The
University ot Texas Pan-American (UTPA) is located in the subtropical
Rio Grande Valley of Southern Texas, an area of high biological
diversity. The city of Edinburg is 72 miles west of the Gulf
of Mexico and 19 miles north of the Texas-Mexico border. The
university has over 14,400 students, offers modern facilities
and a supportive collegial environment to foster development
of academic and research careers. The
World Birding Center is located in the area and offers opportunities
for research. The economy growth of the region is presently
ranked within the three first fast growing areas of the United
States. The cost of living is relatively low as compared to
the rest of the country.
The sub-tropical
climate of the Rio Grande Valley is characterized by short,
mild winters and summers tempered by the southeastern breezes
from the Gulf of Mexico.
Summer temperatures
remain fairly constant with daytime highs reaching the mid-
to upper-90s, while the pleasant evenings cool down to the mid-70s..
July and August are typically the hottest months, during which
daytime highs may climb to just above 100 degrees in the western
portions of the Valley. However, the moisture-laden air from
the Gulf has a moderating effect on temperatures. Humidity averages
30 to 50 percent.
Winter temperatures
are mild and pleasant. The normal daily minimum for January,
usually the coldest month, is 51 degrees. Frequently an entire
winter will pass without temperatures reaching the freezing
point, although freezes do sometimes occur and may cause damage
to the area's citrus orchards, vegetables. and other crops.
The normal
annual rainfall of 25.09 inches is distributed throughout the
year, generally coming in the form of thunderstorm activity.
Precipitation is often unevenly distributed, geographically
and seasonally. Average length of the Valley's growing season
is from 315 to 349 days, depending on the location.
