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Texas Climate Report: May 2009

May conditions followed those of the first three months of 2009, with warm temperatures and little rainfall. Only the Panhandle of Texas remained cooler than average during the month, while portions of southern and western Texas reached nearly 4°F above average. Only extreme West, Northeast, and South Texas, as well as Abilene area, received their normal monthly precipitation. The Upper Coast was especially dry; cities like Houston and Galveston received about 5% of the normal rainfall. In fact, most stations reported less than a third of their normal rainfall for May. La Nina conditions have dissipated, leaving El Nino neutral conditions forecast to continue into the summer. Corpus Christi, Victoria, and other southern cities have been plagued by exceptional drought these past few months, while northern and eastern portions of Texas have received enough rain to be classified as either drought free or slightly dry. During the middle of the month, a cold front swept through the state, bringing abundant lightning, five tornadoes and golf ball sized hail to Central Texas. Though the majority of the state is dry, isolated showers brought several inches of rain to various parts of Texas in a few hours. Residents on the Gulf Coast are on the lookout for the next big storm as the 2009 Hurricane Season begins.

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 ‑0.3 103 60.3 ‑0.7 46 72.3 ‑0.5 6 3.28 116% 2.01 14 251
Amarillo 77.0 ‑1.6 96 50.7 ‑1.0 38 63.9 ‑1.3 8 0.43 17% 0.14 113 84
Austin 89.0 +4.2 97 67.9 +2.5 52 78.4 +3.3 4 1.77 35% 1.53 0 423
Brownsville 89.9 +3.0 94 72.7 +1.1 59 81.3 +2.0 5 4.52 182% 2.80 0 514
College Station 87.0 +1.7 93 68.1 +2.8 54 77.6 +2.3 3 1.41 28% 0.83 0 396
Corpus Christi 90.6 +5.0 99 71.5 +2.0 59 81.1 +3.6 6 1.20 34% 0.52 0 507
Dallas‑Fort Worth 82.8 ‑0.4 96 63.7 +0.7 54 73.3 +0.2 9 4.36 85% 2.89 3 267
Del Rio 92.1 +3.4 107 69.1 +2.4 60 80.6 +2.9 5 0.46 20% 0.19 0 492
El Paso 90.3 +3.6 99 64.5 +3.9 56 77.4 +3.7 4 0.77 203% 0.59 0 393
Galveston N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 4 0.19 5% 0.13 N/A N/A
Houston 87.6 +2.1 94 68.7 +2.6 55 78.1 +2.3 4 0.38 7% 0.16 0 418
Lubbock 82.7 ‑0.1 100 55.7 +0.1 43 69.2 11 0.68 29% 0.24 45 183
Midland 88.8 +2.0 104 60.3 +1.5 53 74.6 +1.8 5 0.45 25% 0.32 0 304
Port Arthur 85.3 +1.0 89 68.4 +2.0 54 76.8 +1.4 6 3.35 57% 1.74 0 374
San Angelo 88.0 +2.4 103 61.5 +0.9 48 74.7 +1.6 5 0.12 4% 0.04 0 308
San Antonio 90.5 +4.5 100 68.4 +2.9 56 79.5 +3.7 7 1.57 33% 0.85 0 456
Victoria 89.6 +4.5 96 68.3 +0.2 50 78.9 +2.3 3 1.21 24% 0.72 0 439
Waco 86.3 +1.5 94 63.8 +0.5 50 75.1 +1.0 8 1.37 31% 0.85 0 320
Wichita Falls 79.8 ‑3.7 94 58.4 ‑0.9 47 69.1 ‑2.3 9 3.60 92% 1.39 46 180
Shreveport, LA 82.5 ‑0.7 90 63.6 +0.9 51 73.0 11 7.44 142% 3.21 2 261
*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.

may 2009 average temperatures
may 2009 average precipitation

Monthly Extremes

Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value
AGUA FRIA BREWSTER 0.00
HUMBLE PUMP STN 5 WN SUTTON 0.00
THOMPSONS 3 WSW FORT BEND 0.00
Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value
NEW BOSTON BOWIE 18.12
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours (inches)
Station County Value
NEW BOSTON BOWIE 8.15
Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
VEGA 2 NW OLDHAM 61.8
Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
ALICE INTL AP JIM WELLS 84.9
Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
DUMAS MOORE 75.0
Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
CASTOLON BREWSTER 98.5
Highest Maximum Temperature  (°F)
Station County Value
HEBBRONVILLE JIM HOGG 112
RIO GRANDE VILLAGE BREWSTER 112
Lowest Maximum Temperature  (°F)
Station County Value
HARTLEY HARTLEY 47
Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
VEGA 2 NW OLDHAM 47.2
Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
PORT ARANSAS NUECES 74.9
Highest Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
SANTA ROSA 3 WNW HIDALGO 86
Lowest Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
LIPSCOMB LIPSCOMB 34

New Monthly Records

Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
SAN ANGELO MATHIS FLD TOM GREEN 0.12 0.26 (1962) 64
DIME BOX LEE 0.27 0.39 (1998) 66
FT GRIFFIN SHACKELFORD 1.27 1.53 (2004) 10
GIDDINGS 5 E LEE 0.08 0.32 (1998) 68
HUMBLE PUMP STN 5 WN SUTTON 0.00 0.00 (2002) 59
RICHLAND SPRINGS SAN SABA 0.09 0.44 (1962) 59
SAN SABA 7 NW SAN SABA 1.15 1.80 (2006) 10
THOMPSONS 3 WSW FORT BEND 0.00 0.00 (2003) 49
Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
BIG BEND RCH SP PRESIDIO 3.22 2.71 (2007) 11
CASTOLON BREWSTER 3.03 2.60 (1987) 30
CLARKSVILLE 2NE RED RIVER 16.77 14.53 (1982) 99
COMMERCE 4SW HUNT 8.99 8.76 (1999) 12
NEW BOSTON BOWIE 18.12 13.85 (1981) 22
PERSIMMON GAP BREWSTER 3.61 2.43 (2008) 22
TEXARKANA BOWIE 12.72 11.97 (1981) 41
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours Ever in the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
ATLANTA CASS 6.05 4.50 (1981) 56
BIG BEND RCH SP PRESIDIO 2.14 1.09 (2008) 11
COMMERCE 4SW HUNT 4.48 2.64 (2000) 12
CORRIGAN 1 ENE POLK 4.00 3.41 (1993) 16
LAKE FORK RSVR WOOD 6.25 3.62 (1990) 21
LAKE TAWAKONI RAINS 6.87 3.88 (1989) 32
MT PLEASANT TITUS 4.67 4.30 (1985) 65
MT VERNON FRANKLIN 3.94 3.52 (2000) 42
NEW BOSTON BOWIE 8.15 4.18 (1981) 22
NEWTON NEWTON 4.43 3.80 (1980) 22
PERSIMMON GAP BREWSTER 1.79 1.11 (2008) 22
PITTSBURG 5 SSE CAMP 5.85 4.00 (1990) 53
TEXARKANA BOWIE 3.96 3.75 (1975) 41
Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
CHILDRESS 2 CHILDRESS 66.6 67.7 (1999) 11
Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
ALICE INTL AP JIM WELLS 84.9 82.9 (2003) 16
BISHOP NUECES 82.4 81.4 (2003) 25
SAN ANTONIO/SEAWORLD BEXAR 84.8 80.0 (1998) 18
Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
DENISON DAM GRAYSON 75.7 76.3 (1994) 60
HALLSVILLE 1 W HARRISON 82.3 82.3 (2008) 11
Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
ALICE INTL AP JIM WELLS 96.9 94.2 (2006) 16
NEW BRAUNFELS MUNI AP GUADALUPE 91.4 91.4 (2006) 11
BISHOP NUECES 93.4 92.0 (2006) 26
ROCKPORT ARANSAS 87.3 87.1 (2006) 50
SAN ANTONIO/SEAWORLD BEXAR 96.3 93.6 (2006) 18
Highest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
ROBERT GRAY AAF BELL 98 98 (1958) 11
ALICE INTL AP JIM WELLS 106 106 (2006) 16
SAN ANTONIO STINSON AP BEXAR 103 101 (2004) 13
NEW BRAUNFELS MUNI AP GUADALUPE 100 99 (2008) 11
HEBBRONVILLE JIM HOGG 112 110 (2008) 43
SAN ANTONIO 8 NNE BEXAR 100 99 (1998) 12
SAN ANTONIO/SEAWORLD BEXAR 104 102 (2004) 18
Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
CHILDRESS 2 CHILDRESS 55.2 55.7 (2002) 11
EDEN CONCHO 54.2 55.8 (1960) 47
Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
ALICE INTL AP JIM WELLS 73.0 72.0 (2003) 16
SAN ANTONIO/SEAWORLD BEXAR 73.3 68.7 (2000) 18
Highest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
ALICE INTL AP JIM WELLS 79 79 (2008) 16
GRANDFALLS 3 SSE WARD 75 74 (1996) 44
HEBBRONVILLE JIM HOGG 78 78 (2008) 43
SANTA ROSA 3 WNW HIDALGO 86 80 (2008) 23
Lowest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
EDEN CONCHO 35 35 (1960) 47
PEARSALL FRIO 43 44 (1994) 54

Climatic Averages for June

  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 91.1 110 (1907) 68.5 44 (1919) 3.06 9.60 (1961) 4.35 (1941) 18.7 0.0 6.4 0 442
Amarillo 87.4 108 (1998) 61.1 38 (1917) 3.28 10.73 (1965) 6.15 (1960) 12.8 0.0 8.3 7 285
Austin 90.9 108 (1998) 71.1 51 (1926) 3.81 14.96 (1981) 8.65 (1941) 20.8 0.0 7.5 0 495
Brownsville 90.5 103 (1918) 74.9 56 (1919) 2.93 13.80 (1887) 8.18 (1942) 24.2 0.0 6.6 0 545
College Station 91.7 108 (1901) 71.5 53 (1970) 3.79 15.03 (1905) 6.70 (1905) 20.9 0.0 7.4 0 497
Corpus Christi 90.2 106 (1998) 73.5 56 (1919) 3.53 13.35 (1973) 11.52 (2006) 20.6 0.0 6.7 0 520
Dallas‑Fort Worth 91.1 113 (1980) 70.7 48 (1903) 3.23 11.58 (1928) 4.14 (1928) 20.3 0.0 7.0 0 478
Del Rio 93.7 112 (1988) 72.1 49 (1919) 2.34 13.71 (1935) 8.88 (1935) 24.7 0.0 6.1 0 545
El Paso 95.3 114 (1994) 68.8 46 (1988) 0.87 3.18 (1984) 1.82 (1897) 25.9 0.0 3.5 0 497
Galveston 86.6 99 (1918) 77.8 57 (1903) 4.04 15.49 (1919) 12.56 (1961) 2.8 0.0 8.0 0 515
Houston 90.7 103 (1980) 71.8 52 (1970) 5.35 19.21 (2001) 11.02 (2001) 20.1 0.0 9.7 0 485
Lubbock 90.0 114 (1994) 64.1 39 (1917) 2.98 8.48 (2000) 5.70 (1967) 17.4 0.0 7.4 2 381
Midland 92.7 116 (1994) 66.4 47 (1983) 1.71 5.10 (1940) 3.95 (1940) 21.3 0.0 4.9 0 438
Port Arthur 89.4 106 (1902) 72.3 53 (1903) 6.58 18.90 (1989) 10.20 (1961) 16.6 0.0 9.2 0 480
San Angelo 90.8 110 (1994) 67.6 40 (1912) 2.52 6.01 (1982) 3.88 (1999) 20.0 0.0 6.2 0 442
San Antonio 91.4 107 (1998) 71.6 48 (1919) 4.30 11.95 (1986) 6.30 (1986) 20.6 0.0 7.7 0 505
Victoria 90.3 107 (1934) 73.3 54 (1919) 4.96 13.50 (2004) 9.30 (1977) 20.2 0.0 8.4 0 514
Waco 92.0 109 (1980) 70.6 52 (1964) 3.08 12.06 (1961) 6.40 (1938) 21.9 0.0 7.3 0 497
Wichita Falls 91.7 117 (1980) 67.8 50 (1928) 3.69 8.60 (1989) 5.36 (1985) 19.9 0.0 7.2 0 448
Shreveport, LA 89.8 104 (1936) 69.9 52 (1977) 5.05 17.11 (1989) 8.00 (1902) 17.7 0.0 8.6 0 436
Climatic averages are based on 1971-2000 monthly normals, which are provided by the National Climatic Data Center.
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