2005 Climate Summary

One of the driest years on record, ironically following one of the wettest (in 2004).  By the end of the year, drought was causing serious fire danger. Severe weather was at a minimum.

The year began on a wet note, however. There was heavy rain and lowland flooding January 2nd-3rd over parts of north central and northeast Texas (Collin, Dallas , Delta, Denton , Ellis, Fannin, Grayson, Hunt, and Rockwall counties). Generous rain also fell over much of north Texas the end of January and latter part of February, with minor flooding reported in Delta and Rockwall counties January 12th, and Mills county February 23rd. The only significant winter weather event occurred December 22nd-23rd (2004), when sleet and snow made travel hazardous. A light dusting of snow also occurred over the west and northwest counties March 27th (Easter Sunday), but caused few difficulties.

Winter temperatures were largely on the mild side, with all three winter months (December 2004-February 2005) averaging 2-5 degrees above normal. Record or near record warmth was recorded January 21st, January 25th, and February 15th, with maximums in the upper 70s and low 80s. The only significant cold spells were December 22nd-25th (2004, with the ice and snow, and lows in the teens), January 6th, and January 16-17th (with lows in the 20s). The last freeze was March 17th, although some outlying areas saw near freezing temperatures March 28th and April 2nd.

The spring was largely mild and dry. Record or near record warmth occurred March 12th (maximums in the upper 80s), April 28th (maximums in the low 90s), and May 21st-22nd (maximums near 100). Precipitation amounts were generally light for the season, particularly in the west and central sections in March and April, and in the eastern sections in May. The most widespread rainfall occurred March 26th-27th, and May 28th-June 5th, with 1-2 inch amounts common (and isolated higher amounts).

Severe weather was correspondingly at a minimum. Significant severe weather occurred overnight February 22nd-23rd (large hail in Collin, Hamilton, and Lamar counties); the evening of April 5th (large hail in Anderson, Henderson, Hopkins, and Milam counties); the morning of April 10th (damaging wind in Hopkins county); the evening of April 10th (damaging wind in Denton county, large hail in Hamilton county); the afternoon and evening of April 25th (large hail in Tarrant, Johnson, Ellis, Navarro, Fannin, Delta, and Hopkins); around daybreak May 8th (damaging wind in
Bell, McLennan, Freestone, and Anderson counties); the evening of May 9th (large hail in Coryell and Bosque counties); the afternoon of May 25th (damaging wind in Navarro county); the early morning of June 1st (damaging wind in Bell county); the early afternoon of June 3rd (large hail in Lampasas, Coryell, McLennan, and Ellis counties), and the evening of June 13th (damaging wind in Cooke county).  These dates also included many other reports of small hail and relatively minor wind damage.

Most of the summer saw seasonable temperatures, with a minor heat wave the end of August. There were 18 100-degree days at DFW, and 16 at Waco . The hottest days of the year were August 23rd and September 28th (readings in the mid-100s). 

Much of the north central and northeast parts of north Texas were seasonably dry during the summer, but a few sections experienced episodes of heavy rain and flooding. Flash flooding was reported the evening of July 14th (Ellis county); the evening of July 15th (Lamar and northern Dallas counties); the evening of July 29th (Lampasas county); the afternoon of August 8th (Eastland, Cooke, and Lampasas counties); the morning of August 9th (Bell, Coryell, and Eastland counties); the morning of August 10th (Mills, Comanche, Hamilton, Coryell, McLennan, Bell, Falls, and Milam counties); and the morning of August 16th (Cooke and Wise counties). The event August 8th-10th saw 5-10 inches of rain, and two people drowned near Comanche. 

Widely scattered thunderstorms produced isolated downbursts of wind that did mostly minor damage in various areas June 13th and 17th; July 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 14th, and 15th; August 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 23rd, and 27th; and September 15th and 28th. Isolated small hail also fell with some of these events. Of these, the worst storms were in at Ennis the evening of July 14th, and Tolar (western Hood county) the afternoon of September 15th. Additionally, minor wind damage was reported September 24th in the eastern parts of north Texas (Anderson, Collin, Fannin, Hopkins, and Hunt) as the remnants of Hurricane Rita made its way north after making landfall on the Texas-Louisiana border. 

The fall began with excessive warmth, and increasing drought. Record or near record maximums occurred September 21st-23rd (readings near 100 degrees); October 18th (low 90s); November 5th, 9th (near 90) and 23rd (low 80s); December 3rd (near 90) and 26th-27th (lower 80s). The first good cold front of fall wasn’t until September 28th. The first freeze was November 17th at DFW and November 16th at Waco. The only significant precipitation event was October 31st, when localized heavy rain (2-4 inches) fell over the extreme northwest sections (from Breckenridge to Jacksboro), and moderate amounts (1-2 inches) collected over the extreme southern and eastern parts of north Texas (from Temple to Fairfield to Canton).

December saw a dry, windy pattern that spawned a serious grass fire threat. The situation was aggravated by a cold wave December 7th-9th that brought lows in the teens. This was accompanied by a minor glaze event December 7th that made travel hazardous. High wind and low humidity allowed grass and range fires to burn out of control November 27th, December 3rd, and December 27th. The latter event included a major fire in Cross Plains (Callahan county) that burned a church and large number of homes. The high fire danger continued into 2006.