XIT Weather: Hot, Cool, and Wet

Dalhart Weather Review

by Aaron Graves

When it comes time for half the world to descend on Dalhart and celebrate the XIT Rodeo and Reunion with us, casually predicting the weather is almost a flip of the coin. On one side, it is summer and it can be unbelievably hot. On the flip side, August is traditionally a wet month, so it could literally rain on our parade (or rodeo… or free food… or mud bog…) 

The storm after it had moved over the rodeo arena.

This year, we got to see both sides of the coin. Thursday, Aug. 7, was hot, with a high of 100 degrees (only the fifth time this year to hit the century mark). But then it cooled down into the 80’s on Friday. This was followed by a beautiful storm during the final rodeo performance on Saturday, Aug. 9. 

I was not at the rodeo arena, but I was parked along the lake road (FM 281) watching the storm roll in. There was lightning, pea-sized hail, and, at times, heavy rain. I followed the storm as moved south. Traffic along Hwy. 87 near County Road C was temporarily brought to a stand still due to low visibility as the storm crossed the highway.

One rodeo attendee told me the rain briefly interrupted the performance. Some in the audience left, but others stuck it out. After it became clear the storm was moving away, the rodeo resumed. 

Robin Scott, publisher of "The County Times Two" newsletter that graciously includes this blog, told me over e-mail: "I was taking tickets at the rodeo for Rotary and I'm pretty sure I've never been that soaked by rain before in my life....it was a blast!!!"

Officially, we ended up with 0.15” of rain, as recorded at the airport and relayed to the National Weather Service in Amarillo. However, Texaspivot.com shows about a half inch of rain fell near FM 281 where I was initially parked. And the blinding downpour at County Road C? A nearby pivot picked up 1.25” of rain. 

The NWS recorded an additional 0.04” of rain on Aug. 10. On Aug. 5, we received 0.14” from some late evening storms. This brings our monthly total to 0.33”. 

The CoCoRaHS volunteer network reports Texline received 0.35” of rain on Aug. 5, 0.05” on Aug. 9, and a healthy 0.96” on Aug. 10. Along South Sedan Road, about 8 miles NW of Dalhart, 0.44” of rain fell Aug. 6 and 0.02” on Aug. 7. 

Texaspivot.com reports the Hartley area saw about a quarter inch of rain over the past week. Western Hartley County saw rain totals between 1.5” and 3” - most of it from the Aug. 9 storm. 

Always remember, if a storm is moving away, and the
sun is sinking low, stay outside to see the rainbow. 

Thus ends another wonderful and fun XIT celebration. I always joke it rains during XIT - mainly because I have been rained on a couple of times myself during some events. But rain is always welcome in these parts. And, I wonder - if we hosted a rodeo every weekend in August - would it rain every weekend? Scientists may have to consider this as a possible way of breaking the drought.

High and low temps the past week

Aug 5: 92, 64

Aug 6: 96, 60

Aug 7: 100, 6

Aug 8: 88, 67

Aug 9: 96, 58

Aug 10: 90, 65

Aug 11: 86, 63

More Drought Relief Expected Through August

Dalhart Weather Review 

By Aaron Graves

Although we haven’t had near enough rain to break the drought, the 2.15” of precipitation we received in July was refreshing and most welcome! In fact, it came close to our 30 year normal of 2.74” for July. At the end of month, we had 7.76” for the year, still behind the 10.50” we normal have by July 31. 

However, more rain is expected. The Climate Prediction Center’s August forecast is looking good. We have a 40% chance of seeing above average rainfall this month. In case your wondering, the 30 year average rainfall for Dalhart in August is 2.85”. Over the next three months, we have a 33% chance of above average rainfall. 

Likewise, the CPC is calling for drought conditions to improve for all of the Texas Panhandle through the end of August. However, the three month outlook shows drought conditions intensifying for the western Panhandle by the end of October 

Of course, the CPC forecasts for large areas of the country, not for local events. Thus, saying that August looks wet for the Texas Panhandle does not necessarily mean August will be wet for Dallam and Hartley counties. 

The U.S. Drought Monitor map released July 29 shows the worst of the drought extending from Dalhart to Stratford to Dumas. The western parts of Dallam and Hartley Counties are considered in severe drought. 

NOAA forecasters are still expecting an El Niño weather pattern to develop, although the El Niño webpage now says: “NOAA's National Weather Service indicates El Niño is likely to emerge in next few months. Forecasters favor a weak-to-moderate event.” This is not bad news, although a strong El Niño would give us a better chance at drought relief ~ as I have come to understand it. 

July 2014 ended with an average high of 90.2 degrees and an average low of 63.6 degrees - not bad for the middle of summer. For the XIT weekend, look for high temperatures in the mid 90s with a 20% chances of thunderstorms continuing through Monday. Stay cool, stay hydrated, and don’t forget to wear your sunscreen. 

CLOSE CALL: As previously reported, a supercell thunderstorm produced three weak, short-lived tornadoes near Stratford and Cactus back on July 16. Since then, the National Weather Service in Amarillo has released more details. The first tornado was reported 0.2 miles northeast of Stratford, the second was 0.2 miles south of Stratford, and the third was 0.5 miles southwest of Cactus. That’s pretty close. Just a reminder of the need to stay aware and informed about severe weather even during a drought.  

High and low temps the past week:

Jul 29: 82, 65

Jul 30: 77, 63

Jul 31: 80, 57

Aug 1: 84, 65

Aug 2: 87, 63

Aug 3: 88, 59

Aug 4: 92, 59

Rain Continues

Dalhart Weather Review

By Aaron Graves

Another favorable weather pattern has arrived, already bringing up to 3 inches of rain in Dallam County. Rain continues in the forecast today through Saturday. 

It began raining Sunday evening as thunderstorms developed in western Hartley County and just seemed to sit in one place. Similar slow moving storms developed over Dalhart after midnight. Officially, 1.01” was recorded at the airport and relayed to the Amarillo office of the National Weather Service. This brings our July precipitation total up to 2.15”. Our year to date total is 7.76”. 

My rain gauge on the southeast side of Dalhart captured 1.84” from Monday’s storms. CoCoRaHS observers reported 0.95” in Texline and 0.79” along South Sedan Road. Texaspivot.com shows farmland just north of Dalhart along Hwy 385 got up to 3” of rain. Pivots near Texline recorded about 1.25”. The Hartley area generally saw about 0.50” from the storms. 

As of the writing of this article (Tuesday afternoon) Dalhart was forecast for more heavy rain. 

Before the rainy weather, it was hot! We hit a high of 105 degrees on July 25 and 104 on July 26. However, that makes only four days this year we have been 100 degrees or hotter.  We dropped down to a high of 77 degrees on July 28 after the storms rolled in. 

High and low temps the past week

July 22: 94, 66

July 23: 96, 65

July 24: 99, 63

July 25: 105, 71

July 26: 104, 68

July 27: 91, 68

July 28: 77, 58