Volume 20 Number 1                                                                                               JANUARY 2007

 

          During the month of January in an El Nino year, Texas would normally expect below average temperature with above average precipitation.  January 2007 was exactly that.  No stations in the state reported above average temperatures.  The closest stations to average were Wichita Falls, which was 0.5°F below normal, and Port Arthur, which was 0.4°F below normal.  Eight station reported average temperatures at least 3°F below normal. Four of those eight stations reported average temperatures at least 4°F below normal.  San Angelo and Midland reported the largest departures from normal with an average temperature 4.5°F below normal.  The month started off warm with temperatures reaching the upper 60s and lower 70s in many locations around the state.  However, a strong Arctic front pushed its way across the state beginning on the 11th in Amarillo and moving across the state over the next few days.  With the jet stream split, an abundance of moisture was in place over the state as this strong front pushed through.  The combination of the strong front and the moisture lead to a dangerous winter weather situation.  Icy conditions plagued areas of the state from the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex to Houston.  The temperatures remained below freezing in most locations on the 15th – 17th allowing the ice to accumulate.  Temperatures remained chilly as another front pushed across the state on the 21st-22nd.

          Many of these fronts provided the lift needed to create precipitation.  With the jet stream bringing in moist air, the passage of these front brought the state an abundance of precipitation.  As was the case for below average temperatures, all of the stations in the state reported above average precipitation.  Eleven station reported precipitation totals at least twice the average total.  El Paso reported 4 times its normal precipitation with a total of 1.81”.  Victoria, Del Rio, and Austin each reported more than 3 times their monthly precipitation averages.  Austin reported 3.68” in one 24 hour period, which is 1.47” greater than its normal monthly total.

          The US Drought Monitor still has the Central and Southwestern portions of the state under drought conditions.  However, during the course of the month there was great improvement in the Eastern and North Central portions of the state.  These portions of the state were listed in moderate and severe drought conditions at the beginning of this month, but with the abundant rainfall and colder temperatures conditions in these areas have improved greatly.

         

 

JANUARY 2007

* Based on the 1971-2000 normals.

* Complete temperature data were unavailable.  Temperatures are rounded to the nearest whole degree.

*HDD - Heating degree-day: Refer to the Monthly Average chart for a definition                                                           T = Trace (<0.005")

*CDD - Cooling degree-day: Refer to the Monthly Average chart for a definition                                           M:  Information not available.

 

 

 

CLIMATIC AVERAGES FOR FEBRUARY


Records are at the current site, other records may have occurred at previous sites.

*CDD - Cooling degree-day:  The difference between the mean individual daily temperature and 65°F, with one

CDD resulting for each degree above the standard 65°F during one day.

*HDD - Heating degree-day:  The difference between the mean individual daily temperature and 65°F, with one

HDD resulting for each degree below the standard 65°F during one day.

 

 

Agricultural Weather Highlights

AgNews - Texas A&M University Agriculture Program > News and Public Affairs      

 

Past Weather Events in February

 

February 20-22, 1971:  Blizzard.  Panhandle.  Paralyzing blizzard, worst since March 22-25, 1957. Storm transformed Panhandle into one vast snowfield as six to 26 inches of snow were whipped by 40 to 60 miles per hour winds into drifts up to 12 feet high.  At Follet, three-day snowfall was 26 inches.  Three persons killed; property and livestock losses were $3.1 million.

 

February 21, 1996:  Anomalously high temperatures were reported over the entire state, breaking records in nearly every region of the state.  Temperatures near 100ºF shattered previous records by as many as 10ºF as Texans experienced heat more characteristic of mid-summer than winter.

 

Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon (State Climatologist)

Matt Mosier (Undergraduate Assistant)