Volume 16 Number 7 JULY 2003

The month of July was quite interesting in Texas. There was a mix of weather across the state from Hurricane Claudette, to drought in the Trans Pecos region. For the most part the majority of the state experienced a summer time pattern of hot temperatures, and below normal precipitation. Ten first-order Texas stations received below normal precipitation, which was also correlated in some cases to the slightly above normal mean temperatures for the month. The cities of: Corpus Christi, Del Rio, and San Antonio were fortunate to be in the path of the remnants of Hurricane Claudette. San Antonio received 400% of their normal monthly rainfall for the month of July with a total of 8.12 inches.

Severe weather wise the state was quite lucky to report very little damage due to hail, tornadoes, or high wind. On the 1^st, 4^th, and 7^th, tornadoes were reported in Bee, Nueces, and Wharton counties which caused minimal damage to structures in the area. There were also a few high wind and hail reports on the 10^th, 11^th, 13^th, 22^nd, and 23^rd, which also caused minimal damage. The most significant event of the month was the landfall of Hurricane Claudette on the 15^th. As a result of this system, a tornado was reported in Port Lavaca County, causing damage to a few homes. High winds of up to 100 mph from unofficial reports were recorded as well. The month of July came to a close with warm and dry conditions.

JULY 2003

* 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 AUGUST

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.

All times given for sunrise, sunset, and moon phase times are calculated for the intersection of

Meridian 99°10' W and parallel 31°23' N, which is the approximate geographic center of the state.

Climate-related Agricultural Information

http://agnews.tamu.edu/dailynews/stories/CROP/

Past Weather Events in August

August 6, 1844: Hurricane. Mouth of Rio Grande. All housing destroyed at the mouth of the river and at Brazos Santiago, eight miles north; 70 lives lost.

August 19-21, 1886: Hurricane. Indianola. Every house destroyed or damaged. Indianola never rebuilt.

August 16-19, 1915: Hurricane. Galveston. Peak wind gusts of 120 miles recorded at Galveston; tide ranged 9.5 to 14.3 feet above mean sea level in the city, and up to 16.1 feet near the causeway. Business section flooded with 5 to 6 feet of water. At least 275 lives lost, damage $56 million. A new seawall prevented a repetition of the 1900 disaster.

August 13, 1932: Hurricane. Near Freeport, Brazoria County. Wind speed at East Columbia estimated at 100 miles per hour; 40 lives lost, 200 injured; damage $7,500,000.

August 1-4, 1978: Heavy rains, flooding. Edwards Plateau, Low Rolling Plains. Remnants of Tropical Storm Amelia caused some of the worst flooding of this century. As much as 30 inches of rain fell near Albany in Shackelford County, where six drownings were reported. Bandera, Kerr, Kendall and Gillespie counties were hit hard, as 27 people drowned and the damage total was at least $50 million.

August 9-11, 1980: Hurricane Allen hit South Texas and left three dead, causing $650-$750 million in property and crop damages. Over 250,000 coastal residents had to be evacuated. The worst damage occurred along Padre Island and in Corpus Christi. Over 20 inches of rain fell in extreme South Texas, and 29 tornadoes occurred; one of the worst hurricane-related outbreaks.

August 15-21, 1983: Hurricane Alicia was the first hurricane to make landfall in the continental U.S. in three years, and one of the costliest in Texas history ($3 billion). Alicia caused widespread damage to a large section of Southeast Texas, including coastal areas near Galveston and the entire Houston area. Alicia spawned 22 tornadoes, and the highest winds were estimated near 130 mph. In all, 18 people in South Texas were killed and 1,800 injured as a result of the tropical storm.

Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon (State Climatologist)

Andrew Odins (Graduate Assistant)

Kelsey Curtiss (Undergraduate Assistant)