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.
|
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. |
