Austin/Bergstrom International Airport:

The average July temperature was 81.8 degrees, 2.8 degrees below normal, and a tie with 1973 for the 5th coolest July of Record. The average high was 92.4, and the average low was 71.2. Heating degree days 0 and Cooling degree days 529. The highest temperature was 97 on the 30th and 31st. The lowest was 68 on the 25th, 28th, and 29th. Highest wind gust was 38 mph from the east with thunderstorms on the 23rd. Rainfall was 2.98, 0.95 inches above normal, and was the 10th wettest July of Record. Rainfall from January 1st to July 31st, 2003...15.16 inches or 4.63 inches below normal.

Austin Mabry:

The average July temperature was 84.7 degrees, 0.5 degrees above normal. The average high was 95.0, and the average low was 74.4. Heating degree days 0 and Cooling degree days 621. The highest temperature reached 101 on the 30th. The lowest was 69 on the 5th. Highest wind gust was 35 mph from the northeast with showers in the area on the 15th. Rainfall was 1.42 inches, 0.55 inches below normal. Rainfall from January 1st to July 31st, 2003...13.56 inches or 5.78 inches below normal.

Go to Austin daily data for July 2003.

DEL RIO...

Go to Del Rio daily data for July 2003.

SAN ANTONIO...

July 2003 was a month of below normal temperatures and above normal rainfall for most of South Central Texas. A few locations from Burnet County to Fayette County had near normal to below normal rainfall and also near normal to slightly above normal temperatures. These areas received less rain in the July 4th to 8th rain events, and were farther away from Claudette, when it passed across South Texas on July 15th and 16th. Most of South Central Texas had rainfall much above normal. In some cases it was one of the wetter Julys of record for some places. July 2003 was the 4th wettest of record for San Antonio with 8.12 inches of rain. Del Rio had 5.33 inches, making July 2003 the 7th wettest July of record. For July 2003, Austin Bergstrom International Airport had 2.98 inches of rain, making July 2003 the 10th wettest of record for Austin Bergstrom International Airport. The 1.42 inches of rain received at Austin Mabry for July 2003 was not one of the 10 wettest Julys at the Austin City Climate location, now Austin Mabry. The wettest July of record for the Austin City Climate location came in July of 1919 when 12.80 inches of rain fell, and the 10th wettest July for the Austin City Climate location was July of 1900 with 5.40 inches of rain. For July 2003 Hondo had 14.71 inches of rain, of which 8.92 inches came July 5th. Rainfall for other locations for July 2003 included the following: New Braunfels Municipal Airport 3.54 inches; Fredericksburg 4.58 inches; San Marcos 2.76 inches; Kerrville 2.91 inches; Georgetown 1.56 inches; La Grange 1.07 inches; and Burnet 0.85 inches.

The average temperature for July 2003 of 81.8 degrees at Austin Bergstrom International Airport, makes July 2003 tie with July of 1973 for the 5th coolest July of Record at Austin Bergstrom International Airport. The average temperature for July 2003 of 82.7 degrees at Del Rio International Airport, makes July 2003 tie with July of 1931, 1987, and 1990 for the 9th coolest July of Record at Del Rio International Airport. The average temperature for July 2003 of 81.9 degrees at San Antonio International Airport, makes July 2003 tie with July of 1929 for the 9th coolest July of Record at San Antonio International Airport. At Austin Camp Mabry, where less rain fell, the average temperature for July 2003 was 84.7 degrees, 0.5 degrees above normal. At Burnet, where 0.85 inches of rain fell, the average July temperatures was 82.7 degrees. At Georgetown, where 1.56 inches of rain fell, and at La Grange, where 1.07 inches of rain fell, the average July temperatures was 83.4 degrees.

So far this year in June and July, more shower activity than normal has continued not only in June, also in July. After a very dry spring, more rain and showers came in June and July. This pattern also appeared in 1903, 1961 and 1988. In addition, a few weak frontal systems managed to come into the area, in way that limited daytime highs with more clouds and showers. In May Austin reached its first 100 degree day of the year on May 30th, when the high was 101 at Austin Camp Mabry and 100 at Austin Bergstrom International Airport. On May 5th, Del Rio reached 102 on May 5th, for the first 100 degree day of 2003. In May the warmest it got at San Antonio was 99 on May 30th. During June and July, Austin Mabry reached the Century Mark 2 times, on July 30th, when it was 101, and on July 31st, when it was 100. Del Rio reached the 100 mark once, when the high was 101 on July 15th. Austin Bergstrom International Airport and San Antonio International Airport did not observe a 100 degree day in June or July of 2003. For Information on 100 degree days Click Here

Rain affected the area from widely scattered daytime to early evening showers and thunderstorms on July 2nd and 3rd;  July 4th through the 8th in a period that caused heavy rains on some days; July 15th and 16th associated with Claudette in a time that caused locally heavy rains; and on the 17th from scattered summertime heating showers and thunderstorms from mid to late morning through the afternoon. In late July, widely scattered rain showers showed up in the afternoon of July 22nd. The following day on July 23rd, an area of showers and thunderstorms formed north of the area and moved south across South Central Texas in the late morning, through the afternoon, and into the early evening hours. On the next day of Thursday July 24th, scattered showers and thunderstorms developed over the eastern half of South Central Texas, and became numerous in the late afternoon to early evening over the southeast part of South Central Texas. More stable conditions followed the 25th, only to be followed by widely scattered afternoon to early evening showers and thunderstorms on July 26th and July 27th. On Monday the 28th, widely scattered afternoon to early evening showers and thunderstorms appeared again. On July 29th, most of the afternoon shower and thunderstorm acitvity was over the west part of the area, and some also showed up over the extreme east and southeast parts of the area. In the early evening, all the activity diminished. On July 30th, a mostly sunny day turned partly cloudy in the mid to late afternoon, as widely scattered showers and thunderstorms formed near the Rio Grande, and also over northern parts of the Texas Hill Country. On the 31st partly cloudy skies in the day became mostly clear by evening. A few isolated showers and thunderstorms formed in the late afternoon over the northern and western part of the Texas Hill Country, and then diminished rapidly in the early evening. The warmest days overall for the month came on July 30th and 31st.

Climatologically, July is one of the drier months for Austin, not only from the latest 30 year normals, also for All-Time Record. From the latest 30 year normal, 1971 to 2000, July is the 2nd driest month of the year for Austin. The All-Time record shows July the driest month of record for Austin Bergstrom (October 1942-2002) and the 2nd driest for the Austin City Location, now Austin Mabry, (1856-2002).

The records for Del Rio and San Antonio reveal slightly different results. Being a little further south, Del Rio and San Antonio have picked up more tropical like weather systems in July (like easterly waves, weak low pressure systems aloft with an excellent tap to the Tropics, and recently the remnants of Hurricane Claudette) than areas further north. When the trade winds reach their northern most point in July and August, more easterly wave weather systems have affected Del Rio and San Antonio with rains. The Summertime rain season just west of Del Rio, has also drifted further east in some years to help boost Del Rio's average July rainfall.

Del Rio's average July rainfall, from not only the latest 30 year normal, also All-Time Record (Dec 1905-2002) shows July for Del Rio as the 8th driest month or 5th wettest month off all 12 months.

For San Antonio, average July rainfall is near the middle of all 12 months. The latest 30 year average for July rainfall at San Antonio shows July, of all 12 months, as the 5th driest month or 8th wettest. The All-Time Records (1871-2002) show July as the 6th driest month or 7th wettest month of all 12 months for San Antonio.

There are numerous Julys that have been rather dry, and this factor coupled with the high subtropical sun, has made for some very dry months in July. In the past 30 years, July 1980, 1998, 2000, and 2001 were dry and warmer than normal. July 1980 and 1998 were especially much warmer than normal. A dry month in July 1971 and July 1978, ended quickly in early August of 1971 and 1978 with floods. A very dry July in 1998 ended with heavy rains and floods in the mid to late part of August 1998, especially in the Del Rio Area, associated with Tropical Storm Charley.

Prior to 2003, Julys in the past 30 years that had more than usual rain showers included the following:   July of 1973, 1976, 1979, 1983, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1999, and 2002.  The first 20 days of July 2003 showed a similar trend, that some Julys come with rain and flooding.

Like July of 2003, rains in July of 2002 significantly moderated daytime highs.  July of 2002 was the wettest July of record for San Antonio, with 16.92 inches, when the late June and July 2002 floods affected the area. July 2002 was also the 2nd wettest month of record for San Antonio.    See Information on Late June and July Floods of 2002. Another July like 2002 and 2003 came in July 1976, when South Texas was affected by rain for several weeks.  July 1976 is the wettest July of record for Del Rio, as of July 19, 2003, with 13.18 inches. For Austin July of 1919, with 12.80 inches, was the wettest July of record. A flood in San Antonio Sunday night July 15, 1990 and early Monday morning July 16, 1990 helped to make July 1990 the 2nd wettest of record for San Antonio with 8.29 inches.

Moderated temperatures during July were observed in July 1976, when the area was affected by a rainy period from early July to around July 20th.  July 1976 was the coolest of record for Del Rio and Austin Bergstrom International Airport. For San Antonio July 1976 tied with July 1903 for the coolest July of record. At Austin Mabry, July 1976 was the 4th coolest of record.  July 1906 was the coolest of record for the Austin City Climate Location, now Austin Mabry.

Although many summers over parts of Central and South Central Texas have been hot and dry, like any other season of the year, some summers have been very wet with flooding. Prior to 2003, just in the previous 10 years, floods came to the area in June 1993, August 1994, June 1997, August 1998, June 2000, late August of 2001, and late June to mid July 2002. During a dry year overall in 1988, rainfall came to the area in June, July and August. July 1988 was the 6th wettest July of record for Austin Bergstrom International Airport and the 10th wettest July of record for Del Rio.

Information from the latest 30 Year Normals, 1971-2000, for July is listed below.