Volume 19 Number 5 MAY 2006

May 2006 was truly in like a lion but out like a lamb. Storms and severe weather plagued the state for the first week. From May 1^st through May 5^th there were 28 tornado reports, 68 strong wind reports, and 286 hail reports. May 5^th proved to be the day with the most violent weather. On that day alone there were 82 hail reports, 20 severe wind reports, and 18 tornadoes. A very strong bow-echo squall line moved on a northwest-southeast line from Lubbock through Waco and on into College Station. Martin and Burnet counties reported four tornadoes each. A F2 tornado touched down in Waco, producing damage to many businesses along Franklin Avenue. McLennan county also had a wind speed of 87 mph reported. May 14^th was the last day for any severe weather to impact the southeastern regions of the state. For the remainder of the month, the storms were confined to West Texas as the dryline initiated storms which produced mainly high winds, with a few reports of hail, and 3 reports of tornadoes on May 29^th. A strong ridge set in over the southern US, which increased the temperatures and prevented rainfall over the state.

Temperatures were above average for all of the state. Temperatures around the coast were about 1.5°F above normal. Temperatures in Central Texas were about 2° above normal, while temperatures in West Texas were around 4°F above normal. Record highs were set in many locations across the state. San Angelo reported record highs of 102°F on the 13^th and the 20^th. Corpus Christi reported a record high temperature of 103°F on the 10^th, which broke the old record by 8°F! Brownsville and San Antonio reported record highs of 99°F and 97°F, respectively, on the 10^th. Austin and San Antonio reported record highs of 97°F and 98°F, respectively, on the 27^th. The average departure for normal for the entire state was 2.8°F.

Some relief finally came at the end of the month as a upper-level trough lifted the moist air along the coast and produced heavy precipitation. On the 29th Houston reported 4.33” and Victoria reported 5.39”, which were both record daily precipitation totals. Corpus Christi reported 3.06” on the 31^st. The last four days of the month provided much needed rainfall for the South Central, Southern, and Lower Valley regions of Texas.

~Matt Mosier

MAY 2006

* 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 JUNE

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 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.

June 5-9, 2001: Tropical Storm Allison made landfall in northern Galveston, and southeast Harris counties. The Port of Houston reported a 5-day total of nearly 37 inches, and many surrounding areas received in excess of 10 inches. Twenty-two deaths were reported; damage, as a result of the extreme flooding was estimated at almost $5 billion. (courtesy of NWS Houston/Galveston)

Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon (State Climatologist)

Matt Mosier(Graduate Assistant)