National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

	Rio Grande Valley Climate Data --New Year's Day--

Since the late 19th century, New Year's Day has provided a variety of weather to the Rio Grande Valley of Deep South Texas. However, unlike the noted Christmas Eve and Christmas Day freezes and winter precipitation, records show that New Year's Day has been a bit more benign. In addition to the data shown below, there was no measured snowfall on the ground on any January 1st. In fact, only one long duration freeze can be inferred from the data, extending through New Year's Eve (1880) and into the New Year's morning (1881). The high in 1881 zoomed to 48 degrees; in 1900, the high on December 31st was 60 degrees before a 40 degree plunge that night.

On the flip side, record highs have been rather springlike, with readings ranging from the lower 80s near the coast to the lower 90s well inland, at Rio Grande City. Precipitation averages notwithstanding, heavier rainfall has generally been an inch or less on New Year's Day, with the sole exception being McAllen in 1988, when more than an inch and a half of rain fell.

So, how is the first day of 2008 shaping up? Data as of December 27th 2007 suggest a brisk and cool afternoon, with temperatures in the 50s or lower 60s under partly cloudy skies. Stay tuned!