KOKC (Oklahoma City airport) heat: hottest July, August, and summer on record

[weatherMA]

Still 77 at 5pm. Same temperature as it is up here in New England. Although it's a bit more humid there.

[snowmanwx]

Maximum temperature yesterday, 11 August 2011, at KOKC was 82°F. How glorious!

But that means our streaks of days ≥95°F and ≥90°F and ≥89°F have ended, and I closed the poll. We have two winners:

trapperman , phil882

This ends the record streak of 43 consecutive days with maximum temperature ≥95°F, 29 June-10 August 2011, beating the previous streak of 35 days, 24 July-27 August 1980.

No active streaks of maximum or minimum temperature are at or near records (except some multi-year streaks breakable only in midwinter).

Unless a lower temperature occurs beforehand, KOKC may tie the record streak of maximum temperatures ≥82°F with 97 such consecutive days on 31 August. The current record holder is 8 June-12 September 1998.

[snowmanwx]

The temperature at KOKC reached 104°F last hour. Today thus marks the 21st day with maximum temperature ≥104°F this calendar year, beating the old record of 20 such days in 1980.

An aside: If the average temperature of the remaining 12 days of August is >77.875°F, then KOKC will break the record for hottest June-July-August "summer" on record.

If they average <-4.83°F, then KOKC will record its coldest summer on record (and its coldest 12-day period ever).

If they average >88.584°F, then KOKC will clinch the hottest August on record.

If they average < 49.5°F, then KOKC will record its coldest August ever (and at least tie coldest August minimum ever, currently 49°F).

[brettjrob]

Annual 100 F days record of 50 days (1980) tied as of 1pm. Should be broken either tomorrow or Monday unless something drastic changes.

[snowmanwx]

Annual 100 F days record of 50 days (1980) tied as of 1pm. Should be broken either tomorrow or Monday unless something drastic changes.

And with a current temperature of 101°F, KOKC just broke that storied record. Today marks the 51st day with maximum temperature ≥100°F, breaking the previous record of 50 such days in 1980.

PS: Saturday, the temperature hit 105°F, marking the 22nd day with maximum temperature ≥104°F at KOKC, breaking the old record of 20 days in 1980.

[snowmanwx]

The temperature at KOKC reached 103°F today for the 29th time this calendar year. This sets a new record for days with maximum temperature ≥103°F, beating the previous record of 28 such days in 1980.

[snowmanwx]

Little interest in us, I acknowledge, with the cacophony over Hurricane Irene, but OKC continues to set new heat records. With a high of 106°F, the following records fell (or were extended) today:

61 days with maximum temperature ≥98°F: still three days short of record of 64 days in 1980

58 days with maximum temperature ≥99°F: TIES record of 58 days in 1980

52 days with maximum temperature ≥100°F: BROKE record of 50 days in 1980

46 days with maximum temperature ≥101°F: BREAKS record of 45 days in 1980

36 days with maximum temperature ≥102°F: one day short of record of 37 days in 1980

30 days with maximum temperature ≥103°F: BROKE record of 28 days in 1980

23 days with maximum temperature ≥104°F: BROKE record of 20 days in 1980

17 days with maximum temperature ≥105°F: TIES record of 17 days in 1980

11 days with maximum temperature ≥106°F: BREAKS record of 10 days in 1936

10 days with maximum temperature ≥107°F: TIED record of 10 days in 1936

8 days with maximum temperature ≥108°F: BROKE record of 7 days in 1936 (latest on record was 3 September in 2000)

5 days with maximum temperature ≥109°F: TIED record of 5 days in 1936 (latest on record was 12 August in 1936)

3 days with maximum temperature ≥110°F: TIED record of 3 days in 1936 (latest on record was 12 August in 1936)

We're still in contention for the title of "hottest August ever," but the intense heat must persist.

Unless the average temperature of the remaining 8 days of August drops <72.25°F (assuming 79°F is today's minimum temperature), KOKC will clinch its hottest June-August summer ever.

[brettjrob]

Great info as always. Hopefully we can make a swipe at 107 F tomorrow, which will cement 2011 as the record holder for the majority of those stats.

Speaking of 107 F, I think the "10" in that column for this year might be the most impressive figure on the list. We often go 3-4 years without seeing that number at all.

[snowmanwx]

KOKC clinched a maximum temperature of 108°F today (so far), the following records fell (or were extended) today:

62 days with maximum temperature ≥98°F: still two days short of record of 64 days in 1980 (latest on record was 30 September in 1977)

59 days with maximum temperature ≥99°F: BREAKS record of 58 days in 1980 (latest on record was 30 September in 1977)

53 days with maximum temperature ≥100°F: BROKE record of 50 days in 1980 (latest on record was 30 September in 1977)

47 days with maximum temperature ≥101°F: BROKE record of 45 days in 1980 (latest on record was 28 September in 1953)

37 days with maximum temperature ≥102°F: TIES record of 37 days in 1980 (latest on record was 28 September in 1953)

31 days with maximum temperature ≥103°F: BROKE record of 28 days in 1980 (latest on record was 28 September in 1953)

24 days with maximum temperature ≥104°F: BROKE record of 20 days in 1980 (latest on record was 28 September in 1953)

18 days with maximum temperature ≥105°F: BREAKS record of 17 days in 1980 (latest on record was 11 September in 2000)

12 days with maximum temperature ≥106°F: BROKE record of 10 days in 1936 (latest on record was 6 September in 1947)

11 days with maximum temperature ≥107°F: BREAKS record of 10 days in 1936 (latest on record was 4 September in 1998)

9 days with maximum temperature ≥108°F: BROKE record of 7 days in 1936 (latest on record was 3 September in 2000)

5 days with maximum temperature ≥109°F: TIED record of 5 days in 1936 (latest on record was 12 August in 1936)

3 days with maximum temperature ≥110°F: TIED record of 3 days in 1936 (latest on record was 12 August in 1936)

0 days with maximum temperature ≥111°F, which occurred only on 10/11 August 1936.

And we have more heat on the way. But KOKC this year set no "earliest ever" records for any specific temperature. Thus far, no "latest ever" records fell for any specific temperature. The heat this summer has been intense and persistent but not unseasonable.

[Chinook]

I don't think I have seen a +6 or +7 degrees F on a 90-day temperature difference from normal, winter, spring, summer, or fall.

Edit:

last time there was a +6 over a decent size area for 3 months: spring 2010

[snowmanwx]

KOKC clinched a maximum temperature of 99°F today. This marks the 60th day with maximum temperature ≥99°F. The old record was 58 such days in 1980.

Actually, prolonged large departures from normal aren't especially unknown on the Northern Plains during wintertime. But summer heat like this is awful--and rare in magnitude and persistence. At KOKC, the difference between the warmest and coldest June-July-August periods on record is 10.8 F°, but the difference between the warmest and coldest December-January-February periods is 14.0 F°. So in this area, a departure of ±7 F° for a 90-day period is truly exceptional, especially outside the wintertime.

[snowmanwx]

KOKC clinched a maximum temperature of 103°F today (so far...it may go higher still), so the following records fell (or were extended) today:

64 days with maximum temperature ≥98°F: TIES record of 64 days in 1980 (latest on record was 30 September in 1977)

61 days with maximum temperature ≥99°F: BROKE record of 58 days in 1980 (latest on record was 30 September in 1977)

54 days with maximum temperature ≥100°F: BROKE record of 50 days in 1980 (latest on record was 30 September in 1977)

48 days with maximum temperature ≥101°F: BROKE record of 45 days in 1980 (latest on record was 28 September in 1953)

38 days with maximum temperature ≥102°F: BREAKS record of 37 days in 1980 (latest on record was 28 September in 1953)

32 days with maximum temperature ≥103°F: BROKE record of 28 days in 1980 (latest on record was 28 September in 1953)

The following records stand for this season, but today's heat did not extend them:

24 days with maximum temperature ≥104°F: BROKE record of 20 days in 1980 (latest on record was 28 September in 1953)

18 days with maximum temperature ≥105°F: BROKE record of 17 days in 1980 (latest on record was 11 September in 2000)

12 days with maximum temperature ≥106°F: BROKE record of 10 days in 1936 (latest on record was 6 September in 1947)

11 days with maximum temperature ≥107°F: BROKE record of 10 days in 1936 (latest on record was 4 September in 1998)

9 days with maximum temperature ≥108°F: BROKE record of 7 days in 1936 (latest on record was 3 September in 2000)

5 days with maximum temperature ≥109°F: TIED record of 5 days in 1936 (latest on record was 12 August in 1936)

3 days with maximum temperature ≥110°F: TIED record of 3 days in 1936 (latest on record was 12 August in 1936)

0 days with maximum temperature ≥111°F, which occurred only on 10/11 August 1936.

And we have more heat on the way. If the average temperature of the remaining 5 days of August exceeds 62.3°F (last reached on 21 June), then this will rank as the hottest June-July-August ever. If the next five days average 88.0°F, then this August could tie 1936 as the hottest ever. Making the coldest-ever August would require that the last five days averae < -5.7°F, which simply won't happen.

[brettjrob]

Record high of 105 F today. Will have to count all the daily records for JJA next week when the book is closed. It has to be around a dozen by now.

[snowmanwx]

Maximum temperatures reached 108°F on Sunday, 98°F on Monday, and 103°F so far today.

These records now stand:

95 days with maximum temperature ≥92°F: three short of record of 98 days in 1998 (latest on record was 26 October in 1891)

90 days with maximum temperature ≥93°F: four short of record of 94 days in 1998 (latest on record was 20 October in 1979)

88 days with maximum temperature ≥94°F: BREAKS record of 87 days in 1954 (latest on record was 17 October in 1972)

79 days with maximum temperature ≥95°F: two short of record of 81 days in 1980 (latest on record was 17 October in 1972)

74 days with maximum temperature ≥96°F: one short of record of 75 days in 1998 (latest on record was 17 October in 1972)

69 days with maximum temperature ≥97°F: TIES record of 69 days in 1980 (latest on record was 3 October in 1898)

68 days with maximum temperature ≥98°F: BROKE record of 64 days in 1980 (latest on record was 30 September in 1977)

64 days with maximum temperature ≥99°F: BROKE record of 58 days in 1980 (latest on record was 30 September in 1977)

57 days with maximum temperature ≥100°F: BROKE record of 50 days in 1980 (latest on record was 30 September in 1977)

51 days with maximum temperature ≥101°F: BROKE record of 45 days in 1980 (latest on record was 28 September in 1953)

41 days with maximum temperature ≥102°F: BROKE record of 37 days in 1980 (latest on record was 28 September in 1953)

35 days with maximum temperature ≥103°F: BROKE record of 28 days in 1980 (latest on record was 28 September in 1953)

26 days with maximum temperature ≥104°F: BROKE record of 20 days in 1980 (latest on record was 28 September in 1953)

20 days with maximum temperature ≥105°F: BROKE record of 17 days in 1980 (latest on record was 11 September in 2000)

13 days with maximum temperature ≥106°F: BROKE record of 10 days in 1936 (latest on record was 6 September in 1947)

12 days with maximum temperature ≥107°F: BROKE record of 10 days in 1936 (latest on record was 4 September in 1998)

10 days with maximum temperature ≥108°F: BROKE record of 7 days in 1936 (latest on record was 3 September in 2000)

5 days with maximum temperature ≥109°F: TIED record of 5 days in 1936 (latest on record was 12 August in 1936)

3 days with maximum temperature ≥110°F: TIED record of 3 days in 1936 (latest on record was 12 August in 1936)

Today also marks the 96th consecutive day with high temperature ≥82°F. If the maximum temperature reaches ≥82°F tomorrow, then KOKC will tie the record of 97 consecutive days with maximum temperature ≥82°F, set 8 June-12 September 1998.

Sunday's low of 80°F marked the 20th day this year with minimum temperature ≥79°F, the most ever observed in a calendar year at KOKC, breaking the old record of 19 in 1934. If this morning's low of 80°F holds until midnight (or drops only to 79°F), then KOKC will extend this record with today marking the 21st such day this year.

As of yesterday, KOKC has experienced 65 days with minimum temperature ≥65°F. The record is 69 days in 1936. KOKC may tie this record as soon as Friday.

Yesterday also marked the 67th consecutive day with minimum temperature ≥67°F. The record is 70 such days, set 16 June-24 August 2010.

KOKC certainly will set its hottest summer ever. Assuming that the minimum of 80°F and maximum of 103°F stand until midnight, then setting the hottest summer ever requires an average temperature ≥-50°F tomorrow. (Alternatively, the temperature could drop to -11°F before midnight tonight and stay there all day tomorrow, which simply won't happen, I predict.)

To beat August 1936 as the hottest August ever, tomorrow must average ≥84°F, assuming that today's minimum of 80°F and maximum of 103°F stand until midnight.

To beat July 2011 as the hottest month ever, tomorrow must average ≥100°F and thus rank as the hottest day in history; 113°F/83°F (tying all-time record highest maximum and minimum temperatues) yields an average temperature of just 98°F. (Alternatively, the temperature could exceed 103°F before midnight tonight (without also falling below 80°F.) I suspect that this won't happen.

[brettjrob]

At KOKC, 2011 was the hottest JJA on record by a margin of 1.6 F.

#1 - 2011 - 87.5 F

#2 - 1980/1934 - 85.9 F

And at KSPS, the margin was a shocking 3.3 F.

#1 - 2011 - 91.9 F

#2 - 1980 - 88.6 F

#3 - 1934 - 88.2 F

[brettjrob]

Day 60 in the bag!

[natecast]

Day 60 in the bag!

Maybe 61 tomorrow and that looks to be the end of the road for the heat dome. I'm so pumped for 70's and 80's next week! Now if we can just get a lot of rain. It's not showing up, though.

[brettjrob]

KOKC reached 100 F between 3pm and 4pm today, for the 61st day of 100+ F this year. With a strong front on its way into OK as I type this, we are probably done for 2011, though with the extreme drought conditions I wouldn't completely rule out another run at 100 later this month.

This means that:

- Just over one of every six days this calendar year (61/365 = 16.71%) will have seen a maximum of 100 F or greater.

- The old record of 50 days from 1980 has been shattered by a margin of 11 days, or 22%.

After examining the data from JJA, I found that meteorological summer 2011 featured an astounding 21 days with record highs (22% of all days this summer). This includes 5 in June, 5 in July, and 11 in August.

Maybe 61 tomorrow and that looks to be the end of the road for the heat dome. I'm so pumped for 70's and 80's next week! Now if we can just get a lot of rain. It's not showing up, though.

Looking forward to having open-window weather in the evenings, but you're right... some rain would be nice. We are so screwed if we have another typically dry La Nina cold season. Just had a big fire about 2 mi. from my apartment the other day, and I can only imagine that more large, damaging fires will continue through the fall and winter if we don't turn things around.

[huronicane]

Made it to 100 at KOKC today for day 62. An off chance tomorrow to hit 100, as well, before we get that nice cold front.

[brettjrob]

Another 100 should be relatively easy... NAM has 105 before FROPA. The bigger question is whether a Mesonet site in S OK can top 110 F. I'm curious as to whether this would be the latest such reading on record in the state, but I'm not sure there's an easy way to determine that.

Honestly, today wasn't bad at all. Started off this morning with the windows open at 58 F, and by 4pm it was so dry and breezy that the 100 F felt merely warm after this summer.

[huronicane]

Looks like we hit it again. There's a few 106 spots out there on the Mesonet...I bet you could find out from McManus when the latest 110 date for the state was.

[brettjrob]

Yeah, it'll probably show up on the Mesonet ticker anyway, if it happens.

We're currently 104/44 at OUN with gusts to 21 mph... better hope no cigarette butts are flicked today.

[snowmanwx]

Looks like we hit it again. There's a few 106 spots out there on the Mesonet...I bet you could find out from McManus when the latest 110 date for the state was.

The latest 110°F day in Oklahoma was 2 October in 1898 at Waukomis.

[wxmx]

The latest 110°F day in Oklahoma was 2 October in 1898 at Waukomis.

How was the next winter?

[okie333]

How was the next winter?

The scale I normally use:

...but that didn't work, so here's a wider scale:

Based on precip data it appears to have been a La Niña with a lot of Nor'easters:

My own private Tulsa data set based on a weighted avg of nearby stations shows 20" of snow that winter... not too shabby, especially considering that back then they would often mark an "M" (for "Missing") if they didn't feel like going out that day to measure (1910's are pretty dramatic proof of this), and some smaller stations would accidentally put a "0.0" instead of an "M"... this is ESPECIALLY true of snow DEPTH, which is why I don't entirely trust snow depth values before 1910, even with the smoothing... I don't trust ANY measurements before 1900. Measurements before 1940 tend to be unreliable if the data is based on a single station. 1898-99 was a second-year Niña in a low solar period, just like 2011-12, 1917-18, 1909-10, and the oft-mentioned 2008-09 (which really wasn't a Niña...).

[Chicago Storm]

The scale I normally use:

...but that didn't work, so here's a wider scale:

Based on precip data it appears to have been a La Niña with a lot of Nor'easters:

My own private Tulsa data set based on a weighted avg of nearby stations shows 20" of snow that winter... not too shabby, especially considering that back then they would often mark an "M" (for "Missing") if they didn't feel like going out that day to measure (1910's are pretty dramatic proof of this), and some smaller stations would accidentally put a "0.0" instead of an "M"... this is ESPECIALLY true of snow DEPTH, which is why I don't entirely trust snow depth values before 1910, even with the smoothing... I don't trust ANY measurements before 1900. Measurements before 1940 tend to be unreliable if the data is based on a single station. 1898-99 was a second-year Niña in a low solar period, just like 2011-12, 1917-18, 1909-10, and the oft-mentioned 2008-09 (which really wasn't a Niña...).

[brettjrob]

Cold and dry... the absolute worst possible outcome for DJF.