August 2012 Weather Highlights for West-Central Texas

Temperatures averaged above normal across west-central Texas in August. 

Precipitation for August varied from above normal to well-below normal. This 
variability extended across individual counties, and was due to the scattered 
coverage of showers and thunderstorms with locally heavy rainfall. The monthly 
amounts were near to above normal in scattered pockets of the region generally south 
of Interstate 20 and north of Interstate 10. For a larger part of west-central 
Texas however, the monthly amounts were below normal (including at Abilene and San 
Angelo). In general, the monthly totals were well-below normal in scattered pockets 
west of Highway 277 between Haskell and San Angelo, and across much of Sutton and 
parts of Crockett, Kimble, Mason, and southeastern San Saba Counties. 

At Abilene Regional Airport, the average temperature for August was 85.5 degrees. 
This was 2.7 degrees above the normal average temperature of 82.8 degrees. Total 
precipitation for Abilene in August was 1.20 inches. This was 1.39 inches below the 
normal of 2.59 inches. 

At San Angelo Regional Airport, the average temperature for August was 86.0 degrees. 
This was 3.3 degrees above the normal average temperature of 82.7 degrees. Total 
precipitation for San Angelo was 0.77 inches. This was 1.49 inches below the normal 
of 2.26 inches. 

The number of days in August with high temperatures of 100 degrees or more include: 
19 at Junction, 17 at San Angelo, and 16 at Abilene. 


August 2012 Weather Highlights... 

During the first week of August, hot and dry conditions occurred with an upper level 
high pressure system over northern Texas and the southern Plains. Afternoon highs 
were mostly in the range of 100-110 degrees during this time. A record high of 107 
degrees was set at Abilene on the 1st. Record high minimum temperatures were set at 
Abilene on the 1st (82 degrees), and at San Angelo on the 3rd (80 degrees). 

As the upper level high pressure system moved northwest into the Four Corners region 
of the country, weak northerly flow developed aloft over west-central Texas on the 
7th through 9th. With the airmass sufficiently moist and unstable, isolated to 
scattered showers and thunderstorms occurred during the afternoon and evening hours 
of these days. The showers and storms occurred across the Big Country on the 7th, 
mostly in the area between Interstate 20 and Interstate 10 on the 8th, and across 
southern sections of west-central Texas on the 9th. These showers and thunderstorms 
contained locally heavy rainfall. One of the stronger storms on the 9th produced 
damaging downburst winds in Schleicher County, 7 miles south of Eldorado along 
Highway 277. A flagpole was bent, a 10 foot section of a barn door was blown in, and 
extensive tree damage was reported. 

For August 7-9, rainfall amounts between one half inch and 1.5 inches occurred at 
scattered locations mainly across central and southern sections of west-central 
Texas. More than 2 inches occurred at a couple of isolated locations. 

A weak cold front moved south into west-central Texas on the 10th. The main effect 
was a wind shift to northeast winds. Temperatures were slightly cooler across the 
Big Country, where afternoon highs were in the mid to upper 90s. 

Dry and hotter conditions resumed areawide on the 11th and 12th, as the upper level 
high pressure system shifted southeast, from the Four Corners region across New 
Mexico and Texas. In the hot, unstable airmass, scattered thunderstorms with strong, 
gusty winds and locally heavy rain developed across the Big Country on the late 
afternoon and evening of the 12th. The storms moved south across the Concho Valley 
and Heartland, and toward the Interstate 10 corridor during the nighttime hours. 
Strong thunderstorm winds downed tree limbs and damaged a grain warehouse in 
Winters, a wind gust of 60 mph was reported in Miles. In addition, 60 mph wind 
gusts were reported in Wall. A 45 mph wind gust was recorded at the San Angelo 
Regional Airport. Rainfall amounts between one half inch and 1.5 inches occurred at 
scattered locations across the Big Country, Concho Valley, Heartland and Northwest 
Hill Country. 

Hot and mostly dry conditions prevailed from the 13th to 17th, when an upper level 
high pressure system extended from the southewestern states across central and 
southern Texas. Afternoon highs were in the 100-105 degree range across much of the 
area during this time. A few showers and thunderstorms occurred over the Big 
Country on the 14th and 15th, as an upper level disturbance moved across the 
southern Plains. Scattered light rain showers also occurred across roughly the 
northern third of west-central Texas during the post-Midnight hours of the 16th and 
17th. A grass and brush fire occurred in Shackelford County approximately 10 miles 
west of Albany, on the 14th. 

From the afternon of the 17th into the early morning of the 18th, scattered to 
numerous showers and thunderstorms with locally heavy rainfall occurred across 
west-central Texas, mostly in an east-west band south of Interstate 20 and north of 
Interstate 10. Widely scattered locations received 1-2 inches of rainfall, with a 
few higher amounts (between 2 and 4 inches). 

On August 18-29, the upper level high pressure system lessened its influence on 
Texas as it became centered over the southwestern states before weakening. With 
weak upper level disturbances and surface boundaries, showers and thunderstorms 
occurred across various parts of west-central Texas. The coverage was mostly 
confined to individual sections of the area on each day. Strong thunderstorm winds 
downed tree limbs near Moran, on the evening of the 18th. A 40 mph thunderstorm 
wind gust was recorded at the Abilene Regional Airport, on the 21st. With the lack 
of dominance of the upper level high pressure system along with a greater presence 
of cloud cover, temperatures were also cooler (especially during the daytime hours) 
during this time period. Total rainfall amounts for the August 18-29 time period 
varied considerably across west-central Texas. In general, some locations received 
less than one half inch while others received more than 1.5 inches. 

By the end of the month, an upper level high pressure system began to build back 
over Texas and the southern Plains, bringing a return to hotter and drier 
conditions.