Above normal rain, cooler and stormier than normal summarizes November 2000 for parts of Central and South central Texas. The month began very wet; had several severe weather events; more cloudy days than normal, and was overall cooler than normal. For Austin and San Antonio it was the 2nd wettest November of Record, while for Del Rio it was the 8th wettest November of Record. November 2000 was the 4th coolest of record for Austin Bergstrom International Airport; a tie with 1937 and 1957 as the 19th coolest November of Record for Austin Mabry; a tie with 1912 as the 8th coolest November of Record for Del Rio; and a tie with 1898 as the 10th coolest November of Record for San Antonio.

2. Wet Fall Weather from November 1 to 4, 2000

November 2000 started with rain running much above normal, in a time of the year that on average is dry. This year though, another many example of the extremes of weather, the wet weather that evolved in October spilled over into November. After generally fair skies and calm weather on Halloween, Novembeer 2000 weather began on the 1st with cloudy skies and scattered showers, as a weather system over western Mexico and the Southwest U.S. developed. The rain developed in the mid to late morning hours and continued into the evening. Widely scattered thunderstorms developed in some of the rain areas over the north and eastern hill country and extending east to the northern part of the Austin Metro Area and also across Williamson County in the mid to late afternoon hours.

On Thursday the 2nd, a heavy rain and severe weather event affected the area, as an upper air weather disturbance moved across Central and South Central Texas from the southwest. Thunderstorms in the afternoon produced isolated hail reports across the hill country to parts of Central and the eastern part of South Central Texas. Very heavy rains flooded low water crossings and secondary roads in parts of the hill country east to parts of Central Texas and the eastern part of South Central Texas. Occasional rain, heavy at times, continued into the evening and night hours. The heavy rains from the eastern hill country and from San Antonio to Austin moved off to the east and southeast after midnight, while further west new areas of rain formed across parts of Val Verde, Edwards, Real, Bandera, Kerr and Gillespie Counties, along and north of a weak frontal system. Record rainfalls for November 2nd occurred at Austin Mabry 2.17 inches; Austin Bergstrom 2.30 inches and San Antonio 3.39 inches. Other rainfall reports from November 2nd included the following...Fischer Store in western Comal County 5.27 inches; Sisterdale in Kendall County 5.12 inches; Canyon Dam 4.71 inches; Thorndale in western Mills County east of Taylor 5.60 inches; Lake Georgetown 3.72 inches and Johnson City 3.74 inches. Some areas in the San Antonio and Austin Metro areas received near 4 to near 5 inches of rain.

As the weak frontal system slowly pushed south on Friday and a new upper air disturbance crossed the area again from the southwest, a new rain event evolved on the 3rd. With the ground wet from previous rains and evaporation lacking under the cloudy damp early November skies, the additional rain caused more flooding. The rain continued all day long off and on, then extended into the evening hours. After midnight the rain diminished from Austin to San Antonio and moved off the the southeast parts of South Central Texas over parts of Wison, Karnes, Dewitt, Gonzales, Fayette and Lavaca Counties. These areas were just north of the weak cool front that had drifted southward over the coastal plains just south of South Central Texas. Rain amounts from the 3rd included the following...Karnes City 3.68 inches; Kingsbury 3.80 inches; Dime Box 2.20 inches; 10 miles northeast of Luling 3.18 inches; Rocksprings 3.87 inches; and Vanderpool 1.92 inches. On November 3rd Austin Mabry had 2.00 inches of rain; Austin Bergstrom 1.09 inches; San Antonio 0.56 inches and Del Rio 0.60 inches.

During the day of Saturday the 4th mostly cloudy skies continued with a few breaks in the afternoon hours. In the evening hours clouds thickened north of the weak cool front south of South Central Texas, and patches of light rain, drizzle and fog formed.

In the first 4 days of November alone...rain amounts over the hill country...Central Texas...and most of South Central Texas was between 2 and 6 inches across the area...with isolated amounts between 6 and 7 inches. From November 1st through 6 pm CST November 4...the following rain amounts were observed...Austin Mabry 4.22 inches...Austin Bergstrom International Airport 3.43 inches... San Antonio International Airport 4.04 inches....San Antonio Stinson Field 4.90 inches...San Marcos Airport 3.84 inches...Georgetown Airport 5.79 inches... Thorndale 6.86 inches...Burnet Airport 2.90 inches and Junction 6.00 inches. Over some of the west and southwest parts of South Central Texas rains have been less than 1 inch in some areas. Del Rio International Airport from November 1st through 6 PM November 4 had 0.63 inches.

3. Severe Weather Event of November 5th, 2000

During the afternoon of Sunday November 5, 2000 a severe weather event broke out across South Central Texas and extended into the evening and night hours, ending around and just after midnight early Monday morning November 6th. As the clouds broke up between 1 and 2 am at the New Braunfels Municipal Airport, the 1st quarter moon was setting to the west. Patchy fog across Central and South Central Texas formed, then dissapated as more dry air moved in from the west.

In the afternoon hours a line of thunderstorms developed in the Del Rio area and adjacent parts of Northeast Mexico. This line of thunderstorms swept eastward across the west part of South Central Texas and west Hill Country in the mid to late afternoon bringing strong gusty winds, locally heavy rain and a few reports of funnel clouds. By early evening the storms moved further east, where wind damage was reported to trees, utility/telephone poles, buildings and homes. The storms moved through the San Antonio Area between 7 and 9 pm and to the Austin Area between 8 and 10 pm. After the initial line of thunderstorms moved through the area, occasional rain with showers and a few thunderstorms lingered for 30 minutes up to 2 hours in some places. The locally heavy rains caused scattered reports of flooding again, as the ground had been wet from previous rains and evaporation was nearly nil. See list of some of the storm reports from the Nov. 5th Severe Weather Event.

After 10 pm the severe storms were pushing into parts of Southeast Texas, with showers and thunderstorms causing moderate to heavy rain over the eastern third of South Central Texas to the east of San Antonio and southeast of Austin. By midnight, the strongest showers and thunderstorms were from parts of Karnes County to parts of Dewitt, Gonzales, Lavaca, and Fayette Counties. After 1 am, these areas of heavy rain moved east away from these counties. Only patches of light rain lingered then ended in the night. See list of rain reports from the Nov. 5th Severe Weather Event.

Wind gusts in this event were measured at 59 mph at Kelly AFB; 58 mph at the New Braunfels Minicipal Airport; 48 mph at Randolph AFB; 39 mph at the San Antonio International Airport; 24 mph at Austin Mabry and 29 mph at Austin Bergstrom International Airport.

General rainfall amounts of near 1 to 2 inches was reported with the maximum of 2.39 inches 18 miles south of Llano and 2.20 inches 3 miles north northeast of Kerrville.

In the first 7 days of November alone...rain amounts over the hill country...Central Texas...and most of South Central Texas was between 4 and 8 inches across the area...except for 1 to 2 inch amounts over the far west and southwest oarts of the area near the Rio Grande. From November 1st through November 7th... the following rain amounts were observed...Austin Mabry 5.81 inches...Austin Bergstrom International Airport 4.63 inches... San Antonio International Airport 5.53 inches....San Antonio Stinson Field 6.32 inches...San Marcos Airport 4.96 inches...Georgetown Airport 7.14 inches... Thorndale 7.84 inches...and Junction 7.07 inches. Over some of the west and southwest parts of South Central Texas rains have been near 1 to 2 inches in some areas. Del Rio International Airport from November 1st through 7 has had 1.20 inches.

4. Early to Mid November Rain and Cold

After heavy rains of early November and the severe weather event of November 5th, from the 7th to the 18th below normal temperatures prevailed and 3 rain events came. The rain event of the 12th involved severe thunderstorms mainly near and east of Interstate 35. The first freeze of the season came the 9th for parts of the hill country, parts of Central Texas, and protected valleys of South Central Texas near the hill country. The 2nd freeze came the 14th over parts of the hill country, protected valleys of Central Texas and parts of South Central Texas adjacent to the hill country.

On the 7th, cooler air filtered through the area, as occasional rain and showers affected the hill country and South Central Texas. Colder temperatures and occasional rain continued the night of the 7th and early morning of the 8th. For the 7th and 8th, Austin Mabry picked up 0.94 inches; Austin Bergstrom International Airport 0.33 inches; Del Rio 0.20 inches; and San Antonio International Airport 0.15 inches. As cold rain lingered in the morning hours of the 8th, reports of rain mixed with trace amounts of snow was observed in the Del Rio Area. Skies cleared late in the day to the evening of the 8th. Early morning lows the 9th fell to 30 at Junction, 30 at Burnet; 31 at Hondo; 30 at Georgetown; 33 at New Braunfels; 33 at Austin Mabry; 32 at Austin Bergstrom International Airport; 33 at Del Rio and 34 at San Antonio International Airport. The 33 low at Del Rio was a daily record low for November 9th at Del Rio.

Ahead of a severe weather event on the 12th, increasing clouds affected the area on the 10th and evening of the 10th, followed by mostly cloudy weather the 11th with scattered areas of drizzle and light rain. On the afternoon of the 12th, scattered severe thunderstorms developed over parts of Central and South Central Texas, as cold air plunged southward across the hill country. The severe thunderstorms broke out from around and east of an Austin to San Antonio to Jourdanton line in the afternoon. Spotty wind damage and isolated tornadoes were observed with the strongest thunderstorms east of San Antonio and south of Austin. The fast moving thunderstorms moved east of South Central Texas Sunday evening November 12th. Temperatures across the hill country and South Central Texas continued to drop in wake of the strong cold front. The cold front initially caused temperatures to fall around 20 degrees in one hour at many locations during the mid to late afternoon hours. With the severe weather event of the 12th Austin Mabry picked up 0.01 inches; Austin Bergstrom International Airport 0.31 inches; Del Rio 0.01 inches; and San Antonio International Airport a trace. Rain reports at other locations were as follows; Comstock 1.00 inches; Seguin Water Plant 0.94 inches; Canyon Dam 0.49 inches; Bastrop 0.25 inches; Schulenburg 0.73 inches; Watson 0.66 inches; Lagrange 0.71 inches; and Smithville 0.70 inches. See Photo of Severe Thunderstorms Looking East From San Antonio in the Late Afternoon of Sunday, Nov. 12th, 2000.

Skies cleared on November 13th, followed by another freezing night over parts of the hill country and adjacent parts of South Central Texas. For November 14th, early morning lows fell to 27 at Junction; 27 at Kerrville; 29 at Burnet; 34 at Hondo; 30 at Georgetown; 30 at New Braunfels; 34 at Austin Mabry; 28 at Austin Bergstrom International Airport; 39 at Del Rio; 33 at San Antonio International Airport; 32 at San Marcos; and 32 at Randolph AFB. A new daily record low for November 14th of 28 was established at Austin Bergstrom International Airport.

Late in the day of the 14th to the early morning hours of the 15th, increasing cloudiness affected the area. Cloudy skies, with light rain and drizzle affected the area on the 15th. On the 16th temperatures warmed up, only to fall as another surge of cold air moved through the area, bringing colder weather late in the day of the 16th.

Another rain event came beginning in the evening and night of the 16th to early morning of the 17th. Occasional rain returned late the 17th. Cold rain continued all day the 18th, making for a damp, cold day. Rains were widespread across the area. From the 16th to 18th, Austin Bergstrom International Airport had 1.13 inches of rain; Austin Mabry 1.03 inches; Del Rio 1.42 inches; and San Antonio 1.46 inches of rain. New record low high temperatures for November 18th were established or tied. At both Austin Mabry and Austin Bergstrom International Airport the high of 46 was the coolest high of record for November 18th. Daytime highs at Del Rio and San Antonio tied the coolest of record for November 18th, with the high of 49 at Del Rio and 44 at San Antonio.

5. Late November Brings Rain, Storms and More Sunshine

From November 19th to 26th, the cooler weather of November 2000 prevailed along with the rain; however more sunny days showed up. Sunny in the day with cool temperatures affected the area the 19th to the 21st, followed by cloudy conditions on the 22nd, stormy weather late the 23rd, and sunny days to fair cool nights the 24th through the 26th. On the 27th a few more clouds showed up, as afternoon temperatures climbed to the upper 60s to lower 70s.

After the cold and rainy day on the 18th, the cold continued the 19th under fair skies at sunrise to mostly sunny in the day, as early morning lows rose from the mid and upper 30s to mostly 50s, with lower 60s along the Rio Grande. Mostly clear and cold conditions followed Sunday night and early Monday morning the 20th. Early morning lows the 20th were in the mid 20s to lower 30s over the hill country and in the lower to mid 30s across parts of Central and South Central Texas. Under sunny skies, afternoon highs rose to the low and mid 60s. A surge of cooler air came through the night of Monday the 20th, leaving daytime highs slightly cooler Tuesday the 21st, under sunny skies. Conditions became cloudy the night of the 21st/morning of the 22nd. Cloudy skies and light rain came in the day of the 22nd.

On Thanksgiving Day, temperatures warmed up to the mid 60s to the mid 70s ahead of a strong storm system, that brought showers and thunderstorms in the late afternoon through the evening and night of the 23rd. Thunderstorms produced very heavy rains, some hail and strong winds. The thundersotrms became more organized between 730 and 830 pm, then organized to a line of storms between 900 and 1000 pm, and moved east. The line of thunderstorms left South Central Texas after midnight and proceeded east.

In the day of Friday the 24th, partly cloudy skies and windy, cool conditions prevailed. Mostly sunny skies came the next day Saturday the 25th, followed by mostly clear skies on Sunday the 26th. In wake of the stormy Thnaksgiving night, 3 days of more sunshine, and drier weather was welcome.

On Monday the 27th, the 4th day of mild, pleasant weather continued. Even though a few clouds moved over the area, mostly sunny conditions prevailed, as afternoon highs rose to the upper 60s to lower 70s. On the 28th warm and partly cloudy days gave way to a mostly cloudy night with patchy light rain and drizzle. Skies cleared after sunup Wednesday the 29th. Fair skies prevailed the night of the 29th to sunny conditions the morning of the 30th. In the afternoon of the 30th clouds returned and patchy light drizzle formed late in the afternoon and evening.