Record heat at Fort Smith (KFSM) airport (updated through 30 July)

[snowmanwx]

At Fort Smith Airport ASOS, Arkansas:

* Earliest daily minimum ≥82°F

The minimum of 82°F on 20 June 2011 set this record. The previous record was 82°F on 13 July 1934.

* Highest daily minimum ever in June

The minimum of 82°F on 20 June 2011 also set this record. The previous highest daily minimum in June was 81°F, set 16 June 1912 and 25 June 1918.

The minimum of 84°F on 27 June 2011 shattered this record and still stands.

* Earliest daily minimum ≥84°F

The minimum of 84°F on 27 June 2011 set this record. The previous record was 84°F on 1 August 1934. The all-time record stands at 85°F on 2 August 1934.

* (TIE) Only one of three times temperature did not drop below 68°F in June

The temperature reached 68°F on 23 June 2011. The temperature touched 68°F on 1, 9, 11, 24, and 25 June 1994 and on 7 June 2010. All other months of June in the record witnessed temperatures < 68°F.

* Warmest June ever

June finished in first place with an average temperature of 85.0°F, beating 1953, which had an average temperature of just 84.6°F.

* Only June with every day > 88°F, indeed ≥90°F.

The coolest daily maximum in 1953 was 88°F. In June 2011, the lowest daily maximum temperature was 90°F on 12 June and 16 June.

* Earliest temperature ≥107°F ever:

The temperature reached 107°F on 7 July 2011. The record was set on 13 July 1954 at 111°F.

* Earliest temperature ≥108°F ever:

The temperature reached 108°F on 10 July 2011. The record was set on 13 July 1954 at 111°F.

* Greatest number of consecutive days with maximum temperature ≥100°F:

The old record was 17 consecutive days on 10-26 July 1934.

After a two-day break with highs of just 96°F and 99°F, the daily maximum temperature again went ≥100°F on 29 July-12 August 1934. The maximum temperature on 13 August 1934 measured only 93°F, but the temperature again struck ≥100°F on 14-20 August 1934.

This year broke that record on 5-22 July with 18 consecutive days. The streak continues, however, to 27 consecutive days: 5-31 July, and the forecast promises no mere 99°F day in sight.

* Greatest number of consecutive days with maximum temperature ≥99°F:

The old record was 18 consecutive days on 10-27 July 1934.

This year broke that record on 5-23 July with 19 consecutive days. The streak continues, however, to 27 consecutive days: 5-31 July, and the forecast promises no mere 98°F day in sight.

* Hottest 17-day period ever:

The old record was 91.5°F on 1-17 August 1934.

This year broke that record with 91.6°F on 7-23 July. That record advanced to 91.7°F on 8-24 July. If the current minimum of 81°F holds, the period 15-31 July will advance that record at 91.7°F.

* Hottest 19-day period ever:

The old record was 91.6°F on 1-19 August 1943.

This year broke that record with 91.6°F on 6-24 July. That record advanced to 91.7°F on 7-25 July.

* Hottest 18-day period ever:

The old record was 91.5°F on 2-19 August 1934.

This year tied that record at 91.5°F on 6-23 July and broke it with 91.8°F on 7-24 July.

* Greatest number of consecutive days with minimum temperature ≥75°F:

The old record was 18 consecutive days on 30 July-16 August 1943.

This year broke that record on 7-25 July with 19 consecutive days. The streak continues, however, to 24 consecutive days: 7-30 July. The current minimum for 31 July is 81°F, which may be breached before midnight.

* Greatest number of consecutive days with maximum temperature ≥98°F:

The old record was 21 consecutive days on 7-27 July 1934 and 3-23 August 1936.

This year broke that record on 5-26 July with 22 consecutive days. The streak continues, however, to 27 consecutive days: 5-31 July, and the forecast promises no mere 97°F day in sight.

* Hottest 21-day period ever:

The old record was 91.5°F on 31 July-20 August 1934.

This year broke that record with 91.6°F on 6-26 July. The record advanced to 91.7°F on 7-27 July.

* Hottest 20-day period ever:

The old record was 91.6°F on 1-20 August 1934.

This year broke that record with 91.7°F on 7-26 July and tied that new record on 8-27 July.

* Hottest 23-day period ever:

The old record was 91.3°F on 29 July-20 August 1934.

This year broke that record with 91.5°F on 5-27 July. The record advanced to 91.7°F on 6-28 July and again to 91.7°F on 9-31 July.

* Hottest 22-day period ever:

The old record was 91.5°F on 30 July-20 August 1934.

This year broke that record with 91.6°F on 6-27 July. The record advanced to 91.8°F on 7-28 July.

* Greatest number of consecutive days with minimum temperature ≥77°F:

The old record was 12 consecutive days on 5-16 August 1936.

This year broke that record on 15-27 July with 13 consecutive days. The streak continues, however, to 16 consecutive days: 15-30 July. The current minimum for 31 July is 81°F, which may be breached before midnight.

* Hottest 24-day period ever:

The old record was 91.3°F on 20 July-12 August 1934.

This year tied that record with 91.3°F on 4-27 July and broke it with 91.5°F on 5-28 July. The record advanced at 91.5°F on 6-29 July and to 91.7°F on 7-30 July. It will advance further at 91.7°F on 8-31 July (if minimum temperature of 81°F holds).

* Hottest 25-day period ever:

The old record was 91.4°F on 19 July-12 August 1934.

This year broke that record at 91.4°F on 5-29 July. The record advanced to 91.6°F on 6-30 July and will advance further to 91.8°F on 7-31 July (if minimum temperature of 81°F holds).

* Greatest number of consecutive days with minimum temperature ≥78°F:

The old record was 9 consecutive days on 8-16 August 1943.

This year broke that record on 20-29 July with 10 consecutive days. The streak continues, however, to 11 consecutive days: 20-30 July. The current minimum for 31 July is 81°F, which may be breached before midnight.

* Hottest 30-day period ever:

The old record was 91.1°F on 14 July-12 August 1934.

This year broke that record at 91.1°F on 1-30 July. The record will advance to 91.3°F on 2-31 July (if minimum temperature of 81°F holds).

* Hottest 26-day period ever:

The old record was 91.4°F on 18 July-12 August 1934.

This year broke that record at 91.4°F on 5-30 July. The record will advance to 91.7°F on 6-31 July (if minimum temperature of 81°F holds).

* Hottest 10-day period ever:

The old record is 92.2°F on 1-10 August 1934.

This year broke that record with 92.4°F on 21-30 July. If the current minimum of 81°F holds, the period 22-31 July will advance that record to 92.5°F.

* Most days ≥100°F in July:

The temperature went ≥100°F on 25 days in July 1934. July 2011 tied this record on 26 July, broke it on 27 July, and ultimately set a new record of 30 days (every day except 4 July) ≥ 100°F.

* Every day in July > 94°F...indeed ≥ 97°F:

The coolest daily maximum at KFSM so far is 97°F on 4 July. The coolest daily maxima in 1934 and 1980 was 94°F.

* Every day of a calendar month > 96°F:

This coolest maximum temperature was 96°F in August 1980 and lower in every other month of record. The coolest maximum in July 2011 was 97°F on 4 July.

The following records stand in serious danger:

* Hottest July ever; hottest calendar month ever

The record stands at 89.2°F in July 1934, but 1-21 July 2011 have averaged a ghastly 90.6°F. If the max/min for today of 106°F/82°F thus far holds, then to avoid breaking the record, KFSM must average < 85.39°F for the remaining 9 days of July. KFSM last experienced one day so cool on 28 June.

UPDATE: KFSM will set this record unless the temperature falls to ≤-44°F before midnight, which would set an all-time record minimum for the entire state of Arkansas (current: -29°F at Pond in February 1905). The maximum/minimum thus far on 31 July stands at 107°F/81°F. Assuming that's final, the average temperature for July 2011 will stand at 91.2°F.

* (TIE) Only one of two times temperature did not drop below 71°F in July or in any calendar month

The temperature reached 71°F on 5 July 2011. The other month is July 1934, which touched 71°F on 14 July.

UPDATE: The temperature still could fall below this level before midnight. If this doesn't happen, the tie will happen.

* Hottest 27-day period ever:

Unless the temperature drops ≤73°F before midnight, 5-31 July 2011 with an average temperature of 91.6°F will beat the current record holder, 17 July-12 August 1934 at 91.4°F.

* (ALREADY TIED) Hottest 29-day period ever:

Unless the temperature drops ≤74°F before midnight, 3-31 July 2011 with an average temperature of 91.4°F will beat the current record holder, 15 July-12 August 1934 at 91.2°F. The period 2-30 July 2011 has already tied this record.

* Hottest 31-day period ever:

Unless the temperature drops ≤77°F before midnight, 1-31 July 2011 with an average temperature of 91.2°F will beat the current record holder, 13 July-12 August 1934 at 91.2°F.

* Hottest 11-day period ever:

Unless the temperature drops ≤78°F before midnight, 21-31 July 2011 with an average temperature of 92.5°F will beat the current record holder, 2-12 August 1934 at 92.4°F.

* Hottest 28-day period ever:

Unless the temperature drops ≤79°F before midnight, 4-31 July 2011 with an average temperature of 91.4°F will beat the current record holder, 16 July-12 August 1934 at 91.4°F.

* Hottest 16-day period ever:

Unless the temperature drops ≤79°F before midnight, 16-31 July 2011 with an average temperature of 91.8°F will beat the current record holder, 5-20 August 1934 at 91.7°F.

* Hottest 32-day period ever:

Unless the temperature drops ≤80°F before midnight, 30 June-31 July 2011 with an average temperature of 91.2°F will beat the current record holder, 12 July-12 August 1934 at 91.2°F.

* (ALREADY TIED) Greatest number of days with maximum temperature ≥106°F:

In 1934, 12 days: 16, 17, 18, 19, 24, and 30 July and 5, 7, 8, 9, 12, and 19 August

In 2011, 12 days thus far: 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 30, and 31 July

If the temperature reaches ≥106°F on any one (or more) day(s) between 1 August and 31 December, KFSM will break this record.

* (TIE) Hottest 15-day period ever:

If the minimum temperature today holds at 81°F, 17-31 July 2011 with an average temperature of 91.8°F will tie the current record holder, 6-20 August 1934 at 91.8°F.

* Greatest number of consecutive days with maximum temperature ≥97°F:

The record is 34 consecutive days on 3 August-5 September 2000.

This current streak on 29 June-31 July 2011 runs 33 consecutive days. If 1-2 August 2011 have maximum temperatures ≥97°F, then KFSM will break this record.

* Total days with minimum temperature ≥81°F:

In 1934, 9 days: 13 July and 1, 2, 7, 9, 12, 16, 19, and 20 August

In 1943, 8 days: 3, 4, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, and 15 August

In 2011, 8 days: 20 and 27 June and 8, 10, 22, 23, 24, and 31 August

* Greatest number of consecutive days with minimum temperature ≥76°F:

The current record is 18 consecutive days on 30 July-16 August 1943.

Second place is 16 days on 5-20 August 1943.

This year threatens that record with 16 consecutive days on 15-30 July. The current minimum for 31 July is 81°F, which may be breached before midnight. Unless the temperature drops to <76°F before midnight OR at any time tomorrow 1 August, KFSM will tie the record tomorrow. KFSM may break this record on Tuesday 2 August.

***

No longer in danger:

* Driest July ever

July 2011 has witnessed just 0.01 inch of rain. The record is 0.07 inch in 2001.

UPDATE: 0.21 inch of rain fell on 28 July. July 2011 will not set this record

Ironically, this summer drought follows the sixth wettest March-April-May spring on record at KFSM and the 4th wettest May with 11.91 inches. But only 0.45 inch has fallen since 25 May.

UPDATE:

Now 0.66 inch has fallen since 25 May.

The last day with a high temperature <90°F was 30 May.

I'm sure I could find more "streak" records at this site. This heat is amazing in its persistence and intensity. For those of you in the Northeast boiling today, this station provides an example of the origin of this heat.

[Indystorm]

Those are some amazing statistics. The length of time and geographical breadth of this hot air dome is unusual.

[snowmanwx]

Records in top post updated through today.