Dalhart Precipitation Total at 19.80"

Dalhart Weather Review
by Aaron Graves

A lot has happened since the last published article, so here are the highlights.

IT'S WET! Dalhart's annual precipitation total stands at 19.80" as of Nov. 3, according to the National Weather Service in Amarillo. That is a good 3" above normal for this time of year. 6.37" of that total has fallen since September 1.

RECORD RAINFALLS: Copious showers throughout October broke two rainfall records for the month. The 1.22" on Oct. 4 was a new record for that day, as was the 1.38" on Oct. 21. We surpassed our monthly average rainfall in October by 4".

DROUGHT HELD AT BAY! After an unusually hot September, drought conditions developed in east Texas and slowly crept their way week after week towards the Texas panhandle. Here in Dalhart, 13 of the first 17 days of September had temperatures at or above 95 degrees. Three high temperature records fell during that period. But then the rains returned and kept the drought from returning to our area. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor map, dated Oct. 27, shows drought free conditions in the Texas panhandle, while drought conditions have improved in east Texas.

BY THE NUMBERS:
Here are some fun stats for all you weather geeks.

* 5.30" - Dalhart's rain total for October 2015, as recorded at
              the airport and relayed to the NWS in Amarillo.
* 1.47" - Dalhart's 30 year average rainfall for the month of
               October.
* 1.07" - rain total for September. The average for 
              September is 1.65".
* 63.47' - Lake Meredith's depth at the end of October. The
               last time it was that full was October 2005.
* #4 - Amarillo's rain total at the end of October makes it the
          fourth rainiest year on record. (The are at 32.35")


HIGH TEMP RECORDS THAT FELL:

* The high of 99 degrees on Sept. 17 broke the record of 97
   set in 2004.
* The high of 99 on Sept. 13 beat out 98 degrees from 1956.
* The high of 99 on Sept. 7 beat the record of 96 set in 2013.
* The high of 93 on Oct. 14 beat the record of 91 from 1989.

We also tied several record highs on Sept. 14 (101 degrees from 1956), Sept. 15 (97 in 2010), Sept. 16 (97 in 2000), and Oct 11 (93 in 1962).