In the dry period that has been ongoing over the area for the
past 16 months, since April 2005, total monthly rainfall for most places
across South Central Texas was below average again in July 2006,
except over the southeast part of the area, where above
average rainfall was observed.
One pattern that continued to show up since June 1st, was more rain
over the southeast part of South Central Texas. In July 2006 more rain
area wide was observed east and south of a line from near Lee and
Fayette Counties to Wilson ann Karnes Counties. To the west of this
line very dry conditions, typical for July, continued, with a few locations over
the eastern hill country showing rainfall near to slightly above average. Del Rio
picked up only 0.01 inches of rain, a tie for the 6th driest July of record with
July of 1944. See Monthly Rainfall Graphic for July 2006 rainfall
For the year, more rains showed up in the winter over the north part of
the area and this trend continued to part of the spring. By summer the
heavier rains shifted to the southeast part of the area.
See monthly rainfall maps for 2006
So far in 2006, January to July of 2006 was the 11th driest first
7 months of any year at Del Rio in 100 years since 1906, and
the 23rd driest at San Antonio in 135 years since 1871. At Austin the first 7 months of 2006
was the 24th driest
at Austin Bergstrom in 63 years, since 1943, and the 97th driest at
Austin Mabry in 150 years, since 1856.
Not only have the warmer than usual
temperatures in June and July made the dryness more intense, also the many sunny days with the
intense
summer, subtropical sun has added to the dryness.
The current drought has been ongoing for the past 16 months.
The lists below show the driest January to July periods at Del Rio,
San Antonio and Austin.
Del Rio had 4.95 inches of rain from January 1st to July 31st...2006.
This was the 11th driest January to July period in 100 years.
Del Rio 1906 to 2006 Driest January to July Rainfall
1. 1956 0.73
2. 1996 2.32
3. 1953 2.65
4. 1998 2.89
5. 1933 2.98
6. 1937 3.07
7. 1967 3.13
8. 1962 4.28
9. 1974 4.34
10. 1951 4.53
11. 2006 4.95
12. 2001 5.19
13. 1964 5.48
14. 1983 5.49
15. 1989 5.66
San Antonio had 10.57 inches of rain from January 1st to July 31st...2006.
This was the 23rd driest January to July period in 135 years.
San Antonio 1871 to 2006 Driest January to July Rainfall
1. 5.44 1925 13. 8.87 1910
2. 6.29 1956 14. 8.90 1892
3. 6.57 1996 15. 9.20 1909
4 7.12 1953 16. 9.50 1875
5 7.39 1917 17. 9.59 1984
6. 7.46 1871 18. 9.90 1939
7. 7.54 1887 19. 10.19 1962
8. 7.59 1971 20. 10.37 1901
9. 7.83 1883 20. 10.37 1933
10. 7.93 1954 22. 10.45 1950
11. 8.13 1967 23. 10.57 2006
12. 8.82 1947 24. 10.69 1902
Austin Bergstrom had 15.88 inches of rain from January 1st to
July 31st, 2006. This was the 24th driest January to July period in
63 years.
Austin Bergstrom 1943 to 2006 Driest January to July Rainfall
1 5.58 1954 13. 13.50 1955
2. 5.80 1947 14. 14.21 1972
3. 6.49 1971 15. 14.44 1986
4. 8.93 1963 16. 14.53 1953
5. 9.31 1943 16. 14.53 1994
6. 9.90 1962 18. 15.16 2003
7. 10.42 1956 19. 15.42 2002
7. 10.42 1967 20. 15.44 2001
9 10.51 1948 21. 15.46 2005
10. 12.24 1978 22. 15.48 1977
11. 12.33 1998 23. 15.53 1966
12. 13.12 1984 24. 15.88 2006
Austin Mabry had 22.05 inches of rain from January 1st to
July 31st, 2006. This was the 97th driest January to July period in
150 years.
The 24 driest January to July Rainfall periods at the Austin City
location, now Austin Mabry, from 1856 to 2006 follows. January to
July of 2006 did not make this list.
1. 6.64 1925 13. 11.03 1879
2. 6.87 1971 14. 11.13 1859
3. 7.61 1954 15. 11.28 1856
4. 8.38 1956 16. 11.47 1897
5. 9.39 1875 17. 11.60 1912
6 9.61 1984 18. 11.62 1994
7. 9.63 1996 19. 11.67 1913
8. 10.00 1893 20. 11.80 1967
9. 10.29 1917 21. 11.94 1871
10. 10.38 1906 22. 12.31 1909
11. 10.72 1860 23. 12.35 1953
11. 10.72 1867 24. 12.36 1857
Like the rest of 2006,
July 2006 was warmer than usual.
The average monthly temperature was near 1 to 3 degrees
above the 1971 to 2000 normals for most locations.
In July 2006 Del Rio had 11 100 degree days; Austin Mabry
had 7 100 degree days; Austin Bergstrom 5 100 degree days;
and San Antonio had 7 100 degree days.
The warm temperatures for the first 7 months of
2006 continue to make the dryness more intense.
In addtion, with many sunny days in June and July,
the high and intense solar radiation for this time of
year has helped to intensify the dryness.
July 2006 rain at Austin, Del Rio and San Antonio follows:
AUSTIN MABRY........ 0.48 INCHES...1.49 INCHES BELOW 1971 TO 2000 NORMAL
AUSTIN BERGSTROM.... 0.97 INCHES...1.06 INCHES BELOW 1971 TO 2000 NORMAL
DEL RIO............. 0.01 INCHES...2.01 INCHES BELOW 1971 TO 2000 NORMAL
SAN ANTONIO......... 1.41 INCHES...0.62 INCHES BELOW 1971 TO 2000 NORMAL
July 2006 rainfall at other locations is listed below.
BURNET.............. 2.82 INCHES...0.78 INCHES ABOVE 1971 TO 2000 NORMAL
HONDO............... 1.09 INCHES...0.32 INCHES BELOW 1971 TO 2000 NORMAL
NEW BRAUNFELS....... 2.36 INCHES...0.37 INCHES ABOVE 1971 TO 2000 NORMAL
SAN ANTONIO STINSON 2.23 INCHES...0.38 INCHES ABOVE 2002 TO 2006 AVERAGE
A brief summary of July weather events follows.
July 2006 was very dry over the west part of the area
and much wetter over the east to southeast parts of
South Central Texas, where weather systems have been
leaving more rain since early June. July normally a
dry month continued this trend.
A brief Summary of July 2006 events follows.
In July 2006 a few locations had brief heavy rains.
On Saturday July 1st, an area of rain, with showers
and thunderstorms moved across the area from the
southeast. The heaviest rains were south of Interstate
10 and east of Highway 281. Widely scattered showers continued
the 2nd and 3rd. Isolated very heavy rains came the 4th.
On the late afternoon and early evening of July 4th
parts of New Braunfels had near 4 to near 7 inches
of rain from thunderstorms, in a brief period of time.
Rainfall amounts of 7 to 7.15 inches of rain fell over
the north and west part of New Braunfels to near downtown
New Braunfels in a short period of time.
A stretch of drier weather returned the 5th through the
weekend of the 9th and 10th, and continued through the
week of the 11th to the 15th. A band of widely scattered
showers showed up the morning of the 16th over the south
and southwest part of the area. Isolated showers showed
up the 19th and increased through the weekend of the
22nd and 23rd. Brief heavy rains and strong winds
came the afternoon and early evening of the 22nd,
ahead of a weak cool front.
High winds and brief heavy rains was observed in
Williamson county in the afternoon and spread southwest
to affect other parts of South Central Texas in the
late afternoon to early evening. Wind damage was
also reported in Lavaca and Bexar Counties from the
thunderstorm wind gusts. As the cool front sagged
south in the day of Sunday the 23rd,
Isolated showers and thunderstorms move across the
southern part of the area on July 23rd in the morning
and became widely
scatterd in the afternoon mainly south of Highway 90.
Once again brief heavy rains and strong thunderstorm
wind gusts accompanied the thunderstorms.
Drier weather showed up the 24th, then widely scattered
showers affected mainly the east half of the area on the
25th and 26th. On the 27th and 28th isolated showers returned.
An area of showers and thunderstorms in the
predawn hours of the 28th affected the west part of
the Texas Hill Country.
July from the 28th to 31st had mostly dry and hot
weather.
RECORD DAILY HIGHS AND LOWS FOR JULY 2006 FOLLOW.
JULY 11...
SAN ANTONIO LOW OF 78 BROKE THE PREVIOUS WARMEST DAILY LOW OF 77
SET IN 1998 AND PREVIOUS YEARS.
JULY 22...
AUSTIN BERGSTROM HIGH OF 102 IN 2006 TIED THE OLD RECORD OF 102
SET IN 2001 AND PREVIOUS YEARS
SAN ANTONIO HIGH OF 102 IN 2006 BROKE THE OLD RECORD OF 102 SET IN 1996
AND PREVIOUS YEARS.
weather.gov
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