Early-Season Heat Reaches East Coast Records Set from Maine to North Carolina

Image (click to enlarge): Surface temperature at 4 pm April 25 from Unisys

Record heat continued moving eastward Saturday. Here are some National Weather Service record daily temperature reports:

Maine:
A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 77 DEGREES WAS SET AT CARIBOU MAINE
SEVERAL TIMES THIS AFTERNOON. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 76 SET
IN 1942. THIS REPORT WILL BE UPDATED PRIOR TO MIDNIGHT IN THE EVENT
THE TEMPERATURE RISES ANOTHER DEGREE OR TWO PRIOR TO 6 PM EDT.

Vermont:
THE HIGH TEMPERATURE AT THE BURLINGTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN  
SOUTH BURLINGTON VERMONT WAS 86 DEGREES THIS AFTERNOON. THIS  
BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 84 DEGREES SET ON THIS DATE IN 1913.  

THE HIGH TEMPERATURE AT KNAPP STATE AIRPORT IN MONTPELIER VERMONT
WAS 85 DEGREES THIS AFTERNOON. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 78 DEGREES
SET ON THIS DATE IN 1982.

THE HIGH TEMPERATURE AT THE FAIRBANKS MUSEUM IN SAINT JOHNSBURY
VERMONT WAS 87 DEGREES THIS AFTERNOON. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD
OF 85 DEGREES SET ON THIS DATE IN 1913.

THE HIGH TEMPERATURE ATOP MOUNT MANSFIELD VERMONT WAS 67 DEGREES
THIS AFTERNOON. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 62 DEGREES SET ON
THIS DATE IN 1957.

Massachusetts:
A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 86 DEGREES WAS SET AT WORCESTER MA
TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 83 SET IN 1942.

...DAILY RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE TIED AT BOSTON LOGAN AIRPORT...
AT 3:27 PM THE TEMPERATURE REACHED 83 DEGREES TYING THE OLD RECORD
OF 83 DEGREES SET IN 1982.

Connecticut:
A NEW RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE FOR THIS DATE WAS SET FOR HARTFORD CT.
AT 327 PM THE TEMPERATURE AT BRADLEY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT REACHED
91 DEGREES. THIS BROKE THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 87 DEGREES SET IN 1915.

New York:
A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 79 DEGREES WAS SET AT WATERTOWN NY TODAY.
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 77 SET IN 2008.

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 85 DEGREES WAS SET AT BINGHAMTON NY
TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 81 SET IN 1990.

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 88 DEGREES WAS SET AT SYRACUSE NY
TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 83 SET IN 1990.

THE HIGH TEMPERATURE AT RICHARDS FIELD IN MASSENA NEW YORK WAS 83
DEGREES THIS AFTERNOON. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 76 DEGREES
SET ON THIS DATE IN 1990.

AS OF 3 PM EDT ON SATURDAY...APRIL 25...2009...THE TEMPERATURE AT
ALBANY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT REACHED 88 DEGREES. THIS BREAKS THE
RECORD DAILY MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE FOR THE DATE. THE PREVIOUS RECORD
HIGH TEMPERATURE FOR THE DATE WAS 86 DEGREES...SET BACK IN 1915.
RECORDS AT ALBANY GO BACK TO 1874.

ON SATURDAY...APRIL 25...2009...THE HIGH TEMPERATURE AT ALBANY   
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WAS 89 DEGREES. THIS BREAKS THE RECORD DAILY   
MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE FOR THE DATE. THE PREVIOUS RECORD HIGH   
TEMPERATURE FOR THE DATE WAS 86 DEGREES...SET BACK IN 1915. RECORDS   
AT ALBANY GO BACK TO 1874.  

Pennsylvania:
AT PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, THE HIGH WAS 87.  THIS TIES THE
RECORD HIGH FOR THE DATE SET IN 1990.  THE LOW WAS 69, BREAKING THE
RECORD WARM LOW TEMPERATURE, 66 FROM 1925.  THE MEAN TEMPERATURE WAS
78, BREAKING THE RECORD HIGH MEAN TEMPERATURE, 76 FROM 1925.

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 87 DEGREES WAS SET AT AVOCA PA
TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 83 SET IN 1960.

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 86 DEGREES WAS SET AT THE ERIE
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 85 SET IN
1957.

New Jersey:
THE HIGH TEMPERATURE TODAY AT THE ATLANTIC CITY INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT IN POMONA TOPPED OUT AT A HOT 92 DEGREES. THIS SURPASSED THE
PREVIOUS RECORD HIGH FOR THIS DATE OF 89 DEGREES, WHICH WAS SET BACK
IN 1994.

Delaware:
THE HIGH TEMPERATURE TODAY AT THE GEORGETOWN AIRPORT WAS A HOT 93
DEGREES. THIS SURPASSED THE PREVIOUS RECORD HIGH FOR THIS DATE OF 91
DEGREES, WHICH WAS SET BACK IN 1960.

Virginia:
A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 86 DEGREES WAS SET AT BLACKSBURG VIRGINIA
TODAY. THE PRIOR RECORD WAS 84 DEGREES IN 1960.

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 85 DEGREES WAS SET AT WALLOPS ISLAND   
VA TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 84 SET IN 1994.  

West Virginia:
A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 85 DEGREES WAS SET AT BLUEFIELD WEST
VIRGINIA TODAY. THE PRIOR RECORD WAS 83 DEGREES IN 1994.

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 85 DEGREES WAS SET AT BECKLEY WV TODAY.
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 82 SET IN 1990.

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 90 DEGREES WAS SET AT HUNTINGTON WV TODAY.
THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD OF 90 SET IN 1957.

AT MORGANTOWN WEST VIRGINIA, THE HIGH WAS 88.  THIS BREAKS THE
RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE FOR THE DATE, 86 FROM 1960.

North Carolina:
THE RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 92 DEGREES WAS TIED AT RALEIGH-DURHAM
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AROUND 330 PM THIS AFTERNOON. THE RECORD WAS
INITIALLY SET IN 1960. ANOTHER STATEMENT WILL FOLLOW LATER THIS
AFTERNOON OR EARLY THIS EVENING IF THE RECORD IS BROKEN.

Tennessee:
A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 88 DEGREES WAS SET AT LOVELL FIELD IN   
CHATTANOOGA TODAY. THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD OF 88 DEGREES SET IN   
1986.  

Ohio:
AT ZANESVILLE OHIO, THE HIGH WAS 87.  THIS TIES THE RECORD HIGH FOR
THE DATE SET IN 1948.

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 85 DEGREES WAS SET AT THE MANSFIELD
LAHM AIRPORT TODAY. THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD OF 85 SET IN 1990.

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 86 DEGREES WAS SET AT THE YOUNGSTOWN
WARREN REGIONAL AIRPORT TODAY. THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD OF 86 SET IN
1990.

Record Heat Moves Eastward Records Set in Iowa, South Dakota

Image (click to enlarge): Surface temperature at 1 pm CDT from Unisys

11 pm CDT Update: Official National Weather Service record reports:

AT 538 PM CDT...THE TEMPERATURE AT MITCHELL SOUTH DAKOTA PEAKED AT
92 DEGREES. THIS TIED THE RECORD SET BACK IN 1939.

THROUGH 552 PM CDT...THE TEMPERATURE AT SIOUX FALLS SOUTH DAKOTA
HELD AT 91 DEGREES. THIS SMASHED THE OLD RECORD HIGH OF 87...SET
BACK IN 1939.

THROUGH 547 PM CDT...THE TEMPERATURE AT HURON SOUTH DAKOTA HELD AT
91 DEGREES. THIS BROKE THE RECORD HIGH OF 89...SET IN 1990.

AT 538 PM CDT...THE TEMPERATURE AT MITCHELL SOUTH DAKOTA PEAKED AT
92 DEGREES. THIS TIED THE RECORD HIGH OF 92...SET BACK IN 1939.

AT 420 PM CDT...THE TEMPERATURE AT YANKTON SOUTH DAKOTA WAS HOLDING
AT 90 DEGREES. THIS BROKE THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 88...SET IN 1990.

AT 330 PM CDT...THE TEMPERATURE AT BROOKINGS SOUTH DAKOTA REACHED 88
DEGREES. THIS EXCEEDED THE RECORD OF 86...SET BACK IN 1962.

THE HIGH TEMPERATURE AT ACADEMY SOUTH DAKOTA THIS AFTERNOON WAS 95
DEGREES. THIS BROKE THE RECORD OF 92...SET IN 1990.

THE HIGH TEMPERATURE AT MENNO SOUTH DAKOTA THIS AFTERNOON WAS 92
DEGREES. THIS TIED THE RECORD OF 92...SET BACK IN 1939.

AT 346 PM CDT...THE TEMPERATURE AT SIOUX CITY IOWA PEAKED AT 92
DEGREES. THIS SMASHED THE OLD RECORD OF 87...SET BACK IN 1939.

AT 338 PM CDT...THE TEMPERATURE AT SIOUX CENTER IOWA WAS HOLDING AT
89 DEGREES. THIS TIED THE RECORD OF 89...SET IN 1990.

AT 325 PM CDT...THE TEMPERATURE AT SPENCER IOWA PEAKED AT 86 DEGREES.
THIS BROKE THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 84...SET IN 1990.

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 90 DEGREES WAS SET AT ABERDEEN SD TODAY.
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 87 SET IN 1994.

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 89 DEGREES WAS SET AT MOBRIDGE SD TODAY.
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 87 SET IN 1990.

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 88 DEGREES WAS SET AT PIERRE SD TODAY.
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 87 SET IN 1990. 

4 pm CDT Update: Records continue to fall:

Huron       90
Sioux Falls 91

PM Update: As of 3 pm CDT, records continue to be tied or broken in the upper Midwest. Here are some current readings, along with the old records for the date:

Location     3 pm CDT  Old record Year
South Dakota
Huron        89           89      1990  
Sioux Falls  89           87      1939
Minnesota
Marshall     90           90      1960
Worthington  86           86      1980
Iowa
Sioux City   90           87      1939
Spencer      87           84      1990 

Original post:
As the record heat wave in California has subsided, record heat is now moving eastward into the Midwest. By 1 pm CDT, a brisk southerly wind brought the temperature at Sioux City, Iowa to 87°, tying the record set in 1939. In nearby southeastern South Dakota, Sioux Falls at 86° was 1° below its record high for the date. Spencer, Iowa's reading of 85° had already surpassed its 1990 record by 1°.

Mid Atlantic Drought Diminishes

The Drought Monitor for the week ending April 21 shows that the recent rains have removed the Mid Atlantic area from the Moderate Drought category. Thanks to a precipitation deficit extending back into the last quarter of 2008, however, the area still remains at the minimal level of Abnormally Dry. All of Maryland and most of Virginia are in this category, and the dry area extends northeastward through Delaware, the southern half of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and into extreme southwestern New England.

In the immediate Washington, DC region, the driest area extends from the northern Shenandoah Valley eastward through northern Virginia, the District of Columbia, and southern Maryland, where most places have seen only 50-75% of average precipitation over the last 90 days.

Through this morning, here are the year-to-date precipitation totals and departures from average for the Nation's Capital area:

Washington National: 9.11"/-20%
Washington Dulles:   9.19"/-21%
Baltimore (BWI):    10.77"/-14% 

Images (click to enlarge): 90-day percentage of normal precipitation from NWS, Washington DC precipitation vs. average from Climate Prediction Center

California Heat Update: April Monthly Records Set

10 pm PDT Update: New records for April 22:

THE HIGH TEMPERATURE AT FRESNO/YOSEMITE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT THIS
AFTERNOON WAS 96 DEGREES. THIS BROKE THE RECORD FOR THE DATE OF 95
DEGREES SET IN 1910.

THE HIGH TEMPERATURE AT BAKERSFIELD...MEADOWS FIELD...HAD A HIGH
TODAY OF 97. THIS TIES THE RECORD SET ON THIS DATE IN 1987.

OTHER RECORDS ESTABLISHED TODAY INCLUDE MERCED AIRPORT WITH 95
DEGREES...MADERA AIRPORT AT 97 DEGREES. THESE BOTH BROKE RECORDS
THAT WERE SET IN 2002. AT HANFORD MUNICIPAL AIRPORT...THE HIGH TODAY
WAS 96...BREAKING THE OLD RECORD SET IN 1998. HOWEVER...THESE ARE
RELATIVELY NEW CLIMATE STATIONS WITH ONLY 11 YEARS OF RECORDS. 

TODAYS HIGH AT RED BLUFF AIRPORT REACHED 94...WHICH BREAKS THE OLD
RECORD HIGH OF 90 SET IN 1954.

THE SACRAMENTO CITY HIGH TEMPERATURE HAS REACHED 94 DEGREES...THE
OLD RECORD WAS 92 SET IN 1984. SACRAMENTO EXECUTIVE AIRPORT REACHED
92...THE OLD RECORD WAS 87 SET IN 1949.

TODAYS HIGH TEMPERATURE AT STOCKTON AIRPORT REACHED 96 DEGREES. THIS
BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 88 LAST SET IN 1987.

THE HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 99 DEGREES AT MODESTO AIRPORT TODAY BROKE
THE OLD RECORD OF 93 SET IN 1946.  

Original post:
Some of the recent high temperatures in California are new records for the entire month of April; several are as much as a week earlier than the old ones as well:

LOCATION            RECORD/DATE            PREVIOUS APRIL RECORD/DATE
--------            ------------           --------------------------

NAPA                95 (TIED) - 4/21/2009    95 - 4/27/2004
                                                  4/26/2004
                                                  4/29/1981
                                                  4/28/1921

OAKLAND AIRPORT     91 - 4/20/2009           88 - 4/27/2004
                                                  4/26/2004
                                                  4/23/1966

SAN JOSE            95 (TIED) - 4/20/2009    95 - 4/30/1996
                                                  4/9/1989

SANTA CRUZ          97 - 4/21/2009           95 - 4/25/1926
                                                  4/11/1898

GILROY              101 - 4/21/2009         100 - 4/30/1981

HOLLISTER           101 - 4/21/2009          98 - 4/28/2004
                                                  4/27/2004

MONTEREY CLIM STA   93 (TIED) - 4/21/2009    93 - 4/29/1981

KING CITY           104 - 4/21/2009         102 - 4/26/2004
                                                  4/29/1981 

Some record high minimums were also set:

THE LOW AT MEADOWS FIELD...BAKERSFIELD...THIS MORNING WAS 66
DEGREES. THIS BREAKS THE RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE FOR
BAKERSFIELD FOR TODAY OF 62 DEGREES...SET IN 1982.

THE LOW AT FRESNO-YOSEMITE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT THIS MORNING WAS 60
DEGREES. THIS TIED THE RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE FOR FRESNO
FOR TODAY...LAST SET IN 1998.

THE LOW AT MEADOWS FIELD...BAKERSFIELD...ON APRIL 21ST WAS 64
DEGREES. THIS BROKE THE RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE FOR
BAKERSFIELD FOR THE 21ST OF 63 DEGREES...SET IN 1950. 

PM Update: Record California Heat, Day 3

Image (click to enlarge): Surface temperature at 3 pm PDT, from Unisys

9 pm PDT Update: Late reports from the San Joaquin Valley:

THE HIGH TEMPERATURE AT FRESNO/YOSEMITE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT THIS
AFTERNOON WAS 98 DEGREES. THIS BROKE THE RECORD FOR THE DATE OF 96
DEGREES SET IN 1931.

OTHER RECORDS ESTABLISHED TODAY INCLUDE MERCED AIRPORT WITH 95
DEGREES...MADERA AIRPORT AT 98 DEGREES. THESE BOTH BROKE RECORDS
THAT WERE SET IN 2002. IN HANFORD MUNICIPAL AIRPORT THE HIGH TODAY
WAS 97...BREAKING THE OLD RECORD SET IN 1998. HOWEVER THESE ARE
RELATIVELY NEW CLIMATE STATIONS WITH ONLY 11 YEARS OF RECORDS.

BAKERSFIELD...MEADOWS FIELD...HAD A HIGH TODAY OF 99. THIS TIES THE
RECORD SET ON THIS DATE IN 1931. 

6:30 pm PDT Update: Some more records from California and Nevada:

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 90 DEGREES WAS SET AT LOS ANGELES
AIRPORT TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 89 SET IN 1987.

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 95 DEGREES WAS SET AT DOWNTOWN LOS
ANGELES (USC) TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 94 SET IN 1997.

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 97 DEGREES WAS SET AT BOB HOPE AIRPORT
(BURBANK) CA TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 91 SET IN 1958.

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 98 DEGREES WAS SET AT WOODLAND HILLS
TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 97 SET IN 1958.

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 97 DEGREES WAS SET AT SAN GABRIEL
TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 95 SET IN 1998.

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 94 DEGREES WAS SET AT UCLA TODAY. THIS
BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 90 SET IN 1997.

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 94 DEGREES WAS SET AT LANCASTER TODAY.
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 93 SET IN 1954.

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 82 DEGREES WAS SET AT SANDBERG CA
TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 81 SET IN 1954.

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 95 DEGREES WAS SET AT SANTA MARIA
AIRPORT CA TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 90 SET IN 1918.

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 99 DEGREES WAS SET AT PASO ROBLES
AIRPORT CA TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 93 SET IN 1987. 

LOCATION           NEW RECORD       OLD RECORD      PERIOD OF RECORD

FULLERTON APT ASOS     94           93 IN 1958         SINCE 1948
SANTA ANA              99           93 IN 1987         SINCE 1916
OCEANSIDE HARBOR       83    TIED   83 IN 1982         SINCE 1953
CHULA VISTA            92           90 IN 1987         SINCE 1948
ONTARIO AIRPORT       100           94 IN 1958         SINCE 1951
RIVERSIDE AIRPORT     101           96 IN 1998         SINCE 1927
BEAUMONT               94           92 IN 1998         SINCE 1948
WILD ANIMAL PARK      100           93 IN 1987         SINCE 1979
RAMONA AIRPORT         94           90 IN 1998         SINCE 1974
ALPINE                 92    TIED   92 IN 1958         SINCE 1951
CAMPO                  94           89 IN 1997         SINCE 1948
THERMAL AIRPORT       107          106 IN 1958         SINCE 1950
ELSINORE              100           95 IN 1987         SINCE 1948
ESCONDIDO              94           91 IN 1987         SINCE 1979

                 TUESDAY AFTERNOON HIGH TEMPERATURES
                                 AND
                   HIGH TEMPERATURE RECORDS (YEAR)

               * INDICATES A NEW RECORD SET ON TUESDAY


LOCATION            RECORD HIGH         ACTUAL HIGH

WESTERN NV...

RENO                 86 (1888)              85
CARSON CITY          82 (1934)              84*
VIRGINIA CITY        75 (1986)              77*
LOVELOCK             88 (1950)              89*
FALLON               85 (1969)              85
YERINGTON            85 (1950)              86*
HAWTHORNE            87 (1994)              85

NORTHEAST CALIFORNIA...

TRUCKEE              72 (1994)              75*
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE     72 (1986)              74*
TAHOE CITY           73 (1931)              69
SUSANVILLE           90 (1931)              83

TODAYS HIGH AT RED BLUFF AIRPORT REACHED 95...WHICH ECLIPSED THE OLD
RECORD HIGH OF 93 SET IN 1953.

THE HIGH AT SACRAMENTO EXECUTIVE AIRPORT REACHED 94...THE OLD RECORD
WAS 89 SET IN 1986. THE SACRAMENTO CITY RECORD OF 96...SET IN
1931...WAS NOT BROKEN.

THE HIGH TEMPERATURE AT STOCKTON AIRPORT REACHED 97 DEGREES. THIS
BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 89 SET IN 1986.

(SACRAMENTO EXECUTIVE AIRPORT AND STOCKTON AIRPORT RECORDS BEGIN
IN 1941).

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 98 DEGREES WAS SET AT MODESTO CA
...WHICH BROKE THE OLD RECORD OF 94 SET IN 1931.

5:30 pm PDT Update: Here are some record reports for April 21:

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 97 DEGREES WAS TIED AT UKIAH CA TODAY.
THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD OF 97 SET IN 1931.

THE FOLLOWING SITES BROKE OR TIED THEIR RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES
FOR THIS DATE

    SITE           TODAY`S HIGH     PREVIOUS HIGH / YEAR

    GILROY              101             92 / 1986
    KENTFIELD           90              89 / 1921
    KING CITY           104             96 / 1910
    MOFFETT FIELD       90              89 / 1987
    MONTEREY*           92              86 / 1987
    NAPA                95              91 / 1931
    OAKLAND MUSEUM      91              90 / 1987
    OAKLAND AIRPORT     86              77 / 1954
    SFO INTERNATIONAL   86              84 / 1987
    SAN JOSE            92              91 / 1987
    SALINAS             98              87 / 1998
    SAN RAFAEL          90              85 / 1986
    SANTA CRUZ          97              88 / 1987
    SANTA ROSA          93              85 / 1952

    *RECORDED AT OFFICIAL COOPERATIVE CLIMATE STATION.
    HIGH TEMPERATURE AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE
    IN MONTEREY WAS 89 FOR THIS DATE. 

Original post:
Westerly to southwesterly sea breezes are keeping temperatures down along the immediate coast, but inland temperatures are again soaring this afternoon in southern California. Here are some National Weather Service reports at 1 pm PDT (locations marked with an asterisk are not official NWS or FAA stations). The 96° at Burbank breaks the 1958 record by 5°.

LA AND ORANGE COUNTY COASTAL AREAS

CITY           SKY/WX    TMP DP  RH WIND       PRES   REMARKS
L.A. DOWNTOWN  SUNNY     92  42  17 CALM      29.89F
L.A. AIRPORT   MOSUNNY   82  39  21 W9        29.91F
LONG BEACH     MOSUNNY   81  47  30 S8        29.90F

CITY           SKY/WX    TMP DP  RH WIND       PRES   REMARKS
AVALON           N/A     73 N/A N/A N2          N/A
*BELLFLOWER      N/A     86  48  26 SE8       29.89F
FULLERTON      SUNNY     89  41  18 SW8       29.89F
HAWTHORNE      SUNNY     86  40  19 W10       29.91F
*HUNTINGTON BC   N/A     77  59  53 SW5       29.95F
*LEO CARRILLO    N/A     85  51  30 W8          N/A
LOS ALAMITOS   MOSUNNY   80  53  39 S12       29.91F
*MANHATTAN BCH   N/A     77  41  27 SW6         N/A
*MARINA DEL RE   N/A     70  50  49 SW6       29.83F
*REDONDO BEACH   N/A     77  52  41 W3        29.90F
SANTA ANA      MOSUNNY   84  43  23 SW8       29.90F
STA MONICA APT SUNNY     82  37  20 SW8       29.92F
TORRANCE       MOSUNNY   82  50  32 W12       29.92F
*UCLA            N/A     88  43  20 SW8       29.90F

LA COUNTY VALLEYS AND INLAND EMPIRE

CITY           SKY/WX    TMP DP  RH WIND       PRES   REMARKS
BURBANK        SUNNY     96  31  10 S10       29.91F HX  90
VAN NUYS       MOSUNNY   97  29   9 SE10      29.91F HX  91

CITY           SKY/WX    TMP DP  RH WIND       PRES   REMARKS
*ALTADENA        N/A     99  34  10 CALM        N/A  HX  93
CORONA AIRPORT CLEAR     97  42  15 W10       29.89F HX  93
CHINO          MOSUNNY   99  21   6 CALM      29.90F HX  92
*CLAREMONT       N/A     97  19   6 SE5         N/A  HX  90
*GRANADA HILLS   N/A     93  23   8 SE1       29.86F
MARCH AFB      SUNNY     96  11   4 SE6       29.94F
*NEWHALL         N/A     96  39  13 S6        29.93F HX  91
ONTARIO        MOSUNNY   99  16   5 NW6       29.91F HX  92
POMONA         MOSUNNY  N/A N/A N/A SW6       29.95
RIVERSIDE      SUNNY    100  17   5 VRB3      29.89F HX  92
SAN BERNARDINO MOSUNNY   99  19   6 W6        29.92F HX  91
*SAN RAFAEL HI   N/A     99  35  10 N5          N/A  HX  93
*SAUGUS          N/A     95  21   7 S8          N/A
WHITEMAN AP    MOSUNNY   99 N/A N/A VRB3        N/A
*WHITTIER HILL   N/A     97  43  15 S7          N/A  HX  93
*WOODLAND HILL   N/A     97  18   5 MISG        N/A  HX  90 

Several of the records set yesterday in the Bay Area are also new records for so early in the season:

LOCATION            MON APR 20        PREVIOUS EARLIEST DATE
                    RECORD            EXCEEDING APR 20 RECORD
--------            ------------      --------------------

NAPA                    94 (TIED)     APR 20 1931
OAKLAND (DOWNTOWN)      93            APR 28 1981
OAKLAND AIRPORT         91            MAY 12 1976
SANTA CRUZ              96            MAY 13 1927
GILROY                  99            APR 30 1981
SALINAS                 99            APR 26 2004
MONTEREY CLIM STATION   93            APR 29 1981 

Downpours Dampen D.C. Drought

Image (click to enlarge): Washington, DC 2008-2009 monthly precipitation relative to average, CapitalClimate chart from NWS data

Heavy showers this morning bringing over 1" of rain to the Washington, DC metro area have continued to put a substantial dent in the drought which built up over the first quarter of 2009. The month-to-date total of 3.66" is now just over double the average amount at this point in April. This is the first month to be above average since September. Current yearly totals for 2009 and departures from average are:

Washington National: 8.66"/-23%
Washington Dulles:   8.63"/-25%
Baltimore (BWI):    10.40"/-16% 

PM Update: Record California Heat, April 20

Image (click to enlarge): Surface temperature at 3 pm PDT, from Unisys

Update 9:30 pm PDT: Oregon and northern California records:

STATION                  PREVIOUS        NEW        RECORDS
                         RECORD/YEAR     RECORD     BEGAN

REDMOND, OR              83 / 1986       83 (TIED)  1949 
THE DALLES, OR           86 / 1986       87         1948 

LOCATION          MONDAY`S HIGH    PREVIOUS RECORD

OREGON...

MEDFORD                90             86 IN 1986
KLAMATH FALLS          81             78 IN 1986

CALIFORNIA...

MONTAGUE               87              82 IN 1956
MOUNT SHASTA           84              83 IN 1986

April monthly records:

AT SAN DIEGO LINDBERGH FIELD THE RECORD BROKEN WAS HELD FOR A
REMARKABLE 110 YEARS. THE TEMPERATURE OF 98 ALSO TIES THE HIGHEST
TEMPERATURE ON RECORD FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH OF APRIL...WHICH ALSO
OCCURRED ON APRIL 6 1989.

AT LAGUNA BEACH THE HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 97 DEGREES TIES THE HIGHEST
TEMPERATURE ON RECORD FOR APRIL AS WELL...WHICH ALSO OCCURRED ON
APRIL 7 1989. 

Update 6 pm PDT: More reports:

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 100 DEGREES WAS SET AT DOWNTOWN LOS
ANGELES (USC) CA TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 96 SET IN 1958.

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 95 DEGREES WAS SET AT LOS ANGELES
AIRPORT TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 86 SET IN 1986.

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 100 DEGREES WAS SET AT LONG BEACH
AIRPORT CA TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 93 SET IN 1986.

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 99 DEGREES WAS SET AT SAN GABRIEL CA
TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 98 SET IN 1958.

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 86 DEGREES WAS SET AT SANTA MONICA
PIER CA TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 79 SET IN 1958.

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 99 DEGREES WAS SET AT UCLA CA TODAY.
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 94 SET IN 1958.

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 94 DEGREES WAS SET AT PALMDALE AIRPORT
CA TODAY. THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD OF 94 SET IN 1950.

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 96 DEGREES WAS SET AT CAMARILLO TODAY.
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 90 SET IN 1958.

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 97 DEGREES WAS SET AT WFO-OXNARD
TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 90 SET IN 1958.

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 98 DEGREES WAS SET AT PASO ROBLES
AIRPORT CA TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 95 SET IN 1950.

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 98 DEGREES WAS SET AT SANTA MARIA
AIRPORT CA TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 91 SET IN 1986.

LOCATION           NEW RECORD       OLD RECORD      PERIOD OF RECORD

ALPINE                 99           95 IN 1958         SINCE 1951
BEAUMONT               93           92 IN 1958         SINCE 1948
BIG BEAR LAKE          75           73 IN 1994         SINCE 1960
CAMPO                  90           88 IN 1997         SINCE 1948
CHULA VISTA            97           89 IN 1986         SINCE 1948
EL CAJON              101           90 IN 1986         SINCE 1979
LAGUNA BEACH           97           85 IN 1987         SINCE 1928
OCEANSIDE HARBOR       84           76 IN 1999         SINCE 1953
SANTA ANA             103           91 IN 1986         SINCE 1916
RIVERSIDE UCR         103           99 IN 1958         SINCE 1948
WILD ANIMAL PARK      100           91 IN 1986         SINCE 1979
SAN DIEGO LINDBERGH    98           93 IN 1899         SINCE 1875
FULLERTON APT ASOS    100           96 IN 1958         SINCE 1948
ONTARIO APT ASOS      100           91 IN 1958         SINCE 1951
RAMONA APT ASOS        96           88 IN 1986         SINCE 1974
RIVERSIDE APT ASOS    101           97 IN 1958         SINCE 1927

...HIGHEST MINIMUM TEMPERATURE RECORDS BROKEN OR TIED ON APRIL 20...

SAN DIEGO LINDBERGH    63    TIED   63 IN 1980         SINCE 1875
RIVERSIDE UCR          59           58 IN 1958         SINCE 1948
BEAUMONT               59           55 IN 1987         SINCE 1948
ALPINE                 59           58 IN 1999         SINCE 1951

TODAYS HIGH OF 96 AT REDDING RECORD BROKE THE RECORD AT BOTH THE
AIRPORT AND AT THE OLD REDDING CITY LOCATION. THE OLD CITY RECORD
WAS 93...SET IN 1931.

THE HIGH AT RED BLUFF AIRPORT REACHED 95...WHICH ECLIPSED THE OLD
RECORD HIGH OF 91 SET IN 1950.

THE HIGH AT THE SACRAMENTO CITY STATION REACHED 94 DEGREES...
BREAKING THE OLD RECORD OF 92 SET IN 1931. THE RECORD AT SACRAMENTO
EXECUTIVE AIRPORT REACHED 93...THE OLD RECORD WAS 90 SET IN 1950.

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 96 DEGREES WAS SET AT STOCKTON CA
SUNDAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 90 SET IN 1950.

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 97 DEGREES WAS SET AT MODESTO CA
SUNDAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 92 SET IN 1986.

THE HIGH TEMPERATURE AT FRESNO/YOSEMITE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT THIS
AFTERNOON WAS 96 DEGREES. THIS BROKE THE RECORD FOR THE DATE OF 94
DEGREES SET IN 1950 AND 1931.

OTHER RECORDS ESTABLISHED TODAY INCLUDE MERCED AIRPORT WITH 94
DEGREES...MADERA AIRPORT AT 96 DEGREES...AND HANFORD AIRPORT 97.
THESE ALL BROKE RECORDS THAT WERE SET IN 2006...HOWEVER THESE ARE
RELATIVELY NEW CLIMATE STATIONS WITH ONLY 11 YEARS OF RECORDS.

BAKERSFIELD...MEADOWS FIELD...HAD A HIGH TODAY OF 97. THIS IS ONE
DEGREE SHY OF THE RECORD OF 98 SET IN 1906. 

Update 5:30 pm PDT: The record reports have started coming in from the National Weather Service:

SITE           TODAY`S HIGH     PREVIOUS HIGH / YEAR

    GILROY              99              86  / 1992
    KENTFIELD           90              87  / 1950
    KING CITY           100(TIED)       100 / 1931
    MOFFETT FIELD       93              84  / 1986
    MONTEREY*           93              85  / 1986
    NAPA                94(TIED)        94  / 1931
    OAKLAND MUSEUM      93              84  / 1986
    OAKLAND AIRPORT     91              79  / 1986
    RICHMOND            88              83  / 1986
    SALINAS             99              88  / 1986
    SANTA CRUZ          96              88  / 1899
    SAN FRANCISCO       93              84  / 1986
    SFO INTERNATIONAL   91              81  / 1986
    SAN RAFAEL          90              88  / 1950
    SAN JOSE            95              94  / 1906 

Update 3 pm PDT: Temperatures have continued to climb, with several 90°+ readings in the Bay Area:

CITY           SKY/WX    TMP DP  RH WIND       PRES   REMARKS
SANTA ROSA     MOSUNNY   91  46  21 S7        29.99F
SAN RAFAEL     N/A       86  MM  MM MISG
NAPA           SUNNY     88  59  37 SW6       30.00F
CONCORD        SUNNY     91  50  24 N5        30.00F
OAKLAND CITY   N/A       89  MM  MM MISG
OAKLAND        MOSUNNY   87  55  33 W9        30.01F
SAN FRAN CITY  N/A       91  MM  MM MISG
SAN FRAN ARPT  MOSUNNY   80  60  50 N6        30.01F
LIVERMORE      MOSUNNY   91  46  21 E7        30.00F
HAYWARD        SUNNY     90  55  30 W8        29.99F
REDWOOD CITY   N/A       89  MM  MM MISG
MOFFETT ARPT   SUNNY     90  52  27 N8        30.00F
SAN JOSE ARPT  MOSUNNY   94  47  20 NW9       29.99F HX  90 

In the interior of Los Angeles County, Altadena, Ontario, and Riverside have all hit 100°.

Original post:
At 1 pm local time, the downtown Los Angeles temperature of 99° has already exceeded by 3° the previous record for this date set in 1958. The 90° reading at the airport is 4° above the old record. Long Beach, at 98°, is 5° above the 1986 record. UCLA (95°) is 1° above the 1958 record. The 96° at Santa Maria is 5° above the 1986 record.

Potentially record heat extends northward to the Bay Area, where many readings are already in the upper 80s.

Observations from around the state of California at 2 pm PDT are available here.

Record Heat in California

Image (click to enlarge): Surface temperature at 4 pm PDT, from Unisys

Temperatures from the upper 80s into the upper 90s and low 100s set a number of daily temperature records in California on Sunday. At Santa Ana, the high of 101° broke by 10° a record that had stood for over 50 years. Records began in Santa Ana in 1916. The high of 94° in downtown Los Angeles broke a 95-year-old record, and beaches in the area were packed. Record temperatures are expected to continue into the early part of this week.

Among the preliminary reports from the National Weather Service:

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 87 DEGREES WAS SET AT LOS ANGELES AIRPORT
TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 83 SET IN 1986.

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 94 DEGREES WAS SET DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES
CALIFORNIA TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 92 SET IN 1914.

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 97 DEGREES WAS SET AT LONG BEACH CALIFORNIA
TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 88 DEGREES SET IN 1986.

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 96 DEGREES WAS SET AT SAN GABRIEL TODAY.
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 93 DEGREES SET IN 1999.

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 92 DEGREES WAS SET AT U.C.L.A. TODAY.
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 84 DEGREES SET IN 1999.

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 96 DEGREES WAS SET AT CAMARILLO TODAY.
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 86 DEGREES SET BACK IN 1958.

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 96 DEGREES WAS SET AT OXNARD TODAY.
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 86 DEGREES SET IN 1958.

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 87 DEGREES WAS SET AT SANTA BARBARA AIRPORT
TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 86 DEGREES SET IN 1958.

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 94 DEGREES WAS SET AT SANTA MARIA TODAY.
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 91 DEGREES SET IN 1938.

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 95 DEGREES WAS SET AT PASO ROBLES TODAY.
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 93 DEGREES SET IN 1950.

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 93 DEGREES WAS SET AT MODESTO CA
TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 90 SET IN 1950.

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 92 DEGREES WAS SET AT STOCKTON CA
TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 91 SET IN 1950.

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 89 DEGREES WAS TIED AT SACRAMENTO
EXECUTIVE AIRPORT CA TODAY. THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD OF 89 SET IN
1950.

THE FOLLOWING SITES BROKE OR TIED THEIR RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES
FOR THIS DATE

    SITE           TODAY`S HIGH     PREVIOUS HIGH / YEAR

    SANTA ROSA          90              88 / 1907
    NAPA                91              88 / 1950
    SAN FRANCISCO       88              83 / 1992
    OAKLAND MUSEUM      88              83 / 1992
    OAKLAND AIRPORT     85(TIED)        85 / 1950
    MOFFETT FIELD       88              84 / 1992
    SAN JOSE            90(TIED)        90 / 1950
    GILROY              95              84 / 1999
    MONTEREY*           90              80 / 1992
    SALINAS             96              84 / 1986
    SALINAS AIRPORT     96              85 / 1992
    SANTA CRUZ          90(TIED)        90 / 1906

    *RECORDED AT OFFICIAL COOPERATIVE CLIMATE STATION.
    HIGH TEMPERATURE AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE
    IN MONTEREY WAS 83 FOR THIS DATE.

THE HIGH TEMPERATURE AT FRESNO/YOSEMITE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT THIS
AFTERNOON WAS 93 DEGREES. THIS TIES THE RECORD FOR THE DATE SET
BACK IN 1950.

OTHER RECORDS ESTABLISHED TODAY INCLUDE MERCED AIRPORT WITH 92
DEGREES...MADERA AIRPORT AT 92 DEGREES...AND HANFORD AIRPORT 92.
THESE ALL BROKE RECORDS THAT WERE SET IN 1999...HOWEVER THESE ARE
RELATIVELY NEW CLIMATE STATIONS WITH ONLY 11 YEARS OF RECORDS.

...HIGHEST MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE RECORDS BROKEN OR TIED ON APRIL 19...

LOCATION           NEW RECORD       OLD RECORD      PERIOD OF RECORD

EL CAJON               95           92 IN 1999         SINCE 1979
LAGUNA BEACH           89           84 IN 1999         SINCE 1928
LA MESA                95           91 IN 1999         SINCE 1934
SANTA ANA             101           91 IN 1958         SINCE 1916
RIVERSIDE UCR          99           95 IN 1958         SINCE 1924
VISTA                  93    TIED   93 IN 1999         SINCE 1962
WILD ANIMAL PARK       96           93 IN 1999         SINCE 1979
LINDBERGH FIELD ASOS   91           85 IN 1914         SINCE 1850
FULLERTON APT ASOS    100           93 IN 1958         SINCE 1948
ONTARIO APT ASOS       96           91 IN 1980         SINCE 1951
RAMONA APT ASOS        91           90 IN 1999         SINCE 1974
RIVERSIDE APT ASOS     97           96 IN 1939         SINCE 1927


...HIGHEST MINIMUM TEMPERATURE RECORDS BROKEN OR TIED ON APRIL 19...

LOCATION           NEW RECORD       OLD RECORD      PERIOD OF RECORD

BEAUMONT               54           51 IN 1992         SINCE 1948
LA MESA                60    TIED   60 IN 1997         SINCE 1934