Volume 22 Number 7.1 January through June 2009

The first half of 2009 has turned out to be significantly warmer than average. Not one first order station averaged below average mean temperatures. In fact, the “coolest” first order station in Texas, Galveston, had a mean 6-month temperature that was 1.4°F above average. The warmest station, San Antonio, was over 4°F above normal. In general, minimum temperatures remained closer to average values than did maximum temperatures. Minimum temperatures departures ranged from a degree below normal (in Victoria, the only station to record a negative departure) to about 2°F above normal. On the other hand, maximum temperatures departed from the mean with a range of around 1-6°F, with the largest departure of 5.7°F, oddly enough, in Victoria. Though the spring brought near average temperatures to selected areas, Texas has been very warm since the beginning of the year. This is evident in February, where mean temperature departures exceeded 8°F in some places.

Precipitation has been extremely low for much of Texas, especially in South Texas, where areas like Corpus Christi and Victoria have received about a quarter of their normal rainfall for the first half of the year. These areas have not seen normal rainfall totals since August of 2008. Consequently, they are classified as areas of exceptional drought. San Antonio is about to enforce Stage 3 of their emergency drought plan for the first time ever. Though some areas have received isolated downpours, most of Texas is very hot and very dry. The heat is expected to continue through the summer for Texas, though forecasts call for a cooler winter and possibly wetter fall than usual.

.

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 2009– June 2009 Temperatures

Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon (State Climatologist)

Zachary Adian (Undergraduate assistant)