Tuesday, June 28, 2011

90-degree day total climbing quickly

Have you gotten your power bill yet for this month?

If so, you won't be surprised to learn that Charlotte is ahead of last year's pace of 90-degree days. And last year's total was the second-largest in history.

This hasn't been the hottest June in recent years. In fact, our average temperature for the month -- 78.1 degrees at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport -- is well short of last year's June average, 80.3. That was the fifth-hottest June on record in Charlotte.

We're above average this year in June, but if it weren't for a few cool mornings in the middle of the month, I think we'd be close to last year.

Anyway, when the thermometer reaches 90 degrees today, it'll be the 23rd 90-degree day of the year. We had five in May, and today will be the 18th in June. Chances are we'll reach 90 on the remaining two days of June, too.

Last year at this time, Charlotte had 19 days of 90 or hotter. So we're ahead of last year's pace, and Charlotte finished the year with 87 days of 90 or higher. The record is 88, set in the torrid summer of 1954.

Will we be in record territory by the end of the summer?

Let's say we have 25 days of 90 or hotter in July and August. That would leave us around 74 for the year when we reach Sept. 1. So we'd need a hot September (more than a dozen 90-degree days). Last year, Charlotte got 18 days of 90 or hotter in September -- one of the hottest Septembers in recent history.

NOAA's Climate Prediction Center is calling for an equal chance of above-average or below-average temperatures in September for our region, which indicates that meteorologists don't think September will be particularly hot.

So June has been well above-average for temperatures, and we're ahead of last year's pace. But summer has a long ways to go yet.

12 comments:

HokieTT said...

Steve, just wanted to say I love these weather stats. Whenever we're in the throes of winter, I find stats to back me up about why I'm so miserable. I imagine the heat-haters do the same thing in summer. Anyway, thanks for the research.

Anonymous said...

You don't really feel the heat as much if you sit naked in front of a fan drinking beer.

Anonymous said...

Wonder if that torrid record setting summer of 1954 was blamed on global warming?

Anonymous said...

HokieTT I'm one of those heat haters and last summer seemed to drag on forever. Here is to hoping it's not that bad. Really enjoy the articles Steve, I love stuff like this keep it up!

Anonymous said...

I'll bet we have at least 55 90-plus days between July and August. Not to mention the fact that we sometimes have 90-degree days as late as the second week of October. I'll bet we get to 100 days of 90-plus.

BH said...

Here's betting for a cooler than normal July-Aug. Perhaps will get some of the record cool readings the West has experienced in May-June. The "ridging" may begin to work in our favor.

Anonymous said...

"You don't really feel the heat as much if you sit naked in front of a fan drinking beer."

I don't know how beer-drinking fans watching you sit naked makes you cooler, but whatever.

Anonymous said...

"Have you gotten your power bill yet for this month?"

No. But last month's bill had increased by about $25, and it hadn't gotten really hot yet. I fully expect the next bill to be anywhere from $50 to $75 higher.

I'm not looking forward to it at all.

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Anonymous said...

Where i am located in Texas we have been much hotter and much dryer than you in NC. We had close to 10 straight 100 degree days in june broken by a 99 degree day and then more 100. Cooled down end of month to the mid 90's

Anonymous said...

We are nowhere near the record this year, which is sad. :-( Its been way too cold this past week! Bring back the heat!!

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