Volume 13 Number 11                                                                    NOVEMBER 2000

After above-normal temperatures for the majority of first-order stations in Texas during the previous four months, November was cooler than normal at every station. Amarillo was the coldest station with a mean temperature of 39.6 degrees (-6.4 degrees below normal) and an average minimum temperature below freezing (27.6 degrees, -4.7 degrees below normal). Along with below-normal temperatures, November also brought excessive rains. All but one first-order station (Brownsville) recorded above-normal precipitation. Galveston recorded 14.30 inches of rain during November, or 424% of the normal monthly precipitation. During one 24-hour period, Galveston recorded 4.30 inches, only surpassed by the 4.58 inches College Station received during one 24-hour period.

As a result of the excessive precipitation received in November, the majority of Texas has been downgraded from Moderate or Severe Drought conditions to Near Normal conditions (Long Term Palmer Index from the Climate Prediction Center, NOAA). The lone exception is the Lower Valley climate division, which is still classified as having Moderate Drought conditions due to below normal November rainfall. According to the 30-day outlook from the Climate Prediction Center, the state should once again receive greater-than-normal precipitation, which will further improve conditions in areas hit hardest by recent drought conditions.

November was an active month as numerous fronts and low pressure systems moved through the state to produce record rainfall amounts in some areas. On the 1^st to the 8^th, two separate systems moved through Texas, a cold front on the 1^st and a low pressure system on the 7^th. These two systems produced the majority of the measured rain during the month. Twelve of the nineteen first-order stations in Texas recorded their greatest 24-hour precipitation total for the month during this time period. On the 15^th to 16^th, another significant cold front pushed through, dropping the high temperatures on the 18^th into the 30s for the northern portions of the state.

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.

Agricultural Weather Highlights

This year's Texas turkey crop is expected to be gobbled up by consumers this holiday season, making producers very happy, according to the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. Extension poultry specialist Dr. Sarah Birkhold of College Station said, "Texas raised approximately 9 million turkeys and is ranked tenth in the nation for turkey production." Even though heat can hinder the growth of a turkey, Dr. Birkhold said this year's drought was not a big factor since they are raised in environmentally-controlled housing. The rain received in the first week of November in the Panhandle caused problems with the cotton and sorghum harvest. District Extension director Bob Robinson of Amarillo said, "The cotton harvest has been halted," and the sorghum harvest slowed because of wet conditions.

After a wet second week, producers gained hope for cool season crops and grasses. "For most people this was a welcome addition to our very low moisture and water tables. It has been especially beneficial for wheat production, which is moving quickly," said district Extension director Scott Durham of San Angelo. However, Durham said the cotton crop, already poor due to this year's drought, was damaged by the harsh weather. Charles Neeb, district Extension director in Fort Stockton, said the moisture was generally beneficial for grain crops and pasture, but more slow rain is needed to help producers in the spring.

The rainfall during the first few weeks of November was greatly appreciated by Texas cattle producers. Extension livestock specialist Dr. Rick Machen of Uvalde said, "Forage conditions have recovered very nicely from the drought that we experienced during the summer. The pastures … are well on their way to providing some excellent grazing for winter cattle." Extension livestock specialist Dr. Todd Thrift of Overton said pastures in East Texas also responded well to the recent rains.

By the end of the month, the citrus harvest in the Rio Grande Valley was yielding well, but less is being trucked out because of fewer sales than last year. Extension horticulturist Dr. Julian Sauls of Welasco said harvesting is down because producers missed the market window to sell in late October and November. "We usually ship a lot of fruit in October and November, but the California orange season overlapped with our season and we weren't able to get as many sales because of that." However, the red grapefruit crop is the producers' major concern. Hidalgo County Extension agent Dr. Juan Ancisco of Edinburg said because of inadequate growing conditions, this year's grapefruit is smaller than last year. This is of concern because grapefruit is priced by the carton, and the bigger the size, the higher the price.

Kerry Meyer

Office of the State Climatologist
 
 

Material obtained from:

TAMU Extension Crop, Livestock and Weather reports
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Monthly Weather Outlook for December 2000

From the Climate Prediction Center, the 30-day outlook for the month of December indicates a 5-10% greater than normal probability of above average-temperatures south of a line from Lubbock to Tyler. The remainder of Texas has a 0-5% greater than normal probability of above-average temperatures, with the exception of the northern portion of the panhandle, which is predicted to have normal temperatures.

Climatologists are predicting the majority of Texas to have a 0-5% greater than normal probability of above-average precipitation, with the exception of El Paso (normal precipitation forecasted). Inside of an arc from the southeastern portion of the Panhandle, through Lubbock, San Angelo, Austin and just east of Dallas/Fort Worth, climatologists are forecasting a 5-10% greater than normal probability of above-average precipitation.

Past Weather Events in December

December 1-5, 1913: Rainstorm. This caused the second major Brazos River flood, and caused more deaths than the storm of 1899. It formed over Central Texas and spread both southwest and northeast with precipitation of 15 inches at San Marcos and 11 inches at Kaufman. Floods caused loss of 177 lives and $8,541,000 damage.

December 30-31, 1978: Ice Storm. North Central Texas. Possibly the worst ice storm in 30 years hit Dallas County particularly hard. Damage estimates reached $14 million, and six deaths were storm-related.

December 24, 1982: Rains of up to 15 inches occurred in Southeast Texas.

December 1982: Heavy snow. El Paso recorded 18.2 inches of snow, the most in any month there.

December 18-31, 1991: Flooding, entire state. The month of December was one of the wettest in Texas since records began in 1888. Rainfall amounts, from the Hill Country into North Central Texas totaled 12 to 16 inches over the four-day period of Dec. 18-21. Eleven people died as a result of the flooding, and more than $50 million in damages were incurred.
 

Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon (State Climatologist)

Kerry Meyer (Undergraduate Assistant)