Lubbock received 5.86 inches of precipitation in 2011, setting the mark for the driest year since records have been kept here over just more than the past century. The second-driest year was 1917 with 8.73 inches. That's a difference of 2.87 inches.
The average yearly precipitation over the period of 1981 to 2010 is 19.12 inches. We received just 30.6 percent of the yearly average in 2011.
Click here - for more details on the dry year from the National Weather Service Lubbock office. The NWS keeps the official records for Lubbock, taken at Lubbock's airport.
It was also a hot year with 48 days reaching at least 100 degrees in Lubbock. Previous record from 1934 was 29 days. 13.2 percent of days this year reached 100 degrees.
There were 131 days reaching at least 90 degrees, previous record 122 days in 1956. 35.9 percent of days this year reached at least 90 degrees. We had a streak of 100 consecutive days of it reaching 90 degrees this summer.
The nights were also plenty hot through the summer. There were 27 days this year with a low temperature of 75 or warmer. Previous record from 1978 and 1966 was 10 days.
The Weather Service has more stats on the hot summer
here.
