2007
STARTS WARMER, DRIER THAN AVERAGE FOR MUCH OF U.S.,
GLOBAL AVERAGE TEMPERATURE SECOND WARMEST ON RECORD SINCE JANUARY
July
17, 2007 — Warmer- and drier-than-average conditions dominated
much of the United States during the first half of 2007, according to
scientists at NOAA’s
National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C. The lack of precipitation
led to widespread drought, which triggered an early start to the wildfire
season, mounting crop losses and local drought emergencies. However,
drought in the southern and central Plains gave way to heavy and persistent
rains which led to devastating flooding from Texas to Kansas in June.
Meanwhile, the global average temperature was the second warmest on
record for the January-June six-month period. (Click NOAA image
for larger view of June 2007 statewide temperature rankings. Please
credit “NOAA.”)
U.S.
Temperature Highlights
- For
the contiguous United States, the first half of 2007 was the 18th
warmest January-June since records began in 1895. The six-month mean
temperature was 1.3 degrees F (0.7 degrees C) above the 20th century
average of 48.4 degrees F (9.1 degrees C). (Click NOAA image
for larger view of January-June 2007 statewide temperature rankings.
Please credit “NOAA.”)
- Temperatures
were much warmer than average from the mid-Atlantic and Midwest to
the northern Plains and throughout the West. In the contiguous U.S.
only Texas was cooler than average, while near-average temperatures
were widespread across the South and Northeast. Alaska was 0.3 degrees
F (0.2 degrees C) below the 1971-2000 mean for the January-June period.
- June
2007 was the 23rd warmest June on record, 1.4 degrees F (0.8 degrees
C) above the 20th century average of 69.3 degrees F. The warmer-than-average
June temperature helped increase residential energy needs for the
nation. Using the Residential
Energy Demand Temperature Index (REDTI - an index developed at
NOAA to relate energy usage to
climate), the nation's residential energy demand was approximately
1.5 percent higher than what would have occurred under average climate
conditions for the month.
U.S.
Precipitation Highlights
- The
year began with widespread severe drought in the southern and central
Plains, Wyoming, the western High Plains, and northern Minnesota.
Above average precipitation helped ease or end drought in many of
these areas by mid year, but this was not enough to overcome an extremely
dry winter and spring throughout most of the West. Meanwhile, much-below-average
precipitation caused drought to develop in the Deep South. (Click
NOAA image for larger view of April-June 2007 statewide precipitation
rankings. Please credit “NOAA.”)
- Four
of the first six months of the year were wetter, or much wetter, than
average in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. The wet period was punctuated
by heavy and persistent rains in June that produced devastating flooding
in the region and the continued threat of flooding into early July.
Monthly rainfall totals exceeded one foot in some locations.
- Much
of the West and the South suffered from extreme drought conditions
brought about by months of below average precipitation.
- An extremely
low winter and spring snowpack throughout the West combined with above
average temperatures in the spring and early summer set the stage
for an early start to the wildfire season.
- It was
the second driest January-June and driest April-June on record in
the Southeast. By the end of June, 65 percent of the region was in
drought. Alabama was hardest hit, with 86 percent of the state’s
pasture and range lands in poor — or very poor — condition
in early July, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The
entire state was declared a drought disaster area.
Global
Highlights
- The
combined global land and ocean surface temperature was the second
warmest on record for the January-June six-month period. Separately,
the global January-June land-surface temperature was warmest on record,
while the ocean-surface temperature was the sixth warmest in the 128-year
period of record. (Click NOAA image for larger view of January-June
2007 statewide precipitation rankings. Please credit “NOAA.”)
- For
June, the combined global land and ocean surface temperature was the
fourth warmest on record as neutral El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
conditions contributed to an overall lower global ranking for the
month.
- Above
average temperatures covered much of the world’s land surfaces
during the first half of the year. While some land areas in the Southern
Hemisphere began the June-August winter season with below average
temperatures, it was the warmest June on record at the South Pole.
NOAA is
celebrating 200 years
of science and service to the nation in 2007. From the establishment
of the Survey of the Coast in 1807 by Thomas Jefferson to the formation
of the Weather Bureau and the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries in the
1870s, much of America's scientific heritage is rooted in NOAA.
NOAA is
dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through
the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and
information service delivery for transportation, and by providing environmental
stewardship of our nation's coastal and marine resources. Through the
emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS),
NOAA is working with its federal partners, more than 70 countries and
the European Commission to develop a global monitoring network that
is as integrated as the planet it observes, predicts and protects.
Note to Editors: More complete information,
including links to data, graphics and analysis, is online at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2007/jun/jun07.html.
Relevant Web Sites
NOAA
June
2007 Data, Graphics and Analysis
U.S.
National Overview - June 2007
Climate
of 2007 - June in Historical Perspective
Media
Contact:
John
Leslie, NOAA Satellite and Information
Service, (301) 713-1265
|