Volume 21 Number 12.1 2008
As opposed to 2007, the major story of 2008 was
widespread, sustained drought conditions. Most stations received much less than
their normal precipitation, including San Antonio’s 3rd driest year on record and Austin’s 4th driest year. Some of those stations
receiving above average annual precipitation are slightly misleading. For
example, Brownsville received over 10 inches of rain from Hurricane Dolly,
and Houston recorded tens of inches from several tropical systems
during hurricane season. Temperatures for the year ran about average to
moderately above average.
January
The first month of 2008 saw a strong La Nina event
prevail, which warmed average temperatures around the state while limiting
precipitation. Central Texas saw relatively normal temperatures, while southern
and northern portions of Texas
saw relatively warm temperatures.
February
Again, La Nina conditions continued
throughout the state, causing average temperatures for February to run much
higher than normal. For instance, San Antonio temperatures ran 7°F warmer
than its normal mean monthly temperature of 54.7°F. West, South, and Central
Texas were especially hit hard by the lack of precipitation for the month, with
5 stations recording no more than a tenth of their normal precipitation and 3
stations recording less than or equal to 3% of their normal precipitation. Far
North and East Texas saw roughly average precipitation.
March
Though not as extreme as
February, temperatures for the month kept the warm trend, with all first-order
stations recording above average mean monthly temperatures. Precipitation
varied widely throughout the state, with North Central portions of Texas recording more than four
times their normal precipitation. Far North, West, and South Texas were drier, especially the
extreme portions of those areas. Severe weather became a factor beginning this
month, when several hail and high wind events were reported.
April
For the fourth straight month, mean monthly
temperatures remained above average for all but one Texas first-order station. However, departures from the
mean temperature were on the mild side with variations of 1-2 degrees from the
mean. Precipitation during the month varied from region to region, with North
Central and Far South Texas receiving above average rainfall totals. West Texas was especially dry with El Paso receiving a trace of rain for the second month in a
row. Severe weather events have become frequent and above average in many
respects.
May
Following the trend of the first four months of 2008,
May temperatures remained quite warm, with departures from mean monthly
temperatures reaching more than four degrees in Central Texas. Precipitation totals were low for the month, with
only 2 first-order stations recording above average precipitation and 5
recording less than a fifth of their normal rainfall. Severe weather activity
has dominated the nation and the state with record-breaking severe weather
reports.
June
San Antonio, among other stations, began to notice drought conditions
for the area, receiving only 0.01 inches of rain for the month. However,
northern portions of Texas were relatively normal, lacking no more than a fifth
of their normal monthly precipitation. Coastal areas and south-central Texas were the driest areas of Texas, with most reaching less than a third of their normal
precipitation. The summer started unusually warm, with temperatures in most
areas reaching 4-6 degrees above normal. Coastal regions stayed moderately
warm, with most monthly mean departures of less than 2-3 degrees.
July
Hurricane Dolly was the major weather feature
of the month, which eased Far South Texas drought worries with over 10 inches
of rain for the month. However, other parts of Texas, especially central Texas, continued to see drought conditions with rain totals
of only hundredths of inches in some places. Average temperatures were variable
throughout the month, with the western half of Texas remaining below average
for the month and the eastern half of Texas remained slightly warmer than
average, though not the extent seen in the previous months.
August
Another tropical system, in this case
Tropical Storm Edouard, moved into Texas through Houston and gave some needed rainfall to portions of East and
Central Texas. For the first time this year, rainfall totals were
above average for the vast majority of stations; many totals exceeded their
average by two, three, or even five times. Temperatures remained relatively
normal for East Texas, perhaps slightly warm, and West Texas saw a cool down of
a couple of degrees.
September
In the month which will live in infamy,
Hurricane Ike made landfall near Galveston and in essence destroyed much of the city with
extremely high storm surge of 15-20 feet. Luckily, a cold front which helped to
steer Ike arrived to cool down the state in time for hurricane disaster aid.
Though rainfall from Ike benefited East Texas, most
other portions of Texas, including Central Texas,
remained very dry. Temperatures remained relatively cool for the month, with
most stations reporting average temperatures a few degrees below normal.
October
Minimum temperatures remained relatively cool
during October, while maximum temperatures stayed slightly warmer than normal. North Texas was fairly wet for the month, though Central, South and West Texas received very little rainfall for the second month in a row,
continuing the drought seen throughout much of the year. Hurricane activity
dwindled during the month and no tropical systems threatened the Texas coast.
November
Noting a trend for several
months, maximum monthly temperatures have been above average, while minimum
monthly temperatures have averaged cooler than normal. Several cold fronts
pushed through the state, though none of the systems produced any substantial precipitation.
Precipitation totals were dismally low for most stations. The drought monitor
indicates that Central Texas is plagued with the worst drought conditions in the
state, labeled as extreme drought.
December
Finally, the last month of
2008 remained very dry for areas of Texas in very critical need of rainfall. The drought in Central Texas worsened such that a large area is now labeled
extreme-exceptional drought. December was also a bit warmer than usual, again
mostly from very high maximum temperatures. A couple of bitterly cold systems
passed through the state, bringing extremely cold temperatures, but the systems
lacked any substantial moisture.
