It Hasn't Cooled Since 1989;Washington December Daily Low Temperature Records

Images (click to enlarge): December daily record low temperatures for Washington, DC, by year of occurrence; Number of December daily record lows per decade; CapitalClimate charts from National Weather Service data

If you can remember the last time Washington, DC set a daily record low temperature in December, you've been hanging around too long in Babble-On on the Potomac. It was the first year of the G.H.W. Bush administration when a record low of 7° was set on December 23, 1989. The high of 22° that day was also a record low maximum for the date. Since then, there have been no new December record daily lows in the decades of the 1990s, 2000s, or so far in the 2010s. The only other decade with no December cold records was the 1950s.

Here are some other statistics of Washington December low temperature records:
- Half (15) of the daily records were set over 100 years ago, from 1872 through 1904, and 2 more were set 99 years ago.
- The 1880s had the most records of any decade with 7, followed by the 1910s with 5. Interestingly, all of the 1880s records occurred in even-numbered years.
- Except for the 1980s (4 records), no decade since the 1910s has had more than 2 records.
- The all-time coldest December temperature was -13° on December 31, 1880. This was just 2° warmer than the all-time Washington low of -15° on February 11, 1899. It was also a record -7° on December 30, 1880. These are the only December dates with lows below 0°.

Rain's Early Fall Smashes Pacific Northwest Precipitation Records

September 30 Update: September monthly precipitation records have also been set in Oregon at Eugene, Hillsboro, McMinnville (second highest), Portland (downtown and airport), and Salem, as well as at Vancouver, Washington. Details have been added below.

Original post:
Driven by persistent abnormally low pressure in the northeastern Pacific, an early onset of the rainy season is smashing precipitation records for September in the Pacific Northwest. Through this morning, Astoria, Oregon had broken century-plus records for all-time wettest September (by over 1"), wettest September day (by almost 1"), and wettest 2-day and 3-day totals for September. These records were further extended by the 2.00" which had fallen through 4 pm this afternoon, tying the daily record for Sept. 29 from 1951 and bringing the monthly total to date to 10.10", which is just 0.10" less than 500% of normal.

The rainfall map above shows that large parts of coastal Oregon have seen precipitation for the month of September to date (through the 28th) which is over 400% of average, with some areas over 600%.

The map to the right (click to enlarge) shows the pressure pattern Saturday evening over North America near the middle of the atmosphere, expressed as the standard deviation of the height of the 500 mb level. There is a huge area of greater than 3 standard deviations below average along the coast and offshore of the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia. (Note that in a randomly distributed "bell curve", 99.7% of all observations would be within 3 standard deviations of the average.)


The National Weather Service (NWS) report for Astoria:

AS OF 11 AM THIS MORNING...OVER 5 INCHES OF RAIN HAVE FALLEN ON 
 ASTORIA AIRPORT THIS WEEKEND. THIS RAINFALL HAS SHATTERED NUMEROUS 
 SEPTEMBER RECORDS...REMARKABLE CONSIDERING THAT RECORDS HAVE BEEN 
 KEPT IN ASTORIA SINCE 1890.
 
    RAINFALL RECORDS BROKEN IN ASTORIA
 ----------------------------------------
 
 1. ALL-TIME WETTEST SEPTEMBER ON RECORD...
    1. SEP 2013......... 9.70 INCHES AND COUNTING.
    2. SEP 1906......... 8.66 INCHES.
    3. SEP 1920......... 8.55 INCHES.
    4. SEP 1905......... 7.38 INCHES.
 
 2. WETTEST SEPTEMBER DAY ON RECORD...
    1. SEP 28 2013...... 3.56 INCHES.
    2. SEP 16 1997...... 2.67 INCHES.
    3. SEP 30 1953...... 2.41 INCHES.
    4. SEP 13 1935...... 2.27 INCHES.
 
 3. WETTEST 2-DAY TOTAL FOR SEPTEMBER...TOP 2 NOW SET IN 2013.
    1. SEP 28-29 2013... 5.16 INCHES AND COUNTING.
    2. SEP 27-28 2013... 4.55 INCHES.
    3. SEP 3-4 1913..... 3.46 INCHES.
    4. SEP 16-17 1997... 3.42 INCHES.
 
 4. WETTEST 3-DAY TOTAL FOR SEPTEMBER...
    1. SEP 27-29 2013... 6.15 INCHES AND COUNTING.
    2. SEP 2-4 1913..... 4.31 INCHES. 
    3. SEP 15-17 1997... 4.16 INCHES. 

In Washington state, daily rainfall records were set for September 28 at Seattle-Tacoma, Olympia, Hoquiam, and Quillayute. An inspection of National Climatic Data Center records indicates that the 2.93" at Olympia was not only more than triple the old record, it was also an all-time daily record for September, well above the 1.67 on Sept. 17, 2010. Olympia records began in 1948. The NWS reports:

A RECORD RAINFALL OF 2.93 INCHES WAS SET AT OLYMPIA WA AIRPORT ON
SEP 28TH. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 0.82 SET IN 1971.

A RECORD RAINFALL OF 1.71 INCHES WAS SET AT SEATTLE-TACOMA WA
AIRPORT ON SEP 28TH. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 0.83 SET IN 1948.

A RECORD RAINFALL OF 1.78 INCHES WAS SET AT HOQUIAM WA AIRPORT ON
SEP 28TH. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 1.02 SET IN 1962.

A RECORD RAINFALL OF 1.93 INCHES WAS SET AT QUILLAYUTE WA AIRPORT
ON SEP 28TH. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 1.32 SET IN 1971.

The NWS reported on September 30 that several other locations in Washington and Oregon have set September rainfall records:

1. ASTORIA (1890)...
   1. SEP 2013......... 10.51 INCHES AND COUNTING.
   2. SEP 1906......... 8.66 INCHES.
   3. SEP 1920......... 8.55 INCHES.
   4. SEP 1905......... 7.38 INCHES.
      CLIMATOLOGICAL NORMAL: 2.14 INCHES.

2. EUGENE (1890)...
   1. SEP 2013......... 6.16 INCHES AND COUNTING.
   2. SEP 1927......... 5.21 INCHES.
   3. SEP 1911......... 4.91 INCHES.
   4. SEP 1986......... 4.65 INCHES.
      CLIMATOLOGICAL NORMAL: 1.29 INCHES.

3. HILLSBORO (1929)...
   1. SEP 2013......... 6.10 INCHES AND COUNTING.
   2. SEP 1945......... 3.68 INCHES.
   3. SEP 1982......... 3.46 INCHES.
   4. SEP 1977......... 3.43 INCHES.
      CLIMATOLOGICAL NORMAL: 1.26 INCHES.

4. MCMINNVILLE (1894)...
   1. SEP 1996......... 7.58 INCHES.
   2. SEP 2013......... 5.58 INCHES AND COUNTING
   3. SEP 1901......... 4.83 INCHES.
   4. SEP 1914......... 4.28 INCHES.
      CLIMATOLOGICAL NORMAL: 1.31 INCHES.

5. PORTLAND AIRPORT (1940)...
   1. SEP 2013......... 5.06 INCHES AND COUNTING.
   2. SEP 1986......... 4.30 INCHES.
   3. SEP 1982......... 3.98 INCHES.
   4. SEP 1945......... 3.96 INCHES.
      CLIMATOLOGICAL NORMAL: 1.47 INCHES

6. PORTLAND DOWNTOWN (1872)...
   1. SEP 2013......... 6.21 INCHES AND COUNTING.
   2. SEP 1927......... 5.52 INCHES.
   3. SEP 1911......... 5.19 INCHES.
   4. SEP 1969......... 4.87 INCHES.
      CLIMATOLOGICAL NORMAL: 1.54 INCHES.

7. SALEM (1872)...
   1. SEP 2013......... 6.63 INCHES AND COUNTING.
   2. SEP 1927......... 5.52 INCHES.
   3. SEP 1911......... 5.19 INCHES.
   4. SEP 1969......... 4.87 INCHES.
      CLIMATOLOGICAL NORMAL: 1.28 INCHES.

7. VANCOUVER, WA (1896)...
   1. SEP 2013......... 4.98 INCHES AND COUNTING.
   2. SEP 1911......... 4.88 INCHES.
   3. SEP 1925......... 4.46 INCHES.
   4. SEP 1927......... 4.35 INCHES.
      CLIMATOLOGICAL NORMAL: 1.56 INCHES.

Super Summer Soaker Phloods Philadelphia Rainfall Record; Second Extreme in 3 Years

Images (click to enlarge): Top 10 wettest summers in Philadelphia, CapitalClimate chart from National Weather Service (NWS) data; Philadelphia precipitation percentage of normal for 90 days ending August 12, 2013, from NWS

There's a good reason if the Philadelphia Phanatic is looking greener than usual lately. After the summer rainfall record was broken just 1 day into August, another 2.02" this morning has pushed the Philadelphia seasonal precipitation total even further into record territory. With over 2 weeks left, the unofficial June-August rainfall total of 27.56" is barely less than 3" above the old record of 24.58" set just 2 years ago. The seasonal total to date is 245% of the climatological average for the entire 3 summer months.

San Juan Swamps Century-Plus Rainfall Record

Image (click to enlarge): Puerto Rico 24-hour precipitation ending 8 am EDT, July 19, 2013, from National Weather Service

Midnight Update: The final daily rainfall for San Juan is 9.23", the second highest for any day on record.

The year-to-date rainfall total is now 185% of normal and only about 8" below the normal for the entire year. If San Juan were to tie the record low rainfall for each of the remaining 5 months in the year, it would still finish 2013 less than 1" below normal.

5 PM Update: It's baaack! With 0.67" more in this hour, the total of 9.11" is now the second highest for any day in San Juan history and a little more than half an inch from the top spot. Moderate rain continues.

4 PM Update: Rain ended with only 0.02" in the past hour, but less than half an inch in the rest of the day would make second place on San Juan's all-time daily record list. The NWS reports that more is on the way.

The monthly total of 11.64" also breaks the old July record of 11.08" just 2 years ago.

3 PM Update: Another 1.91" in the past hour brings the San Juan daily rainfall total to 8.42", which is the second highest for any summer day and the 4th highest of all time.

2 PM Update: With light rain continuing to fall, the daily total so far is now 6.51", which is the 10th highest for any day in any month. The previous top 10 San Juan daily rainfall amounts:

15-Aug 9.67 in 1944
18-Sep 8.84 in 1989
14-Dec 8.84 in 1910
10-Sep 8.20 in 1996
11-Nov 7.92 in 1931
13-Sep 7.39 in 1928
15-Apr 7.10 in 1988
25-Nov 7.07 in 1979
12-Dec 6.96 in 1981
7-Apr 6.19 in 1915 

Original Post:
Puerto Rico should get a lot of heavy downpours in the summer with tropical cyclones, right? Well, with no organized tropical system whatever, San Juan has just smashed its all-time July daily rainfall record. The National Weather Service reports that the 4.92" so far today has exceeded by a wide margin the old record for July 18 of 3.19", set in 1950. As of that report, heavy rain was still falling.

Today's amount is also well above the old daily record for July of 4.04" on July 7, 1901. It's only the 5th time July daily precipitation has exceeded 3" in a climate history which began in 1898.

The previous top 5 July daily rainfall amounts for San Juan, from the National Climatic Data Center:

7-Jul 4.04 in 1901
23-Jul 3.66 in 1926
18-Jul 3.19 in 1950
12-Jul 3.01 in 1905
24-Jul 3.00 in 1949 

Record Heat in Northern Maine, Eastern Canada

Image (click to enlarge): U.S. temperatures at 4 pm EDT, July 15, 2013, from Unisys

Record heat extended from northernmost Maine into eastern Canada on Monday, July 15:
- The high temperature at Millinocket of 94° tied the record for the date set in 1952.
- The 94° also at Caribou broke the record of 93° set in 1952 and tied in 1968. It was also the hottest day there since July 20, 1991. Caribou climate records began in 1939.
- The CBC reports that St. John's, Newfoundland had its second hottest temperature for any day since records began there in 1942. The 31.2°C (88°F) high was only slightly below the all-time record of 31.5°C on July 6, 1983.

Caribou also broke a record the previous day with 91°, which beat the 90° in 1943.

Record Rainfall Drenches Dulles; Update: Rain Ransacks Roanoke Record

Images (click to enlarge): Washington, DC regional radar, 12:49 am EDT, July 12, 2013, from The Weather Channel; 24-hour precipitation ending 8 am EDT, July 13, 2013, for Washington region, from National Weather Service

2 PM EDT Update: The 3.88" a day earlier (July 10) at Roanoke smashed the daily record of 2.67" in 1931. It was also a new all-time July daily record in a climate history which began over a century ago in 1912. Daily amounts of 3" or more had been observed only twice before in July at Roanoke.

The 1.84" at Richmond also broke a July 10 record of 1.36" set just last year.

To the north, the 2.44" at Pittsburgh beat the daily record of 1.81" in 1958.

10 AM EDT Update: The preliminary July 11 record daily total rainfall for Dulles is 3.71". The 24-hour total ending at 8 am is 4.49", with some light rain continuing.

2 AM EDT Update: Dulles has added 0.22" from lighter thundershowers in the past hour for a storm total so far of 3.79". The reported month-to-date total is now 370% of normal.

Original Post:
Persistent thunderstorms Thursday evening have produced record rainfall in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC. At Dulles Airport, the unofficial total of 3.61" through midnight (standard time) was over 3 times the old record for July 11 of 1.12" in 1977. Climate records at Dulles date back only a half-century to 1962, but this was also enough to beat the all-time July daily record of 3.50" on July 27, 1994.

The official climate record for Washington, DC, which began in 1871, shows that July daily rainfalls of 4" or more have occurred on at least 3 occasions:
4.69", July 9, 1970
4.35", July 22, 1969
4.25", July 30, 1878

Southwest Scorched by Historic Heat; Update: All-Time June Records at Death Valley, Needles

Image (click to enlarge): U.S. daily high temperatures, June 28, 2013, from Unisys. Note the bright blue area of 120°+.

July 1 Update: The 129° at the aptly-named Furnace Creek in Death Valley on June 30 was a new all-time June high temperature record there. The previous record of 128° was set on June 29, 1994 and tied on the same date this year. The June 30 reading also tied the all-time June record for the U.S. which was originally set 111 years ago on June 23, 1902 in the former town of Volcano, California.

The June average temperature of 101.3° at Death Valley easily surpassed the old June record of 100.4° in 1960. The June average daily minimum of 87.1° also set a record, exceeding the 86.8° in 1977.

At Needles, California, where climate history extends back to 1888, all-time June records were set for:
- Average temperature of 95.8° (old record 94.8° in 1994)
- Monthly maximum 123° on the 29th (old record 122° on June 11, 1918 and June 29, 1924)
- Average minimum 81.5° (old record 81.0° in 1981)

June 30, 5 PM PDT Update: As of 5 pm, Las Vegas is reporting a high so far of 117°, which ties the all-time record. The preliminary monthly average of 91.5° smokes the old June record by a full degree.

June 30, 4 PM PDT Update: The current temperature of 116° at Las Vegas ties the all-time June record set on June 15, 1940. This is the third consecutive day of 115°+ at Las Vegas.

Phoenix tied its record for June 30 at 115°.

June 29, 9 PM Update: More major heat records were set today. Some preliminary highlights:
- The 115° at Las Vegas tied the record for the date.
- Needles, California hit 123°, which set a new all-time June record in a climate history extending back to 1888.
- Kingman, Arizona beat its old June all-time high by 2° in a climate record which began in 1901.
- Salt Lake City had 105° for the second consecutive day. This was a new all-time June record.

June 29, 10 AM Update: The National Weather Service has provided additional record reports for Needles and Death Valley, California and Kingman, Arizona, included in the table below.

The 115° at Las Vegas was the first time that level was reached in June since 1994. It was also the hottest June temperature at Needles since 1994. At Kingman, it was the second earliest 110° temperature; the earliest was June 16, 1917. That also ties the all-time June record.

Original Post:
It was historically hot in the desert Southwest today. Over a dozen major National Weather Service climate locations in Arizona, Nevada and interior California tied or broke temperature records for June 28, in some cases by big margins. The highest readings in absolute terms were 118° at Palm Springs, California, which tied its 1979 record, and at Yuma, Arizona. Yuma climate records began nearly 140 years ago, in 1876. The previous record of 116° was tied 3 times, but it was soundly broken by a margin of 2°. At Winnemucca, Nevada the previous record of 101° was set just 3 years ago in a climate history which dates back to 1877, but this was surpassed by an impressive margin of 4°.

Here's a preliminary summary of today's records (POR indicates first year of period of record):

	Location	Record	Previous	Date	POR
AZ	Flagstaff	96	94	1990/1974	1898
	Winslow	107	104	1973	1898
	Prescott	104	100	1990	1948
	Yuma	118	116	1994/1990/1985	1876
	Kingman	110	107	1914	1901
NV	Elko	103	101	1892	1888
	Eureka	100	95	2010/2007	1963
	Tonopah	101	101	1956	1954
	Winnemucca	105	101	2010	1877
	Las Vegas	115	115	1994	1937
	Reno	103	100	2010	1888
CA	Bishop	107	105	1956	1943
	Palm Springs	118	118	1979	1893
	Death Valley	125	125	1994	1911
	Needles	121	119	1994	1888

New York on Track for Wettest June in 145-Year Climate Record

Images (click to enlarge): June total rainfall to date for New York and southern New England from National Weather Service (NWS); 48-hour total precipitation forecast through Friday evening, June 28, from WPC/NWS

June 27 (Thursday), 10:30 PM Update: The 0.23" so far tonight brings the monthly total to 10.09", which surpasses the 10.06" in 2009 as the second wettest June on record.

Original Post:
The 0.05" of rain which fell at New York's Central Park in light showers this evening brings the month-to-date total to 9.86". This puts June 2013 firmly in position as the 3rd wettest June in a climate history which extends back to 1869. Less than half an inch now separates the current month from the June record of 10.27" in 2003. With over 1" of rain forecast for Thursday and Friday (June 27-28), the record is well within reach.

The 3 wettest Junes in New York have now all occurred in the past 11 years. The all-time wettest month was August 2011, when 18.95" fell.

Early Summer Heat Krushes Kansas Records

9 PM CDT Update: The preliminary final high temperature at Goodland was 107°, smashing the old record by 7°. Other records were tied or broken in Arizona, New Mexico, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas.

	Location	Record	Previous	Date
AZ	Winslow	99	99	1956/1921/1918
	Douglas	105	101	1981/1956
NM	Albuquerque	101	101	1981
	Clayton	101	99	2010	June 10
WY	Cheyenne	92	91	1956/1893
CO	Colorado Springs	97	93	1956
	Pueblo	104	100	2001/1956
	Denver	100	95	1956
	Burlington	107	102	1918
	Yuma	106	100	1956	Unofficial
NE	Sidney	96	96	1956
	McCook	108	106	1918
KS	Goodland	107	100	2001/1953/1952
	Hill City	111	106	1953
	Garden City	108	102	1953
	Dodge City	104	103	1977
	Tribune	111	102	2010	Unofficial
	Colby	107	104	1918	Unofficial

Original post:
Triple-digit temperatures are crushing temperature records in western Kansas this afternoon. At Goodland, Kansas, where climate records began in 1895, it was 100° on June 11, 2001, which tied a record previously reached in 1953, 1952, and also in some previous years. Today, the temperature broke that record with 101° at 1 pm CDT, 102° the following hour, 105° the next, and retreated slightly to 104° in the current hour.

At Garden City, where a new record of 105° was reported at 2 pm (old record 102° in 1953), the thermometer has kept right on soaring to 108° in the current hour.

More records will be posted as the reports become available.

Andrea Smashes Early-Season Rainfall Records

June 8, 10 AM Update: Added Salisbury, Wilmington, Allentown, Islip, Massena, Boston, Providence. Updated totals through midnight.

10 PM EDT Update: Added Richmond, New Bern, Hartford, Bridgeport, Worcester. Updated totals through 8 pm (10 pm for CT and MA).

Original post:
Heavy rainfall associated with the pre-storm environment and Tropical Storm Andrea itself has been smashing daily rainfall records along the East Coast. At Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, the unofficial total of 5.14" is the highest so early in the season and the second highest for any day in June for climate records dating back to 1887. Based on National Weather Service preliminary record reports, daily climate reports, and hourly precipitation data, here are the records so far (all for June 7 unless otherwise noted). The rain is continuing in most locations.

	Location	Record	Previous	Date
NC	Fayetteville	2.36	1.78	1930
	Raleigh/Durham	5.14	1.24	1930
	New Bern	1.51	1.20	2003
VA	Lynchburg	3.38	3.31	1989	6-Jun
	Roanoke	1.77	1.15	1934	6-Jun
	Blacksburg	2.70	1.09	1961	6-Jun
	Richmond	2.67	1.68	1913
MD	Salisbury	1.58	1.43	1913
DE	Wilmington	3.36	1.78	1916
NJ	Newark	3.71	1.11	1931
	Trenton	3.51	1.60	1989
PA	Philadelphia	3.50	1.79	1904
	Allentown	1.82	1.19	1948
NY	Kennedy Airport	4.01	1.18	2006
	LaGuardia Airport	3.33	1.08	2006
	Islip	4.15	1.27	2006
	Syracuse	2.39	1.20	2010	6-Jun
	NYC/Central Park	4.16	1.95	1918
	Massena	0.72	0.43	1984
CT	Hartford	2.53	1.54	1913
	Bridgeport	4.43	1.36	2006
MA	Worcester	2.68	1.75	2006
	Boston	3.07	2.89	2006
RI	Providence	3.23	3.08	2006

Triple-Digit Temperatures Crush Northern Plains/Midwest Heat Records; All-Time May Record at Sioux City

Image (click to enlarge): U.S. daily high temperatures for May 14, 2013, from Unisys

While Mid Atlantic residents were complaining about the unseasonable cold temperatures on Tuesday, heat records were being crushed in the Northern Plains and upper Midwest. As shown in the table below, triple-digit readings smashed long-standing May 14 daily records, with a margin as much as 7° at Norfolk, Nebraska. At Sioux City, Iowa, the 106° high also broke the all-time May maximum temperature record. Sioux City climate records date back to 1889. At both Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska, it was the earliest 100° temperature on record, surpassing the previous records of 5/29/1934 and 5/24/1967, respectively.

	Location	Record	Previous	Date	Earliest 100
IA	CEDAR RAPIDS	94	93	5/14/1932
	MASON CITY	99	92	5/14/1998
	WATERLOO	96	94	5/14/1932
	DES MOINES	94	93	5/14/1988
MN	ALEXANDRIA	93	92	5/14/2001
	MANKATO	100	94	5/14/1954
	MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL	98	95	5/14/1932
	ST CLOUD	95	93	5/14/1932
	ROCHESTER	97	94	5/14/2007
NE	OMAHA	101	96	5/14/1915	5/29/1934
	NORFOLK	103	96	5/14/1941
	LINCOLN	100	96	5/14/1915	5/24/1967
	NORTH PLATTE	97	95	5/14/1948
SD	MITCHELL	93	92	5/14/1932

The map below, from NOAA/ESRL, shows the temperature departures from average (°C) for the U.S. It shows that nearly all of the country was at least 2°C above or below average, but the positive departures significantly outweighed the negative, both in area and magnitude.



The temperature extremes were a reflection of a strongly anomalous circulation pattern shown in the map below. A very strong ridge of high pressure extended from the eastern Pacific to the Great Lakes at the 500 mb level (near the middle of the atmosphere), while a deep low pressure area was located off the Mid Atlantic coast.



The National Weather Service report for the record at Sioux City:

AT 135 PM THE TEMPERATURE REACHED 106 DEGREES AT THE SIOUX CITY
GATEWAY AIRPORT ESTABLISHING A NEW RECORD DAILY MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE
FOR THIS DATE AND A NEW RECORD FOR THE HIGHEST TEMPERATURE FOR THE
MONTH OF MAY.

THE PREVIOUS RECORD DAILY MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE WAS 97 DEGREES SET IN
2001 AND THE PREVIOUS RECORD MONTHLY MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE FOR MAY WAS
105 DEGREES SET ON MAY 30, 1934. 

THE TOP TEN HIGHEST TEMPERATURES FOR MONTH OF MAY FROM 1889 TO 2013

      DEGREES         DATE  
 1.    105          5/30/1934
 2.    103          5/29/1934
 3.    102          5/25/1967
 4.    102          5/31/1934
 5.    101          5/15/2001
 6.    100          5/06/1934
 7.     99          5/19/1934
 8.     99          5/18/1934
 9.     98          5/28/2006
10.     98          5/24/1939 

Weather Whiplash: U.S. Cold Records Crush Heat Records 6.5 to 1 in April

One year after heat records smashed cold records by a ratio of over 35 to 1, preliminary data from the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) show that new daily low temperature records in the U.S. outnumbered high temperature records by 6.5 to 1 in April. This was the largest monthly excess of cold records so far this decade. It was also the first time since at least February 2010 that more than 2 consecutive months have had more cold records than heat records.

For the spring season to date (March-April), cold records have exceeded heat records by a ratio of 4 to 1, and for 2013 to date, the ratio is 1.6 to 1. On the other hand, for the 12 consecutive months ending in April, heat records continue to outpace cold records by a ratio of 1.8 to 1. Cumulatively, the ratio of heat records to cold records is 2.8 to 1 since January 2010, well above the roughly 2 to 1 in previous decades. As the chart shows, the 2600 cold records in April barely made a dent in the cumulative excess of 36000 heat records since the beginning of the decade.

Preliminary data from NOAA/ESRL show that the coldest temperatures relative to average were in the North Central portion of the U.S. in April. The Pacific Coast states, however, were warmer than average, and near to above average temperatures prevailed over most of the eastern third of the country.

Washington Has Latest Occurrence of First 75° Temperature*

* since 2001

5:30 PM Update: The preliminary high for the day was 79° at 3 pm EDT.

Original Post:
With a noon temperature of 70°, Washington is well on its way to the first 75° or higher temperature of the year by this afternoon, or at least by tomorrow. This will be the latest occurrence of the first 75° temperature . . . since 2001, when this temperature was reached on April 9. The latest occurrence on record at the current observation location was on April 26, 1984. The average date for the first 75° temperature since 1930 is March 16.

Washington Fails to Reach 65° in March, First Time Since 1958

March 2013 has closed out the record books with a monthly high temperature in Washington of 63°. This is the coldest high for March since the 58° in 1958. It's only the second time Washington has failed to reach 65° in March since the 60° high in 1931.

The unofficial monthly average of 43.8°, however, was only 3.0° below normal, making this the 55th coldest March since temperature records began in 1871.

Snowbound Sunday in Springfield: All-Time Daily Snowfall Record; St. Louis Also Sets March Record

The National Weather Service reports that Springfield, Illinois set a daily snowfall record on March 24:

A RECORD DAILY SNOWFALL OF 17 INCHES WAS SET AT SPRINGFIELD IL ON   
SUNDAY MARCH 24TH. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 2.4 INCHES SET IN 1947.  

According to NWS data, this would also be an all-time daily snowfall record at Springfield:

MOST SNOW IN 24 HOURS

Rank	Amount	Date
1	15.0 inches	Feb. 28, 1900
2	13.3 inches	Jan. 1-2, 1999
3	12.6 inches	Jan. 30-31, 1914
4	11.3 inches	Jan. 31-Feb. 1, 2008
5	11.2 inches	Feb. 12-13, 2007
6	10.9 inches	Dec. 19, 1973
7	10.7 inches	Feb. 12, 1894
8	10.5 inches	Dec. 24, 1915
9	10.3 inches	Feb. 23-24, 1965
10	9.4 inches	March 19-20, 1906

A daily snowfall record was also set at Peoria and Lincoln:

A RECORD SNOWFALL OF 7 INCHES WAS SET AT PEORIA IL ON SUNDAY   
MARCH 24TH. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 3.7 INCHES SET IN 1933.  

A DAILY RECORD SNOWFALL OF 10.8 INCHES WAS SET AT LINCOLN IL ON  
SUNDAY MARCH 24TH. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 4 INCHES SET IN   
1947.    

According to NWS records, this is also an all-time March daily record for Lincoln, exceeding the 7.5" on March 16, 1960.

The axis of heaviest snow also extended westward to St. Louis, where it was the heaviest daily snowfall for March and the second heaviest for any calendar day. From the NWS:

THE LATE SEASON WINTER STORM WHICH BROUGHT VERY HEAVY SNOW TO THE
REGION YESTERDAY WILL GO DOWN IN THE RECORD BOOKS AS THE HIGHEST
CALENDAR DAY MARCH SNOWFALL. THIS WAS ALSO THE SECOND HIGHEST
CALENDAR DAY SNOWFALL EVER...AND THE SIXTH GREATEST SNOWFALL EVENT
FOR ST LOUIS.

HERE ARE THE TOP TEN LISTS (PLEASE NOTE THAT OFFICIAL SNOWFALL
RECORDS FOR ST LOUIS GO BACK TO 1891)...

TOP TEN MARCH CALENDAR DAY SNOWFALL
(MIDNIGHT TO MIDNIGHT)

1. *12.4 INCHES  3/24/2013
2.  12.1 INCHES  3/24/1912
3.  10.0 INCHES  3/4/2008...3/6/1989...3/9/1958
6.   9.1 INCHES  3/19/1906
7.   8.6 INCHES  3/20/1924
8.   8.3 INCHES  3/26/1913
9.   7.8 INCHES  3/2/1912
10.  7.3 INCHES  3/23/1974

TOP TEN SNOWFALL CALENDAR DAYS
(MIDNIGHT TO MIDNIGHT)

1.  12.8 INCHES  2/26/1906
2.  *12.4 INCHES 3/24/2013
3.  12.1 INCHES  3/24/1912
4.  12.0 INCHES  12/19/1973
5.  11.7 INCHES  2/13/1914
6.  11.3 INCHES  2/16/1910
7.  11.2 INCHES  1/31/1958
8.  11.0 INCHES  1/11/1909
9.  10.9 INCHES  1/16/1978
10  10.5 INCHES  12/30/1973

TOP TEN SNOWFALL EVENTS
(ANY 24 HOUR PERIOD...POSSIBLY SPANNING CALENDAR DAYS)

1.  15.6 INCHES  2/20-21/1912
2.  13.9 INCHES  1/30-31/1982
3.  13.3 INCHES  2/16-17/1910
4.  13.0 INCHES  2/12-13/1914
5.  12.8 INCHES  2/26/1906
6.  *12.6 INCHES 3/24-25/2013  (7AM-7AM CDT)
7.  12.5 INCHES  1/16-17/1978
8.  12.1 INCHES  3/24/1912
9.  12.0 INCHES  12/19/1973
10. 12.0 INCHES  1/11-12/1909  

Think It Was Cold Today, DC? Not Your Great-Great Grandfather's March of the Penguins

Denizens of the DMV were complaining about the early-spring cold this March 21, but the chill was nowhere near the historical extremes for this date or any other date through the end of the month. Although the high for the day of 42° was set shortly after midnight, the daytime temperatures were mostly in the 30s. On the other hand, the afternoon high did reach 41°. This was well below the historical average of 58° in Washington, DC, but it was also a full 10° above the coldest high temperature for the date, which was set in 1885. In fact, it would not be near any coldest high for the remainder of March.

The CapitalClimate chart from National Weather Service data shows that all but 1 of the 13 record coldest high temperatures from March 19-31 were set over 100 years ago. The one exception was 73 years ago, on 03/25/1940.

Washington March Snow: Rare Event Becoming Rarer?

The climatological average for March snowfall in Washington is just 1.3", so significant snowfalls in the first month of meteorological spring are rare. With the bust of the current "Snowquester", it's likely that 2013 will add to a string of nearly snowless Marches extending back to 2009, when a total of 5.5" was recorded.

In the early days of official snowfall records, which began in Washington in 1888, March snow was relatively common. In fact, the first 6 years in the climate record had measurable March snow; 3 of those were over 10".

The chart shows on the horizontal axis all of the years with 4" or more of total snowfall in March. The vertical axis is the number of years since the previous occurrence of 4"+. For example, if 4" occurred in consecutive years, the interval would be shown as 1. For the first several decades, the interval between significant March snows never exceeded 4 years, but in 1923 it reached 9. The interval reached double digits for the first time in 1956, when it was 13. It was 13 again in 1993, and 10 in 2009, which ended a March snow dry spell that began after 1999.

Unless this month has a miraculous snowfall recovery, the current March snow drought will be 4 years and counting.

Blizzard Threatens Texas All-Time Snowfall Records

8 PM CST February 26 Update: Map updated with final totals.

8 PM CST Update: The Amarillo snow total of 19" is the third heaviest for any storm on record:

19 inches of snow at NWS #Amarillo. 2nd most snow in a calendar day and 3rd most for any event. #phwx #amablizzard

— NWS Amarillo (@NWSAmarillo) February 26, 2013

4 PM CST Update: Here are some unofficial snowfall reports from the National Weather Service for the Texas panhandle:

Location              Snowfall  Source
7 ENE Amarillo  TX      17      nws office
Fritch          TX      16      trained spotter
Pampa           TX      15      co-op observer
6 SE Booker     TX      14      trained spotter
Fritch          TX      14      trained spotter
White Deer      TX      14      public
Booker          TX      14      emergency mngr
Fritch          TX      13      public
3 S Darrouzett  TX      12.5    trained spotter
Dumas           TX      12      law enforcement
Bushland        TX      12      public
6 SW Amarillo   TX      12      trained spotter 

Original Post:
The ongoing blizzard in the Texas panhandle is threatening to break some all-time Texas snowfall records. These are the current snowfall records at Amarillo, from the National Weather Service:

Max for 24 hours: 20.6 inches on March 25-26, 1934
Max for a single storm: 20.6 inches on March 25-26, 1934
Max for one month: 28.7 inches in February 1903
Max measured snow depth: 17.0 inches on February 26, 1903
Max for a season: 50.9 inches in 1918-19

The NWS at Amarillo reports:

GOING FORECAST STILL ON TRACK. THE NWS OFFICE NOW HAS OVER 13 INCHES
ON THE GROUND WITH 3-4 FOOT DRIFTS AND A MAX GUST TO 58 MPH. THE SE
TX PANHANDLE HAS BEEN SLOW TO FILL IN WITH SNOW AFTER THE
THUNDERSTORMS THAT DROPPED HEAVY RAIN LAST NIGHT AND THESE AREAS
MIGHT END UP WITH AMOUNTS CLOSER TO THE 8 INCH SIDE THAN THE 14 INCH
SIDE OF THEIR RANGE. AT THE END OF THE DAY...THE HEAVIEST TOTALS
WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY BE ALONG A PALO DURO CANYON TO AMARILLO TO
STINNETT TO PERRYTON LINE.

SOME RECORDS SEEM TO BE IN A PRECARIOUS POSITION TODAY. THE FIRST IS
AN ALL-TIME 24 HOUR SNOWFALL RECORD AT AMARILLO OF 20.6 INCHES FROM
MARCH 25-26 1934. WE WILL LIKELY GET VERY CLOSE OR SURPASS THIS
NUMBER BY THIS AFTERNOON.

THE OTHER IS THE ALL-TIME STATE OF TEXAS 24 HOUR SNOWFALL RECORD OF
25 INCHES IN FOLLETT SET MARCH 28 2009. SOMEWHERE IN THE
PERRYTON/STINNETT/BORGER/AMARILLO AREA COULD APPROACH THIS VALUE BY
THIS AFTERNOON.  

Record Low Mid-Atmospheric Pressure Predicted for Midwest Blizzard

The maximum intensity for the developing Midwest blizzard is nearly 2 days away, but a major forecast model is predicting mid-atmospheric pressures at least as low as any observed during February in the region since systematic upper-air observations began in 1948. Based on data from this morning, the NOAA/NCEP GFS model is predicting super-low pressures by Tuesday morning near the middle of the atmosphere above the storm. The map above shows the predicted height (meters) of the level at which the pressure is 500 mb, or roughly half the value at the surface. The small circle near the Missouri-Arkansas border is labeled 528, or 5280 meters (approximately 3 miles). The values inside the circle would be even lower. According to historical data from NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory, the 500 mb height has never been as low as 5280 meters in that region since 1948. Here is a list of the top 10 lowest observations in February at latitude 35 N, longitude 90 W:

Date       Meters
1991,2,15, 5287
1964,2,19, 5314
1978,2,21, 5318
1984,2,28, 5323
1965,2,25, 5334
1970,2, 3, 5345
1971,2, 9, 5357
2010,2,15, 5357
1958,2, 2, 5361
1984,2, 5, 5361 

Looked at another way, the composite forecast from an ensemble of GFS forecast runs made from last night's data indicates that the 500 mb height departure from the long-term average will be as much as 5 standard deviations by Monday night (chart to the right, click to enlarge). For a purely randomly distributed event, a negative departure from average of 4.5 standard deviations would occur only 3 times in a million.

Next Storm Threatens Wichita All-Time Monthly Snow Record [Update: Record Broken]

February 26, 9 AM CST Update: The Wichita daily record snowfall of 4.8" yesterday, plus 2" so far today, brings the monthly total to 21", which breaks the record.

February 25, 8 PM CST Update: The heaviest snow appears to be passing south of Wichita. The National Weather Service reports just 1.9" so far today.

4 PM CST Update: The latest National Weather Service updated forecast calls for over 14" of snow at Wichita. This could exceed the old monthly record by an incredible 8":



Original Post:
It's still getting itself organized over the Rockies, but the next Midwest storm is threatening to bring heavy snow to Kansas for the second time within a week. The current forecast is calling for 6-12" of new snow for Wichita. If this verifies even slightly above the low end of the range, it could push the current monthly total of 14.2" above the all-time monthly record of 20.5" set exactly 100 years ago.

Second Biggest Snowstorm on Record at Wichita

8 PM CST Update: Unofficial reports of 12" or more of snow in Kansas have been added below.

Original post:
The latest National Weather Service storm total report from Wichita, Kansas indicates that the 14.2" so far is the second biggest snowstorm since records began in 1888. According to the latest hourly report, snow has now ended. Elsewhere in Kansas, unofficial reports were as high as 18". From the NWS:

.TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON   
.DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.    
            ..REMARKS..  
  
0440 PM     HEAVY SNOW       WICHITA MID CONTINENT A 37.66N 97.44W   
02/21/2013  M14.2 INCH       SEDGWICK           KS   OFFICIAL NWS OBS  
  
            OFFICIAL STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR WICHITA THROUGH 440 PM.  

0448 PM     HEAVY SNOW       NASHVILLE               37.44N 98.42W   
02/21/2013  M18.0 INCH       KINGMAN            KS   LAW ENFORCEMENT   
  
0448 PM     HEAVY SNOW       SPIVEY                  37.45N 98.17W   
02/21/2013  M14.0 INCH       KINGMAN            KS   TRAINED SPOTTER   
  
0448 PM     HEAVY SNOW       KINGMAN                 37.65N 98.11W   
02/21/2013  M14.0 INCH       KINGMAN            KS   EMERGENCY MNGR   

The NWS chart shows the previous top 20 snowstorms at Wichita:



This storm will also make February 2013 a top-20 snowiest month and the 5th snowiest February at Wichita:



[Update] Here are some unofficial reports of 12" or more:

THE TOTALS BELOW ARE SEPARATED INTO SNOW...AND ICE AND SLEET  
CATEGORIES...THEN BY AMOUNT...AND ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE  
FINAL AMOUNT FOR EACH LOCATION.  
  
SNOW REPORTS LISTED BY AMOUNT  
  
 INCHES  LOCATION                 ST  COUNTY           TIME  
 ------  -----------------------  --  --------------   -------  
 18.00   NASHVILLE                KS  KINGMAN          0448 PM  
 14.20   WICHITA MID CONTINENT A  KS  SEDGWICK         0440 PM  
                 OFFICIAL STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR WICHITA  
                 THROUGH 440 PM.  
 14.00   NORWICH                  KS  KINGMAN          0503 PM  
                 7 INCHES OF NEW SNOWFALL SINCE EARLY THIS  
                 MORNING WITH TOTAL OF 14 INCHES ON GROUND.  
 14.00   SPIVEY                   KS  KINGMAN          0448 PM  
 14.00   KINGMAN                  KS  KINGMAN          0448 PM  
 14.00   CLEARWATER               KS  SEDGWICK         0348 PM  
 14.00   WICHITA MID CONTINENT A  KS  SEDGWICK         0346 PM  
                 OFFICIAL STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR WICHITA.  
 14.00   CLEARWATER               KS  SEDGWICK         0245 PM  
 13.50   HUTCHINSON               KS  RENO             0554 PM  
                 STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL RANGED FROM 12 TO 15  
                 INCHES IN THE HUTCHINSON AREA.  
 13.10   HUTCHINSON               KS  RENO             1142 AM  
 13.00   8 E KINGMAN              KS  KINGMAN          0644 PM  
 13.00   ELLSWORTH                KS  ELLSWORTH        0429 PM  
                 STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL.  
 13.00   N LYONS                  KS  RICE             0404 PM  
                 SNOWFALL REPORTS ACROSS THE COUNTY RANGE FROM  
                 12 TO 14 INCHES.  
 13.00   MCPHERSON                KS  MCPHERSON        1203 PM  
 12.80   1 E HAYSVILLE            KS  SEDGWICK         0457 PM  
 12.50   WICHITA MID CONTINENT A  KS  SEDGWICK         0246 PM  
                 OFFICIAL STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL SO FAR FOR  
                 WICHITA.  
 12.00   4 ESE MARQUETTE          KS  MCPHERSON        0535 PM  
 12.00   MCPHERSON                KS  MCPHERSON        0534 PM  
                 STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL WAS 11.8 INCHES WITH  
                 DEPTH AT 11.0 INCHES.  
 12.00   SALINA                   KS  SALINE           0438 PM  
                 SNOW TOTAL WAS REPORTED TO BE 11.7 INCHES  
 12.00   LYONS                    KS  RICE             1016 AM  
                 DRIFTS OF UNSPECIFIED DEPTH ALSO REPORTED.  
 12.00   5 N EL DORADO            KS  BUTLER           0930 AM  
                 RURAL REPORTS OF 12 INCHES OF SNOW NORTH OF  
                 EL DORADO.  

SnowNoGettin': Washington on Track for Record Lowest 3-Year Total Snowfall, Largest 3-Year Decrease

As the massive snowfalls of the 2009-1010 season fade into the rear-view mirror, Washington DC is close to ending meteorological winter with a near-record low 3-year snow total. With the latest nor'easter bombing out well offshore, there is no Presidents' Day snowfall this year, and model indications are that there will be little, if any, snow in the next 10 days. That would end meteorological winter with a puny 1.5", the lowest since the 0.1" in November 1997 through February 1998. For the past 3 years, the winter total of 13.4" is likely to be the second lowest on record, ahead of the 14.1" in the 3-year interval ending in 2008-09. This means that two of the three lowest 3-year totals will be the periods immediately preceding and following the record season of 2009-2010.

For the entire season (including all months), assuming no more snow in February, the highly erratic month of March would have to contribute nearly 5" for the 3-year seasonal total to exceed the current record low for the period ending in 1998-99.

Comparing consecutive 3-year totals, the current amount of 13.6" is a massive 54.6" less than the 3-year total ending last year, which included the record high season. This is over 13" more than the 3-year decrease observed in 1901-02, the current record decrease.

Images (click to enlarge):
- Washington 3-year snow totals ending at season indicated
- Lowest Washington 3-year winter-only (November-February) snow totals
- Lowest Washington 3-year snow totals (2013 to date)
- Largest decreases in consecutive 3-year Washington snow totals (2013 to date)
CapitalClimate charts from National Weather Service data; background image © Kevin Ambrose

New England Blizzard 2013 Update: Top 10 Snowfall Records Set, All-Time Highest at Portland

Image (click to enlarge): Top 10 snowfall totals for southern New England, from National Weather Service

February 10 Update: The Providence total has been corrected to 16.6", making this the 9th biggest snowstorm.

Original Post:
As the snow has wound down over New England, the National Weather Service is reporting top 10 storm snowfall totals at its major climate reporting stations. The preliminary total of 31.9" at Portland was an all-time record, but official climate records at Portland extend back only to 1941.

Location      Amount Rank
Portland ME    31.9" 1st
Worcester MA   28.7" 3rd
Hartford CT    22.8" 2nd
Providence RI  16.6" 9th
Boston MA      24.9" 5th 

As of 4 PM today (Saturday), here are unofficial NWS reports of 2 feet or more:

********************STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL********************  
  
LOCATION          STORM TOTAL     TIME/DATE   COMMENTS                     
                     SNOWFALL           OF   
                     /INCHES/   MEASUREMENT  
  
CONNECTICUT  
   
..HARTFORD COUNTY  
  
   GLASTONBURY           33.5   326 PM  2/09  GENERAL PUBLIC            
   MANCHESTER            32.0  1030 AM  2/09  TRAINED SPOTTER           
   WEATOGUE              31.0  1012 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO                 
   FARMINGTON            29.0   918 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO                 
   GRANBY                29.0   938 AM  2/09  NWS EMPLOYEE              
   NEWINGTON             28.0  1240 PM  2/09  GENERAL PUBLIC            
   BURLINGTON            27.5   902 AM  2/09  TRAINED SPOTTER           
   2 SE ENFIELD          27.2   700 AM  2/09  COCORAHS                  
   1 WSW WETHERSFIELD    27.0   900 AM  2/09  COCORAHS                  
   HARTFORD              27.0   929 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO                 
   CANTON                26.0   956 AM  2/09  NONE                      
   NORTH GRANBY          25.0   610 AM  2/09  TRAINED SPOTTER           
   AVON                  25.0   239 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO                 
   1 ENE NORTH GRANBY    25.0   900 AM  2/09  COCORAHS                  
   WEST HARTFORD         24.5   218 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO                 
   3 NNW WEST HARTFORD   24.3   730 AM  2/09  COCORAHS                  
   BRISTOL               24.0   908 AM  2/09  TRAINED SPOTTER           
   SIMSBURY              24.0   618 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO     

..TOLLAND COUNTY  
  
   COVENTRY              32.5  1143 AM  2/09  TRAINED SPOTTER           
   STAFFORDVILLE         31.4   100 PM  2/09  NWS COOP                  
   TOLLAND               30.5   914 AM  2/09  GENERAL PUBLIC            
   STAFFORD SPRINGS      26.1  1237 PM  2/09  TRAINED SPOTTER           
   SOMERS                25.5   646 AM  2/09  TRAINED SPOTTER           
   VERNON                25.0   402 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO                 
   
..WINDHAM COUNTY  
  
   EAST KILLINGLY        26.0  1105 AM  2/09  NONE                      
   WOODSTOCK             26.0  1026 AM  2/09  TRAINED SPOTTER           
   THOMPSON              25.5  1008 AM  2/09  TRAINED SPOTTER           
   HAMPTON               25.0   829 AM  2/09  COOP OBSERVER             
   ASHFORD               24.0   828 AM  2/09  GENERAL PUBLIC        

MASSACHUSETTS  
   
..BRISTOL COUNTY  
  
   FALL RIVER            24.0  1122 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO                

..ESSEX COUNTY  
  
   SAUGUS                28.2  1243 PM  2/09  GENERAL PUBLIC            
   LYNN                  27.0  1152 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO                 
   SALEM                 25.0   405 PM  2/09  TRAINED SPOTTER           
   MIDDLETON             25.0   258 PM  2/09  GENERAL PUBLIC            
   METHUEN               24.5  1112 AM  2/09  TRAINED SPOTTER           
   TOPSFIELD             24.0   243 PM  2/09  NONE                

..HAMPDEN COUNTY  
  
   SOUTHWICK             28.3   800 AM  2/09  NONE                      
   AGAWAM                24.0  1120 AM  2/09  TRAINRD SPOTTER           
   MONSON                24.0   653 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO                 
   BLANDFORD             24.0   446 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO                 

..HAMPSHIRE COUNTY  
  
   WESTHAMPTON           25.0   913 AM  2/09  TRAINED SPOTTER           
   NORTHAMPTON           24.0   700 AM  2/09  TRAINED SPOTTER     

..MIDDLESEX COUNTY  
  
   FRAMINGHAM            30.5   910 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO                 
   WINCHESTER            30.2   319 PM  2/09  GENERAL PUBLIC            
   WILMINGTON            29.0   323 PM  2/09  GENERAL PUBLIC            
   SOMERVILLE            28.0   932 AM  2/09  GENERAL PUBLIC            
   WAKEFIELD             27.5   100 PM  2/09  GENERAL PUBLIC            
   ACTON                 27.0   128 PM  2/09  GENERAL  PUBLIC           
   BELMONT               27.0   732 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO                 
   LITTLETON             27.0   903 AM  2/09  NONE                      
   MELROSE               26.5   553 AM  2/09  NONE                      
   READING               26.2   210 PM  2/09  TRIAINED SPOTTER          
   CAMBRIDGE             26.0  1112 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO                 
   HUDSON                26.0   936 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO                 
   TYNGSBORO             26.0  1032 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO                 
   SHERBORN              25.8   716 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO                 
   NORTH WOBURN          25.5   352 PM  2/09  NONE                      
   1 SW ACTON            25.4   845 AM  2/09  COCORAHS                  
   TOWNSEND              25.1  1016 AM  2/09  TRAINED SPOTTER           
   2 NNE NATICK          25.0   840 AM  2/09  COCORAHS                  
   WALTHAM               25.0   734 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO                 
   DRACUT                24.9   105 PM  2/09  GENERAL PUBLIC            
   NATICK                24.0  1022 AM  2/09  TRAINED SPOTTER           
   WESTFORD              24.0   725 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO                 
   MEDFORD               24.0   812 AM  2/09  NONE                      
   MAYNARD               24.0   937 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO         

..NORFOLK COUNTY  
  
   QUINCY                30.0   104 PM  2/09  GENERAL PUBLIC            
   MILTON                28.0   143 PM  2/09  GENERAL PUBLIC            
   1 NW WEYMOUTH         26.0   800 AM  2/09  COCORAHS                  
   WEYMOUTH              26.0   911 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO                 
   WRENTHAM              26.0   702 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO                 
   RANDOLPH              26.0   152 PM  2/09  TRAINED SPOTTER           
   NORTH WEYMOUTH        25.8   400 PM  2/09  TRAINED SPOTTER           
   BROOKLINE             25.5  1125 AM  2/09  NWS EMPLOYEE              
   NORWOOD               25.4  1233 PM  2/09  NWS EMPLOYEE              
   FOXBORO               24.5  1200 PM  2/09  TRAINED SPOTTER           
   BRAINTREE             24.1   951 AM  2/09  MEDIA                     
   1 NW NORWOOD          24.0   700 AM  2/09  COCORAHS               

..SUFFOLK COUNTY  
  
   SOUTH BOSTON          28.0   328 PM  2/09  TRAINED SPOTTER           
   JAMAICA PLAIN         25.5  1004 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO                 
   WEST ROXBURY          25.0   329 PM  2/09  HAM RADIO                 
   WINTHROP              24.9   100 PM  2/09  LOGAN AIRPORT             

..WORCESTER COUNTY  
  
   SPENCER               31.0  1030 AM  2/09  NONE                      
   FITCHBURG             30.2   304 PM  2/09  TRAINED SPOTTER           
   NORTHBORO             29.5  1002 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO                 
   STERLING              28.0  1244 PM  2/09  GENERAL PUBLIC            
   WORCESTER             28.0   747 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO                 
   MILFORD               28.0   843 AM  2/09  GENERAL PUBLIC            
   SHREWSBURY            27.0   735 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO                 
   ATHOL                 27.0  1023 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO                 
   1 SSE NORTHBOROUGH    26.7   835 AM  2/09  COCORAHS                  
   LEICESTER             26.0  1110 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO                 
   MILBURY               26.0   754 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO                 
   SOUTHBORO             25.5   646 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO                 
   OXFORD                25.2   623 AM  2/09  GENERAL PUBLIC            
   TEMPLETON             25.0   405 AM  2/09  NONE                      
   CLINTON               25.0   811 AM  2/09  GENERAL PUBLIC            
   DOUGLAS               25.0   826 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO                 
   CHARLTON              24.5   224 PM  2/09  HAM RADIO                 
   GARDNER               24.0   758 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO          

NEW HAMPSHIRE  
   
..HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY  
  
   NEW BOSTON            30.4   959 AM  2/09  GENERAL PUBLIC            
   MOUNT VERNON          30.0   313 PM  2/09  HAM RADIO                 
   GOFFSTOWN             28.0   802 AM  2/09  NONE                      
   NEW IPSWICH           25.0   354 AM  2/09  FIRE DEPT/RESCUE          
   HOLLIS                24.0   856 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO                 
   NASHUA                24.0   500 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO                 
   PELHAM                24.0   715 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO                 
   4 NNE AMHERST         24.0  1000 AM  2/09  COCORAHS       

..MERRIMACK COUNTY  
  
   CONCORD ASOS          24.0   104 PM  2/09                            
   
..ROCKINGHAM COUNTY  
  
   5 W SEABROOK          29.3   216 PM  2/09                            
   1 NNW SEABROOK        26.2   930 AM  2/09                            
   1 S EAST HAMPSTEAD    26.0  1004 AM  2/09    

..STRAFFORD COUNTY  
  
   2 SSE FARMINGTON      27.0   943 AM  2/09    

RHODE ISLAND 

..PROVIDENCE COUNTY  
  
   WEST GLOCESTER        27.6  1046 AM  2/09  TRAINED SPOTTER           
   NORTH FOSTER          26.3  1023 AM  2/09  NWS COOP                  
   WOONSOCKET            26.1   100 PM  2/09  MEDIA                     
   GLOCESTER             26.0  1237 PM  2/09  GENERAL PUBLIC            
   BURRILLVILLE          26.0  1141 AM  2/09  GENERAL PUBLIC            
   3 SE WEST GLOCESTER   25.7   700 AM  2/09  COCORAHS                  
   1 ESE WOONSOCKET      24.4   700 AM  2/09  COCORAHS                  
   CUMBERLAND            24.1   635 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO                 
   NORTH SCITUATE        24.0  1018 AM  2/09  LAW ENFORCEMENT           
   SMITHFIELD            24.0   714 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO             

MAINE  
   
..ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY  
  
   2 E LEWISTON          25.5   159 PM  2/09                            
   4 S TURNER            24.0  1139 AM  2/09                            
                   
..CUMBERLAND COUNTY  
  
   GORHAM                35.5   234 PM  2/09                            
   PORTLAND JETPORT      31.9   100 PM  2/09                            
   WESTBROOK             30.0  1132 AM  2/09                            
   PORTLAND - N DEERING  26.5  1137 AM  2/09                            
   GRAY NWS OFFICE       26.4  1259 PM  2/09                            
   3 NNW PORTLAND        24.0   928 AM  2/09                            
   GRAY                  24.0  1112 AM  2/09        

..OXFORD COUNTY  
  
   1 W OTISFIELD         24.0  1122 AM 2/09                    
   
..SAGADAHOC COUNTY  
  
   RICHMOND              26.5   202 PM  2/09                            
                             
..YORK COUNTY  
  
   BERWICK               32.0  1221 PM  2/09                            
   2 NNW SACO            27.0  1053 AM  2/09                            
   HOLLIS                24.5   115 PM  2/09   

Blizzard Benchmark: Top 10 Daily Snowfalls

The current blizzard developing from New York northward through southeast New England is being widely touted as a potential record-breaking event. Here are the top 10 daily snowfall amounts (inches), from NOAA/National Weather Service data, for the major climate reporting locations in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and southern Maine. The stations are Boston (BOS), Hartford (BDL), Providence (PVD), Worcester (ORH), and Portland (PWM).

	BOS		BDL		PVD		ORH		PWM
1	23.6	2/17/2003	24.0	1/12/2011	20.8	1/8/1996	21.1	1/12/2011	22.3	12/17/1970
2	22.4	4/1/1997	21.9	2/12/2006	18.3	2/4/1961	19.5	2/14/1962	21.0	12/28/1946
3	21.0	1/20/1978	17.7	12/29/1945	18.0	2/6/1978	18.8	2/17/2003	21.0	1/26/1888
4	19.3	2/16/1958	17.2	2/20/1934	16.4	1/23/2005	18.8	2/4/1961	20.4	1/24/1935
5	19.0	2/7/1978	16.7	12/19/1945	14.8	1/28/1943	18.4	1/20/1961	20.4	2/26/1934
6	17.5	2/12/2006	16.3	2/5/2001	14.7	2/17/2003	18.1	1/23/2005	19.8	3/13/1939
7	15.0	2/20/1934	16.2	2/4/1926	14.7	3/19/1956	18.0	11/27/1898	17.5	3/6/1887
8	14.7	1/28/1897	16.2	2/20/1921	14.4	2/8/1945	17.3	12/12/1992	17.1	2/23/1967
9	14.6	1/12/2011	16.0	2/14/1914	14.3	12/20/2009	16.9	2/12/2006	17.0	2/9/1969
10	14.4	2/4/1961	15.0	2/17/2003	14.2	2/24/1969	15.8	3/12/1959	16.9	3/13/1993

Moisture Madness in Madison: Wettest January Day, 3rd Wettest Winter Day in 144-Year Climate History

The record-breaking mid-winter heat earlier this week has also been accompanied by record precipitation. In Madison, Wisconsin, the 1.84" of rain on Tuesday was nearly double the previous daily record for January 29 of 0.98" in 1869. It was also the wettest January day in climate history extending back to 1869, exceeding the January 1, 1892 amount of 1.80". Furthermore, it was the 3rd largest rainfall in any winter month (December-February), exceeded only by 2.54" on December 27, 1904 and 2.19" on December 3, 1990.

In all, National Climatic Data Center preliminary reports show that 10 all-time January daily precipitation records were broken on January 29 and 24 more records were broken on January 30. Besides Madison, other Wisconsin records broken in century-plus climate histories included a cooperative station near Lancaster (2.06" vs. previous 1.60") with 120 years of records and Dodgeville (1.48" vs. 1.26") with 116 years. In Missouri, the Sedalia Water Treatment Plant recorded 3.05" to break the old record of 2.60" on January 19, 1907.

January Heat Records Krushed in Kansas, Mashed in Missouri

Image (click to enlarge): U.S. high temperatures for January 28, 2013, from Unisys

January 29 Update: Added Kansas City, St. Joseph, and other Missouri records (see below).

Original post:
A new ice age in North America?

Back in US. What happened to global warming?London, D.C, New York seem like new ice age!Rockies too.
— Rupert Murdoch(@rupertmurdoch) January 26, 2013

The National Weather Service reports that Topeka, Kansas set an all-time high temperature record for January today. Topeka climate records are even older than Rupert Murdoch; they began in 1887.

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 77 DEGREES WAS SET AT BILLARD AIRPORT   
IN TOPEKA KS TODAY AT 331 PM. THIS SETS THE RECORD FOR THE HIGHEST   
TEMPERATURE BOTH FOR THIS DAY AND FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY. THE   
PREVIOUS RECORD FOR TODAY WAS 67 DEGREES...SET IN 1917. THE PREVIOUS   
RECORD FOR THE MONTH WAS 74 DEGREES...FIRST SET ON JANUARY 2...1939   
AND THEN TIED ON JANUARY 8...2003.  

And at nearby Koch Industries headquarters in Wichita, the heat just missed the all-time January record of 75°:

WICHITA MID-CONTINENT AIRPORT HAD A HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 74 DEGREES   
TODAY. THIS BROKE THE PREVIOUS HIGH TEMPERATURE RECORD OF 72 DEGREES   
WHICH WAS SET BACK IN 2011.  

Elsewhere in Kansas and Missouri:

SALINA REACHED A HIGH TEMPERATURE TODAY OF 74 DEGREES. THIS BROKE   
THE PREVIOUS HIGH TEMPERATURE RECORD WHICH WAS 68 DEGREES SET BACK   
IN 1938.  
  
RUSSELL'S HIGH TEMPERATURE TODAY SOARED TO 76 DEGREES. THIS BREAKS   
THE PREVIOUS HIGH TEMPERATURE RECORD WHICH WAS 72 DEGREES SET BACK   
IN 1950.  
  
CHANUTE'S HIGH TEMPERATURE TODAY CLIMBED TO 75 DEGREES. THIS BREAKS   
THE PREVIOUS HIGH TEMPERATURE RECORD WHICH WAS 68 DEGREES SET BACK   
IN 1917.  

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 69 DEGREES WAS SET AT GOODLAND KANSAS   
TODAY.  THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 68 DEGREES SET IN 1968.  

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 74 DEGREES WAS SET AT THE KANSAS CITY   
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT THIS AFTERNOON. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF   
65 SET IN 1917 AND FALLS ONE DEGREE SHORT OF TYING THE ALL-TIME   
JANUARY MAX TEMPERATURE OF 75 SET ON JANUARY 24 1950.  

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 72 DEGREES WAS SET AT ST. JOSEPH   
TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 63 SET IN 1917.  

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 74 DEGREES WAS SET AT SPRINGFIELD MO   
YESTERDAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 72 SET IN 2002.  
  
 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 73 DEGREES WAS SET AT JOPLIN MO   
YESTERDAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 68 SET IN 2002.  
  
 A RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 55 DEGREES WAS SET AT   
SPRINGFIELD MO YESTERDAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 53 DEGREES   
SET IN 1968 AND 1914.   
  
 A RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 59 DEGREES WAS SET AT JOPLIN   
MO YESTERDAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 58 DEGREES SET IN 1968.   
  
 A RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 56 DEGREES WAS SET AT   
VICHY/ROLLA MO YESTERDAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 51 DEGREES   
SET IN 1968.   
  
 A RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 54 DEGREES WAS SET AT WEST   
PLAINS MO YESTERDAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 51 DEGREES SET IN   
1968.  

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 77 DEGREES WAS SET AT COLUMBIA   
REGIONAL AIRPORT YESTERDAY.  THIS BREAKS THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 67   
DEGREES SET IN 2002.   
  
A RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATUR OF 54 DEGREES WAS SET AT COLUMBIA   
REGIONAL AIRPORT YESTERDAY. THIS BREAKS THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 51   
DEGREES SET IN 1914.  
  
THE RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 77 DEGREES YESTERDAY ALSO TIES THE   
RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE EVER RECORDED IN COLUMBIA DURING THE MONTH   
OF JANUARY. IT ALSO REACHED 77 DEGREES ON JANUARY 24 1950...AND   
JANUARY 23 1909.   

Inauguration Weather 2013: Temperature Exceeds Expectations

January 23 Update: The final daily low was 32° at midnight. The hourly data table and climate summary have been updated.

9 PM Update: The temperature reached 47° at 6 pm to exceed the earlier high. The low of 33° is also likely to be surpassed by midnight. (Hourly data table updated.)

Original post:
The weather for Inauguration 2013 has been much warmer than four years ago. The high of 46° was 16° above that of January 20, 2009, and the average of 40° was +4° relative to normal, vs. -9° last time. The official temperature at noon was 40° with a south wind at 10 mph.

The hourly observations:

Hour	Wind	Weather	Temperature	Dewpoint	Humidity	Wind Chill	Pressure
12:00 AM	NW 23 G 35	Fair and Breezy	32	9	0.38	19	1013.6
11:00 PM	NW 17 G 26	Fair	33	11	0.4	22	1013.6
10:00 PM	NW 8 G 20	Fair	34	14	0.44	27	1013.4
9:00 PM	N 14 G 21	A Few Clouds	35	15	0.44	26	1013
8:00 PM	N 18 G 29	Fair	39	14	0.36	30	1012.1
7:00 PM	N 15	Mostly Cloudy	41	22	0.47	33	1011.5
6:00 PM	NW 5	Overcast	47	25	0.42	45	1009.6
5:00 PM	S 6	Partly Cloudy	45	27	0.49	42	1009.1
4:00 PM	S 8	A Few Clouds	46	27	0.47	42	1010
3:00 PM	S 9	Partly Cloudy	46	25	0.44	41	1011.3
2:00 PM	S 10	Mostly Cloudy	44	23	0.43	39	1012.8
1:00 PM	S 7	Mostly Cloudy	42	20	0.41	38	1014.6
12:00 PM	S 10	Mostly Cloudy	40	21	0.47	34	1016.4
11:00 AM	S 6	Mostly Cloudy	38	19	0.46	33	1018.6
10:00 AM	SE 7	Mostly Cloudy	38	19	0.46	33	1019.3
9:00 AM	E 7	Mostly Cloudy	35	18	0.5	29	1019.5
8:00 AM	SE 6	Mostly Cloudy	34	17	0.5	29	1019.6
7:00 AM	E 6	Mostly Cloudy	33	16	0.49	27	1019.8
6:00 AM	E 7	Overcast	33	15	0.48	27	1019.6
5:00 AM	NE 9	Overcast	35	15	0.44	28	1019.4
4:00 AM	E 8	Overcast	35	16	0.46	28	1019.4
3:00 AM	N 12	Mostly Cloudy	36	14	0.4	28	1019.5
2:00 AM	N 10	Partly Cloudy	37	13	0.37	30	1019.5
1:00 AM	N 13	Mostly Cloudy	38	14	0.37	30	1018.8
12:00 AM	N 8	Mostly Cloudy	39	14	0.36	33	1019

The daily climate summary from the National Weather Service:

..THE WASHINGTON NATIONAL DC CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR JANUARY 21 2013  
  
CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1981 TO 2010  
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1871 TO 2013  
  
WEATHER ITEM   OBSERVED TIME   RECORD YEAR NORMAL DEPARTURE LAST       
                VALUE   (LST)  VALUE       VALUE  FROM      YEAR       
                                                  NORMAL                
..............................................................  
  
TEMPERATURE (F)                                                       
 YESTERDAY                                                             
  MAXIMUM         47    553 PM  70    1959  43      4       34         
  MINIMUM         32   1159 PM  -4    1985  28      4       28         
  AVERAGE         40                        36      4       31        
                                                                       
PRECIPITATION (IN)                                                     
  YESTERDAY        0.00          1.41 1902   0.10  -0.10     0.23      
  MONTH TO DATE    1.21                      1.90  -0.69     1.53      
  SINCE DEC 1      4.24                      4.95  -0.71     6.43      
  SINCE JAN 1      1.21                      1.90  -0.69     1.53      
                                                                       
SNOWFALL (IN)                                                          
  YESTERDAY        0.0           3.5  1982   0.2   -0.2                
  MONTH TO DATE    T                         3.4   -3.4                
  SINCE JUL 1      0.2                       6.2   -6.0                
  SNOW DEPTH       0                                                   
                                                                       
DEGREE DAYS                                                            
 HEATING                                                               
  YESTERDAY       25                        29     -4       34         
  MONTH TO DATE  473                       609   -136      534         
  SINCE DEC 1   1076                      1395   -319     1147         
  SINCE JUL 1   1787                      2090   -303     1742         
                                                                       
 COOLING                                                               
  YESTERDAY        0                         0      0        0         
  MONTH TO DATE    0                         0      0        0         
  SINCE DEC 1      0                         0      0        0         
  SINCE JAN 1      0                         0      0        0          
..............................................................  
  
WIND (MPH)                                                             
  HIGHEST WIND SPEED    26   HIGHEST WIND DIRECTION    NW (320)        
  HIGHEST GUST SPEED    37   HIGHEST GUST DIRECTION    NW (320)        
  AVERAGE WIND SPEED    10.0                                           
  
                                                                       
SKY COVER                                                              
  POSSIBLE SUNSHINE  MM                                                
  AVERAGE SKY COVER 0.6                                                
  
                                                                       
WEATHER CONDITIONS                                                    
 THE FOLLOWING WEATHER WAS RECORDED YESTERDAY.                          
  NO SIGNIFICANT WEATHER WAS OBSERVED.                                 
  
                                                                       
RELATIVE HUMIDITY (PERCENT)                                            
 HIGHEST    51           800 AM                                       
 LOWEST     34          1200 AM                                       
 AVERAGE    43