Texas Climate Report: May 2012
May 2012 was a bit warmer than normal across the state and a number of stations in West Texas and the Panhandle recorded daily high temperatures at, or above, 100°F. Every region apart from the "crook" of Texas, the southern counties in Trans-Pecos and Edwards Plateau, was above average in temperature, with Dallas-Ft. Worth leading the pack. The higher temperatures were a result of dominant high pressure systems that traveled slowly across the southern plains during the month of May. These atmospheric ridges were highly indicative of the early onset of summer conditions in Texas.
However, May did not forego rain altogether. A series of dry line and cold front events heavily influenced rainfall in West and Central Texas during the first half of month. In addition, parts of the Panhandle experienced above normal totals for rainfall. As plumes of moisture were funneled into West Texas by strong high pressure systems to the northeast, the dry lines met these regions of moisture to create strong lines of thunderstorms. The cold fronts would follow a day or two later and cause a similar story of lines of showers. As the fronts traveled east, the thunderstorms became less organized and rainfall was more sporadic and widespread. As a result, north, east, and south Texas witnessed shorter bursts of storms and localized areas of intense rainfall.
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 |
88.1 |
+3.5 |
102 |
65.1 |
+3.7 |
51 |
76.6 |
+3.6 |
7 |
2.31 |
73% |
0.89 |
5 |
370 |
| Amarillo |
83.9 |
+4.4 |
100 |
55.2 |
+3.4 |
45 |
69.5 |
+3.9 |
4 |
1.53 |
67% |
0.82 |
57 |
206 |
| Austin |
87.9 |
+1.4 |
96 |
67.6 |
+0.9 |
59 |
77.8 |
+1.2 |
9 |
5.45 |
125% |
2.70 |
0 |
405 |
| Brownsville |
91.9 |
+3.5 |
97 |
73.6 |
+1.3 |
67 |
82.7 |
+2.4 |
6 |
1.14 |
43% |
0.44 |
0 |
558 |
| College Station |
88.4 |
+2.6 |
94 |
68.5 |
+1.9 |
61 |
78.5 |
+2.3 |
6 |
1.82 |
42% |
0.75 |
0 |
427 |
| Corpus Christi |
88.4 |
+1.8 |
94 |
70.5 |
+0.5 |
63 |
79.4 |
+1.1 |
4 |
2.95 |
96% |
2.61 |
0 |
455 |
| Dallas‑Fort Worth |
88.0 |
+4.4 |
96 |
67.8 |
+3.6 |
60 |
77.9 |
+4.0 |
5 |
1.66 |
34% |
0.69 |
0 |
408 |
| Del Rio |
88.5 |
‑1.3 |
100 |
68.1 |
+0.2 |
57 |
78.3 |
‑0.6 |
7 |
4.49 |
160% |
2.54 |
0 |
419 |
| El Paso |
88.7 |
+0.9 |
100 |
61.8 |
+1.8 |
52 |
75.3 |
+1.4 |
4 |
0.53 |
113% |
0.35 |
13 |
340 |
| Galveston |
85.1 |
+2.1 |
91 |
75.0 |
+2.7 |
67 |
80.0 |
+2.4 |
5 |
4.22 |
98% |
2.14 |
0 |
474 |
| Houston |
88.6 |
+2.3 |
95 |
69.1 |
+1.5 |
62 |
78.8 |
+1.9 |
7 |
0.77 |
15% |
0.42 |
0 |
435 |
| Lubbock |
86.9 |
+3.1 |
102 |
59.5 |
+3.6 |
46 |
73.2 |
+3.4 |
6 |
1.33 |
58% |
0.80 |
40 |
301 |
| Midland |
88.6 |
+1.0 |
102 |
63.6 |
+4.1 |
53 |
76.1 |
+2.5 |
5 |
2.88 |
166% |
2.45 |
9 |
360 |
| Port Arthur |
87.1 |
+2.3 |
93 |
67.6 |
+0.6 |
62 |
77.4 |
+1.5 |
7 |
3.19 |
61% |
1.45 |
0 |
393 |
| San Angelo |
88.8 |
+1.6 |
102 |
65.2 |
+3.4 |
53 |
77.0 |
+2.5 |
6 |
4.50 |
160% |
1.48 |
3 |
383 |
| San Antonio |
87.9 |
+0.9 |
96 |
68.3 |
+1.5 |
58 |
78.1 |
+1.2 |
9 |
9.84 |
245% |
2.56 |
0 |
413 |
| Victoria |
89.5 |
+3.0 |
96 |
68.7 |
+1.4 |
63 |
79.1 |
+2.2 |
5 |
2.31 |
45% |
1.62 |
0 |
443 |
| Waco |
88.6 |
+3.6 |
96 |
66.0 |
+2.2 |
56 |
77.3 |
+2.9 |
8 |
2.80 |
65% |
0.94 |
0 |
386 |
| Wichita Falls |
88.9 |
+5.3 |
100 |
63.5 |
+3.9 |
51 |
76.2 |
+4.6 |
9 |
1.05 |
28% |
0.54 |
1 |
354 |
| Shreveport, LA |
87.5 |
+3.7 |
94 |
65.8 |
+3.1 |
55 |
76.6 |
+3.4 |
5 |
1.10 |
22% |
0.36 |
0 |
369 |
*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 |
| DUMAS |
MOORE |
0.00 |
| WHEELER |
WHEELER |
0.00 |
| Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| HOUSTON SUGARLAND MEM |
FORT BEND |
10.57 |
| Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| RICHMOND |
FORT BEND |
9.32 |
| Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| STRATFORD |
SHERMAN |
66.4 |
| Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| LAREDO INTL AP |
WEBB |
83.9 |
| Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| CAPROCK CANYON SP |
BRISCOE |
74.6 |
| Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| FALCON DAM |
STARR |
96.8 |
| Highest Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| FALCON DAM |
STARR |
110 |
| Lowest Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| MT LOCKE |
JEFF DAVIS |
52 |
| Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| MULESHOE #1 |
BAILEY |
48.7 |
| Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| GALVESTON SCHOLES FLD |
GALVESTON |
75.0 |
| Highest Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| ANGLETON 2 W |
BRAZORIA |
80 |
| BROWNSVILLE INTL AP |
CAMERON |
80 |
| CRANE 2E |
CRANE |
80 |
| GALVESTON SCHOLES FLD |
GALVESTON |
80 |
| PORT ISABEL CAMERON AP |
CAMERON |
80 |
| ROCKPORT ARANSAS CO AP |
ARANSAS |
80 |
| Lowest Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
| MULESHOE #1 |
BAILEY |
36 |
| PLAINVIEW |
HALE |
36 |
New Monthly Records
| Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| BONITA 4 NW |
MONTAGUE |
0.73 |
2.42 (1951) |
13 |
| DUMAS |
MOORE |
0.00 |
0.01 (1966) |
68 |
| FT WORTH ALLIANCE AP |
TARRANT |
1.22 |
1.91 (2005) |
14 |
| JUSTIN |
DENTON |
1.55 |
1.60 (2005) |
11 |
| PERRYTON 11 WNW |
OCHILTREE |
0.04 |
0.14 (1966) |
68 |
| SANFORD DAM |
HUTCHINSON |
0.16 |
0.44 (2004) |
18 |
| WHEELER |
WHEELER |
0.00 |
0.00 (2004) |
31 |
| Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| BAKERSFIELD |
PECOS |
4.83 |
4.57 (1987) |
69 |
| CAMP VERDE 3W |
KERR |
7.97 |
6.62 (2005) |
12 |
| HOUSTON SUGARLAND MEM |
FORT BEND |
10.57 |
7.55 (2004) |
12 |
| HUNT 10 W |
KERR |
6.81 |
6.78 (2000) |
19 |
| KINGSBURY |
GUADALUPE |
4.88 |
4.22 (2010) |
15 |
| LOCKHART 2 SW |
CALDWELL |
6.54 |
5.83 (2000) |
16 |
| LOS ANGELES 4 WSW |
LA SALLE |
5.36 |
3.24 (2010) |
12 |
| SAN ANTONIO 8 NNE |
BEXAR |
8.89 |
5.80 (2006) |
16 |
| VANDERPOOL 10 N |
BANDERA |
9.65 |
7.65 (2007) |
14 |
| Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours Ever in the Month (inches) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| BAKERSFIELD |
PECOS |
2.60 |
2.24 (1992) |
69 |
| CROSS |
MCMULLEN |
2.67 |
2.22 (2007) |
16 |
| DRIPPING SPRINGS 6 E |
HAYS |
3.30 |
3.13 (1989) |
28 |
| HOUSTON SUGARLAND MEM |
FORT BEND |
6.47 |
4.06 (2010) |
12 |
| HUNT 10 W |
KERR |
3.30 |
3.05 (2007) |
19 |
| LOS ANGELES 4 WSW |
LA SALLE |
3.64 |
2.20 (2010) |
12 |
| PLEASANTON |
ATASCOSA |
3.97 |
3.62 (2000) |
24 |
| RICHMOND |
FORT BEND |
9.32 |
4.13 (2004) |
60 |
| Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| ABILENE 2 |
TAYLOR |
76.2 |
75.0 (2006) |
10 |
| ARLINGTON MUNI AP |
TARRANT |
77.0 |
75.9 (2006) |
12 |
| ATLANTA |
CASS |
75.8 |
75.0 (2010) |
12 |
| BONITA 4 NW |
MONTAGUE |
75.0 |
73.5 (2006) |
11 |
| BORGER HUTCHINSON CO AP |
HUTCHINSON |
73.0 |
73.0 (1998) |
12 |
| CHILDRESS 2 |
CHILDRESS |
75.4 |
74.9 (1998) |
14 |
| DECATUR |
WISE |
74.2 |
73.0 (2006) |
11 |
| FOLLETT |
LIPSCOMB |
71.2 |
70.3 (1974) |
63 |
| FT WORTH ALLIANCE AP |
TARRANT |
76.6 |
76.5 (1998) |
12 |
| GALVESTON SCHOLES FLD |
GALVESTON |
80.0 |
78.9 (2008) |
30 |
| GUTHRIE |
KING |
77.1 |
76.9 (1996) |
44 |
| LAKE FORK RSVR |
WOOD |
75.2 |
75.2 (2003) |
24 |
| LAKE KEMP |
BAYLOR |
78.7 |
78.2 (2000) |
37 |
| MCKINNEY MUNI AP |
COLLIN |
76.0 |
75.8 (1998) |
12 |
| PADUCAH |
COTTLE |
78.2 |
77.8 (1962) |
51 |
| SAN AUGUSTINE |
SAN AUGUSTINE |
76.2 |
76.2 (2003) |
11 |
| VIGO PARK |
SWISHER |
70.5 |
70.3 (2006) |
10 |
| WHITE RIVER RESERVOIR |
CROSBY |
76.0 |
75.1 (1998) |
15 |
| Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| ARLINGTON MUNI AP |
TARRANT |
88.2 |
87.3 (2006) |
12 |
| ATLANTA |
CASS |
88.4 |
87.3 (2010) |
12 |
| BONITA 4 NW |
MONTAGUE |
85.6 |
84.8 (2006) |
11 |
| DECATUR |
WISE |
86.0 |
85.6 (1908) |
11 |
| FOLLETT |
LIPSCOMB |
85.7 |
84.9 (2006) |
65 |
| GALVESTON SCHOLES FLD |
GALVESTON |
85.1 |
84.4 (2011) |
30 |
| HOUSTON NWSO |
GALVESTON |
87.1 |
87.1 (1998) |
24 |
| LAKE KEMP |
BAYLOR |
92.0 |
91.9 (2000) |
37 |
| RAINBOW |
SOMERVELL |
88.5 |
88.1 (2006) |
12 |
| SAN AUGUSTINE |
SAN AUGUSTINE |
87.4 |
86.5 (2003) |
11 |
| TEXARKANA |
BOWIE |
86.9 |
86.8 (1998) |
41 |
| Highest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| JUNCTION KIMBLE CO AP |
KIMBLE |
105 |
105 (2000) |
35 |
| TURKEY |
HALL |
107 |
107 (2000) |
41 |
| Lowest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| DEL RIO 2 NW |
VAL VERDE |
68 |
68 (1997) |
15 |
| FT DAVIS |
JEFF DAVIS |
57 |
58 (2005) |
35 |
| FT STOCKTON PECOS AP |
PECOS |
66 |
66 (2010) |
12 |
| TORNILLO 2 SSE |
EL PASO |
61 |
67 (1990) |
31 |
| Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| ABERNATHY |
HALE |
56.2 |
54.5 (2006) |
12 |
| ABILENE 2 |
TAYLOR |
63.8 |
63.0 (2001) |
10 |
| ARLINGTON MUNI AP |
TARRANT |
65.9 |
65.3 (2007) |
12 |
| ATLANTA |
CASS |
63.2 |
62.7 (2010) |
12 |
| BONITA 4 NW |
MONTAGUE |
64.4 |
63.8 (2007) |
11 |
| BORGER HUTCHINSON CO AP |
HUTCHINSON |
59.8 |
59.5 (1998) |
12 |
| BRADY |
MCCULLOCH |
65.6 |
65.2 (1996) |
71 |
| CHILDRESS 2 |
CHILDRESS |
62.1 |
60.4 (2006) |
14 |
| DECATUR |
WISE |
62.4 |
61.9 (2007) |
11 |
| GALVESTON SCHOLES FLD |
GALVESTON |
75.0 |
74.3 (2000) |
30 |
| GUTHRIE |
KING |
63.1 |
60.1 (1996) |
44 |
| JAYTON |
KENT |
63.4 |
62.7 (1996) |
38 |
| LAKE ALAN HENRY |
GARZA |
64.6 |
64.6 (1996) |
18 |
| LAKE KEMP |
BAYLOR |
65.4 |
64.7 (1996) |
38 |
| MCKINNEY MUNI AP |
COLLIN |
65.0 |
63.7 (2007) |
12 |
| PADUCAH |
COTTLE |
63.9 |
63.0 (1996) |
51 |
| PADUCAH 15 S |
KING |
62.6 |
62.6 (1996) |
16 |
| PARIS |
LAMAR |
65.9 |
65.8 (1998) |
106 |
| PLAINVIEW WATER PRODUCTION |
HALE |
55.6 |
55.0 (2006) |
13 |
| POST |
GARZA |
63.8 |
62.7 (1996) |
49 |
| VIGO PARK |
SWISHER |
55.5 |
54.5 (2006) |
10 |
| WHITE RIVER RESERVOIR |
CROSBY |
62.6 |
60.4 (2000) |
15 |
| Highest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
| Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
| CHILDRESS MUNI AP |
CHILDRESS |
78 |
77 (1996) |
65 |
| CRANE 2E |
CRANE |
80 |
77 (1996) |
40 |
| GALVESTON SCHOLES FLD |
GALVESTON |
80 |
80 (2011) |
30 |
| GUTHRIE |
KING |
77 |
75 (1998) |
44 |
| HART |
CASTRO |
67 |
67 (2010) |
25 |
| LIPSCOMB |
LIPSCOMB |
73 |
73 (1996) |
46 |
| MATADOR |
MOTLEY |
77 |
76 (1996) |
60 |
| PADUCAH 15 S |
KING |
76 |
75 (2000) |
16 |
| PANHANDLE |
CARSON |
68 |
68 (1998) |
49 |
| PANTHER JUNCTION |
BREWSTER |
79 |
79 (2001) |
49 |
| PARIS |
LAMAR |
75 |
75 (2006) |
106 |
| POST |
GARZA |
77 |
75 (2011) |
49 |
| ROCKPORT ARANSAS CO AP |
ARANSAS |
80 |
80 (2010) |
10 |
| TAHOKA |
LYNN |
73 |
72 (2011) |
70 |
| TULIA |
SWISHER |
69 |
68 (2000) |
63 |
| TURKEY |
HALL |
78 |
77 (1974) |
41 |
| WHITE RIVER RESERVOIR |
CROSBY |
74 |
73 (2011) |
15 |
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 |
90.5 |
110 (1907) |
68.5 |
44 (1919) |
3.56 |
9.60 (1961) |
4.35 (1941) |
17.4 |
0.0 |
7.0 |
1 |
435 |
| Amarillo |
87.7 |
111 (2011) |
61.0 |
38 (1917) |
3.16 |
10.73 (1965) |
6.15 (1960) |
12.1 |
0.0 |
8.5 |
7 |
288 |
| Austin |
92.1 |
108 (1998) |
72.3 |
51 (1926) |
4.33 |
14.96 (1981) |
8.65 (1941) |
21.0 |
0.0 |
7.7 |
0 |
516 |
| Brownsville |
92.1 |
103 (1918) |
75.7 |
56 (1919) |
2.57 |
13.80 (1887) |
8.18 (1942) |
24.4 |
0.0 |
5.9 |
0 |
567 |
| College Station |
91.7 |
108 (1901) |
72.7 |
53 (1970) |
4.45 |
15.03 (1905) |
6.70 (1905) |
21.0 |
0.0 |
8.5 |
0 |
516 |
| Corpus Christi |
90.9 |
106 (1998) |
73.9 |
56 (1919) |
3.36 |
13.35 (1973) |
11.52 (2006) |
19.6 |
0.0 |
6.8 |
0 |
522 |
| Dallas‑Fort Worth |
91.3 |
113 (1980) |
71.4 |
48 (1903) |
3.79 |
11.58 (1928) |
4.14 (1928) |
19.4 |
0.0 |
8.0 |
0 |
491 |
| Del Rio |
94.7 |
112 (1988) |
73.4 |
49 (1919) |
2.35 |
13.71 (1935) |
8.88 (1935) |
24.9 |
0.0 |
5.7 |
0 |
571 |
| El Paso |
95.5 |
114 (1994) |
68.0 |
46 (1988) |
0.94 |
3.18 (1984) |
1.91 (2009) |
24.9 |
0.0 |
3.9 |
0 |
502 |
| Galveston |
88.2 |
99 (2011) |
77.5 |
57 (1903) |
5.69 |
15.49 (1919) |
12.56 (1961) |
6.6 |
0.0 |
8.4 |
0 |
535 |
| Houston |
91.4 |
105 (2011) |
73.3 |
52 (1970) |
5.93 |
19.21 (2001) |
11.02 (2001) |
20.7 |
0.0 |
10.6 |
0 |
520 |
| Lubbock |
90.6 |
114 (1994) |
64.2 |
39 (1917) |
3.04 |
8.48 (2000) |
5.70 (1967) |
16.6 |
0.0 |
8.2 |
2 |
374 |
| Midland |
93.4 |
116 (1994) |
67.3 |
47 (1983) |
1.80 |
5.10 (1940) |
3.95 (1940) |
21.0 |
0.0 |
4.8 |
0 |
461 |
| Port Arthur |
89.6 |
106 (1902) |
72.7 |
53 (1903) |
7.09 |
18.90 (1989) |
10.20 (1961) |
15.0 |
0.0 |
10.0 |
0 |
484 |
| San Angelo |
92.1 |
110 (1994) |
68.8 |
40 (1912) |
2.59 |
6.01 (1982) |
3.88 (1999) |
19.4 |
0.0 |
6.2 |
0 |
464 |
| San Antonio |
92.3 |
107 (1998) |
72.6 |
48 (1919) |
4.14 |
11.95 (1986) |
6.30 (1986) |
21.5 |
0.0 |
7.5 |
0 |
523 |
| Victoria |
91.5 |
107 (1934) |
72.4 |
54 (1919) |
4.46 |
13.50 (2004) |
9.30 (1977) |
20.6 |
0.0 |
8.9 |
0 |
508 |
| Waco |
91.7 |
109 (1980) |
70.8 |
52 (1964) |
3.43 |
12.06 (1961) |
6.40 (1938) |
20.2 |
0.0 |
7.5 |
0 |
488 |
| Wichita Falls |
91.4 |
117 (1980) |
67.6 |
50 (1928) |
4.15 |
8.60 (1989) |
5.36 (1985) |
18.7 |
0.0 |
7.7 |
1 |
436 |
| Shreveport, LA |
90.1 |
104 (2011) |
69.5 |
52 (1977) |
5.40 |
17.11 (1989) |
8.00 (1902) |
17.2 |
0.0 |
9.2 |
0 |
444 |
| Climatic averages are based on 1981-2010 monthly normals, which are provided by the National Climatic Data Center. |
