VARIATION OF CLIMATE IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS DURING YEARS OF EXTREME-SEVERE DROUGHT

The temperature-trend for Climate Zone 3 in Texas was assessed using the monthly average temperatures for Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) and Waco via the US National Weather Service. The data sets used spanned from 1901-2018 with a reference baseline from 1951-1980, similar to the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) global temperature estimates. The baseline averages for the DFW and Waco weather stations are 18.7°C and 19.4°C respectively. Temperature anomalies were created from the data sets and Lowess smoothing with a 25% span is currently being used to interpret trends in the anomaly data. A strong positive trend in anomaly data has evolved from 1988 to 2018 for DFW weather station, and a smaller positive trend for Waco starting in 1992 to 2018. The moderating effect from the Gulf of Mexico may influence Waco temperature patterns. The seasonal temperature anomalies for DFW all show a strong positive anomaly over the last 30-40 years, with spring and fall season having a larger increase than winter and summer seasons. The trends of the seasonal variation from the Waco weather station are much smaller compared to the DFW weather station. The NOAA Palmer Drought Severity Index has been investigated for Climate Zone 3 in Texas to assess trends of severe drought during the summer month of July. Extreme to severe drought has been shown to amplify the urban heat island. In order to better understand the correlation between drought and urban heat island temperature and wind speed data from Texas Commission for Environmental Quality will be applied.