Interesting
Texas Weather Facts
- Port
Arthur in southeast Texas is the 3rd most humid city in the United States
with an average of 77% annual humidity. In contrast, El Paso in West Texas is
the 5th least humid city with an annual average humidity of only 42.5%. In
addition, El Paso is the 5th sunniest
city in the United States with 83% of possible sunshine annually. Amarillo
is the 3rd windiest city in the United States with an annual average of 13.5
mph
- Del Rio in southwest Texas ranks as the hottest
city in the United
States when applying the temperature-humidity index. During July and August,
the temperature-humidity index averages 110 degrees. During
the period November 2008 - April 2009, Texas cities set or equaled the
nation's daily high temperature on 91 days out of a possible 181 days, or
50% of the time
- The average January temperature for Amarillo
is 36.7 degrees while in Brownsville the average is 61.4. On March 27, 1984, the temperature in
Brownsville
was 106 degrees while Amarillo reported snow and 35 degrees
- Average yearly rainfall totals in West Texas
are less than 8 inches while in East Texas totals exceed 56 inches.
Port Arthur in southeast Texas averages 59.80 inches of precipitation and is
among the Top 10 wettest cities in the United States. Port Arthur receives
38% more precipitation than Seattle, Washington which receives only 37.07
inches
- Although Dallas and Ft Worth are located
only 35 miles apart, eastern Dallas averages 6 more inches of precipitation
per year than western Ft. Worth
- Galveston has been hit by the most tropical
storms and hurricanes in Texas. Since 1871, the city has been
affected 47 times, with the most recent storms being Edouard and Ike in 2008.
Hurricane Ike was the largest Hurricane ever observed in the Atlantic Basin,
and came ashore over Galveston. Ike was the third most destructive
hurricane ever to hit the United States
- Texas has experienced 98 degrees or higher
during every month of the year, The record highs for Texas during May through
September are 116 degrees or higher
- The 1980 heat wave was one of the worst in
Texas history. At Dallas-Ft Worth, it lasted from June 21st to September
16th. The average high temperature was 102.1 degrees. 69 days reached 100
degrees, 28 days reached 105 or greater and 5 days reached 110 degrees or
higher. Only .46 inches of rain fell, with 31 consecutive days with no
precipitation
- The average number of days between the first
and last freeze of the winter season in Brownsville averages only 44 days,
while Dalhart in the Texas Panhandle averages over four times as long with
189 days
- From 1950-2007, Harris County in southeast
Texas reported the most tornadoes in Texas with 212. Surprisingly, four of
the Top 5 counties are located on the Texas Gulf Coast rather than the
Texas
portion of Tornado Alley. This is a result of high annual thunderstorm and
tropical/hurricane activity along the coast. Sutton County in
southwest Texas reported the lowest number of tornadoes with only one
touching down in the county during the period.
- One of the most damaging dust storms in
Texas history occurred on June 18, 2009 in the Texas South Plains. Winds up
to 67 mph lofted dust 6,500 feet into the air and reduced visibilities to less
than 300 yards. The cotton crop was severely affected by the high winds and
blasting effect of the dust, causing property and agricultural damage of up
to 6 million dollars
- During the period 1/1/1950 - 7/31/2009, 646
incidents of hail 3.0 inches or greater (larger than baseball-size) were
reported in Texas. Tarrant County in North Texas
experienced the highest number
of incidents with this large-sized hail with 11. Three of these incidents
recorded hail of 4.5 inches in diameter, or softball-size
- The average annual temperatures of Amarillo,
Texas (57.0), Washington D.C. (57.5), St. Louis, MO (56.3) and
Evansville,
IN (56.0) differ by only 1 degree or less.
Data source: National
Climatic Data Center, Asheville, NC
