Volume 17 Number 11 NOVEMBER 2004
November of 2004 turned out to be one of the wettest
Novembers in Texas history. The
month began with a cold front crossing the state causing heavy rain over many
stations and snow in the Panhandle. On
the 2nd, Port Arthur
received 6.34” breaking its daily record while Amarillo broke its daily snowfall record with 8.4” of
snow. Galveston, Houston,
and Austin all received at least 1.50” of rain over the first
two days of the month. Following the
frontal passage, temperatures remained well below normal for a few days. There was no measurable precipitation at any
of the first-order stations for the following nine days as a high pressure
system settled over the state.
The dry stretch promptly ended during the third week of the
month as an upper-level low pressure system moved into the state from northern Mexico. Fourteen of
the 19 first-order stations recorded at least 1” of rain between the 14th and 17th. Austin had 5.03” in just two days, while San Antonio, Midland,
Lubbock, Abilene, Del Rio, San Angelo,
and Houston all received at least 3” over those days. The counties of Travis (1), Gillispie (1),
Bexar (2), and Harris (4) reported tornadoes during this time.
Beginning on the 20th, two frontal systems stalled across the state leading
to several more days of rainfall for the eastern half of Texas. Between the
20th and 23rd, rainfall totals exceeded 2” in Galveston, 3” in
Waco, 4” in Houston and San Antonio, and more than 5” fell in College Station
and Austin. None of them came close to Victoria, however, which received 6.94” on the 20th alone. For those 4 days, 11.70” fell in Victoria. On the 23rd, there
were 55 reports of hail (seven of which were greater than 2” in diameter), and
32 reports of tornadoes across the state.
The final few days of the month remained relatively quiet before another
cold front passed over the state lowering temperatures below freezing.
Several new and near precipitation records were set for the
month. Seven stations set new monthly
records – Austin, Del Rio, Lubbock,
Midland, San Antonio, Victoria, and Wichita Falls. The 5.42” in Midland was more than double its previous record of 2.32”. Six other stations had near monthly
records: Abilene (2nd wettest), Amarillo (2nd), College Station (5th), Houston
(2nd), San Angelo
(2nd), and Waco (3rd). Amarillo, Lubbock,
Midland, and Victoria had at least six times their normal November
precipitation. Victoria also set a record for its wettest year ever with
71.79” through November. 12 other
stations have reached their top 10 for wettest years, and several look like
they could break their respective records for wettest year by the end of
December.
NOVEMBER 2004
* 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 DECEMBER
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.
Agricultural Weather
Highlights
http://agnews.tamu.edu/dailynews/stories/CROP/
Past Weather Events in
November
Nov. 23-24, 1974: Flash Flooding. Central Texas. Over $1 million in property damage. Thirteen people killed, ten in Travis county.
Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon (State Climatologist)
Michael Hammer (Undergraduate Assistant)
