Tag Archives: record

NYC Monthly Summary: September 2015

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Summer-like weather extended well into September in New York City this year. With an average temperature of 74.6°F, it was the city’s warmest September on record! It surpassed the previous record set in 1961 by 1.1°F.

Overall, we had twenty-seven out of thirty days with high temperatures above average. Six of those days posted readings in the 90s, including September 8th when the mercury soared to 97°F in Central Park, marking a new record high for the date. Typically, we only see one 90-degree day during September in NYC. Historically, our average temperature for the month is 68°F.

This extended period of warmth was produced by a persistent ridge in the jet stream over the eastern US. It allowed warm air from the south to flow further north than it normally would at this time of year.

In terms of precipitation, September was unusually dry and marked the third consecutive month that NYC received below average rainfall.  In all, we received 3.28 inches of rain, which is one inch below normal. The vast majority of this modest total fell on two separate days in the form of intense downpours. In fact, September 10th set a new daily rainfall record with 1.58 inches measured in Central Park. Nonetheless, despite these soakers, NYC remains in a moderate drought according the latest report (9/29) from the US Drought Monitor.

Sept_Temps

Sept_Rain

Warmest August and Warmest Summer on Record for Planet Earth

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Our global temperature continued its upward trend last month with August 2015 not only marking the warmest August on record, but also closing out the warmest meteorological summer ever recorded for the entire planet.

According to a report by NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Earth’s combined average temperature for August – over both land and sea surfaces – was 61.68°F, which is 1.58°F above the 20th century average. It surpassed the previous record set just last year by 0.16°F and was the sixth month this year to break a monthly temperature record. It also marked the 366th consecutive month that our global temperature was above its long-term norm.

Rising ocean temperatures compounded by El Niño conditions in the tropical Pacific helped fuel August’s record warmth. The globally averaged sea surface temperature for the month was 1.40°F above the 20th century average, which makes it the highest temperature on record for any month. The previous record was set in July 2015.

The three-month period of June, July and August – known as the meteorological summer in the northern hemisphere – was also a record breaker! NOAA reports that Earth’s combined average temperature for the season – over both land and sea surfaces – was 1.53°F above the 20th century average.  That is 0.20°F above the previous record that was set last summer.

While heat dominated most of the planet from June to August, some places were particularly warm, including much of Europe. Austria, France, and Switzerland each experienced their second warmest summer on record and Germany posted its third warmest. Even the southern hemisphere, where it was austral winter, saw warmer than usual conditions. Argentina experienced its warmest winter since national record keeping began there in 1961.

Here in the contiguous US, the summer of 2015 was our 12th warmest on record. While some of the central states saw average to below average temperatures, many of the western states were exceptionally warm. In fact, Oregon and Washington each experienced their warmest summer on record.

Year to date, the first eight months of 2015 were the warmest of any year on record. That puts 2015 on track to becoming Earth’s warmest year ever recorded. Global temperature records date back to 1880.

Credit: NOAA

Credit: NOAA

2015 YTD

2015 is well on its way to becoming Earth’s warmest year on record. Credit: NOAA

NYC Monthly Summary: August 2015

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It was hot in New York City this August. Everyday produced a high temperature above 80°F and eight days saw the mercury climb to 90°F or higher, which is twice the average number for August. Additionally, the month brought the city its first official heat wave in two years. With overnight lows also running mostly above normal, the city’s mean temperature for the month was 79°F, which is 3.8°F above average. This makes August 2015 the city’s 3rd warmest August on record.

On the precipitation side of things, August was very dry in the Big Apple. All told, the city received a mere 2.35 inches of rain in Central Park, which is 2.09 inches below average. On the latest report (8/25) from the US Drought Monitor, the NYC area is listed as “abnormally dry”.

Aug_temps

July 2015: Warmest Month on Record for Planet Earth

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Our global temperature continued its upward trend last month with July 2015 marking not only the warmest July on record, but the warmest month ever recorded for the entire planet.

According to a report by NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Earth’s combined average temperature for the month – over both land and sea surfaces – was 61.86°F, which is 1.46°F above the 20th century average. It surpassed the previous record set in 1998, which was also an El Niño year, by 0.14°F.

July 2015 also marked the 39th consecutive July that our global temperature was above its long-term norm. NOAA says that July – which is climatologically the planet’s warmest month – has been getting hotter over the years. Records show that the temperature for the month is currently increasing at an average rate of 1.17°F per century.

For the oceans, the globally averaged sea surface temperature for the month was 1.35°F above the 20th century average of 61.5°F.  That is the highest departure on record for any month. According to NOAA, the ten highest monthly departures from average for ocean temperatures have all occurred since April 2014.

While heat dominated most of the planet in July, some places were particularly warm. Heat waves in Europe pushed temperatures to record levels across the region. In fact, it was the warmest July on record for both Austria and Spain. Here in the contiguous US, temperatures were slightly warmer than average, but no state set a new record high. This difference highlights the fact that climate change is a complex global phenomenon that involves much more than what is happening in our own backyards.

Year to date, the first seven months of 2015 were the warmest of any year on record. Global temperature records date back to 1880.

Credit: NOAA

Credit: NOAA

First Heat Wave in NYC Since 2013

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It’s official! We’re having a heat wave in New York City.

While we have hit the 90°F mark a few times already this summer, this is the first real heat wave of the season. Actually, it is the first official heat wave in the Big Apple since 2013.

The threshold for what constitutes a heat wave varies by region, but here in the NYC area it is defined as three consecutive days with temperatures reaching 90°F or higher. In Central Park, the temperature reached 92°F on Saturday, 93°F on Sunday, and today it climbed to 95°F – tying the record high for the date.

When factoring in the high levels of humidity these past few days, the heat index felt like it was near 100°F. While these conditions are oppressive, they can also be dangerous. Both a heat advisory and air quality alerts were issued for the city.

For most of the summer, temperatures have been running slightly above average in NYC, but it is interesting to note that there has not been much extreme heat. To date, we have only had ten days with readings at or above 90°F. On average, we typically see fifteen for the season.

June 2015: Warmest June on Record for Planet Earth

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Our global temperature continued its upward trend last month with June 2015 marking the warmest June ever recorded for the entire planet.

According to a report by NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Earth’s combined average temperature for the month – over both land and sea surfaces – was 61.48°F, which is 1.58°F above the 20th century average. It surpassed the previous record set last year by 0.22°F and marked the fourth highest monthly departure from average for any month on record.

June was also the third month this year to break its monthly temperature record, joining  March and May. The other months of 2015 each posted readings that ranked in their top five warmest.

For the oceans, the globally averaged sea surface temperature for the month was 1.33°F above the 20th century average of 61.5°F.  That is the warmest reading on record for any June, eclipsing the previous record set just last year. It also tied with September 2014 as the highest monthly departure from average for any month.

While moderate El Niño conditions  – a natural climate pattern that boosts oceanic and atmospheric temperatures – played a role in June’s record heat, it does not tell the whole story. The long-term trend of human-caused climate change was also a key factor.  NOAA reports that fourteen of the fifteen warmest years on record have occurred since 2000 and they were not all El Niño years.

Year to date, the first six months of 2015 were the warmest of any year on record. Global temperature records date back to 1880.

Credit: NOAA

Credit: NOAA

May 2015: Warmest May on Record for Planet Earth

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Our global temperature continued to rise last month. In fact, May 2015 was the warmest May ever recorded for the entire planet.

According to a report by NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center, Earth’s combined average temperature for the month – over both land and sea surfaces – was 60.17°F. That is 1.57°F above the 20th century average. The previous record was set last year. NOAA also said the May 2015 global temperature “ties with February 1998 as the fourth highest monthly departure from average for any month on record. The two highest monthly departures from average occurred earlier this year in February and March.”

While heat dominated most of the planet last month, some places were particularly warm. Here in the US, five states – Alaska, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island – each had a record warm May.

Rising ocean temperatures, according to NOAA, helped fuel the month’s record warmth. The global sea surface temperature for May was 1.30°F above the 20th century average of 61.3°F.  That is the warmest on record for any May surpassing the previous record set just last year. It should be noted, however, that moderate El Niño conditions were present across the central and eastern Pacific Ocean last month.

Year to date, the first five months of 2015 were the warmest of any year on record. Global temperature records date back to 1880.

Credit: NOAA

Credit: NOAA

May 2015: Wettest Month Ever Recorded in US

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When it rains, it pours – this old adage was literally proven to be true last month. With national weather data dating back to 1895, May 2015 was the wettest month ever recorded in the contiguous United States.

According to NOAA, an average of 4.36 inches of rain fell across the lower 48 states, which is 1.45 inches above average. The vast majority of this impressive total came down in the southern plains. Colorado experienced its wettest May on record. Texas and Oklahoma each had their single wettest month ever, with rain totals that were more than twice their respective long-term averages.

For people living on the either the west or east coasts of the country, this news may come as a bit of a surprise. California continues to be plagued by a devastating drought and many states along the eastern seaboard saw drier than average conditions for the month with six states recording a top-ten driest May.

While the torrential rain in the south central US caused deadly and destructive flooding this spring, it also abruptly ended the region’s multi-year drought. Nationally, the latest report from the US drought monitor shows that only 24.6% of the country is in some form of drought. That is down from 37.4% at the end of April. It is also the smallest national drought footprint since February 2011.

There were many factors that contributed to May’s excessive rainfall, including El Nino – a natural oceanic-atmospheric phenomenon that tends to bring wet weather to the southern part of the country. However, the National Climate Assessment, a US government report that came out last year, says that climate change has caused heavy rain events to become heavier and more frequent across most of the US. Experts expect this trend to continue, but as we saw last month the distribution of rainfall is not likely to be equal.

Credit: NOAA

Credit: NOAA

NYC Monthly Summary: May 2015

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May was unusually warm and dry in New York City this year.

With 26 out of 31 days posting above average highs, including 18 days with readings in the 80s, May felt more like summer than spring. Overnight lows were also well above average throughout most of the month. All together, the city’s mean temperature for the month was 68.5°F, which is 6.1°F above average.  That makes May 2015 the city’s 3rd warmest May on record.

In terms of precipitation, May was exceptionally dry. Coming on the heels of a parched April, the city, according to the latest report (5/28) from the US Drought Monitor, is currently in a state of moderate drought. All told, the city received a mere 1.86 inches of rain in Central Park. Of this meager total, 1.46 inches fell in a single day – the last day of the month – and caused localized flash floods. May, on average, typically brings NYC 4.19 inches of rain.

Graph Credit: The Weather Gamut

Graph Credit: The Weather Gamut

Graph Credit: The Weather Gamut

Graph Credit: The Weather Gamut

Warmest March on Record for Planet Earth

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Our global temperature continued to rise last month. In fact, March 2015 was the warmest March ever recorded for the entire planet.

According to a report released on Friday by NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center, Earth’s combined average temperature for the month – over both land and sea surfaces – was 56.4°F. That is 1.53°F above the 20th century average. The previous record was set in March 2010. NOAA also said, “The March 2015 global temperature was the third highest monthly departure from average on record for any month.”

For those living in the northeastern United States, this news may come as a bit of surprise. Many cities in the region, including New York City, experienced an unusually cold and snowy March this year. This difference in local and global conditions, however, highlights the fact that climate change is a complex phenomenon that involves much more than what is happening in our own backyards.

Year to date, the first quarter of 2015 (January, February, and March) was the warmest of any year on record. Global temperature records date back to 1880.

Credit: NOAA/NCDC

Credit: NOAA/NCDC