Jessica Rennells, a climatologist and extension support specialist at the Northeast Regional Climate Center at Cornell University, comments on data released today by the center that shows the region’s July heat wave broke records for longevity, and came close to all-time temperature records.
Rennells says:
“The Northeast U.S. endured another heat wave as the first full month of summer began. Every day during July 1 through 8 reached 90 degrees or hotter at eight of the 35 first-order stations in the Northeast. It was the first time for this to happen during record keeping at Dulles Va., Wilmington Del., Baltimore, Newark N.J. and Philadelphia.
“Washington, D.C., reached 100 degrees during four of the days. On July 7, D.C. hit 105, which ranks as its third hottest all-time maximum temperature there. Ten other first-order stations ranked within their top 20 all-time maximum temperatures that day.
“Through July 8, Baltimore had the longest stretch of consecutive 90 degree days – 12 straight days. Newark, Wilmington, Philadelphia, Dulles, Charleston W.V., Washington D.C., and Huntington W.V. all had 11 straight days of 90 degrees or hotter.
“Will this continue? The short-term outlook is showing above-normal temperatures for July 15 to 23 for the entire Northeast U.S., but beyond that the outlook is less certain.”
Data tables:
Record number of days at or above 90 degrees
Location 2012 Record/Previous Record Prior Record YearDulles Ap, VA 8 6 2002*Washington, DC 8 8 1958*Wilmington, DE 8 7 1934Baltimore, MD 8 7 1966*Newark, NJ 8 6 1955Philadelphia, PA 8 6 1999*Charleston, WV 8 8 1921*Huntington, WV 8 8 1999*
* Record also occurred in another year.
Locations that came close to the hottest date ever on record
Location Temp Date Rank Hottest DateWashington, DC 105 7/7/2012 3 106 7/20/1930*Elkins, WV 96 7/8/2012 6 99 7/16/1988*Baltimore, MD 104 7/7/2012 8 107 7/10/1936Huntington, WV 104 7/7/2012 8 108 7/28/1930Dulles, VA 101 7/8/2012 9 105 7/22/2011Atlantic City, NJ 100 7/7/2012 13 106 6/28/1969Harrisburg, PA 101 7/7/2012 16 107 7/3/1966Wilmington, DE 101 7/7/2012 18 107 8/7/1918Newark, NJ 102 7/7/2012 18 108 7/22/2011JFK/NYC, NY 99 7/7/2012 18 104 7/3/1966Philadelphia, PA 101 7/7/2012 19 106 8/7/1918
* Record also occurred in another year.
RSS