Weekly Climate Summary: 12/19/2021

This week in Texas weather saw very dry conditions in West Texas and wetter conditions in East Texas. West Texas including the Panhandle, Big Bend County, Hill Country, and South Texas Plains experienced less than 0.1” of precipitation across this period. In the east along the Gulf Coast and in the Piney Woods region, counties recorded 0.5-3” of precipitation. The only exception to this was in San Augustine and Angelina counties where less than 0.1” of precipitation was recorded. Williamson and Hardin counties were two of the wettest counties in the state with 3-3.5” of precipitation, however, Montgomery County experienced the most rainfall in the state at 3.5-4”.

This week in Texas weather, extremely high-temperature departures were observed across the state. In West Texas, including the Panhandle and Big Bend Country, temperatures were 8-12 °F warmer than normal. In the remainder of the state to the east, temperature departures were even higher. The South Texas Plains, Hill Country, and Gulf Coast experienced temperatures of 12-16 °F warmer than normal. The Piney Woods and Lakes and Prairies regions experienced temperatures 12-20 °F warmer than normal. Refugio, Aransas, and Calhoun counties experienced the greatest temperature departures in the state with observed temperatures greater than 20 °F warmer than normal.

Several severe weather events occurred in the state throughout this period. On December 18th, reports of hail were recorded in Bexar, Bandera, and Wilson counties. While Bexar and Bandera counties observed 1” hail, Wilson County received reports of hail up to 2” hail. The main story however was a Tornado that formed in Montgomery County on the same day. At 16:52 UTC an EF1 Tornado traveled a distance of 1.56 miles with a max width of 100 yards until 16:54 UTC. No casualties were reported due to the tornado however many trees were uprooted and snapped as a result.