NCDC/NOAA Confirms September Heat

As indicated by the large number of daily record high temperatures in September, the month averaged above normal for the U.S. overall. According to the preliminary monthly analysis posted by NOAA's National Climatic Data Center within the last hour, the September monthly average was 1.7°F above the climatological mean. This was the 14th warmest September in 116 years of records and the 4th consecutive month with temperatures warmer than average.

Only 5 states (North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin) averaged below normal, and no state was in the top 10 coolest Septembers. On the other hand, all New England states, except Vermont, had top-10 warmest Septembers. In addition, New Jersey, Florida, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona ranked in the top 10 of their respective temperature histories.

For the first 3 quarters of 2010 (January-September), the national average temperature was 1.0°F above the climatological mean. The Northeast region (Maryland northward through New England) had its warmest year-to-date on record at 3.3°F above average. On a statewide basis, all 6 of the New England states plus New Jersey had a record warm January-September. In addition, every other state from Virginia northeastward had a top-10 year-to-date. This included Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New York. Despite the cool September, Michigan and Wisconsin also had top-10 warmest temperatures for the period. Texas (38th coolest) and Florida (22nd coolest) were the only 2 states to average below the long-term mean.

Images (click to enlarge): U.S. statewide average temperatures for September and 2010 year-to-date from National Climatic Data Center