Volume 15 Number 9                                                                                        SEPTEMBER 2002

 

September 2002 was a fairly warm month temperature wise, as fifteen of the nineteen first order stations in Texas recorded normal or slightly above average mean monthly temperatures. The greatest departure above normal was reported in Dallas/ Fort Worth, at 2.1 degrees. Only two stations broke the 100 degree mark this month (Brownsville, and Wichita Falls). The regions of Southern Edwards Plateau, Southern North Central, Southern East, South Central, Upper Coast, and South Texas, however, experienced temperatures slightly below normal, with San Antonio reporting the largest departure from normal of 1.8 degrees below average. 

 

Below normal precipitation was reported for every first order station excluding Brownsville- 114%, Corpus Christi- 127%, Galveston- 198%, Houston- 185%, San Antonio- 234%, and Waco at 105%  percent of average precipitation expected.  These areas received above normal rainfall due to pop-up sea-breeze thunderstorm activity, convective rain bands from Tropical Storm Fay (September 7th-9th), and weak frontal passages. Some impressive monthly totals were noted in Brownsville  with 6.04", Corpus Christi- 6.37" (with a rainfall record on the 15th), Galveston- 11.38", Houston- 8.02", Port Arthur- 5.74", and San Antonio at 7.02 inches.

 

The state of Texas experienced a pattern of dry, mild weather for most of the month.  The first noticeable cold front of the autumnal season trudged southward through Texas on the 19th of the month, bringing with it cooler temperatures and light precipitation (with isolated larger amounts reported in Abilene, Amarillo, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio). The pattern of cooler, drier weather persisted for a few days before moderating to a typical southerly gulf flow pattern.  The last week of September was characterized by temperatures slightly above normal, and little precipitation statewide.

 

 

Kelsey Curtiss (Undergraduate Assistant)

 

 

SEPTEMBER 2002


* 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 OCTOBER


 

 

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 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)

Kelsey Curtiss (Undergraduate Assistant)