The Weather at the Observatory

DRESS WARMLY!!! Temperatures vary quite a bit at our elevation (6,300-6,800 feet above sea level) and are usually much cooler than other areas of Texas. For summer make sure you bring a light jacket and long pants. For Fall, Winter, and early Spring programs, layer your attire and bring a warm coat, thermals, gloves, and something to keep your head warm.

Some useful weather links to help plan your visit to the Observatory are the National Weather Service forecast for the Observatory, The Weather Underground forecast, the National Center for Atmospheric Research satellite view (choose "ABQ" on the map for our area), AccuWeather Astronomy Forecast, and Intellicast radar (enter "Fort Davis, TX" for our area).

Monthly climate data, 1935-2012, are listed below. Please note that low and high temperatures (Fahrenheit) are averages; therefore, the low temperature on a particular night can be much lower (20's or teens in winter for example):

Month Avg High Record High Avg Low Record Low Avg Rain (in) Avg Snow (in)
Jan 54 80 32 -10 0.68 1.9
Feb 57 79 34 -6 0.49 0.8
Mar 64 88 38 4 0.4 0.2
Apr 71 94 45 11 0.5 0.1
May 79 96 52 26 1.63 0
Jun 85 104 58 36 2.49 0
Jul 83 100 59 40 3.82 0
Aug 81 104 58 40 3.69 0
Sep 77 96 54 29 2.95 0
Oct 71 94 48 13 1.61 0.1
Nov 61 82 39 8 0.61 0.4
Dec 54 80 34 -2 0.6 1.2

Source: Western Regional Climate Center

 

 

Below, you'll find the current weather conditions as measured at an altitude of ~ 6250 feet at the Frank Bash Visitors Center at the McDonald Observatory:

 

A view of the valley outside of Fort Davis from the top of Mount Locke on December 24th, 2011. Note that, while the valley floor was free of snow, Mt. Locke was mostly frozen over. Temperatures at the Observatory are frequently 10 or more degrees (F) lower than the surrounding areas. (Frank Cianciolo / McDonald Observatory)