Coldest July in the Midwest
August 5th, 2009 at 12:11 am by Bill Steffen under Bill's Blog, Weather
<–Camping in the cold at the Rothbury Music Festival, where afternoon temperatures July 1-2 were only in the low-mid 60s. The NOAA Midwestern Regional Climate Center says that this past July was the coldest July ever for the 9-state Midwestern Region with an average temperature of 68.0° – nearly a full degree below the previous record of 68.9° set in 1992. It was the coldest July ever for Illinois, Indiana and Iowa, the 2nd coldest for Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio and Wisconsin, the 3rd coldest for Missouri and the 4th coldest for Minnesota. Records go back 114 years. There were more than 400 record low minimum temperatures and 1,300 record low maximum temperatures set across the 9-state region. Louisville, KY averages 12 days of 90° temperatures in July. This year they had none. St. Louis reached 90° four times vs. an average of 16 times. Marquette had it’s coolest May-July three month period, with an average temperature of 55.1°. The Grand Marais (in the U.P.) pier thermometer recorded three days in the first week of July that never got warmer than 50°. There is STILL about a 10% ice cover of Hudson Bay (click on “latest” under United States or Alaska). New York City’s three warmest days so far this year are April 25, 26, 28! They were 88-92-90 on those three days and they haven’t been warmer than 86 since then (though they should reach 90 a couple times in the next week). NYC has been -3.7° since the end of May.
Hmmm.interesting stats……….
Bill,
I am wondering your take on the extremes in relation of weather variations that we have been experiencing. It seems that we have had a couple of extreme winters followed by an extremely cold summer, where other other parts of the country/World are having extremes in the opposite. My understanding of GW is that it will result in extremes both hot and cold with larger or very smaller precip amounts due to the changing weather cycle. Do you think that these extremes that we are seeing could be in relation to GW or is this just a random pattern? I am not looking to start a fight about this, but rather curious what your take is on the subject.
Peace Out
Look back and you’ll see the same variation. I’ve heard people say the same with lake levels. Low last year AGW, up a foot this year the variation AGW… Sailors say who cares it is up a foot =)
I have an interesting hypothesis to this with no offense to Bill and his age, in fact there is a lot of sarcasm here. However, you only hear our old people say “it used to be this way.” Yeah, you remember grandparents saying walked to school in god know every condition but it is different now. Well, now my parents even say it! I’ve proved on here time and time again people’s recollection is wrong. How many times have we heard” We don’t get all day rains anymore”… well we do! Well, I blame this variation thing as in it isn’t like the old days on the baby boomers! The aging of America has brought this upon us! =)
Kevin,
It appears that, at least through 2007, there has not been an increase in temperature extremes in the U.S. http://hallofrecord.blogspot.com/2009/01/where-is-global-warming-extreme_19.html
Apart from anecdotal evidence, do you have a source that shows that the swings in extremes are in fact greater now than in the past?
Hmm. I must say, I admire the skeptical attitude of “direfloyd” and “Tamara.” Please, tell me more.
Never! =)
In the next month or so, maybe a thread could start entitled “Warmest August in the Midwest.”
That would be…Great…if it happened to us here in Michigan.!! Bring on the HEAT…
)
The world could end also, just saying.
How much snowfall did we end up with in 92-93 year?
the snowfall for 1992-1993 was slightly above normal in kalamazoo with 80″. that was much less than the 132″ I received last winter. also I only got .75 inches of rain this July while 2.40 inches fell that July.
bill you love winter and cold weather don’t you? who cares about the past, just bring on warmer weather that lasts through october followed by a mild winter with less snow!
I agree with Bill! Although, Bill may not actually want that.
Winters are mild every year downstate and they are very short. The snow doesnt stay the entire winter except in Northern Michigan and the U.P. I remember all throughout the 90′s going downstate and the snow line would usually be south of Clare and after that it would be bare ground.
Not sure what “downstate” you are talking about, but you certainly can’t be referring to Michigan with that post.
Rob Im referring to Downstate Michigan. I would take your winters anyday and your summers anyday. If you want to trade that would be great lol.
I do not put any faith in any of this GW as it has so eloquently been put well at least not to the degree as Mr. Gore would have cower in our hobbles about.
I have read many articles and many stats and seen many other reports and logged and documented stats from the arctic to the Antarctic to N.America, Africa Ecuador, central America to China.
The same evidence that shows through the late 80′s- 90′s is the same source updated stats and data evidence that shows the “GW” is a bad thing now showing Temps Precip ETC and other patterns including Glacial ice melt back to as it had been for many years Before in recorded history as in currently NO! GW just a hole in the OZONE as before and smaller that 2 years ago in part go figure One chapter in a book That I have stumbled on three years ago that was copy written in 1958 was about the very same thing we call Global Warming this group of four was advising that after then current evidence that the ice melt was doubling in rate each year ever since the dust bowl had ended along with temp’s rising since then.
if that was the case winters in Alaska and Northern Canada would be moderate warm to almost hot and very floody : )
I hear sometimes though cool summers can lead to a mild winter but sometimes a hot summer can lead to a very harsh winter. I remember summer of 1995 was very hot and then the winter of 95-96 was a harsh cold snowy winter. That year was very snowy in the upper midwest but Chicago and Detroit missed out and only ended up with 25-30 inches for the season while Marquette had 250 or more inches that year and even Iron river had an all time record 114 inches.
I wonder if the bad summer has to do with the eruption in Alaska of that volcano. In 1991 when that happened it took three years after that to get back to normal temps in the midwest. I think we had three cold falls in a row then cold winters back to back too. In early November of 1991 the high in Minneapolis was only 6 above zero after getting pounded with 28 inches of snow! Looking at all the winters after that it seems like 91-92 was a long winter but not really a cold one. 1992-93 was long but not cold either, 1993-94 was a long brutally cold winter that ended quickly though. 1994-95 was a very mild winter.
Wow direfloyd! You are attributing the variation of temps to the Baby Boomers?
What about the possibilites of seasonal variance, lack of sun spots, and the volcanic ash that has had a definite effect on the weather! Sounds to me like you have some issues that you need to deal with (Mom, Dad, Grandpa and Grandma). Its really too bad you feel that way because your theory has no scientific basis whatsoever. C’mon you can do better than that! Give us some data specifically from the Boomer generation, etc!
Dan,
I don’t think Direfloyd is blaming anything on the baby boomers. He is simply saying that a large number of people remember things to an inflated degree, such as the grandparent that had to walk to school up hill 5 miles through 5 feet of snow only to walk uphill home!
Those who remember larger winters and hotter summers may only have inflated it in their heads or through stories making current conditions more extreme to the opposite.
I think this is his point.
Direfloyd, correct me if I’m wrong.
Peace Out
Right on Kev, I was just joking around =)
Some just don’t get sarcasm even when say it is in the dang post… Bill got it =)
Read back threads Dan and you can see all the facts you want on both sides of the debate from Kevin and I. No need to repeat them yet.
direfloyd: Oh yeah I forgot we cannot have differing opinion other than yours, right?
Sorry but there are always two sides to the story/debate. Does that mean only one person is right? For your information, I was the one that attempted to get that AGW debate going with Kevin awhile ago. Sarcasm or not, it looked like you were attempting to make a mockery out of somebody else’s opinion. Stop acting so righteous. Can’t people have another opinion?
Kevin: I’m thinking direfloyd can handle himself, thanks though.
LOL!!!!!!!!!
The bully technique does not work on me… nice try with the name calling though. I’m not going to retype my opinion every time a troll comes along whining…
Kevin believes in AGW, I do not… we get along just fine debating! I love hearing Kevin’s opinion and he definitely can believe what he wants to. You however… nope… you cannot believe anything else because I just flipped a coin and that is the side that came up, sorry but fate says so.
We joke with each other since we know each other on here, but then again a troll like you just jumps in the middle of months and months of conversation and acts like they know what is going on… it has happened before and will happened again.
Do you believe in Chem-trails per chance???
=) Couldn’t help myself Kev! I appoligise!
Direfloyd,
I hate to act as a nuteral between you and Dan, but I believe that you have both miss understood each other. I have had many conversations with both of you and you guys believe the same on most controversial subjects. A couple of peas in a pod as the proverbial THEY would say! I would say that I feel bad that Mike M is on your side of anything. This guy is insane, with no common sense. I guess that we can’t pick our supporters though.
I liked your chem-trail post. You are definately a sarcastic prick, but what sailor from MSU isn’t!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep the wind at your back this weekend.
Dan,
Just curious why you are telling me that Direfloyd can handle himself? Throughout our many conversations, you have had many supporters that you have not told to stay out. A little hypocritical my friend. I was only trying to keep the peace between a couple of guys who are misunderstanding each other. Sorry I tried to help.
Peace Out
Interesting that the Lake Michigan water temps do not appear to be taking a hit. Hovering right around 70 degrees, which is not too far off from where you would expect them this time of year.
Kevin: Because I was responding to direfloyd’s post originally and you jumped right in and answered for him. Now, you have told me to stop doing that when I have jumped in with my own comments that were posted from others (Bill, etc, etc) You are calling me hypocritical? That is almost laughable! If you ask me you are only trying to stir or re stir up the controversy. Instead of posting about the Cool July, Thunderstorms, Lightnining etc, etc you seem to be of only one focus (pulling as many people in on Global Warming) Why do you think the topic on the blog goes to only a few posters when it heads this way?
Why don’t the more frequent posters on this blog chime in on this?
direfloyd: You have misinterpreted my comments. I was not trying to bully you but rather stating my own impressions about previous discussions. I did not call you a name in my most recent post nor at any other time. Name calling is for people who really don’t know what they believe, in my opinion. Instresting why you are choosing to call me a troll. Can you give me some basis as to why you are resorting to this kind of behavior?
All you guys crack me up. Trolls? LOL don’t they live under bridges? After Saturday’s rain, I would imagine most of the trolls have left the area. I don’t post as often, and I’m not a regular but I, too, have some exaggerated weather memories. (The winter of 1956-57.. I think it was very snowy, because my dad built a huge igloo for my brothers and sisters to play in) I, also, relate my weather memories to things I did that year. Like in 1992 I painted the outside of a two-story 4 bedroom farm house, and it was a very cool summer with very little rain. I wanted it to rain, so I could get a break from painting, but it rained very little. I never walked to school, up hill both ways. I rode the bus, and I went to Kentwood High School (which never closed).. LOL even during a blizzard!! I like to mark extreme weather conditions down on my calendar, just for fun and for conversations at work. I never really paid that much attention to the weather until May 20th 1975, when I was caught off guard by a few tornado’s that came through Cutlerville. Ever since then, I have watched the weather closer and become alot more interested.
And I love to read the posts on Bill’s Blog. This is great!!
[...] an aside, New York City had a really cool summer: New York City’s three warmest days so far this year are April 25, 26, 28! They were 88-92-90 on [...]