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Texas Climate Report: December 2013

Temperatures and precipitation were all over the place in the month of December 2013. Overall colder temperatures were seen across the state with many areas seeing close to record lows. Regions to the west of Interstate 35 fared well for precipitation this month, while regions to the east were parched once again with less than 50% normal precipitation falling. The majority of the precipitation that fell over the month was from a cold front that passed through the state on December 20th bringing with it severe storms in the southern half of the state and snow flurries in the Panhandle. The most extreme weather event to occur this December was the Dallas ice storm on Thursday night December 5th.  Widespread half inch ice accumulation occurred all across North Texas when a cold front fed on moist southerly winds overrunning the front. Temperatures behind the front stayed below freezing for over three days, keeping the city shut down until temperatures finally popped above freezing on the 8th.

The drought was steady across the regions with it still in place, and those without it remained drought free throughout the month. West Texas, and especially the Panhandle still have the most severe drought for the region and despite greater than normal precipitation for the month, drought conditions remain.

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 54.4 ‑2.5 83 30.2 ‑3.5 14 42.3 ‑3.0 4 1.11 90% 0.91 698 1
Amarillo 49.4 ‑0.3 72 21.9 ‑2.1 3 35.6 ‑1.3 2 0.32 45% 0.30 903 0
Austin 60.7 ‑2.0 85 39.6 ‑2.7 27 50.1 ‑2.4 4 0.72 30% 0.46 468 15
Brownsville 69.3 ‑2.5 85 51.3 ‑1.4 37 60.3 ‑1.9 11 3.52 306% 2.39 217 77
College Station 58.5 ‑3.8 81 38.5 ‑3.7 28 48.5 ‑3.7 4 0.76 24% 0.56 516 14
Corpus Christi 66.0 ‑2.4 83 46.6 ‑2.0 34 56.3 ‑2.2 7 0.29 16% 0.15 299 36
Dallas‑Fort Worth 53.9 ‑3.2 79 32.3 ‑4.8 19 43.1 ‑4.0 5 2.76 108% 1.49 671 0
Del Rio 61.5 ‑2.5 82 38.9 ‑1.9 27 50.2 ‑2.2 5 0.48 74% 0.25 455 5
El Paso 57.0 ‑0.1 72 32.2 ‑0.3 22 44.6 ‑0.2 4 0.26 33% 0.20 623 0
Galveston 59.7 ‑4.2 76 46.9 ‑3.8 38 53.3 ‑4.0 9 0.65 18% 0.42 368 13
Houston 61.1 ‑3.2 81 41.7 ‑2.9 30 51.4 ‑3.0 6 1.66 44% 1.49 443 29
Lubbock 53.4 ‑0.7 77 24.1 ‑3.0 10 38.7 ‑1.9 4 0.60 79% 0.51 804 0
Midland 55.5 ‑2.6 79 31.1 +0.3 16 43.3 ‑1.1 4 1.44 240% 1.13 665 0
Port Arthur 61.8 ‑1.9 80 42.7 ‑2.1 31 52.3 ‑2.0 5 1.29 24% 0.70 413 24
San Angelo       31.6 ‑2.0 19     4 1.15 135% 0.56    
San Antonio 62.7 ‑1.3 86 41.5 ‑0.2 29 52.1 ‑0.8 5 0.55 29% 0.27 412 18
Victoria 64.0 ‑2.1 86 42.8 ‑1.5 30 53.4 ‑1.8 4 0.45 19% 0.17 383 32
Waco 55.9 ‑3.1 81 31.6 ‑5.9 21 43.8 ‑4.5 4 1.34 49% 1.00 652 0
Wichita Falls 50.5 ‑4.2 75 26.4 ‑4.4 12 38.4 ‑4.4 5 1.29 80% 0.90 815 0
Shreveport, LA 57.0 ‑1.5 79 37.2 ‑0.5 25 47.1 ‑1.0 7 4.98 104% 2.79 559 11
*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.
dec 2013 average temperatures
dec 2013 average precipitation

Monthly Extremes

Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value
ALLISON WHEELER 0.00
CANADIAN 22SE HEMPHILL 0.00
HUDSPETH RIVER RANCH VAL VERDE 0.00
LEAKEY REAL 0.00
MCCAMEY UPTON 0.00
POTEET ATASCOSA 0.00
YOUNGSPORT BELL 0.00
Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value
MAUD BOWIE 6.80
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours (inches)
Station County Value
LINDALE 3 NE SMITH 2.61
Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
PERRYTON OCHILTREE 31.1
Highest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
PORT ISABEL CAMERON AP CAMERON 60.6
Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
PERRYTON OCHILTREE 44.5
Highest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
BROWNSVILLE INTL AP CAMERON 69.3
Highest Maximum Temperature  (°F)
Station County Value
LAREDO 2 WEBB 91
LAREDO INTL AP WEBB 91
Lowest Maximum Temperature  (°F)
Station County Value
STRATFORD SHERMAN 13
Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
BOYS RANCH OLDHAM 17.4
Highest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
PORT ISABEL CAMERON AP CAMERON 52.4
Highest Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
BROWNSVILLE INTL AP CAMERON 73
Lowest Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value
PADUCAH 15 S KING -4

 

New Monthly Records

Least Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
ANGLETON BRAZORIA AP BRAZORIA 0.35 0.61 (2008) 13
BEAUMONT RSCH CTR JEFFERSON 0.98 1.43 (1954) 49
CANADIAN 22SE HEMPHILL 0.00 0.00 (2009) 11
CONROE MONTGOMERY CO AP MONTGOMERY 0.73 1.49 (2010) 16
DEWEYVILLE NEWTON 1.67 1.99 (1980) 43
EDNA 7 NW JACKSON 0.50 0.50 (2005) 15
FREEPORT 2 NW BRAZORIA 0.42 0.58 (1951) 76
HOUSTON CLOVER FLD BRAZORIA 1.26 1.88 (2004) 11
HOUSTON HOOKS MEM AP HARRIS 0.68 1.00 (2010) 16
HOUSTON NWSO GALVESTON 0.83 1.35 (2008) 23
HOUSTON SUGARLAND MEM FORT BEND 0.62 1.39 (2004) 11
HUDSPETH RIVER RANCH VAL VERDE 0.00 0.00 (2012) 26
KATY WOLF HILL HARRIS 0.69 0.79 (2008) 34
LEAKEY REAL 0.00 0.00 (2005) 23
LUMBERTON HARDIN 2.01 2.55 (2010) 18
MCCAMEY UPTON 0.00 0.00 (2010) 76
ORANGE 9 N ORANGE 1.67 1.99 (1980) 43
PALACIOS MUNI AP MATAGORDA 0.22 0.28 (1948) 70
PORT ARTHUR SE TX AP JEFFERSON 1.29 1.32 (1954) 67
POTEET ATASCOSA 0.00 0.00 (2004) 67
ROCKPORT ARANSAS CO AP ARANSAS 0.04 0.18 (2008) 14
SILSBEE 4 N HARDIN 1.78 2.88 (2000) 16
WILDWOOD TYLER 1.17 2.03 (2010) 19
YOUNGSPORT BELL 0.00 0.00 (2005) 22
Greatest Precipitation Overall for the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
FT STOCKTON PECOS AP PECOS 1.04 0.81 (2011) 14
MONAHANS 6 ENE WARD 1.76 1.38 (2011) 11
PECOS 8 W REEVES 1.28 0.46 (2011) 10
Greatest Precipitation in 24 Hours Ever in the Month (inches)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
FT STOCKTON PECOS AP PECOS 0.89 0.51 (2011) 14
GLEN COVE 2 NE COLEMAN 1.55 1.12 (2010) 12
LAKE ALAN HENRY GARZA 1.50 1.24 (2007) 20
LAKE BRIDGEPORT DAM WISE 1.70 1.60 (2002) 21
LONDON 3 N MENARD 1.26 0.86 (2002) 12
MONAHANS 6 ENE WARD 1.38 0.62 (2011) 11
ODESSA SCHLEMEYER FLD ECTOR 1.19 0.90 (2002) 13
PECOS 8 W REEVES 0.79 0.19 (2011) 10
POST GARZA 2.26 2.00 (1926) 93
WHITE RIVER RESERVOIR CROSBY 1.67 0.93 (2006) 12
WINKLER CO AP WINKLER 1.00 0.96 (1991) 69
Lowest Average Daily Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
ANGLETON BRAZORIA AP BRAZORIA 52.0 54.6 (2004) 10
DECATUR WISE 39.1 39.1 (2009) 11
FT WORTH ALLIANCE AP TARRANT 40.0 42.3 (2009) 16
ROBERT GRAY AAF BELL 46.2 47.0 (1958) 16
THROCKMORTON 7 NE THROCKMORTON 38.8 39.3 (2009) 12
Lowest Average Daily Maximum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
ANGLETON BRAZORIA AP BRAZORIA 62.7 64.6 (2002) 10
FT WORTH ALLIANCE AP TARRANT 52.0 52.9 (2009) 16
Highest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
AUSTIN 8SSE TRAVIS 84 83 (2012) 10
BRACKETTVILLE 22 N KINNEY 82 82 (2008) 10
DRYDEN TERRELL CO AP TERRELL 88 86 (2012) 10
ELGIN BASTROP 86 86 (1973) 51
HUNT 10 W KERR 83 81 (2012) 11
PERRYTON OCHILTREE 80 78 (1987) 43
SAN ANTONIO 8 NNE BEXAR 83 83 (2012) 17
SAN ANTONIO STINSON AP BEXAR 90 86 (2007) 16
Lowest Maximum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
ARLINGTON MUNI AP TARRANT 26 28 (2000) 15
ARLINGTON SIX FLAGS TARRANT 25 25 (1998) 20
AUSTIN 8SSE TRAVIS 30 34 (2005) 10
BURNET MUNI AP BURNET 27 29 (1998) 16
CHEAPSIDE GONZALES 31 34 (2005) 10
CHILDRESS 2 CHILDRESS 17 18 (1998) 17
CORPUS CHRISTI NWS NUECES 34 38 (2005) 10
CORSICANA CAMPBELL FLD NAVARRO 29 30 (2000) 12
CUERO DEWITT 30 31 (1983) 92
DALLAS REDBIRD AP DALLAS 27 27 (2000) 14
DENTON MUNI AP DENTON 25 25 (2000) 15
DRYDEN TERRELL CO AP TERRELL 35 37 (2009) 10
FT HOOD BELL 27 28 (1964) 14
FT WORTH ALLIANCE AP TARRANT 24 27 (1998) 16
FT WORTH WSFO TARRANT 24 26 (2000) 19
HOUSTON SUGARLAND MEM FORT BEND 38 38 (2005) 11
K‑BAR RCH ECTOR 21 29 (2004) 10
LAREDO INTL AP WEBB 39 40 (1963) 30
LONGVIEW E TX RGNL AP GREGG 33 33 (2012) 14
MCKINNEY MUNI AP COLLIN 25 28 (2000) 14
MONAHANS 6 ENE WARD 25 30 (2009) 11
MULESHOE 19 S BAILEY 19 21 (2005) 10
NEW BRAUNFELS MUNI AP GUADALUPE 33 33 (2000) 15
ODESSA SCHLEMEYER FLD ECTOR 21 21 (1998) 13
PADUCAH 15 S KING 18 20 (1998) 15
PECOS 8 W REEVES 29 29 (2004) 10
PLAINVIEW WATER PRODUCTION HALE 18 20 (2008) 13
RAINBOW SOMERVELL 24 27 (2005) 14
ROBERT GRAY AAF BELL 25 32 (1950) 16
ROCKPORT ARANSAS CO AP ARANSAS 36 37 (1998) 14
TAYLOR 1 NW WILLIAMSON 28 32 (2000) 14
THROCKMORTON 7 NE THROCKMORTON 20 22 (2005) 14
WHITE RIVER RESERVOIR CROSBY 20 20 (1998) 17
Lowest Average Daily Minimum Temperature (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
ANGLETON BRAZORIA AP BRAZORIA 41.4 44.1 (2004) 10
ARLINGTON MUNI AP TARRANT 30.3 31.5 (2000) 15
ARLINGTON SIX FLAGS TARRANT 30.3 32.1 (2000) 20
BURNET MUNI AP BURNET 34.7 34.7 (2009) 16
CALLIHAM MCMULLEN 40.2 40.2 (2000) 12
CEDAR CREEK 5 S BASTROP 34.7 35.5 (2010) 12
CORPUS CHRISTI NWS NUECES 44.8 45.0 (2009) 10
DECATUR WISE 26.1 28.2 (2009) 12
DENTON MUNI AP DENTON 27.8 29.1 (2000) 15
FT WORTH ALLIANCE AP TARRANT 28.0 31.6 (2009) 16
RAINBOW SOMERVELL 27.6 27.6 (2005) 14
ROBERT GRAY AAF BELL 35.1 36.4 (1958) 16
THROCKMORTON 7 NE THROCKMORTON 25.9 26.1 (2009) 12
Highest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
DRYDEN TERRELL CO AP TERRELL 60 59 (2001) 11
KENT 8 SE JEFF DAVIS 57 57 (1992) 20
LONGVIEW E TX RGNL AP GREGG 67 65 (2012) 14
LUFKIN 11 NW ANGELINA 69 68 (2008) 16
PANTHER JUNCTION BREWSTER 65 65 (1978) 50
WARREN 2 S TYLER 69 69 (2008) 35
Lowest Minimum Temperature Ever in the Month (°F)
Station County Value Previous Record Yrs. Data
CHILDRESS 2 CHILDRESS 4 5 (2005) 16
PADUCAH 15 S KING -4 7 (1996) 13
WHITE RIVER RESERVOIR CROSBY 5 6 (2005) 17

 

Climatic Averages for January

  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 56.8 90 (1911) 33.0 ‑9 (1947) 1.02 4.35 (1968) 2.84 (2010) 0.0 14.9 4.7 624 1
Amarillo 50.6 83 (1927) 23.4 ‑11 (1984) 0.72 2.67 (1999) 1.74 (1968) 0.0 26.8 3.9 868 0
Austin 61.5 90 (1971) 41.5 ‑2 (1949) 2.22 9.21 (1991) 4.41 (1991) 0.0 4.4 7.4 428 9
Brownsville 70.6 93 (1971) 51.6 18 (1881) 1.27 5.11 (1945) 3.00 (1988) 0.0 0.3 7.3 180 59
College Station 61.0 90 (1999) 41.2 ‑3 (1949) 3.24 15.60 (1991) 5.63 (1991) 0.0 4.9 8.4 442 11
Corpus Christi 66.9 91 (2013) 47.2 14 (1962) 1.54 10.78 (1958) 6.38 (1958) 0.0 1.5 7.1 276 30
Dallas‑Fort Worth 56.4 93 (1911) 35.5 ‑2 (1949) 2.13 9.07 (1932) 4.27 (2012) 0.0 11.0 6.6 593 2
Del Rio 63.8 92 (1911) 40.6 12 (1918) 0.72 4.12 (1931) 1.91 (1994) 0.0 4.1 4.4 399 3
El Paso 57.7 80 (1970) 32.5 ‑8 (1962) 0.40 1.84 (1949) 1.28 (1896) 0.0 14.5 3.8 617 0
Galveston 61.8 78 (2006) 48.6 11 (1886) 4.20 10.75 (1991) 5.38 (1923) 0.0 0.7 9.1 309 5
Houston 62.9 87 (1902) 43.2 5 (1930) 3.38 13.11 (1891) 5.89 (1891) 0.0 3.7 9.6 385 15
Lubbock 54.1 87 (1914) 26.4 ‑16 (1963) 0.65 4.05 (1949) 1.96 (1939) 0.0 24.4 3.7 767 0
Midland 57.4 84 (1974) 30.3 ‑8 (1962) 0.56 4.99 (1939) 2.56 (1939) 0.0 18.3 3.6 656 0
Port Arthur 62.1 84 (1909) 43.2 11 (1930) 5.26 14.87 (1991) 6.94 (1998) 0.0 3.6 9.5 393 11
San Angelo 59.5 91 (1911) 33.3 1 (1947) 0.93 3.65 (1961) 2.49 (1961) 0.0 14.5 4.6 577 1
San Antonio 62.9 89 (1971) 40.7 0 (1949) 1.76 8.52 (1968) 3.18 (1968) 0.0 5.3 7.0 416 7
Victoria 64.7 88 (1971) 43.1 12 (1949) 2.52 7.76 (1991) 4.70 (1991) 0.0 3.6 8.4 358 14
Waco 58.2 90 (1943) 36.1 ‑5 (1949) 2.12 6.56 (1932) 4.79 (1998) 0.0 11.3 7.1 556 3
Wichita Falls 54.2 87 (1969) 29.8 ‑12 (1947) 1.14 4.48 (1968) 2.25 (1919) 0.0 18.9 4.8 713 1
Shreveport, LA 57.3 85 (1950) 36.2 ‑2 (1930) 4.20 12.96 (1999) 7.52 (1885) 0.0 11.2 9.0 570 4
Climatic averages are based on 1981-2010 monthly normals, which are provided by the National Climatic Data Center.
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