Volume 17 Number 6.2 June 18, 2004

Rain in the east and heat out west have been the story of June. Many stations in the western half of Texas had above normal temperatures through the end of the third week of June including: Del Rio (+2°), El Paso (+2°), Lubbock (+2.6°), Amarillo (+3°), and Midland (+4°). El Paso has topped 100° six times so far this month, and Midland reached up to 103° on the 14^th. These stations have also had a dry June. Both Midland and El Paso have only received a trace of rainfall for the entire month, while other stations have not received any rainfall since the first week of June. For the rest of the state, temperatures have remained about normal for June.

Copious amounts of rainfall have caused flooding problems for many stations in central and east Texas. On the 8^th–10^th, an upper-level disturbance caused heavy rains to fall along interstates 35 and 45. Houston (2”), College Station (2.68”), Waco (4.16”), San Antonio (4.42”), and Austin (5.63”) were hit hardest. Two tornadoes hit Wharton County on the 8^th leaving six people injured. Severe weather hit large parts of west Texas on the 11^th and 12^th along a dryline. On the 11^th, a tornado landed in Mitchell County, injuring three. Terrell County received several reports of hail, the largest at 2.50”. Pecos and Jones Counties each had a tornado on the 12^th, and there were 25 hail reports throughout west Texas including 2.75” in Dickens County and 2.50” in Ector County.

Beginning on the 13^th, a low-pressure system settled over Louisiana and brought a lot of precipitation to the Upper Coast region. Port Arthur received 1.37” on the 15^th-16^th, College Station recorded 2.93” on the 15^th, and Houston was deluged with 7.23” for the entire week. Through the 17^th, several stations have significantly above normal precipitation totals including: Austin – 7.12” (4.68” above normal), College Station – 8.51” (6.09” above normal), Dallas – 6.19” (4.06” above normal), and Houston – 10.21” (6.99” above normal). The 10.21” for Houston makes it the 9^th wettest June in Houston history, and there are still 13 days left in the month!

Forecast for the Week

For the week of June 18: The weekend will be more pleasant than the last few weeks have been for large parts of the state. The South Central, Upper Coast, East, and North Central regions can expect partly cloudy to mostly cloudy skies during the weekend, but with little chance of rain. Highs will be in the 90s and lows in the mid-70s through the beginning of next week. Further south, temperatures will reach the upper 90s and around 100 during the day. By next Monday and Tuesday, the chances of rain increase for the state with chances of thunderstorms for most regions in eastern Texas.

(Forecast material obtained from the National Weather Service)

Monthly Outlook for July 2004

From the Climate Prediction Center: The entire state can expect equal chances of above normal, normal, or below normal precipitation for the month of July. The eastern half of the state will be looking at cooler temperatures in July. Most of the North Central, Southern, and Lower Valley regions will have a 33% chance of below normal temperatures while the remainder of east Texas, including the East, South Central, and Upper Coast regions, will have a 40% chance of below normal temperatures. The remainder of the state will have equal chances of above normal, normal, or below normal temperatures.

Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon (State Climatologist)

Michael Hammer (Undergraduate Assistant)