Volume 17 Number 4.1 April 21, 2005

The first few days of April started off with below normal temperatures across the entire state of Texas. Low temperatures were especially cold the morning of the 2nd with low temperatures in Junction and Odessa dipping below the freezing mark and a low in Marfa of 19^o. The first week of April brought little in the way of precipitation but the 5th brought numerous reports of strong winds and large hail. Especially hard hit was North Central and East Texas, including 3.00” diameter hail reported 12 miles northwest of Jacksonville. Temperatures returned to near normal levels for the second week of April across most of the state, with above normal temperatures in the Southern and Lower Valley regions. Rainfall again was spotty, with the most significant rainfall of the period occurring on the 11th in the East region, including Longview with 1.68”. Severe weather made its way to the High Plains and Low Rolling Plains region on the 17th and 18th, including the month’s first tornado report in Donley County on the 18th.

Forecast for the Week

For the week of April 21, 2005: There is little chance for precipitation in the upcoming week across the entire state of Texas. The only precipitation chances are in the South Central, Upper Coast, Southern, and Lower Valley regions on Friday and Saturday. Temperatures will be mild in the High Plains, Low Rolling Plains, North Central, and East regions with high temperature generally in the 70’s under sunny to partly cloudy skies. Temperatures will warm up a bit further to the south with highs in the 80’s throughout the week in the Trans Pecos, Edwards Plateau, South Central, and Upper Coast regions. A chance of thunderstorms is in the offing for the South Central and Upper Coast regions on Friday, but the weather should clear out and remain dry through Wednesday. The Southern region will see highs in the middle 90’s on Friday cooling to near 80 for the weekend, again warming up to the lower 90’s through the work week. The Lower Valley region will remain dry with highs in the middle 80s.

(Forecast material obtained from the National Weather Service)

MAY 2004 OUTLOOK

From the Climate Prediction Center: May 2005 will bring equal chances for above normal, normal, and below normal precipitation across the entire state of Texas. However, it looks like a good chance that temperatures across most of the state for the month look to be below normal. The High Plains, Low Rolling Plains, Trans Pecos, South Central, Upper Coast, Southern, and Lower Valley regions have a 33-40% chance of below normal temperatures, and the Edwards Plateau region has a greater than 40% chance for below normal temperatures. The North Central and East regions of Texas have equal probabilities for above normal, normal, and below normal temperatures for May.

Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon (State Climatologist)

Brent McRoberts (Graduate Assistant)