Volume 16 Number 1.1 January 13, 2003

The week of January 6, 2003 began with normal temperatures for the month. The departure of a high pressure ridge on Tuesday allowed the state to warm well above normal on Wednesday with temperatures statewide in the 70’s as highs. A dry frontal passage on Thursday lowered maximum temperatures to about normal for the month, ranging from the upper 40’s in the Panhandle to the upper 50’s in East and South Texas. The influence of a low pressure system that triggered the development of showers in South and West Texas on the 11^th helped to keep temperatures lower than the remainder of the state. The most significant report of precipitation was .41” in Austin. A large dome of very cold arctic air plummeted south and westward from Eastern Canada on the 11^th and 12^th. This was an unusual situation as Houston experienced a high of 40 degrees, while in the Panhandle 50 degrees was the maximum temperature on Sunday.

Forecast for the Week

For the week of January 13, 2003: For the High Plains and Low Rolling Plains Region: Temperatures will range from the upper 50’s as highs and lower 30’s as lows, and changing to highs in the 30’s and lows in the teens after the passage of an arctic front on Wednesday night. The region of Trans Pecos will experience highs in the in the 60’s and lows in the 30’s; Thursday will be cooler with readings of lower 40’s as highs, and lower 20’s as lows. Similar conditions can be expected for the Edwards Plateau and South Central Texas regions as well. Deep Southern Texas will have highs in the 70’s and lows in the upper 40’s a majority of the week, dropping 10-15 degrees on Thursday with highs in the upper 50’s and lows in the mid 30’s. The region of the Upper Texas Coast can be expected to experience high temperatures in the lower 60’s, and lows in the lower 40’s, and will feel the effects of the cold front on Friday with highs in the upper 40’s, and lows in the upper 20’s. Highs in the lower 60’s and lows in the upper 30’s will characterize the region of East Texas until Thursday night when an arctic front passes through the area. Temperatures will drop to highs in the lower 40’s and lows in the mid 20’s by Friday. Temperatures throughout the state should begin to moderate slightly by the conclusion of the weekend.

(Forecast material obtained from the National Weather Service)

Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon (State Climatologist)

Kelsey Curtiss (Undergraduate Assistant)