Tag Archives: heat

A Late Spring Heat Wave in NYC

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Temperatures have been soaring in the northeastern United States.  In fact, it feels like mid-summer and the start of that season is still more than two weeks away.

In New York City, temperatures reached 90°F for three consecutive days.  This marks the city’s first official heat wave of the season.  Our normal high for this time of year is a more moderate 75°F. This extreme heat also caused a number health concerns, including air quality alerts.

The dramatic rise in temperature across the region was the result of a Bermuda High – an area of high pressure that steers hot air from the Gulf of Mexico toward the northeast.  The summer-like conditions of this weather pattern, however, are expected to come to a stormy end late tonight as a cold front moves into the area.

Tenth Warmest March on Record for Planet Earth

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March 2013 was unusually cool across most of the eastern United States, including here in New York City.  For much of the rest of the world, however, it was warmer than average.

According to NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center, March 2013 tied March 2006 as the tenth warmest March on record for the entire globe.  The planet’s combined average temperature for the month – over both land and ocean surfaces – was 55.14°F, which is 1.04°F above the 20th century average.

March 2013 also marked the 337th consecutive month that our global temperature was above its long-term norm. That means the last below-average global temperature for any month was February 1985.

GlobalTemps_March2013Image Credit: NOAA

Extreme Heat: Australia Adds New Colors to Weather Map

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It is summer in Australia and it is hot!  Facing unprecedented heat, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology has added two new temperature categories – with corresponding colors – to their forecast map.

Previously capped at 50°C (122°F), the new map can represent readings up to 54°C  (129.2°F). Deep purple and hot pink will now indicate areas experiencing these new temperature ranges.

While Australia’s all time record high of 50.7°C (123.3°F), set on January 2,1960 in South Australia, currently still stands, this revised map anticipates a new record high.  For many, it also reflects a new climate reality.

Australian Bureau of Metereology temperature map with new colors to show extreme heat. Image Credit: ABM

Australian Bureau of Metereology temperature map with new colors to show extreme heat.   Image Credit: ABM

2012: Warmest Year on Record for U.S.

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Its official!  2012 was the warmest year on record for the contiguous United States.

According to the National Climatic Data Center, the average temperature for the country was 55.3°F, which is 3.2°F above the long-term norm.  It is also a full 1°F above the old record set in 1998.  While a single degree may not sound like much, it is actually a large departure.  Records usually only differ by a tenth of a degree.

As hot as it was last year, this new record does not come as much of a surprise.  2012 brought the United States a record warm spring in addition to its fourth warmest winter, third warmest summer, and an above average autumn.

In terms of precipitation, 2012 was the 15th driest year on record in this country.  The average precipitation total for the lower forty-eight states was 26.57 inches, which is 2.57 below normal.  This lack of rain brought on the worst drought this nation has seen in more than fifty years.  The dry conditions, in turn, helped fuel a destructive wildfire season.  More than nine million acres were charred nationwide this year – the third largest area on record.

While high temperatures and low precipitation dominated, 2012 was also a year of severe weather.  According to the US Climate Extremes Index, 2012 was the second most extreme year on record for this country.  As a whole, the nation experienced eleven natural disasters that each caused at least one billion dollars worth of damage.  These events included hurricanes Sandy and Isaac as well as several tornado outbreaks in the south and mid-west. What a year!

Fifth Warmest November for Planet Earth

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November of this year was unseasonably cool along the east coast of the United States, including here in New York City.  Much of the rest of the planet, however, was exceptionally warm.

According to the National Climatic Data Center, November 2012 was the fifth warmest November on record for the entire globe.  Earth’s combined average temperature for the month – over both land and sea surfaces – was 56.41°F, which is 1.21°F above the 20th century average.  This November also marks the 333rd consecutive month that our global temperature was above its long-term norm.

While a certain amount of climate variability is natural, it is important to note that since record keeping began in 1880, our planet’s ten warmest Novembers have all occurred in the past twelve years.  In contrast, the ten coolest Novembers were all recorded prior to 1920.

Nov2012_Global_Temps

Image Credit: National Climatic Data Center

Third Hottest Summer for U.S.

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Summer is a season known for high temperatures.  This year, however, they were more extreme than usual across much of the United States.

According to the National Climatic Data Center report released this week, Summer 2012 was the third warmest summer ever recorded in the lower forty-eight states. As a whole, the nation averaged a temperature of 74.4°F, which is 2.3°F above the long-term norm. Only the summers of 1936 (74.6°F) and 2011 (74.5°F) were hotter.

This summer’s exceptional heat follows both a record warm spring and winter.  In fact, 2012 – to date – has been this country’s warmest year on record.

Fourth Warmest July for Planet Earth

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July of this year, as mentioned in a previous post, was the hottest month on record for the contiguous United States.  The heat, however, was not limited to this country’s borders.

The National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) reported today that July 2012 was the fourth warmest July ever recorded for the entire globe.  The planet’s combined average temperature for the month – over both land and ocean surfaces – was 61.52°F, which is 1.12°F above the 20th century average.  July 2012 was also the 329th consecutive month that our global temperature was above the long-term norm.

While heat dominated most of the planet last month, some areas, such as Alaska, Australia, and parts of Europe, posted below average temperatures.  Experts say these pockets of cooler conditions are normal, but note that they are shrinking as the Earth’s atmosphere warms overall.

The Hottest Month Ever in the U.S.

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High temperatures are not uncommon for July in the U.S., but this year they were extreme.  July 2012 now marks the hottest month ever recorded in the lower forty-eight states.

According to NOAA’s monthly climate report, the country averaged 77.6°F this July.  That is 3.3°F above the 20th century average and breaks the previous record set during the Dust Bowl in July 1936.

Most of the heat last month was centered in the mid-west and central plains, where it fueled the region’s devastating drought. By the end of the month, more than 60% of the U.S. was in a state of moderate drought or worse.  These hot and dry conditions were ideal for wildfires, which scorched more than two million acres nationwide in July alone.

On the whole, this year has been exceptionally warm across the contiguous United States.  In fact, the period of January through July 2012 now stands as the warmest seven months this country has seen since modern record keeping began in 1895.

NYC Monthly Summary: July 2012

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July is generally the warmest month on the calendar for New York City, and this year temperatures soared. We had ten days when the thermometer read 90°F or above, including July 18th when the mercury hit 100°F in Central Park.  This extreme heat helped raise the city’s average monthly temperature to 78.8°F, which is 2.3°F above normal.

In terms of precipitation this July, NYC experienced a number of severe thunderstorms, which brought much-needed rainfall to the area. In the end, however, the city only collected 4.21 inches of rain, which is 0.39 inches below normal. While not in a drought, it is interesting to note that the city has received below average precipitation for six out of the past seven months.

Graph Credit: The Weather Gamut

Western Wildfires and Climate Change

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Summer is wildfire season in the American West, and it is off to a raging start. Fueled by prolonged drought and extreme heat, many experts agree that climate change is a significant contributing factor to this year’s widespread fires.

According to NOAA, the past eleven years have all ranked among the warmest on record in terms of global average temperatures. This warming trend, scientists report, is causing an increase in both the frequency and intensity of many dangerous weather phenomena, including forest fires.

This year, hot and dry conditions have dominated much of the United States.  In fact, this summer’s excessive heat follows our country’s warmest spring ever and fourth warmest winter to date.  In the West, these unusually mild conditions did not allow a sizeable snow pack to accumulate in the mountains, reducing spring run-off.  As a result, the region is parched and susceptible to any type of spark.

Warmer winters have also allowed the Rocky Mountain Pine Beetle population to explode and spread to higher elevations.  Feeding on various types of pines, the beetles leave large stands of dead trees in their wake when they move through an area. These ghost forests then essentially act as kindling for potential wildfires.

As of today, nearly forty large fires are burning in ten western states. Despite the arrival of the region’s monsoon season, many of these destructive flames are expected to continue blazing throughout the summer.

Intense wildfires burn across the American West.

Image Credit: KSTP