Volume 14 Number 9                                                                             SEPTEMBER 2001

September 2001 was a fairly mild month as fifteen of the nineteen first order stations in Texas recorded at or below average mean monthly temperatures. This was a direct contrast to September 2000, when several stations recorded all-time high maximum temperatures. This September, however, only three stations broke the 100 degree mark (Del Rio, Midland, and Wichita Falls). Austin's mean monthly temperature was 4.8 degrees below average, the largest departure from normal in the state. Rainfall was abundant in some areas and sparse in others. Ten of the nineteen stations recorded above-average precipitation; however, these stations are all located in the eastern portion of the state, with the lone exception of Amarillo (see maps below). Both College Station and Houston recorded 180% of their average precipitation (8.77 and 8.82 inches, respectively), while Wichita Falls recorded only 13% of it's normal precipitation (0.49 inches). According to the Palmer Drought Severity Index, the result is that the East and South Central divisions of Texas are classified as having an Unusual Moist Spell, while the Trans Pecos division is classified as having a Severe Drought.

September began the same way August ended, with wet weather in the east and southeast portions of the state. This weather eventually spread to the majority of Texas throughout the next couple days. On the 7^th, a cold front moved in from the northwest, bringing cooler temperatures and drier conditions to most of the state. However, temperatures slowly rebounded, and by the 13^th, most parts of Texas were experiencing maximum temperatures in the low 90s. This weather pattern persisted through the 22^nd.

On the 23^rd, the first major cold front of the season entered Texas. A strong continental cold front from Canada pushed it's way south into the U.S. by the 22^nd, and by the 23^rd, it had reached the Texas Panhandle. As it moved across the state, it triggered numerous showers and thunderstorms, which further saturated the east and southeast. Behind the front, much cooler temperatures and very dry air were pulled from the north. Once into Texas, this air mass dominated the weather patterns for the remainder of the month. The last week of September would be characterized by typical fall weather: chilly nights and mild days.

Kerry Meyer (Undergraduate Assistant)

The rains experienced through the first week of September helped many Texas crops, but the state's peanut crop was thirsting for more. "Peanuts are a high water-use crop," said Dr. Robert Lemon of College Station, Extension agronomist. "The crop requires about 20 to 24 inches of water. So we must use irrigation for optimum production." Peanuts are generally planted in late April through mid-June, and are usually ready for harvest in October or November, Lemon said. More than 80 percent of the peanut crop in Texas is produced in West Texas. However, the wet weather was detrimental to the Central Texas cotton crop. Dr. Carl Anderson, Extension economist in College Station, said this season's cotton crop has open bolls, which exposes the lint and seed to all weather conditions. In order to properly harvest the crop, Cotton producers want dry weather for at least a month starting in the middle of August. "When the boll is mature and open, it is a white, fluffy, ideal fiber," Anderson said. "Rain stains it, reduces the quality, and knocks some of it off the plant."

With Halloween around the corner, the state's pumpkin producers are preparing for their peak season. In the middle of September, producers were starting to harvest pumpkins, and will continue through the end of October. Three varieties of pumpkins are grown in Texas. Mini pumpkins are used primarily for pumpkin pies, while medium Jack-o-lanterns and large Big Macs, which can reach 200-300 pounds, are used mostly for decorative purposes. "Most of our producers plant a little bit of all three varieties," said J.D. Ragland, Floyd County Extension agent. Fall vegetables and corn are progressing well, according to Terry Lockamy, district Extension director in Weslaco. Also, oat planting of winter pastures is beginning in some areas, said Dr. Dale Fritz, district Extension director in Bryan.

Towards the end of September, Texas producers were harvesting sunflowers, which are showing to be popular due to limited water supplies in the state. Sunflowers are generally harvested in Texas from August through October, and, due to their ability to be grown with limited water, producers have had an increased interest in them. "Sunflower acreage increased from 60,000 acres in 2000 to 105,000 acres in 2001," said Dr. Travis Miller of College Station, Extension program leader for soil and crop sciences. Although a significant portion of the crop is sold as birdseed, the primary use of sunflowers is as an oilseed, Miller said. Also, grasshopper infestations are beginning to die down in Central Texas, thanks to crop harvesting and weather. District Extension entomologist Dr. Allen Knutson of Dallas said this has been the third season in a row in which grasshoppers have been unusually abundant. Dry and warm fall weather allows grasshoppers the time to feed and lay eggs in the soil, which the next year, Knutson said. Recently retired Extension entomologist Dr. Cliff Hoelscher of College Station said grasshoppers are susceptible to bacterial diseases that reduce their numbers. These diseases are more prominent in wet weather, so fewer grasshoppers survive.
 
 

Kerry Meyer

Office of the State Climatologist
 
 

Material obtained from:

TAMU Extension Crop, Livestock and Weather reports
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Monthly Weather Outlook for October 2001

From the Climate Prediction Center, the 30-day outlook for the month of August indicates a 0 to 5% above the normal 33.3% probability of above-normal temperatures for the El Paso area. The remainder of the state is predicted to have normal temperatures.

Precipitation is predicted to be normal for the entire state.

Past Weather Events in October

October 3, 1867: Hurricane. This hurricane moved inland south of Galveston, but raked the entire Texas coast from the Rio Grande to the Sabine. Bagdad and Clarksville, towns at the mouth of the Rio Grande, were destroyed. Much of Galveston was flooded and property damage there was estimated at $1 million.

October 12-13, 1880: Hurricane. Brownsville. City nearly destroyed, many lives lost.

October 12, 1886: Hurricane. Sabine, Jefferson County. Hurricane passed over Sabine. The inundation extended 20 miles inland and nearly every house in the vicinity was moved from its foundation; 150 persons were drowned.

October 28, 1960: Rainstorm. Rains of 7-10 inches fell in South Central Texas; 11 died from drowning in flash floods. In Austin about 300 families were driven from their homes. Damage in Austin was estimated at $2.5 million.

October 11-14, 1981: Record rains in North Central Texas caused by the remains of Pacific Hurricane Norma. Over 20 inches fell in some locations.

October 15-19, 1994: Extreme amounts of rainfall, up to 28.90 inches over a 4-day period, fell throughout southeastern part of the state. Seventeen lives were lost, most of them victims of flash flooding. Many rivers reached record flood levels during this period. Houston was cut off from many other parts of the state, as numerous roads, including Interstate 10, were under water. Damage was estimated to be near $700 million; 26 counties were declared disaster areas.

October 17-19, 1998: A massive and devastating flood set all-time records for rainfall and river levels, resulted in the deaths of 25 people, injured more than 2,000 others, and caused more than $500 million damage from the Hill Country to the counties surrounding San Antonio to the south and east.

January-October, 2000: A severe drought plagued most of Texas. Some regions experienced little to no rain for several months during the summer. Abilene saw no rain for 72 consecutive days, while Dallas had no rain for 84 consecutive days during the summer. During July, aquifers were reaching all-time lows, and lake and streams fell to critical levels. Most regions had to cut back or stop agriculture due to lack of rain. The drought caused $515 million in agricultural loss according to USDA figures.

Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon (State Climatologist)

Andrew Odins (Graduate Assistant)

Kerry Meyer (Undergraduate Assistant)