Volume 21 Number 8 AUGUST 2008

August 2008 did not follow the trend of the previous summer months of June and July. The beginning of the month started rather warm, with mean daily temperatures a few degrees above average. During the first of the month, Tropical Storm Edouard, a relatively weak system, moved into the Houston area, giving some drought relief to parts of southeastern Texas.

During the middle of the month, however, a strong low pressure system swept through a large swath of Texas, giving impressive rainfall totals and much needed rain to many parts of Texas. Thus, as seen on the map below, only 2 stations received slightly less than average precipitation (Brownsville at 87% and Austin at 95%) and most received well above average rain including Del Rio and Waco which received over 500% their normal rainfall, with totals of 11.32 inches and 10.33 inches, respectively. These totals actually break the record rainfall totals for August for these particular stations.

Temperatures were variable during August around the state. Much of West and West-Central Texas recorded cooler than average temperatures, while East and Far South Texas recorded warmer than average temperatures. However, early August showed much warmer temperatures than usual, while later in the month (with the low and plentiful rainfall) temperatures were much cooler than normal. Highs around Texas remained in the low to mid 80’s for several days during the middle of August. Thus, mean monthly temperatures remained around average, as seen in San Angelo and Port Arthur, with slight variability in different regions. As a whole, mean temperature departures are small for most of the first-order stations.

Hurricane Gustav threatened the Texas coast for some time, although most impacts will be some East Texas rainfall in early September. The tropics are active, as three Tropical Storms linger out in the Atlantic: Hanna, Ike, and Josephine. Hanna should have no bearing on Texas, and computer models show Josephine continuing in the Eastern Atlantic. Ike, however, is forecast to cross Cuba and may be a factor in the coming days.

AUGUST 2008

* 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 SEPTEMBER

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.

Climate-related Agricultural Information

http://agnews.tamu.edu/dailynews/stories/CROP/

Past Weather Events in September

September 16, 1875: Hurricane. Struck Indianola, Calhoun County. Three-fourths of town swept away; 176 lives lost. Flooding from the bay caused nearly all destruction.

September 8-9, 1900: Hurricane. Galveston. The Great Galveston Storm was the worst natural disaster in U.S. history in terms of human life. Loss of life at Galveston has been estimated at 6,000 to 8,000, but the exact number has never been exactly determined. The island was completely inundated; not a single structure escaped damage. Most of the loss of life was due to drowning by storm tides that reached 15 feet or more. The anemometer blew away when the wind reached 100 miles per hour at 6:15 p.m. on the 8^th. Wind reached an estimated maximum velocity of 120 mph between 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. Property damage has been estimated at $30 to $40 million.

September 8-10, 1921: Rainstorm. Probably the greatest rainstorm in Texas history, it entered Mexico as a hurricane from the Gulf. Torrential rains fell as the storm moved northeasterly across Texas. Record floods occurred in Bexar, Travis, Williamson, Bell and Milam counties, killing 215 persons, with property losses over $19 million. Five to nine feet of water stood in downtown San Antonio. A total of 23.98 inches was measured at the U.S. Weather Bureau station at Taylor during a period of 35 hours, with a 24-hour maximum of 23.11 on September 9-10. The greatest rainfall recorded in United States history during 18 consecutive hours fell at Thrall, Williamson County, 36.40 inches fell on Sept. 9.

September 8-14, 1961: Hurricane Carla. Port O'Connor; maximum wind gust at Port Lavaca estimated at 175 mph. Highest tide was 18.5 feet at Port Lavaca. Most damage was to coastal counties between Corpus Christi and Port Arthur and inland Jackson, Harris and Wharton counties. In Texas, 34 persons died; seven in a tornado that swept across Galveston Island; 465 persons were injured. Property and crop damage conservatively estimated at $300 million. The evacuation of an estimated 250,000 persons kept loss of life low. Hurricane Carla was the largest hurricane of record.

September 9-13, 1971: Hurricane Fern. Coastal Bend. Ten to 26 inches of rain resulted in some of the worst flooding since Hurricane Beulah in 1967. Two persons killed; losses were $30,231,000.

September 5, 2000: Excessive heat resulted in at least eight all-time high temperature records around the state, one of which was Possum Kingdom Lake which reached 114°F. This day is being regarded as the hottest day ever in Texas.

Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon (State Climatologist)

Zachary Adian (Undergraduate Assistant)