|
A wetter weather pattern continued its trend in January 2007.
This trend began briefly in March and late April to early May
of 2006 before disappearing into the hot and dry summer of 2006
until September 5 to October 25, 2006. A few welcome rain events
came to the area from September 5 to October 25, 2006 then from October
26 to late November, rains went away again. Rains came back slowly
November 30 and December 8 to 10. By December 23 to December 30, the rains made
a bigger return, and this trend continued through January 2007. January 2007 rainfall
ended up as one of the wetter Januarys on record, even for stations
with more than 100 years of record.
January 2007 was the 2nd wettest at Austin Bergstrom since 1943;
the 5th wettest
at Austin Mabry in 151 years since 1856; the 6th wettest at Del Rio in 101
years since 1906; and the 10th wettest at San Antonio since 1871 or
in the past 136 years.
As the jet stream moved south for the winter, the precipitation
making systems over the Western U.S. in November and December came to
South Central Texas in December of 2006 and continued to visit the
area in January 2007. In addition to the southward migration of the mid latitude
storm track and other patterns in the Extra tropics, an additional factor to more rainfall
in January 2007 was from the Weak El Nino Event that began in the
early Fall over the Tropical Pacific.
There have been wet Januarys in the past,
and they included January 1968, 1991, and 1992. These Januarys brought floods
to the area.
THE WETTEST JANUARYS AT AUSTIN, DEL RIO AND SAN ANTONIO FOLLOWS.
AUSTIN MABRY AUSTIN BERGSTROM
1. 9.21 1991 1. 10.53 1991
2. 9.13 1934 2. 7.66 2007
3. 8.03 1889 3. 7.62 1968
4. 7.94 1968 4. 5.87 1965
5. 6.92 2007 5. 4.83 1992
DEL RIO
1. 4.12 1931
2. 3.25 1958
3. 3.05 1947
4. 2.36 1994
5. 2.32 1915
6. 2.22 2007
SAN ANTONIO
1. 8.52 1968
2. 5.86 1931
3. 5.64 1992
4. 5.63 1891
5. 5.42 1900
6. 5.10 1889
7. 5.08 1991
8. 4.88 1934
9. 4.57 1958
10. 4.33 2007
Winter precipitation events
that came November 30 and December 8, 2006
returned to become more widespread January 15th to 17th, 2007.
The January 2007 event was one of the more widespread events since
February 13-14, 2004; February 24-25, 2003; December 12-13, 2000; December 23-24, 1998;
January 1997; and February 1 to February 3, 1996. Water equivalent
amounts on the January 2007 freezing rain event were greater than
the past events dating back to 1996. The last event over such an
area to equal this as a winter precipitation event would be the
January 1985 heavy snow event over South Central Texas.
January 2007 was the coldest month at Austin and San Antonio
since December 2000, and at Del Rio since December 1989.
It was the coldest January at Austin Mabry since January 1991;
coldest January at Austin Bergstrom and Del Rio since 1985;
and the coldest January at San Antonio since 1988.
Like the long cold period from December 1 to 10, 2006, cold periods
came in January 2007, notably from January 14 to 20, and again January 22 to 24, 2007.
January 2007 Summary
Location
|
Average
Temperature
|
Average High
|
Average Low
|
Warmest/Coolest
|
Rainfall
|
|
Austin Mabry
|
47.5 -2.7
|
55.7
|
39.3
|
81 on 5th
29 on 15th, 16th, and 17th
|
6.92 +5.03
|
|
Austin Bergstrom
|
45.8 -5.2
|
55.2
|
36.3
|
78 on 5th
24 on 29th
|
7.66 +5.45
|
|
Burnet
|
44.2 -1.7
|
53.0
|
35.3
|
80 on 5th
26 on 15th and 16th
|
3.99 +2.38
|
|
Del Rio
|
47.2 -4.1
|
55.7
|
38.6
|
78 on 5th
29 on 8th
|
2.22 +1.65
|
|
Hondo
|
47.9 -2.4
|
57.8
|
37.9
|
78 on 5th
26 on 8th
|
3.60 +2.33
|
|
New Braunfels
|
47.3 -1.4
|
56.1
|
38.6
|
76 on 5th
30 on 17th and 29th
|
6.34 +4.46
|
|
San Antonio
|
48.3 -2.0
|
57.2
|
39.4
|
76 on 5th
29 on 16th
|
4.33 +2.67
|
A clear and cool New Years Day the 1st, it changed to
more clouds Tuesday the 2nd, and then to rain, with scattered
showers and thunderstorms the 3rd. Like rain events of
December 23rd and 30th, those of the 3rd were welcome rains
and were accompanied by not only showers, also thunderstorms.
Clouds decreased in the day of the
4th, as rain moved east and conditions the 5th warmed up to the 70s
to near 80. The warmth of the 5th did not last
long and was replaced by cooler, then colder weather as the
month continued. Clouds and light rain came the 6th,
with cooler temperatures, changing to sunny days and mostly
clear and cold nights the 7th to the 9th. Another rain making
system was yet to come, and clouds increased the 10th and 11th
turning cloudy the 12th with scattered rains in the area.
Storms with flash flooding and severe weather struck the
area on the 13th, along the edge of a cold front as it
moved southward over parts of Williamson, Travis, and
Hays counties. Near 5 inches of rain fell from near
Austin to San Marcos in the early morning hours. Two F1
tornadoes touched down in San Marcos around 7 am Saturday
morning of the 13th, causing damage to trailers, cars, and
buildings. Straight line severe thunderstorms winds caused
damage to residential areas, with winds estimated at
70 to 80 mph.
The heavy Rainfall caused flooding in the Austin Area
to San Marcos. The 3.66 inches at Austin Mabry and
4.28 inches at Austin Bergstrom were daily rainfall
records for January 13th. In San Marcos reports of
near 5 to near 7 inches of rain was observed.
These rains caused many road closings in Hays
and Travis Counties. In the City of Austin many
high water rescues were made as a result of the
flash flooding. Further west, heavy rains also
caused flooding in Blanco and Johnson City, where
roads were also closed due to high water.
As the colder air came further south
during the day of the 13th, so did scattered areas
of rain and showers. The rain, showers, and thunderstorms
helped
the cold air push south.
Temperatures on Saturday the 13th kept getting just colder,
and this continued through the night of the 13th. The
cold continued in the day of the 14th.
Patches of light rain came with the
colder air Sunday the 14th. Conditions tried to
moderate some Sunday afternoon the 14th, yet colder conditions quickly came late in the day through the evening
of the 14th, as an additional
wave of cold Arctic air came across the area from the north
again. This brought
temperatures
down to near 30 to the mid 30s by the
morning of Monday the 15th.
Meanwhile to the west another winter rain/precipitation
making weather system was gathering momentum. The stage
was set for a Winter Precipitation event that brought
moderate amounts of freezing rain to the area
on January 15, 16 and part of the 17th. Snow fell from
near Del Rio, and east across the Edwards Plateau to the
Texas Hill Country and east to the Austin Area.
Snowfall amounts were as follows: Carta Valley 2 inches;
Rocksprings 2 inches; Pandale 1 North 1 1/2 inches; Prade Ranch 1 to 1 1/2 inches;
Ingram 1/2 to 3/4 inches; Camp Wood 1/2 inch; and
Leakey less than 1/2 inch. Freezing rain accumulations
were mostly around 0.25 to 0.70 inches. The city of
Austin reported near 0.50 to 0.70 inches.
The cold set several daily low maximum temperatures
January 15 to 17.
In this freezing rain and snow event 1 to 1.5 inches of precipitation fell. This iced up roads, highways,
trees and numerous other structures, causing damage
especially to trees.
The slippery roads caused numerous
traffic accidents. There were 3 days with lows in
the 20s to near 30 and highs only in the low to mid 30s.
The last winter precipitation event affected mainly the
southeast part of South Central Texas with snow on
December 24-25, 2004.
A few noteworthy winter precipitation events in the area since the
Mid 1990s was the night of February 13 to early morning of February 14, 2004;
February 24 to 25, 2003; the evening of November 28 to early morning of
November 29, 2001; December 12-13, 2000;
December 23-24, 1998; January 11-12, 1997; and February 1-3, 1996.
During the January 14th to 17th, 2007 cold period several record daily lowest maximum
temperatures, coldest daytime highs, were observed. They are listed below.
AT DEL RIO...
JAN. 16TH 36 IN 2007
JAN. 17TH 34 IN 2007
AT AUSTIN MABRY...
JAN. 16TH 31 IN 2007
AT AUSTIN BERGSTROM...
JAN. 15TH 36 IN 2007
JAN. 16TH 31 IN 2007
JAN. 17TH 32 IN 2007
AT SAN ANTONIO
JAN. 15TH 39 IN 2007 TIED 39 IN 1917
JAN. 17TH 34 IN 2007 TIED 34 IN 1930
During the day of January 17th, the ice began to slowly
melt in the afternoon through the night of the 17th to
morning of the 18th. After conditions warmed up the 18th,
it turned colder again the 19th, as
another wave of cold air and light precipitation came
across the areas from the north and northeast.
This continued through Saturday the 20th, with rain,
fog, and highs only in the 40s.
After a sunny and warmer day the 21st, colder air came the night of the 21st
to morning of the 22nd. Rain came the 23rd and 24th, with highs
in the 40s. Periods of sun brought milder days Thursday the
25th, and this trend continued the 26th as clouds increased
ahead of a rain making system that moved quickly east of the
area. Only light amounts of rain came, as heavier amounts were
observed east and southeast of the area. A mostly sunny and pleasant
day came the 27th with
highs in the 60s to low 70s. Colder air from the north came the
night of the 27th to morning of the 28th, dropping temperatures
15 to 20 degrees. Clouds came back the 29th, and continued
over the area the 30th and 31st, limiting daytime highs.
The updated outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for
February
call for the average monthly temperature to be near normal and
rainfall to have a 33 to 40 percent chance of above normal, a 33 percent
chance of near normal, and a 27 to 33 percent chance of below normal.
Click Here to See Latest One Month Outlook from the Climate Prediction Center
Average climate conditions for the area in February are listed below.
February Climate Information
|
Location
|
Normal Monthly Temp.
|
Normal High
|
Normal Low
| All time High
| All time Low
|
Normal Rainfall
| All Time
Driest
| All Time
Wettest
|
|
Austin/Mabry |
54.6 |
65.1 |
44.0 |
99 |
-1 |
1.99 |
0 |
9.41 |
|
Austin/Bergstrom |
55.5 |
66.5 |
44.4 |
101 |
8 |
1.73 |
0.02 |
7.34 |
|
Del Rio |
56.1 |
68.0 |
44.1 |
99 |
11 |
0.96 |
0 |
7.82 |
|
San Antonio |
54.7 |
67.1 |
42.4 |
100 |
4 |
1.75 |
Trace |
7.88 |
|
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