Volume 21 Number 7.1 January through June 2008

In contrast to the first half of 2007, the first sixth months of 2008 are an entirely different story. Recall that January-June of 2007 saw plentiful rainfall for the entire state, with all except 2 stations reporting well over average precipitation. Temperatures across the state were generally cooler than average, except in far East Texas.

Precipitation totals this first half of 2008 are much lower than 2007, with only 2 Texas stations and Shreveport, LA reporting slightly above average precipitation. A few stations stand out as significantly in drought. El Paso has received merely 0.35 inches of rain the past 6 months, and recording none during March and April. San Antonio has received less than 4 inches of rain, almost 13 inches shy of average. Many cities along the coast, including Victoria, Brownsville, and Corpus Christi, have received modest amounts of rain, around half their usual average. Of the past 6 months, June has been the driest month, with 9 stations reporting less than 1 inch and 4 stations reporting less than 2 tenths.

Another story these past 6 months has been higher than average temperatures. All Texas stations reported average temperatures that ranged from 1.5 degrees above normal to more than 3.5 degrees above normal in Dallas/Fort Worth, Wichita Falls, Austin, and San Antonio. No station recorded below average maximum temperatures for the first half of 2008. In fact, maximum temperatures in Austin were 4 degrees higher than usual and over 5 degrees higher in Wichita Falls. Neither did any station record 6 month mean temperatures as below normal. However, 2 stations, Amarillo and Victoria, recorded slightly below average minimum temperatures of half a degree. As with average maximum temperatures, average minimum temperatures departures varied widely throughout the state, with ranges from half a degree below average to almost 4 degrees above average.

January 2008 – June 2008 Precipitation

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Green:100% of normal or greater Yellow: Less than 100% of normal

Departures are based on 1971-2000 normals

* T = Trace (<0.005")

M: Information not available

January 2008– June 2008 Temperatures

Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon (State Climatologist)

Matt Mosier (graduate Assistant)

Zachary Adian (Undergraduate assistant)