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Texas Climate Report: March 2009

By far, March has been one of the wettest months since August 2008. All but six first-order stations received at least their normal monthly precipitation. Of those six that did not, Victoria and Amarillo received at least 80% of their average precipitation. Far West and Deep South Texas received very little rainfall in the month; according to the drought monitor however, El Paso is not in severe drought, though parts of coastal Texas near Victoria up through San Antonio and Central Texas, conditions are exceptionally dry. Most of the rainfall came from a stalled system that soaked Texas over a few days. East Texas has improved and is inching its way closer to non-drought conditions; College Station’s scenery has greened up especially, with bluebonnets blanketing the ground in some places. Though over 5 inches of rain was seen during the month in some parts of Texas, ending the drought will take much more precipitation. Forecasts show that La Nina will weaken dramatically as May and June arrive; in fact, El Nino conditions are forecasted to take over the Pacific Ocean in the fall, which should produce a wetter, cooler Texas climate and give Texas the rain it has been looking for.

Temperatures remained slightly above average across the state, though much closer to normal than February’s temperatures. Though unusually warm at times, several cold fronts that included a strong cold front during the first half of the month, dropped temperatures dramatically. Several of these systems brought some rainfall, as seen from up to 11 precipitation days in Houston. The highest maximum temperature recorded for a first-order station was 101°F in Brownsville; most others reached high 80s to low 90s.

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 72.2 +3.1 90 47.0 +3.2 21 59.6 +3.2 5 1.42 101% 0.72 225 63
Amarillo 67.0 +4.8 85 35.4 +1.8 19 51.2 +3.3 6 1.01 89% 0.80 420 0
Austin 75.4 +2.9 86 52.2 +1.3 33 63.8 +2.1 9 3.04 142% 1.78 142 113
Brownsville 79.5 +1.5 101 59.5 38 69.5 +0.7 4 0.11 12% 0.07 62 208
College Station 73.2 +0.6 86 51.1 +0.6 31 62.2 +0.6 7 5.07 179% 1.59 165 86
Corpus Christi 77.5 +1.7 93 56.1 ‑0.1 34 66.8 +0.8 6 0.99 57% 0.42 97 162
Dallas‑Fort Worth 69.5 +1.2 86 48.3 +1.9 29 58.9 +1.5 7 5.56 182% 3.66 239 58
Del Rio 77.7 +1.7 91 53.1 +1.5 35 65.4 +1.6 3 1.52 158% 1.45 110 130
El Paso 73.9 +3.7 85 45.3 +1.6 33 59.6 +2.6 2 0.06 23% 0.05 183 26
Galveston 70.1 +0.1 77 57.1 ‑1.1 37 63.6 ‑0.5 10 3.73 135% 1.20 115 78
Houston 73.2 ‑0.1 84 52.5 +1.2 34 62.8 +0.5 11 4.08 121% 1.40 152 92
Lubbock 72.0 +5.8 89 39.5 +3.3 19 55.8 +4.6 3 0.37 49% 0.28 301 23
Midland 73.6 +2.7 90 43.5 +2.7 21 58.5 +2.6 2 0.56 133% 0.28 231 38
Port Arthur 72.2 +0.2 82 53.0 +0.6 33 62.6 +0.4 9 5.15 137% 2.82 150 83
San Angelo 75.4 +4.3 92 47.5 +4.2 22 61.4 +4.2 4 1.73 175% 1.00 181 79
San Antonio 77.5 +3.2 88 52.8 +2.9 34 65.1 +3.0 8 2.51 133% 2.01 117 128
Victoria 76.3 +2.9 89 51.8 ‑2.1 29 64.0 +0.3 5 1.80 80% 0.70 131 110
Waco 73.0 +2.8 86 48.7 +1.9 25 60.9 +2.4 6 4.91 198% 3.14 199 79
Wichita Falls 71.6 +4.4 90 44.0 +2.9 21 57.8 +3.6 5 0.37 16% 0.24 263 49
Shreveport, LA 69.1 ‑0.6 83 46.9 ‑0.3 29 58.0 ‑0.5 8 6.48 155% 2.21 258 47
*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 2009 average temperatures
mar 2009 average precipitation

Monthly Extremes

Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value
WINKLER CO AP WINKLER 0.00
BENAVIDES 2 DUVAL 0.00
CANDELARIA PRESIDIO 0.00
ESCOBAS ZAPATA 0.00
KENT 8 SE JEFF DAVIS 0.00
PANHANDLE CARSON 0.00
PANTHER JUNCTION BREWSTER 0.00
PECOS 8 W REEVES 0.00
TORNILLO 2 SSE EL PASO 0.00
VALENTINE JEFF DAVIS 0.00
Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value
KOUNTZE HARDIN 13.43
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours (inches)
Station County Value
BRANDON HILL 4.70
Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
PERRYTON OCHILTREE 45.5
Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
MCALLEN MILLER INTL AP HIDALGO 72.8
Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
DOG CANYON CULBERSON 59.5
Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
MCALLEN MILLER INTL AP HIDALGO 84.3
Highest Maximum Temperature  (°F)
Station County Value
MCALLEN MILLER INTL AP HIDALGO 102
Lowest Maximum Temperature  (°F)
Station County Value
DALHART DALLAM 22
Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
PERRYTON OCHILTREE 28.4
Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND CAMERON 62.2
Highest Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
HARLINGEN RIO GRANDE AP CAMERON 73
BROWNSVILLE INTL AP CAMERON 73
MCALLEN MILLER INTL AP HIDALGO 73
C C BOTANICAL GARDENS NUECES 73
MCALLEN HIDALGO 73
SANTA ROSA 3 WNW HIDALGO 73
Lowest Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
WARREN 2 S TYLER 9

New Monthly Records

Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
ALICE INTL AP JIM WELLS 0.05 0.12 (1952) 12
BENAVIDES 2 DUVAL 0.00 0.00 (2002) 40
CANDELARIA PRESIDIO 0.00 0.00 (2008) 64
CHARLIE CLAY 0.47 0.52 (2003) 12
CHILDRESS 2 CHILDRESS 0.57 0.57 (2008) 12
KENT 8 SE JEFF DAVIS 0.00 0.00 (1998) 20
PANHANDLE CARSON 0.00 0.00 (1997) 82
PANTHER JUNCTION BREWSTER 0.00 0.00 (2008) 53
TORNILLO 2 SSE EL PASO 0.00 0.00 (2008) 29
VALENTINE JEFF DAVIS 0.00 0.00 (2002) 29
WHITE RIVER RESERVOIR CROSBY 0.25 0.29 (2008) 11
Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
BRANDON HILL 6.94 6.77 (2008) 17
CAMP VERDE 3W KERR 4.72 3.52 (1998) 10
HUMBLE PUMP STN 5 WN SUTTON 4.16 3.93 (1990) 55
JACKSONVILLE CHEROKEE 7.52 7.46 (1979) 45
KOUNTZE HARDIN 13.43 11.35 (1993) 25
NEW SUMMERFIELD 2W CHEROKEE 8.19 7.91 (2001) 11
SILSBEE 4 N HARDIN 7.27 5.92 (2001) 14
VALLEY MILLS BOSQUE 6.03 5.35 (2001) 13
WILDWOOD TYLER 10.26 8.46 (2001) 17
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours Ever in the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
BURNET MUNI AP BURNET 3.70 2.72 (2007) 10
TYLER POUNDS FLD SMITH 2.80 2.00 (1905) 26
ALVARADO 4NE JOHNSON 3.55 2.87 (2008) 14
BARDWELL DAM ELLIS 3.95 2.77 (1995) 44
BRADY MCCULLOCH 2.77 2.60 (1998) 77
BRANDON HILL 4.70 3.74 (2008) 17
CAMP VERDE 3W KERR 4.10 2.16 (1998) 10
CENTER CITY MILLS 3.80 3.21 (1998) 46
COMFORT 2 KENDALL 4.00 3.50 (2007) 18
FOLLETT LIPSCOMB 3.17 2.70 (2000) 66
GOLD GILLESPIE 3.13 2.64 (1998) 57
GOLDTHWAITE 1 WSW MILLS 3.24 3.24 (1998) 74
HUMBLE PUMP STN 5 WN SUTTON 3.30 2.35 (2007) 55
HUNT 10 W KERR 3.30 2.35 (1992) 14
HURST SPRINGS CORYELL 4.50 3.52 (2007) 45
KERRVILLE 3 NNE KERR 3.29 3.00 (2007) 35
MEDINA 1NE BANDERA 4.69 4.19 (2007) 37
VANDERPOOL 10 N BANDERA 3.00 2.79 (2004) 13
VANDERPOOL 4N BANDERA 3.93 3.75 (2004) 15
WACO DAM MCLENNAN 2.90 2.83 (1965) 37
WINNSBORO 6 SW WOOD 3.60 2.98 (2006) 54
Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
PINE SPRINGS NP CULBERSON 55.5 54.4 (2000) 10
DELL CITY 5 SSW HUDSPETH 57.9 57.0 (2006) 28
ODESSA ECTOR 61.6 59.3 (2004) 10
Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
BORGER HUTCHINSON CO AP HUTCHINSON 67.8 67.8 (2007) 10
PINE SPRINGS NP CULBERSON 67.6 67.3 (2000) 10
ABERNATHY HALE 69.8 68.7 (2003) 11
PADUCAH 15 S KING 73.1 71.9 (2000) 11
WHITE RIVER RESERVOIR CROSBY 71.2 70.7 (2000) 12
Highest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
HARLINGEN RIO GRANDE AP CAMERON 101 101 (1954) 20
PINE SPRINGS NP CULBERSON 82 81 (2006) 10
ABERNATHY HALE 89 89 (2002) 11
CANDELARIA PRESIDIO 99 98 (1986) 44
ROCKPORT ARANSAS 91 91 (1975) 46
WHITE RIVER RESERVOIR CROSBY 92 91 (2008) 12
Lowest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
BURNET MUNI AP BURNET 40 45 (2001) 11
COTULLA LA SALLE CO AP LA SALLE 49 50 (2001) 11
NEW BRAUNFELS MUNI AP GUADALUPE 44 47 (2001) 12
ANGLETON BRAZORIA AP BRAZORIA 48 48 (2002) 10
CONROE MONTGOMERY CO AP MONTGOMERY 44 44 (2002) 11
HUNTSVILLE MUNI AP WALKER 42 46 (2001) 11
HOUSTON HOOKS MEM AP HARRIS 44 45 (2002) 10
MCKINNEY MUNI AP COLLIN 40 43 (1999) 10
ATLANTA CASS 38 42 (1999) 10
CALLIHAM MCMULLEN 47 50 (2001) 10
LUFKIN 11 NW ANGELINA 40 41 (2002) 13
REFUGIO 3 SW REFUGIO 48 50 (2002) 10
REFUGIO 2 NW REFUGIO 47 49 (1996) 19
SAN ANTONIO 8 NNE BEXAR 44 45 (1998) 12
SAN SABA 7 NW SAN SABA 40 41 (2008) 10
VICTORIA RGNL AP VICTORIA 46 50 (2002) 10
Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
PINE SPRINGS NP CULBERSON 43.4 42.5 (2006) 10
DELL CITY 5 SSW HUDSPETH 39.4 38.9 (2004) 28
ODESSA ECTOR 49.4 48.6 (2004) 10
YSLETA EL PASO 44.8 44.7 (1999) 59
Highest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
ROBERT GRAY AAF BELL 69 68 (2008) 12
NEW BRAUNFELS MUNI AP GUADALUPE 71 71 (2008) 12
TYLER POUNDS FLD SMITH 70 70 (2006) 32
PINE SPRINGS NP CULBERSON 58 58 (2002) 10
BORGER HUTCHINSON 59 59 (1995) 58
Lowest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
MCKINNEY MUNI AP COLLIN 22 23 (2008) 10
NAVARRO MILLS DAM NAVARRO 15 15 (1996) 45
WARREN 2 S TYLER 9 17 (1968) 33

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 (2006) 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 75.9 101 (2006) 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 (2006) 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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