Texas Climate Report: October 2012
October brought with it the normal ups and downs associated with the onset of fall in the state of Texas with a series of cold-fronts pushing through roughly once per week. The fronts helped to keep average temperatures for the month slightly below normal for all of Texas except along the Rio Grande and the Coastal Bend, where temperatures were average to above average. Precipitation was more miss than hit in the state, for all major cities recorded less than 50% normal precipitation. The majority of the rain that fell in the month was associated with a frontal system that moved from west to east between October 13-15, bringing short-lived rain showers and cooler temperatures with it. The most potent event that rolled though was the very early frost that came with an arctic cold front on the between October 7-8, sending temperatures dropping over 20 degrees Fahrenheit from the day before and causing a frost advisory to be issued as far south as the Dallas-Fort Worth Metro area.
October was below normal for precipitation for practically the entire state, enough rainfall and below average temperatures prevented any significant changes to drought status; the Climate Prediction Center predicts that the drought will persist across much of the state west of Interstate 35 and minor improvement in drought conditions along the Coastal Bend. Winter looks to bring normal temperatures and precipitation for the state.
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 |
75.9 |
‑1.4 |
91 |
53.4 |
‑0.9 |
33 |
64.6 |
‑1.2 |
2 |
0.73 |
24% |
0.50 |
128 |
123 |
Amarillo |
72.6 |
+0.7 |
90 |
43.1 |
‑1.6 |
27 |
57.9 |
‑0.4 |
1 |
0.01 |
1% |
0.01 |
242 |
28 |
Austin |
80.6 |
‑1.2 |
91 |
59.7 |
‑0.9 |
40 |
70.2 |
‑1.0 |
5 |
0.96 |
25% |
0.52 |
60 |
228 |
Brownsville |
88.1 |
+2.4 |
97 |
68.5 |
+1.6 |
55 |
78.3 |
+2.0 |
5 |
0.80 |
21% |
0.59 |
2 |
421 |
College Station |
81.2 |
‑0.2 |
90 |
59.2 |
‑1.1 |
41 |
70.2 |
‑0.6 |
5 |
2.17 |
44% |
1.16 |
56 |
226 |
Corpus Christi |
87.5 |
+3.1 |
101 |
67.1 |
+2.3 |
48 |
77.3 |
+2.7 |
2 |
0.19 |
5% |
0.16 |
9 |
400 |
Dallas‑Fort Worth |
77.8 |
‑0.5 |
89 |
56.1 |
‑0.7 |
38 |
67.0 |
‑0.5 |
2 |
1.02 |
24% |
1.02 |
98 |
166 |
Del Rio |
84.4 |
+2.0 |
94 |
63.5 |
+2.5 |
46 |
74.0 |
+2.3 |
4 |
0.06 |
3% |
0.03 |
28 |
315 |
El Paso |
82.4 |
+4.2 |
93 |
54.8 |
+2.8 |
41 |
68.6 |
+3.5 |
2 |
0.10 |
16% |
0.09 |
37 |
157 |
Galveston |
80.4 |
‑0.2 |
86 |
67.6 |
‑0.5 |
53 |
74.0 |
‑0.3 |
2 |
0.51 |
9% |
0.50 |
15 |
303 |
Houston |
82.3 |
+0.3 |
90 |
59.5 |
‑1.4 |
42 |
70.9 |
‑0.6 |
3 |
1.00 |
18% |
0.58 |
40 |
230 |
Lubbock |
74.8 |
‑0.4 |
93 |
46.5 |
‑1.4 |
26 |
60.6 |
‑0.9 |
2 |
0.28 |
15% |
0.28 |
195 |
67 |
Midland |
77.2 |
‑0.7 |
91 |
51.5 |
‑0.3 |
33 |
64.4 |
‑0.4 |
2 |
0.12 |
7% |
0.07 |
123 |
111 |
Port Arthur |
80.9 |
+0.3 |
87 |
58.3 |
‑2.2 |
40 |
69.6 |
‑1.0 |
4 |
1.32 |
24% |
1.05 |
45 |
197 |
San Angelo |
78.3 |
‑0.5 |
89 |
53.1 |
‑0.5 |
30 |
65.7 |
‑0.5 |
2 |
0.49 |
18% |
0.48 |
115 |
141 |
San Antonio |
80.5 |
‑1.7 |
90 |
61.0 |
+0.9 |
41 |
70.7 |
‑0.5 |
5 |
2.40 |
58% |
1.38 |
55 |
241 |
Victoria |
83.8 |
+0.3 |
93 |
61.0 |
+0.1 |
40 |
72.4 |
+0.2 |
3 |
0.39 |
8% |
0.29 |
37 |
272 |
Waco |
79.6 |
‑0.3 |
93 |
54.0 |
‑2.6 |
30 |
66.8 |
‑1.5 |
1 |
0.06 |
2% |
0.06 |
110 |
173 |
Wichita Falls |
74.8 |
‑2.2 |
92 |
51.1 |
‑0.9 |
29 |
63.0 |
‑1.5 |
2 |
0.51 |
16% |
0.39 |
158 |
103 |
Shreveport, LA |
77.1 |
‑1.1 |
86 |
53.7 |
‑0.9 |
37 |
65.4 |
‑1.0 |
6 |
4.12 |
83% |
2.12 |
100 |
120 |
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 |
ARANSAS WR |
ARANSAS |
0.00 |
BALLINGER 2 NW |
RUNNELS |
0.00 |
BROWNWOOD 2ENE |
BROWN |
0.00 |
BURKETT |
COLEMAN |
0.00 |
CANADIAN 22SE |
HEMPHILL |
0.00 |
CARTA VALLEY |
EDWARDS |
0.00 |
CONCHO PARK IVIE RSVR |
CONCHO |
0.00 |
CROSBYTON |
CROSBY |
0.00 |
DRISCOLL |
NUECES |
0.00 |
EAGLE PASS |
MAVERICK |
0.00 |
EL INDIO |
MAVERICK |
0.00 |
FT HANCOCK 8 SSE |
HUDSPETH |
0.00 |
HUDSPETH RIVER RANCH |
VAL VERDE |
0.00 |
HUMBLE PUMP STN 5 WN |
SUTTON |
0.00 |
KERMIT |
WINKLER |
0.00 |
LANGTRY |
VAL VERDE |
0.00 |
LEAKEY |
REAL |
0.00 |
PADUCAH 15 S |
KING |
0.00 |
PAINT ROCK |
CONCHO |
0.00 |
PECOS MUNI AP |
REEVES |
0.00 |
ROBSTOWN |
NUECES |
0.00 |
ROCKSPRINGS 26SSW |
EDWARDS |
0.00 |
SANTA ANNA 12SSE |
COLEMAN |
0.00 |
SEGUIN 1 SSW |
GUADALUPE |
0.00 |
SLATON |
LUBBOCK |
0.00 |
VAN HORN |
CULBERSON |
0.00 |
WELLINGTON |
COLLINGSWORTH |
0.00 |
Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
Station |
County |
Value |
LEXINGTON |
LEE |
4.10 |
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours (inches) |
Station |
County |
Value |
MONKSTOWN |
FANNIN |
2.68 |
Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
BUSHLAND 1 WSW |
POTTER |
54.7 |
GRUVER |
HANSFORD |
54.7 |
PERRYTON |
OCHILTREE |
54.7 |
Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
MCALLEN MILLER INTL AP |
HIDALGO |
79.4 |
Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
CAPROCK CANYON SP |
BRISCOE |
61.7 |
Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
FALCON DAM |
STARR |
93.3 |
Highest Maximum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
FALCON DAM |
STARR |
104 |
MCALLEN MILLER INTL AP |
HIDALGO |
104 |
Lowest Maximum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
CAPROCK CANYON SP |
BRISCOE |
40 |
Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
DALHART MUNI AP |
DALLAM |
38.3 |
DIMMITT 2 N |
CASTRO |
38.3 |
Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
PORT ISABEL CAMERON AP |
CAMERON |
70.1 |
Highest Minimum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
CORPUS CHRISTI INTL AP |
NUECES |
79 |
CORPUS CHRISTI nbsp;NAS |
NUECES |
79 |
LAREDO INTL AP |
WEBB |
79 |
ROCKPORT |
ARANSAS |
79 |
ROCKPORT ARANSAS CO AP |
ARANSAS |
79 |
Lowest Minimum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
LIPSCOMB |
LIPSCOMB |
16 |
New Monthly Records
Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
ARANSAS WR |
ARANSAS |
0.00 |
0.00 (1952) |
64 |
BALLINGER 2 NW |
RUNNELS |
0.00 |
0.00 (1992) |
111 |
BROWNWOOD 2ENE |
BROWN |
0.00 |
0.00 (1952) |
104 |
BURKETT |
COLEMAN |
0.00 |
0.00 (1980) |
58 |
CARTA VALLEY |
EDWARDS |
0.00 |
0.00 (2007) |
40 |
CORSICANA CAMPBELL FLD |
NAVARRO |
0.57 |
1.02 (2005) |
13 |
CROSBYTON |
CROSBY |
0.00 |
0.00 (1992) |
117 |
EAGLE PASS |
MAVERICK |
0.00 |
0.00 (2010) |
111 |
EL INDIO |
MAVERICK |
0.00 |
0.00 (2010) |
35 |
FT HANCOCK 8 SSE |
HUDSPETH |
0.00 |
0.00 (2001) |
40 |
GLEN COVE 2 NE |
COLEMAN |
0.19 |
1.04 (2007) |
11 |
HUDSPETH RIVER RANCH |
VAL VERDE |
0.00 |
0.00 (2010) |
25 |
HUMBLE PUMP STN 5 WN |
SUTTON |
0.00 |
0.00 (1993) |
54 |
LANGTRY |
VAL VERDE |
0.00 |
0.00 (2010) |
63 |
LEAKEY |
REAL |
0.00 |
0.23 (1988) |
23 |
LONGVIEW E TX RGNL AP |
GREGG |
1.25 |
1.26 (2005) |
13 |
PADUCAH 15 S |
KING |
0.00 |
0.00 (2003) |
36 |
PAINT ROCK |
CONCHO |
0.00 |
0.00 (1950) |
84 |
POINT COMFORT |
CALHOUN |
0.16 |
0.30 (1961) |
47 |
ROBSTOWN |
NUECES |
0.00 |
0.00 (2010) |
66 |
ROCKPORT |
ARANSAS |
0.17 |
0.40 (2010) |
54 |
ROCKSPRINGS 26SSW |
EDWARDS |
0.00 |
0.00 (2010) |
18 |
SAN ANGELO WFO |
TOM GREEN |
0.34 |
0.90 (2007) |
10 |
SEGUIN 1 SSW |
GUADALUPE |
0.00 |
0.06 (2010) |
20 |
SILSBEE 4 N |
HARDIN |
0.55 |
0.76 (2000) |
15 |
SILVER VALLEY |
COLEMAN |
0.07 |
0.07 (1980) |
39 |
SLATON |
LUBBOCK |
0.00 |
0.00 (2001) |
63 |
SOUTHLAND |
GARZA |
0.04 |
0.08 (2007) |
13 |
TERRELL MUNI AP |
KAUFMAN |
0.62 |
0.79 (2003) |
14 |
UTOPIA |
UVALDE |
0.36 |
0.36 (2010) |
19 |
VAN HORN |
CULBERSON |
0.00 |
0.00 (1991) |
66 |
WELLINGTON |
COLLINGSWORTH |
0.00 |
0.00 (1992) |
64 |
WILDWOOD |
TYLER |
0.57 |
1.46 (2010) |
18 |
Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
TORNILLO 2 SSE |
EL PASO |
59.2 |
60.3 (1984) |
32 |
Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
CASTOLON |
BREWSTER |
75.9 |
75.8 (2011) |
26 |
DELL CITY 5 SSW |
HUDSPETH |
65.9 |
65.7 (2001) |
30 |
FT DAVIS |
JEFF DAVIS |
65.1 |
64.6 (1998) |
33 |
Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
CHEAPSIDE |
GONZALES |
81.4 |
81.5 (2001) |
10 |
COLETO CREEK RSVR |
GOLIAD |
81.1 |
81.5 (2009) |
10 |
Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
DELL CITY 5 SSW |
HUDSPETH |
87.5 |
87.0 (2011) |
30 |
FALCON DAM |
STARR |
93.3 |
92.3 (2004) |
49 |
Highest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
ALICE INTL AP |
JIM WELLS |
101 |
98 (2005) |
17 |
CORPUS CHRISTI INTL AP |
NUECES |
101 |
98 (1950) |
70 |
FALCON DAM |
STARR |
104 |
101 (1994) |
49 |
FT HOOD |
BELL |
95 |
94 (2011) |
15 |
HARLINGEN |
CAMERON |
100 |
100 (1937) |
89 |
HARLINGEN RIO GRANDE AP |
CAMERON |
101 |
97 (2011) |
25 |
LAREDO INTL AP |
WEBB |
103 |
103 (2009) |
29 |
MCALLEN MILLER INTL AP |
HIDALGO |
104 |
103 (1986) |
51 |
MERCEDES 6 SSE |
HIDALGO |
101 |
100 (1937) |
39 |
PORT ISABEL CAMERON AP |
CAMERON |
95 |
94 (2011) |
10 |
REFUGIO 3 SW |
REFUGIO |
97 |
94 (2009) |
13 |
Lowest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
ALVORD 3 N |
WISE |
50 |
50 (2011) |
11 |
ATLANTA |
CASS |
51 |
55 (2009) |
13 |
BONITA 4 NW |
MONTAGUE |
49 |
49 (2011) |
11 |
CEDAR CREEK 5 S |
BASTROP |
55 |
58 (2009) |
10 |
COLETO CREEK RSVR |
GOLIAD |
62 |
62 (2003) |
10 |
CORSICANA CAMPBELL FLD |
NAVARRO |
54 |
57 (2009) |
12 |
DECATUR |
WISE |
51 |
54 (2009) |
11 |
LONGVIEW |
GREGG |
51 |
57 (2009) |
11 |
ODESSA |
ECTOR |
50 |
50 (2003) |
13 |
PALESTINE 6 WNW |
ANDERSON |
55 |
58 (2009) |
10 |
PORT ISABEL CAMERON AP |
CAMERON |
67 |
70 (2009) |
10 |
SAN ANGELO WFO |
TOM GREEN |
47 |
50 (2011) |
10 |
TAYLOR 1 NW |
WILLIAMSON |
54 |
58 (2009) |
12 |
Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
BUSHLAND 1 WSW |
POTTER |
39.2 |
39.3 (2009) |
13 |
CONCHO PARK IVIE RSVR |
CONCHO |
50.9 |
52.1 (2009) |
14 |
FT WORTH ALLIANCE AP |
TARRANT |
51.6 |
52.5 (2009) |
15 |
TORNILLO 2 SSE |
EL PASO |
40.6 |
40.6 (2011) |
32 |
Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
CASTOLON |
BREWSTER |
61.4 |
60.7 (2002) |
27 |
KENT 8 SE |
JEFF DAVIS |
52.6 |
51.7 (2011) |
16 |
Highest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
ABERNATHY |
HALE |
65 |
65 (2005) |
17 |
BIG SPRING |
HOWARD |
72 |
71 (2011) |
57 |
BIG SPRING |
HOWARD |
72 |
71 (2011) |
46 |
DALLAS REDBIRD AP |
DALLAS |
76 |
75 (1998) |
12 |
KENT 8 SE |
JEFF DAVIS |
67 |
67 (2008) |
16 |
Lowest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F) |
Station |
County |
Value |
Previous Record |
Yrs. Data |
ABILENE 2 |
TAYLOR |
28 |
33 (2008) |
11 |
ALVORD 3 N |
WISE |
26 |
28 (2008) |
11 |
ARLINGTON MUNI AP |
TARRANT |
33 |
33 (2008) |
12 |
BONITA 4 NW |
MONTAGUE |
30 |
30 (2005) |
11 |
BUSHLAND 1 WSW |
POTTER |
19 |
22 (2009) |
13 |
CHILDRESS 2 |
CHILDRESS |
27 |
28 (2000) |
15 |
CONCHO PARK IVIE RSVR |
CONCHO |
31 |
35 (2010) |
14 |
CONROE MONTGOMERY CO AP |
MONTGOMERY |
33 |
33 (2010) |
12 |
DALLAS REDBIRD AP |
DALLAS |
36 |
36 (2005) |
12 |
DENTON MUNI AP |
DENTON |
30 |
33 (2000) |
12 |
FT WORTH ALLIANCE AP |
TARRANT |
29 |
30 (2008) |
15 |
HUNTSVILLE MUNI AP |
WALKER |
36 |
37 (2007) |
10 |
LAKE ALAN HENRY |
GARZA |
26 |
29 (1997) |
19 |
MADISONVILLE |
MADISON |
21 |
27 (1993) |
61 |
NEW BRAUNFELS MUNI AP |
GUADALUPE |
36 |
37 (2011) |
13 |
PLAINVIEW WATER PRODUCTION |
HALE |
25 |
26 (2009) |
13 |
RAINBOW |
SOMERVELL |
28 |
28 (2005) |
12 |
THROCKMORTON 7 NE |
THROCKMORTON |
30 |
32 (2010) |
10 |
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 |
66.3 |
92 (1980) |
43.0 |
13 (1887) |
1.41 |
5.82 (1913) |
2.48 (2004) |
0.1 |
4.4 |
4.6 |
329 |
19 |
Amarillo |
60.0 |
87 (1980) |
32.5 |
0 (1976) |
0.80 |
5.09 (1905) |
3.01 (1905) |
0.0 |
14.5 |
4.0 |
564 |
1 |
Austin |
71.4 |
91 (2006) |
50.6 |
20 (1976) |
2.96 |
14.10 (2004) |
7.55 (2001) |
0.1 |
0.4 |
7.5 |
181 |
61 |
Brownsville |
79.1 |
98 (1906) |
59.6 |
27 (1911) |
1.82 |
7.69 (1986) |
4.08 (1986) |
0.4 |
0.0 |
6.0 |
50 |
180 |
College Station |
71.0 |
94 (1921) |
50.5 |
19 (1976) |
3.22 |
13.06 (1907) |
5.56 (1907) |
0.0 |
0.7 |
8.1 |
188 |
61 |
Corpus Christi |
76.0 |
98 (1988) |
56.2 |
27 (2011) |
1.97 |
8.64 (1888) |
4.61 (1892) |
0.4 |
0.1 |
6.0 |
91 |
124 |
Dallas‑Fort Worth |
66.9 |
89 (2005) |
46.2 |
19 (1950) |
2.71 |
7.94 (1918) |
4.72 (1918) |
0.1 |
1.8 |
6.4 |
282 |
29 |
Del Rio |
72.0 |
96 (1988) |
49.6 |
17 (1906) |
0.93 |
4.71 (2004) |
2.87 (1914) |
0.2 |
0.6 |
4.4 |
173 |
47 |
El Paso |
66.2 |
87 (1983) |
40.1 |
1 (1976) |
0.49 |
2.50 (1906) |
1.19 (1943) |
0.0 |
4.9 |
3.1 |
359 |
3 |
Galveston |
71.6 |
85 (1988) |
58.6 |
26 (1911) |
4.51 |
16.18 (1940) |
9.01 (1940) |
0.0 |
0.0 |
8.0 |
94 |
97 |
Houston |
72.5 |
89 (2010) |
52.1 |
19 (1976) |
4.34 |
14.10 (1943) |
10.83 (1943) |
0.1 |
0.4 |
8.2 |
155 |
74 |
Lubbock |
63.6 |
90 (2006) |
35.9 |
‑1 (1957) |
0.85 |
6.65 (2004) |
1.67 (2004) |
0.0 |
9.5 |
3.8 |
460 |
3 |
Midland |
66.6 |
90 (1996) |
39.2 |
10 (1938) |
0.69 |
5.42 (2004) |
2.17 (2004) |
0.0 |
6.4 |
3.0 |
370 |
7 |
Port Arthur |
71.7 |
90 (1905) |
51.8 |
22 (1976) |
4.40 |
22.74 (1902) |
7.70 (1946) |
0.0 |
0.4 |
8.1 |
161 |
64 |
San Angelo |
68.3 |
93 (1980) |
42.3 |
12 (1911) |
1.14 |
5.18 (2004) |
2.57 (2001) |
0.1 |
5.1 |
4.0 |
309 |
18 |
San Antonio |
72.2 |
94 (1988) |
50.1 |
21 (1976) |
2.28 |
9.46 (2004) |
4.87 (1977) |
0.1 |
1.1 |
6.7 |
178 |
62 |
Victoria |
74.2 |
93 (1988) |
51.8 |
24 (1976) |
3.24 |
16.14 (2004) |
9.20 (2004) |
0.1 |
0.5 |
7.3 |
140 |
80 |
Waco |
68.5 |
92 (1988) |
46.5 |
17 (1976) |
2.82 |
10.36 (1902) |
4.26 (1952) |
0.1 |
2.6 |
7.3 |
261 |
36 |
Wichita Falls |
65.1 |
89 (1988) |
40.3 |
14 (1950) |
1.65 |
7.39 (1902) |
3.15 (1902) |
0.0 |
5.8 |
5.3 |
381 |
12 |
Shreveport, LA |
67.5 |
88 (1984) |
45.2 |
16 (1976) |
4.53 |
10.81 (1987) |
6.51 (1987) |
0.0 |
2.7 |
8.7 |
285 |
25 |
Climatic averages are based on 1981-2010 monthly normals, which are provided by the National Climatic Data Center. |