Volume 17 Number 6.2 June 18, 2005

Severe weather in West Texas and hot temperatures throughout the entire state were the main weather headlines for the first half of this June. June 5 was an active day across the West Texas plains with 14 reports of tornadoes and 44 hail reports, including 4.25” diameter hail in Lynn County. June 9 saw 55 reports of hail and ten tornado reports, including a multiple vortex tornado reportedly ¼ to ½ mile wide in Floyd County. There were ten more reports of tornadoes the following day, with all the storms concentrated in a small area near Amarillo.

However, the stormy weather only provided brief respites to small areas as much of Texas was hot and dry. Laredo has had highs at or above 100 for all the days in June, including two days with highs of 105, and the city is over 5.5° above the monthly average. June 16 saw readings above 100 degrees in several Texas cities, including El Paso and Laredo.

Most of the precipitation has been concentrated in the High Plains and Low Rolling Plains regions of Texas while the rest of Texas has remained dry for the most part. The only measurable precipitation recorded in most of the southern half of the state fell on the first day of the month.

Forecast for the Week

For the week of June 17: Temperature will continue to sizzle through the weekend, with highs near or topping the century mark for most of the state. The exceptions will be the High Plains, East, and Upper Coast regions with high temperatures reaching the middle 90’s. The extended forecast shows a very slight cooling trend for most of the state, but high temperatures will remain well above normal for this time in June. The heat doesn’t appear to be record-breaking for this time of year, but a record high or two would not be out of the question. Little relief from the scorching temperatures will be provided by precipitation, though the Upper Coast region does have a slight chance of storms each of the next several days. North Central and East Texas have a slight risk of severe weather for the first half of the weekend.

(Forecast material obtained from the National Weather Service)

Monthly Outlook for July 2004

From the Climate Prediction Center: Almost the entire state can expect equal chances of above normal, normal, or below normal precipitation for the month of July. The exception is the Trans Pecos region which has a 33-40% chance for below normal precipitation. The entire state will have equal chances of above normal, normal, or below normal temperatures.

Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon (State Climatologist)

Brent McRoberts (Graduate Assistant)