Volume 20 Number 11 NOVEMBER 2007

November 2007 was a warm month across the state. Just like October, all of the first order stations recorded above average monthly temperatures. A moderately strong La Nina in the equatorial Pacific can be attributed to the numerous record high temperatures recorded across the state. Dallas/Fort Worth recorded it’s 8^th warmest November on record with an average monthly temperature of 61.3º F. Wichita Falls average monthly temperature of 57º F was 5.1º above normal. Numerous first order stations, including Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and College Station, set daily maximum temperature records.

Rainfall was very limited over much of the state this month. Generally, a La Nina pattern would bring above average precipitation to the state. However, only 5 of the stations, Midland, Del Rio, College Station, Houston, and Port Arthur, reported at least above average precipitation. Houston’s rainfall total of 5.49” already makes 2007 the ninth wettest year on record. More than half of Houston’s rainfall fell over the 2 day period of the 17^th-18^th when 3.17” was recorded. Across much of the rest of state, precipitation was much less abundant. Amarillo, Lubbock, Wichita Falls, Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, and Brownsville all recorded monthly rainfall totals less than half their normal average. Parts of West Texas, however, managed to record above average rainfall totals.

Parts of the state experienced a break from the unseasonably warm temperatures late in the month. A strong Canadian cold front plowed through Texas over the Thanksgiving weekend. The front, combined with an upper level disturbance moving eastward across the state, produced record snowfall accumulations for portions of west Texas. Over the three day period from the 22^nd-25^th, Midland, El Paso, Lubbock, and Amarillo all set daily snowfall records. El Paso’s total snowfall of 4” on the 24^th broke a record of 2” set in 1878. Midland recorded a three day snowfall total of 3.2” from the 22^nd-24^th. Snow flurries fell as far east as the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.

The end of November brought more above average temperatures to the state with weaker cold fronts moving through the region. This trend of a warmer than average winter is expected to continue into December.

NOVEMBER 2007

* 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 DECEMBER

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.

All times given for sunrise, sunset, and moon phase times are calculated for the intersection of

Meridian 99°10' W and parallel 31°23' N, which is the approximate geographic center of the state.

Agricultural Weather Highlights

http://agnews.tamu.edu/dailynews/stories/CROP/

Past Weather Events in November

Nov. 23-24, 1974: Flash Flooding. Central Texas. Over $1 million in property damage. Thirteen people killed, ten in Travis county.

Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon (State Climatologist)

Adam Wiley (Undergraduate Assistant)