Amazing heat records set for July

Check this out ... the public information statement from OKC.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT


NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK

500 AM CDT MON AUG 1 2011



...JULY 2011 WAS THE HOTTEST SINGLE MONTH SINCE RECORDS BEGAN AT

BOTH OKLAHOMA CITY AND WICHITA FALLS...



AFTER A RECORD BREAKING JUNE...JULY WAS ANOTHER MONTH OF

UNPRECEDENTED HEAT ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PLAINS. MANY RECORDS WERE

TIED OR BROKEN AT WILL ROGERS WORLD AIRPORT IN OKLAHOMA CITY

OKLAHOMA AND SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE IN WICHITA FALLS TEXAS. THE

HIGHEST DAILY TEMPERATURE FOR THE MONTH WAS 111 DEGREES...RECORDED

AT WICHITA FALLS ON THE 9TH. OKLAHOMA CITY REACHED 110 DEGREES THAT

SAME DAY. MOST IMPRESSIVELY...BASED ON THE AVERAGE MONTHLY

TEMPERATURE...BOTH LOCATIONS CLAIMED NEW RECORDS FOR THEIR WARMEST

JULY AND WARMEST SINGLE CALENDAR MONTH SINCE RECORDS BEGAN.



PERIOD OF RECORD

----------------

TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION RECORDS AT OKLAHOMA CITY BEGAN IN 1890.

TEMPERATURE RECORDS AT WICHITA FALLS BEGAN IN 1923.

PRECIPITATION RECORDS AT WICHITA FALLS EXIST...WITH SOME GAPS...BACK

TO 1897. CONTINUOUS PRECIPITATION RECORDS BEGAN AT WICHITA FALLS IN

1924.





INDIVIDUAL RECORDS & NOTABLE STREAKS

------------------------------------

BELOW IS A LIST OF THE TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION RECORDS THAT

WERE TIED AND BROKEN DURING JULY 2011...AT BOTH OKLAHOMA CITY AND

WICHITA FALLS.



OKLAHOMA CITY...

----------------

WARMEST AVERAGE MONTHLY TEMPERATURE ON RECORD...NOW 89.2 DEGREES.

PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 88.7 DEGREES IN AUGUST 1936.



WARMEST JULY ON RECORD. PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 88.3 DEGREES IN 1934 AND

1980.



RECORD DAILY MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES SET ON THE 7TH...9TH...AND

27TH...AND TIED ON THE 10TH.



THE 110-DEGREE READING MEASURED ON JULY 9TH OF 2011 TIED AS THE

WARMEST JULY TEMPERATURE ON RECORD AND TIED AS THE THIRD WARMEST

TEMPERATURE RECORDED DURING ANY MONTH.



DAILY RECORD WARMEST MINIMUM TEMPERATURES BROKEN ON THE

7TH...8TH...10TH...AND 27TH...AND TIED ON THE 16TH.



MEASURABLE RAIN WAS RECORDED ON ONLY TWO DAYS...BUT THE 2.91 INCHES

OF RAIN THAT FELL ON JULY 12TH SHATTERED THE PREVIOUS RECORD

RAINFALL FOR THAT DATE...WHICH HAD BEEN 1.80 INCHES IN 1926.



13-DAY STREAK OF MAXIMUM DAILY TEMPERATURES ABOVE 100 DEGREES

OBSERVED FROM JUNE 29 TO JULY 11.



AS OF JULY 31ST...THE TEMPERATURE HAD REACHED 100 DEGREES ON 38 DAYS

DURING 2011. THE RECORD FOR A YEAR IS 50 DAYS IN 1980. THE CURRENT

TOTAL OF 38 DAYS IN 2011...IS 9 DAYS AHEAD OF THE 1980 PACE AS OF

JULY 31ST.



WICHITA FALLS...

----------------

WARMEST AVERAGE MONTHLY TEMPERATURE ON RECORD...AND WARMEST JULY ON

RECORD...NOW 92.9 DEGREES. BOTH RECORDS WERE PREVIOUSLY 91.9 DEGREES

IN JULY 1980.



WARMEST DAILY MINIMUM TEMPERATURE ON RECORD...NOW 88 DEGREES ON JULY

26...2011. PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 87 DEGREES ON AUGUST 16...1952.



DAILY RECORD MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES SET ON THE 9TH...AND TIED ON

THE 8TH AND 26TH.



THE 111-DEGREE READING MEASURED ON JULY 9TH TIED WITH FOUR OTHER

DATES AS THE 5TH WARMEST JULY TEMPERATURE ON RECORD...AND AS THE

17TH WARMEST TEMPERATURE RECORDED DURING ANY MONTH.



DAILY RECORD WARMEST MINIMUM TEMPERATURES BROKEN ON THE

10TH...13TH...14TH...23RD...26TH AND 27TH...AND TIED ON THE 24TH.



ONLY A TRACE OF RAIN FELL...WHICH TIED AS THE 2ND DRIEST JULY ON

RECORD. JULY OF 2003 SAW ZERO PRECIPITATION AND NO TRACE AMOUNTS.



THE TEMPERATURE REACHED 100 DEGREES ON ALL 31 DAYS DURING JULY 2011.

A STREAK OF 40 CONSECUTIVE DAYS WITH 100 DEGREE READINGS BEGAN ON

JUNE 22...2011...AND IS LIKELY TO CONTINUE INTO AUGUST. THE LONGEST

SUCH STREAK ON RECORD AT WICHITA FALLS IS 42 DAYS IN 1980. THE

CURRENT STREAK MUST LAST ONLY TO AUGUST 3RD TO BREAK THE RECORD.



A STREAK OF DAYS WITHOUT MEASURABLE PRECIPITATION BEGAN ON JUNE

15...2011. TRACE AMOUNTS FELL ON 5 DAYS. THE STREAK WITHOUT

MEASURABLE PRECIPITATION HAD REACHED 47 DAYS AS OF JULY 31ST. IF

THIS STREAK CONTINUES THROUGH AUGUST 8TH...IT WILL TIE WITH TWO

OTHER PERIODS AS THE 9TH LONGEST STREAKS WITHOUT MEASURABLE

PRECIPITATION. THE LONGEST STREAK WAS 75 DAYS FROM DECEMBER

19...1913 TO MARCH 3...1914.

Heat wave continues in midwest

The middle of the nation is absolutely roasting right now ... suffering for weeks of temperatures in the 90s and 100s.

I couldn't believe the 7-day forecast for Fort Smith, AR when I checked it ... looking something more like you would see for Phoenix.

Temperatures everyday from 105 to 110 degrees!

We are hot here in Denver too ... but it is all relative. Those in the Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas would be glad to trade our weather.   But by Denver standards, this is hot!   Today is day 17 with 90 degrees or higher temps.  If we hit 90 again tomorrow, it will tie the second longest streak of 90s on record!

Relief on the way for Texas?

This could be some really good news ... and MUCH needed relief .... let's hope it all pans out.
(meaning the storm hits central Texas ... but doesn't get too strong)

Latest on Tropical Storm Don

Heatwave weakens somewhat

What an amazing heatwave over the past several weeks ... with the most recent rash of records to fall in the northeast.

It isn't that often you see triple digit numbers in the northeast like we did this past week ... including 108 at Newark and 104 measured at New York City's Central Park.

Many places even along the coast were at or above 100 degrees ... including Atlantic City, NJ and Boston, MA.

I even saw some heat index readings top 120 degrees in a few places!  WOW!!

There is certainly still some heat out there this week ... but it is not as widespread as it was ... areas outlined in red on the map below will still have to be patient ... for Mother Nature to bring a little relief ... IT WILL COME!

We are almost to August ... won't be long before we start seeing signs of the fall season hit our nation ... kinda hard to believe, isn't it?

Brutal heatwave hits Midwest

Wow ... dewpoint temperatures in the lower 80s as far north as Minnesota ... creating heat index readings in the 110 to 120 range.

WHEW!

A brutal heavwave is gripping the center of the nation. Colorado sits on the very edge ... it's hot in Denver ... but thankfully our dewpoint is only near 60 degrees ... meaning we COOL OFF at night ... unlike the midwest states.

Tropical Storm Bret has formed off the coast of Florida ... it's the second named system of the season.
It will bring some unsettled waters to Florida's east coast ... and maybe some gusty winds and showers ... but it is forecast to move away from land.

Heating up with a major heat wave

The center of the nation is feeling the heat this weekend ... with numerous advisories in effect from the Gulf Coast to the border of Canada.  In fact ... at least 13 states are feeling the burn!

Oklahoma City has seen a high of 100 or better every single day this month ... with the exception of a 98 degree high on July 12.

Wichita Falls has seen highs between 103 and 111 every single day in July.  WHEW!

That makes me hot just typing it!

It's not much different for Dallas, Texas .. they had a high of 98 degrees on July 1 .... and have been at or above 100 each afternoon since.

Bubble of heat

Look at the pocket of 100s across the southern plains ... Wichita already 107 ... and it is just 2 pm. YUK!!

Dry desert heat of southern plains

Check out these high temperatures from Saturday over portions of Oklahoma and north Texas WHEW!!


OKLAHOMA CITY - 110
WICHITA FALLS - 111
LAWTON - 112
GAGE - 112
HOBART - 110
PONCA CITY - 110
DALHART - 107
MCALESTER - 106

Wild, crazy weather around the globe

This past week produced some wild and crazy weather on our planet ... from the enormous "haboob" that rolled through the Phoenix area ... to an extremely rare snowfall in one of the driest places in the world ... we're talking about the Atacama Desert of Chile.

Some places in that desert have no visible vegetation, and have never recorded actual precipitation.
But this winter is proving to be a wet one ... some parts of the desert measured over 30 inches of the white stuff!!

Intense flooding has damaged thousands of homes in China, and days of extreme winds caused serious damage in portions of Australia.

Hurricane season off to quiet start; will it last?

The 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season is off to a quiet start, but that is really quite typical for June.

Although we can see some June storms, it isn't the rule of thumb.

Things generally tend to become more active as we move into the middle and end of July.

It has been an active start in the east Pacific, with two named storms thus far.

Forecasters are watching an area of disturbed weather about to enter the southern Gulf of Mexico. Right now, there is about a 20 percent chance for some type of development.

On the current track, the weather will move toward Texas. That COULD be a good thing ... as long as it holds together and doesn't develop into anything too wild ... they REALLY need some moisture across the Lone Star State!

Awesome June weather

You just can't beat Colorado for exciting weather ... how many other places can have an active tornado watch ... and a winter weather advisory .... within 75 miles of one another!

Now granted ... there is also 5,000 vertical feet between the two too!

More info on Wichita heat burst

Here is a little more in depth explainer on the heat burst that was documented in Wichita, Kan. this past week.

Thanks for the link, Ric W.!

More details on Wichita heat burst

Rare heat burst hits Wichita

This article is simply amazing ... a heat burst hits Wichita, KS.

The temp rose 17 degrees just after midnight ... along with tropical storm force winds.

Click the link to read more.

Rare Heat Burst Hits Wichita : Click to Read

August in June, not Christmas in July

It's hot!  Plain and simple.

Much of the nation east of the Rockies is sizzling in August-like temperatures. Numerous records have been set from Austin, Tx and Hattiesburg, Ms.

It's also hot as far north as Minneapolis/St. Paul where heat advisories have been in effect.

This his is shifting north and east, and will be in the big cities of the northeast before the week is over.

Excessive heat watches are in effect already for the Philadelphia area where temps could approach 100 degrees on both Wednesday and Thursday.

June is heating up

I apologize it has been a little while since I've blogged ... my work schedule has been hectic ... I sure do appreciate all my loyal readers!  Thanks for your patience.

Well June is here ... and things are sure heating up.  We've topped 90 degrees here in the Denver area.  It's been in the 90s and even 100s from the deserts of California all the way over to the southeast states.

Heat advisories have been in place this weekend across the mid-south where the humidity has made the "feels like" temperature feel well above 100 degrees.

Excessive heat is expected over the south for at least the next 2 to 3 days.

Meanwhile ... huge fires continue to burn in Arizona.  One of the largest in state's history as a matter of fact.

We've actually had bad air quality here in the Denver area over the past few days as southwest winds transported smoke from the fires in Arizona, New Mexico and southern Colorado.

You could also smell the smoke pretty strong at times ... just amazing!

Critical fire weather conditions are expected over the southwest states Sunday and in particular Monday ... let's send our best thoughts to the fire fighters!!