This Winter Was One of the Warmest in Texas History, Says State Climatologist

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Texas' state climatologist says the current El Nino weather pattern that's been in place since last summer over the central Pacific Ocean is on its way out but not before leaving Texas with one of its warmest winters on record.

John Nielsen-Gammon says while above normal rainfall is common during El Nino, above-normal temperatures are not.

The Texas A&M University professor says winter in Texas was nonexistent in many places.

Low winter season temperatures of 22 degrees at Abilene, 27 in Dallas, 30 in San Antonio, 31 in Austin and 40 in Galveston were all records that go back more than a century.

Nielsen-Gammon says the weather patterns in the state could change in the coming months under the influence of La Nina, a natural cooling in the Pacific.