Unseasonably Cold Early March 2002 Cold Weather

Early March 2002 Unseasonably Cold Weather

The Early March 2002 Cold Outbreak brought record low temperatures to Central and South Central Texas. Monthly Records for the Month of March were tied, broken, or almost broken.

March Monthly Records As of March 5, 2002

The March 4th and 5th, 2002 Lows are shown below.

AUSTIN BERGSTROM...17...MARCH 4TH...BROKE PREVIOUS MARCH LOW OF 19 AND MARCH 4TH RECORD OF 25 SET IN 1971. AUSTIN BERGSTROM...17...MARCH 5TH...TIED MARCH LOW OF 17 MARCH 4...2002. BROKE MARCH 5TH RECORD OF 26 SET IN 1978. AUSTIN MABRY 24.........MARCH 4TH BROKE PREVIOUS MARCH 4TH LOW OF 26 SET IN 1978. AUSTIN MABRY 31.........MARCH 5TH...2002. RECORD STILL 25 MARCH 5...1917 DEL RIO 25..............MARCH 4TH BROKE PREVIOUS MARCH 4TH LOW OF 27 SET IN 1965. DEL RIO 31..............MARCH 5TH...2002. RECORD STILL 27 MARCH 5...1917 SAN ANTONIO 19..........MARCH 4TH TIED PREVIOUS MARCH LOW OF 19 AND BROKE MARCH 4TH RECORD OF 23 SET IN 1965. SAN ANTONIO 27..........MARCH 5TH...2002. RECORD STILL 26 MARCH 5...1966 ALL-TIME MARCH LOWS ARE NOW AS FOLLOWS... AUSTIN MABRY......18 MAR. 2, 1943 AND MAR. 12, 1948 AUSTIN BERGSTROM..17 MAR. 4, 2002 AND 17 MAR. 5, 2002 DEL RIO...........19 MAR. 1, 1922 SAN ANTONIO.......19 MAR. 4, 2002 AND 19 MAR. 2, 1980 LOWS AT OTHER LOCATIONS MAR. 4, 2002 ARE LISTED BELOW. CEDAR CREEK...21 SAN ANTONIO 8NNE...21 SAN ANTONIO DOWNTOWN...28 JOHNSON CITY...15 CARRIZO SPRINGS...22 ROCKSPINGS...19 CHEAPSIDE...17 2 MILES NORTH OF KARNES CITY...18 10 MILES WEST OF HUNT...10 JUNCTION...11 1 MILE NORTH OF PANDALE...19 3 MILES NORTH NORTHEAST OF KERRVILLE...11 EAGLE PASS...26 CARTA VALLEY...12 CAMP WOOD...12 HONDO...13 NEW BRAUNFELS...15 - Coldest for Fall 2001/Winter 2002 GEORGETOWN...19 SAN MARCOS...18 - Coldest for Fall 2001/Winter 2002 BURNET...19 1 MILE NORTHWEST OF TAYLOR...22 SAN ANTONIO STINSON FIELD...21

As February ended on the 28th, the sun tried to come out at times in the morning hours, then was swallowed up by thickening clouds from the south. Cloud cover continued Friday March 1st, with lower and thicker clouds, along with fog, light rain and drizzle. Thick fog lingered across northern parts of South Central Texas and Central Texas even to late Friday, and then increased Friday night area wide and after Midnight in the predawn hours of Saturday March 2nd, ahead of another strong cold front.
In the early morning hours of March 2nd, the 2nd Strong Cold Frontal System within a week, blasted through the area, with strong north winds, and extending the Late February to Early March Cold Spell, not only in duration, also intensity. Most of the cold air in the February 25/26th cold front came from Northwest Canada and Alaska, while most of the cold air from the March 2nd cold front came from the Arctic Ocean and North Central Canada. On Saturday Morning March 2nd, in wake of the initial cold air, a band of precipitation moved quickly across the Texas Hill Country, Central Texas and northern parts of South Central Texas. Precipitation amounts were light. Austin Mabry picked up 0.03 inches; Austin Bergstrom International Airport 0.02 inches; Burnet 0.03 inches, Johnson City a Trace, and New Braunfels a Trace. On Saturday morning, 25 to 35 mph winds, with peak gusts near 40 to near 50 mph, was observed, adding to the chill of falling temperatures in wake of the strong cold front. The strong north and northwesterly winds gusted to 52 mph at Del Rio; 51 mph at New Braunfels Municipal Airport; 46 mph at Austin Bergstrom International Airport; 45 mph at Hondo; 43 mph at Austin Mabry; and 43 mph at San Antonio International Airport.
After cloudy skies in the early to mid part of the morning Saturday, the clouds lifted higher and thinned out some in the late morning and afternoon on the 2nd to mainly partly cloudy skies, with the high cirrus clouds varying throughout the afternoon at times from mostly sunny to mostly cloudy. The strong upper level jet and high level moisture was responsible for the extensive high cirrus clouds. Even though the cold front had passed through the area hours earlier, northerly winds continued to gust to between 20 and 30 mph throughout the afternoon, after sunset and well into the evening hours, before calming down after Midnight on Sunday the 3rd.
On the 3rd, as the upper level jet turned winds aloft to the northwest and subsidence increased over the area in wake of the upper level trough, mostly clear skies evolved, with a few scattered thin cirrus clouds. Still though, the cold north winds kept blowing on Sunday the 3rd, albeit at a slower speed than on Saturday the 2nd. Even though the Sun was out almost all day long and has climbed 16 degrees higher in the North Sky since Winter Solstice, the cold advection of Arctic Air spilling across the area from the north and north northeast limited afternoon highs. Highs in the lower and mid 40s were observed across the hill country to Central Texas, while further south and southwest over South Central Texas, afternoon highs climbed to the upper 40s to near 50. The Highs for March 3rd, 2002 were 20 to 25 degrees below the Climate Normal Highs for March 3rd.
On March 4th a new Montly Record Low for March was establised at Austin Bergstrom International Airport...where the low fell to 17. The previous record was 19 March 2, 1980; 19 March 3, 1943 and 19 March 12, 1948. At San Antonio International Airport the low of 19 Tied the Previous All-Time March Low of 19 March 2, 1980. Daily record lows were established for just the Day of March 4th at Austin Mabry, Austin Bergstrom, Del Rio, and San Antonio. Daily Record lows from the 3rd and 4th were as follows: Del Rio for March 3rd, tied low of 24 also March 3, 1922. Del Rio for March 4th, 25 new Daily March 4th record set in 2002. Austin Mabry for March 4th, new Daily March 4th record of 24 set in 2002. Austin Bergstrom for March 4th, new Daily March 4th record of 17 set in 2002. San Antonio for March 4th, new Daily March 4th record of 19 set in 2002.
On March 5th...cold early morning lows occurred again. Austin Bergstrom had a low of 17 for the 2nd day in a row...making a tie for the March low of 17 first set the day before on March 4th...2002. Junction had a low of 16. Lows in the 20s came from the following locations; Hondo 20...New Braunfels 25...San Antonio 27...San Marcos 27... Burnet 27...and Dryden 28. Austin Mabry had a low of 31 and Del Rio also had a low of 31. During the day increasing clouds developed and skies became cloudy in the afternoon to the evening. Afternoon highs were in the 60s.
Historic Early March Cold Outbreaks

Even though February has the most extreme temperature variations from the past, March also, as a transition month from February to April and May, has brought vast temperature extremes also. Severe weather extremes have also shown up in March, more so than in February. Although early cold March outbreaks do not come each and every Year, they have showed up at times in past years. Cold April outbreaks have also come in the past.
The table below shows the daily high and low temperatures during the current cold late February and Early March 2002 Weather Event, from February 25, when it was still warm, through Sunday, March 3rd. Highs and Lows for each day, with record highs and lows are listed. Note...lows with an asterisk apply to 2002. Also, note extremes between record highs and lows for late February and early March.

Late February to Early March 2002 Cold Outbreak

DATE AUSTIN MABRY AUSTIN BERGSTROM DEL RIO SAN ANTONIO Hi Lo Record Hi Lo Record Hi Lo Record Hi Lo Record Hi Lo Hi Lo Hi Lo Hi Lo FEBRUARY 25 71 43 89 22 74 44 87 24 85 49 96 22 79 49 91 21 26 45 30 93 25 45 23* 87 23 59 30* 96 30 49 25 91 22 27 51 25 87 23 52 13* 86 13 56 20* 96 20 52 17* 90 17 28 57 30 89 23 57 24* 87 24 60 37 91 26 54 32 94 24 ========================================================================= DATE AUSTIN MABRY AUSTIN BERGSTROM DEL RIO SAN ANTONIO Hi Lo Record Hi Lo Record Hi Lo Record Hi Lo Record Hi Lo Hi Lo Hi Lo Hi Lo MARCH 1 58 46 87 21 59 46 87 25 74 49 93 19 64 47 89 21 2 57 29 88 19 57 30 86 19 59 37 94 21 60 31 93 19 3 46 24 89 18 45 24 85 19 51 24* 91 24 49 25 92 21 4 59 24* 91 24 58 17* 91 17 61 25* 92 25 56 19* 95 19 5 66 31 91 25 65 17* 93 17 68 31 98 27 64 27 94 26

With the cooler than normal weather from February 2002, and now in Early March 2002, the table below shows a few cold outbreaks in March from the past that affected Central and South Central Texas.

MARCH COLD OUTBREAKS OF THE PAST MARCH 1ST 1922 HIGH AND LOW MARCH 1ST AUSTIN 29 AND 21 AUSTIN BERGSTROM MISSING - RECORDS BEGAN IN OCTOBER 1942 DEL RIO 32 AND 19 SAN ANTONIO 34 AND 22 MARCH 2ND AUSTIN 40 AND 22 AUSTIN BERGSTROM MISSING - RECORDS BEGAN IN OCTOBER 1942 DEL RIO 45 AND 24 SAN ANTONIO 45 AND 24 MARCH 1ST AND 2ND...1980 HIGH AND LOW MARCH 1ST AUSTIN 46 AND 25 AUSTIN BERGSTROM MISSING AND 30 DEL RIO 48 AND 29 SAN ANTONIO 52 AND 29 MARCH 2ND AUSTIN 41 AND 19 AUSTIN BERGSTROM 40 AND 19 DEL RIO 51 AND 21 SAN ANTONIO 46 AND 19 MARCH 11TH 1948 HIGH AND LOW MARCH 11TH AUSTIN 30 AND 19 AUSTIN BERGSTROM MISSING - RECORDS BEGAN IN OCTOBER 1942 DEL RIO 42 AND 24 SAN ANTONIO 33 AND 21 MARCH 26TH...1955 HIGH AND LOW AUSTIN 41 AND 26 AUSTIN BERGSTROM 45 AND 28 DEL RIO 47 AND 28 SAN ANTONIO 42 AND 31

Late February Cold Outbreak

Last week a Strong Late February Cold Front moved through Central and South Central Texas the night of February 25th and early morning of Tuesday, February 26th, 2002. Much colder weather followed in the day of Tuesday, February 26, with afternoon temperatures 30 to 40 degrees colder than the day before. Morning to early afternoon clouds, and strong, cold north winds kept afternoon highs near 40 to the 40s. Highs for February 26th in the area came just after Midnight, then fell for the rest of the day in wake of the strong cold front. Even in the following afternoon, temperatures could not warm-up to where they were after midnight because of the strong north winds and morning to early afternoon cloud cover. If the clouds had not broken up in the early to mid afternoon, even colder conditions would have occurred Tuesday afternoon the 26th. With unseasonably cold air, mostly clear skies, light winds and very dry conditions, early mornings lows on February 27, 2002 broke records at many locations for February 27th and the Fall 2001/Winter 2002 Season.

The February 27, 2002 Lows are shown below.

AUSTIN BERGSTROM...13...BROKE PREVIOUS FEB. 27TH RECORD OF 31 SET IN 2000. AUSTIN MABRY 25.........OLD RECORD IN 1935 OF 23 FOR FEB 27TH STILL STANDS. DEL RIO 20..............BROKE PREVIOUS FEB. 27TH RECORD OF 29 SET IN 1924. SAN ANTONIO 17..........BROKE PREVIOUS FEB. 27TH RECORD OF 28 SET IN 1977. ALL-TIME FEBRUARY LOWS ARE AS FOLLOWS... AUSTIN MABRY......-1 FEB. 12, 1899 AUSTIN BERGSTROM...8 FEB. 2, 1951 DEL RIO...........11 FEB. 2, 1951 SAN ANTONIO........4 FEB. 12, 1899 LOWS AT OTHER LOCATIONS FEB. 27, 2002 ARE LISTED BELOW. 10 MILES WEST OF HUNT...8 JUNCTION...9 1 MILE NORTH OF PANDALE...12 CARTA VALLEY...12 CAMP WOOD...11 HONDO...13 NEW BRAUNFELS...20 - Jan. 3rd low of 18 still coldest for Fall 2001/Winter 2002 GEORGETOWN...18 SAN MARCOS...19...Also 19 on January 3rd, 2002 BURNET...18 1 MILE NORTHWEST OF TAYLOR...18 2 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CEDAR CREEK...17 SAN ANTONIO STINSON FIELD...19 CARRIZO SPRINGS...16

Season/Time Changes Coming

Spring this year begins on Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at 116 pm CST. Easter Sunday comes on March 31st this year, with Sunrise and Sunset as follows: For Austin 622 AM CST and 650 PM CST; For Del Rio 635 AM CST and 702 PM CST; and For San Antonio 625 AM CST and 652 PM CST. Daylight Saving Time Begins this year at 2 AM CDT, Sunday, April 7th.
30 and 90 Day Outlooks

The latest 30 day outlook for March 2002 from the National Center of Environmental Prediction calls for the Average Temperature and Precipitation to be Above Normal. The latest 3 Month or 90 Day Outlook for March 2002 to May 2002 calls for above Normal Temperatures and Near Normal Precipitation over South Central Texas. These latest 30 day and 90 day Outlooks were issued on Thursday, February 14, 2002, from the National Center of Environmental Prediction. To see the latest 30 and 90 day Monthly/Seasonal Outlooks Go to the Latest 30 and 90 Day Monthly/Seasonal Forecast from the National Center of Environmental Prediction.
Note: These 30 day outlooks are based primarily on climate phenomena that exhibit a relatively large degree of predictability such as the El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle, as well as decade-to-decade variability and trends. Extratropical circulation patterns on monthly to seasonal time scales [such as the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO)] also significantly impact the monthly and seasonal temperature and precipitation patterns, sometimes distorting expected ENSO-related patterns. However, since the long-range predictability of these extratropical circulation patterns is very limited, they are not explicitly represented in the extended-range forecasts. To take these uncertainties into account, probabilities of temperature and precipitation are decreased (increased) in regions where the variability associated with these patterns is large (small).

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