February 2008
Report and Summary
Tyler, Texas
February 2008
by Robert K. Peters, Ph.D.
National Weather Service Cooperating Observer
Severe thunderstorms caused hail damage in the Tyler area on the 5th. As is typical in late-Winter, there were numerous fast-moving storm systems especially during the latter half of the month. Compared with February 2007, the month was 2.7 deg. Warmer, and 2.51 inches wetter. Year-to-date rainfall through month's end was 4.20 inches less in 2008 than in 2007. The thirty-day outlook for February 2008 had called for above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation. The week January 27-February 2 saw near normal temperatures, and about 75 percent of normal precipitation. The week saw a succession of cold fronts, which resulted in day-to-day swings in temperature from near normal to below normal. Showers accompanied the fronts of the 29th and 31st. Strong warming began on the 2nd ahead of a strong storm during the following week. The week's average temperature was 48.2 deg., which was 9.8 deg. Warmer than the previous week. Precipitation was 0.56 inch. Compared with the same week in 2007, the week was 10.8 deg. Warmer, and 0.05 inch drier.
The week February 3-9 saw temperatures about 7 degrees above normal, and rainfall about one-third normal. Severe weather struck East Texas on the afternoon of the 5th, with wind and hail damage in Bullard and Lindale. These storms were associated with a strong storm system and cold front, which brought a dramatic end to the very warm temperatures of early in the week. Weak fronts on the 6th, 7th, and 8th kept temperatures cool. Conditions were windy each day between the 3rd and 8th. The week's average temperature was 57.2 deg., and rainfall was 0.27 inch. This was 9.0 deg. Warmer than the previous week. Compared with the same week in 2007, the week was 8.8 deg. Warmer, and 0.20 inch wetter.
The week February 10-16 saw temperatures about 3 degrees above normal, and rainfall about 250 percent of normal. Two storm systems crossed during the week, one on the 12th and a second and stronger on the 16th. Both brought rain, with the second generating amounts of between two and six inches and a couple of occurrences of severe weather. The first storm was preceded by mild temperatures, followed by cooling, and warming again as the second storm approached. The week's average temperature was 54.9deg., and rainfall was 2.11 inches. This was 2.3 deg. Cooler than the previous week. Compared with the same week in 2007, the week was 14.3 deg. Warmer, and 1.73 inches wetter.
The week February 17-23 saw temperatures about 4 degrees cooler than normal, and rainfall about 175 percent of normal. Cold fronts crossed the region on the 17th, 20th, and 21st. As a result, temperatures showed considerable day-to-day variability. A temperature inversion on the 22nd held down high temperatures, and kept clouds and fog in the area for much of that day. Storm systems accompanying the fronts of the 17th and 21st brought the week's rains. The week's average temperature was 49.9 deg., and rainfall was 1.54 inches. The week was 5.0 deg. Cooler than the previous week. Compared with the same week in 2007, the week was 8.5 deg. Cooler, and 1.22 inches wetter.
The final six days of the month began and ended mild, with a sharp cooling trend in between. Windy weather between the 24th and 26th, and again on the 28th, required wind advisories. Measurable rain did not fall in the city, though there were showers on the evening of the 25th to the east and south of Tyler.
- KEY TO SYMBOLS:
- A = HAIL
- B = BLOWING
- D = DUST
- F = FOG
- H = HAZE
- IP = SLEET
- K = SMOKE
- L = DRIZZLE
- R = RAIN
- S = SNOW
- T = THUNDERSTORM
- Z = GREENWICH MEAN TIME
- ZL = FREEZING DRIZZLE
- ZR = FREEZING RAIN
- - = LIGHT
- + = HEAVY
R FOLLOWING A TEMPERATURE OR PRECIPITATION VALUE = RECORD
The reporting period for temperatures, precipitation, and phenomenon on each day is for the twenty-four hours ending at midnight hours GMT--6 p.m. CST and 7 p.m. CDT. All times are given using the twenty-four hour clock, and are expressed in Greenwich Mean Time.
Observations are from NWS Station 41/9207/4 in Tyler, Texas. The term "normal" refers to averages from the standard climatic period 1971-2000.
.FEBRUARY 2008
- DY MX MN OBS PCPN REMARKS
- DY MX MN OBS PCPN REMARKS
- 01 58 26 53
- 02 70 40 63
- 03 76 59 72
- 04 77R 68 73
- 05 78 44 54 0.21 T, A, PCPN 2200-2300 MN 0000-1200 69
- 06 55 33 49 0.06 PCPN 2100-2200
- 07 61 33 52
- 08 75 33 68
- 09 71 38 64
- 10 75 39 68
- 11 73 50 69
- 12 65 48 0.39 T, PCPN 1200-1500 MN 0000-1200 63, MX 1200-2400 64
- 13 57 29 53
- 14 71 40 65
- 15 68 57 66 TR
- 16 66 43 48 1.72 T, F, PCPN 0100-0200, 1000-1400, 2200-2400 MN 0000-1200 57
- 17 60 42 53 0.65 T, PCPN 0000-0400, MN 0000-1200 42
- 18 61 36 54 MN 0000-1200 37
- 19 68 32 62
- 20 72 48 67
- 21 62 43 53 0.87 T, F, PCPN 1100-1700 MN 0000-1200 60, MX 1200-2400 60
- 22 43 37 40 0.02 F, PCPN 0100-0200
- 23 64 31 61
- 24 66 44 60 MN 0000-1200 46
- 25 80 43 74
- 26 56 37 47 MN 0000-1200 42, MX 1200-2400 54
- 27 62 28 57
- 28 71 43 66
- 29 76 57 69 tr.
FEBRUARY 2008, RECORDS AND SUMMARY:
- 4TH RECORD HIGH MINIMUM 68, PREVIOUS RECORD 66 IN 1946; 77 EQUALS RECORD
- HIGH MAXIMUM, FIRST SET IN 1911;
- HIGHEST TEMPERATURE 80 ON THE 25TH,
- LOWEST TEMPERATURE 26 ON THE 1ST,
- AVERAGE MAXIMUM 63.3 F.,
- AVERAGE MINIMUM 41.0 F.,
- AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 52.2 F.
- 0.2 DEG. COOLER THAN NORMAL.
- HEATING DEGREE DAYS 334,
- 91.3 PERCENT OF NORMAL HEATING DEGREE DAYS.
- COOLING DEGREE DAYS 12,
- 95.8 PERCENT OF NORMAL COOLING DEGREE-DAYS;
- TOTAL PRECIPITATION 3.92 IN.,
- 0.19 IN. GREATER THAN MONTHLY NORMAL.
- 105.1 PERCENT OF NORMAL MONTHLY PRECIPITATION.
- YEAR-TO-DATE PRECIPITATION 6.04 IN.,
- 1.03 IN. LESS THAN NORMAL YEAR-TO-DATE PRECIPITATION,
- 85.4 PERCENT OF NORMAL YEAR-TO-DATE PRECIPITATION;
- 5 DAYS ON WHICH THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRED;
- 3 DAYS ON WHICH THE VISIBILITY WAS HEAVILY RESTRICTED BY FOG, SMOKE, OR HAZE;
- 0 DAYS ON WHICH THE VISIBILITY WAS RESTRICTED BY DUST OR BLOWING DUST;
- 1 DAYS ON WHICH FROZEN PRECIPITATION WAS OBSERVED;
- 0 IN. TOTAL SNOWFALL.
- 7 DAYS ON WHICH MEASURABLE PRECIPITATION OCCURRED.
- 0 DAYS ON WHICH THE MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE REACHED OR EXCEEDED 90 DEG.;
- 0 DAYS ON WHICH THE MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE REACHED OR EXCEEDED 100 DEG.;
- 0 DAYS ON WHICH THE TEMPERATURE FAILED TO RISE ABOVE 32 DEG.
- 5 DAYS ON WHICH THE MINIMUM TEMPERATURE REACHED OR FELL BELOW 32 DEG.
- 1676 SEASON-TO-DATE HEATING DEGREE DAYS,
- PERCENTAGE OF NORMAL SEASON-TO-DATE HEATING DEGREE DAYS: 97.5,
- 22 YEAR-TO-DATE COOLING DEGREE DAYS.
- 137.5 PERCENTAGE OF NORMAL YEAR-TO-DATE COOLING DEGREE DAYS:
- PRECIPITATION DURING THE PREVIOUS TWELVE MONTHS 53.61 IN.,
- TWELVE-MONTH PRECIPITATION PERCENTAGE 118.4.