The average August temperature in the United States was 3.0 degrees warmer than usual according to recently released climate data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Statistics indicate the month of August 2011’s average temperature was 75.7 degrees.
NOAA is using figures that compare data from years 1901 to 2000. The numbers are then used to determine the above-average temperatures that have been felt around the country. A sizeable portion of the United States saw new record warmest recordings for the month of August.
Data including the full summer indicate an average temperature in the United Statesof 74.5 degrees in 2011. That puts it 2.4 degrees above what’s usually seen in an average summer.
A map showing how average August temperatures compared with normal.
Central Wisconsin was noted for having above average temperatures in August along with the majority of the state. Only two of the nine regions in Wisconsin broken down by NOAA were noted as experiencing near normal temperature readings.
A large section of the southern tier of the United States saw new record warmest readings for August. All but one region of Texas and New Mexico were among the areas experiencing record heat.
Problems were also compounded considering the worsening drought situation in the south. According to the US Drought Monitor “despite record rainfall in parts of the country, drought covered about one-third of the contiguous United States.”
The figures released on September 8th also included a laundry list of other notable climate features that have been recently recorded. Among the most notable is that not one state had monthly average temperatures below the usual values, with only nine titled under the category of being “near-normal.”
To read the entire story and see the data, follow this link to go to the NOAA page where the information is broken down.
