Volume 20 Number 12.1 2007

2007 brought plentiful rain to all of Texas. The sole station to record slightly below average precipitation levels was Shreveport, LA, though it still received 93% of its normal precipitation. Abilene, Del Rio, and San Angelo all saw greater than 150% the rainfall for a normal year, while rainfall in Victoria reached over 175% of its normal precipitation. Temperatures were a little more variable however. The far West, far North, far South and East Texas saw slightly above average annual temperatures, with Northeastern Texas averaging 1.5-2 degrees above normal. Central, West-Central and South-Central Texas saw temperatures slightly below average, generally around a half a degree lower than normal.

January

The first month of 2007 saw very wet conditions for the month, with every first-order station reporting above average totals of precipitation. About half of the first-order stations reported at least twice as much precipitation as a normal year. Victoria reported 17 days of precipitation, while Port Arthur and Houston reported 15 days of precipitation. Mean monthly temperatures, however, dropped from around half a degree below normal to 4.5 degrees below normal., with all first-order stations reporting below average mean temperatures. Interestingly, maximum temperatures throughout Texas dropped considerably, from 3-8 degrees below average, while some stations actually reported above average minimum temperatures, such as Houston, Lubbock, and San Antonio.

February

February was by far the driest month of the year, the complete opposite of January in terms of precipitation. Brownsville, which received 0.90 inches of rain, was the station closest to normal conditions in Texas, with 76% of their average precipitation for February. Most other stations did not receive over 50% of their normal precipitation. The south and southeast portions of Texas were the driest areas, including Galveston who had its driest February on record. Seven stations reported 10% or less of their normal precipitation. Temperatures varied throughout the state. The south, west, and north-central parts of Texas reported slightly above average temperatures, generally less than half a degree. The far north, central and east Texas reported slightly above average temperatures, ranging from few tenths of degrees to 1.5 degrees below normal.

March

Precipitation totals around the state either nearly broke or did break previous March records. San Antonio, with 7.06”, and Lubbock, with 5.94”, reported their wettest March ever. Amarillo had its 3^rd wettest March with 4.00” of rain. Nine stations reported at least three times their normal precipitation. The only station to report below average precipitation was El Paso, which received 12% of its normal precipitation. Temperatures, though, were above average at every station in Texas, with four reporting temperatures 5 degrees or more above average. No station reported less than 2.3 degrees above normal, making March a very warm month.

April

Warmer temperatures at the beginning of April were dramatically altered by a cold front that set several record lows around the state, with 14 of 20 stations reporting a record low on the 7^th. This cool down led to overall below average mean temperatures for the month over the entire state. North, northeast, and south Texas were below average in monthly precipitation, while west, central, and northern gulf shore reported above average levels. However, precipitation was generally varied across the state; for example, D/FW and College Station reported around 90% of normal levels, while Waco received less than 40% of normal precipitation. As expected, severe weather across the state exploded, with nearly 50 tornado reports and 190 hail reports.

May

Precipitation again flourished during May, with a majority of stations reported above average precipitation. Of those that experienced below average levels, which included south Texas and parts of east Texas, every station reported at least 60% of their normal levels of precipitation, Temperatures were right at average levels or slightly below average. Notable exceptions were cities in north or north central Texas, where maximum temperatures were 5-8 degrees below normal. Severe weather again threatened the state with numerous reports of hail, high wind, and tornadoes.

June

Rainfall again played a major role this month, with a vast majority of the first-order stations reporting above average totals. Only in the far west, far north, and along the gulf shore of Texas were precipitation totals below average. Most stations reported over 10 days of precipitation, a few over 15. Because of the abundant rain, temperatures were moderated and left most of the state cooler than normal. East Texas, including Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston reported above average mean temperatures, but the rest of the state enjoyed cooler mean temperatures.

July

Although it sounds like a broken record, the big story was above average precipitation and below average temperatures. Only extreme southern Texas, including Brownsville, saw slightly above average mean temperatures. Several stations, especially in central Texas, saw mean temperatures that were 3-4 degrees cooler than normal. Astoundingly, only 5 stations in Texas recorded average maximum temperatures in the 90’s. More precipitation records were broke this month. Very notable examples include Victoria and Corpus Christi, which received an unbelievable 20.34” and 18.13”, respectively. Victoria reported 22 days of precipitation, while only 13 other stations reported more than 10 days of precipitation (several over 15). North Texas was the only area that lacked plentiful precipitation.

August

August brought a more diverse climate to Texas. Firstly, Tropical Storm Erin hit Texas in the middle of August, bringing some rainfall to southeast Texas and the Hill Country. High pressure caused warmer temperatures in some parts of the state, especially north and east central Texas. However, west-central Texas actually saw below average mean temperatures for the month, perhaps a degree lower than normal. Northeastern and west Texas saw below average precipitation. Hurricane Dean, which was expected to make landfall in Texas steered well into Mexico.

September

Texas warmed up a little in September, with every station reporting above average mean temperatures for the month. North Texas especially saw the rise in temperature, with mean temperatures that were 3-4 degrees above average. The rest of Texas saw only moderately higher temperatures, from half a degree to a couple of degrees. Precipitation again varied tremendously. If Texas were cut in 4 diagonal strips from northwest to southeast, one would see precipitation, starting from the west, that was above average, below, above, and below average. Port Arthur is a slight exception, as it received over 5 inches of rain from Hurricane Humberto, which affected mostly far southeast Texas.

October

October was clearly the one of the driest months of 2007, with only Houston recording an above average precipitation total. Several stations received less than 50% of normal totals; west, west-central, and south Texas were generally the driest areas of Texas. Maximum temperatures throughout the first half of the month were 5-6 degrees higher than average. Mean temperatures throughout the entire state were above average. The first cold front of 2007 moved through only in late October, finally cooling temperatures down a bit.

November

Like October, November was quite dry and quite warm. Only 6 stations recorded above average rainfall totals, those being in southeast and west Texas. Southern, central, and northern portions of Texas received below average totals, with 8 stations reporting less than half their normal totals. Very warm temperatures also dominated much of the state, with mean temperatures across the state nearly 3 degrees above normal generally. However, a strong cold front produced record snowfall for parts of west Texas, giving a small reprieve from the unseasonably warm temperatures.

December

Finishing out the year, December was also rather dry for much of the state, except for the Panhandle and the College Station area. Temperatures, following the warm trend in October and November, were again above average for the entire state, especially along the gulf shore where monthly mean temperatures departed from average by 4-5 degrees, a very significant warming compared to the rest of the year.

2007 Precipitation

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.

2007 Temperatures

Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon (State Climatologist)

Matt Mosier (graduate Assistant)

Zachary Adian (Undergraduate assistant)