Volume 17 Number 12.1 December 17, 2004

After a very wet November, the rainfall totals during the first half of December were much closer to normal levels. A cold front pushing through Texas from the 5^th-6^th brought moderate rainfall totals throughout the state. However, the rainfall paled in comparison to the flooding rains of November. The heaviest rainfall totals were Texarkana receiving 0.79” on the 5^th and Houston 0.82” on the 6^th. Conditions have been dry throughout most of Texas for the rest of the month. The only exception was the 16^th in East Texas and the Upper Coast. Lufkin received 1.30” and Galveston 0.71” of rainfall.

Temperatures started off below normal, ranging from a few degrees below average in the panhandle to 10 degrees below normal in East Texas. Temperature moderated over the next few days and were above well above normal by the 9^th across the state. Amarillo had high of 69^o and Houston 79^o, both of which were 12 degrees above average for the 9^th. However, a cold front pushing south through Texas on the 11^th-12^th cooled temperatures significantly. For instance, the high in Dalhart on the 12^th was 73^o, but temperatures cooled to a low of 25^o. Dalhart recorded a low of 16^o on the 14^th and Junction recorded a low of 19^o on the 15^th.

Forecast for the Week

For the week of December 20^th: The big story for the upcoming week will be the unusually cold air sweeping through the state. Conditions will remain dry throughout Texas for the week although there is a slight chance of showers in the Upper Coast region by Thursday North Central Texas highs will range from the lower 60s at the beginning of the week to the 40s by weeks end. Further south in the South Central and Upper Coast regions, temperatures will start off the week in the lower to middle 60s and drop to the lower 50s by week’s end. To the west in the Edwards Plateau and Trans Pecos regions, temperatures will drop from the lower 60s on Monday to the 40s by the end of the week. In the Panhandle, highs near 60 on Monday will drop to below freezing by Thursday and under clear skies, lows will dip down into the teens.

(Forecast material obtained from the National Weather Service)

Monthly Outlook for January 2005:

From the Climate Prediction Center – The new year will get off to a wet start. Most of the state, with the exception of the panhandle and far West Texas, will have at least a 40% chance of above normal precipitation. These areas of Texas will have a 33% chance of above normal precipitation totals for January 2005. The entire state will have equal chances of above normal, below normal, or normal temperatures.

Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon (State Climatologist)

Brent McRoberts (Graduate Assistant)