2012: Another Record Breaking Year!
 

Much of 2012 was plagued by above average temperatures and this has led to another record breaking year, right on the heels of a record breaking 2011.

2011 brought record warmth and drought to the region. Specifically, Lubbock recorded its lowest ever yearly rainfall at 5.86 inches and its third warmest year on record. Similarly, Childress had its second hottest year on record and its third driest year on record.

Thankfully, 2012 was wetter than 2011, though the rain totals were still well below average and a drought persisted. However, although the summer of 2012 was not as hot as the summer of 2011, overall this year was very warm. Both Lubbock and Childress set records for their warmest years ever in 2012 (see the below table).    
 
 
CATEGORY
      2012      
2011
Previous Record
Current Record

Average
yearly temperature
at Lubbock

63.5°F

62.9°F
(finished 3rd)

63.3°F (1934)

63.5°F (2012)
Average
yearly temperature
at Childress

65.6°F

65.2°F

65.2°F (2011)

 65.6°F (2012)
Yearly precipitation
at Lubbock

11.43"

5.86"

5.86" (2011)

5.86" (2011)
Yearly precipitation
at Childress

17.19"

11.97"

10.44" (1956)

10.44" (1956)
 
 
of precipitation accumulation at Lubbock for 2012 (blue). Also plotted are the normal yearly precipitation distribution (red) and last year's precipiation (2011 - in magenta) for Lubbock. Graph courtesy of the Northeast Regional Climate Center (NERCC).
Plot of precipitation accumulation at Lubbock for 2012 (blue). Also plotted are the normal yearly precipitation distribution (red) and the previous driest year on record (2011 - in magenta) for Lubbock. Graph courtesy of the Northeast Regional Climate Center (NERCC).  
 

The above graph shows that precipitation in 2012 at Lubbock was well above last year's amount, though it still lagged average by several inches.
 
of precipitation accumulation at Childress for 2012 (blue). Also plotted are the normal yearly precipitation distribution (red) and last year's precipiation (2011 - in magenta) for Childress. Graph courtesy of the Northeast Regional Climate Center (NERCC).
Plot of precipitation accumulation at Childress for 2012 (blue). Also plotted are the normal yearly precipitation distribution (red) and last year's precipitation (2011 - in magenta) for Childress. Graph courtesy of the Northeast Regional Climate Center (NERCC).
 

The above plots show that the rainfall totals at Childress in 2012 also lagged normal, but were several inches above 2011's totals.
 

Graphs displaying the observed temperature (black) and precipitation (green) at Lubbock through November 2012. Also plotted are the normal temperatures (green), record highs (red), record lows (blue) and normal precipitation (brown). Click on the graph for a larger view.
Graphs displaying the observed temperature (black) and precipitation (green) at Lubbock for 2012. Also plotted are the normal temperatures (green), record highs (red), record lows (blue) and normal precipitation (brown). Click on the graph for a larger view.
 

Graphs displaying the observed temperature (black) and precipitation (green) at Childress through November 2012. Also plotted are the normal temperatures (green), record highs (red), record lows (blue) and normal precipitation (brown). Click on the graph for a larger view.
Graphs displaying the observed temperature (black) and precipitation (green) at Childress for 2012. Also plotted are the normal temperatures (green), record highs (red), record lows (blue) and normal precipitation (brown). Click on the graph for a larger view.

 

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