Oppressive heat wave and worsening drought conditions smashed temperature records in the South and Southwest: NOAA
The average U.S. temperature in June climbed by1.4ºF above the long-term (1901-2000) average to 70.7ºF, while the average precipitation fell to 2.48 inches, 0.41 inch below the long-term average—the average was subject to wide variations across the country.
June 2011 temperature “divisional rank” maps. Source: NOAA. Click image to enlarge.
Summary of U.S. Climate Highlights – June
- All-time high temperature records:
- Amarillo, Texas, 111ºF, June 26 (previous record: 109ºF set two days earlier!)
- Tallahassee, Fla., 105ºF, June 15.
- 42 U.S. locations tied or broke all-time maximum high temperatures.
- Texas recorded average temperature of 85.2ºF, 5.6ºF above normal (1953 was previously the warmest June in 117-year recorded history). Texas experienced the fourth consecutive June with temperatures at least 2ºF above the long-term average.
- Both Louisiana and Oklahoma (tied) had their second warmest June.
Drought
- Parts of the Southwest through much of the Southern Plains and Gulf Coast experienced ongoing intense drought.
- New Mexico had its driest June on record.
- According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 63 percent of the Southeast was in moderate-to-exceptional drought at the end of June, compared to 51 percent at the end of May.
- The worst category of drought, exceptional drought, rose from 28 percent to 47 percent area in the South.
Wildfires
- Above average wildfire activity continued across the Southern tier of the United States broke all time records in June.
- Arizona and Mexico experienced their largest wildfire in recorded history.
For an accurate record of wildfires Jan – Jun 2011 see: US Wildfires Consume 7.7 Million Acres in 6 Months
US Precipitation Map – June 2011
June 2011 precipitation “divisional rank” map. Source: NOAA. Click image to enlarge.
FIRE-EARTH Forecast for 2011 – 2012: FEWW Models show the extremes of temperature and precipitation/drought intensifying over the next 12 to 18 months.
Fire Earth 