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Galveston’s Record Warm Late Spring and Early Summer
donsutherland1 posted a topic in Climate Change
Galveston experienced its warmest December on record last year with a mean temperature of 69.9°, which crushed the old mark of 66.4° that had stood since 1889. The December temperature average was warm enough to qualify as that city's 7th warmest November on record. Since then, one or more record-breaking or record-tying high temperatures were set in each month. April 2022 was the warmest April on record with a mean temperature of 75.5° (old record: 75.0°, 1967 and 2017). Just five months after the historic December warmth, May experienced historic warmth that demolished the monthly record that was set in 2018.The combination of dry conditions, development of a persistent heat dome, and much warmer than normal water temperatures amplified by the impact of climate change produced the record outcome. Summary information on the impacts of climate change in the Houston and Galveston areas can be found here:https://www.globalchange.gov/sites/globalchange/files/CCPR_HOU_brochure-final.pdfFor background information, the mean temperature rose 2.0° at Galveston from the 1961-1990 period to the 1991-2020 period. The number of 90° days rose particularly sharply. Annual temperature: 1961-90: 69.7°; 1991-20: 71.7°Number of days with highs of 80° or above: 1961-90: 151.0 days; 1991-20: 175.7 daysNumber of days with highs of 85° or above: 1961-90: 92.3 days; 1991-20: 126.0 daysNumber of days with highs of 90° or above: 1961-90: 13.5 days; 1991-20: 58.2 daysNumber of days with lows of 80° or above: 1961-90: 52.1 days; 1991-20: 62.3 daysThe last year with fewer than 100 85° days was 1997 when there were 94 such days. The last year with fewer than 20 90° days was 1992 when there were just 7 such days.80° warmth has now been occurring both earlier and later in the season as the "hot" season lengthens.Number of days with highs of 80° or above in March-April: 1961-90: 1.1 days; 1991-20: 4.3 daysNumber of days with highs of 80° or above in November-December: 1961-90: 0.5 days; 1991-20: 1.8 daysThe synoptic pattern, regional drought, and warm sea surface temperatures occurred against the backdrop of a warming climate that was resulting in a dramatic increase in hot days. As a result, May 2022 essentially rewrote the record book for warmth in May. Charts follow: Updates: Warmest first week of June Warmest June 1-15 Warmest June on Record Stations with 3 consecutive record warm months with long periods of record (through June 2022) Summers in Galveston Stations with 3 consecutive record warm months with long periods of records (through July 2022) Hottest July and Month on Record
