2012 Climate Review

Areas of Thunderstorms and Heavy Rain Across the Country; Heat Wave Begins This Weekend

Widespread showers and thunderstorms, some severe, may bring heavy rain and flash flooding in the central Gulf Coast, Mid-Atlantic, the Upper Midwest, the Great Basin and Southwest. A stretch of unusually hot and humid weather is expected across portions of the central U.S. and the Southeast beginning this weekend. Critical fire weather conditions are expected in the Northwest and Great Basin. Read More >

2012 Highlights

2012 ended as the fourth warmest year on record at the Luis Muñoz Marin Int'l Airport (TJSJ), located in San Juan Puerto Rico, with an average temperature of 81.6°F. The hottest year on record was 1980 with an average temperature of 82.4°F.

2012 ended as the thirteenth driest year on record at the Cyril E. King Airport (TIST), located in St. Thomas USVI, with 35.87 inches of rain observed. The driest year on record was 1991 with 19.52 inches of rain observed.

2012 ended as the eighth driest year on record at the Christiansted Airport (TISX), located in St. Croix USVI, with 29.46 inches of rain observed. The driest year on record was 2002 with 21.61 inches of rain observed.

March ended as the second wettest March on record at TJSJ, TIST, and TISX with 9.27, 9.95 and 9.79 inches of rain observed respectively.

April ended as the ninth warmest April on record at TJSJ with an average temperature of 80.5°F, while at TIST, April 2012 ended as the eleventh coolest April on record with an average temperature of 79.0°F.

May ended as the eighth wettest May on record at TIST with 6.72 inches of rain observed.

June ended as the hottest month of any year at TJSJ with an average temperature of 85.7°F.

July ended as the eight warmest July on record at TJSJ with an average temperature of 83.7°F as well as the eleventh driest on record at TISX with 1.90 inches of rain observed.

September ended as the driest September on record at TIST with 0.92 inches of rain observed as well as the sixth driest September on record at TJSJ with 2.13 inches of rainfall observed.

September ended as the warmest September on record and the fifth hottest month of any year at TJSJ with an average temperature of 84.9°F.

October ended as the fourth warmest October on record at TJSJ as well as the seventh and ninth warmest October on record at TISX and TIST respectively.

November ended as the warmest November on record at TJSJ with an average temperature of 82.4°F as well as the ninth warmest November on record at TISX with an average temperature of 81.2°F.

December ended as the ninth warmest December on record at TJSJ with an average temperature of 79.4°F.

Tropical Storm Isaac sweeps through Caribbean Sea, south of Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.

Hurricane Sandy left coastal flooding and beach erosion across the northern coastal areas of Puerto Rico.

2012 Statistics for Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport (TJSJ), Cyril E. King Airport (TIST) and Christiansted Airport (TISX).

Temperature

Annual Mean Temperature (NCDC 1981-2010 normals):

San Juan (TJSJ)

Saint Thomas (TIST)

Saint Croix (TISX)

Avg Maximum

86.7°F

87.6°F

86.6°F

Avg Minimum

75.4°F

75.5°F

75.4°F

Mean

81.0°F

81.6°F

81.0°F

Days Max >= 90°F

54.6

84.8

38.8

2012 Observations:

San Juan (TJSJ)

Saint Thomas(TIST)

Saint Croix(TISX)

Avg Maximum

87.2°F(+0.5°F)

85.9°F(-1.7)

86.3°F(-0.3°F)

Avg Minimum

75.9°F(+0.5°F)

75.8°F(+0.3)

74.1°F(-1.3°F)

Mean

81.6°F(+0.6°F)

80.9°F(-0.7)

80.2°F(-0.8°F)

Days Max >= 90°F

101 (+46.4)

42(-42.8)

47(+8.2)

Precipitation

Annual Precipitation (NCDC 1981-2010 normals):

San Juan

Saint Thomas

Saint Croix

Average

56.35''

39.34''

38.67''

Daily Avg

0.15''

0.11''

Days >=0.01

198.5

168.3

174.0

Days >= 0.10

108.6

78.5

82.0

Days >= 0.50

32.6

20.6

18.8

Days >= 1.00

12.1

7.7

6.8

2012 Observations:

San Juan

Saint Thomas

Saint Croix

Record Maximum

89.50" 2010

67.59" 1960

78.25" 1979

Record Minimum

35.53" 1991

19.52" 1991

21.61" 2002

Total

55.21"(-1.14")

35.87"(-3.47")

29.46"(-9.21")

Daily Avg

0.15(0.00)

0.10(-0.01)

0.08(-0.03)

Days >=0.01

211(+12.5)

182(+13.7)

166(-8.0)

Days >= 0.10

117(+8.4)

92(+13.5)

79(-3.0)

Days >= 0.50

29(-3.6)

20(-0.6)

14(-4.8)

Days >= 1.00

10(-2.1)

4(-3.7)

2(-4.8)

Extremes

San Juan

Saint Thomas

Saint Croix

Highest Temperature

95°F 06/22, 06/13 and 06/21

92°F 10/02, 09/24 and 09/17

93°F 08/11 and 08/02

Lowest Temperature

69°F 02/20 and 01/19

67°F 01/22, 01/12 and 01/21

65°F 12/15 and 01/12

Greatest 24 hr rainfall Total

3.09" 03/25

2.35" 11/20

1.28" 11/19

Areas of Thunderstorms and Heavy Rain Across the Country; Heat Wave Begins This Weekend

2012 Climate Review

2012 Climate Report for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

2012 Highlights

2012 Statistics for Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport (TJSJ), Cyril E. King Airport (TIST) and Christiansted Airport (TISX).

Temperature

Precipitation

Extremes