Volume 13 Number 4 APRIL 2000
Texas experienced more moderate temperatures for the month of April as nine stations recorded below average mean monthly temperatures, while the rest recorded closer to normal temperatures than in previous months. This month marks the first time since December 1999 in which a first order station recorded below normal monthly temperatures, a welcome break in the recent heat wave for many portions of the state. Austin recorded the greatest negative departure (-2.3 degrees), and El Paso had the greatest positive departure (+4.9 degrees). Eight stations received greater than average precipitation for the month, with Port Arthur recording the highest amount in the state (8.77 inches, 250% of normal). The lowest amounts of precipitation were in the Edwards Plateau, South Central, Southern, and the Lower Valley.
April began with significant rain showers and severe weather as a low pressure system centered over West Texas moved across the state. In Southern Texas, Laredo (Webb County), reported 2.5 inch diameter hail on the 1st. Houston received 2.68 inches of rain on the 2nd, and another 1.46 inches on the 3rd, the majority of their monthly total. Beaumont / Port Arthur recorded nearly three inches of rain over this same two day period. Temperatures drastically warmed in the next two days as much of the state experienced highs in the mid-80's. However, a cool front from the Pacific Northwest entered on the 6th, bringing with it cooler temperatures and more rain for portions of the state. After the front exited the state, temperatures then began to gradually warm up through the 10th.
Another low pressure system developed in East Texas along a stationary front extending across the state, bringing severe weather and copious amounts of rain for much of the Upper Coast and East Texas on the 11th and 12th. In the Edwards Plateau region, Irion, Schleicher, and Brown counties had reports of hail up to 2.75 inches in diameter on the 11th. Sixty mile-per-hour winds destroyed a carport in Dallas, and near Waxahachie, a three-mile stretch of southbound I-35 was closed due to flooding, also on the 11th. Beaumont / Port Arthur received the greatest rain total with 5.75 inches falling on the 12th. Other significant rain was measured in Longview (1.94"), Waco (1.81"), and Victoria (1.76") on the 12th.
Hot temperatures returned to the state as several high temperature records
were set from the 20th to the 23rd. Maximum temperatures
of 97 degrees at Austin Bergstrom and 98 degrees at Austin Mabry and San
Antonio International Airport were all records for the April 23rd.
The month ended with a low moving out of the Rockies bringing severe weather
to the Low Rolling Plains and North Central Texas. On the 29th,
Jones and Motley counties reported three to four inch hail, and a half-mile
wide tornado was spotted near Olney (Young County) on the 30th.
Also on the 30th, brief tornado touchdowns were seen in Motley
and Cottle counties, and a tornado damaged trailer homes and power lines
in Throckmorton County.
Rick Scott (Graduate Assistant)
Kerry Meyer (Undergraduate Assistant)
APRIL 2000
* 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 MAY
*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.
Texas' 1015 onion crop producers are reporting high yields and high quality onions, according to Extension economist Jose Pena in Uvalde. The dry weather has been ideal for this year's crop, 80 percent of which is grown in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Unfortunately, the prime growing conditions have resulted in overproduction and low prices. "The onions are ready, and producers are starting to harvest, but many are waiting for a market improvement before they get started," Pena stated.
The Texas Agricultural Extension Service is reporting that farmers are being forced to find alternative uses for wheat fields due to the drought. Wheat production for the state is down 30 percent from 1999, with Southwest Texas being hit the hardest. Extension agronomist Dr. Travis Miller of College Station said 92 percent of the Texas wheat crop has been rated poor to fair for the last few months, and many wheat producers with livestock have had to graze their wheat or bale it for hay. Contributing to the decline in production have been greenbug infestations and stripe rust, a fungal disease brought about by cool temperatures in March and April. District Extension director Galen Chandler of Vernon said that the rain in the Rolling Plains has benefited ranges and pastures and improved stock tank levels. In Far West Texas, livestock and pastures are still suffering from the drought, as district Extension director Charles Neeb of Fort Stockton reported. With forage being very limited, he said, "most cattle are being culled and sold."
The grasshopper problem this season is predicted to be
as big of an inconvenience as last year, according to Dr. Dale Fritz, district
Extension director from College Station. Extension entomologist Dr. Cliff
Hoelscher, also of College Station, said small nymphal grasshoppers have
been seen in Brazos, Roberson, Falls, and Milam counties, and suggested
farmers should begin insecticide treatments to keep concentrations low.
Hoelscher recommends contacting a county Extension agent to find out the
type of grasshoppers and appropriate eradication measures.
Rick Scott
Office of the State Climatologist
Material obtained from:
TAMU Extension Crop, Livestock and Weather reports
Monthly Weather Outlook for May 2000
From the Climate Prediction Center, the 30-day outlook for the month of May indicates 10-20% above the normal 33% probability of above-normal temperatures for most of Texas. The exceptions are the Gulf Coast and the northwestern corner of the Panhandle, of which both have 5-10% above the normal 33% probability.
South of an arc extending from Corpus Christi, through Austin and Midland-Odessa, and down to the border just northwest of Big Bend climatologists are forecasting a 5-10% greater than normal probability of below average precipitation. The rest of the state is predicted to have a 0-5% greater than normal probability of below average precipitation.
Past Weather Events in May
May 15, 1896: Tornadoes, Sherman, Grayson, County; Justin, Denton County; Gribble Springs, Cooke County; 76 killed; damage $225,000.
May 30, 1909: Tornado. Zephyr, Brown County; 28 killed, many injured; damage $90,000.
May 7, 1919: Windstorms. Starr, Hidalgo, Willacy, and Cameron Counties. Violent thunderstorms with high winds, hail and rain occurred between Rio Grande City and the coast, killing 10 persons. Damage to property and crops was $500,000. Seven were killed at Mission.
May 24-31, 1929: Rainstorm. Beginning over Caldwell County, a storm spread over much of Central and Coastal Texas with maximum rainfall of 12.9 inches, causing floods in Colorado, Guadalupe, Brazos, Trinity, Neches, and Sabine rivers. Much damage at Houston from overflow of bayous. Damage estimated at $6 million.
May 11, 1953: Tornado. Waco, McLennan County; 114 killed, 597 injured; damage $41,150,000. One of two most disastrous tornadoes; 150 homes destroyed, 900 homes damaged; 185 other buildings destroyed; 500 other buildings damaged.
May 11, 1970: Tornado. Lubbock, Lubbock County. Twenty-six killed, 500 injured; damage $135 million. Fifteen square miles, almost one-quarter of the city of Lubbock, suffered damage.
May 5, 1995: A thunderstorm moved across the Dallas/Fort Worth area with 70 mph wind gusts and rainfall rates of almost 3 inches in 30 minutes (5 inches in 1 hour). Twenty people lost their lives as a result of this storm, 109 people were injured by large hail and, with more than $2 billion in damage, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration dubbed it the "costliest thunderstorm event in history."
May 27, 1997: A half-mile-wide F5 tornado struck Jarrell (Williamson Co.), leveling the Double Creek subdivision, claiming 27 lives, injuring 12 others, and causing more than $40 million in damage.
Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon (State Climatologist)
Rick Scott (Graduate Assistant)
Kerry Meyer (Undergraduate Assistant)