Volume 16 Number 1.3 January 27, 2003

Last week began quite unseasonably warm for a large portion of Texas with highs temperatures in the mid to upper 70’s. A frontal system passed through the state on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning moderating temperatures to near normal. The passage of a stronger frontal system on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning produced large temperature drops of up to 40 degrees, and brought with it very little precipitation. As a result the cold arctic air produced high temperatures ranging from the lower 30’s in the panhandle, to the mid 40’s in South Texas. Temperatures held at these chilly readings for the next few days, and into the weekend. A disturbance brought light rain showers to South Central, Upper Coast, and Southern regions of Texas on Sunday, with the greatest total noted at Beaumont/Pt. Arthur at 1.11 inches.

Forecast for the Week

For the week of January 27, 2003: Temperatures will finally begin to moderate as high pressure shifts to the east. For the Panhandle and Low Rolling Plains regions: temperatures until Wednesday will consist of highs in the upper 60’s to lower 70’s, and lows in the 30’s. Beginning Wednesday with the passage of a frontal system, highs will be in the mid 40’s and lows in the upper teens and lower 20’s, and a slight chance of rain exists. Temperatures will moderate toward the end of the week. For the North Central and Eastern regions: temperatures will range from mid 50’s to lower 60’s, and lows in the upper 40’s to mid 50’s. There is a slight chance of showers on Tuesday night as the front passes. Wednesday highs will be in the lower 50’s, and moderation will begin by Friday. For the Trans Pecos region: highs until Wednesday will be from the upper 60’s to the lower 70’s, with lows in the upper 30’s to lower 40’s. A frontal passage on Wednesday will drop high temperatures to the upper 40’s and lower 50’s. For the Edwards Plateau, and South Central regions: highs will consist of temperatures in the upper 50’s and lower 60’s, and upper 60’s to lower 70’s on Tuesday, and lows ranging from the lower to mid 40’s. A chance of drizzle and light rain exists for the South Central region through Friday. A frontal passage on Wednesday will drop high temperatures back to the upper 50’s. The remainder of the state will stay quite mild with high temperatures in the upper 60’s and lower 70’s.

(Forecast material obtained from the National Weather Service)

Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon (State Climatologist)

Kelsey Curtiss (Undergraduate Assistant)