The average August temperature was 83.7 degrees, 0.5 degrees below normal. The average high was 93.6, and the average low was 73.7. Heating degree days 0 and Cooling degree days 588. The highest temperature reached 103 on the 8th. The lowest was 68 on the 12th and 13th. Highest wind gust was 46 mph from the northeast with thunderstorms on the 11th. Rainfall was 1.65 inches, 0.92 inches below normal. Rainfall from January 1st to August 31st, 2003...16.87 inches or 4.65 inches below normal.

August 2003 brought a variety of weather for a summer month, from extreme heat to moderated days with occasional rain. The most rainfall, over parts of Central and South Central Texas, fell mainly over parts of Central Texas and the eastern half of South Central Texas. A few locations over parts of Central Texas observed rainfall above normal; however most of the area had rainfall below normal. After plentiful rains from late May through July, Del Rio picked up 0.92 inches for August, 1.24 inches below normal. Austin Mabry had 2.94 inches of rain, 0.63 inches above normal, while Austin Bergstrom picked up 1.93 inches, 0.58 inches below normal. San Antonio International Airport observed 1.65 inches for August, 0.92 inches below normal.

The month began with hot and dry weather, that increased markedly the 6th through the 9th. Afternoon highs in early August of 2003 not only made the 100 degree mark, they also went up several degrees beyond 100 and made daily record highs. In addition, for Austin, afternoon highs on August 8th made an All Time High for the Month of August.

On August 8th, the high at Austin Mabry was 110, breaking the previous August All Time high of 109 set August 18, 1923. The high of 108 at Austin Bergstrom International Airport on August 8th broke the previous All Time August high of 107 set August 10, 1953. Daily record highs were set August 7 and 8 at both Austin Climate stations. The high of 108 August 7th and 110 August 8th were both daily records at Austin Mabry. The high of 106 August 7th and 108 August 8th were both daily records at Austin Bergstrom International Airport. The high of 100 August 6th at Austin Bergstrom was the first 100 degree day of 2003. On August 9th, the high at Austin Mabry and Austin Bergstrom was 99. These daily highs, although records for August, did not exceed the All-Time highs set in early September 2000. On September 5, 2000 All-Time record highs of 112 was observed at Austin Mabry and Austin Bergstrom International Airport, and another All-Time record high of 111 was observed at San Antonio. The All-Time Del Rio high came June 9, 1988, when 112 was observed. To review more details on the early September 2000 heat wave across South Central Texas  Click Here.

At Del Rio, the high of 105 on August 8th tied the daily record high of 105 for August 8th, previously set August 8, 1953. On Saturday, August 9th, the high at Del Rio was 108, breaking the previous record high for August 8th of 107 set in 1953. The All Time August high for Del Rio was 109 on August 17, 1969.

At San Antonio, the high of 103 on August 8th, was 1 degree lower than the record high for August 8th of 104 set August 8, 1953. The All Time August high for San Antonio was 108 on August 19, 1986. The high of 101 August 7th at San Antonio was the first 100 degree day of 2003. On Saturday, August 9th, the high at San Antonio was 100, 6 degrees below the record August 9th high of 106 set in 1953.

Looking at other locations over South Central Texas reveals the following. The first 100 degree day at Georgetown for 2003 was August 4th, when the high was 100. The first 100 degree day at Burnet for 2003 was August 6th, when the high was 106. The first 100 degree day for the following locations in 2003 came on August 7th: Fredericksburg with a high of 100; Hondo with a high of 100; Kerrville with a high of 100; La Grange with a high of 106; New Braunfels with a high of 104; and San Marcos with a high of 106.

Earlier in 2003, afternoon highs in June and July of 2003, reached the Century Mark twice at Austin Mabry and once at Del Rio. At Del Rio, a 100 degree day occurred on July 15th, when the high was 101. At Austin Mabry 100 degree days came on July 30th, when the high was 101, and on July 31st, when the high was 100. At Austin Bergstrom International Airport, Burnet, Georgetown, Hondo, New Braunfels, San Marcos and San Antonio, no 100 degree days were observed in June or July of 2003. In May of 2003, 100 degree days were observed at Austin Mabry and at Austin Bergstrom International Airport on May 30th. At Del Rio, daytime highs reached the Century Mark 9 times in May of 2003, on May 5th, 6th, 8th, and from May 14th through May 19th.   Click Here for Information on 100 Degree Days.