Two vastly different climates - Maine and Arizona - had something in common this summer: It was likely the hottest on record for parts of those states.
Above average temperatures dominated summer from the Southwest into the Midwest and Northeast. You can see this in the orange shadings in the map below, which shows how hot summer has been compared to the average from June 1 through Aug. 29. It's also notable that few areas of the country were cooler than average this summer.
Summer in meteorological records is defined as the three months spanning June through August.
Temperatures compared to the average for June 1-Aug. 29, 2020.Several locations in the Northeast were having their hottest summer on record through Aug. 28, according to data from the Southeast Regional Climate Center. This includes Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Providence Rhode Island; and Burlington, Vermont.
The National Weather Service declared on Sunday morning that this summer would be the hottest on record in Caribou, Maine. Caribou's sweltering summer was boosted by a record-breaking nine days in the 90s in 2020.
Portland was another location in the state of Maine that was on pace to have its hottest summer on record through Sunday.
Those far northeastern U.S. locations have shared the trait of hot summer with parts of Desert Southwest.
Phoenix is likely to have its hottest summer with an average temperature of 96.8 degrees through Aug. 30. Once Monday's high and low temperatures are factored into that average, the city should knock off the previous record-hot summer of 95.1 degrees set in 2015.
Tucson, Arizona, is also on pace to have one of its hottest summers. It will be a close call as to whether the city can unseat its current hottest summer record set in 1994 (89.9 degrees).
Phoenix crushed its record for the most 110-degree days in a year with 50 through the end of August. Tucson had a record-breaking number of days 105 degrees or hotter.
What did Maine and other parts of the Northeast have in common with Arizona to cause this hot summer?
A dominant area of upper-level high pressure was in place over the Southwest the past few months. That brought sinking air, resulting in sweltering heat and slim thunderstorm chances.
A repetitive weather pattern was also to blame for the hotter than average conditions in the Northeast – namely, a ridge of high pressure in the upper atmosphere stretching from eastern and central Canada through New England to the North Atlantic.
The Southwest and parts of the Northeast aren't alone when it comes to hot spots this summer.
Through Aug. 30, Chicago and Tampa were on pace to have a record-hot summer with one day to go in the month.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
No comments:
Post a Comment