Death Valley's 113°: hottest April temperature on record in U.S.
An unprecedented April heat wave brought a second day of sizzling temperatures to the Western U.S. yesterday, where temperatures ranging 20 - 30 degrees above normal have toppled numerous all-time April heat records. Nearly every weather station in the Inter-mountain West has broken, tied, or come within 1 - 2 °F of their all-time record April heat record since Sunday. Most notably, the 113°F measured at Furnace Creek in Death Valley, California on Sunday, April 22 was tied for the hottest April temperature ever recorded in the U.S. According to wunderground weather historian Christopher C. Burt, the hottest reliable April temperature ever measured in the U.S. was 113°F in Parker, Arizona in 1898. A 113°F reading was also taken at Catarina, Texas in April 1984, and at Greenland Ranch in Death Valley on April 24, 1946. A hotter 118°F reading measured at Volcano Springs, CA in April 1898 is considered unreliable, since we don't know much about the exposure conditions or if the thermometers were even in shelters at remote California desert stations back in the 1880s and 1890s. The previous hottest April day in Death Valley was 111°F. Yesterday, the high temperature in Death Valley "cooled off" to 110°F, merely the fourth highest April temperature ever measured there. The heat wave peaked Sunday and Monday, and temperatures will be closer to normal for the remainder of the week.
Figure 1. All-time heat records for the month of April were set at 56 stations April 21 - 23, including at seven major cities. Image taken from wunderground's new extremes page.
As is often the case when a major Nor'easter is affecting the Eastern U.S., the record-breaking heat is due to a contortion of the jet stream that has created a strong ridge of high pressure over the Western U.S. Wunderground's extremes page lists 56 stations in the West in the past four days that have tied or broken all-time heat records for the month of April, including:
Phoenix, Arizona: 105°F (previous 105° April temperatures occurred on 4/20/1989 and 4/29/1992)
Las Vegas, Nevada: 99°F (tying old record set 4/30/1981)
Reno, NV: 90° (old record 89° 4/30/1981)
Elko, NV: 87° (old record 86° 4/30/1981). This also beat the previous so-warm-so-early-in-the-season record by 4°
Ely, NV: 84° (old record 82° 4/28/1992)
Winnemucca, NV: 90° (tying old record set 4/30/1981)
Grand Junction, CO: 89° (tying all-time April record also set on 4/29 and 4/30, 1992)
Boise, ID (91°) and Salt Lake City (88°) both came within 1°F of their record April max.
Figure 2. A late-season Nor'easter on April 23, 2012 leaves heavy snow on a farm in Penfield, NY. Image credit: wunderphotographer tvsportsguy.
Late-season Nor'easter winding down
The powerful late-season Nor'easter that brought snow, high winds, and heavy rains to the Northeast yesterday is winding down as it moves northwestwards into Canada. The storm brought an unusual amount of snow for so late in the season to western Pennsylvania, western New York, and the higher elevations in West Virginia. An earlier report posted by the NWS of 23.7” at Laurel Summit, Pennsylvania (elevation 2,770’) has now been scaled back to just 13.7”, according to the latest NWS Storm Summary. Many other higher-elevation locations saw snowfall amounts in the 6 - 12 inch range. Snow amounts were considerably lower in the major cities of the region; Buffalo, New York got 0.9", Rochester, New York, 2.8", and Erie, Pennsylvania, 0.5". The wet, heavy snow fell on regions where trees had already come into leaf, thanks to the surprise "Summer in March" heat wave that brought 80° temperatures to the Northeast over a month ago. High winds that accompanied the heavy snow caused extensive tree damage and power outages to at least 75,000 people in the region. However, the storm may have done more good than harm--widespread rainfall amounts of 2 - 4 inches occurred across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Southeast New York, which is under moderate to severe drought. Rainfall deficits in the region were generally 5 - 10 inches, so the Nor'easter's rains will make a significant dent in the drought. Wunderground's weather historian Christopher C. Burt has updated his post on Record Late Season Snowfalls with information from this storm.
Jeff Masters
Reader Comments
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ill laugh so hard if the A storm is not till august
We're not seeing any tornado activity right now...that doesn't mean we're below normal. We're anything but that.
Link
I will be bleeding internally lol.
We are actually well above normal as far as tornado numbers this year. You can not use last years April numbers as the norm. That's like saying 2005 was a normal hurricane season, that all others should be compared to...
April 24, sst anomaly
a- As has already been stated, we aren't below average for tornadoes
b- Not to sound rude, but learn to read a graph... We do not have above normal sea ice
c. I really shouldn't even adress this but lets just say global temps aren't going down any
d. How are tornado warnings in Alabama in April at all relevant to global warming? Also many of last year's warnings there occured during a super outbreak (1 in 50 year or so event) so 2011 is a totally unfair analogue year.
Note: sorry it is so small the larger version is HERE, but it was too large to post on the blog.
Little math problem my teacher gave us. The answer is rather simple. Have fun and don't cheat.
Same way a square house has a window on every side that faces South... ;)
11storms, 6 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes
Link
Well duh! He obviously owns 2 houses 10 miles apart!
How are you?
My thought is that this season will have a early and quick start, with possibly two or three systems by July. This is because of the warm SSTs and the leftover Nina pattern, with slightly less shear and less east coast troughs to weaken and recurve systems.
Then, the season becomes about average from July to September with 5-6 more systems, including the two majors I think we will have this year due to average conditions.
Afterwards, as the Nino kicks in in September, there will be a somewhat abrupt end to hurricane season with maybe 2-3 more weaker systems in September and October. My updated prediction is 11-5-2, most of the stronger systems over by the middle of September.
Wow... Just .. Wow....
Whats up Twpr...have you seen TWC hurricane season forcast?
They are calling for 11/6/2
Did he walk in a straight line?
Ooh I have a better answer... I give up if this isn't right: He lives in the world's biggest house and has two front doors 10 miles apart! Genious!
Of course not! He made a triangle! LOL!!
Does this fellow have a white beard?
Do we ever get the answer to this?
No, like were the 10 miles in each direction in a completely straight line? Or did he bear off course any because the roads weren't straight?
There are a few responses that should help you out....
Yes i'm good...i think their forecast is based on prediction conditions during the hurricane season, they also stated that their forecast is subjected to change...if ENSO and SST anomalies changes
Due South, Due West, Due North. No roads...
Nope :D.
Nope.
You guys are gona be mad when I tell you. I'll give u guys 10 more min.
I googled it... that's probably considered cheating though
OHHHHHHHH I THINK I GOT IT NOW!!!!
Is his house at a certain place on the planet?
Yes that is cheating!
Some of us already got it, but it is fun watching others squirm!
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