Reporter-News Archives Wednesday, January 3, 2001 From drought to flood, Big Country’s weather still varied By John Starbuck Reporter-News Staff Writer More than two consecutive months with nary a trace of rain and one month with 7-plus inches of rainfall helped make 2000 a year of weather contrasts. With a lack of rain from January through April, it looked like the Big Country was in for a bone-dry year. But so much rain fell in late spring and fall that more than 22 inches was recorded for the year — the most precipitation seen since 1997, when 27 inches fell. The normal annual rainfall for the area is 24.40 inches. “Last year began as the driest year ever,” said George Flickinger, chief meteorologist for KTXS-TV. He and other forecasters attributed the dry atmosphere to the La Nina weather phenomenon that affects global weather patterns. La Nina is caused by cooling surface water temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, which allows less rain to fall in West Texas. La Nina kept a strong grip through the summer as the area came one day shy of tying a record for consecutive days without measurable precipitation — 72. July was the third driest month ever since the National Weather Service started keeping records on temperatures in 1907, said Mike Decker with the weather service in San Angelo. In the fall, the Big Country got more rain because the La Nina weather pattern changed. This enabled jet streams, which guide storms in the atmosphere, to move farther south, Decker said. The big gully-washer came Oct. 17 when the heavens dropped almost 3-1/2 inches on the city, causing widespread floods. The monthly total was punctuated with almost 1 inch two days before and 1-1/2 inches a week later. “Those three good rains really helped out,” said Decker, referring to the 2000 total of 22.15 inches. Longtime naval and local television meteorologist Charlie Jordan said the heavy rains toward year’s end were beneficial, but not enough to rid the area of a drought. He added that in the past 2-1/2 years, the area has fallen 20 inches behind on rainfall. He said the three keys to breaking the drought are having plenty of water in creeks, fat cows, and farmers who are able to pay off debts at the bank. Jordan believes the all-time monthly high temperatures of 109 in May and 107 in September last year indicate an unusual weather pattern. “There’s no end to it that I can see yet,” he said. “The meteorologists who have to do this on a day-by-day basis are struggling right now.” The weather pattern that started in the fall should bring near-normal rains for the first part of 2001, Flickinger said. The normal rainfall amounts are the same as last year’s. Flickinger said he predicts more severe thunderstorms this spring. Contact regional writer John Starbuck at 676-6728 or starbuckj@abinews.com. Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story Start or Join A Discussion about This Story Send the URL (Address) of This Story to A Friend: Enter their email address below: texnews reporternews local news features Copyright ©2001, Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps. Publications