Victoria Smashes August Heat Records

Image (click to enlarge): Southeast Australia average maximum temperature departure from normal (°C) for Aug. 1-4, 2011, from Australian BOM

A Special Climate Statement issued today by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) reports that some all-time August heat records were set early this month in the state of Victoria:

A high pressure system centred over the NSW coast drifted into the Tasman Sea on the last weekend of July 2011. The high pressure system directed north westerly winds across Victoria. This northerly wind flow contributed to Victoria experiencing unprecedented warm weather for this time of year.

Many early season heat records were set for both warmest day and warmest night following mid winter (noting that late June/early July is typically the coldest time of year in southeast Australia). . .

In addition to early season records, a number of whole of August records were also broken. Perhaps the most significant was Melbourne2 which broke its overnight high temperature record for August on the night of the 4th when the minimum temperature was 17.3 °C. The previous warmest overnight temperature for Melbourne in August was 16.2 °C on the 20 August 1885. Similar record warmth was experienced in suburban Melbourne (Laverton and Essendon) and the Yarra Valley with an estimated 4% of Victoria experiencing the warmest August night in at least 100 years. Melbourne’s maximum temperature of 23.2 °C on the August 3rd was the warmest day in Melbourne for the first half of August and an "early season" record for Melbourne ahead of the
23.1°C set on July 30th 1975.

Perhaps the most remarkable observations during the warm spell occurred during the early hours of August 4th when many sites in coastal Victoria experienced exceptionally mild conditions. As an example, Wilson Promontory recorded a temperature of 23.5 °C at 4am, approximately 15 °C above average and easily breaking the old high temperature record of 22 °C set on 28 July 1975.

(h/t BraveNewClimate)

August Temperature Update: Heat Records Outnumbering Cold Records by Amazing 24 to 1

August 11 Update: There were 42 all-time record high temperature records set in the first week of August. That is over 5 times the number of all-time low temperature records set in all 3 months of last winter.

Original post:
This summer's sound of crashing temperature records has resoundingly echoed through the first week of August. For August 1-9, the number of new daily high temperature records set in the U.S. has overwhelmed the number of low temperature records by an astounding ratio of 23.9 to 1. The excess of heat records over cold records has been more than 1000. This has raised the ratio for the summer to date to almost 10 to 1 with just over 3 weeks remaining in the season.

Although the most extreme heat has been focused on Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, nearly all of the country has been averaging above average temperatures except for the Pacific Coast, Nevada, and Utah.

Images (click to enlarge):
- Monthly ratios of daily high temperature to low temperature records set in the U.S. for July 2010 through Aug. 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.
- Preliminary U.S. average temperature and departure from normal for Aug. 1-8, 2011 from Climate Prediction Center/NWS/NOAA.

Oklahoma: Hottest Month, Any State, Ever Recorded

The National Climatic Data Center's preliminary July report issued today shows that the Oklahoma July average temperature of 88.9 degrees F (31.6 degrees C) was the highest for any state in history. The Texas July average of 87.1 degrees F (30.6 degrees C) was also the hottest ever for that state. The previous hottest month was July 1954 in Oklahoma at 88.1 degrees F (31.2 degrees C).

Delaware also had its hottest July in history. Top-ten hottest Julys were observed over a wide area from New Mexico and Colorado eastward through the Mississippi Valley, Great Lakes, Southeast, Mid Atlantic, and southern New England.

The only states with below-average temperatures were Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, and Nevada. It was the 11th coldest July in Washington state.

Nationwide, it was the 4th hottest July in history:

The average U.S. temperature in July was 77.0 degrees F (25.0 degrees C), which is 2.7 degrees F (1.5 degrees C) above the long-term (1901-2000) average, resulting [in] the fourth warmest July and the fourth warmest month on record.

Austin Ties Breaks Extends Record for Consecutive 100° Days Update: Waco Ties Breaks Extends Record

Image (click to enlarge): Total number of days with temperatures of 100° or higher to date at Austin, Texas, CapitalClimate chart from National Weather Service data

For the latest record annual total update, see:
Texas Toasted: Austin Ties Breaks Annual 100° Day Record

Aug. 22, 7 PM CDT Update: The Austin high today was a daily record-tying 105°, last seen in 1925.

Waco has now extended its record annual total by a week, with 70 days through today.

Aug. 22, 3 PM CDT Update: The Austin temperature has reached 102°, tying 2009 with 68 total days so far this year. This is just one short of the record.

Aug. 15, 4 PM CDT Update: With 102° yesterday and at least 105° today, Waco has tied its annual record of 63 days with temperatures of 100° or higher. The 105° also ties the record for the date.

Aug. 15, 2 PM CDT Update: [Posting and updating delayed by Comcast's second multi-hour outage in 6 days.] After hitting 105° again yesterday, Austin is back to 100° this afternoon, bringing the annual total to 61.

Aug. 13, 6 PM CDT Update: The high today of 97° at Austin ends the streak at 27 days, breaking the old record by 6 days.

Aug. 12, 4 PM CDT Update: The current 102° at Austin extends the record streak of 100° temperatures to 27 days and the annual total to 59.

Dallas has tied its 4th highest annual total with 48 days, and Waco has tied its 2nd highest total with 61. The record streak at Waco is extended to 44 days.

Aug. 11, 8 PM CDT Update: Dallas ended its streak at 40 days with a high of 97°. The high at Waco was 104°.

Aug. 11, 4 PM CDT Update: Waco has broken its record streak with at least 102° and a 43rd consecutive day, but clouds have knocked Dallas back into the 80s, probably ending the streak there.

Aug. 11, 3 PM CDT Update: Austin is 101° at 3 pm. The record streak is 26 days and the annual total to date is 58 [chart updated].

Aug. 10, 3 PM CDT Update: Austin's temperature of 102° at 3 pm extends the record streak to 25 consecutive days and the yearly count to 57.

Waco has now tied its record with 42 consecutive days, equal to the streak of June 23 to Aug. 3, 1980. The 40th consecutive day at Dallas is still 2 short of the record.

Aug. 9, 3 PM CDT Update: The Austin temperature reached 100° by 2 pm for the 24th consecutive day and the 56th day so far this year.

Aug. 8, 4:30 PM CDT Update: The National Weather Service reports:

AUSTIN MABRY HAS HAD 23 CONSECUTIVE 100 DEGREE DAYS FROM JULY 17TH

THROUGH AUGUST 8TH.  THIS BROKE THE RECORD FROM 1898 TO 2010 OF 21

DAYS FROM JULY 12 TO AUGUST 1...2001.  AUSTIN BERGSTROM HAS HAD 10

CONSECUTIVE 100 DEGREE DAYS FROM JULY 30TH TO AUGUST 8TH...2011.

DEL RIO HAD 11 CONSECUTIVE 100 DEGREE DAYS FROM JULY 12TH TO

JULY 22ND...2011.  SAN ANTONIO HAS HAD 8 CONSECUTIVE 100 DEGREE

DAYS FROM AUGUST 1ST TO AUGUST 8TH...2011.



THE TABLE BELOW SHOWS THE NUMBER OF 100 DEGREE DAYS SO FAR THIS YEAR

AT AUSTIN...DEL RIO...HONDO...NEW BRAUNFELS...AND SAN ANTONIO THROUGH

AUGUST 8TH.



LOCATION                100 DEGREE DAYS

                          AS OF AUG 8



DEL RIO                        61

NEW BRAUNFELS                  40

AUSTIN MABRY                   55

AUSTIN BERGSTROM INTL AP       42

SAN ANTONIO INTL AP            31

SAN ANTONIO STINSON            57

HONDO                          49   

Aug. 8, 1 PM CDT Update: With a current Austin temperature of 100°, this is now the record-breaking 23rd consecutive day of 100° readings and the 55th so far this year.

Aug. 7, 3 PM CDT Update: The Austin temperature of 102° at the current hour breaks the record for consecutive days with 100° temperatures. This is the 22nd consecutive day and the 54th so far this year [chart updated].

From the Austin Statesman police blotter:
Nude sunbather goes to hospital for second-degree burns

Aug. 7, 1 PM CDT Update: Right on schedule, Austin's temperature is up 4° in the last hour to 98°, so the record for consecutive days with 100° is likely to fall in the next hour or 2.

5 PM CDT Update: The high so far today was 104°, just 1° below the record originally set in 1923 and tied in 2009.

Original post:
With a report of 100° as of 3 pm CDT, this is now the 21st consecutive day with temperatures of 100° or higher at Austin, Texas. That ties the record set from July 12 to August 1, 2001. It is also the 53rd 100°+ day so far this year, well ahead of the near-record pace in 2009. At this point in 2009, the total was 47. The record annual total is 69 in 1925.

Highs of at least 103° are forecast for the next 7 days as well, which would bring the total to 60.

Big Wind Ducks the Issue

Aasif Mandvi is on the case of wind turbines vs. ducks (Daily Show, Aug. 2) :

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Fowl Wind
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog The Daily Show on Facebook

Dallas Hits All-Time High Minimum Temperature 2nd 3rd Time This Year; New Record at Waco

Image (click to enlarge): Record high temperatures in north-central Texas forecast for August 4, 2011, from National Weather Service

See Record Heat for the latest updates.

Aug. 4, Midnight CDT Update: With the Dallas temperature still 92° at midnight daylight time, this morning's low of 86° is virtually guaranteed to tie the new high minimum record for the second day in a row.

Original post:
Breaking an all-time high minimum temperature record by 3° is remarkable enough, but after setting the record with a low of 86° on July 26, Dallas tied that record again yesterday. Waco also broke its all-time record. With a temperature of 101° as of noon CDT, this is now the 34th consecutive 100° day at Dallas. It will be the 36th consecutive day at Waco.

From the National Weather Service:

ON WEDNESDAY AUGUST 3RD...DALLAS/FORT WORTH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT   
RECORDED A HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 109 DEGREES AND A LOW TEMPERATURE OF   
86 DEGREES.   
  
THE HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 109 BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 107 SET IN   
1998.  
  
THE LOW TEMPERATURE OF 86 TIES THE ALL-TIME WARMEST MINIMUM   
TEMPERATURE EVER RECORDED AT DALLAS/FORT WORTH WHICH ALSO OCCURRED   
JULY 26TH OF THIS YEAR. THE PREVIOUS DAILY RECORD WARMEST MINIMUM   
WAS 83 WAS SET IN 1910 AND 1980.   

THE HIGH TEMPERATURE YESTERDAY...AUGUST 3RD AT WACO REGIONAL AIRPORT   
WAS 108 DEGREES. THIS BREAKS THE PREVIOUS RECORD HIGH OF 107 DEGREES   
SET IN 1998.  
  
THE LOW TEMPERATURE YESTERDAY...AUGUST 3RD AT WACO REGIONAL AIRPORT   
WAS 83 DEGREES. THIS BREAKS THE PREVIOUS RECORD WARMEST MINIMUM FOR   
THE DATE OF 82 DEGREES SET IN 1910...1914...1930...AND 1932.   

All-Time Hottest Temperatures in Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma; Update: New Ft. Smith, Little Rock All-Time Highs

Image (click to enlarge): Temperature and humidity at Ft. Smith, Arkansas for 5 days ending Aug. 3, 2011, showing all-time record hottest temperature of 114° 115°.

Midnight CDT Update: Long-term daily records for August 3 blown away by as much as 5° in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, from National Weather Service:

LOCATION       OLD RECORD      NEW RECORD         YEARS OF DATA  
------------------------------------------------------------------  
SHREVEPORT LA  104 IN 2008     109 IN 2011      RECORDS SINCE 1874  
MONROE LA      105 IN 2010     107 IN 2011      RECORDS SINCE 1930  
TEXARKANA AR   108 IN 1896     111 IN 2011      RECORDS SINCE 1896  
EL DORADO AR   104 IN 2008     108 IN 2011      RECORDS SINCE 1907  
TYLER TX       107 IN 1998     110 IN 2011      RECORDS SINCE 1896  
LONGVIEW TX    105 IN 1937     110 IN 2011      RECORDS SINCE 1902  
LUFKIN TX      105 IN 1998     106 IN 2011      RECORDS SINCE 1906   
------------------------------------------------------------------  

6 PM CDT Update: Fayetteville has also tied its all-time record, blasting away the daily record by 8°:

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 110 DEGREES WAS SET AT FAYETTEVILLE   
ARKANSAS TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 102 SET IN 1964. THIS   
READING ALSO TIES THE ALL TIME HIGH TEMPERATURE RECORD PREVIOUSLY   
SET IN JULY 1954.  

5 PM CDT Update: After holding at 114° for 2 hours, Ft. Smith has risen another degree to a new all-time high temperature record of 115°. [Image updated]

3 PM CDT Update: The high temperature of 113° at Ft. Smith yesterday tied the all-time record set on Aug. 10, 1936, according to NCDC. This would indicate that the earlier NWS report of a tie on Aug. 1 was incorrect. In any case, that record has just been broken with a current reading of 114°F (45.6°C). Ft. Smith climate records began in 1882.

Little Rock also broke its all-time record:

..ALL-TIME HOTTEST TEMPERATURE EVER RECORDED IN LITTLE ROCK  
  
AT 240 PM CDT...THE TEMPERATURE AT ADAMS FIELD IN LITTLE ROCK   
REACHED 114 DEGREES...SETTING A NEW RECORD FOR THE ALL-TIME HOTTEST   
TEMPERATURE EVER RECORDED IN THE CITY. THE PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 112   
DEGREES ON JULY 31ST 1986.  
  
THE READING OF 114 EASILY BROKE THE RECORD FOR AUGUST 3RD. THE   
PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 107 IN 2010.   

Little Rock climate records began in 1877.

Original post:
The National Climatic Data Center reports that in the first 2 days of August alone, 4 all-time record high temperatures have been set:

Location    Temperature  Old Record  Date
Harrison AR   109°       107°    1986-07-29
Topkea KS     112°       110°    1984-08-29
Emporia KS    109°       108°    1984-08-30
Tyler TX      110°       109°    2011-08-01 

The record at Topeka crushed the previous daily record for Aug. 2, set just last year, by 6°. Topeka climate records began in 1887.

In addition, all-time high temperature records have also been tied at Tyler, Ft. Hood, and Longview in Texas, Ft. Smith in Arkansas, and Tulsa in Oklahoma.

From the National Weather Service:

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 111 DEGREES WAS SET AT FORT SMITH,   
ARKANSAS YESTERDAY, AUGUST 1. THIS BREAKS THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 106   
DEGREES SET IN 1896.  
  
THIS ALSO TIES THE ALL TIME RECORD HIGH OF 111 DEGREES AT FORT SMITH   
SET IN 1954.  

Tulsa also set a record for all-time highest minimum temperature in August and tied the all-time record for any month. From the National Weather Service:

THE LOW TEMPERATURE THIS MORNING AT THE TULSA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT   
WAS 87 DEGREES. THIS BREAKS THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 84 DEGREES SET IN   
1980. THIS READING ALSO BREAKS THE ALL TIME HIGHEST MINIMUM   
TEMPERATURE FOR AUGUST OF 86 DEGREES WHICH OCCURRED AUGUST 1, 2011   
AND AUGUST 16 OF 1909. IN ADDITION...THIS READING WILL TIE THE ALL   
TIME HIGHEST MINIMUM TEMPERATURE IN TULSA OF 87 DEGREES...WHICH   
OCCURRED JULY 16, 1980.