.5 8 (1899) 2.61 8.34 (1992) 6.55 (1952) 0.0 0.8 7.3 220 23
Houston 66.5 91 (1986) 44.3 6 (1899) 2.98 9.80 (1959) 3.89 (1959) 0.1 3.8 8.5 298 21
Lubbock 57.8 89 (2006) 28.9 ‑17 (1933) 0.71 5.83 (1911) 3.50 (1911) 0.0 17.1 4.4 592 0
Midland 63.0 90 (1986) 34.1 ‑11 (1985) 0.58 3.53 (1932) 1.32 (1997) 0.0 11.9 3.4 472 2
Port Arthur 65.3 90 (1906) 45.9 10 (1906) 3.35 13.15 (1952) 9.41 (1952) 0.0 2.7 8.6 286 16
San Angelo 63.5 97 (1996) 36.0 ‑1 (1985) 1.18 4.54 (1997) 3.16 (1987) 0.1 9.7 4.5 427 4
San Antonio 67.1 100 (1996) 42.4 4 (1899) 1.75 7.88 (1903) 3.38 (1903) 0.3 4.6 6.7 303 19
Victoria 66.6 96 (1940) 46.7 15 (1951) 2.04 9.08 (1992) 3.21 (1992) 0.1 2.3 7.3 249 26
Waco 62.3 96 (1996) 39.3 4 (1985) 2.43 7.91 (1997) 3.97 (1997) 0.1 6.5 6.4 409 8
Wichita Falls 58.1 93 (1996) 33.4 ‑8 (1985) 1.58 6.80 (1903) 3.00 (1981) 0.1 12.7 5.1 550 2
Shreveport, LA 62.0 89 (1986) 40.3 ‑5 (1899) 4.21 8.96 (1939) 3.57 (1939) 0.0 7.2 8.1 408 7
Climatic averages are based on 1971-2000 monthly normals, which are provided by the National Climatic Data Center.
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