July 2012 Weather Highlights for West-Central Texas

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

Precipitation for July varied from well-above to well-below normal. This 
variability in monthly precipitation was evident across individual counties, and 
was due to scattered coverage of showers and thunderstorms with locally heavy 
rainfall. The monthly rainfall amounts ranged from less than one half inch, to 
over 5 inches. 

At Abilene Regional Airport, the average temperature for July was 85.5 degrees. 
This was 2.4 degrees above the normal average temperature of 83.1 degrees. This 
marks the 8th warmest June on record for Abilene. Total precipitation for 
Abilene in July was 1.49 inches. This was 0.38 inches below the normal of 1.87 
inches. 

At San Angelo Regional Airport, the average temperature for July was 85.6 degrees. 
This was 2.5 degrees above the normal average temperature of 83.1 degrees. This 
tied for the 3rd warmest June on record for San Angelo. Total precipitation for San 
Angelo was 0.52 inches. This was 0.68 inches below the normal of 1.20 inches. 

The number of days in July with high temperatures of 100 degrees or more include: 
12 at San Angelo, 10 at Junction, and 9 at Abilene. 


July 2012 Weather Highlights: 

During the first several days of the month, west-central Texas was situated on the 
southwestern periphery of a large upper level high pressure system over the Midwest. 
Temperatures were a few degrees above normal during this time. A few showers and 
thunderstorms occurred during the afternoon and early evening hours each day, mainly 
across the southern third of west-central Texas. The coverage was a little more 
concentrated on the 5th along the Pecos River and extreme western Crockett County. 
Scattered locations near the Pecos River received 1-2 inches of rainfall. 

From July 7-10, the main upper level high pressure system shifted to the west and 
became focused over the Great Basin. A weak upper level disturbance moved west 
toward west-central Texas on the 8th. A weak cold front approached the area from the 
north on the 9th. With these features and an increase in moisture, numerous showers 
and thunderstorms occurred across the region on June 8-11. The showers and storms 
were less numerous and confined to mainly the southern third of west-central Texas 
on the 11th. The shower and thunderstorm activity occurred primarily during the 
afternoon through early nighttime hours, and were accompanied by locally heavy 
rainfall. Overall, the higher rainfall amounts occurred the area southeast of a 
line from Anson to Abilene to San Angelo to Eldorado to Ozona. Much of this area 
received amounts ranging from 1-3 inches. The highest amounts, in the range of 3-5 
inches, occurred in scattered pockets of the eastern and southern parts of west- 
central Texas. 

A few of the storms produced strong downburst winds. The most significant event 
occurred in the vicinity of the San Angelo Regional Airport on the 9th, when a peak 
wind gust of 68 mph was recorded. These downburst winds caused some damage to 
airport buildings and mesquite trees. The Abilene Regional Airport recorded a peak 
wind gust of 51 mph on the 8th, and the Sweetwater Airport recorded a peak wind gust 
of 49 mph on the 11th. 

With the showers and thunderstorms and increased cloud cover, temperatures were a 
little cooler on the 10th and 11th. Highs were in the upper 80s to mid 90s on the 
10th, and mostly in the 90-95 degree range on the 11th. 

Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms occurred on July 11-14, mostly 
during the afternoon and evening hours. 

The coverage of showers and storms was greater on the 15th and 16th. On the 15th, 
these were most numerous across the area roughly southeast of a line from Iraan to 
Paint Rock to Cross Plains. Scattered locations received 1-2 inches of rain, while 
the highest amounts (between 1.5 and 3 inches) occurred at isolated locations in 
southern Crockett, Concho, and western Mcculloch Counties. The storms to the east 
of San Angelo produced an outflow boundary, which moved west into the city during 
the early evening. Gusty winds and blowing dust occurred with the passage of this 
boundary. Visibility was reduced to less than one quarter of a mile in eastern Tom 
Green County, and a peak wind gust of 45 mph was recorded at the San Angelo Regional 
Airport. Abilene recorded a peak wind gust of 40 mph on the 15th. On the 16th, 
most of the showers and storms occurred across northern and central sections of 
west-central Texas. Widely scattered locations across the Big Country, northern 
Concho Valley and northern Heartland received rainfall of 1-2 inches. 

Hotter daytime temperatures occurred on the 20th through 22nd, as an upper level 
high pressure system strengthened over the central and southern Plains. During this 
time, afternoon highs were mostly in the range of 100-105 degrees across west- 
central Texas. A new daily record high temperature (105 degrees) was set at San 
Angelo on the 23rd. 

Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms affected mainly northern and central 
sections of west-central Texas, on July 20-23. This occurred as a few weak upper 
level disturbances moved west into the region, around the southern periphery of the 
upper level high pressure system. One of the storms on the 21st produced a wind gust 
of 46 mph at the Abilene Regional Airport. A few locations received over an inch of 
rainfall. 

Strong thunderstorm winds (estimated at 70 mph) caused damage at a convenience store 
gas station in Baird, on the evening of the 22nd. 

During the last week of the month, isolated showers and thunderstorms occurred on 
the 25th and 26th. With a weak upper level disturbance over the western part of the 
area along with a moist airmass, more numerous showers and storms with heavy rain 
occurred on the afternoon and nighttime hours of the 26th. Most of these occurred 
northwest of a line from Sonora to San Angelo to Abilene to Throckmorton. Rainfall 
amounts between one half and 1.5 inches were common, with scattered 1.5 to 3 inch 
amounts. A few locations in Coke County and along the western border of Fisher 
County received 3-4 inches of rainfall. 

Strong thunderstorm winds caused wind damage at a small airport 2 miles east- 
northeast of Tankersley, on the evening of the 25th. 

During the last few days of the month, hot and dry conditions ensued, as an upper 
level high pressure system became established over northwestern Texas. Afternoon 
highs were in the 100-105 degree range across much of west-central Texas on July 
29-31. A couple of wildfires occurred during this time. The Bluff Creek Ranch fire 
(5 miles east-southeast of Leuders, in Shackelford County) developed on the 28th 
and grew to 3100 acres, before it was brought under control late on the 30th. The 
Wallace Creek Wildfire (11 miles north-northeast of Pontotoc, in San Saba County) 
occurred on the 28th, with an estimated size of 700 acres. This fire affected ranch 
land areas.