Last month, I posted some data comparing the temperatures in some northern cities to the 1961-1990 normals for cities much farther south. This is another way to visualize the impact of the record-breaking U.S. heat wave of 2012. Here is an update for the period January 1 through July 31. All of the normals are based on the mean value for the period January 1 through July 31, as compiled by NCDC for the period 1961-1990. All data given below are the official values taken at the primary international airports serving each of the metropolitan areas listed.
In Chicago, the mean temperature this year has been 55.0F. This is 7.3F above the 1961-1990 mean for the city and, incredibly, 0.2F above the 1961-1990 mean for St. Louis.
In Detroit, the mean temperature this year has been 54.4F. This is 7.2F above the 1961-1990 mean for the city and also 2.1F warmer than the 1961-1990 mean for Cincinnati, or just 0.9F cooler than the 1961-1990 mean for St. Louis.
In Indianapolis, the mean temperature this year has been 58.6F. This is 7.2F above the 1961-1990 mean for the city, and just 0.7F cooler than the 1961-1990 mean for Oklahoma City, or 1.2F cooler than the 1961-1990 mean for Tulsa, OK.
