What's New on the HGX Homepage?

Latest Page Update: Sat. August 2, 2008

• The Atlantic Basin saw three tropical cyclones in July. Dolly was the first hurricane since Bret in August 1999 to make landfall along the Deep South Texas barrier islands. Bertha was the longest lived July hurricane on record (7 3/4 days), beating out the previous record holder (Emily in 2005) by just under one day. Bertha was also the longest-lived tropical storm on record for both July and for so early in the season. Bertha was the fourth longest lived named storm since 1950 to have formed in any month and was the farthest east forming tropical storm and hurricane for so early in the season. July 2008 ranks as the 5th all-time for number of July named storms. July 19th goes down as the only time on record that three July tropical storms (Bertha, Cristobal and Dolly) were active on the same day in the Atlantic basin.
• With the peak of the hurricane season just around the corner, you still have time to familiarize yourself with our evacuation zones (including potential evacuation routes), tidal flooding information and hurricane plan checklists. Additional and very informative information can be found on the National Hurricane Awareness Week website.
• Don't forget to check out our Experimental Southeast Texas Weekly Weather Briefing usually updated at least once a week by Monday morning. Any feedback on this product would be greatly appreciated.
• August climate normals, means and extremes are available for Houston, Galveston and College Station.
• The Top Ten wettest, driest, warmest, and coolest Augusts are available for Houston, Galveston and College Station.
• Extremes, Normals and Annual Summaries (monthly averages for 2000 through August 2008) are available. Find out... Houston, Galveston and College Station.
• August 2008 climate datum are now available.
• Our Summer 2008 issue of "Storm Signals" is available here.

Previous Page Update: Wed. July 2, 2008

• The Atlantic Basin saw one tropical cyclone in June. It is still very early in the hurricane season and you can still check out the National Hurricane Awareness Week website for excellent information that can be used to save lives at work, home, while on the road, or on the water. So check it out now - do not wait until the next storm is on our doorstep!
• You can check out our 2008 Hurricane Season Highlights page for additional information including evacuation zones (including potential evacuation routes), the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, tropical cyclone names, tidal flooding information, hurricane plan checklists and tracking charts.
• Galveston just recorded its 3rd warmest June on record. Houston just recorded its 5th warmest June on record. College Station just recorded its 4th warmest and 8th driest June on record. Check out the June Climate Summary for more details.
• July climate normals, means and extremes are available for Houston, Galveston and College Station.
• The Top Ten wettest, driest, warmest, and coolest Julys are available for Houston, Galveston and College Station.
• Extremes, Normals and Annual Summaries (monthly averages for 2000 through June 2008) are available. Find out... Houston, Galveston and College Station.
• June 2008 climate datum are now available.
• Our Summer 2008 issue of "Storm Signals" is available here.

Previous Page Update: Mon. June 2, 2008

• The 2008 Houston/Galveston Hurricane Workshop will be held on Saturday, June 7th, from 9 AM to 4 PM at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Also, check out our 2008 Houston/Galveston Preparedness Meetings page for additional hurricane activities on our schedule. June 1st marked the start of the 2008 Hurricane Season.
• NOAA is predicting an above average season. The season got off to an early start with the formation of Tropical Storm Arthur. Here is the first official Tropical Weather Outlook of the season.
• You can check out our 2008 Hurricane Season Highlights page for additional information including evacuation zones (including potential evacuation routes), the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, tropical cyclone names, tidal flooding information, hurricane plan checklists and tracking charts.
• Keeping on the hurricane theme, National Hurricane Awareness Week was May 25-31, 2008. The excellent information on this website can be used to save lives at work, home, while on the road, or on the water. So check it out - do not wait until the next storm is on our doorstep!
• Galveston just recorded its 3rd driest and 4th warmest May on record.
• Drought conditions are increasing across parts of Southeast Texas. Get the details here.
• Rip Current Awareness Week is June 1-7.
• Lightning Safety Week is June 22-28.
• Just a reminder - June severe weather is not always tropical storms or hurricanes. Some recent June severe weather events include strong damaging winds (almost reaching 100 mph!) and grapefruit size hail, tornadoes, floods, and drought.
• June climate normals, means and extremes are available for Houston, Galveston and College Station.
• The Top Ten wettest, driest, warmest, and coolest Junes are available for Houston, Galveston and College Station.
• Extremes, Normals and Annual Summaries (monthly averages for 2000 through May 2008) are available. Find out... Houston, Galveston and College Station.
• May 2008 climate datum are now available.
• Our Spring 2008 issue of "Storm Signals" is available here (the file is very large).

Previous Page Update: Fri. May 16, 2008

• Dean, Felix and Noel will no longer be used for tropical cyclone names. These three deadly and destructive hurricane names from the 2007 Atlantic basin hurricane season have been retired. Get all the details here. Upcoming storm names (through the 2013 season) can be found here.
• The Eastern Pacific 2008 Hurricane Season has begun. Here is the first tropical weather outlookof the season. You can always obtain the latest eastern Pacific activity throughout the season at the National Hurricane Center website.

Previous Page Update: Thu. May 1, 2008

• Mark your calenders! The 2008 Houston/Galveston Hurricane Workshop will be held on Saturday, June 7th, from 9 AM to 4 PM at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Also, check out our 2008 Houston/Galveston Preparedness Meetings page for additional hurricane activities on our schedule. June 1st marks the start of the 2008 Hurricane Season.
• Check out our 2008 Hurricane Season Highlights page for additional information and internet links to help you get ready for the upcoming season. Included on this page are links to evacuation zones (including potential evacuation routes), the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, tropical cyclone names, tidal flooding information, hurricane plan checklists and tracking charts .
• Keeping on the hurricane theme, National Hurricane Awareness Week and Texas Hurricane Awareness Week are both May 25-31, 2008. The excellent information on these websites can be used to save lives at work, home, while on the road, or on the water. So check it out - now is the time to prepare for the upcoming season!
• Just a reminder - we are starting to think about June 1st and the start of the hurricane season, but we do get severe weather in May. Some recent May severe weather events include strong damaging winds (almost reaching 100 mph!) and baseball size hail, tornadoes, two major floods, record low rainfall and drought.
• Air Quality Awareness Week was April 28-May 2.
• May climate normals, means and extremes are available for Houston, Galveston and College Station.
• The Top Ten wettest, driest, warmest, and coolest Mays are available for Houston, Galveston and College Station.
• Extremes, Normals and Annual Summaries (monthly averages for 2000 through April 2008) are available. Find out... Houston, Galveston and College Station.
• April 2008 climate datum are now available.
• Our Spring 2008 issue of "Storm Signals" is available here (the file is very large).

Previous Page Update: Wed. April 2, 2008

• There are only a couple more SKYWARN 2008 classes! Please check out our meeting schedule for training opportunities.
• The countdown continues - the 2008 Hurricane Season begins in less than two months! The 2008 Houston/Galveston Hurricane Workshop will be held on Saturday, June 7th at the George R. Brown Convention Center from 9 AM to 4 PM. In addition to our annual workshop, the NOAA P-3 Hurricane Awareness Tour made a stop on April 15th at Galveston Scholes Field - thanks to everyone who attended! You can also see if there are any hurricane town meetings coming to your area.
• You can check out our 2008 Hurricane Season Highlights page for additional information including evacuation zones (including potential evacuation routes), the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, tropical cyclone names, tidal flooding information, hurricane plan checklists and tracking charts. It is never too early to prepare, and the National Hurricane Awareness Week website is a great place to start.
• Keep on the hurricane theme, the National Hurricane Center has announced some changes to the Tropical Weather Outlook and enhancements to the Experimental Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook.
• Did you know that Galveston set an all-time monthly high temperature last month? On March 15th, Galveston Scholes Field's high temperature of 87 degrees set a new record for the highest temperature ever recorded in the month of March. The old record of 85 degrees was set way back in 1879!
• April climate normals, means and extremes are available for Houston, Galveston and College Station.
• The Top Ten wettest, driest, warmest, and coolest Aprils are available for Houston, Galveston and College Station.
• Extremes, Normals and Annual Summaries (monthly averages for January 2000 through March 2008) are available. Find out... Houston, Galveston and College Station.
• March 2008 climate datum and the March 2008 Climate Summary are now available.
• Our Spring 2008 issue of "Storm Signals" is available here (the file is very large).

Previous Page Update: Sun. March 2, 2008

• SKYWARN 2008 continues! Please check out our latest meeting schedule for training opportunities.
• Flood Safety Awareness Week is March 17-21.
• Severe Weather Awareness Week was February 24 - March 1.
• The countdown continues - the 2008 Hurricane Season is less than three months away! The 2008 Houston/Galveston Hurricane Workshop will be held on Saturday, June 7th at the George R. Brown Convention Center from 10 AM to 4 PM. More details coming soon. In addition to our annual workshop, the NOAA P-3 Hurricane Awareness Tour will be making a stop on April 15th at Galveston Scholes Field.
• You can check out our 2008 Hurricane Season Highlights page for additional information including evacuation zones (including potential evacuation routes), the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, tropical cyclone names, tidal flooding information, hurricane plan checklists and tracking charts. It is never too early to prepare, and the National Hurricane Awareness Week website is a great place to start.
• Check out our St. Patrick's Day Climate Data Page to see what you might expect on March 17th.
• March climate normals, means and extremes are available for Houston, Galveston and College Station.
• The Top Ten wettest, driest, warmest, and coolest Marches are available for Houston, Galveston and College Station.
• Extremes, Normals and Annual Summaries (monthly averages for 2000 through February 2008) are available. Find out... Houston, Galveston and College Station.
• February 2008 climate datum are now available.
• Our Spring 2008 issue of "Storm Signals" is available here (the file is very large).

Previous Page Update: Wed. February 27, 2008

• Our Spring 2008 issue of "Storm Signals" is now available here (the file is very large).

Latest Page Update: Wed. February 13, 2008

• We have added several more SKYWARN classes to the schedule. We hope to see you there!
• Just a reminder...Severe Weather Awareness Week is February 24 - March 1.
• The National Hurricane Center has completed their 2007 Hurricane Season Trackmap. Tropical Cyclone Reports for all of last year's systems are also available here.
• An agreement has been made with NOAA and the Shell Oil Company to place meteorological and oceanographic observation sensors on seven Shell oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico.

Previous Page Update: Sat. February 2, 2008

• The National Hurricane Center has a new director. Familiar face?
• SKYWARN 2008 is here! We look forward to re-connecting with our SKYWARN veterans and perhaps meeting those of you who would like to be one. We already have some meetings on the schedule and we hope to see you there!
• Severe Weather Awareness Week is February 24 - March 1.
• The State of Texas has another Severe Weather Awareness Week website containing more information about this important week. Are you prepared?
• Winter 2007-2008 will soon be history. Learn how to keep your family, pets, and property safe from hazardous winter weather. Other winter weather safety and awareness information can be found here.
• Believe it or not, the start of the 2008 Hurricane Season is less than four months away! The 2008 Houston/Galveston Hurricane Workshop will be held on Saturday, June 7th at the George R. Brown Convention Center from 10 AM to 4 PM. More details coming soon.
• February climate normals, means and extremes are available for Houston, Galveston and College Station.
• The Top Ten wettest, driest, warmest, and coolest Februarys are available for Houston, Galveston and College Station.
• Extremes, Normals and Annual Summaries (monthly averages for 2000 through January 2008) are available. Find out... Houston, Galveston and College Station.
• January 2008 climate datum and the January 2008 Climate Summary are now available.

Previous Page Update: Thu. January 17, 2008

• A SKYWARN class is scheduled for Tuesday, January 22nd in Houston.

Previous Page Update: Sat. January 6, 2008

• The 2007 Climate Summary is now available.
• How about some sunspot news.

Previous Page Update: Tue. January 1, 2008

• Happy New Year from your Houston/Galveston National Weather Service Office!
• SKYWARN 2008 is almost here! We look forward to re-connecting with our SKYWARN veterans and perhaps meeting those of you who would like to be one. We already have some meetings on the schedule and we hope to see you there!
• Learn how to protect your family, pets, and property from hazardous winter weather. Other winter weather safety and awareness information can be found here.
• It's never to early to talk about hurricanes! The 2008 Houston/Galveston Hurricane Workshop will be held on Saturday, June 7th at the George R. Brown Convention Center from 10 AM to 4 PM. More details on the workshop (including the agenda) will be coming soon!
• Galveston just recorded its 5th driest and 10th warmer December on record. In addition, 2007 ended up being their 9th warmest year on record. Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH) established their 6th wettest year on record.
• January climate normals, means and extremes are available for Houston, Galveston and College Station.
• The Top Ten wettest, driest, warmest, and coolest Januarys are available for Houston, Galveston and College Station.
• Extremes, Normals and Annual Summaries (monthly averages for 2000 through 2007) are available. Find out... Houston, Galveston and College Station.
• Our Fall/Winter 2007 issue of "Storm Signals" is now available here (the file is very, very, very large).
• December 2007 climate datum are now available.