Let's Talk About the Weather!
Everyone is talking about the weather! Not enough rain, temperatures too hot or too cold.
It's a good topic!
Several days in a row with 95+ degrees can be enough for anyone -- even tough Texans. In June of 1953, a high of 108 degrees was recorded.
But, that's not even the highest recorded in Texas. That temperature was in Seymour on August 12, 1936, when the thermometer reached 120 degrees.
A real Texas summer heat wave occurred in the summer of 1953 when temperatures reached 100 degrees on 26 days.
The Panhandle is known for being windy. The average wind speed for Moore County is 16.89 mph; for Texas, it is 15.55 mph; and for the nation, wind speed is 16.93 mph. Windiest months for the Panhandle are March, April, and May.
Average temperature for Moore County is 56.11 degrees. Average for Texas is 65.97 degrees and the national average is 54.45 degrees.
The Panhandle most always needs more rain, but that was especially true in 1970 when 9.56 inches was measured. The most moisture recorded was in 1923 with 39.75 inches. The most rain recorded on a single day was on July 8, 1943, when 4 inches fell.
The average annual precipitation for Moore County is 17.08 inches. The state average is 35 inches and the United States average is 38.67.
Late July and August make Panhandle residents look toward the fall and perhaps some welcome snow.
Average annual snowfall for Moore County is 12.59 inches, for Texas 1.36 inches and for the nation, it is 23.27 inches.
A gentle snowfall is always welcome, but sometimes it is not so gentle. In 1938, a blizzard hit the eastern Panhandle that became known as the 84 Hour Blizzard -- it just wouldn't stop. An earlier blizzard happened in 1918 and the one in 1957 brought 30 foot drifts, eleven deaths, and $6 million in damages.
Snowfall on February 5, 1964 reached 18 inches and for the entire winter reached 50 inches.
One of the first blizzards recorded in Moore County was January 7, 1886, when hundreds of cattle were lost. A similar storm started about 3 p.m. one afternoon in February of 1899 and lasted for three days. In 1898, severe storms and lots of snow stated in November and didn't stop until March.
With winter snows come cold temperatures. The coldest recorded temperature in Texas was at Seminole on February 8, 1933, when the thermometer showed 23 degrees below zero.
Whether it's too hot, too cold, too windy or too wet, the weather is always a good topic for conversation -- and history shows -- wait a few days and it will change!
Compiled from articles in the archives at Window on the Plains Museum
It's a good topic!
Several days in a row with 95+ degrees can be enough for anyone -- even tough Texans. In June of 1953, a high of 108 degrees was recorded.
But, that's not even the highest recorded in Texas. That temperature was in Seymour on August 12, 1936, when the thermometer reached 120 degrees.
A real Texas summer heat wave occurred in the summer of 1953 when temperatures reached 100 degrees on 26 days.
The Panhandle is known for being windy. The average wind speed for Moore County is 16.89 mph; for Texas, it is 15.55 mph; and for the nation, wind speed is 16.93 mph. Windiest months for the Panhandle are March, April, and May.
Average temperature for Moore County is 56.11 degrees. Average for Texas is 65.97 degrees and the national average is 54.45 degrees.
The Panhandle most always needs more rain, but that was especially true in 1970 when 9.56 inches was measured. The most moisture recorded was in 1923 with 39.75 inches. The most rain recorded on a single day was on July 8, 1943, when 4 inches fell.
The average annual precipitation for Moore County is 17.08 inches. The state average is 35 inches and the United States average is 38.67.
Late July and August make Panhandle residents look toward the fall and perhaps some welcome snow.
Average annual snowfall for Moore County is 12.59 inches, for Texas 1.36 inches and for the nation, it is 23.27 inches.
A gentle snowfall is always welcome, but sometimes it is not so gentle. In 1938, a blizzard hit the eastern Panhandle that became known as the 84 Hour Blizzard -- it just wouldn't stop. An earlier blizzard happened in 1918 and the one in 1957 brought 30 foot drifts, eleven deaths, and $6 million in damages.
Snowfall on February 5, 1964 reached 18 inches and for the entire winter reached 50 inches.
One of the first blizzards recorded in Moore County was January 7, 1886, when hundreds of cattle were lost. A similar storm started about 3 p.m. one afternoon in February of 1899 and lasted for three days. In 1898, severe storms and lots of snow stated in November and didn't stop until March.
With winter snows come cold temperatures. The coldest recorded temperature in Texas was at Seminole on February 8, 1933, when the thermometer showed 23 degrees below zero.
Whether it's too hot, too cold, too windy or too wet, the weather is always a good topic for conversation -- and history shows -- wait a few days and it will change!
Compiled from articles in the archives at Window on the Plains Museum