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October 2005 was one of the wettest Octobers of Record over parts of Val Verde,
Edwards, Kinney, and Maverick Counties, where a heavy rain event on October 13th
left near 2.36 to 7.59 inches of rain. Del Rio had its 3rd wettest
October of record, with 8.72 inches of rain, after the 3rd driest September
the month before, with only 0.02 inches of rain in September of 2005.
Further east October was drier
than usual. Year 2005 has been much drier than usual over South Central
Texas, except for areas near the Rio Grande, where above normal rain has taken
place. From January 1st to October 31st, Del Rio has had 20.87 inches of
rain, 3.88 inches above
normal. San Antonio through October 31st had 16.26 inches,
12.12 inches below normal.
At Austin Bergstrom rainfall of 20.26 inches was 8.91 inches below normal,
and at Austin Mabry 2005 rainfall through October 31st was 21.91 inches
or 6.62 inches below normal.
In looking at the January to October rainfall records,
the first 10
months of 2005 has been the 27th wettest at Del Rio, 1906-Present; the 10th
driest at Austin Bergstrom, 1942-Present; the 21st driest at San Antonio,
1871-Present; and the 35th driest at Austin Mabry 1856-Present.
One of the contrasting features of October 2005 weather
was the extremes in temperature, precipitation and types of
weather phenomena.
If it had not been for the 2 strong cold fronts on the 6th and 7th, and
again the 23rd and 24th, the month could have been one of
the warmer Octobers. October started off very warm from the 1st to
5th, then turned cooler quickly October 6th. This did not last long as
days warmed up after the 8th. Rains came the 10th and 11th.
On these 2 days widespread rains fell across the area.
A heavy rain and flood event
came to parts of Val Verde, Kinney, and Maverick counties on the 13th, causing
flooding. A
warming trend followed with unseasonably warm conditions the 14th to the
21st. This changed greatly to real Autumn like conditions in wake of
a strong cold front October 23rd. This brought the first freeze to the hill
country and protected valleys of Central Texas for the year. Isolated
severe thunderstorms came to Frio County the 27th, as light rains were observed
elsewhere. On October 31st, a line of thunderstorms moved across the
area from late morning through the afternoon hours. A few of these
thunderstorms were severe. Cooler conditions in wake of a cold front
followed in the late afternoon and evening of October 31st.
The first 5 days of October 2005 was
warm and dry, with summer like afternoon highs and overnight lows. The average highs and lows were as follows for October 1 to 5, 2005.
The high of 98 at Austin Bergstrom on October 1st, 2005 tied the monthly record
high of 98 also set October 13, 1991 and October 26, 1991. This broke the
daily record high of 97 for October 1st set in 1989 and previous years.
Location Average Average
High Low
Austin Mabry 94.0 74.2
Austin Bergstrom 94.8 70.4
Del Rio 93.0 74.2
San Antonio 93.6 74.2
A cold front came through the area October 6th, bringing much cooler conditions,
and the cool air kept coming Friday the 7th, as daytime highs continued to get
cooler. The Highs of 58 at Austin Mabry and San Antonio on October 7, 2005
were record low Maximum Temperatures for October 7th. The high of 62 at
Austin Mabry and 66 at Del Rio October 7th, were not record low Maximums for October 7th.
A heavy rain event came on Thursday the 13th.
The October 13, 2005 heavy rain event over the west
part of South Central Texas
was fueled by a nearly stationary low to the west;
a slow moving cool front; and
plenty of warm, southeast winds. This heavy rain event was over parts of
Val Verde, Kinney, Edwards, Dimmit, Zavala, and Maverick Counties.
Heavy rain events with similar patterns
came to Del Rio October 4, 1969 and September 26, 1970.
The heaviest rainfall
amounts from October 13, 2005 are listed below.
Del Rio International Airport...7.59
Del Rio 2 Miles Northwest.......6.01
Laughlin AFB....................5.11
Amistad Reservoir Dam...........4.38
Brackettville 22N...............3.15
Rocksprings.....................2.36
Eagle Pass......................2.02
El Indio........................1.72
Big Wells 2 Miles West..........1.40
Pandale 1 Mile North............1.10
Carrizo Springs 3 Miles West....0.82
The 7.59 inch rain at Del Rio was a record daily for October 13th,
breaking the previous October 13th record of 1.81 inches in 1959.
October 13, 2005 is the 4th wettest All-Time Day of Record and
2nd wettest October Day of Record for Del Rio.
THE LIST BELOW SHOWS THE 5 WETTEST DAYS OF RECORD
AT DEL RIO.
1. 17.03 INCHES AUGUST 23...1998
2. 8.79 INCHES JUNE 13...1935
3. 7.60 INCHES OCTOBER 4...1969
4 7.59 INCHES OCTOBER 13...2005
5. 6.53 INCHES MAY 27...2003
OCTOBER 2005 WAS 3RD WETTEST OCTOBER OF RECORD AT DEL RIO.
THE LIST BELOW SHOWS THE WETTEST OCTOBERS
DEL RIO.
1. 11.69 INCHES OCTOBER 1930
2. 11.33 INCHES OCTOBER 1969
3. 8.72 INCHES OCTOBER 2005
4. 7.40 INCHES OCTOBER 2002
5. 7.21 INCHES OCTOBER 1941
THE 5 DRIEST OCTOBERS AT DEL RIO FOLLOW.
1. 0.00 INCHES OCTOBER 1917
2. 0.00 INCHES OCTOBER 1979
3. TRACE OCTOBER 1950
3. TRACE OCTOBER 1952
5. 0.01 INCHES OCTOBER 1915
5. 0.01 INCHES OCTOBER 1931
FOR AUSTIN MABRY 1856 TO 2005...THE WETTEST AND DRIEST OCTOBERS
WETTEST DRIEST
1. 12.63 INCHES OCTOBER 1917 1. 0.00 INCHES OCTOBER 1893
2. 12.54 INCHES OCTOBER 1979 2. TRACE OCTOBER 1952
3. 12.39 INCHES OCTOBER 1950 3. 0.02 INCHES OCTOBER 1947
4. 12.30 INCHES OCTOBER 1952 4. 0.03 INCHES OCTOBER 1934
5. 11.11 INCHES OCTOBER 1915 5. 0.09 INCHES OCTOBER 1955
FOR AUSTIN BERGSTROM 1942 TO 2005...THE WETTEST AND DRIEST OCTOBERS
WETTEST DRIEST
1. 13.08 INCHES OCTOBER 1960 1. 0.00 INCHES OCTOBER 1952
2. 12.73 INCHES OCTOBER 1998 2. 0.01 INCHES OCTOBER 1947
3. 10.40 INCHES OCTOBER 1973 3. 0.21 INCHES OCTOBER 1987
4. 9.30 INCHES OCTOBER 1984 4. 0.33 INCHES OCTOBER 1955
5. 9.11 INCHES OCTOBER 1986 5. 0.37 INCHES OCTOBER 1968
5. 9.11 INCHES OCTOBER 2002
FOR SAN ANTONIO 1871 TO 2005...THE WETTEST AND DRIEST OCTOBERS
WETTEST DRIEST
1. 18.07 INCHES OCTOBER 1998 1. TRACE OCTOBER 1952
2. 9.74 INCHES OCTOBER 1994 2. 0.03 INCHES OCTOBER 1898
3. 9.56 INCHES OCTOBER 1942 3. 0.07 INCHES OCTOBER 1939
4. 9.47 INCHES OCTOBER 2004 4. 0.08 INCHES OCTOBER 1893
5. 8.86 INCHES OCTOBER 1913 4. 0.08 INCHES OCTOBER 1950
6. 0.11 INCHES OCTOBER 1979
The long term rainfall averages for October show October in the top third
wettest months of the year for South Central Texas. The long term averages
for October show the month the 3rd wettest for Del Rio (1906 to 2004);
the 3rd wettest for Austin Bergstrom(1942-2004); the
4th wettest for Austin Mabry(1856-2004); and the 4th
wettest for San Antonio(1871-2004).
By October 19th and 20th afternoon highs were in the upper 80s
to lower 90s, back to summer like levels of the way the month
began. The high of 92 at Austin Mabry
the 20th tied the record daily high, previously set October 20, 1979.
As mild as some parts of October 2005 were, the past shows many examples of warm October days.
On October 2, 1923 the high in Austin was 100. This occurred again
on October 2, 1938 when the high was 100 again in Austin, the
only 100 degree day for that year.
A warm day October 3, 1979 saw afternoon highs tie the maximums
observed in the
summer of 1979. Del Rio had a high of 106 October 3, 1979, a record
monthly high for October. On October 3, 1979 San Antonio had a high of 98
and Austin had a high of 97.
In October 1991 very warm weather came to the
area, in a pattern similar to late September 2005. Highs October 12, 1991
reached 98 at Austin Mabry; 97 at Austin Bergstrom; and 99 at San Antonio. For more information on October Climate for
South Central Texas,
See Information on
October Climate.
A strong cold front October 23, 2005 brought much cooler conditions
the night of the 23rd and 24th, like October 6 and 7, only this time it was colder air and
set a few record lows.
If
it had not been for these strong cold fronts, October 2005 could have ended up
one of the warmer Octobers. The cold outbreak of October 23 and 24 was the
strongest since the weekend
of April 2 and 3, 2005, after the strong, dry cold front of April 1st.
Record lows for October was established at Austin Bergstrom October 25th
where the low was 32, the earliest freeze of record. The first freeze for
parts of the hill country also came October 25.
THE LOW OF 32 AT AUSTIN BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WAS NOT ONLY
A DAILY RECORD FOR OCTOBER 25TH...IT WAS ALSO A RECORD LOW FOR THE
MONTH OF OCTOBER AND THE EARLIEST FREEZE OF RECORD...1942 TO
PRESENT...FOR AUSTIN BERGSTROM.
THE LOW OF 39 AT DEL RIO TIED THE RECORD LOW FOR OCTOBER 25TH...
PREVIOUSLY SET IN 1906.
LOWS ON OCTOBER 25 AROUND THE AREA INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING.
KERRVILLE 3 NORTH NORTHEAST 28
LLANO 30
BOERNE 30
FREDERICKSBURG 30
KERRVILLE AIRPORT 32
AUSTIN BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT 32
UVALDE 34
NEW BRAUNFELS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT 34
SAN MARCOS 34
BURNET 34
GEORGETOWN 36
HONDO 34
SAN ANTONIO STINSON FIELD 36
PANDALE 36
SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT 37
ROCKSPRINGS 38
DEL RIO 39
AUSTIN MABRY 43
EAGLE PASS 43
On Thursday the 27th,
a few isolated thunderstorms broke out, with one thunderstorm over Frio Country, where at
205 pm 1.75 inch hail was observed 10 miles northwest of Dilley.
Clouds increased over the area late Sunday the 30th ahead
of a strong upper level disturbance and Pacific Cold Front that moved across the
area on the 31st. On the 31st, a line of thunderstorms moved across the area from
late morning to the afternoon. In wake of the thunderstorms came mostly
clear skies, dry and cooler conditions. Winds gusted to 44 mph at San Antonio
International Airport and at La Grange with the thunderstorms. Numerous reports of near 40
mph wind gusts were observed from Llano and Burnet counties east to
the Austin Area. When the thunderstorms arrived in Austin, locally heavy rains
developed and move east to parts of Lee, Bastrop, Gonzales, and Fayette
Counties. Over one half inch of rain was reported in a 20 minute period by
an NWS Cooperative Observer in northwest Austin during the heaviest rain during
the afternoon. Near 1 inch of rain fell at
Giddings in Lee County. Winds gusted to 45 mph at Austin Bergstrom
International Airport, to 37 mph at Austin Mabry and 43 mph at San Marcos
Airport. Winds gusted to 47 mph at New Braunfels Municipal Airport and to
44 mph at San Antonio International Airport when the thunderstorms moved over
New Braunfels and San Antonio. Hail three quarters of inch in size fell
in Williamson Country 5 miles west of Georgetown and 3 miles Southwest
of Taylor. Hail three quarters of an inch in size fell 3 miles
east of Mountain Home in Kerr County, while 6 mile northeast of
Kendalia, nickel size or 7/8 inch hail was observed.
Clearing skies and cooler temperatures followed in the evening.
Rainfall wise 2005 has been much drier than usual over South Central
Texas, except for areas near the Rio Grande, where above normal
rain has taken place. After a dry start in January 2005, rains came from late January to
early March. In Mid March to Mid July dry conditions prevailed, then
rains came from Mid July to part of August. Dry conditions returned in
the fall, except for the heavy rain event October 13th at Del Rio. Other
rain events came September 11, October 10th and October 11th.
Rains with thunderstorms the 31st were heaviest over the east
part of South Central Texas.
In looking at the January to October rainfall records, the first 10
months of 2005 has been as follows:
The 27th wettest out of 100 years at Del Rio, 1906-Present.
The 10th driest out of 64 years at Austin Bergstrom, 1942-Present.
The 21st driest out of 132 years at San Antonio,
1871-1875:1877-1882:1885-Present.
The 35th driest out of 150 years at Austin Mabry 1856-Present.
This makes rainfall at Austin and San Antonio in the below
normal tercile for this 10 month period, while at the reverse has occurred, with
Del Rio's January to October rainfall is in the above normal tercile .
The table below compares where January to October 2005 rainfall compares to the
latest 30 Year Normal and also for the extremes, the driest and wettest first 10
months of past years.
|
Location
|
2005 Jan. to Oct.
|
1971 to 2000 Normal
|
Driest Jan. to
Oct.
|
Wettest Jan. to Oct.
|
|
Austin Bergstrom |
20.26, 10th driest |
29.17 |
9.44 in 1954 |
49.04 in 1957 |
| Austin Mabry |
21.91, 35th driest |
28.53 |
10.46 in 1954 |
61.24 in 1919 |
| Del Rio |
20.87, 27th wettest |
17.09 |
4.25 in 1956 |
33.54 in 1914 |
| San Antonio |
16.26, 21st driest |
28.38 |
9.36 in 1917 |
51.83 in 1973 |
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