Economy Explained in 2:09

Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich lays it all out:

Sunshine State on Steroids: All-Time Record High Temperature at Tallahassee

The National Weather Service reports that Wednesday's (June 15) high at Tallahassee, Florida was the all-time hottest temperature in records dating back over a century:

AT 307 PM EDT...THE TALLAHASSEE REGIONAL AIRPORT RECORDED A HIGH
TEMPERATURE OF 105 DEGREES. THIS TEMPERATURE BREAKS THE PREVIOUS ALL
TIME HIGH TEMPERATURE RECORD FOR TALLAHASSEE...WHICH WAS 104 DEGREES
SET MOST RECENTLY ON JUNE 20TH 1933. THE PERIOD OF RECORD FOR
TALLAHASSEE DATES BACK TO 1892. 

The old record had also been observed on 4 other previous occasions. The previous day's high of 103° also blasted away the old record for June 14 by 4°. So far this month, daily records have also been set on June 1 (103° vs. 101° in 1927), June 3 (101° vs. 100° in 2000), and June 13 (102° vs. 101° in 2010). For the first 2 weeks of June, Tallahassee's temperature has averaged 5.8° above normal.

The high temperature of 98° at Apalachicola blasted away the previous record for June 15, set just last year, by 4°. The previous day's high of 97° also broke a daily record of 95° set last year.

Elsewhere in Florida, daily records were set at Miami (96° vs. 94° in 2010) and Gainesville (103° vs. 100° in 1977). Records were tied at Tampa (95°) and Daytona Beach (99°).

Summer 2011 Heat Records Crushing Cold Records by 13 to 1

For related record temperature posts, see:

• Record Heat
• Record Cold

After narrowly exceeding cold records in May, U.S. heat records in the first 9 days of June have outnumbered cold records by an eye-popping ratio of 13 to 1. For the year 2011 to date, the ratio is a more modest, but still impressive, 2.2 to 1. The cumulative excess of heat records over cold records since January 2010 is over 10,000. Since March 2010 there has been only 1 month (December) with more low temperature records than high temperature records.

Although June temperatures to date have been particularly cold in California, they have been warmer than average nearly everywhere east of the Rockies.

Images (click to enlarge):

• Monthly total number of daily high temperature and low temperature records set in the U.S. for June 2010 through June 9, 2011, data from NOAA National Climatic Data Center, background image © Kevin Ambrose (www.weatherbook.com). Includes historical daily observations archived in NCDC's Cooperative Summary of the Day data set and preliminary reports from Cooperative Observers and First Order National Weather Service stations. All stations have a Period of Record of at least 30 years.
• Cumulative excess of heat records vs. cold records by month for 2010 and 2011 to date, data source as above
• Preliminary June 2011 to date monthly temperature departure from climatological average from NOAA/NCEP via ESRL

Steaming Toad Settles Some Science

May I have some more CO2, please?

Washington Ties All-Time June Heat Record; More Early Summer Heat Records From NC to NY

Image (click to enlarge): U.S. surface temperatures at 3 pm EDT, June 9, 2011, from Unisys

As noted earlier, the high temperature at Washington of 102° tied both the record for the date and the all-time June record. In addition to the records listed earlier, here are some other temperature records for June 9 (old record in parentheses):

Elizabeth City NC  98 (96, 1993)
Richmond VA        98 (tie, 2008/1999)
Wallops Island VA  99 (94, 1999)
Salisbury MD      100 (97, 1999)
Atlantic City NJ  102 (98, 2008)                           
Georgetown DE      97 (tie, 2008) 
Wilmington DE      97 (96, 1984)
Philadelphia PA    99 (98, 1933) 
Reading PA         98 (tie, 1933) 
Binghamton NY      89 (tie, 2008)  

Record Mid-Atlantic Heat Continues: Baltimore Ties Record by 1 PM;Update: Baltimore Hits 100°, Earliest Ever in Atlantic City, DC Ties

5 PM Update: Newark raised its record temperature to 102°, beating the old record by 3°.

4:10 PM Update: The National Weather Service reports that Washington hit 102° between hours, tying the all-time June record set in 1874.

Washington Dulles has also broken its record with 97°, exceeding the 96° in 1999.

4 PM Update: Washington's temperature is 101° at 4 pm, 1° below the record for the date and the all-time June record. This is also tied for the second earliest 100° or higher. The earliest was on June 5, 1925.

2:30 PM Update: The heat is particularly intense in New Jersey. The National Weather Service reports that Atlantic City NJ has already blasted away its old record of 98° from 2008 with a reading of 101°. This is also the earliest 100° temperature by almost 2 weeks, surpassing the old record on June 22, 1988.

The 101° at Newark NJ breaks the old record of 99° in 2008.

Toms River NJ is also at 100°.

2 PM Update: Baltimore has hit 100° between hours to break the record. This is the second earliest 100° temperature at Baltimore. The earliest was 101° on June 5, 1925.

Downtown Baltimore is 102°. Washington has reached 99°. Frederick MD is still at 100°. Salisbury MD, Culpeper VA, and College Park MD are all 99°.

Original post:
The record Mid Atlantic early summer heat wave continues today. As of 1 pm, Baltimore has already tied its June 9 record high temperature of 98°, last reported in 1933. The 98° at Washington National is still short of the record of 102°, which is also the all-time June record high. Washington Dulles is at 95°, just below the record 96° in 1999.

Frederick MD and downtown Baltimore are both at 100°.

Climate Consequences: Chicago Corn Crunch

Image (click to enlarge): U.S. statewide precipitation ranks for May 2011, showing above normal to much-above normal amounts in the major corn-producing region, from National Climatic Data Center

Climate has consequences. Persistently heavy rain and flooding in the Midwest this spring has led the USDA to report today that the number of acres planted as well as harvested is expected to decrease below earlier estimates. This has resulted in Chicago corn prices reaching an all-time record high at the opening this morning (click image to play CNBC video):