Volume 17 Number 6                                                                                                                       June 2004

 

The state of Texas saw record-breaking rainfall in the month of June.  The month opened with an upper air disturbance that caused showers and strong winds to hit northeast Texas.  There were several reports of winds speeds reaching at least 70 mph, and hail over 2” in diameter fell in Archer, Clay and Erath Counties.  The tail end of a slow-moving frontal boundary brought heavy rain to much of the state on the 3rd-6th.  Dallas, Amarillo, Abilene, and College Station had several inches after the first week.

An upper level disturbance caused flooding problems throughout east and central Texas on the 8th-10th.  Houston, College Station, Waco, San Antonio, and Austin were hit with at least 2” of precipitation each over these days.  There were several reports of severe weather between the 8th and 12th.  Tornadoes hit Wharton, Mitchell, Pecos, Jones, and Hutchinson Counties injuring several people.  Hail as big as 2.75” was reported in Terrell, Dickens, and Ector Counties over these days, as well.  A low pressure system moved onshore over Louisiana on the 13th, adding to already-large rainfall totals.  In one week, Houston received 7.23”, and several other stations were hit hard as well.

A series of frontal boundaries brought severe weather to the Panhandle in the second half of the month.  Eight tornadoes occurred between the 21st and 26th in Potter, Randall, Robertson, Wharton, and Milam Counties.  The tornado in Milam County on the 26th also claimed one life.  There were also several reports of hail throughout this week, the largest, 4.25”, hitting Potter County on the 21st.  Randall, Floyd, and Hutchinson also received hail exceeding 2”.  During the last week, the subtropical jet brought more moist air to the state causing flooding and heavy rain.  The already-high totals surged higher, breaking many records for June precipitation.

Several records were broken for daily and monthly rainfall totals including:  Austin (4th wettest June),  College Station (2nd wettest), Dallas/Fort Worth (2nd wettest), Galveston (8th wettest), Houston (2nd wettest), San Antonio (3rd wettest), Waco (5th wettest), and Victoria set a new June record for monthly precipitation.  Austin, College Station, Dallas/Fort Worth, Galveston, Houston, and Victoria all recorded over 10” of rain, and had over 250% of their normal June precipitation.  Only Corpus Christi and Del Rio were below normal for June.  Victoria is only 0.14” shy of their normal precipitation for the entire year!  College Station, Houston, and Waco are all within 3” of their annual normal, as well.

The excess of precipitation helped cool down temperatures throughout much of the state, as well.  The Panhandle and most of Central and East Texas were well below their average daily temperature for June.  Only San Angelo and Midland had above normal temperatures with significantly above normal precipitation.  While many stations were cool, Abilene, Amarillo, Del Rio, El Paso, Lubbock, Midland and San Angelo all topped 100° during June.

 

 

JUNE 2004


* 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 JULY


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 July

 

July 21, 1909:  Hurricane.  Velasco, Brazoria County.  One-half of town destroyed, 41 lives lost; damage $2,000,000.

 

July 22-25, 1933:  Tropical Storm.  One of the greatest U.S. storms in area and general rainfall.  The storm reached the vicinity of Freeport late on July 22 and moved very slowly overland across eastern Texas, July 22-25.  The storm center moved into northern Louisiana on the 25th.  Rainfall averaged 12.50 inches over an area of about 25,000 square miles.  Twenty inches or more fell in a small area of eastern Texas and western Louisiana surrounding Logansport, LA.  The 4-day total at Logansport was 22.30 inches.  Property damage was estimated at $1,114,790.

 

July 30, 1933:  Tornado.  Oak Cliff section of Dallas, Dallas County.  Five killed, 30 injured; damage $500,000.

 

July 25, 1934:  Hurricane.  Near Seadrift, Calhoun County.  Nineteen lives lost, many minor injuries; damage $4.5 million.  About 85 percent of damage was in crops.

 

July 27, 1943:  Hurricane.  Near Galveston.  Center moved inland across Bolivar Peninsula and Trinity Bar.  A wind gust of 104 mph was recorded and Texas City; 19 lives lost; damage estimated at $16,550,000.

 

July 24-25, 1979:  Tropical Storm Claudette caused over $750 million in property and crop damages, but fortunately only few injuries.  Near Alvin, 43 inches of rain fell, a new state record for 24 hours.

 

Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon (State Climatologist)

Michael Hammer (Undergraduate Assistant)