Volume 14 Number                                                                                    DECEMBER 2001

The final month of 2001 saw considerable variations in the weather; from near record warmth to near record cold, from very dry to unusually wet, most regions around the state experienced an extreme range of conditions. All the primary stations, with the exception of El Paso, experienced above normal mean temperatures; however, precipitation was mixed throughout the state, with western and extreme southern areas receiving less than normal rainfall. Following a very warm beginning of the month, extremely cold temperatures fell across the state as well as snowfall and ice. Lubbock received 1.0 inch of snow on the 30^th, Amarillo acquired 2.0 inches, and Waco saw a trace of snow.

The month began with extremely warm temperatures. Some communities experienced mean temperature anomalies greater than 15ºF. The majority of precipitation also fell during the first part of December as a few cold fronts passed through the state. However, there was little in the way of cold air that followed the fronts. Warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico along with an upper level disturbance helped to deliver 2.12" of rain to Victoria on the 2^nd, and 0.86" and 0.82" to San Antonio and Austin respectively.

Following the passage of a cold front on the 7^th, temperatures were brought closer to average. This was short-lived, however, when a strong cold front pushed through the state on the 12^th, bringing much cooler temperatures and copious amounts of precipitation to several communities. Houston received 4.21" between the 11^th and the 13^th, Longview got 3.05" during this period as well. The passage of another front on the 16^th helped to keep temperatures near normal, but delivered more precipitation to some areas that had all they wanted, including Texarkana which got 4.91" between the 15^th and 17^th.

During the latter part of the month, little precipitation fell, but temperatures did. A strong cold front passed through the state on the 22^nd, dropping temperature as much as 20º in some southern communities. The cold air lingered through the end of the month, and on the 30^th a stationary front situated in New Mexico helped to deliver some snow to a few of the Western and Northern communities.

Andrew Odins (Graduate Assistant)
 
 

* 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.
 
 

Agricultural Weather Highlights

Due to the mild weather conditions in the first part of the month, wheat and oat producers were able to plant their crops earlier. Dr. Travis D. Miller, extension agronomist in College Station, reports, "Approximately 98 percent of the crop is planted, and more thank 80 percent is emerged." He also states that optimum weather conditions for wheat and oats include mild temperatures with cool nights and low humidity. Wheat and oats contribute more than $1 billion to the Texas economy, and the rainfall and snowfall during the month will help the emergence of late-planted or replanted stands. Miller also predicts an increase in acreage planted from the previous year. One of the major risk factors of oats and wheat is disease, according to Miller. Dryland foot rot, a type of soilborne fungi, is a major disease culprit that has affected the Southern Rolling Plains. Dr. Brent Bean, Extension agronomist, says that wheat in the Panhandle is good with no diseases present, only a minor infestation of greenbugs.

The cotton harvest was coming to a close during the middle of the month. Dr. Randal Boman, Assistant Professor and Extension Agronomist, said, "Conditions are slightly better this year." The cotton district located south of the Panhandle area should harvest at least 2.85 million acres. However, cotton in other areas has not faired quite as well. The Southeast region displayed yields that were appearing good, but due to late season precipitation farmers were not able to harvest. Fortunately, according to Boman, the economic impacts will not be as severe as it would in other regions since these areas do not rely heavily on cotton production. The best quality cotton is harvested early in the season, according to Boman, and it has generally been a good season. The only problem with the harvest was not getting a good freeze until late in the season. Without a good freeze, the bolls will not open on the remaining plants, and expensive chemicals would have to be used to terminate them for proper harvesting, according to Boman.

Cattle have been holding up good this winter, even as weather conditions begin to turn cold. According to Dr. Bruce Carpenter, Extension livestock specialist in Fort Stockton, "In most of Texas, animals usually do fairly well under most winter conditions." Livestock is harder to maintain in the Panhandle area and in North Texas due to the cold wind and precipitation that usually falls in the winter, according to Carpenter. He says, "Some common problems occur with lactating animals. Cows should probably have had the baby weaned by the time winter comes, unless they are on high quality winter pasture." Galen Chandler, district Extension director in Vernon, said supplemental feeding is continuing, cattle are in fair condition, and winter grasses and forages are improving. Cattle conditions are in fair to good condition with supplemental feedings reported in the Panhandle, South Plains, Rolling Plains, North, Far West, Coastal Bend, West Central and South regions.

Andrew Odins
Office of the State Climatologist

Material obtained from:
TAMU Extension Crop, Livestock and Weather reports
 
 

Monthly Weather Outlook for January 2002

From the Climate Prediction Center, the 30-day outlook for the month of January indicates a 0-5% greater than normal probability of above-average temperatures for most of the state, with exception of the Panhandle area which is predicted to have normal temperatures. The areas of El Paso, Port Arthur and the southeastern-most counties are predicted to have a 5-10% greater than normal probability of above average temperatures.

The majority of the state is predicted to have normal precipitation for the month of January. However, the El Paso area has a 0-5% greater than normal probability of below-average precipitation.
 
 

Past Weather Events in January

January 10-12, 1918: Blizzard. This was the most severe since February, 1899; it was accompanied by zero degree temperature in North Texas and temperatures from 7 to 12 degrees below freezing along the lower coast.

January 4, 1929: Tornado. Near Bay City, Matagorda County. Five killed, 14 injured.

January 4, 1946: Tornado. Near Lufkin, Angelina County and Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches County; 13 killed, 250 injured; damage $2,050,000.

Tornado. Near Palestine, Anderson County; 15 killed, 60 injured; damage $500,000.

January 25, 1965: Dust Storm. West Texas. The worst dust storm since February 1956 developed on the southern High Plains. Winds, gusting up to 75 mph at Lubbock, sent dust billowing up to 31,000 feet in the area from the Texas-New Mexico border eastward to a line from Tulia to Abilene. Visibility was reduced to 100 yards in some sections. Worst hit were Muleshoe, Seminole, Plains, and Morton on the South Plains. The rain gauge at Reese Air Force Base in Lubbock contained 3 inches of fine sand.

January 31-February 1, 1975: Flooding. Nacogdoches County. Widespread heavy rain caused flash flooding here, resulting in three deaths; damage over $5.5 million.

January 12-13, 1985: A record-breaking snowstorm struck West and South Central Texas with up to 15 inches of snow that fell at many locations between San Antonio and the Rio Grande. San Antonio recorded 13.2 inches of snow for January 12 (the greatest in a day) and 13.5 inches for the two-day total. Eagle Pass recorded 14.5 inches of snow.

January 22, 1999: Golf ball- and softball-sized hail fell in the Bryan/College Station area resulting in $10 million in damage to cars, homes and offices.
 

Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon (State Climatologist)

Andrew Odins (Graduate Assistant)