Texas Climate Report: October 2011
The month of October was much cooler and wetter across Texas than the previous months based on the weather records, but the historic drought of 2011 persisted throughout the state. The majority of the rain that fell across the state occurred over the weekend of the 8th and 9th when a storm system moved across the state and brought significant precipitation into Central Texas and North Texas. Though cities such as Waco, Abilene, and Wichita Falls saw well above average precipitation, other areas such as El Paso and Brownsville remained very dry through October. Overall maximum temperatures were above average and minimum temperatures were slightly below average, indicative of a lack of soil moisture prevalent across the state. Cold fronts were commonplace during October, with several diving south and dropping temperatures quickly. However, temperatures moderated quickly behind these fronts, so any cold air outbreaks were short lived. The air was cold enough in the Panhandle on the 27th to deliver the season’s first snowfall, with Amarillo picking up 3.1" inches of snow.
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 |
79.5 |
+1.9 |
95 |
54.5 |
+0.1 |
34 |
67.0 |
+1.0 |
3 |
4.09 |
141% |
3.81 |
76 |
145 |
Amarillo |
74.1 |
+2.3 |
90 |
44.7 |
+0.1 |
28 |
59.4 |
+1.2 |
4 |
1.23 |
82% |
0.76 |
207 |
41 |
Austin |
84.3 |
+2.9 |
95 |
59.1 |
‑0.7 |
44 |
71.7 |
+1.1 |
2 |
2.19 |
55% |
2.19 |
29 |
245 |
Brownsville |
86.9 |
+2.9 |
92 |
65.2 |
‑0.7 |
52 |
76.0 |
+1.0 |
4 |
1.25 |
33% |
0.71 |
1 |
349 |
College Station |
83.7 |
+1.7 |
93 |
58.3 |
‑0.7 |
39 |
71.0 |
+0.5 |
3 |
0.95 |
23% |
0.82 |
38 |
233 |
Corpus Christi |
86.8 |
+3.2 |
94 |
62.8 |
‑1.2 |
42 |
74.8 |
+1.0 |
5 |
1.95 |
49% |
0.96 |
12 |
324 |
Dallas‑Fort Worth |
79.8 |
+1.9 |
90 |
56.5 |
+0.1 |
39 |
68.1 |
+0.9 |
6 |
3.12 |
76% |
1.43 |
59 |
166 |
Del Rio |
84.1 |
+2.4 |
92 |
59.6 |
‑0.9 |
37 |
71.8 |
+0.7 |
3 |
0.39 |
20% |
0.37 |
30 |
250 |
El Paso |
82.2 |
+4.3 |
90 |
53.6 |
+1.8 |
38 |
67.9 |
+3.0 |
1 |
0.01 |
1% |
0.01 |
48 |
144 |
Galveston |
80.4 |
+2.3 |
87 |
68.6 |
+0.5 |
53 |
74.5 |
+1.4 |
6 |
4.60 |
133% |
4.31 |
9 |
313 |
Houston |
83.2 |
+1.2 |
91 |
58.4 |
‑0.4 |
44 |
70.8 |
+0.4 |
6 |
3.36 |
75% |
3.02 |
33 |
221 |
Lubbock |
76.9 |
+2.5 |
91 |
47.8 |
+0.8 |
31 |
62.3 |
+1.6 |
5 |
1.34 |
79% |
0.92 |
142 |
66 |
Midland |
80.7 |
+3.3 |
95 |
53.1 |
+1.8 |
36 |
66.9 |
+2.5 |
3 |
1.46 |
82% |
1.33 |
74 |
145 |
Port Arthur |
82.9 |
+2.4 |
90 |
58.1 |
‑1.5 |
40 |
70.5 |
+0.4 |
3 |
0.83 |
18% |
0.58 |
37 |
216 |
San Angelo |
82.0 |
+4.2 |
97 |
54.1 |
+1.1 |
31 |
68.0 |
+2.6 |
4 |
2.91 |
113% |
2.83 |
65 |
167 |
San Antonio |
83.0 |
+1.0 |
93 |
59.0 |
‑0.4 |
40 |
71.0 |
+0.3 |
3 |
3.28 |
85% |
3.12 |
33 |
229 |
Victoria |
85.5 |
+2.5 |
93 |
58.5 |
‑3.1 |
38 |
72.0 |
‑0.3 |
4 |
2.53 |
59% |
1.93 |
33 |
257 |
Waco |
81.5 |
+1.1 |
93 |
54.9 |
‑1.8 |
34 |
68.2 |
‑0.4 |
3 |
6.20 |
169% |
5.83 |
66 |
171 |
Wichita Falls |
78.2 |
+1.1 |
90 |
52.6 |
+0.2 |
37 |
65.4 |
+0.7 |
6 |
5.02 |
161% |
3.69 |
93 |
114 |
Shreveport, LA |
82.2 |
+3.9 |
92 |
52.6 |
‑2.4 |
35 |
67.4 |
+0.7 |
5 |
1.56 |
35% |
0.90 |
68 |
151 |
Bold-italics indicate a value broke or tied the record from a previous year. *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 |
CASTOLON |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
EDINBURG 17 NNE |
HIDALGO |
0.00 |
KERMIT |
WINKLER |
0.00 |
PANTHER JUNCTION |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
PANTHER JUNCTION 2 N |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
PERRYTON 21 S |
OCHILTREE |
0.00 |
POTEET |
ATASCOSA |
0.00 |
Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
Station |
County |
Value |
JACKSBORO |
JACK |
8.91 |
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours (inches) |
Station |
County |
Value |
COMANCHE CO CITY AP |
COMANCHE |
7.74 |
Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
DOG CANYON |
CULBERSON |
56.4 |
Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
MCALLEN MILLER INTL AP |
HIDALGO |
78.5 |
Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
DOG CANYON |
CULBERSON |
69.5 |
Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
CASTOLON |
BREWSTER |
92.4 |
Highest Maximum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
PEARSALL |
FRIO |
105 |
Lowest Maximum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
BUSHLAND 1 WSW |
POTTER |
34 |
LITTLEFIELD |
LAMB |
34 |
Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
DIMMITT 2 N |
CASTRO |
40.2 |
Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
PORT ARANSAS |
NUECES |
69.6 |
Highest Minimum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
ANGLETON BRAZORIA AP |
BRAZORIA |
81 |
Lowest Minimum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
BRAVO |
HARTLEY |
24 |
DIMMITT 2 N |
CASTRO |
24 |
New Monthly Records
Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
CASTOLON |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
0.00 (2010) |
32 |
PANTHER JUNCTION |
BREWSTER |
0.00 |
0.00 (2010) |
57 |
PERRYTON 21 S |
OCHILTREE |
0.00 |
0.00 (1999) |
32 |
POTEET |
ATASCOSA |
0.00 |
0.00 (2010) |
66 |
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours Ever in the Month (inches) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
ABILENE 2 |
TAYLOR |
4.15 |
2.72 (2004) |
11 |
ACTON RCH |
CROCKETT |
5.62 |
5.00 (2002) |
15 |
ALVORD 3 N |
WISE |
4.10 |
2.70 (2009) |
12 |
BURKETT |
COLEMAN |
4.05 |
4.00 (1971) |
57 |
CHARLIE |
CLAY |
3.75 |
3.60 (2006) |
16 |
EDEN |
CONCHO |
3.60 |
3.08 (1973) |
54 |
EL INDIO |
MAVERICK |
5.70 |
2.64 (2002) |
34 |
FT GRIFFIN |
SHACKELFORD |
4.10 |
3.00 (1991) |
15 |
GALVESTON SCHOLES FLD |
GALVESTON |
4.31 |
3.91 (2006) |
29 |
GLEN COVE 2 NE |
COLEMAN |
4.67 |
4.10 (2002) |
10 |
HORDS CREEK DAM |
COLEMAN |
4.86 |
3.80 (2003) |
56 |
HUDSPETH RIVER RANCH |
VAL VERDE |
3.85 |
3.15 (2002) |
24 |
HUMBLE PUMP STN 5 WN |
SUTTON |
3.72 |
3.50 (1969) |
53 |
LAKE BRIDGEPORT DAM |
WISE |
3.90 |
2.76 (2009) |
17 |
LAKE KEMP |
BAYLOR |
3.53 |
3.30 (2006) |
41 |
LOMA ALTA |
MCMULLEN |
2.52 |
2.05 (1947) |
10 |
PUTNAM |
CALLAHAN |
5.55 |
4.98 (1931) |
98 |
WACO DAM |
MCLENNAN |
5.50 |
4.85 (1974) |
40 |
WACO RGNL AP |
MCLENNAN |
5.83 |
5.72 (1974) |
82 |
WATER VALLEY 11 NNE |
COKE |
3.30 |
3.15 (1981) |
49 |
WATSON |
BURNET |
5.50 |
4.30 (2009) |
43 |
WEATHERFORD |
PARKER |
6.00 |
5.75 (1959) |
105 |
WOODSON |
THROCKMORTON |
3.84 |
3.09 (1991) |
23 |
Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
CASTOLON |
BREWSTER |
75.8 |
75.6 (1992) |
25 |
KENT 8 SE |
JEFF DAVIS |
65.4 |
64.9 (2010) |
13 |
Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
ATLANTA |
CASS |
80.8 |
80.3 (2010) |
12 |
DEKALB |
BOWIE |
81.8 |
80.9 (1989) |
25 |
DELL CITY 5 SSW |
HUDSPETH |
87.0 |
86.3 (2007) |
29 |
LONGVIEW |
GREGG |
83.1 |
82.9 (2004) |
10 |
PEARSALL |
FRIO |
91.3 |
91.0 (1962) |
55 |
Highest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
BURNET MUNI AP |
BURNET |
92 |
92 (2005) |
13 |
CALLIHAM |
MCMULLEN |
99 |
97 (2005) |
12 |
FT HOOD |
BELL |
94 |
94 (2007) |
14 |
HARLINGEN RIO GRANDE AP |
CAMERON |
97 |
96 (2005) |
24 |
LEXINGTON |
LEE |
100 |
97 (1998) |
41 |
PEARSALL |
FRIO |
105 |
102 (1989) |
55 |
PORT O CONNOR |
CALHOUN |
99 |
99 (2007) |
47 |
SAN ANTONIO STINSON AP |
BEXAR |
95 |
95 (2005) |
14 |
Lowest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
ALVORD 3 N |
WISE |
50 |
50 (2002) |
10 |
BONITA 4 NW |
MONTAGUE |
49 |
51 (2002) |
10 |
BUSHLAND 1 WSW |
POTTER |
34 |
39 (2002) |
12 |
LAKE ALAN HENRY |
GARZA |
42 |
45 (2002) |
18 |
PLAINVIEW WATER PRODUCTION |
HALE |
38 |
42 (2002) |
12 |
WHITE RIVER RESERVOIR |
CROSBY |
43 |
44 (2000) |
14 |
Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
HOUSTON CLOVER FLD |
BRAZORIA |
59.4 |
59.9 (2010) |
10 |
LUMBERTON |
HARDIN |
52.6 |
52.8 (2001) |
10 |
TORNILLO 2 SSE |
EL PASO |
40.6 |
41.9 (1999) |
31 |
Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
KENT 8 SE |
JEFF DAVIS |
51.7 |
50.9 (2004) |
15 |
Highest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
ANGLETON BRAZORIA AP |
BRAZORIA |
81 |
81 (2009) |
10 |
BIG SPRING |
HOWARD |
71 |
71 (2000) |
56 |
BIG SPRING |
HOWARD |
71 |
71 (1997) |
45 |
FT HOOD |
BELL |
76 |
76 (2007) |
14 |
Lowest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
FT MCKAVETT |
MENARD |
26 |
27 (2010) |
18 |
NEW BRAUNFELS MUNI AP |
GUADALUPE |
37 |
37 (2010) |
12 |
Climatic Averages for November
|
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 |
65.1 |
92 (1980) |
42.3 |
13 (1887) |
1.30 |
5.82 (1913) |
2.48 (2004) |
0.0 |
5.3 |
4.7 |
353 |
15 |
Amarillo |
58.4 |
87 (1980) |
31.8 |
0 (1976) |
0.68 |
5.09 (1905) |
3.01 (1905) |
0.0 |
15.9 |
4.1 |
594 |
0 |
Austin |
70.1 |
91 (2006) |
49.3 |
20 (1976) |
2.68 |
14.10 (2004) |
7.55 (2001) |
0.0 |
0.8 |
8.2 |
205 |
51 |
Brownsville |
76.8 |
98 (1906) |
58.6 |
27 (1911) |
1.75 |
7.69 (1986) |
4.08 (1986) |
0.5 |
0.0 |
5.9 |
69 |
166 |
College Station |
70.9 |
94 (1921) |
49.1 |
19 (1976) |
3.18 |
13.06 (1907) |
5.56 (1907) |
0.0 |
1.5 |
8.4 |
203 |
53 |
Corpus Christi |
74.9 |
98 (1988) |
55.4 |
28 (1993) |
1.74 |
8.64 (1888) |
4.61 (1892) |
0.4 |
0.2 |
6.3 |
103 |
122 |
Dallas‑Fort Worth |
65.1 |
89 (2005) |
45.1 |
19 (1950) |
2.57 |
7.94 (1918) |
4.72 (1918) |
0.0 |
2.6 |
6.4 |
312 |
15 |
Del Rio |
70.9 |
96 (1988) |
49.2 |
17 (1906) |
0.96 |
4.71 (2004) |
2.87 (1914) |
0.2 |
1.1 |
5.0 |
183 |
41 |
El Paso |
65.5 |
87 (1983) |
39.8 |
1 (1976) |
0.42 |
2.50 (1906) |
1.19 (1943) |
0.0 |
8.1 |
3.1 |
386 |
2 |
Galveston |
69.4 |
85 (1988) |
58.3 |
26 (1911) |
3.85 |
16.18 (1940) |
9.01 (1940) |
0.0 |
0.1 |
8.3 |
114 |
88 |
Houston |
72.0 |
89 (2010) |
49.8 |
19 (1976) |
4.19 |
14.10 (1943) |
10.83 (1943) |
0.0 |
1.3 |
8.6 |
189 |
65 |
Lubbock |
61.6 |
90 (2006) |
34.5 |
‑1 (1957) |
0.71 |
6.65 (2004) |
1.67 (2004) |
0.0 |
10.3 |
3.7 |
491 |
0 |
Midland |
65.8 |
90 (1996) |
38.8 |
10 (1938) |
0.65 |
5.42 (2004) |
2.17 (2004) |
0.0 |
6.9 |
3.1 |
380 |
4 |
Port Arthur |
70.9 |
90 (1905) |
50.8 |
22 (1976) |
4.75 |
22.74 (1902) |
7.70 (1946) |
0.0 |
0.8 |
8.4 |
181 |
63 |
San Angelo |
66.5 |
93 (1980) |
41.4 |
12 (1911) |
1.10 |
5.18 (2004) |
2.57 (2001) |
0.1 |
5.8 |
4.2 |
330 |
16 |
San Antonio |
71.4 |
94 (1988) |
48.6 |
21 (1976) |
2.58 |
9.46 (2004) |
4.87 (1977) |
0.1 |
1.9 |
7.3 |
197 |
57 |
Victoria |
73.0 |
93 (1988) |
52.3 |
24 (1976) |
2.64 |
16.14 (2004) |
9.20 (2004) |
0.1 |
0.6 |
7.5 |
145 |
83 |
Waco |
67.8 |
92 (1988) |
45.8 |
17 (1976) |
2.61 |
10.36 (1902) |
4.26 (1952) |
0.1 |
2.9 |
7.5 |
271 |
34 |
Wichita Falls |
63.7 |
89 (1988) |
40.1 |
14 (1950) |
1.68 |
7.39 (1902) |
3.15 (1902) |
0.0 |
6.6 |
5.5 |
395 |
10 |
Shreveport, LA |
66.8 |
88 (1984) |
45.3 |
16 (1976) |
4.68 |
10.81 (1987) |
6.51 (1987) |
0.0 |
3.0 |
8.9 |
296 |
24 |
Climatic averages are based on 1971-2000 monthly normals, which are provided by the National Climatic Data Center. |