Saturday, August 6, 2011

Austin Ties Breaks Extends Record for Consecutive 100° Days
Update: Waco Ties Breaks Extends Record


Image (click to enlarge): Total number of days with temperatures of 100° or higher to date at Austin, Texas, CapitalClimate chart from National Weather Service data

For the latest record annual total update, see:
Texas Toasted: Austin Ties Breaks Annual 100° Day Record


Aug. 22, 7 PM CDT Update: The Austin high today was a daily record-tying 105°, last seen in 1925.

Waco has now extended its record annual total by a week, with 70 days through today.

Aug. 22, 3 PM CDT Update: The Austin temperature has reached 102°, tying 2009 with 68 total days so far this year. This is just one short of the record.

Aug. 15, 4 PM CDT Update: With 102° yesterday and at least 105° today, Waco has tied its annual record of 63 days with temperatures of 100° or higher. The 105° also ties the record for the date.

Aug. 15, 2 PM CDT Update: [Posting and updating delayed by Comcast's second multi-hour outage in 6 days.] After hitting 105° again yesterday, Austin is back to 100° this afternoon, bringing the annual total to 61.

Aug. 13, 6 PM CDT Update: The high today of 97° at Austin ends the streak at 27 days, breaking the old record by 6 days.

Aug. 12, 4 PM CDT Update: The current 102° at Austin extends the record streak of 100° temperatures to 27 days and the annual total to 59.

Dallas has tied its 4th highest annual total with 48 days, and Waco has tied its 2nd highest total with 61. The record streak at Waco is extended to 44 days.

Aug. 11, 8 PM CDT Update: Dallas ended its streak at 40 days with a high of 97°. The high at Waco was 104°.

Aug. 11, 4 PM CDT Update: Waco has broken its record streak with at least 102° and a 43rd consecutive day, but clouds have knocked Dallas back into the 80s, probably ending the streak there.

Aug. 11, 3 PM CDT Update: Austin is 101° at 3 pm. The record streak is 26 days and the annual total to date is 58 [chart updated].

Aug. 10, 3 PM CDT Update: Austin's temperature of 102° at 3 pm extends the record streak to 25 consecutive days and the yearly count to 57.

Waco has now tied its record with 42 consecutive days, equal to the streak of June 23 to Aug. 3, 1980. The 40th consecutive day at Dallas is still 2 short of the record.

Aug. 9, 3 PM CDT Update: The Austin temperature reached 100° by 2 pm for the 24th consecutive day and the 56th day so far this year.

Aug. 8, 4:30 PM CDT Update: The National Weather Service reports:
AUSTIN MABRY HAS HAD 23 CONSECUTIVE 100 DEGREE DAYS FROM JULY 17TH

THROUGH AUGUST 8TH. THIS BROKE THE RECORD FROM 1898 TO 2010 OF 21
DAYS FROM JULY 12 TO AUGUST 1...2001. AUSTIN BERGSTROM HAS HAD 10
CONSECUTIVE 100 DEGREE DAYS FROM JULY 30TH TO AUGUST 8TH...2011.
DEL RIO HAD 11 CONSECUTIVE 100 DEGREE DAYS FROM JULY 12TH TO
JULY 22ND...2011. SAN ANTONIO HAS HAD 8 CONSECUTIVE 100 DEGREE
DAYS FROM AUGUST 1ST TO AUGUST 8TH...2011.

THE TABLE BELOW SHOWS THE NUMBER OF 100 DEGREE DAYS SO FAR THIS YEAR
AT AUSTIN...DEL RIO...HONDO...NEW BRAUNFELS...AND SAN ANTONIO THROUGH
AUGUST 8TH.

LOCATION 100 DEGREE DAYS
AS OF AUG 8

DEL RIO 61
NEW BRAUNFELS 40
AUSTIN MABRY 55
AUSTIN BERGSTROM INTL AP 42
SAN ANTONIO INTL AP 31
SAN ANTONIO STINSON 57
HONDO 49
Aug. 8, 1 PM CDT Update: With a current Austin temperature of 100°, this is now the record-breaking 23rd consecutive day of 100° readings and the 55th so far this year.

Aug. 7, 3 PM CDT Update: The Austin temperature of 102° at the current hour breaks the record for consecutive days with 100° temperatures. This is the 22nd consecutive day and the 54th so far this year [chart updated].

From the Austin Statesman police blotter:
Nude sunbather goes to hospital for second-degree burns

Aug. 7, 1 PM CDT Update: Right on schedule, Austin's temperature is up 4° in the last hour to 98°, so the record for consecutive days with 100° is likely to fall in the next hour or 2.

5 PM CDT Update: The high so far today was 104°, just 1° below the record originally set in 1923 and tied in 2009.

Original post:
With a report of 100° as of 3 pm CDT, this is now the 21st consecutive day with temperatures of 100° or higher at Austin, Texas. That ties the record set from July 12 to August 1, 2001. It is also the 53rd 100°+ day so far this year, well ahead of the near-record pace in 2009. At this point in 2009, the total was 47. The record annual total is 69 in 1925.

Highs of at least 103° are forecast for the next 7 days as well, which would bring the total to 60.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Dallas Hits All-Time High Minimum Temperature 2nd 3rd Time This Year;
New Record at Waco


Image (click to enlarge): Record high temperatures in north-central Texas forecast for August 4, 2011, from National Weather Service

See Record Heat for the latest updates.

Aug. 4, Midnight CDT Update: With the Dallas temperature still 92° at midnight daylight time, this morning's low of 86° is virtually guaranteed to tie the new high minimum record for the second day in a row.

Original post:
Breaking an all-time high minimum temperature record by 3° is remarkable enough, but after setting the record with a low of 86° on July 26, Dallas tied that record again yesterday. Waco also broke its all-time record. With a temperature of 101° as of noon CDT, this is now the 34th consecutive 100° day at Dallas. It will be the 36th consecutive day at Waco.

From the National Weather Service:
ON WEDNESDAY AUGUST 3RD...DALLAS/FORT WORTH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT   
RECORDED A HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 109 DEGREES AND A LOW TEMPERATURE OF
86 DEGREES.

THE HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 109 BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 107 SET IN
1998.

THE LOW TEMPERATURE OF 86 TIES THE ALL-TIME WARMEST MINIMUM
TEMPERATURE EVER RECORDED AT DALLAS/FORT WORTH WHICH ALSO OCCURRED
JULY 26TH OF THIS YEAR. THE PREVIOUS DAILY RECORD WARMEST MINIMUM
WAS 83 WAS SET IN 1910 AND 1980.

THE HIGH TEMPERATURE YESTERDAY...AUGUST 3RD AT WACO REGIONAL AIRPORT
WAS 108 DEGREES. THIS BREAKS THE PREVIOUS RECORD HIGH OF 107 DEGREES
SET IN 1998.

THE LOW TEMPERATURE YESTERDAY...AUGUST 3RD AT WACO REGIONAL AIRPORT
WAS 83 DEGREES. THIS BREAKS THE PREVIOUS RECORD WARMEST MINIMUM FOR
THE DATE OF 82 DEGREES SET IN 1910...1914...1930...AND 1932.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

All-Time Hottest Temperatures in Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma;
Update: New Ft. Smith, Little Rock All-Time Highs

Image (click to enlarge): Temperature and humidity at Ft. Smith, Arkansas for 5 days ending Aug. 3, 2011, showing all-time record hottest temperature of 114° 115°.

Midnight CDT Update: Long-term daily records for August 3 blown away by as much as 5° in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, from National Weather Service:
LOCATION       OLD RECORD      NEW RECORD         YEARS OF DATA  
------------------------------------------------------------------
SHREVEPORT LA 104 IN 2008 109 IN 2011 RECORDS SINCE 1874
MONROE LA 105 IN 2010 107 IN 2011 RECORDS SINCE 1930
TEXARKANA AR 108 IN 1896 111 IN 2011 RECORDS SINCE 1896
EL DORADO AR 104 IN 2008 108 IN 2011 RECORDS SINCE 1907
TYLER TX 107 IN 1998 110 IN 2011 RECORDS SINCE 1896
LONGVIEW TX 105 IN 1937 110 IN 2011 RECORDS SINCE 1902
LUFKIN TX 105 IN 1998 106 IN 2011 RECORDS SINCE 1906
------------------------------------------------------------------
6 PM CDT Update: Fayetteville has also tied its all-time record, blasting away the daily record by 8°:
A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 110 DEGREES WAS SET AT FAYETTEVILLE   
ARKANSAS TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 102 SET IN 1964. THIS
READING ALSO TIES THE ALL TIME HIGH TEMPERATURE RECORD PREVIOUSLY
SET IN JULY 1954.
5 PM CDT Update: After holding at 114° for 2 hours, Ft. Smith has risen another degree to a new all-time high temperature record of 115°. [Image updated]

3 PM CDT Update: The high temperature of 113° at Ft. Smith yesterday tied the all-time record set on Aug. 10, 1936, according to NCDC. This would indicate that the earlier NWS report of a tie on Aug. 1 was incorrect. In any case, that record has just been broken with a current reading of 114°F (45.6°C). Ft. Smith climate records began in 1882.

Little Rock also broke its all-time record:
..ALL-TIME HOTTEST TEMPERATURE EVER RECORDED IN LITTLE ROCK  

AT 240 PM CDT...THE TEMPERATURE AT ADAMS FIELD IN LITTLE ROCK
REACHED 114 DEGREES...SETTING A NEW RECORD FOR THE ALL-TIME HOTTEST
TEMPERATURE EVER RECORDED IN THE CITY. THE PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 112
DEGREES ON JULY 31ST 1986.

THE READING OF 114 EASILY BROKE THE RECORD FOR AUGUST 3RD. THE
PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 107 IN 2010.
Little Rock climate records began in 1877.

Original post:
The National Climatic Data Center reports that in the first 2 days of August alone, 4 all-time record high temperatures have been set:
Location    Temperature  Old Record  Date
Harrison AR 109° 107° 1986-07-29
Topkea KS 112° 110° 1984-08-29
Emporia KS 109° 108° 1984-08-30
Tyler TX 110° 109° 2011-08-01
The record at Topeka crushed the previous daily record for Aug. 2, set just last year, by 6°. Topeka climate records began in 1887.

In addition, all-time high temperature records have also been tied at Tyler, Ft. Hood, and Longview in Texas, Ft. Smith in Arkansas, and Tulsa in Oklahoma.

From the National Weather Service:
A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 111 DEGREES WAS SET AT FORT SMITH,   
ARKANSAS YESTERDAY, AUGUST 1. THIS BREAKS THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 106
DEGREES SET IN 1896.

THIS ALSO TIES THE ALL TIME RECORD HIGH OF 111 DEGREES AT FORT SMITH
SET IN 1954.
Tulsa also set a record for all-time highest minimum temperature in August and tied the all-time record for any month. From the National Weather Service:
THE LOW TEMPERATURE THIS MORNING AT THE TULSA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT   
WAS 87 DEGREES. THIS BREAKS THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 84 DEGREES SET IN
1980. THIS READING ALSO BREAKS THE ALL TIME HIGHEST MINIMUM
TEMPERATURE FOR AUGUST OF 86 DEGREES WHICH OCCURRED AUGUST 1, 2011
AND AUGUST 16 OF 1909. IN ADDITION...THIS READING WILL TIE THE ALL
TIME HIGHEST MINIMUM TEMPERATURE IN TULSA OF 87 DEGREES...WHICH
OCCURRED JULY 16, 1980.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Oklahoma's Hottest Month on Record, 4th Driest July


Image (click to enlarge): Total number of days with temperatures of 100° or higher through July 31, 2011, from Oklahoma Mesonet; U.S. Drought Monitor for Oklahoma, July 29, 2011

The Oklahoma Mesonet reports that July was the hottest month on record for the state of Oklahoma. The statewide average of 89.1° broke the old record by 1°. Breaking a monthly record at a single location by as much as 1° is remarkable, and doing so for the average of an entire state is even more impressive.
Fueled by exceptional drought and a seemingly impenetrable heat-dome, July roared through Oklahoma’s legendary heat waves of the past to become the state’s hottest calendar month on record. According to data from the Oklahoma Mesonet, the July statewide average temperature finished 7.5 degrees above normal at 89.1 degrees, smashing the previous record of 88.1 degrees set back in July 1954. Statewide averages date back to 1895. The news was equally grim on the rainfall side of the ledger. The statewide average rainfall total was 0.70 inches, more than 2 inches below normal and the fourth driest July on record. Combined, the 2011 June-July period was the hottest and driest on record statewide, an ominous achievement with another month of summer yet to go. Through seven months, 2011 ranked as the eighth warmest and second driest on record.

Oklahoma City’s average temperature of 89.2 degrees topped the previous record of 88.7 degrees from August 1936 to become its warmest month since those records began in 1890. Oklahoma City experienced 27 days in July with a high temperature of at least 100 degrees, once again the most for any month in its history. Oklahoma City’s average high temperature of 102.5 degrees beat July 1980’s previous mark of 102.4 degrees to set another milestone. Similar records were matched at many locations throughout drought-ravaged western Oklahoma. Grandfield was the warmest spot in the state with an average July temperature of 93 degrees and an average high of 107 degrees. Grandfield continued to lead the state with 68 days at or above 100 degrees in 2011. The record stands at 86 days, set by Hollis in 1956. That site and three others have seen triple-digit highs for 40 consecutive days through July 31. Kenton’s July average of 81.6 degrees marked it as the coolest spot in the state. The highest temperature of the month, 114 degrees, was recorded at Alva and Freedom on July 9.

Of the 120 Oklahoma Mesonet stations, 93 recorded less than an inch of rainfall for the month. Walters and Burneyville recorded no precipitation for the entire month. Newkirk and Kenton led the way with 5.58 inches and 3.66 inches, respectively. Only five stations recorded more than 2 inches of rainfall. Southwestern Oklahoma received less than a quarter-inch of rainfall, on average. An average of 16.41 inches of precipitation has fallen across the state since October 1, 2010, nearly 14 inches below normal and the driest such period on record. Boise City received a scant 3.8 inches of rainfall over that time while Grandfield measured 5.6 inches. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor map released on July 28 indicates more than half of Oklahoma is experiencing exceptional drought, the worst designation possible.

Record Hottest July at Raleigh, 2nd Hottest Month All-Time

Image (click to enlarge): Temperature and departure from average for 30 days ending Aug. 1, 2011 at Raleigh NC, from Climate Prediction Center/NWS

See Record Heat for the latest updates.

The Southeast Regional Climate Center(SERCC) reports:
Raleigh Durham(RDU) had the Warmest July On Record with 83.7°(Previous Record was 82.5 in 1993) and 2nd Warmest Month on Record(84.1 in 2007 is the Record). (Records go back to 1887)
Raleigh had 24 days in July with temperatures of 90° or higher and 9 days with 100° or higher, including a record 5 consecutive days. Record high temperatures were tied or broken on 7 days.

Summer Temperature Update: Heat Records Increase Lead Over Cold Records to 8.4 to 1

See Record Heat for the latest updates.

7 PM Update: Added chart of ratios from previous decades for comparison.

Original post:
As previously reported, U.S. daily high temperature records were dominating cold records in July by a ratio of over 5 to 1, based on preliminary data from the National Climatic Data Center. A surge of heat records in the final week of the month has pushed the total ratio to 6.1 to 1. For the summer as a whole (June and July combined), the ratio has increased to 8.4 to 1. This also increases the year-to-date ratio to 2.7 to 1.

Out of the 1601 daily high temperature records broken in July, 49 were all-time records for any day of any month. Combined with the updated count of 20 all-time records in June, this gives a total of 69 so far this summer. In comparison, only 8 all-time cold records were set in all 3 months of last winter combined.

Preliminary data from ESRL/NOAA shows that nearly all of the U.S. east of the Rockies was above average (1981-2010 baseline) with the most extreme temperature values from northern Texas through Oklahoma and Kansas.

Images (click to enlarge):
- Monthly ratios of daily high temperature to low temperature records set in the U.S. for July 2010 through July 2011. Data from NOAA National Climatic Data Center, background image © Kevin Ambrose (www.weatherbook.com). Includes historical daily observations archived in NCDC's Cooperative Summary of the Day data set and preliminary reports from Cooperative Observers and First Order National Weather Service stations. All stations have a Period of Record of at least 30 years.
- Decadal average ratios of heat records to cold records, from University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
- Preliminary July 2011 U.S. temperature departure from 1981-2010 average from ESRL.

Monday, August 1, 2011

All-Time Hottest Month at Lubbock and Childress, Texas

After setting a record for all-time hottest month in June, Lubbock, Texas has duplicated that feat by setting a new record in July. This means that 2 of the hottest months in history have now occurred this year. It was also an all-time record hottest month in Childress.

The 34 days with 100°+ temperatures at Lubbock so far this year now exceed the previous record year of 1934 by 5. The 66 days at Childress are in 3rd place, just 5 behind the 1934 record.

The 18 days with lows of 75°+ at Lubbock have now nearly doubled the previous record of 10 in 1978 and 1966. The 36 days at Childress are in 2nd place.

From the National Weather Service:
THE AVERAGE MONTHLY TEMPERATURE FOR JULY 2011 AT LUBBOCK   
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WAS 86.0 DEGREES. THIS NOT ONLY MAKES JULY
2011 THE HOTTEST JULY ON RECORD...BUT ALSO MAKES JULY 2011 THE
HOTTEST MONTH EVER ON RECORD FOR LUBBOCK. TEMPERATURE RECORDS FOR
LUBBOCK BEGAN IN 1911.

THE PREVIOUS HOTTEST JULY ON RECORD WAS 85.4 DEGREES IN 1966...AND
THE PREVIOUS HOTTEST MONTH EVER ON RECORD WAS 85.9 DEGREES WHICH
OCCURRED JUST LAST MONTH JUNE 2011.

THE AVERAGE MONTHLY TEMPERATURE FOR JULY 2011 AT CHILDRESS MUNICIPAL
AIRPORT WAS 90.2 DEGREES. THIS NOT ONLY MAKES JULY 2011 THE HOTTEST
JULY ON RECORD...BUT ALSO MAKES JULY 2011 THE HOTTEST MONTH EVER ON
RECORD FOR CHILDRESS.

THE PREVIOUS HOTTEST MONTH ON RECORD WAS 89.0 DEGREES IN JULY 1934.
Childress records began in 1893.

All-Time Hottest Month at Amarillo and Dalhart, Texas


Images (click to enlarge): Consecutive days with 90°+ temperatures and total number of days with 100°+ temperatures at Amarillo, from National Weather Service

See Record Heat for the latest updates.

July 2011 was the all-time hottest month on record at both Amarillo and Dalhart, Texas in climate records which extend back over a century to 1892 and 1894, respectively. The 40 consecutive days of 90°+ temperatures at Amarillo through July 31 was the 4th longest streak in history. This has now been extended today to tie for 3rd. The 32 days of 100°+ have already well exceeded the previous annual record.

The National Weather Service reports:
...JULY 2011 RANKS AS THE WARMEST JULY AND THE ALL TIME WARMEST  
MONTH ON RECORD AT AMARILLO...

THE AVERAGE MONTHLY TEMPERATURE FOR JULY 2011 AT AMARILLO WAS 85.2
DEGREES. THE PREVIOUS WARMEST JULY AND THE WARMEST MONTH ON RECORD
WAS 84.1 DEGREES...SET IN JULY 1934.

...JULY 2011 RANKS AS THE WARMEST JULY AND THE ALL TIME WARMEST
MONTH ON RECORD AT DALHART...

THE AVERAGE MONTHLY TEMPERATURE FOR JULY 2011 AT DALHART WAS 83.2
DEGREES. THE PREVIOUS WARMEST JULY AND THE WARMEST MONTH ON RECORD
WAS 82.2 DEGREES...SET IN JULY 1980.

Houston's Hottest Summer to Date

Image (click to enlarge): Temperature and departure from average for 90 days ending July 30, 2011 at Houston, from Climate Prediction Center/NWS

See Record Heat for the latest updates.

July was the third hottest on record at Houston (87.1°). Combined with the hottest June on record (86.2°), the summer to date is now the hottest on record. It was also the hottest June-July at Galveston, where July was the second hottest on record.

Here is the report issued this morning by the National Weather Service:
JULY TEMPERATURES WERE WELL ABOVE THE 30 YEAR CLIMATE NORMALS   
AVERAGING 3 TO 4 DEGREES WARMER THAN THE 30 YEAR NORMALS. JULY
2011 WAS THE THIRD WARMEST ON RECORD FOR HOUSTON AND HOUSTON
HOBBY AIRPORT. IT WAS THE SECOND WARMEST ON RECORD FOR GALVESTON
AND TIED FOR THE SECOND WARMEST JULY ON RECORD FOR COLLEGE
STATION. HERE ARE THE FIVE WARMEST JULY'S ON RECORD FOR EACH
LOCATION:

CITY OF COLLEGE GALVESTON HOUSTON
HOUSTON STATION HOBBY

87.5 1980 89.1 2009 87.4 1875 86.7 2009
87.4 2009 88.6 2011 87.1 2011 86.6 1998
87.1 2011 88.6 1998 86.6 1996 86.5 2011
86.6 1998 87.9 1996 86.3 1876 86.1 1980
86.6 1957 87.7 1925 86.2 2009 85.4 1957

SINCE MAY 25TH...THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS RECORDED 58 DAYS (OUT OF
68) WITH A TEMPERATURE OF 95 DEGREES OR WARMER. HOUSTON HAS ALSO
ENDURED 31 DAYS WITH A TEMPERATURE OF 98 DEGREES OR WARMER AND 11
DAYS WITH A TEMPERATURE AT OR EXCEEDING 100 DEGREES. THE FATES
WERE NO KINDER TO COLLEGE STATION AS THE CITY RECORDED 63 DAYS
WITH THE TEMPERATURE AT OR EXCEEDING 95 DEGREES...49 DAYS AT OR
ABOVE 98 DEGREES AND 28 DAYS AT OR ABOVE 100 DEGREES.

CLIMATOLOGICALLY SPEAKING...SUMMER IS ABOUT TWO THIRDS COMPLETE AND
THE SUMMER OF 2011 IS CURRENTLY THE WARMEST ON RECORD FOR THE CITY
OF HOUSTON AND GALVESTON AND THE SECOND WARMEST ON RECORD FOR
COLLEGE STATION. BELOW ARE THE BLISTERING DETAILS:

CITY OF HOUSTON - JUNE THROUGH JULY

AVERAGE AVERAGE AVERAGE
HIGH LOW MONTHLY

97.9 1980 76.7 1963 86.7 2011
97.2 2011 76.6 1958 86.5 2009
96.9 2009 76.4 1953 86.3 1980
96.7 1998 76.4 1965 86.0 1998
95.5 1890 76.3 1964 84.7 1994

GALVESTON - JUNE THROUGH JULY

AVERAGE AVERAGE AVERAGE
HIGH LOW MONTHLY

93.5 1875 81.3 2011 86.6 2011
92.0 2011 80.9 1994 86.2 1875
91.3 1876 80.2 2005 85.4 2005
90.7 2009 80.0 1993 85.2 2009
90.6 2005 80.0 1953 85.0 1881

COLLEGE STATION - JUNE THROUGH JULY

AVERAGE AVERAGE AVERAGE
HIGH LOW MONTHLY

99.3 2009 76.2 2010 87.7 2009
99.3 1917 76.1 2009 87.5 2011
99.2 1934 76.0 2011 87.0 1925
99.1 1925 74.9 1925 85.7 1996
99.0 2011 74.1 2008 85.4 2008

Texas 100°+ Heat Continues Record Rampage at Dallas, Waco


Image (click to enlarge): Forecast vs. record temperatures for Aug. 1-7 at Dallas and Waco, from National Weather Service

See Record Heat for the latest updates.

11 PM CDT Update: The highs of 107° at Dallas and Waco both set new daily records.

4 PM CDT Update: The 106° at 4 pm has at least tied the record for the date at Dallas. The record is also tied with the same reading at Waco.

Original post:
It's generally not considered good forecasting practice to predict record temperatures, but 100°+ temperatures continuing into the first week of August make it likely that at least 4 of the next 7 days will tie or break high temperature records at Dallas and Waco. The 31 consecutive days of 100° temperatures which began July 2 at Dallas are now the second longest streak in history, behind Jun 23 - Aug 3, 1980. The 33 days at Waco are also in second place. The total of 38 days so far this year are tied for 9th place at Dallas. The 50 days at Waco are tied for 7th, but are only 2 away from 5th place.

Here are the top 10 streaks and annual totals for Dallas:
Rank    # of Days   Dates
1 42 Jun 23 - Aug 3, 1980
2 31 July 2-Aug 1, 2011
3 29 Jul 6 - Aug 3, 1998
4 25 Aug 2-26, 1952
5 24 Jul 28 - Aug 20, 1999
6 20 Jul 9-28, 1954
7 19 Aug 8-26, 2006
8 (tie) 18 Jul 31 - Aug 17, 2010
18 Jul 2-19, 1978
10 17 Aug 2-18, 1956

Rank # of Days Year
1 69 1980
2 56 1998
3 52 1954
4 48 1956
5 46 2000
6 44 1952
7 43 2006
8 40 1951
9 (tie) 38 2011
38 1963

Here are the top 10 streaks and annual totals for Waco:
Rank    # of Days   Dates
1 42 Jun 23 - Aug 3, 1980
2 33 Jun 30 - Aug 1, 2011
3 30 Jun 27 - Jul 26, 1969
4 29 Jul 6 - Aug 3, 1998
5 26 Jul 29 - Aug 23, 1987
6 25 Jul 31 - Aug 24, 2010
7 24 Jul 22 - Aug 14, 1910
8 23 Aug 3-25, 1952
9 (tie) 20 Aug 8-27, 2006
20 Jul 2-21, 1978

Rank # of Days Year
1 63 1980
2 61 1998
3 58 1969
4 55 2009
5 (tie) 52 1990
52 1977
7(tie) 50 2011
50 1925
9(tie) 46 1978
46 2006

40 Days and Counting: Oklahoma 100° Streak Continues

See Record Heat for the latest updates.

Oklahoma Mesonet data shows that the streak of 100° temperatures has reached 40 consecutive days in the southwestern part of the state as of July 31 (click to enlarge):

July Heat Smashes All-Time Washington/Baltimore Records

Here is the preliminary National Weather Service report confirming the all-time record heat for July 2011 in the Washington/Baltimore region:
..WASHINGTON DC JULY 2011  

HOTTEST JULY AND HOTTEST MONTH EVER...MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMP OF 84.5F
SMASHED PREVIOUS HOTTEST JULY/MONTH AVERAGE OF 83.1F SET JULY 2010
AND JULY 1993.

TWO NEW DAILY RECORD HIGHS WERE SET...102F ON THE 23RD AND 104F ON
THE 30TH.

A READING OF 104F ON JULY 29TH TIED FOR 5TH ALL TIME DAILY HOTTEST
TEMPERATURE EVER. THE HOTTEST DAY IN WASHINGTON SINCE 1872 IS 106F
RECORDED TWICE...JULY 20TH 1930 AND AUGUST 6TH 1918.

MOST NUMBER OF DAYS IN JULY...OR FOR ANY MONTH...WHEN DAILY TEMPS
HIT 90F OR BETTER...25. PREVIOUS HIGHEST TALLY OF DAYS HITTING 90F
OR BETTER...24...IN JULY 1987 AND JULY 1993.

HOTTEST MONTHLY AVERAGE MAX TEMP FOR ANY MONTH INCLUDING JULY...OF
93.6F BEAT THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 92.8F SET IN JULY 1999.

HIGHEST MONTHLY AVERAGE MIN TEMP FOR ANY MONTH INCLUDING JULY OF
75.4F BEAT THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 73.9F SET LAST JULY 2010.

A NEW RECORD WAS SET FOR THE NUMBER OF CONSECUTIVE DAYS WHERE THE
TEMPERATURE DID NOT DROP BELOW 80F...4 DAYS FROM THE 21ST THROUGH
THE 25TH.

JULY 2011 FEATURED THE MOST NUMBER OF DAYS FOR ANY MONTH WHERE THE
TEMPERATURES STAYED AT OR ABOVE 80F IN WASHINGTON DC...7.


..BALTIMORE MD JULY 2011

HOTTEST JULY AND HOTTEST MONTH EVER...MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMP OF 81.7F
EDGED THE PREVIOUS HOTTEST JULY/MONTH AVERAGE OF 81.5F SET JULY
2010...JULY 1995...AND JULY 1872.

THREE DAILY RECORD HIGHS WERE EITHER BROKEN...106F ON THE 22ND AND
101F ON THE 29TH...OR TIED...102F ON THE 23RD.

MOST NUMBER OF DAYS IN JULY...OR FOR ANY MONTH...WHEN DAILY TEMPS
HIT 90F OR BETTER...24. PREVIOUS HIGHEST TALLY OF DAYS HITTING 90F
OR BETTER...22...IN JULY 1988 AND JULY 1999.

HOTTEST MONTHLY AVERAGE MAX TEMP FOR ANY MONTH INCLUDING JULY OF
92.9F BEAT THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 92.5F SET LAST JULY 2010.

A READING OF 106F ON JULY 22ND TIED FOR 2ND ALL TIME DAILY HOTTEST
TEMPERATURE EVER. THE HOTTEST DAY IN BALTIMORE REMAINS 107F RECORDED
IN 1936 ON JULY 10TH.

A NEW DAILY HIGH MIN TEMPERATURE RECORD OF 81F WAS SET ON THE 22ND.

..INTERESTINGLY
THE JULY 2011 MONTHLY AVERAGE MIN TEMP OF 70.4F
RANKED AS THE 24TH WARMEST OF ALL JULYS IN BALTIMORE...AND WAS ONE
TENTH OF A DEGF LESS THAN THE MONTHLY AVERAGE MIN TEMP OF 70.5F FROM
LAST JULY 2010.


..DULLES VA JULY 2011

HOTTEST JULY AND HOTTEST MONTH EVER...MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMP OF 81.0F
SMASHES PREVIOUS HOTTEST JULY/MONTH AVERAGE OF 79.7F SET IN JULY
1993. RECORDING KEEPING AT DULLES BEGAN IN NOVEMBER 1962.

JULY 2011 MARKED THE FIRST TIME EVER AT DULLES THE MONTHLY AVERAGE
TEMPERATURE AVERAGED ABOVE 80F.

THREE DAILY RECORD HIGHS WERE EITHER BROKEN...105F ON THE 22ND AND
103F ON THE 29TH...OR TIED...99F ON THE 23RD.

THE READING OF 105F ON JULY 22ND IS THE HOTTEST ALL TIME TEMPERATURE
EVER RECORDED AT DULLES. THIS BROKE THE PREVIOUS ALL TIME HIGH
TEMPERATURE RECORD OF 104F SET TWICE BEFORE...JULY 16TH 1988 AND
AUGUST 20TH 1983.

MOST NUMBER OF DAYS IN JULY...OR FOR ANY MONTH...WHEN DAILY TEMPS
HIT 90F OR BETTER...24. PREVIOUS HIGHEST TALLY OF DAYS HITTING 90F
OR BETTER...21...IN JULY 1987...JULY 1988 AND JULY 1999.

HOTTEST MONTHLY AVERAGE MAX TEMP FOR ANY MONTH INCLUDING JULY OF
92.8F BEAT THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 92.5F SET LAST JULY 2010.

2ND HIGHEST MONTHLY AVERAGE MIN TEMP OF 69.1F...SECOND ONLY TO THAT
OF JULY 1994...69.4F.

It Was Hotter in the 1930s

See Record Heat for the latest updates.

One often-repeated claim is that global temperatures are not warming because they were higher in the 1930s. Aside from the fact that this is a U.S.-centric argument based on the extreme temperatures in the Midwest and Southern Plains during the Dust Bowl years, it simply isn't true. This fact is being hammered home even more vigorously with the record-setting heat wave of 2011. July is closing out with all-time record hot monthly temperatures from Austin to Washington, as well as many points in between.

One location in the heart of the Dust Bowl, Oklahoma City, is finishing its hottest month on record. According to preliminary data from the National Weather Service, the July average temperature through the 30th of 89.2° is enough to ensure that the month will exceed the previous all-time hottest month of August 1936, which had an average of 88.7°. This is also well above the previous hottest July average of 88.3°, which was set in 1934 and tied in 1980.

Wichita Falls is also completing its hottest July on record.

Here's the preliminary report from NWS:
THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURES FOR MONTH OF JULY 2011 ARE EXPECTED TO BE   
THE WARMEST ON RECORD FOR ANY JULY FOR BOTH OKLAHOMA CITY AND
WICHITA FALLS. ALTHOUGH THE RECORDS WILL NOT BECOME OFFICIAL UNTIL
THE END OF THE CALENDAR DAY... NO CHANGE IS EXPECTED IN THE COMPUTED
AVERAGES FOR THIS MONTH AS TEMPERATURES ARE NOT FORECAST TO COOL
ENOUGH TO AFFECT THE VALUES.

AT OKLAHOMA CITY, THE WARMEST AVERAGE TEMPERATURE ON RECORD FOR JULY
WAS 88.3 DEGREES, WHICH OCCURRED BACK IN 1980 AND 1934. THE AVERAGE
TEMPERATURE FOR JULY 2011 IS EXPECTED TO BE 89.2 DEGREES... WHICH
WILL BREAK THE RECORD FOR THE WARMEST JULY ON RECORD.

AT WICHITA FALLS,THE WARMEST AVERAGE TEMPERATURE ON RECORD FOR JULY
WAS 91.9 DEGREES, WHICH OCCURRED BACK IN 1980. THE AVERAGE
TEMPERATURE FOR JULY 2011 IS EXPECTED TO BE 92.9 DEGREES... WHICH
WILL BREAK THE RECORD FOR THE WARMEST JULY ON RECORD. IN ADDITION,
THE TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNT FOR JULY 2011 WAS A TRACE, WHICH IS RANKED
AS THE SECOND DRIEST JULY ON RECORD. THE DRIEST JULY ON RECORD WAS
ZERO RAINFALL, WHICH OCCURRED BACK IN 2003.

BOTH CITIES HAVE BROKEN OR TIED MANY DAILY WARMEST HIGH AND LOW
TEMPERATURES AS WELL.

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Austin's All-Time Hottest Month in 157-Year History

See Record Heat for the latest updates.

Aug. 1 Update: It was also the 4th driest July at Austin. Here's the report from the National Weather Service, just posted earlier this afternoon:
JULY 2011 WAS THE WARMEST JULY AND MONTH AT AUSTIN MABRY...FROM 1854   
TO 2011...WITH THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 89.7 DEGREES. JULY 2011
WAS THE 3RD WARMEST JULY AT AUSTIN BERGSTROM...FROM 1943 TO 2011...
WITH THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 86.1 DEGREES. JULY OF 2011 WAS
A TIE FOR THE 4TH DRIEST JULY AT AUSTIN MABRY...WITH JULY 1924...
AND THE 4TH DRIEST JULY AT AUSTIN BERGSTROM. IN JULY OF 2011
AUSTIN MABRY AND AUSTIN BERGSTROM BOTH HAD 0.05 INCHES OF RAIN.

AT SAN ANTONIO...JULY 2011 TIED WITH JULY OF 1994 FOR THE 3RD
WARMEST JULY...FROM 1885 TO 2011...WITH THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF
87.9 DEGREES. AT DEL RIO JULY 2011 WAS THE 8TH WARMEST JULY OF
RECORD...FROM 1906 TO 2011...WITH THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF
88.8 DEGREES. JULY 2011 RAINFALL OF 0.37 INCHES AT DEL RIO
AND 0.96 INCHES AT SAN ANTONIO WAS NOT IN THE TOP 10 DRIEST
JULYS OF RECORD AT DEL RIO OR SAN ANTONIO.

THE LISTS BELOW SHOW THE WARMEST AND DRIEST JULYS OF RECORD AT
AUSTIN...DEL RIO...AND SAN ANTONIO.

WARMEST JULYS AT AUSTIN MABRY 1854 TO 2011

1. JULY OF 2011 89.7...ALSO HOTTEST MONTH FROM 1854 TO 2011
2. JULY OF 2009 89.5
3. JULY OF 1860 89.1
4. JULY OF 1879 AND 1884 88.3

DRIEST JULYS AT AUSTIN MABRY 1856 TO 2011

1. JULY OF 1871...1984...1895 AND 1962 0.00
2. JULY OF 1887...1894...AND 1993 TRACE
3. JULY OF 1913 0.01
4. JULY OF 1924 AND 2011 0.05

WARMEST JULYS AT AUSTIN BERGSTROM 1943 TO 2011

1. JULY OF 1953 86.8
2. JULY OF 1998 86.5
3. JULY OF 2011 86.1
4. JULY OF 1956 AND 2008 85.4

DRIEST JULYS AT AUSTIN BERGSTROM 1943 TO 2011

1. JULY OF 1947 0.00
2. JULY OF 1993 TRACE
3. JULY OF 1951...1986 AND 1994 0.02
4. JULY OF 2011 0.05

WARMEST JULYS AT DEL RIO 1906 TO 2011

1. JULY OF 1998 91.7...ALSO HOTTEST MONTH FROM 1906 TO 2011
2. JULY OF 1980 90.1
3. JULY OF 2009 90.0
4. JULY OF 1953 AND 2000 89.7
5. JULY OF 1951 89.5
6. JULY OF 1996 89.2
7. JULY OF 2001 89.1
8. JULY OF 2011 88.8

DRIEST JULYS AT DEL RIO 1906 TO 2011

1. JULY OF 1951...1953...1956...1957 AND 1998 TRACE
2. JULY OF 1944 AND 2006 0.01
3. JULY OF 1970 0.04
4. JULY OF 1966 0.05

WARMEST JULYS AT SAN ANTONIO 1885 TO 2011

1. JULY OF 2009 88.7...ALSO HOTTEST MONTH FROM 1885 TO 2011
2. JULY OF 1980 AND 1998 88.1
3. JULY OF 1994 AND 2011 87.9
4. JULY OF 1996 87.3
5. JULY OF 1962 86.9

DRIEST JULYS AT SAN ANTONIO 1871 TO 2011

1. JULY OF 1871 0.00
2. JULY OF 1944...1984...1993...AND 1997 TRACE
3. JULY OF 1953 0.01
4. JULY OF 1914 AND 1964 0.02

THE TABLE BELOW SHOWS THE NUMBER OF 100 DEGREE DAYS SO FAR THIS YEAR
AT AUSTIN...DEL RIO...HONDO...NEW BRAUNFELS...SAN ANTONIO AND
UVALDE...THROUGH JULY 31ST.

LOCATION 100 DEGREE DAYS HOTTEST DAY
AS OF JULY 31 AS OF JULY 31

DEL RIO 55 106 MAY 28...JUN 17...18 AND 19
UVALDE 23 108 JUN 17...18 AND 19
NEW BRAUNFELS 32 105 JUN 18
AUSTIN MABRY 47 106 JUN 17 AND 18
AUSTIN BERGSTROM INTL AP 34 105 JUN 18
SAN ANTONIO INTL AP 23 104 JUN 17 AND 18
SAN ANTONIO STINSON 49 107 JUN 17
HONDO 41 107 JUN 18

THE TABLE BELOW SHOWS THE MOST CONSECUTIVE 100 DEGREE DAYS AND MOST
100 DEGREE DAYS OF RECORD IN A YEAR AT AUSTIN...DEL RIO...AND
SAN ANTONIO.

LOCATION MOST CONSECUTIVE MOST 100 DEGREE
100 DEGREE DAYS DAYS IN A YEAR

AUSTIN MABRY 21 JUL 12 TO AUG 1...2001 69 IN 1925
68 IN 2009

AUSTIN BERGSTROM 23 JUL 27 TO AUG 18...1951 55 IN 2009
50 IN 1998

DEL RIO 50 JUN 17 TO AUG 5...1980 78 IN 1953
72 IN 2001

SAN ANTONIO 21 JUL 24 TO AUG 13...1962 59 IN 2009
36 IN 1998
Original post:
Just 2 years after setting the record for all-time hottest month in July 2009, preliminary data from Austin indicate unofficially that this month's average temperature of 89.7° will set another new record. With today's high of 102°, only 2 days this month (the 1st and 16th) have failed to reach 100°. This record hottest month immediately follows the second hottest June in Austin history.

Seasonal Outlook

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Latest 3-month temperature outlook from Climate Prediction Center/NWS/NOAA.