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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.

may 2012 average temperatures
may 2012 average precipitation

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.
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