The weather is turning cooler as we gear up for the upcoming football season, and with the change in seasons comes the annual ritual of comparing the weather in each state to the others. This year, let’s compare the weather at Texas Motor Speedway to see what the latest reports have to say.
The Weather So Far
Fortunately, we haven’t had to deal with a catastrophic flooding disaster in the Lone Star State this year, as the weather so far has been mostly pleasant, with just a few scattered showers here and there, and some thunderstorms in the summer. The good news keeps on coming, as the summer heat is now giving way to a brisk autumn, which means that the weather is getting more pleasant by the day.
In terms of temperature, the mercury hasn’t dropped significantly, so while it may feel like it’s getting a bit chilly out there, especially at night, it still feels like a comfortable temperature for most.
Texans living in the Greater Houston area may have to endure some heavier rainfall than the rest of the state, due to our area’s wetter climate. However, the good news is that it hasn’t rained nearly as much as the summer of 2017, and it probably won’t rain as much as the summer of 2018, either.
Current Weather Conditions
So, is it raining at Texas Speedway? That depends on where you are, but you would never know it from the TVA radar, which shows scattered showers and thunderstorms mostly staying inland, away from our area. This is definitely not the case, though, as you may have noticed, as you’ve driven to the track, there are definitely showers and thunderstorms in the area. This is due mainly to the fact that the TVA radar can only detect precipitation that is more than 0.5 inches in depth, and a good portion of our rainfall this year is less than half of that amount. If you are one of the many, many fans that have braved the elements to attend a race this year, you may notice that it feels more like a hazy day than a rainy day.
Record-breaking Weather
Now is a great time to be a Texan, as this year has undoubtedly been one of the wettest and most eventful years on record. In fact, many areas of the state now have more than 50 inches of rain, which is absolutely astounding, especially since we haven’t even reached mid-October yet.
In late August, the Houston area saw over 20 inches of rain, matching an all-time record that was set just a few years ago. The rainfall was so significant that it not only caused severe flooding in some areas, it also caused the Missouri and Illinois rivers to rise to record levels. Thankfully, no one was hurt or killed by the flooding this year, but it still was an unsettling reminder of the dangerous ramifications of heavy rain and rapid flooding.
On the other end of the state, things are considerably drier. The Panhandle and the western part of the state have seen less than 30 inches of rain this year, which is about 30 inches less than what they got in 2011 and 2017. Similarly, the Fort Worth area had less than 30 inches of rain this year, which is about 10 inches less than what they got in 2016 and 2018. While it’s still pretty wet in these areas, the flooding danger has receded greatly, and for the most part, has been replaced by a danger of drowning in a mudslide, should you be sleeping in one of the areas listed above.
In hindsight, after reading all this, maybe we shouldn’t have been so smug about the lack of rain back in August. While we’re still grateful that there haven’t been any major catastrophes this year, it would be fitting to commemorate the occasion with a little rain dance. Of course, the irony is not lost on us.
Odds & Ends
It’s also worth noting that while it rained a lot this year, it didn’t always pour. In fact, there were several days where the weatherman on TV didn’t even bother to mention the possibility of rain. On one of those days, the forecast called for a 70% chance of rain, but it actually held up pretty well, with only a few sprinkles here and there, and a sunny day.
Now is a great time to be a Texan, as this year has undoubtedly been one of the wettest and most eventful years on record. In fact, many areas of the state now have more than 50 inches of rain, which is absolutely astounding, especially since we haven’t even reached mid-October yet.