June 2012 Weather Highlights for West-Central Texas

...3rd Warmest June on Record Tied at San Angelo...

Temperatures averaged well-above normal across west-central Texas in June.
Precipitation for the month varied from above to well-below normal.  The above
normal monthly amounts occurred in scattered pockets across the Heartland, eastern
Big Country, and parts of Kimble and northern Haskell Counties. Total monthly
rainfall amounts at these locations were in the range of 3-6 inches.  For much of
west-central Texas, however, the monthly precipitation was well-below normal.  This
includes much of the Concho Valley, the Northern Edwards Plateau, and western Big
Country, where the monthly rainfall was less than 25 percent of normal. Some
locations, especially southwest of San Angelo and in Northern Edwards Plateau west
of Highway 277, received less than one tenth of an inch of rainfall in June.  These
very low monthly rainfall amounts were less than 5 percent of normal.

At Abilene Regional Airport, the average temperature for June was 82.6 degrees.  
This was 3.1 degrees above the normal average temperature of 79.5 degrees.  This
marks the 8th warmest June on record for Abilene.  Total precipitation for 
Abilene in June was 2.11 inches.  This was 1.45 inches below the normal of 3.56 
inches.

At San Angelo Regional Airport, the average temperature for June was 85.5 degrees. 
This was 5.1 degrees above the normal average temperature of 80.4 degrees.  This 
tied for the 3rd warmest June on record for San Angelo.  Total precipitation for San

Angelo was 0.53 inches.  This was 2.06 inches above the normal of 2.59 inches.

The number of days in June with high temperatures of 100 degrees or more include:
13 at San Angelo, 7 at Junction, and 5 at Abilene.

June 2012 Weather Highlights...

A fairly wet period occurred early in the month across parts of west-central Texas.
Showers and thunderstorms occurred from the night of the 4th into the early morning
hours of the 5th, across the northern and western Big Country and northern Concho
Valley, as a weak upper level low pressure system developed over northwestern Texas.
During the afternoon and evening of the 5th, scattered additional thunderstorms
developed across the southern half of west-central Texas.  With a very unstable
airmass, some of the storms were strong to severe.  Quarter to half-dollar size hail
was reported in Brady, along with a few trees blown down by strong winds.  A peak
wind gust of 45 mph was recorded at the Junction Airport.  During the overnight
hours, additional showers and thunderstorms occurred after Midnight on the 6th,
across the central and western Big Country and northern Concho Valley. The weak
upper level low pressure system moved tracked east into southern Oklahoma on the
6th.  Once again, showers and thunderstorms developed during the hours after
Midnight on the 7th and continued through mid-morning.  These showers and storms
affected mainly the central and eastern Big Country and eastern Heartland areas.  
A drier pattern resumed as the upper level low pressure system moved southeast 
toward southeastern Texas. 

With a moist airmass, some of the rainfall was heavy on the 4th-7th.  During this
time frame, total rainfall amounts were in the 2-4 inch range across much of Brown
County, in pockets across the Big Country, and in parts of Sutton and Kimble
Counties.  Rainfall amounts varied between one half inch and 2 inches across much of
the Heartland, Big Country, and northern Concho Valley.  For southern sections of
west-central Texas, rainfall amounts between one half and 2 inches occurred across
much of Kimble, Sutton, and southern Crockett Counties, and in parts of Schleicher
and Menard Counties.

Very hot temperatures and oppressive conditions occurred on the 10th and 11th, when
an upper level high pressure system built into Texas from the southwest.  At San
Angelo, the high temperature of 108 degrees on the 10th set a new record high for
that date. At Abilene, the high temperature of 102 degrees tied the record high on
the 10th.  With the exception of the eastern Heartland, highs on the 10th were
generally above 100 degrees. For some locations across the eastern third of west-
central Texas, a combination of hot temperatures and higher humidity resulted in
heat index values reaching the 105-107 degree range by late afternoon.  On the 11th,
a weak cold front sagged south into the Big Country during the afternoon, while very
hot conditions continued farther south across west-central Texas.  San Angelo
recorded a record high temperature of 109 degrees on the 11th.  This was only one
degree below the record high temperature for the month of June. 

With the approach of the weak cold front from the north and a dryline from the west,
thunderstorms developed by late afternoon in the very hot and unstable air across
the region.  The storms became more numerous across west-central Texas during the
evening hours, and a few were severe.  Wind damage occurred in Brownwood, from
strong thunderstorm winds estimated to be in the 65-70 mph range.  The roof of a
church building was torn off, and trees and power lines were blown down.  Some
street flooding was also reported in Brownwood.  In the Abilene area, Dyess Air
Force base weather equipment measured a 60 mph wind gust.  Abilene Regional Airport
recorded a peak wind gust of 52 mph.  At San Angelo, a 44 mph peak wind gust was
recorded.  Heavy rainfall accompanied some of the storms.  Rainfall amounts of 1.5
to 3 inches occurred in scattered pockets northwest, east and southeast of San
Angelo, and southeast of Abilene.

West-central Texas was situated near the eastern edge of an upper level high
pressure system, from the 12th through 17th.  The hotter daytime temperatures
occurred across the Concho Valley during this time.  Highs in San Angelo were in the
range of 97-102 degrees.

Showers and thunderstorms occurred in scattered parts of the northern half of west-
central Texas on the 13th and 14th.  One of the storms produced half-dollar size
hail in Haskell.  A few showers and thunderstorms occurred in parts of the Big
Country on the 15th and 16th.  Stronger thunderstorms occurred during the evening
and early nighttime hours of the 16th across the Big Country, with gusty winds.
A peak wind gust of 69 mph was measured by weather equipment at Dyess Air Force
Base, and a peak wind gust of 51 mph was recorded at the Abilene Regional Airport. 
A utility pole was blown down one mile west-northwest of Tuscola (Taylor County). 
New showers and thunderstorms developed in the Concho Valley, as an outflow boundary
from these storms advanced south. Locally heavy rainfall accompanied some of the
showers and thunderstorms.  Scattered locations in the Big Country, mainly north of
Abilene, received rainfall amounts between 0.5 and 1.5 inches.

Showers and thunderstorms were more widespread on the 17th, across the southeastern
Big Country, Heartland, and Northwest Hill Country.  These showers and storms
contained heavy rainfall.  Many locations southeast of a line from Telegraph to Eden
to Lake Brownwood received between 1 and 2.5 inches of rain.  For a few locations,
the amounts were between 2.5 and 3.5 inches. The coverage was scattered farther to
the west across the southern Big Country and Concho Valley.  An outflow boundary
from the showers and storms pushed south and west across the area during the evening
and early nighttime hours, with gusty winds and cooler air following its passage.
With the approach of a weak cold front from the north, scattered showers and
thunderstorms occurred across the northwestern Big Country on the 21st.  Rainfall
amounts varied under one half inch.

Hotter and drier conditions occurred late in the month across west-central Texas,
under the prevailing influence of an upper level high pressure system.  This upper
level high pressure system was centered over the southern plains during much of this
time.  The hottest days were on the 25th-27th, when high temperatures were above 100
degrees acros sthe area.  A record high temperature (108 degrees) was tied at San
Angelo on the 26th.  In addition, a record warm minimum temperature (80 degrees) was
tied for the 26th at Abilene and San Angelo.  Junction recorded a high temperature
of 108 degrees on the 26th, while Abilene recorded a high of 106 degrees on that
date. A few showers and thunderstorms occurred on the 27th across southern parts of
west-central Texas, with rainfall amounts varying under one half inch.