Houston’s hottest start to a year on record

2012 breaks many city records

Matt Dietrichson, May 29, 12.

The average temperatures in Houston, Galveston, and College Station since the beginning of 2012 are the hottest ever recorded, according to The Houston Chronicle:

“The lack of a winter coupled with warm overnight low temperatures during the early spring has produced the warmest start to a year,” said Charles Roeseler, a forecaster with the Houston/Galveston office of the National Weather Service.

Houston’s average temperature of 66.9 degrees through Friday is 0.4 degrees above the previous record, set in 1911, of 66.5 degrees. Galveston’s 68.3 degrees this year is a full 1.3 degrees above the previous high set in 1882, and College Station’s high of 65.2 degrees just edged the mark of 65.1 set in 1911.

The warm temperatures have come more through warm nights than hot days - Houston has set just one record high temperature this year but eight records for high minimum temperatures.

Roeseler said not all sites in southeast Texas have set record warm temperatures this year. Freeport has, for example, but Brenham has only recorded its eighth warmest start to a year.

Houston has had a record warm start to the year even after enjoying a relatively moderate May. Since May 10th eight of the 11 days have recorded an average temperature below normal.

That pattern should change this week, with high pressure establishing itself over the area.

Highs should climb to near 90, with lows in the lower 70s. Rain chances are very low until at least next week.