NOAA: Heat wave leads to fourth warmest July on record for the U.S. (2.7°F above 1901-2000 average)

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2011/20110808_julystats.html

NOAA: Heat wave leads to fourth warmest July on record for the U.S.

August 8, 2011

Persistent, scorching heat in the central and eastern regions of the United States shattered long-standing daily and monthly temperature records last month, making it the fourth warmest July on record nationally, according to scientists at NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center. The heat exacerbated drought conditions, resulting in the largest “exceptional” drought footprint in the 12-year history of the U.S. Drought Monitor. “Exceptional” is the most severe category of drought on the drought monitor scale. Drought conditions at several locations in the South region are not as long lived, but are as dry, or drier, than the historic droughts of the 1930s and 1950s.

The average U.S. temperature in July was 77.0 degrees F, which is 2.7 degrees F above the long-term (1901-2000) average. Precipitation, averaged across the nation, was 2.46 inches. This was 0.32 inch below the long-term average, with large variability between regions. This monthly analysis, based on records dating back to 1895, is part of the suite of climate services NOAA provides.



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(Much more at link.)

[alc]

1. time for the biannual debate

Where the sides take turns reminding us that climate is not weather - one in the winter and the other in the summer.

Still to be seen which side will get to lecture us on this year's hurricane season.

[kestrel91316]

2. There is no debate. Climate = long-term weather trends. There IS an

undeniable relationship between the two, but it is a matter of time scales.

But go ahead trying to deny climate change and its influence on WEATHER extremes.