July 2012 marked the fourth-warmest July globally since record keeping began in 1880, NOAA reported Wednesday.
The combined average temperature over global land and ocean surfaces was 61.52 degrees F. This is 1.12 degrees F above the 20th century average.
This July became the 36 consecutive July, and 329 consecutive month, with a global temperature above the 20th century average.
Temperatures were not above average across the board, however.
Lower-than-average temperatures prevailed in Australia, northern and western Europe, eastern Russia, Alaska and South America.
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"You will always have areas that are going to be below normal, but if you look at a global map, the areas of warmth dominate," AccuWeather Expert Meteorologist Brett Anderson said.
"That has been common for many years now. But those below-average areas are shrinking over the long term and the warmth is expanding," Anderson said.
This data comes in the wake of a report released last week, revealing that July 2012 marked the warmest month on record ever for the lower 48 states.
But despite the recent record-breaking numbers, we won't likely see a warmth record for the year as a whole, Anderson believes.
"This year isn't going to be very high because we're coming out of a La Nina, but next year we definitely may have a shot at a record warm year," Anderson said.
Severe weather and drenching downpours will affect parts of the Plains and Midwest over the Memorial Day Weekend.
Another plunge of chilly air will set the stage for the risk of a frost and freeze centered Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and other nearby states this weekend.
The High Plains and portions of Texas will become the targets of spotty, but violent storms Friday evening.
With one day remaining before Memorial Day weekend, the Sandy-battered Jersey coastline is hustling to finish last-minute preparations.
During Sunday's race, the skies will be variably cloud with the risk of a few showers.
The Memorial Day weekend will begin nasty with wind, rain and chill in New England and part of the mid-Atlantic.
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | N/A | |
| Low | N/A | |
| Precip | N/A |
North Texas (1986)
Severe thunderstorms produced 95 mph wind
gusts and widespread damage. More than 3" of
rain fell in less than an hour. A 29 year old
women and 6 year old daughter drowned when the
underpass they were driving into was flooded
out.
Northeast (1877)
Inland snowstorm from New Jersey to New England;
4" of snow at Berkshire County, MA.
Philadelphia, PA (1992)
A dramatic cold frontal passage. Early afternoon
temperature over 80 degrees fell to a late-day
reading in the 40s.
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