Volume 15 Number 5.1 APRIL 2002

Last week temperatures were normal to slightly above normal across Texas. A cold front moved across the state at the end of the week, bringing much cooler weather. Temperatures were moderately below to slightly below normal for a few days before moderating. North, North Central, and west Texas received significant precipitation as a result of this frontal passage. Central and South Texas reported only a few showers associated with the front.

Forecast for the Week

For the week of May 13: Temperatures will be slightly below normal for a majority of the week, with a slight chance for showers and thunderstorms toward late week throughout the state, with dry conditions prevailing in West Texas.

(Forecast material obtained from the National Weather Service)

Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon (State Climatologist)

Kelsey Curtiss (Undergraduate Assistant)

APRIL 2002

* 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 MAY

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.

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)

Kelsey Curtiss (Undergraduate Assistant)