State of the Climate National Overview July 2012 - WBOY.com: Clarksburg, Morgantown: News, Sports, Weather

State of the Climate National Overview July 2012

National Overview:

Supplemental June and January-June Information

• Year-to-date temperature evolution for select U.S. cities
• State-by-State: July and January-July Temperatures
• Daily, monthly, and all-time station records during July
• Supplemental temperature graphics
• Year-to-date temperature evolution for contiguous U.S.
• Warmest 12-month periods for contiguous U.S.
• July daily temperature extremes

• Climate Highlights — July
• The average temperature for the contiguous U.S. during July was 77.6°F, 3.3°F above the 20^th century average, marking the warmest July and all-time warmest month on record for the nation in a period of record that dates back to 1895. The previous warmest July for the nation was July 1936, when the average U.S. temperature was 77.4°F.
• Warmer-than-average conditions engulfed much of the contiguous U.S. during July, with the largest temperature departures from the 20^th century average occurring across much of the Plains states, through the Midwest, and along the Eastern Seaboard. Virginia had its warmest July on record, with a statewide temperature 4.0°F above average. In total, 32 states had July temperatures among its ten warmest, with seven states having their second warmest July on record.
• Precipitation totals were mixed during July, with the contiguous U.S. as a whole being drier than average. The nationally-averaged precipitation total of 2.57 inches was 0.19 inch below average.
• Drier-than-average conditions continued across the Central Plains and Midwest during July. Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri had July precipitation totals ranking among their ten driest. Maine had its fifth driest July on record.
• An active storm pattern in the Southwest contributed to California having its fifth wettest July on record and Nevada having its eighth wettest. Wetter-than-average conditions were also observed through the rest of the Southwest, along the western Gulf Coast, and into the Ohio Valley, where West Virginia had its tenth wettest July.
• According to the July 31, 2012 U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM), 62.9 percent of the contiguous U.S. was experiencing moderate to exceptional drought at the end of July. This is an increase of about 6.9 percent compared to the end of June. The maximum value of 63.9 percent reached on July 24 is a record in the 13-year history of the USDM. The percent area of the country in the worst drought categories (extreme to exceptional drought) doubled, from 10 percent last month to 22 percent this month. The extreme dryness and above-average evapotranspiration due to excessive heat devastated crops and livestock from the Great Plains to Midwest.
• According to the Palmer Drought Severity Index, whose record spans the 20^th century, about 57 percent of the contiguous U.S. was experiencing moderate-to-extreme drought. The last time drought was this extensive was in December 1956 when about 58 percent of the nation was in moderate-to-extreme drought.
• The warm and dry conditions over a large portion of the country were associated with ideal wildfire conditions. Over 2 million acres were burned nationwide during July due to wildfires, nearly half a million acres above average, and the fourth most in the 13-year period of record.
• A list of select July temperature and precipitation records can be found here.