Volume 16 Number 4.2 April 21, 2003

The week of April 14, 2003 brought intense winds and severe weather to Texas. On the 15^th a 78 mph sustained wind and 97 mph gust was reported in Guadalupe Pass, Texas. Many areas in west and northwest Texas experienced winds ranging from 60 to 80 miles per hour on the 15^th as well. A severe weather event occurred on Tuesday ahead of a frontal system which made its way across the state on Wednesday. Numerous high wind and hail reports were made to the Storm Prediction Center courtesy of spotters and the public. The northwest portion of Texas, including the High Plains and Low Rolling Plains regions experienced the most intense winds with this system. Conditions were rather dry, and temperatures ranged from the 70’s to 80’s across the entire state until Saturday. Another severe weather event occurred on the 18^th, with numerous large hail and high winds reported over the Low Rolling Plains region. The weekend weather in Texas was beautiful, as a frontal system moved across the state on Saturday and Saturday night bringing dry and cooler conditions. Temperatures ranged from the 60’s in the Panhandle to the 70’s for the rest of the state.

Forecast for the Week

For the week of April 21, 2003: For the Panhandle of Texas, South Plains, and Low Rolling Plains: high temperatures will range from the 60’s to the lower and mid 70’s by the end of the week, with lows in the 40’s. A chance of showers and thunderstorms exists through Wednesday. For the regions of the Edwards Plateau, North Central, and South Central: highs will be in the lower to mid 70’s, and warming to the upper 70’s and lower 80’s by Thursday. Low temperatures will be in the upper 50’s to lower 60’s, with a chance of showers and thunderstorms through Wednesday. The North Central and South Central regions have a chance of showers and thunderstorms the entire week. Far West Texas can expect highs in the upper 70’s and lower 80’s until Wednesday when a frontal system moves through. Highs on Wednesday will be in the upper 60’s, and lows in the upper 40’s. A chance of precipitation remains in the forecast through Tuesday. The Upper Coast of Texas will experience highs in the 70’s, and lows in the 60’s, with a chance of showers and thunderstorms Tuesday through Thursday. Highs in the 80’s and lows in the mid 60’s can be expected in Deep Southern Texas. A chance of isolated showers and thunderstorms will be in the forecast through Wednesday.

(Forecast material obtained from the National Weather Service)

MAY 2003 OUTLOOK

From the Climate Prediction Center: For the region of the High Plains, and north of a line from Presidio County (Trans Pecos region) through Midland, Lubbock, Dallas/Fort Worth, and through the northern half of the Eastern region temperatures have an equal chance of being above normal, normal, or below normal. South of the line named above to a line from Del Rio through Northern half of Edwards Plateau, through Austin, Houston, and down to Galveston, there is a 0-5% chance of temperatures being slightly below normal. The remaining regions of Texas have a 5% or greater chance of experiencing temperatures below normal for the month. The northern half of the High Plains region has an Equal Chance of experiencing below normal, normal, or above normal precipitation. South of the line from El Paso, to Lubbock, Wichita Falls, and the northern most tip of the Eastern region, and to just east of El Paso, to Midland, Waco, and down through Houston there is a 0-5% probability of receiving above normal precipitation. The lower half of the Southern region to about Corpus Christi also has a 0-5% chance of receiving above normal precipitation. The remainder of Texas has a 5% or greater probability of receiving above normal precipitation for the month of May.

Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon (State Climatologist)

Kelsey Curtiss (Undergraduate Assistant)