April 2008

Report and Summary

Tyler, Texas
April 2008
by Robert K. Peters, Ph.D.
National Weather Service Cooperating Observer

The month of April 2008 was slightly cooler and slightly wetter than normal. Compared with April 2007, the month was 2.6 deg. Warmer, and 1.25 inches drier. Year-to-date rainfall through month's end was 1.24 inches greater in 2007 than in 2008. The thirty-day outlook had called for above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation.

The week March 30-April 5 saw near normal temperatures, and rainfall about 400 percent of normal. Flooding rains occurred from Hemphill northward to Longview on the 29th and 30th. Another heavy rain event across the central and west came on the 4th, with the flooded areas spared additional downpours. Hemphill received 11.68 inches of rain during the week. The early-week rains were the result of a slow-moving and diffuse warm front interacting with considerable moisture and upper air support. The late-week rains were the result of a cold front and upper air storm system. The week's average temperature was 64.9 deg., and rainfall was 3.39 inches. This was 4.4 deg. Warmer than the previous week. Compared with the same week in 2007, the week was 5.2 deg. Warmer, and 3.74 inches wetter.

The week April 6-12 saw temperatures about 3 degrees above normal, and rainfall about one- half normal Tropical Maritime air was over the region through the 10th, but a strong cold front on the 11th dramatically lowered temperatures. Severe thunderstorms crossed the region on the evening of the 8th and the morning of the 10th. In the first event, a tornado touched down in northern Rusk County near Kilgore. The week's average temperature was 67.9 deg., and rainfall was 0.50 inch. This was 3.0 deg. Warmer than the previous week. Compared with the same week in 2007, the week was 10.7 deg. Warmer, and 0.31 inch drier.

The week April 13-19 saw temperatures about 7 degrees below normal, and rainfall about 150 percent of normal. The week started cool, with frost occurring in Tyler on the morning of the 14th. A few stations observed a light freeze on that and the following morning. A dramatic warm-up began on the 16th, with another storm system and weaker cold front crossing on the 18th. Tyler's only rain of the week fell that morning. Conditions were windy on the 16th, 17th, and behind the front on the 18th. The week's average temperature was 59.7 deg., and rainfall was 1.30 inches. This was 8.2 degrees cooler than the previous week. Compared with the same week in 2007, the week was 2.6 deg. Cooler, and 1.20 inches wetter.

The week April 20-26 saw temperatures about 4 degrees above normal, and rainfall about two-thirds normal. Much of the week was spent under Tropical Maritime air with warm temperatures and high humidities. Three storm systems penetrated the western counties, with severe weather on the evening of the 23rd, and again on the 25th. A weaker system on the 22nd brought only some light showers. Tyler's measurable rain fell with the weak system of the 22nd, and as the first line decayed early on the morning of the 24th. The second line brought only a trace of rain to the city. Neither of the two severe thunderstorm clusters affected Smith County. Cooler air entered the region on the morning of the 26th behind the cold front associated with the previous evening's thunderstorms. The week's average temperature was 72.2 deg., which was 12.5 deg. Warmer than the previous week. Rainfall was 0.58 inch. Compared with the same week in 2007, the week was 3.1 deg. Warmer, and 3.42 inches drier.

The final four days of the month began cool behind a strong cold front which crossed on the morning of the 27th. This front brought the period's rain. Temperatures returned to normal values on the 30th as southerly winds and Gulf moisture return ahead of another storm system.

• 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

The reporting period for temperatures 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. The reporting period for precipitation is for the twenty-four hours ending at noon GMT--6 a.m. CST and 7 a.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.

APRIL 2008

• 01 74 58 62
• 02 64 56 61
• 03 81 60 76
• 04 70 51 57 1.64 T, PCPN 1000-1400, 1600-1700, MN 0000-1200 61, MX 1200-2400 61
• 05 72 44 67
• 06 80 50 74
• 07 84 55 79
• 08 83 64 79
• 09 83 63 78
• 10 82 62 77 0.50 T, PCPN 1200-1500 MN 0000-1200 73
• 11 73 54 68 tr MN 0000-1200 56.
• 12 70 47 65
• 13 64 44 60
• 14 66 36 61
• 15 72 41 68
• 16 78 49 73
• 17 78 60 73
• 18 69 48 66 1.30 T, PCPN 0600-0900
• 19 84 47 80
• 20 80 55 76
• 21 84 65 81
• 22 83 69 81 0.03 PCPN 1800-1900
• 23 86 68 80 MN 0000-1200 70
• 24 84 61 79 0.55 T, PCPN 0500-0800
• 25 80 64 75 MN 0000-1200 68
• 26 70 61 68 tr. T
• 27 64 48 59 0.29 T, PCPN 1200-1500 MN 0000-1200 62
• 28 75 43 72
• 29 82 48 78
• 30 82 56 78

APRIL 2008, RECORDS AND SUMMARY:

• HIGHEST TEMPERATURE 86 ON THE 23RD,
• LOWEST TEMPERATURE 36 ON THE 14TH;
• AVERAGE MAXIMUM 76.6 F.,
• AVERAGE MINIMUM 54.2 F.,
• AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 65.4 F.,
• 1.2 DEG. COOLER THAN NORMAL.
• HEATING DEGREE DAYS 81,
• 155.8 PERCENT OF NORMAL HEATING DEGREE DAYS.
• COOLING DEGREE DAYS 93,
• 94.9 PERCENT OF NORMAL COOLING DEGREE-DAYS;
• TOTAL PRECIPITATION 4.31 IN.,
• 0.61 IN. GREATER THAN MONTHLY NORMAL.
• 116.5 PERCENT OF NORMAL MONTHLY PRECIPITATION.
• YEAR-TO-DATE PRECIPITATION 17.02 IN.,
• 2.29 IN. GREATER THAN NORMAL YEAR-TO-DATE PRECIPITATION,
• 115.5 PERCENT OF NORMAL YEAR-TO-DATE PRECIPITATION;
• 6 DAYS ON WHICH THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRED;
• 0DAYS 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;
• 0 DAYS ON WHICH FROZEN PRECIPITATION WAS OBSERVED;
• 0 IN. TOTAL SNOWFALL.
• 6 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.
• 0 DAYS ON WHICH THE MINIMUM TEMPERATURE REACHED OR FELL BELOW 32 DEG.
• 1966 SEASON-TO-DATE HEATING DEGREE DAYS,
• PERCENTAGE OF NORMAL SEASON-TO-DATE HEATING DEGREE DAYS: 100.9,
• 161 YEAR-TO-DATE COOLING DEGREE DAYS.
• PERCENTAGE OF NORMAL YEAR-TO-DATE COOLING DEGREE DAYS: 111.0.
• PRECIPITATION DURING THE PREVIOUS TWELVE MONTHS 56.28 IN.,
• TWELVE-MONTH PRECIPITATION PERCENTAGE 124.3.

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