Climate Summary for October 2013

Precipitation for October varied from well-above to below normal across west-central Texas (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Percent of Normal Precipitation for October, 2013.

The monthly precipitation was above normal across parts of the eastern and northwestern Concho Valley, much of the Heartland, and to the north of Interstate 10 across parts of the Northern Edwards Plateau and much of the Northwest Hill Country.  Monthly rainfall was generally in the range of 3-5 inches across these areas, with a few higher totals greater than 6 inches.  The monthly precipitation was below normal across the Big Country, and in a southwest-northeast band extending from northern Crockett County across northern Tom Green County into northern Coleman County.  For some  of the northern Big Country, the monthly rainfall was less than 50 percent of normal.    

Temperatures averaged near to slightly above normal for the month.

At Abilene Regional Airport, the average temperature for October was 66.7 degrees.  This was 0.9 degrees above the normal average temperature of 65.8 degrees. Total precipitation for Abilene in October was 1.40 inches. This was 1.58 inches below the normal of 2.98 inches.

At San Angelo Regional Airport, the average temperature for October was 66.5 degrees. This was 0.3 degrees above the normal average temperature of 66.2 degrees.  Total precipitation for San Angelo was 1.46 inches. This was 1.27 inches below the normal of 2.73 inches.  

Showers and scattered thunderstorms occurred on the 5th, with passage of a cold front and arrival of a weak upper level disturbance.  Rainfall amounts are shown in Figure 2 (below).

Figure 2: West-Central Texas Rainfall for October 5.

A few locations received between one half and one inch, with isolated amounts over an inch in northwestern Schleicher County.  Gusty north winds followed passage of the cold front, and daytime temperatures were much cooler on the 5th.  Temperatures fell into the 50s and 60s.

Dry and pleasant weather conditions occurred on the 6th through 8th, as ridge of high pressure moved east across Texas. 

Warm and somewhat humid conditions occurred on the 10th and 11th, as moisture from the Gulf of Mexico returned to West Central Texas.

A significant and heavy rain event occurred in the middle of the month (12th-15th).  With a very moist airmass, a series of upper level disturbances entered the region in southwest flow aloft.  In addition, a cold front entered the area on the 15th.  With the setup of these features, showers and thunderstorms with heavy rain occurred. 

A 61 mph wind gust was measured from a severe thunderstorm near Wall, on the early morning of the 13th.  Very heavy rainfall from this storm (5.30 inches) caused widespread flooding in the Wall area.  A couple of streets were flooded in Brownwood, on the morning of the 15th.     

Figure 3 (below) shows total rainfall for this event across West Central Texas.

Figure 3: West-Central Texas Rainfall for the seven day period, ending October 16. 

The heaviest rainfall for this event (6 to 7 inches) occurred at isolated locations west of Sterling City, and in the southeastern part of West Central Texas.  Amounts between 2.5 and 5 inches occurred across parts of the northwestern Concho Valley, and across much of the area southeast of a line from Lake Brownwood to San Angelo to Sonora. 

Widely scattered showers and thunderstorms occurred on the 18th, as a strong cold front advanced south across the region.  Rainfall amounts of one half to one inch occurred with a few of these.  Hail of pea to quarter size was reported from a thunderstorm which moved through San Angelo. 

With a combination of clear skies, diminishing winds and a colder airmass in place, patchy frost was reported in Merkel and Sweetwater, on the early morning of the 19th.

Late in the month, showers and thunderstorms occurred on a couple of occasions, with the arrival and passage of a couple of upper level disturbances and cold fronts.  Scattered showers and thunderstorms occurred on October 26-27 across eastern sections of west-central Texas.  Unusually humid conditions occurred on October 28-30, with southerly low-level flow and moisture transport into the region from the Gulf of Mexico.  New record high minimum temperatures were set at San Angelo and Abilene on the 29th and 30th.  With showers and scattered thunderstorms occurred on the 30th, the heavier amounts (between one half and one inch) occurred to the west and southwest of Ozona in Crockett County.  Elsewhere, the amounts varied under one haf inch.