HIGH STORM RISK  — Victoria endures some of the harshest roofing conditions on the Texas Gulf Coast. The record high of 111 F was set in September 2000 and the record low of 9 F in December 1989 -- an extreme range that repeatedly stresses roofing materials through thermal expansion and contraction. Annual precipitation averages 41.22 inches. Hurricane Carla in September 1961 remains the most intense hurricane to affect Victoria, while Hurricane Claudette in July 2003 brought gusts to 83 mph and knocked out power to 90 percent of the city. A rare 12.5 inches of snow fell on December 24-25, 2004, adding snow-load stress to a roof stock engineered primarily for heat and wind.