Volume 21 Number 3 MARCH 2008

March 2008 was more active weather wise than the state experienced in February. The month continued the trend of above average temperatures across Texas, as no first-order station recorded below average monthly temperatures. Dallas/Fort Worth recorded the highest departure above average (3.6 º F) followed by Wichita Falls (3.0 º F). Victoria was the only station that did not record an above average monthly temperature.

Precipitation varied widely across the state. Portions of central and north Texas recorded above average monthly totals, while the Panhandle and parts of west Texas were very dry. Dallas/Fort Worth, Abilene, San Angelo, Waco, Austin, and College Station all recorded above average precipitation. Amarillo, Lubbock, Midland, and El Paso, however, saw very little in the way of rainfall. In fact, El Paso recorded only a trace of rainfall the entire month.

A more active weather pattern began to set up across the Southern Plains just in time for severe weather season. Several days during the month saw severe weather, including the last day of the month when there were numerous hail and high wind reports across North Texas and Oklahoma.

The Climate Prediction Center indicates that most of the state will continue to experience temperatures generally above normal through April. As far as precipitation, the CPC indicates south Texas and extreme west Texas will have below average rainfall totals in April, while the rest of the state will have an equal chance of seeing above or below average rainfall.

MARCH 2008

* Based on 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 APRIL

Based on 1971-2000 Normals

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:

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

Past Weather Events in April

April 28, 1893: Tornado. Cisco, Eastland County; 23 killed, 93 injured; damage $400,000.

April 5-8, 1900: Rainstorm. A storm, centered over the Brazos River watershed, precipitated an average of 17 inches over an area of 7,000 square miles. At Hearne the gage overflowed at 24 inches, and there was an estimated total rainfall of 30 inches. At Turnersvile, Coryell County, 33 inches were recorded in three days. This rain caused the worst Brazos River flood on record. Between 30 and 35 lives were lost. Property damage was estimated at $9 million.

April 9, 1919: Tornado. Leonard, Ector, and Ravenna in Fannin County; 20 killed, 45 injured; damage $125,000. Tornado. Henderson, Van Zandt, Wood, Camp, and Red River counties, 42 killed, 150 injured; damage $450,000.

April 12, 1927: Tornado. Edwards, Real and Uvalde counties; 74 killed, 205 injured; damage $1,230,000. Most of damage was in Rocksprings where 72 deaths occurred and town was practically destroyed.

April 9, 1947: Tornado. White Deer, Carson County; Glazier, Hemphill County; and Higgins, Lipscomb County; 68 killed, 201 injured; damage $1,550,000. Glazier completely destroyed. One of the largest tornadoes on record. Width of path, 1 mile at Higgins; length of path, 221 miles across portions of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. This tornado also struck Woodward, Oklahoma.

April 2, 1957: Tornado. Dallas, Dallas County; 10 killed, 200 injured; damage $4 million. Moving through Oak Cliff and West Dallas, it damaged 574 buildings, largely homes.

April 3, 1964: Tornado. Wichita Falls. Seven killed, 111 injured; damage $15 million; 225 homes destroyed, 50 with major damage, 200 with minor damage. Sixteen other buildings received major damage.

April 10, 1979: The worst single tornado in Texas' history hit Wichita Falls. Earlier on the same day, several tornadoes hit farther west. The destruction in Wichita Falls resulted in 42 dead, 1,740 injured, over 3,000 homes destroyed and damage of approximately $400 million. An estimated 20,000 persons were left homeless by this storm. In all, the tornadoes on April 10 killed 53 people, injured 1,812 and caused over $500 million in damages.

Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon (State Climatologist)

adam wiley (Undergraduate Assistant)