Volume 17 Number 3.1 March 8, 2004

The week of March 1st began mild and partly cloudy, and quickly transformed into a muggy, warm week by Tuesday and Wednesday. Winds primarily out of the southeast allowed for moisture to be pumped into Texas from the Gulf of Mexico. The entire state was under thick cloud cover by Tuesday, and this continued through much of Thursday.

However, Thursday, the 4^th, proved to be an impressive severe weather day in Texas. The North Central Plains, Low Rolling Plains, and Eastern regions of Texas were affected by large hail, damaging winds, and numerous reports of tornadoes. The Storm Prediction Center reported that 20 tornadoes, 24 large hail, and over 100 high wind reports occurred in Texas on Thursday. Intense winds of up to 91 mph were reported in Wichita Falls, Texas at Sheppard Air Force Base, downing power lines, and telephone poles in the process. In Ellis County, near the city of Ennis, two 18-wheelers were overturned on I-45 by straight line winds possibly near 80 miles per hour. Despite the severe weather, many areas in Texas welcomed the rainfall accompanying this storm system. Some impressive totals are as listed from the 4^th: Amarillo-1.06”, Childress-2.96”, Dalhart-0.93”, Lubbock-0.84”, and Tyler at 0.97 inches of precipitation.

The week of March 8^th looks to be much calmer than the previous week.

Forecast for the Week

For the week of March 8, 2004: The majority of the state of Texas can expect high temperatures to remain in the 70’s through Wednesday as a cold front will slightly cool conditions off for Thursday and Friday. Low temperatures will be in the 50’s for Deep South Texas, and the Upper Coast, with the other regions of the state experiencing low temperatures ranging from the upper 30’s in the Panhandle region to the upper 40’s in the South Central portion of the state. An approaching cold front will increase shower and thunderstorm chances on Thursday and Friday, with the northern half of the state expecting showers on Wednesday as well. High temperatures after the passage of the cold front will be slightly cooler with highs in the 50’s in the Panhandle and Northern Texas, and 60’s for the remainder of the state, with the exception of lower 70’s in Deep South Texas. Low temperatures will be slightly cooler at the end of the week.

(Forecast material obtained from the National Weather Service)

Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon (State Climatologist)

Kelsey Curtiss (Graduate Assistant)