Texas Climate Report: August 2012
As expected, August was hot all across the state of Texas. Temperature anomalies generally increased from east to west, with the highest anomalies in the Trans-Pecos and Edwards Plateau regions and the lowest anomalies in the extreme northeast Panhandle and East Texas. Precipitation came in two distinct events, though accumulations were isolated for the most part. The majority of the rainfall that fell across the state came after a weak high pressure brought significant moisture and rainfall to south and central Texas. The other big story for the month of August was an unusually strong cold front, which passed across Texas from August 18-20, dropping temperatures by nearly 20 degrees for much of the state and providing isolated rainfall accumulations throughout East Texas. Remnants of the system provided rain for the Low Rolling Plains west of Wichita Falls in the following days.
Drought conditions intensified in the Panhandle and the Big Country, which experienced low precipitation accumulations and high temperatures; the same can be said of the Coastal Bend and Lower Valley near Corpus Christi and southward, which has seen significant drying out over the month. The aforementioned precipitation events dropped the most rainfall in the eastern Trans-Pecos and North Central Texas near Dallas-Fort Worth, both of which saw conditions generally improve by the end of August.
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 |
98.1 |
+4.1 |
108 |
72.9 |
+1.3 |
62 |
85.5 |
+2.7 |
7 |
1.20 |
46% |
0.54 |
0 |
643 |
Amarillo |
94.0 |
+4.6 |
107 |
66.0 |
+1.8 |
57 |
80.0 |
+3.2 |
6 |
1.18 |
41% |
0.70 |
0 |
474 |
Austin |
99.0 |
+2.0 |
107 |
75.3 |
+0.7 |
70 |
87.1 |
+1.3 |
3 |
1.25 |
53% |
1.21 |
0 |
692 |
Brownsville |
95.8 |
+1.4 |
105 |
77.4 |
+1.2 |
73 |
86.6 |
+1.3 |
4 |
3.85 |
158% |
3.08 |
0 |
676 |
College Station |
97.8 |
+1.6 |
105 |
76.5 |
+2.0 |
72 |
87.2 |
+1.9 |
5 |
1.71 |
64% |
0.84 |
0 |
696 |
Corpus Christi |
99.2 |
+4.8 |
107 |
77.5 |
+2.5 |
73 |
88.3 |
+3.6 |
3 |
0.12 |
4% |
0.08 |
0 |
731 |
Dallas‑Fort Worth |
97.5 |
+1.4 |
108 |
75.5 |
+0.4 |
65 |
86.5 |
+0.9 |
5 |
3.19 |
167% |
1.97 |
0 |
675 |
Del Rio |
101.8 |
+4.7 |
106 |
77.9 |
+2.6 |
71 |
89.8 |
+3.6 |
3 |
0.11 |
5% |
0.06 |
0 |
777 |
El Paso |
96.4 |
+4.0 |
102 |
72.4 |
+2.7 |
64 |
84.4 |
+3.3 |
6 |
0.65 |
32% |
0.47 |
0 |
610 |
Galveston |
92.0 |
+1.7 |
97 |
81.2 |
+1.5 |
75 |
86.6 |
+1.6 |
7 |
6.14 |
140% |
2.22 |
0 |
679 |
Houston |
95.4 |
+0.9 |
99 |
76.8 |
+2.0 |
72 |
86.1 |
+1.5 |
7 |
3.88 |
103% |
3.10 |
0 |
662 |
Lubbock |
94.0 |
+2.7 |
105 |
67.8 |
+1.2 |
56 |
80.9 |
+1.9 |
7 |
2.91 |
152% |
1.23 |
0 |
500 |
Midland |
96.9 |
+3.3 |
106 |
71.7 |
+2.9 |
60 |
84.3 |
+3.1 |
5 |
0.75 |
41% |
0.40 |
0 |
607 |
Port Arthur |
91.2 |
‑1.0 |
95 |
75.1 |
+1.1 |
71 |
83.1 |
0.0 |
13 |
5.34 |
99% |
1.79 |
0 |
571 |
San Angelo |
99.3 |
+4.6 |
107 |
72.6 |
+1.9 |
63 |
86.0 |
+3.3 |
8 |
0.77 |
34% |
0.41 |
0 |
657 |
San Antonio |
98.5 |
+2.5 |
103 |
76.0 |
+1.3 |
71 |
87.2 |
+1.9 |
2 |
2.41 |
115% |
2.41 |
0 |
698 |
Victoria |
96.7 |
+1.7 |
105 |
74.5 |
+0.8 |
69 |
85.6 |
+1.3 |
4 |
1.40 |
49% |
1.09 |
0 |
646 |
Waco |
97.9 |
+1.1 |
105 |
75.0 |
+1.2 |
68 |
86.5 |
+1.2 |
7 |
1.68 |
82% |
1.07 |
0 |
675 |
Wichita Falls |
98.8 |
+2.2 |
112 |
71.5 |
+0.1 |
61 |
85.2 |
+1.2 |
7 |
2.68 |
107% |
1.57 |
0 |
633 |
Shreveport, LA |
94.1 |
0.0 |
101 |
73.2 |
+1.1 |
62 |
83.6 |
+0.5 |
11 |
3.62 |
133% |
2.14 |
0 |
585 |
Bold-italics indicate a value broke or tied the record from a previous year. *Dep.: Departure of the monthly average temperature from the 1981-2010 monthly normal, which is provided by the National Climatic Data Center. *Perc. Norm.: Monthly precipitation total divided by 1981-2010 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 |
CALLIHAM |
MCMULLEN |
0.00 |
CHOKE CANYON DAM |
LIVE OAK |
0.00 |
FALLS CITY 7 WSW |
WILSON |
0.00 |
PORT ARANSAS 10 SSW |
NUECES |
0.00 |
PORT MANSFIELD |
WILLACY |
0.00 |
Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
Station |
County |
Value |
ANAHUAC |
CHAMBERS |
7.37 |
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours (inches) |
Station |
County |
Value |
ANAHUAC |
CHAMBERS |
5.46 |
Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
MT LOCKE |
JEFF DAVIS |
73.7 |
Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
LAREDO INTL AP |
WEBB |
90.9 |
Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
CAPROCK CANYON SP |
BRISCOE |
81.7 |
Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
FALCON DAM |
STARR |
104.1 |
Highest Maximum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
WELLINGTON |
COLLINGSWORTH |
115 |
Lowest Maximum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
CAPROCK CANYON SP |
BRISCOE |
66 |
Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
TORNILLO 2 SSE |
EL PASO |
60.4 |
Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
GALVESTON SCHOLES FLD |
GALVESTON |
81.2 |
PORT ARANSAS |
NUECES |
81.2 |
Highest Minimum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
GARNER FLD AP |
UVALDE |
88 |
Lowest Minimum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
MULESHOE #1 |
BAILEY |
47 |
New Monthly Records
Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
BUSHLAND 1 WSW |
POTTER |
0.41 |
0.48 (2011) |
12 |
CALLIHAM |
MCMULLEN |
0.00 |
0.00 (2011) |
31 |
CHOKE CANYON DAM |
LIVE OAK |
0.00 |
0.00 (2011) |
27 |
FALLS CITY 7 WSW |
WILSON |
0.00 |
0.00 (2011) |
63 |
MATHIS 4 SSW |
JIM WELLS |
0.07 |
0.10 (1993) |
49 |
MONAHANS 6 ENE |
WARD |
0.68 |
0.71 (2009) |
10 |
PORT ARANSAS |
NUECES |
0.01 |
0.06 (2009) |
24 |
PORT MANSFIELD |
WILLACY |
0.00 |
0.00 (2011) |
48 |
SAN ANGELO WFO |
TOM GREEN |
0.71 |
1.36 (2010) |
10 |
Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
DALLAS REDBIRD AP |
DALLAS |
2.66 |
2.28 (2008) |
10 |
FT WORTH ALLIANCE AP |
TARRANT |
5.75 |
5.47 (2003) |
12 |
JUSTIN |
DENTON |
6.88 |
3.87 (2008) |
10 |
LAKE BRIDGEPORT DAM |
WISE |
5.83 |
4.79 (1944) |
18 |
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours Ever in the Month (inches) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
FT WORTH ALLIANCE AP |
TARRANT |
2.79 |
2.04 (2003) |
12 |
JUSTIN |
DENTON |
4.12 |
2.45 (2004) |
10 |
LAKE BRIDGEPORT DAM |
WISE |
3.26 |
2.45 (2004) |
18 |
QUITMAN 2 |
WOOD |
2.55 |
1.94 (2008) |
13 |
SCOTLAND |
ARCHER |
2.40 |
2.24 (2008) |
16 |
TERRELL MUNI AP |
KAUFMAN |
2.20 |
1.78 (2009) |
12 |
WILDWOOD |
TYLER |
3.37 |
3.02 (2003) |
20 |
Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
TORNILLO 2 SSE |
EL PASO |
75.3 |
76.3 (1981) |
31 |
Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
CORPUS CHRISTI INTL AP |
NUECES |
88.3 |
87.7 (2011) |
70 |
FT DAVIS |
JEFF DAVIS |
78.0 |
76.9 (1994) |
36 |
FT HOOD |
BELL |
87.9 |
87.1 (1962) |
12 |
PERSIMMON GAP |
BREWSTER |
86.0 |
85.7 (2010) |
23 |
WELDER W'LIFE FOUND |
SAN PATRICIO |
87.2 |
87.2 (2009) |
17 |
Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
CORPUS CHRISTI INTL AP |
NUECES |
99.2 |
98.8 (2011) |
70 |
DEL RIO INTL AP |
VAL VERDE |
101.8 |
101.6 (2011) |
50 |
FT HOOD |
BELL |
99.4 |
98.9 (1962) |
12 |
WELDER W'LIFE FOUND |
SAN PATRICIO |
96.9 |
96.9 (2009) |
19 |
Highest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
ABERNATHY |
HALE |
103 |
103 (2011) |
10 |
ABILENE RGNL AP |
TAYLOR |
108 |
107 (2011) |
69 |
AMARILLO INTL AP |
POTTER |
107 |
106 (1944) |
72 |
BENAVIDES 2 |
DUVAL |
108 |
108 (1991) |
41 |
BENBROOK DAM |
TARRANT |
108 |
108 (2010) |
59 |
BIG BEND RCH SP |
PRESIDIO |
100 |
99 (2011) |
13 |
BORGER HUTCHINSON CO AP |
HUTCHINSON |
108 |
106 (2011) |
10 |
BROWNFIELD 2 |
TERRY |
107 |
107 (2011) |
58 |
BROWNSVILLE INTL AP |
CAMERON |
105 |
104 (2005) |
95 |
CHILDRESS 2 |
CHILDRESS |
110 |
110 (2011) |
15 |
CORPUS CHRISTI INTL AP |
NUECES |
107 |
107 (2011) |
70 |
CORPUS CHRISTI NAS |
NUECES |
101 |
101 (2005) |
59 |
DALHART MUNI AP |
DALLAM |
106 |
106 (2007) |
62 |
DIMMITT 2 N |
CASTRO |
107 |
105 (2003) |
50 |
FT HOOD |
BELL |
106 |
106 (1962) |
12 |
FT STOCKTON PECOS AP |
PECOS |
106 |
106 (2011) |
11 |
HART |
CASTRO |
104 |
104 (2011) |
26 |
JAYTON |
KENT |
109 |
108 (2003) |
32 |
LAKE KEMP |
BAYLOR |
112 |
111 (2011) |
38 |
LITTLEFIELD |
LAMB |
108 |
106 (2011) |
45 |
MCALLEN |
HIDALGO |
106 |
106 (2003) |
67 |
MORTON |
COCHRAN |
106 |
105 (2011) |
47 |
MULESHOE NWR |
BAILEY |
106 |
106 (2011) |
31 |
PADUCAH |
COTTLE |
113 |
113 (2011) |
51 |
PALACIOS MUNI AP |
MATAGORDA |
101 |
101 (1954) |
68 |
PENWELL |
ECTOR |
109 |
109 (2011) |
37 |
PERRYTON |
OCHILTREE |
109 |
106 (2011) |
44 |
PERSIMMON GAP |
BREWSTER |
107 |
107 (1994) |
23 |
PINE SPRINGS NP |
CULBERSON |
103 |
101 (2011) |
11 |
PLAINVIEW |
HALE |
107 |
107 (1944) |
98 |
PLAINVIEW WATER PRODUCTION |
HALE |
104 |
103 (2011) |
13 |
PORT ARANSAS |
NUECES |
99 |
97 (2007) |
22 |
POST |
GARZA |
109 |
107 (2011) |
46 |
ROCKPORT |
ARANSAS |
102 |
101 (2011) |
51 |
ROCKPORT ARANSAS CO AP |
ARANSAS |
103 |
102 (2011) |
11 |
SANFORD DAM |
HUTCHINSON |
106 |
106 (2011) |
18 |
SAN ANGELO WFO |
TOM GREEN |
107 |
106 (2011) |
10 |
SILVERTON |
BRISCOE |
107 |
105 (2011) |
48 |
TULIA |
SWISHER |
106 |
106 (2011) |
63 |
TURKEY |
HALL |
112 |
111 (2011) |
42 |
VALENTINE |
JEFF DAVIS |
103 |
103 (2011) |
28 |
VIGO PARK |
SWISHER |
107 |
106 (2011) |
10 |
WELDER W'LIFE FOUND |
SAN PATRICIO |
103 |
103 (1990) |
19 |
WELLINGTON |
COLLINGSWORTH |
115 |
114 (2011) |
49 |
WHITE RIVER RESERVOIR |
CROSBY |
108 |
108 (2011) |
15 |
Lowest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
CORSICANA CAMPBELL FLD |
NAVARRO |
77 |
78 (2004) |
10 |
FT WORTH ALLIANCE AP |
TARRANT |
78 |
80 (2008) |
12 |
Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
TORNILLO 2 SSE |
EL PASO |
60.4 |
62.3 (1981) |
31 |
Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
CORPUS CHRISTI INTL AP |
NUECES |
77.5 |
77.1 (1977) |
70 |
FT DAVIS |
JEFF DAVIS |
65.1 |
63.3 (2003) |
36 |
FT HOOD |
BELL |
76.4 |
76.4 (2007) |
12 |
PANTHER JUNCTION |
BREWSTER |
72.7 |
71.0 (1977) |
50 |
Highest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
AMARILLO INTL AP |
POTTER |
77 |
75 (2011) |
72 |
BIG BEND RCH SP |
PRESIDIO |
75 |
73 (2010) |
10 |
BIG SPRING |
HOWARD |
83 |
80 (1953) |
54 |
BORGER HUTCHINSON CO AP |
HUTCHINSON |
80 |
79 (2011) |
10 |
BUSHLAND 1 WSW |
POTTER |
72 |
72 (2011) |
11 |
CORPUS CHRISTI INTL AP |
NUECES |
84 |
83 (1951) |
70 |
COTULLA LA SALLE CO AP |
LA SALLE |
82 |
80 (2011) |
13 |
DEL RIO INTL AP |
VAL VERDE |
82 |
82 (2011) |
50 |
FREEPORT 2 NW |
BRAZORIA |
84 |
84 (1997) |
52 |
GALVESTON SCHOLES FLD |
GALVESTON |
85 |
85 (2011) |
29 |
HOUSTON HOOKS MEM AP |
HARRIS |
81 |
79 (2011) |
11 |
LITTLEFIELD |
LAMB |
74 |
74 (2003) |
45 |
MORTON |
COCHRAN |
74 |
74 (2011) |
47 |
PAMPA 2 |
GRAY |
76 |
76 (1978) |
48 |
PANTHER JUNCTION |
BREWSTER |
78 |
78 (1969) |
50 |
PENWELL |
ECTOR |
80 |
79 (2011) |
37 |
PERSIMMON GAP |
BREWSTER |
80 |
80 (1982) |
23 |
REFUGIO 3 SW |
REFUGIO |
81 |
81 (2011) |
11 |
TULIA |
SWISHER |
74 |
74 (2003) |
63 |
VICTORIA RGNL AP |
VICTORIA |
81 |
81 (2011) |
57 |
Lowest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
COPE RCH |
REAGAN |
50 |
50 (1970) |
44 |
FT WORTH ALLIANCE AP |
TARRANT |
61 |
61 (2010) |
12 |
TORNILLO 2 SSE |
EL PASO |
49 |
56 (2004) |
31 |
Climatic Averages for September
|
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 |
86.8 |
107 (2000) |
64.2 |
38 (1989) |
2.24 |
11.03 (1974) |
6.70 (1961) |
10.7 |
0.0 |
5.8 |
11 |
326 |
Amarillo |
82.6 |
103 (1995) |
56.4 |
30 (1984) |
1.92 |
6.42 (1923) |
3.49 (1900) |
6.5 |
0.1 |
6.3 |
43 |
178 |
Austin |
90.5 |
112 (2000) |
69.4 |
41 (1942) |
2.99 |
20.78 (1921) |
19.03 (1921) |
18.1 |
0.0 |
6.7 |
2 |
450 |
Brownsville |
90.5 |
105 (2000) |
73.1 |
51 (1909) |
5.92 |
30.57 (1886) |
12.09 (1967) |
19.3 |
0.0 |
10.0 |
0 |
504 |
College Station |
90.5 |
112 (2000) |
69.4 |
41 (1901) |
3.18 |
12.13 (1958) |
6.83 (1896) |
18.2 |
0.0 |
6.7 |
2 |
450 |
Corpus Christi |
90.1 |
109 (2000) |
72.0 |
52 (2000) |
4.98 |
20.33 (1967) |
8.76 (1967) |
17.1 |
0.0 |
8.8 |
0 |
482 |
Dallas‑Fort Worth |
88.4 |
111 (2000) |
67.5 |
40 (1942) |
2.55 |
10.80 (1932) |
9.57 (1932) |
13.8 |
0.0 |
5.5 |
6 |
395 |
Del Rio |
90.8 |
110 (2000) |
69.8 |
43 (1908) |
2.20 |
17.15 (1964) |
5.52 (1970) |
18.6 |
0.0 |
5.3 |
1 |
460 |
El Paso |
87.6 |
104 (1982) |
63.3 |
41 (1945) |
1.51 |
6.68 (1974) |
2.52 (1958) |
11.7 |
0.0 |
6.3 |
4 |
317 |
Galveston |
87.4 |
104 (2000) |
75.9 |
52 (1942) |
6.03 |
26.01 (1885) |
11.65 (1961) |
7.7 |
0.0 |
9.1 |
0 |
499 |
Houston |
89.7 |
109 (2000) |
69.8 |
45 (1942) |
4.12 |
13.37 (1913) |
7.98 (1976) |
17.0 |
0.0 |
8.0 |
1 |
443 |
Lubbock |
84.5 |
105 (1930) |
58.8 |
33 (1983) |
2.51 |
13.93 (1936) |
7.80 (2008) |
8.0 |
0.0 |
5.8 |
23 |
223 |
Midland |
86.9 |
107 (1953) |
62.0 |
36 (1989) |
1.86 |
9.70 (1980) |
4.37 (1986) |
11.1 |
0.0 |
5.4 |
11 |
295 |
Port Arthur |
88.2 |
105 (2000) |
69.7 |
45 (1967) |
5.97 |
21.96 (1980) |
15.01 (1980) |
12.1 |
0.0 |
8.9 |
1 |
419 |
San Angelo |
87.8 |
107 (2005) |
63.5 |
35 (1913) |
2.46 |
11.00 (1980) |
6.25 (1980) |
12.2 |
0.0 |
4.8 |
9 |
329 |
San Antonio |
90.3 |
111 (2000) |
69.1 |
41 (1942) |
3.03 |
15.78 (1946) |
7.28 (1973) |
17.8 |
0.0 |
6.6 |
2 |
443 |
Victoria |
90.4 |
111 (2000) |
69.2 |
45 (1942) |
4.16 |
19.05 (1978) |
7.83 (1978) |
18.0 |
0.0 |
9.5 |
1 |
445 |
Waco |
89.8 |
111 (2000) |
66.4 |
39 (1942) |
3.06 |
11.17 (1913) |
6.03 (1936) |
16.1 |
0.0 |
5.8 |
6 |
399 |
Wichita Falls |
88.1 |
111 (2000) |
63.3 |
38 (1989) |
2.81 |
10.23 (1980) |
6.22 (1980) |
13.6 |
0.0 |
6.0 |
13 |
334 |
Shreveport, LA |
88.2 |
109 (2000) |
65.6 |
42 (1984) |
3.16 |
16.46 (1913) |
7.04 (1913) |
13.7 |
0.0 |
6.9 |
6 |
363 |
Climatic averages are based on 1981-2010 monthly normals, which are provided by the National Climatic Data Center. |