Volume 12 Number 4                                                                                                                        APRIL 1999

Most of the state experienced slightly above normal temperatures for the month of April. The mean monthly temperatures were barely below normal for El Paso, San Angelo, Lubbock, and Amarillo where departures from normal ranged between -0.1°F and -2.0°F. Areas in the Panhandle and the Low Rolling Plains dealt with way above normal precipitation totals for the whole month. A small area encompassing San Angelo and Del Rio also dealt with above normal precipitation. As far as the rest of Texas was concerned, precipitation was below normal during April.

A front passed through Texas during the first few days of April bringing showers and storms to areas in Central and East Texas. Reports of small hail and wind damage were numerous as the thunderstorms progressed from west to east. Once the system exited to the east clear and warm weather followed for the Lone Star State. Record high minimum temperatures occurred at Houston on the 7th (72°F) and 8th (74°F). Del Rio and Austin also set record high minimum temperatures on the 8th when their respective low temperatures only fell to 70°F and 69°F. On the 11th a record high temperature was set at Galveston with the temperature reading climbing to 82°F.

A slow moving system crossed Texas from the 12th to the 14th. The storms caused winds to gust to 60mph in Dalhart, TX and 59mph in Childress, TX. Observations of large hail (baseball) and possible small tornadoes were common in the High Plains and the Low Rolling Plains on the 13th. Nearly an inch of rain was reported at Easterwood Field in College Station on the 14th alone. Much colder temperatures eventually encompassed all of Texas as the low-pressure system entered into Louisiana.

Nearing the end of the month (18th to the 24th) topsoils turned dry again in southern Texas. Storms that originally formed in Southeast Texas late on the 25th eventually stretched into a large squall line as they crossed the state. The squall line affected areas adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico as well as the areas bordering Oklahoma. Once again hail, heavy rains, strong winds and possible tornadoes were reported as the squall line crossed through Texas.
 

                                                           Prepared by:  John F. Griffiths (State Climatologist)

     Chris J. Gordon (Graduate Assistant)
 

APRIL 1999

Avg
Avg
Abs
Abs
No. of
Total
% of 
Gr'st
Max
Min 
Mean
Max
Min
Days
Pcpn
Avg
24 hr
Station
Temp
Dep
Temp
Dep
Temp
Dep
Temp
Temp
Precip.
(In)
Pcpn
Pcpn
HDD*
CDD*
Abilene
78.0
0.2
52.9
0
65.5
0.1
95
37
5
1.49
78%
0.66
98
120
Amarillo
68.4
-3.1
41.1
-1
54.8
-2.0
88
30
10
6.30
636%
2.65
305
5
Austin
81.6
2.2
61.9
2.1
71.8
2.2
89
42
7
0.79
31%
0.38
21
231
Brownsville
85.1
1.1
69.8
3.3
77.5
2.2
94
48
1
0.14
9%
0.14
3
383
College Station
81.0
2.7
59.7
1.7
70.4
2.2
90
36
9
2.57
76%
1.45
38
200
Corpus Christi
82.6
0.9
66.7
3.5
74.7
2.2
92
44
2
0.88
51%
0.85
6
303
Dallas/Ft. Worth
78.3
2.0
57.5
2.8
67.9
2.4
87
38
5
2.74
78%
1.04
39
134
Del Rio
84.7
1.3
61.7
2.5
73.2
1.9
98
43
8
3.17
160%
2.00
16
271
El Paso
77.6
-1.1
48.7
0.7
63.2
-0.2
91
35
0
0.00
0%
0.00
114
67
Houston*
84.0
5.6
62
3.9
73.0
4.7
91
38
6
1.41
44%
0.43
25
270
Lubbock
73.8
-1.6
45.8
-0.9
59.8
-1.3
92
35
8
3.56
367%
1.62
181
32
Midland
79.7
-0.1
50.3
0.9
65.0
0.4
96
31
5
0.19
23%
0.08
104
111
Port Arthur
81.0
2.7
64
4.5
72.0
3.1
90
41
5
0.78
22%
0.59
22
251
San Angelo
81.0
-0.2
52.8
0.1
66.9
-0.1
96
31
6
1.85
111%
1.07
83
149
San Antonio
81.4
1.1
61
2.6
71.2
1.9
89
37
6
0.91
36%
0.50
32
225
Victoria
80.9
0.7
62
1
71.5
0.9
88
38
1
0.33
14%
0.33
23
223
Waco
79.8
1.8
57.4
1.2
68.6
1.5
89
35
6
2.04
64%
1.12
45
159
Wichita Falls
75.4
-0.4
51.6
1.3
63.5
0.4
91
34
8
3.78
126%
2.74
105
69
Shreveport, LA
80.1
3.4
58.6
4
69.4
3.7
89
37
6
7.88
167%
5.16
41
180
*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 MAY

Rec Rec Gr'st Gr'st
Mean # of Days
Avg Avg High Low Avg Mon 24 hr Pcpn
Max Min  Max Min Pcpn Pcpn Pcpn Max. T. Min. T >or=
Station Temp Temp Temp Temp (In) (In) (In) >90°F <32°F 0.01" HDD* CDD*
Abilene
84
61
107
36
2.97
13.19
2.85
7
0
8
7
245
Amarillo
79
52
102
28
2.48
9.81
6.75
5
<1
8
89
102
Austin
85
67
100
43
4.78
9.98
5.66
6
0
9
0
329
Brownsville
88
72
102
52
2.94
9.12
4.56
10
0
5
0
462
College Station
84
65
100
42
4.80
14.70
6.23
6
0
8
0
298
Corpus Christi
86
72
103
47
3.33
9.38
4.65
5
0
6
0
400
Dallas/Ft. Worth
83
63
103
41
4.88
13.66
5.34
4
0
9
0
246
Del Rio
88
66
106
45
2.03
5.15
1.86
13
0
7
0
381
El Paso
87
57
104
31
0.25
1.92
1.23
13
<1
2
7
217
Galveston
80
72
94
52
3.59
10.79
7.71
<1
0
6
0
335
Houston
85
64
95
44
5.24
14.39
10.36
5
0
8
0
295
Lubbock
83
56
104
30
2.35
7.80
5.14
8
<1
8
25
162
Midland
88
58
108
34
2.23
4.99
4.75
11
0
6
10
252
Port Arthur
84
66
97
46
5.71
12.69
9.89
3
0
7
0
316
San Angelo
87
61
107
35
3.00
11.24
3.12
12
0
7
7
292
San Antonio
85
66
103
43
4.22
12.85
6.53
8
0
8
0
326
Victoria
85
68
101
49
4.50
14.08
8.45
6
0
7
0
360
Waco
84
64
102
37
4.58
15.00
7.18
7
0
9
10
288
Wichita Falls
83
59
105
36
4.07
13.22
5.70
8
0
9
10
202
Shreveport, LA
84
62
95
42
4.70
11.78
5.27
4
0
9
9
257
Sunrise/Sunset
SUNRISE
SUNSET
DAYTIME LENGTH
1st
6:52 am CST
8:16 pm CST
13 hr 24 min
31st
6:33 pm CST
8:36 pm CST
14 hr 3 min
Moon Phases
NEW
FIRST QTR.
FULL
LAST QTR.
15th
22nd
30th
8th
7:06 am CST
12:35 am CST
1:41 am CST
 12:29 pm CST
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

The Texas Agricultural Extension Service reported that crops were growing, pastures were green and farmers were hopeful after rain fell across much of the state as the month of April began. John Norman, a county Extension agent in Weslaco, said recent rains averaged two inches, but measured up to four inches in some areas. Norman also stated that the rain was short and therefore did not damage the onion crop because it drained well. The rain did however cause some problems for a few of the cotton fields that were just recently planted prior to the rain. The rain also effected the sugarcane crop. Harvesting was delayed because of wet field conditions.

Ronald Woolley, district Extension director in Stephenville, said that the cattle in Central Texas are in good condition with clover going very well. He also stated that there is a very bad rust in wheat but farmers are not spraying because of the low wheat prices. In the Rolling Plains the rainfall was welcomed with open arms but more rainfall was needed. The wheat crop was looking good with the range and pasture conditions also improving.

Because of the lack of winter precipitation across the state Texas farmers are expecting a total wheat production that is 30 percent less than the 1998 crop. Dr. Travis Miller, Extension wheat specialist in College Station, said, "the South and Rolling Plains are expected to produce about 20 million bushels of wheat which is about 12 million bushels less than last year's crop." According to Miller, the crop in the Panhandle was looking good since they received some winter precipitation and were able to get a better stand than most areas.

Nearing the end of the month the Texas Agricultural Extension Service reported that much needed rain fell across the state. The precipitation occurred with thunderstorms that were quick and very sporadic according to Joe Pena who is the Extension economist in Uvalde. Corn, sorghum, cotton, and spring vegetables should be able to fully benefit from the recent rains. Range grass had greaned dramatically during the last week of the month in the Panhandle following the rain and warmer temperatures. According to Scott Durham (district Extension director), in West Central Texas high winds caused a great deal of moisture loss. Livestock was in fair condition in West Central Texas with grain beginning to mature and weed problems increasing
 
 

                      Chris J. Gordon

                                                        Material obtained from:
                                                                                          TAMU Extension Crop, Livestock and Weather reports
 
 
 

Monthly Weather Outlook for May 1999

The 30-day outlook for the month of May indicates that temperatures will most likely be slightly above normal for the entire state of Texas. Probabilities for above normal temperatures increase from 33% in East Texas to just above 45% around El Paso. The state of Texas can expect precipitation to be normal for May with the exception of the western Trans Pecos region where the probabilities indicate slightly below normal precipitation for the month.

Past Weather Events in May

May 7, 1919: Violent thunderstorms with high winds, hail, and rain occurred between Rio Grande City and the coast, killing 10 persons. Damage to property and crops was $500,000. Seven were killed at Mission.

May 24-31, 1929: Beginning over Caldwell County, a storm spread over much of Central and Coastal Texas with maximum rainfall of 12.9 inches, causing floods in Colorado, Guadalupe, Brazos, Trinity, Neches, and Sabine rivers. Damage estimated at $6 million.

May 11, 1953: A tornado hit Waco, McLennan County; 114 killed, 597 injured, damage $41,150,000. One of two most disastrous tornadoes; 150 homes destroyed, 900 homes damaged; 185 other buildings destroyed; 500 other buildings damaged.