lvrj.com
Posted: Aug. 9, 2012 | 2:02 a.m.
WASHINGTON - This probably comes as no surprise almost anywhere outside of Las Vegas : Federal scientists say July was the hottest month ever recorded in the lower 48 states, breaking a record set during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s.
And even less a surprise: The United States this year keeps setting records for weather extremes, based on the precise calculations that include drought, heavy rainfall, unusual temperatures and storms.
The average temperature last month was 77.6 degrees. That breaks the old record from July 1936 by 0.2 degree, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Records go back to 1895.
"It's a pretty significant increase over the last record," said climate scientist Jake Crouch of NOAA's National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C.
In the past, skeptics of global warming have pointed to the Dust Bowl to argue that recent heat isn't unprecedented. But Crouch said this shows that the current year "is out and beyond those Dust Bowl years. We're rivaling and beating them consistently from month to month."
Three of the nation's five hottest months on record have been recent Julys: This year, 2011 and 2006. Julys in 1936 and 1934 round out the top five. Last month also was 3.3 degrees warmer than the 20th century average for July.
But while much of the nation suffered, Southern Nevada enjoyed an unusually mild July, at least by Mojave Desert standards.
The average temperature in Las Vegas last month was 91.5 degrees, one full degree below normal. Meteorologist Chris Stachelski from the National Weather Service in Las Vegas said last month ranked as the 48th coolest July in 75 years.
The valley's hottest July on record came two years ago, when unusually hot nighttime temperatures pushed the average for the month to 96.2 degrees. July 2010 still ranks as the hottest month Las Vegas has seen - or at least since official record keeping began in 1937.
Thirty-two states had months that were among their 10 warmest Julys, but only one, Virginia, had the hottest July on record.
In 2011, the heat seemed to be centered in Oklahoma and Texas. But this summer "the epicenters of the heat kind of migrated around. It kind of got everybody in the action this month," Crouch said.
Review-Journal reporter Henry Brean contributed to this report.
And even less a surprise: The United States this year keeps setting records for weather extremes, based on the precise calculations that include drought, heavy rainfall, unusual temperatures and storms.
The average temperature last month was 77.6 degrees. That breaks the old record from July 1936 by 0.2 degree, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Records go back to 1895.
"It's a pretty significant increase over the last record," said climate scientist Jake Crouch of NOAA's National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C.
In the past, skeptics of global warming have pointed to the Dust Bowl to argue that recent heat isn't unprecedented. But Crouch said this shows that the current year "is out and beyond those Dust Bowl years. We're rivaling and beating them consistently from month to month."
Three of the nation's five hottest months on record have been recent Julys: This year, 2011 and 2006. Julys in 1936 and 1934 round out the top five. Last month also was 3.3 degrees warmer than the 20th century average for July.
But while much of the nation suffered, Southern Nevada enjoyed an unusually mild July, at least by Mojave Desert standards.
The average temperature in Las Vegas last month was 91.5 degrees, one full degree below normal. Meteorologist Chris Stachelski from the National Weather Service in Las Vegas said last month ranked as the 48th coolest July in 75 years.
The valley's hottest July on record came two years ago, when unusually hot nighttime temperatures pushed the average for the month to 96.2 degrees. July 2010 still ranks as the hottest month Las Vegas has seen - or at least since official record keeping began in 1937.
Thirty-two states had months that were among their 10 warmest Julys, but only one, Virginia, had the hottest July on record.
In 2011, the heat seemed to be centered in Oklahoma and Texas. But this summer "the epicenters of the heat kind of migrated around. It kind of got everybody in the action this month," Crouch said.
Review-Journal reporter Henry Brean contributed to this report.
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