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Texas Climate Report: March 2010

March continued a string of colder than normal months across all of Texas, though precipitation was not quite as abundant as the in the first two months of 2010. The coldest temperatures relative to normal were along the Upper Texas Coast and in South Central Texas. The maximum temperature reached 87°F in San Angelo on the 14th, which was the highest reading in the continental United States for the day. However, a cold front pushed through and held temperatures in the 40s most of the following day with cloudy skies and drizzle, weather more typical of conditions this past winter. The coldest morning of the month was actually the first full day of spring on the 21st. The temperature in Amarillo dipped down to 20°F with temperatures in outlying areas dropping into the teens. However, the month ended on a warm note including several stations in West Texas reporting high temperatures in the 90s on the 31st. Childress topped out at 98°F, which was the 3rd warmest March temperature ever reported, with records dating back to 1948.

Following a relatively mundane first week of March, a strong storm system the pushed through the state. This brought hurricane force wind gusts to the El Paso area on the 8th and winds up to 60 mph in North Texas the following day. Dozens of hail reports flooded in from Northeast Texas on the 9th and 10th, but thankfully no tornadoes were reported during this bout of severe weather. After a quiet two weeks, severe storms on the 24th dropped golf ball-sized hail in Uvalde County and downed power lines in Nacogdoches County. For the month, the 2.85" of precipitation was nearly 4 times the March average, and the 1.75" of rain reported on the 15th more than doubled the normal total for the month.

The temperature at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport reached 80°F for the first time since October 20th, officially ending the second-longest stretch of under-80°F high temperatures since the winter of 1918-1919. However, this was not in time to save the Metroplex from a rare early spring snow that fell on the 20th, the first day of spring. The Dallas/Fort Worth Airport picked up 1.4", but some areas to the north and east of town picked up more than half a foot of snow. In the warm sector of the storm, Victoria County reported wind gusts exceeding 60 mph and pea-sized hail. Before this storm system hit the eastern half of the state, areas of the Panhandle reported blizzard-like conditions and picked up several inches of snowfall. The late season snow left the winter of 2009-2010 as one of the snowiest on record.

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 67.3 ‑1.8 91 41.8 ‑2.0 28 54.6 ‑1.8 8 1.76 125% 0.68 335 18
Amarillo 61.6 ‑0.6 87 33.6 20 47.6 ‑0.3 8 1.61 142% 0.43 540 8
Austin 70.9 ‑1.6 83 47.1 ‑3.8 36 59.0 ‑2.7 9 3.32 155% 1.05 190 10
Brownsville 77.6 ‑0.4 89 54.7 ‑4.8 37 66.2 ‑2.6 3 0.90 97% 0.57 48 91
College Station 69.5 ‑3.1 82 47.1 ‑3.4 34 58.3 ‑3.3 8 2.62 92% 0.89 210 9
Corpus Christi 74.4 ‑1.4 86 52.2 ‑4.0 35 63.3 ‑2.7 5 1.15 66% 0.51 94 52
Dallas‑Fort Worth 66.9 ‑1.4 83 44.6 ‑1.8 32 55.7 ‑1.7 8 3.57 117% 1.18 288 7
Del Rio 74.7 ‑1.3 92 47.6 ‑4.0 31 61.2 ‑2.6 7 1.16 121% 0.65 147 37
El Paso 69.3 ‑0.9 86 41.8 ‑1.9 30 55.5 ‑1.5 2 0.02 8% 0.02 296 9
Galveston 66.3 ‑3.7 75 53.1 ‑5.1 38 59.7 ‑4.4 7 1.41 51% 0.50 158 2
Houston 70.1 ‑3.2 81 48.0 ‑3.3 35 59.1 ‑3.2 6 1.88 56% 0.62 198 21
Lubbock 65.9 ‑0.3 92 36.7 +0.5 25 51.3 +0.1 7 2.85 375% 1.91 424 10
Midland 70.3 ‑0.6 91 39.0 ‑1.8 26 54.6 ‑1.3 4 0.59 140% 0.50 322 10
Port Arthur 67.5 ‑4.5 76 46.3 ‑6.1 32 56.9 ‑5.3 7 2.87 77% 1.05 245 4
San Angelo 72.1 +1.0 92 40.7 ‑2.6 27 56.4 ‑0.8 4 1.17 118% 0.68 277 17
San Antonio 71.6 ‑2.7 83 47.0 ‑2.9 35 59.3 ‑2.8 9 2.09 111% 0.59 178 10
Victoria 73.1 ‑0.3 82 48.9 ‑5.0 36 61.0 ‑2.7 6 1.93 86% 0.94 141 26
Waco 68.6 ‑1.6 83 43.9 ‑2.9 32 56.3 ‑2.2 7 4.63 187% 2.17 268 7
Wichita Falls 65.3 ‑1.9 93 39.4 ‑1.7 25 52.3 ‑1.9 7 1.06 47% 0.40 395 11
Shreveport, LA 67.2 ‑2.5 80 42.1 ‑5.1 27 54.6 ‑3.9 10 3.20 77% 0.97 316 4
*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 2010 average temperatures
mar 2010 average precipitation

Monthly Extremes

Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value
PANTHER JUNCTION 2 N BREWSTER 0.00
MARFA MUNI AP PECOS 0.00
BLACKWELL 6NE NOLAN 0.00
CANDELARIA PRESIDIO 0.00
CASTOLON BREWSTER 0.00
CHISOS BASIN BREWSTER 0.00
EL PASO #2 EL PASO 0.00
FT HANCOCK 8 SSE HUDSPETH 0.00
LA TUNA 1 S EL PASO 0.00
LAJITAS BREWSTER 0.00
MARATHON 40SSE BREWSTER 0.00
MCALLEN HIDALGO 0.00
PANTHER JUNCTION BREWSTER 0.00
PERSIMMON GAP BREWSTER 0.00
RIO GRANDE VILLAGE BREWSTER 0.00
VALENTINE JEFF DAVIS 0.00
Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value
DECATUR WISE 6.03
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours (inches)
Station County Value
ARANSAS WR ARANSAS 2.80
SLATON LUBBOCK 2.80
Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
DOG CANYON CULBERSON 41.8
Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
MCALLEN MILLER INTL AP HIDALGO 68.4
Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
DOG CANYON CULBERSON 54.3
Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
LAREDO INTL AP WEBB 80.5
MCALLEN MILLER INTL AP HIDALGO 80.5
Highest Maximum Temperature  (°F)
Station County Value
CHILDRESS MUNI AP CHILDRESS 98
Lowest Maximum Temperature  (°F)
Station County Value
DECATUR WISE 32
MT LOCKE JEFF DAVIS 32
VEGA 2 NW OLDHAM 32
Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
MARFA MUNI AP PECOS 22.4
Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
MCALLEN MILLER INTL AP HIDALGO 56.4
Highest Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
MCALLEN MILLER INTL AP HIDALGO 70
Lowest Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
MARFA MUNI AP PECOS 9

New Monthly Records

Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
HUNTSVILLE MUNI AP WALKER 1.34 2.04 (2003) 11
CANDELARIA PRESIDIO 0.00 0.00 (2009) 65
CASTOLON BREWSTER 0.00 0.00 (2006) 33
CHISOS BASIN BREWSTER 0.00 0.00 (2002) 64
FT HANCOCK 8 SSE HUDSPETH 0.00 0.00 (2008) 37
LA TUNA 1 S EL PASO 0.00 0.00 (2008) 62
LAJITAS BREWSTER 0.00 0.00 (2006) 29
MCALLEN HIDALGO 0.00 0.00 (2008) 65
NEWTON NEWTON 1.05 1.20 (1996) 22
PANTHER JUNCTION BREWSTER 0.00 0.00 (2009) 54
PERSIMMON GAP BREWSTER 0.00 0.00 (1996) 25
VALENTINE JEFF DAVIS 0.00 0.00 (2009) 30
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours Ever in the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
LUBBOCK 9 N LUBBOCK 1.82 1.72 (1929) 52
SLATON LUBBOCK 2.80 1.94 (1970) 57
TAHOKA LYNN 2.32 1.57 (1970) 80
Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
ANGLETON BRAZORIA AP BRAZORIA 58.3 61.1 (2003) 11
HOUSTON HOOKS MEM AP HARRIS 58.0 60.0 (2003) 11
BRACKETTVILLE 22 N KINNEY 54.3 57.4 (1996) 12
CASTOLON BREWSTER 58.9 59.4 (1947) 29
DEWEYVILLE NEWTON 54.0 54.1 (1996) 23
EDEN CONCHO 50.6 50.8 (1965) 43
FT HANCOCK 8 SSE HUDSPETH 51.0 51.4 (1973) 32
LA JOYA HIDALGO 66.2 66.5 (2001) 15
LAJITAS BREWSTER 59.0 59.6 (1987) 26
ORANGE 9 N ORANGE 54.0 54.1 (1996) 23
REFUGIO 2 NW REFUGIO 59.2 60.2 (1996) 18
SHEFFIELD PECOS 52.1 53.1 (1987) 33
Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
ANGLETON BRAZORIA AP BRAZORIA 69.5 71.2 (2003) 11
HOUSTON HOOKS MEM AP HARRIS 69.8 70.3 (2003) 11
ABERNATHY HALE 62.3 62.8 (1981) 12
ATLANTA CASS 65.8 66.5 (1999) 11
DEWEYVILLE NEWTON 65.4 65.9 (1996) 23
ORANGE 9 N ORANGE 65.4 65.9 (1996) 23
Highest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
BORGER HUTCHINSON CO AP HUTCHINSON 90 89 (2004) 11
FT STOCKTON PECOS AP PECOS 97 94 (2006) 11
TERRELL MUNI AP KAUFMAN 85 85 (2009) 10
ABERNATHY HALE 90 89 (2009) 12
DENVER CITY YOAKUM 90 90 (2006) 17
PLAINVIEW WATER PRODUCTION HALE 88 87 (2009) 10
Lowest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
SAN SABA 7 NW SAN SABA 38 40 (2009) 11
Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
LONGVIEW E TX RGNL AP GREGG 41.7 43.5 (2002) 11
HARLINGEN RIO GRANDE AP CAMERON 51.9 54.1 (2001) 21
COTULLA LA SALLE CO AP LA SALLE 47.3 48.8 (2001) 13
HONDO MUNI AP MEDINA 43.3 44.0 (1996) 35
ANGLETON BRAZORIA AP BRAZORIA 47.1 51.0 (2003) 11
CONROE MONTGOMERY CO AP MONTGOMERY 42.0 44.7 (2001) 12
HUNTSVILLE MUNI AP WALKER 44.7 44.8 (2001) 12
HOUSTON HOOKS MEM AP HARRIS 46.3 49.6 (2003) 11
MCKINNEY MUNI AP COLLIN 40.9 41.8 (2001) 11
ACTON RCH CROCKETT 33.2 35.2 (2005) 17
BRACKETTVILLE 22 N KINNEY 39.3 43.5 (1996) 12
CALLIHAM MCMULLEN 47.8 49.4 (2001) 10
CAMP WOOD REAL 38.1 38.7 (1996) 43
CONCHO PARK IVIE RSVR CONCHO 40.7 41.1 (2002) 12
DEL RIO 2 NW VAL VERDE 45.7 46.4 (2001) 14
EDEN CONCHO 36.3 37.1 (1965) 45
FT MCKAVETT MENARD 38.6 38.8 (2001) 16
FT HANCOCK 8 SSE HUDSPETH 31.4 31.8 (2008) 33
FOWLERTON LA SALLE 42.9 44.2 (1996) 46
HUDSPETH RIVER RANCH VAL VERDE 39.4 40.5 (1996) 21
JUNCTION 4 SSW KIMBLE 34.5 35.2 (1915) 74
LA GRANGE FAYETTE 44.5 44.7 (2005) 46
LA JOYA HIDALGO 52.5 53.5 (2001) 15
LAJITAS BREWSTER 39.1 41.1 (1987) 26
LANGTRY VAL VERDE 42.1 42.4 (1970) 34
LEXINGTON LEE 42.7 42.8 (1996) 43
LUFKIN 11 NW ANGELINA 38.5 41.2 (2001) 13
PANDALE 1 N VAL VERDE 38.0 38.3 (1969) 38
PEARSALL FRIO 40.6 43.7 (1996) 56
PERSIMMON GAP BREWSTER 38.5 38.5 (1987) 27
PRADE RCH REAL 34.6 34.6 (1996) 33
RAINBOW SOMERVELL 39.0 40.4 (2002) 10
REFUGIO 2 NW REFUGIO 46.6 47.3 (1996) 18
SAN ANTONIO 8 NNE BEXAR 44.7 45.3 (2001) 13
SHEFFIELD PECOS 33.5 36.8 (1996) 36
SOMERVILLE DAM BURLESON 38.6 40.5 (2001) 45
TERLINGUA RCH BREWSTER 38.6 38.7 (1996) 12
Highest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
BORGER HUTCHINSON CO AP HUTCHINSON 64 60 (2004) 11
BORGER HUTCHINSON 59 59 (2009) 59

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 26 (2009) 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) 5.33 (2009) 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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