Volume 13 Number 5                                                                                            MAY 2000

After a more moderate month of April, May brought a return to above-normal temperatures, as every major station in Texas recorded mean monthly temperatures at least two degrees higher than normal, with El Paso having the greatest difference at 7.2 degrees above normal. Twenty-eight temperature records were set or tied, and three all-time May records were broken. Maximum temperatures soared above 100 degrees at eight stations, the highest being 110 degrees at Wichita Falls on the 23^rd and 24^th of the month. Despite the heat, rainfall was above-normal for eight of the 19 stations in Texas, and also in Shreveport. Houston received 12.35 inches of precipitation, with 7.61 inches falling on the 19^th to 20^th in a 24 hour span.

The month began with cool temperatures for much of the state as a low pressure system centered over the Edwards Plateau moved eastward through the state. Severe weather accompanied this system in portions of Texas. South Padre Island was hit by a tornado on the 2^nd and by golf ball size hail on the 3^rd, and three-inch hail fell near Hill City in Hood County. However, warm temperatures and clear skies returned for most of the state on the 5^th of the month. Lubbock and Midland/Odessa set seven new temperature records in an 11-day span from the 6^th to the 11^th.

From the 12^th to the 14^th, a cool front moved into the Panhandle and continued moving south through the state. Severe weather returned as tornadoes hit the Lake Whitney area on the 12^th causing extensive property damage and leaving one person dead. In Bastrop, several people were injured and houses damaged by lightning strikes. The skies cleared after the 15^th, however, and temperatures rose into the 90's for much of Texas.

May ended with 18 temperature records set or tied during the last 16 days of the month. On the 23^rd, Lubbock tied its all-time May high temperature record of 105 degrees, only to break it with a temperature of 109 degrees the next day. Del Rio also set an all-time May high temperature record, and Midland/Odessa broke its May all-time high minimum temperature record. Storms also hit portions of the state during the last two weeks of May. On the 19^th, Houston Intercontinental Airport's approach control facility was flooded with a foot of water. On the 27^th, four-inch hail fell near Antelope in Jack County, and Wylie in Collin County reported 70 m.p.h. winds during a thunderstorm.

Kerry Meyer (Undergraduate Assistant)

* 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.

The grasshopper season brought many complications in the beginning of May, although the continuous drought kept grasshopper susceptible diseases minimized. District Extension director Dr. Dale Fritz of College Station advised the monitoring of grasshopper populations to keep ahead of the infestation. Dr. Cliff Hoelscher of College Station stated, "There are a lot of things other than pesticides that can help control grasshoppers. Things like fire ants, birds, and heavy rainfall will all help reduce numbers." On a good note, pasture grass was "growing at a good rate in North Texas" as reported by district Extension director Randy Upshaw of Dallas. Weed growth, such as ragweed and johnsongrass, has been considerably high which follows the trend of past years.

Approaching mid-May, the peach crop is reported to have improved since last year. Despite the lack of a chilly winter and an addition of severe weather, Extension horticulturist Marty Baker from Overton mentioned the success of some varieties of peach crops. Vegetable crops have also been extremely successful according to district Extension economist Josa Pena of Uvalde. "We are harvesting a lot of onions, cabbage, potatoes, and carrots, but supplies are so abundant that markets are weak." The delay of cotton planting made farmers aware of the potential aphid problem, while the continuous high temperatures, low humidity, and high winds had the Panhandle worried about potential fires.

In mid-May some relief from the drought came when rains graced the state, but many say it was too little, too late. In West Central Texas, the wheat crop was severely lacking whereas the previously planted cotton hadn't even sprouted yet. Direct Extension director Scott Durham of San Angelo said the ranges and pastures were also in an extreme state of dismay. However, Southeast Texas was benefited by substantial rain according to Dr. Travis Miller from College Station. Miller believed that the rain would help the crops survive until harvest. Luckily, the Coastal Bend was seeing excellent crop growth including wheat, corn, and most fruit crops. Cotton was also growing extremely well with more seeds planted since the previous year.

The end of May saw a tremendous abundance in the blackberry crops of East Texas. Other East Texas fruit crops such as peaches, blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries were also doing well according to Marty Baker of Overton. The Panhandle was still under record high heat, and winds and severe weather have also attacked this region. Even though grasshoppers were wreaking some havoc along the fields, the wheat crop was expected to be harvested and more cotton planted. Reduced livestock herds were reported to be in fair to good condition despite dry tanks and poor pastures.

Darcy Dittman

Office of the State Climatologist
 
 

Material obtained from:

TAMU Extension Crop, Livestock and Weather reports
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Monthly Weather Outlook for June 2000

From the Climate Prediction Center, the 30-day outlook for the month of June indicates 10-20% above the normal 33% probability of above-normal temperatures for the area south of a line from Midland-Odessa to Victoria. The portion of the state north of this line has 5-10% above the normal 33% probability.

South of an arc extending from Victoria, through San Antonio and down to the border just northwest of Big Bend climatologists are forecasting a 5-10% greater than normal probability of below average precipitation. The rest of the state is predicted to have a 0-5% greater than normal probability of below average precipitation.

Past Weather Events in June

June 27-July 1, 1899: Rainstorm. A storm, centered over the Brazos River Watershed, precipitated an average of 17 inches over an area of 7,000 square miles. At Hearne the gage overflowed at 24 inches, and there was an estimated total rainfall of 30 inches. At Turnersville, Coryell County, 33 inches were recorded in three days. This rain caused the worst Brazos River flood on record. Between 30 and 35 lives were lost. Property damage was estimated at $9 million.

June 10, 1938: Tornado. Clyde, Callahan County; 14 killed, 9 injured; damage $85,000.

June 27, 1957: Hurricane Audrey. Center crossed the Gulf coast near the Texas-Louisiana line. Orange was in the western portion of the eye between 9 and 10 a.m. In Texas, nine lives were lost, 450 persons injured; property damage was $8 million. Damage was extensive in Jefferson and Orange counties, with less in Chambers and Galveston counties. Maximum wind reported in Texas, 85 m.p.h. at Sabine Pass, with gusts to 100 m.p.h.

June 2, 1965: Tornado. Hale Center, Hale County. Four killed, 76 injured; damage $8 million.

June 12-13, 1973: Rainstorm. Southeastern Texas. Ten drowned. Over $50 million in property and crop damage. From 10-15 inches of rain recorded.

June 26, 1986: Hurricane Bonnie made landfall between High Island and Sabine Pass around 3:45 a.m. The highest wind measured in the area was a gust to 97 m.p.h. at Sea Rim State Park. As much as 13 inches of rain fell in Ace in southern Polk County.

June 20-22, 1993: Tropical Storm Arlene made landfall 5 miles south of Corpus Christi; all of eastern Texas was inundated by the remains. Henderson (Rusk Co.) received 14.83 inches of rain, and widespread areas reported greater than 7 inches. One person was killed; damage, mostly as a result of tidal flooding, was estimated at $22 million.

Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon (State Climatologist)

Rick Scott (Graduate Assistant)

Darcy Dittman (Undergraduate Assistant)

Kerry Meyer (Undergraduate Assistant)