Welcome to Texas and Tarleton State University! We in Undergraduate Admissions – Immigration and International Programs are happy that you have chosen to continue your education at Tarleton. Texas has four distinct seasons, each with its own unique characteristics. Please read on for information about each of our seasons and how to prepare for them.

Spring (March-May)

Springtime in Texas means that the bluebonnets and other native Texas wildflowers are in bloom thanks to warming temperatures and rain. May is typically our first rainy season of the year, and with the rain can come severe weather due to the clash between the cold winter air and the warm spring air. Tornadoes, straight line winds, and hail are common in Texas during the spring. In the event of severe weather, stay inside and away from windows. Tie down any loose patio furniture or bring it indoors. If you have a car, park it under a carport or in your garage to avoid hail damage. Finally, if a tornado warning is issued, go to lowest floor of your house, apartment, or dorm building and hide in the most interior room you can find. Again, stay away from windows. Protect your head from flying debris and be sure to wear sturdy, closed toed shoes such as tennis shoes or boots. Daytime temperatures typically range between 70⁰F in March and 85⁰F in May (21⁰C and 29⁰C).

Texas weather is always changing.

Summer (June-August)

Hot and dry accurately describe Texas summers. As a result, heat alerts, burn bans, and droughts are very common during the summer. June usually is not too terrible, with daytime temperatures in the mid-80’s to low 90’s (29⁰C-33⁰C). However, July and August are downright hot, with daytime temperatures in the upper 90’s to low 100’s (35⁰C-39⁰C). Stay out of the afternoon heat as much as possible, drink lots of water to stay hydrated, and use sunscreen to avoid sunburns. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are serious conditions that can result from spending too much time in the heat and, in the case of heat stroke, can be deadly.

Fall (September-November)

As the temperature transitions from the summer heat to the winter cold, the fall marks our second severe weather season of the year. Be sure to take the same precautions in the fall that you do when severe weather strikes in the spring. Daytime temperatures usually range between low 90’s in September and 60’s in November (33⁰C and 20⁰C).

Winter (December-February)

Winter is an unpredictable season in Texas. In some years, we have no winter storm emergencies, but in others, we do. Usually December is not too bad, with daytime temperatures in the 50’s and 60’s (10⁰C and 20⁰C). However, January and February are cold. It is not unusual for us to be below freezing during the day. All modes of winter weather (i.e., snow, sleet, and freezing rain) are possible when the Arctic air coming down from Canada meets the moisture coming up from the Gulf of Mexico. In the event of a winter storm that drops the temperature below freezing, if you have a car, park it under a carport or in your garage to avoid its being covered in ice. Additionally, it is a good idea to stock up on essentials such as bottled water, fruit, and nonperishable foods so that you will have something to eat in case you cannot go outside for a couple of days, or the power goes out. Fortunately, unlike in the northern United States, our winter weather tends to only last for a few days before we, mercifully, warm up again.

Local News Stations’ Websites

In addition to Tarleton’s Code Purple notification system, our local news stations’ websites and weather apps are also great resources for current weather information.

Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex
- KTVT CBS DFW Channel 11 – https://www.cbsnews.com/dfw/weather/
- KDFW Fox Channel 4 – https://www.fox4news.com/weather
- KXAS NBC DFW Channel 5 – https://www.nbcdfw.com/weather/
- WFAA ABC Channel 8 – https://www.wfaa.com/weather/
Waco
- KCEN NBC Channel 6 – https://www.kcentv.com/weather
- KWTX CBS Channel 10 – https://www.kwtx.com/weather/
- KXXV ABC Channel 25 – https://www.kxxv.com/weather
- KWKT Fox Channel 44 – https://www.fox44news.com/weather/

County Information

When the National Weather Service issues weather alerts, they issue them by county. Therefore, it is essential to know in which county you live so you know if and when you need to act to protect yourself.

Stephenville – Erath County
Granbury – Hood County
Glen Rose – Somervell County
Fort Worth (and immediate suburbs) – Tarrant County
Dallas (and immediate suburbs) – Dallas County
Midlothian – Ellis County
Waco (and immediate suburbs) – McLennan County

Tarleton State University

Undergraduate Admissions – Immigration

Box T-0030

Stephenville, TX 76402

[email protected]

254-968-9632