Climate Summary for November 2015

The weather pattern was fairly active across our area in November.  

Figure 1 shows the geographic regions across West Central Texas, which are referenced in this event summary.

Figure 1:  Geographic Regions of West-Central Texas.

Precipitation for November varied from below to much above normal.  Percentage of normal precipitation for the month is shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Percent of Normal Precipitation for November, 2015.

Precipitation for November was well-above normal across most of the northern half of west-central Texas, across parts of the Concho Valley and Heartland, and in a small part of the Northwest Hill Country. Monthly precipitation amounts (not shown) were in the range of 3-6 (with locally higher totals) inches across these areas.  November precipitation was below normal across much of Crockett County into southeastern Irion and southwestern Tom Green Counties.  Monthly precipitation amounts (not shown) were less than 1 inch across parts of that area.   

The monthly precipitation amounts were influenced largely by a significant rain event November 26-29. 

Temperatures averaged above normal for the month.  Table 1 (below) summarizes November 2015 temperature, precipitation, and departure from normal for Abilene and San Angelo.         

Table 1: November Climate Data for Abilene and San Angelo.

* For Abilene, this was the 5th wettest November on record. * 

With south winds, temperatures warmed into the upper 70s and 80s for highs on the 2nd and 3rd, with mostly sunny skies. Cloud cover increased on the 4th as low-level moisture increased. 

Showers and scattered thunderstorms occurred on the 4th and 5th, when an upper level storm system over the southwestern states weakened and lifted northeast into the central Plains.  A band of showers and a few thunderstorms accompanied a weak cold front on the 5th, as it moved southeast across the eastern and southern parts of west-central Texas. Additional showers and thunderstorms developed with more widespread coverage, during the overnight hours of the 6th and 7th, as an overrunning setup developed.  With the arrival of a weak disturbance aloft, widely scattered showers occurred across the southern half of west-central Texas, from the evening of the 7th into the early morning hours of the 8th.      

Total rainfall for November 4-8 is shown in Figure 3 (below).

Figure 3: West-Central Texas Rainfall for the 7-day period ending at 7 AM, November 9.

Rainfall amounts of 1-2 inches occurred in a band from Brownwood to just east of Wall and just north of Eden. Rainfall of 1-2 inches also occurred in far southeastern Mason and Kimble Counties, and at a few other locations across west-central Texas.  Rainfall amounts were between one-half and one inch across some of the area east of a Roby to Robert Lee to San Angelo to Junction line. 

After warm temperatures on the 5th (highs in the 80s), a cooling trend in temperatures occurred on the 6th and 7th.  Highs on the 7th were in the 60s.  The cool air remained over the area on the 8th with lingering cloud cover.

A warming trend occurred in temperatures on the 9th and 10th was accompanied by breezy conditions and south to southwest winds. 

Gusty west winds followed passage of a dryline on the 11th, and much drier air overspread west-central Texas. This was followed by dry and cooler conditions on the12th and 13th.  Clear skies and light winds allowed temperatures to drop into the 30s for early morning lows on the 12th, across northern and central parts of west-central Texas.  The coldest low temperature was 30 degrees, near Sterling City. 

Skies were cloudy wit cool daytime temperatures on the 14th, and showers occurred across southern and southeastern sections of the area.  Rainfall amounts varied under one-half inch.  

With the development of south winds and an increase in moisture and instability, showers and isolated thunderstorms occurred mainly across northern and central parts of west-central Texas.  Rainfall amounts mostly varied under one-half inch, but a few locations in Mertzon and eastern Callahan Counties received between one-half and eight tenths of an inch.

A potent upper level storm system tracked across the southern Rockies to near the Kansas and Oklahoma border on the 17th.  With the approach of this system, gusty south winds occurred on the 16th.  A line of showers and thunderstorms developed along a weak cold front, and moved east across west-central Texas during the overnight hours of the 16th and 17th. This was followed by gusty west winds during the day of the 17th and an intrusion of much drier air. Table 2 shows the peak wind gusts at several locations across the Big Country and Concho Valley on the 16th and 17th. 

Table 2:  Peak Wind Gusts on November 16-17.

With clear skies and light winds, temperatures dropped into the 30s for early morning lows on the 18th.  A light freeze occurred at a few locations.  Following a weak, dry cold frontal passage on the 19th, south winds returned with a quick warmup in temperatures on the 20th.

A strong cold frontal passage during the post-Midnight and early morning hours of the 21st was followed by strong, gusty north winds and an intrusion of much colder air.  Despite partly to mostly sunny skies, daytime temperatures were held mostly in the upper 40s to lower 50s.  Peak wind gusts were over 40 mph across the Big Country and much of the Concho Valley and northern Heartland areas.  This includes a peak gust of 48 mph at Abilene Regional Airport, and 44 mph at San Angelo Regional Airport.  Morning  wind chill values were in the mid to upper 20s across the Big Country.   

A widespread, hard freeze occurred on the early morning of the 22nd, as a cold high pressure system settled southeast into west-central Texas.

Low Temperatures (shown in a graphic which was posted on our Facebook Page) were mostly in the upper teens and 20s.

With gusty south winds on the 24th and 25th, a warming trend in temperatures occurred, with increasing moisture. 

A notable weather event occurred on November 26-29, which included heavy rainfall, an intrusion of much colder air, and freezing rain.  With an upper level storm system over the western U.S., several disturbances entered Texas in southwest flow aloft, out ahead of the main system.  A new record warm minimum temperature was set at San Angelo (66 degrees) on Thanksgiving (November 26).  A modified arctic front moved south across west-central Texas during the overnight hours of the 26th and 27th. Gusty north winds and much colder air followed passage of this front. 

Several rounds of rain showers occurred on November 26-29, with a few thunderstorms on November 26-27.  Rainfall was moderate to heavy at times.  Figure 4 (below) shows the total rainfall for this event.      

Daytime temperatures on the 26th slowly fell into the lower 30s across the Big Country, and into the mid to upper 30s farther south.  Rain transitioned to freezing rain across the Big Country, and continued into the morning of the 27th.  With warm ground conditions and temperatures at or just below freezing, most of the icing occurred on elevated objects (trees, power lines, etc.).  This resulted in a couple of minor power outages.  The weight of the ice caused damage to trees around View in Taylor County.  Patchy slippery spots developed on some of the roads and bridges north and west of Abilene.  

The cold air remained entrenched over west-central Texas on the 28th and 29th, with cloudy skies.  Highs on the 28th ranged from the mid 30s across the Big Country, to near 40 along the Interstate 10 corridor.  On the 29th, highs ranged from the upper 30s north to the mid to upper 40s along the Interstate 10 corridor. 

Figure 4: West-Central Texas Rainfall for the 7-day period ending at 6 AM, November 30.

The highest rainfall amounts (5-7 inches) occurred in a band across northern Coleman, southeastern Callahan, and extreme northern Brown Counties.  Rainfall of 3-5 inches occurred across much of the Big Country, northwestern Concho Valley and northern Heartland.  Much of the rest of west-central Texas received 1-3 inches of rainfall.  Less than 1 inch of rainfall occurred across much of the Northern Edwards Plateau, north to Mertzon and San Angelo.