Volume 17 Number 9.1 September 17, 2004

The first two weeks of September in Texas continued the cool, dry trend from August. During the first week, a high pressure system settled over the state and kept temperatures at their September normals. Precipitation was minimal, although some heavy storms appeared along the Gulf Coast and dropped 1.89” over Galveston on the 3^rd. On the 5^th, a cold front began to trek across the state lowering temperatures down to the low 80s. Temperatures warmed back to the 90s for most of the state as another high pressure system moved overhead on the 9^th. The second week of September was mostly quiet with temperatures hovering just below normals. Scattered showers appeared across the southern part of the state as several stations recorded at least 0.50” from the 14^th-16^th including Austin (1.41”), Dallas (0.70”), San Antonio (0.64”), Waco (0.56”), and Port Arthur (0.50”). Throughout the first two weeks, there were no reports of severe weather for the entire state of Texas.

Forecast for the Week

For the week of September 20: The weekend looks to be nice for most of the state. Highs will be in the mid-90s for most of the state until Monday when they will drop a little. Temperatures will be closer to 100 further south. Lows will be in the upper-60s to lower-70s for most stations. Precipitation probabilities are at zero through the weekend for the majority of Texas. An upper-level trough will begin to move across the state around Monday, and precipitation chances will increase as the trough makes it way.

(Forecast material obtained from the National Weather Service)

Monthly Outlook for October 2004:

From the Climate Prediction Center: October will continue a cool year for most of the state. Locations from Del Rio to Wichita Falls and eastward will have a 33% chance of below normal temperatures during October. Most of the South Central, Upper Coast, and East regions have a 40% chance of below normal temperatures. The remaining portions of the state will have equal chances of above or below normal temperatures. The extreme southern portion of the state from Laredo and Corpus Christi southward will have a 40% chance of above normal precipitation in October. The Southern region as well has the southern parts of the Edwards Plateau, South Central, and Upper Coast regions will have a 33% chance of above normal precipitation. The rest of the state will have equal chances of above, below, or normal precipitation in October.

Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon (State Climatologist)

Michael Hammer (Undergraduate Assistant)