National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Heat Wave Expands to the East Coast; Flash Flooding Likely in the Central Plains into the Midwest; Severe Thunderstorms in the Northeast

Dangerous, prolonged heat is ongoing in the Mid-South to Mid-Mississippi Valley and heat expands into the Northeast for a brief period today. Widely scattered instances of flash flooding due to heavy rains are forecast from northeast Kansas to much of Indiana. Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms are possible across parts of New England, northern Mid-Atlantic, and North Dakota. Read More >

So exactly how hot has it been?

We all know that it has been a warm summer thus far across much of the Northern Plains, but how does this year, so far, compare to previous years? Below is a table that shows what the average temperature has been so far this year (January 1 through July 15) and the associated record.

 

Site

1/1/12-7/15/12 average temp (ranking)

Record average temp, or next closest year

Aberdeen

47.0 degrees (2)

47.2 degrees; 1931

Mobridge

46.9 degrees (2)

47.6 degrees; 2006

Pierre

49.6 degrees (1)

49.1 degrees; 1981

Watertown

46.5 degrees (2)

47.6 degrees; 1987

Sisseton

47.2 degrees (1)

44.2 degrees; 2006

Wheaton

45.7 degrees (1)

45.1 degrees; 1990

Murdo

51.2 degrees (1)

 49.7 degrees; 1976

 

Additionally, we are in what is typically the warmest time of the year. Below is a table that shows what the normal average temperature is through July 15th, what the current average temperature is through the 15th, and what the record average temperature is through the 15th. 

 

Site

Normal Average Temp (7/1 through 7/15)

Current Average Temp (departure from normal)

Record Average Temp (7/1 through 7/15)

Aberdeen

70.8 degrees

77.3 degrees (+6.5)

87.3 degrees (1936)

Mobridge

71.9 degrees

77.7 degrees (+5.8)

89.4 degrees (1936)

Pierre

74.4 degrees

79.8 degrees (+5.4)

89.1 degrees (1936)

Watertown

70.8 degrees

76.8 degrees (+6.0)

83.4 degrees (1936)

Sisseton

70.8 degrees

76.3 degrees (+5.5)

84.6 degrees (1936)

Wheaton

72.6 degrees

76.6 degrees (+4.0)

79.1 degrees (1957)

Murdo

75.7 degrees

81.3 degrees (+5.6)

82.4 degrees (1925)