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Texas Climate Report: December 2009

December is already one of the coldest months of the year on average in Texas, but December 2009 was unusually frigid across the entire state in the last month of the 2000s. The monthly average mean temperature of 42.9°F was the 5th coldest December statewide average in the last 100 years. Every single first-order weather station in Texas was at least 2°F below normal for the month, and only Galveston did not hit the freezing mark (32°F) during December 2009. Average high temperatures were particularly cold across the state, with the monthly average maximum temperature at least 4°F below normal, with the exception of El Paso and San Angelo.

Precipitation during December was abundant along all of the Texas Gulf Coast, particularly in Deep South Texas and the Lower Valley. Brownsville normally only picks up a little over an inch of December rainfall, but more than 5 inches of rain fell in the past month. Corpus Christi picked up more than twice the normal December precipitation with almost 4 inches of rainfall, which was a good way to end what had been a drought-stricken 2009 in the Coastal Bend region. By the end of December, the drought situation had improved in all of Texas as Kinney, Maverick, and Nueces counties had the most severe (D2) drought conditions. A large area of the southern Panhandle and the Low Rolling Plains also picked up more than twice the normal December precipitation, though much of this was in the form of snowfall. Abilene, El Paso, Lubbock, and Wichita Falls all picked up 5 or more inches of December 2009 snowfall.

Not even one week had passed in December before a major, early season winter storm slammed into Texas with bitterly cold air and in much of the state, some unusually early-season snowfall. A section of Interstate 10 between Midland and El Paso came to a halt on the 3rd-4th as more than a foot of snow covered some portions of the road. Further to the east, Houston received an inch of snow, which set the record for earliest snow appearance in the city ever. On the 4th, the most snow in Southeast Texas fell near Boling where 4 inches fell, while Wharton County received 3 inches of snow. After the snowfall, a bitterly cold air mass was in place on the morning of the 5th, when record low temperatures were set in Austin (19°F), College Station (24°F), Houston Intercontinental (26°F) and Hobby (27°F), Victoria (26°F), Del Rio (27°F), Harlingen (29°F), Corpus Christi (32°F), and McAllen (33°F).

A major winter storm arrived just in time to bring residents on North Texas a White Christmas with several inches of snow in a large area. Wichita Falls took the prize of having the largest snowfall totals, with some parts of the city receiving more than a foot of snowfall in less than 24 hours on Christmas Eve through Christmas Day. However, the situation was more serious in the warm sector of the storm ahead of a cold front on the 23rd, when 16 confirmed tornadoes were reported in East Texas on the 23rd. An EF3 tornado that was 300 yards wide left a 4 mile path of destruction in the Lufkin area, while a 200-yard wide EF2 tornado was on the ground for 7 miles in the Longview area. However, the warning system was effective during the severe weather outbreak on the 23rd as there were no fatalities resulting from any of the tornadoes reported.

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 51.4 ‑5.5 73 30.0 ‑3.9 14 40.7 ‑4.7 7 1.87 147% 0.98 744 0
Amarillo 44.9 ‑4.9 67 20.3 ‑3.8 5 32.6 ‑4.4 6 0.25 41% 0.11 996 0
Austin 56.4 ‑5.9 74 38.7 ‑3.2 25 47.5 ‑4.6 10 2.61 107% 1.05 535 0
Brownsville 65.5 ‑4.7 82 49.7 ‑2.3 31 57.6 ‑3.5 12 5.64 508% 2.89 252 30
College Station 56.1 ‑6.7 73 39.5 ‑2.0 24 47.8 ‑4.4 11 2.80 87% 1.18 532 4
Corpus Christi 60.1 ‑7.9 80 45.5 ‑2.6 32 52.8 ‑5.3 10 3.96 226% 1.45 377 8
Dallas‑Fort Worth 51.9 ‑4.6 75 33.5 ‑3.3 22 42.7 ‑4.0 10 1.85 72% 0.97 681 0
Del Rio 58.7 ‑4.8 72 39.2 ‑2.0 27 49.0 ‑3.4 4 1.01 135% 0.59 491 0
El Paso 55.2 ‑2.2 64 32.7 ‑0.7 21 44.0 ‑1.4 4 0.84 109% 0.33 643 0
Galveston 59.0 ‑5.3 71 46.7 ‑5.1 34 52.9 ‑5.2 16 6.53 185% 1.34 371 2
Houston 58.4 ‑6.2 77 42.0 ‑0.8 26 50.2 ‑3.5 15 5.44 147% 1.38 459 8
Lubbock 48.4 ‑4.8 68 23.6 ‑2.5 5 36.0 ‑3.7 7 1.48 221% 0.74 893 0
Midland 54.3 ‑4.1 73 27.9 ‑3.3 17 41.1 ‑3.7 7 0.83 128% 0.37 733 0
Port Arthur 57.4 ‑6.5 73 41.1 ‑3.4 27 49.3 ‑4.9 16 6.43 122% 1.23 485 3
San Angelo 57.3 ‑2.0 76 31.3 ‑2.2 18 44.3 ‑2.1 6 1.67 178% 0.99 631 0
San Antonio 57.4 ‑6.6 76 39.2 ‑1.6 23 48.3 ‑4.1 11 1.92 98% 0.76 508 0
Victoria 58.7 ‑6.5 77 42.0 ‑3.2 26 50.3 ‑4.9 13 3.72 151% 1.39 448 4
Waco 54.5 ‑4.6 79 34.0 ‑3.5 21 44.2 ‑4.1 10 1.54 56% 0.94 635 0
Wichita Falls 48.7 ‑5.8 75 26.3 ‑5.0 14 37.5 ‑5.4 7 2.11 126% 1.32 844 0
Shreveport, LA 53.8 ‑4.7 69 35.9 ‑2.4 20 44.9 ‑3.5 13 4.64 102% 2.27 617 0
*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.

dec 2009 average temperatures
dec 2009 average precipitation

Monthly Extremes

Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value
PECOS MUNI AP REEVES 0.00
ALLISON WHEELER 0.00
BOOKER LIPSCOMB 0.00
CANADIAN 22SE HEMPHILL 0.00
CONLEN DALLAM 0.00
DALHART DALLAM 0.00
DARROUZETT LIPSCOMB 0.00
LA TUNA 1 S EL PASO 0.00
PERRYTON 21 S OCHILTREE 0.00
PERRYTON 11 WNW OCHILTREE 0.00
WHEELER WHEELER 0.00
Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value
BROADDUS 1 NE SAN AUGUSTINE 12.21
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours (inches)
Station County Value
BROADDUS 1 NE SAN AUGUSTINE 7.00
Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
HARTLEY HARTLEY 29.3
Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
C C BOTANICAL GARDENS NUECES 60.1
Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
HARTLEY HARTLEY 42.9
Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
MCALLEN MILLER INTL AP HIDALGO 66.9
Highest Maximum Temperature  (°F)
Station County Value
MCALLEN MILLER INTL AP HIDALGO 88
Lowest Maximum Temperature  (°F)
Station County Value
DALHART DALLAM 21
GRUVER HANSFORD 21
HARTLEY HARTLEY 21
Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
LIPSCOMB LIPSCOMB 14.9
Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
C C BOTANICAL GARDENS NUECES 54.2
Highest Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
BROWNSVILLE INTL AP CAMERON 69
Lowest Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
BRAVO HARTLEY -3

New Monthly Records

Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
BOOKER LIPSCOMB 0.00 0.00 (2008) 64
CONLEN DALLAM 0.00 0.00 (1976) 62
DARROUZETT LIPSCOMB 0.00 0.00 (1976) 59
LA TUNA 1 S EL PASO 0.00 0.00 (2006) 66
PERRYTON 21 S OCHILTREE 0.00 0.00 (1988) 28
PERRYTON 11 WNW OCHILTREE 0.00 0.00 (1976) 56
WHEELER WHEELER 0.00 0.00 (1981) 27
Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
HARLINGEN RIO GRANDE AP CAMERON 4.01 3.45 (2002) 22
PORT ISABEL CAMERON AP CAMERON 4.98 2.07 (2006) 11
MCALLEN MILLER INTL AP HIDALGO 4.99 3.88 (1965) 47
BAYTOWN HARRIS 10.61 9.26 (2002) 27
BROADDUS 1 NE SAN AUGUSTINE 12.21 9.76 (1995) 60
CANDELARIA PRESIDIO 2.77 2.66 (1986) 66
HOUSTON DEER PARK HARRIS 8.58 8.58 (2001) 59
DEL RIO 2 NW VAL VERDE 1.16 0.78 (1997) 14
EDINBURG HIDALGO 4.99 2.26 (2006) 12
KATY WOLF HILL HARRIS 7.11 6.79 (1997) 30
LA JOYA HIDALGO 7.01 4.50 (2006) 14
LAKE ALAN HENRY GARZA 2.17 2.01 (1997) 16
MC COOK HIDALGO 4.86 3.53 (1986) 64
PORT ARANSAS NUECES 4.62 4.56 (1991) 23
PORT MANSFIELD WILLACY 5.20 4.73 (1986) 48
RAYMONDVILLE WILLACY 6.19 5.89 (1937) 94
ROCKSPRINGS 26SSW EDWARDS 2.27 1.05 (2000) 15
SANTA ROSA 3 WNW HIDALGO 6.07 3.38 (1991) 23
TILDEN 10 S MCMULLEN 3.29 2.92 (2006) 13
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours Ever in the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
LONGVIEW E TX RGNL AP GREGG 2.56 2.44 (2002) 10
HARLINGEN RIO GRANDE AP CAMERON 2.59 2.48 (2002) 22
PORT ISABEL CAMERON AP CAMERON 2.54 0.62 (2002) 11
MCALLEN MILLER INTL AP HIDALGO 3.55 1.95 (1989) 47
HUNTSVILLE MUNI AP WALKER 2.44 2.33 (2006) 10
ATLANTA CASS 4.50 4.03 (1985) 55
BROADDUS 1 NE SAN AUGUSTINE 7.00 4.00 (2001) 60
CANDELARIA PRESIDIO 1.27 1.06 (1982) 66
CARTHAGE PANOLA 4.65 4.45 (1960) 52
EDINBURG HIDALGO 2.70 1.15 (2006) 12
LA JOYA HIDALGO 3.00 2.60 (2006) 14
LINDEN CASS 4.40 4.20 (1987) 56
MC COOK HIDALGO 2.17 1.70 (1979) 64
ROCKSPRINGS 26SSW EDWARDS 1.34 0.80 (2000) 15
SANTA ROSA 3 WNW HIDALGO 2.25 1.80 (2006) 23
VALENTINE 10 WSW PRESIDIO 1.61 1.52 (1986) 74
Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
LONGVIEW E TX RGNL AP GREGG 44.6 47.2 (2005) 10
BURNET MUNI AP BURNET 44.7 46.7 (1997) 12
HARLINGEN RIO GRANDE AP CAMERON 56.2 56.2 (2000) 22
ALICE INTL AP JIM WELLS 52.2 53.3 (1953) 12
COTULLA LA SALLE CO AP LA SALLE 49.5 49.6 (2000) 11
ROCKPORT ARANSAS CO AP ARANSAS 52.4 55.1 (1997) 11
FT STOCKTON PECOS AP PECOS 45.0 45.4 (1997) 11
FT WORTH ALLIANCE AP TARRANT 42.3 43.8 (1997) 12
HOUSTON HOOKS MEM AP HARRIS 48.6 52.1 (2005) 11
PALESTINE ANDERSON 41.9 42.2 (1989) 62
ACTON RCH CROCKETT 40.5 41.4 (2000) 16
ATLANTA CASS 41.4 44.9 (2005) 10
BISHOP NUECES 52.0 55.0 (2004) 22
BRAVO HARTLEY 29.8 30.1 (1989) 42
CHILDRESS 2 CHILDRESS 36.6 39.7 (1997) 12
CONCHO PARK IVIE RSVR CONCHO 42.1 42.5 (2000) 12
DENVER CITY YOAKUM 37.0 38.2 (1990) 19
EDEN CONCHO 40.6 42.3 (1963) 41
FT MCKAVETT MENARD 41.0 42.3 (2000) 15
HOUSTON‑PORT HARRIS 49.1 50.7 (2000) 15
JUNCTION 4 SSW KIMBLE 40.8 42.0 (1989) 69
LAKE ALAN HENRY GARZA 38.3 39.1 (2000) 16
MULESHOE NWR BAILEY 33.1 33.3 (1989) 25
PLEASANTON ATASCOSA 47.5 49.5 (2000) 16
REFUGIO 3 SW REFUGIO 50.4 50.6 (2000) 12
SAN SABA 7 NW SAN SABA 41.7 41.8 (2000) 10
TAYLOR 1 NW WILLIAMSON 44.2 44.2 (2000) 10
WELDER W'LIFE FOUND SAN PATRICIO 51.1 54.3 (1997) 13
Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
LONGVIEW E TX RGNL AP GREGG 53.8 57.8 (2002) 10
BURNET MUNI AP BURNET 54.7 57.8 (1997) 12
HARLINGEN RIO GRANDE AP CAMERON 64.5 65.1 (1960) 23
ALICE INTL AP JIM WELLS 61.2 64.7 (1953) 12
COTULLA LA SALLE CO AP LA SALLE 58.8 59.4 (2000) 11
COLUMBUS COLORADO 54.6 56.0 (1989) 48
ROCKPORT ARANSAS CO AP ARANSAS 59.6 64.6 (1997) 11
FT WORTH ALLIANCE AP TARRANT 52.9 54.1 (1997) 12
HOUSTON HOOKS MEM AP HARRIS 57.1 63.7 (2004) 11
ATLANTA CASS 51.2 57.2 (2002) 10
BAY CITY WTR WKS MATAGORDA 57.6 58.5 (1983) 58
BEAUMONT CITY JEFFERSON 56.6 57.0 (1963) 64
BENAVIDES 2 DUVAL 59.9 60.3 (1989) 27
BISHOP NUECES 60.1 63.1 (2000) 25
BRAVO HARTLEY 44.1 45.0 (1997) 42
CANYON RANDALL 45.3 45.5 (1989) 50
CHOKE CANYON DAM LIVE OAK 56.1 58.7 (1983) 26
CONROE MONTGOMERY 54.2 54.8 (1983) 66
CUERO DEWITT 56.4 58.1 (1914) 88
DANEVANG 1 W WHARTON 55.3 55.9 (1989) 107
DENVER CITY YOAKUM 50.2 50.7 (2000) 19
EDEN CONCHO 52.7 54.6 (1960) 42
EL CAMPO WHARTON 56.6 59.0 (1963) 21
ELGIN BASTROP 52.8 54.6 (1983) 47
FLATONIA FAYETTE 53.1 53.5 (1914) 85
FLORESVILLE WILSON 55.0 57.9 (1963) 37
FOWLERTON LA SALLE 55.9 58.6 (2000) 43
GOLIAD GOLIAD 57.0 60.4 (1983) 67
HART CASTRO 44.9 45.6 (2000) 24
HOUSTON‑PORT HARRIS 56.5 62.0 (2000) 16
KENT 8 SE JEFF DAVIS 51.7 51.9 (2000) 14
LA GRANGE FAYETTE 54.5 55.9 (1963) 48
LA JOYA HIDALGO 64.9 65.5 (2000) 13
MADISONVILLE MADISON 53.8 54.4 (1983) 60
MATHIS 4 SSW JIM WELLS 56.9 57.7 (1989) 42
MENARD MENARD 52.8 54.4 (1963) 59
PLEASANTON ATASCOSA 55.8 60.8 (2000) 17
POTEET ATASCOSA 56.4 56.7 (1963) 63
REFUGIO 3 SW REFUGIO 58.1 61.6 (2000) 13
REFUGIO 2 NW REFUGIO 57.1 57.7 (1989) 21
SAN ANTONIO 8 NNE BEXAR 56.0 56.6 (2000) 13
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND CAMERON 64.5 68.9 (1995) 11
TAYLOR 1 NW WILLIAMSON 53.4 53.8 (2000) 10
VICTORIA RGNL AP VICTORIA 58.4 61.3 (2000) 10
WELDER W'LIFE FOUND SAN PATRICIO 58.2 63.0 (2000) 16
Lowest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
EL CAMPO WHARTON 36 38 (2005) 21
Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
BORGER HUTCHINSON CO AP HUTCHINSON 22.2 22.8 (2000) 11
BURNET MUNI AP BURNET 34.7 35.5 (1997) 12
ROCKPORT ARANSAS CO AP ARANSAS 45.2 45.5 (1997) 11
FT STOCKTON PECOS AP PECOS 32.5 33.6 (1997) 11
FT WORTH ALLIANCE AP TARRANT 31.6 32.5 (2005) 12
ACTON RCH CROCKETT 26.4 27.3 (2005) 16
CHILDRESS 2 CHILDRESS 24.6 27.0 (2008) 12
CONCHO PARK IVIE RSVR CONCHO 30.3 32.2 (2005) 12
EDEN CONCHO 28.5 29.3 (2005) 45
FT MCKAVETT MENARD 27.1 28.4 (2005) 15
LAKE ALAN HENRY GARZA 25.9 27.9 (2005) 16
SAN SABA 7 NW SAN SABA 29.8 30.3 (2005) 10
SANFORD DAM HUTCHINSON 21.3 21.8 (2000) 17
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND CAMERON 51.4 54.0 (2003) 11
WHITE RIVER RESERVOIR CROSBY 24.3 25.2 (2000) 13
Lowest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
BURNET MUNI AP BURNET 20 20 (1997) 12
HARLINGEN RIO GRANDE AP CAMERON 29 31 (2008) 22
NEW BRAUNFELS MUNI AP GUADALUPE 21 22 (1998) 11
CONROE MONTGOMERY CO AP MONTGOMERY 21 23 (2004) 13
HUNTSVILLE MUNI AP WALKER 23 23 (1998) 11
HOUSTON HOOKS MEM AP HARRIS 23 27 (2008) 11
HOUSTON‑PORT HARRIS 28 30 (2002) 15
LA JOYA HIDALGO 24 24 (1996) 13
LUFKIN 11 NW ANGELINA 19 19 (2005) 12
TAYLOR 1 NW WILLIAMSON 20 22 (2005) 10

Climatic Averages for January

  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 55.2 90 (1911) 31.8 ‑9 (1947) 0.97 4.35 (1968) 2.18 (1961) 0.0 16.5 5.1 678 0
Amarillo 48.9 83 (1927) 22.6 ‑11 (1984) 0.63 2.67 (1999) 1.74 (1968) 0.0 27.5 4.3 920 0
Austin 60.3 90 (1971) 40.0 ‑2 (1949) 1.89 9.21 (1991) 4.41 (1991) 0.0 6.6 7.7 475 7
Brownsville 68.7 93 (1971) 50.5 18 (1881) 1.36 5.11 (1945) 3.00 (1988) 0.1 1.0 7.7 206 54
College Station 60.6 90 (1999) 39.8 ‑3 (1949) 3.32 15.60 (1991) 5.63 (1991) 0.0 7.7 8.7 472 13
Corpus Christi 66.0 91 (1971) 46.2 14 (1962) 1.62 10.78 (1958) 6.38 (1958) 0.1 2.5 7.7 299 32
Dallas‑Fort Worth 54.1 93 (1911) 34.0 ‑2 (1949) 1.90 9.07 (1932) 4.01 (2002) 0.0 13.4 7.1 650 3
Del Rio 62.8 92 (1911) 39.7 12 (1918) 0.57 4.12 (1931) 1.91 (1994) 0.0 5.9 4.8 423 2
El Paso 57.2 80 (1970) 32.9 ‑8 (1962) 0.45 1.84 (1949) 1.28 (1896) 0.0 17.8 4.7 632 0
Galveston 61.9 78 (2006) 49.7 11 (1886) 4.08 10.75 (1991) 5.38 (1923) 0.0 1.9 10.5 316 18
Houston 62.3 87 (1902) 41.2 5 (1930) 3.68 13.11 (1891) 5.89 (1891) 0.0 6.3 10.5 427 15
Lubbock 51.9 87 (1914) 24.4 ‑16 (1963) 0.50 4.05 (1949) 1.96 (1939) 0.0 24.8 4.2 818 0
Midland 56.8 84 (1974) 29.6 ‑8 (1962) 0.53 4.99 (1939) 2.56 (1939) 0.0 19.3 3.9 680 0
Port Arthur 61.5 84 (1909) 42.9 11 (1930) 5.69 14.87 (1991) 6.94 (1998) 0.0 4.9 10.2 411 11
San Angelo 57.9 91 (1911) 31.8 1 (1947) 0.82 3.65 (1961) 2.49 (1961) 0.0 16.4 5.1 617 0
San Antonio 62.1 89 (1971) 38.6 0 (1949) 1.66 8.52 (1968) 3.18 (1968) 0.0 7.8 7.6 455 7
Victoria 62.8 88 (1971) 43.6 12 (1949) 2.44 7.76 (1991) 4.70 (1991) 0.0 4.1 8.8 372 18
Waco 57.0 90 (1943) 35.1 ‑5 (1949) 1.90 6.56 (1932) 4.79 (1998) 0.0 12.4 7.4 589 2
Wichita Falls 52.1 87 (1969) 28.9 ‑12 (1947) 1.12 4.48 (1968) 2.25 (1919) 0.0 20.5 4.9 762 0
Shreveport, LA 56.2 85 (1950) 36.5 ‑2 (1930) 4.60 12.96 (1999) 7.52 (1885) 0.0 12.7 9.7 597 6
Climatic averages are based on 1971-2000 monthly normals, which are provided by the National Climatic Data Center.
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