July 2005 brought a variety of summer weather to South Central Texas. July 2005 began mostly dry and hot, and then moderated in the second half of the month with more rain showers.

The first 7 days of the month were the hottest for South Central Texas. The hottest day area wide was on the 7th. After the hot afternoon highs of the 7th, widely scattered late afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms spread across the north half of South Central Texas. Widely scattered showers and thunderstorms returned for the 8th and 9th then conditions dried up, before more waves of showers or thunderstorms came the afternoon of the 14th. The switch to more showers and thunderstorms continued the 15th, and this pattern kept going on a daily basis through the 24th, bringing moderated afternoon highs. The increase in showers and rain activity the 18th to the 21st, was from the affects of Hurricane Emily, that moved to the Eastern Coast of Mexico on the 20th. Shower activity the 23rd and 24th was associated with the affects of Tropical Storm Gert, that also moved into eastern Mexico. Around the time of these two tropical systems, breezy conditions were observed for a few days across South Central Texas, and helped to increase to the average wind speed for July of 2005. Showers activity eased up the 25th to the 26th, and then increased the 27th to the 30th.  On the evening of the 27th to early morning of the 28th, Del Rio picked up 3.43 inches of rain.  The 2.95 inches of rain at Del Rio July 28th broke a daily record for July 28th, of 2.19 inches previous set in 1994. Rainfall from the 28 to 30th over the northern part of the area was enhanced by a weak cool front. On the last day of the month, the east part of South Central Texas ended the month the way it began, hot and dry,  while the west part of the area had widely scattered showers. A weak cool front had stalled across the western part of the area July 31st, then moved slowly north as a diffuse warm front on August 1st. This helped to focus showers in the Austin Area and northern Hill Country in the late afternoon and evening of August 1st. 

In the last several days of the month, dust aloft arrived over the area, carried by the trade winds from the Sahara across the Atlantic Ocean and then steered northwest toward the Gulf of Mexico and South Texas. This created some hazy skies and orange to red colored sunrise and sunsets.

July 2005 ended up warmer than normal for South Central Texas.  Del Rio had 15 days in a row of 100 or higher from the 1st to the 15th.  During the month Del Rio had 17 100 Degree Days.  July 2005 tied with July of 1962 for the 10th warmest of record at Del Rio, with the average monthly temperature at 87.9 degrees.  At Austin Mabry and Austin Bergstrom 9 100 Degree Days were observed.  At San Antonio 4 100 Degree days occurred. 

Rainfall wise the monthly result ended up mixed, with some areas showing good rains, and other areas fair to moderate rains. Even though July is normally a dry month, all Julys since the 19th century show contrasting rainfall extremes to the point that out of the 10 driest and 10 wettest overall months, July comes into view.  July 2005 ended up only 0.07 inches above normal at San Antonio, with 2.10 inches of rain.  The 2.75 inches observed at Austin Mabry, made the month 0.78 inches above normal. At Austin Bergstrom 1.78 inches of rain was observed just 0.25 inches below normal.  Del Rio had 3.73 inches, 1.71 inches above normal. The 10th wettest July of Record at Del Rio came in July of 1988 when 4.38 inches of rain fell.

From January 1st to July 31st, Austin Bergstrom has had 15.46 inches of rain, 4.33 inches below normal; Austin Mabry 16.25 inches or 3.09 inches below normal; Del Rio 10.44 inches, 0.43 inches below normal; and San Antonio 12.50 inches, 6.45 inches below normal. Most of the rain in July fell from the 14th to the 30th. 

Monthly rainfall at other locations scattered across Central and South Central Texas for July 2005 was as follows: Burnet Airport 2.16 inches; New Braunfels Municipal Airport 3.01 inches; San Antonio Stinson Field 1.77 inches; and Hondo Municipal Airport 0.95 inches.

Looking At August Climate and Outlooks

The latest outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for August 2005 over Central and South Central Texas is looking for August Monthly Rainfall and the Average August Monthly Temperature to have Equal Chances of being Below Normal, Near Normal, and Above Normal. This means statistically that the outlook is indicating a 33.3 percent chance of Below Normal Monthly Rainfall; a 33.3 percent chance of Near Normal Monthly Rainfall; and a 33.3 percent chance of Above Normal Monthly Rainfall. Go to Link with the 30 Day Outlook for August 2005. A link to the legend for these forecasts can be found at Go to the Link with the legend for Outlooks. For information on August Climate Information for Austin, Del Rio and San Antonio: See August Climate Information for Austin, Del Rio, and San Antonio

Austin/Bergstrom International Airport:

Average July temperature was 84.6 degrees, equal to the latest 1971 to 2000 Normal of 84.6. The average high was 96.8 and the average low was 72.4. Heating degree days 0 and cooling degree days 614. Highest temperature reached 104 on the 7th. The lowest temperature was 67 on the 31st. The highest wind gust was 53 mph from the north, northwest with thunderstorms on the 7th. Rainfall was 1.78 inches or 0.25 inches below normal. Rainfall from January 1st to July 31st...15.46 inches or 4.33 inches below normal.

Austin Mabry:

Average July temperature was 85.1 degrees, 0.9 degrees above normal. The average high was 96.4 and the average low was 73.9. Heating degree days 0 and cooling degree days 631. The highest temperature reached 104 on the 6th and 7th. The lowest was 69 on the 8th. The highest wind gust was 29 mph from the south, southeast  with thunderstorms on the 24th. Rainfall for July was 2.75 inches, 0.78 inches above normal. Rainfall from January 1st to July 31st...16.25 inches or 3.09 inches below normal.

Go to Austin daily data for July 2005.

DEL RIO...

Go to Del Rio daily data for July 2005.

SAN ANTONIO...