2011 North American heat wave

Weather event in North America June 2019 The 2011 North American heat wave was a deadly summer 2011 heat wave that affected the Southern Plains, the Midwestern United States, Eastern Canada, the Northeastern United States, and much of the Eastern Seaboard, and had Heat index/Humidex readings reaching upwards of 131 °F °C. On a national basis, the heat wave was the hottest in 75 years.U.S. sweltered through the hottest summer in 75 years Doyle Rice September 8, 2011 USA Today https://www.usatoday.com/weather/news/extremes/story/2011-09-08/US-sweltered-through-the-hottest-summer-in-75-years/50323566/1?csp=34news September 8, 2011 July 2011 Before the start of the heat wave, two derecho events took place; one on July 11 over most of the central Plains, the lower Great Lakes and the Appalachian region; the other on July 17 over eastern Ontario, southern Quebec and northern New England. Such forcing events often occur on the northern periphery of vast areas of continental heat domes that move northward during the summer months. On July 19, 2011, the highest dew point in Minnesota occurred at 88 F C.Record Dew Point Temperatures, Weather Underground August 4, 2011 On July 21, 2011, hot weather over the past week culminated into record-breaking temperatures across the province of Ontario, also in Michigan, Ohio, upstate New York and Quebec, shattering long held records. Toronto reached 100 F C with a perceived humidex reading of 124 F CCanadian Press Several Ontario cities saw their hottest July 21 ever on Thursday http://ca.news.yahoo.com/several-ontario-cities-saw-hottest-july-21-ever-150312369.html August 13, 2011 July 21, 2011 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110814160022/http://ca.news.yahoo.com/several-ontario-cities-saw-hottest-july-21-ever-150312369.html August 14, 2011 The intense heat moved eastwards and peaked along the Interstate 95 corridor on July 22, 2011, with Central Park in New York City breaking the record for the day at 104 °F °C or more in the interior of city which was the hottest temperature the city had experienced in over three decades. Newark, New Jersey also reached an all-time record high of 108 °F °C,New York City Hits 104 Degrees; Breaks Heat Record Set In 1957 https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/near-record-temps-expected-across-tri-state-area-as-heat-wave-lingers/ August 12, 2022 CBS New York July 22, 2011 as did Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia at 105 °F °C,Temperature of 105 sets all-time high at Dulles International Airport https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/temperature-of-105-sets-all-time-high-at-dulles-international-airport/2011/07/22/gIQAhzbPUI_story.html August 12, 2022 Washington Post July 22, 2011 while Bridgeport, Connecticut tied their record at 103 °F °C.Temp Breaks Record at 103, NBC Connecticut, July 22, 2011 Philadelphia surpassed its daily record when it reached 103 °F °C, and Boston tied for the second highest temperature on record at 103 °F °C, making it the hottest day in 85 years. The heat was blamed for at least 22 deaths across the Midwest and the Northeast.Goldberg Barbara Massive, deadly heat wave spreads from Midwest to East Coast https://www.reuters.com/article/us-weather-idUSTRE76J5N120110721 July 21, 2011 Reuters July 21, 2011 Daily high temperatures warmer than normal began on the southern plains during May 2011, accompanied by one of the most severe droughts ever recorded.Blanley Betsy Texas Drought 2011, State Endures Driest 7-Month Span on Record http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/10/texas-drought-2011-record_n_859902.html August 4, 2011 Huffington Post May 9, 2011 August 2011 In Oklahoma, by August 3, several locations in the southwestern portion of the state had recorded 43 consecutive days exceeding 100 °F °C. Air temperatures exclusive of heat index exceeded 110 °F °C for much of the state on August 2 and 3, reaching 115 °F °C in Poteau and Wilburton on August 3. On the same day, Little Rock, Arkansas plateaued at 45.9 °C °F in the shade.http://mesonet.org June 2022 As of August 10, Dallas/Fort Worth had recorded 40 consecutive days with high temperatures exceeding 100 °F °C, the second-longest streak on record (the record of 42 days was set during the 1980 United States heat wave). In addition, the area set a new all-time hottest minimum temperature of 86 °F °C on July 26http://www.weather.gov/view/prodsByState.php?state=TX&prodtype=public National Weather Service Text Product Display and tied it thrice in August. However, by September 13, Dallas had endured 71 non-consecutive days with temperatures exceeding 100 °F °C, beating the record of 69 days set in 1980. http://www.srh.noaa.gov/fwd/?n=danncon10 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20100819051153/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/fwd/?n=danncon10 2010-08-19 NWS Ft. Worth On August 24, a 5-hour long severe thunderstorm hit Southern Ontario that evening which also spawned a pair of weak tornadoes, nothing particularly unusual for August, but it set records for lightning frequency, thought to be fueled by abnormally high Lake Ontario water surface temperatures due to the heat wave.March 2023 Record heat The National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, North Carolina reported that the United States had the hottest summer on record in 2011. Since 1901, only the Dust Bowl era summer of 1936 was hotter. Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Louisiana all reported their hottest summer on record. Delaware had a record warm July in 2011.July 2011 National Climate Report https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/national/201107 NOAA August 12, 2011 Based on an index of residential energy demand, 2011 was the hottest summer on record. However, the states of Oregon and Washington recorded cooler than average summers, while California recorded its wettest. Water levels The continuing heat and drought resulted in several lakes dropping to record lows, particularly in Texas and Oklahoma. This resulted in re-exposing old towns and other historical sites that were submerged by dam construction. The original site of Bluffton, Texas was re-exposed, revealing a town site that had been submerged under Lake Buchanan since a dam was completed in 1939. The town of Woodville, Oklahoma was also re-exposed as Lake Texoma dropped.As Drought Continues, Depleted Texas Lakes Expose Ghost Towns, Graves November 20, 2011 Associated Press https://www.foxnews.com/science/as-drought-continues-depleted-texas-lakes-expose-ghost-towns-graves November 21, 2011 Arkansas Little Rock, Arkansas Little Rock was the second hottest city in Arkansas during the heat wave. Little Rock recorded an all-time record high of 114 F C on August 3, 2011. Fort Smith, Arkansas Fort Smith was the hottest city in Arkansas. it reported an all-time record high of 115 F C on August 3. Louisiana Shreveport, Louisiana Shreveport recorded its hottest month ever in August 2011, with an average temperature of 91.5 F C (average high of 104.4 F C and average low of 78.6 F C. Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado In Colorado Springs, temperatures reached 97 F C (near record highs) as early as June. Daytime highs in June, July, and August were about 6°F above average. Temperatures were elevated during the heat wave, but remained cooler than temperatures in the Great Plains to the east. Colorado Springs, Colorado (Year of 2011 only) Yes 43.1 42.5 57.2 62.4 67.3 88.3 89.3 88.3 75.3 64.8 54.1 41.9 64.4 15.5 16.0 29.0 34.1 41.1 54.7 60.9 59.9 49.6 36.6 27.0 15.9 36.7 green 0.11 0.14 0.54 0.68 0.69 0.26 4.90 1.49 5.91 0.87 0.19 0.46 16.24 Wunderground Weather History http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KCOS/2011/1/4/MonthlyHistory.html Seasonal Temperature and Precipitation Information April 4, 2013 Wunderground.com en-us https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=pub National Weather Service NOAA Online Weather Data September 11, 2023 Colorado Springs, Colorado (1981-2010 normals) Yes 43.2 44.8 52.1 59.8 69.1 79.0 84.8 81.6 74.5 63.0 51.0 42.1 62.1 17.7 19.5 26.0 33.3 42.7 51.3 56.9 55.7 47.3 35.8 25.2 17.5 35.7 green 0.32 0.34 1.00 1.42 2.03 2.50 2.84 3.34 1.19 0.82 0.40 0.34 16.54 NOAA https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly&stations=USW00093037&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access September 11, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230911131141/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly&stations=USW00093037&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL 2023-09-11 Pueblo, Colorado Pueblo, Colorado experienced temperatures up to 101 F C as early as June. On August 5, 2011, Pueblo recorded a temperature of 100 F C, breaking the record of 98 F C set back in 1954. Denver, Colorado Denver, Colorado saw temperatures as high as 104 F C as early as June 19, 2011. Denver International Airport recorded a high of 102 F C on June 29, 2011. This broke the record of 95 F C set back in 1978. The high of 104 F C was set on July 28, 2011. This temperature broke the previous record of 100 F C set back in 1991. Wyoming Cheyenne, Wyoming Cheyenne, Wyoming also recorded above average temperatures during the heat wave. On August 5, 2011, Cheyenne was 88 F C compared to the 79 F C average. Kansas Wichita, Kansas Fully subjected to the heat wave, Wichita had an unusually hot summer in 2011. Wichita reached a temperature of 111 F C twice over the course of the heat wave, once in July, and once in August. Daytime highs in the months of June, July, and August averaged almost 9 °F over prior observed normals. The year was also substantially drier than average. Wichita, Kansas (Year of 2011 only) Yes 40.9 44.8 59.2 72.4 78.4 94.5 102.5 97.7 82.6 73.9 57.1 46.4 70.9 16.9 20.5 36.7 45.2 54.4 68.3 76.2 72.1 56.0 46.6 33.1 27.0 46.1 green 0.34 1.39 0.97 1.46 2.45 4.73 1.45 3.45 0.98 1.83 3.32 3.69 26.06 Wunderground Weather History http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KICT/2011/8/4/MonthlyHistory.html Seasonal Temperature and Precipitation Information April 4, 2013 Wunderground.com en-us https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=ict National Weather Service NOAA Online Weather Data September 12, 2023 Wichita, Kansas (1981-2010 normals) Yes 42.5 48.2 57.9 67.7 76.7 86.7 92.3 91.2 82.5 69.7 56.2 43.5 67.9 21.9 26.1 35.0 44.5 55.2 64.9 69.8 68.8 59.5 46.9 34.6 24.1 45.9 green 0.83 1.18 2.69 2.59 4.57 5.20 3.32 3.71 3.14 2.78 1.43 1.20 32.64 NOAA https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly&stations=USW00003928&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access September 12, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230912154232/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly&stations=USW00003928&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL 2023-09-12 Oklahoma Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Oklahoma City, Oklahoma experienced extremely hot temperatures in the summer of 2011, and below normal rainfall. While winter, spring, and fall temperatures were close to normals, Central Oklahoma started to experience abnormally high temperatures after a very wet month of May. High temperatures in the months of June, July, and August were 9 °F above normals, and overnight lows were also significantly above norm. The heat was so extreme, that OGE, the area's main electricity provider, refused to cut off electric service in the month of August, as it felt that this might result in deaths among the elderly, many of whom used electric power to air-condition their homes.http://www.news9.com/story/15194275/oge-suspends-electricity-cutoffs-in-august/ News The following data is for the weather station at Will Rogers World Airport, located southwest of the city, which during the summer, experienced a peak temperature of 110 F C. Due to the urban heat island effect, most of the urban area of Oklahoma City was even hotter than the temperatures recorded at the airport. One weather station, located in an urban part of the city, recorded an air temperature of 116 F C on August 3.http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/WXDailyHistory.asp?ID=KOKYUKON4&graphspan=month&month=8&day=4&year=2011 February 2022 The heat wave finally ended on September 15, 2011, when a cold front moved through Central Oklahoma. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (YEAR OF 2011 ONLY) Yes 76 80 88 93 94 104 110 110 102 88 80 71 110 50 54 66 79 81 97 102 102 86 75 61 52 75 23 28 41 50 59 72 75 75 59 50 39 32 50 9 -5 25 33 36 62 71 68 46 34 24 15 -5 green 0.1 1.7 0.1 1.0 9.2 1.2 3.0 2.0 1.6 5.6 2.2 1.8 29.5 Wunderground Weather Historyhttp://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KOKC/MonthlyHistory.html Seasonal Temperature and Precipitation Information April 4, 2013 Wunderground.com April 2013 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (1981-2010 normals) Yes 50 55 63 72 80 88 94 93 85 73 61 50 72 29 33 41 50 60 68 72 71 63 52 40 30 50 green 1.4 1.6 3.1 3.1 4.7 4.9 2.9 3.3 4.1 3.7 2.0 1.9 36.5 April 2013 Lawton, Oklahoma Lawton, Oklahoma experienced even hotter weather than Oklahoma City reported. In Lawton, daytime high temperatures during the months of June, July, and August averaged 11 °F above the previously observed normals, and nighttime lows averaged 8 °F above normal. In at least one weather station in Lawton, less than half the normal rainfall was recorded over the course of the year, and almost none was recorded during the summer. Lawton, Oklahoma (Year of 2011 only) Yes 52.2 57.9 70.7 82.5 86.8 102.6 106.7 107.1 89.8 77.8 64.0 51.4 79.1 36.2 43.0 55.5 65.0 72.4 87.7 92.3 92.2 73.9 63.9 51.0 41.2 64.6 20.2 28.1 40.4 49.6 57.9 72.7 77.9 77.3 58.0 50.0 38.0 31.1 50.1 green 0.12 0.09 0.01 0.22 5.66 0.26 0.07 0.83 1.05 3.10 1.50 1.37 14.28 Wunderground Weather History http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KLAW/2011/1/4/MonthlyHistory.html Seasonal Temperature and Precipitation Information April 4, 2013 Wunderground.com en-us April 2013 Lawton, Oklahoma (1981-2010 normals) Yes 54.1 58.0 66.8 75.3 83.3 91.4 97.3 97.1 87.8 76.5 64.1 53.6 75.4 40.8 45.1 53.8 62.1 71.3 79.5 84.2 84.0 75.1 63.7 51.0 40.9 62.6 27.5 32.3 40.8 48.9 59.2 67.7 71.2 70.9 62.3 50.9 37.8 28.1 49.8 green 1.15 1.34 2.33 2.79 4.19 3.95 2.20 2.73 3.31 3.66 1.79 1.74 31.18 NOAA https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly&stations=USW00003950&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access September 12, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230912025329/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly&stations=USW00003950&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL 2023-09-12 Tulsa, Oklahoma Tulsa, Oklahoma was also affected by the heat wave with temperatures maxing out 113 F C on August 5, 2011. High temperatures of 111 F C were recorded in Tulsa the following day. On August 8, 2011, high temperatures reached 110 F C, almost breaking the record high temperature of 111 F C set back in 1935. Up until October, temperatures in the city remained in the high 80s to the low 100s. Texas Dallas, Texas Dallas, Texas was affected by the heat wave. In Dallas, temperatures in the months of June, July, and August averaged 8 °F above normals. Dallas also received a below normal amount of precipitation during the year, and no measurable rainfall in July. Dallas, Texas. (YEAR OF 2011 ONLY) Yes 54 61 72 82 84 99 102 106 93 81 68 55 80 34 39 52 61 64 79 82 84 70 59 48 41 59 green 1.6 1.1 0.5 3.3 6.0 3.6 0.0 1.0 1.3 2.4 1.8 4.4 27 Wunderground Weather Historyhttp://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KDAL/2011/4/4/MonthlyHistory.html Seasonal Temperature and Precipitation Information April 4, 2013 Wunderground.com April 2013 Dallas, Texas. (Normals) Yes 55 61 69 77 84 92 96 96 89 79 66 57 77 36 41 49 56 65 73 77 76 69 58 47 39 57 green 1.9 2.3 3.1 3.5 5.3 3.9 2.4 2.2 2.7 4.7 2.6 2.5 37.1 April 2013 Amarillo, Texas The Amarillo, Texas area, along with the rest of Texas and the Southern Plains, experienced the worst of the heat wave. Summertime temperatures soared at high as 111 F C in June, and the overall precipitation was only a third of the average. For the months of June, July, and August, average highs were 10 °F above normal, and overnight low temperatures were 6 °F above normal. Amarillo, Texas. (YEAR OF 2011 ONLY) Yes 72 81 89 94 104 111 105 105 97 90 81 73 111 51 52 67 78 84 99 100 100 85 74 62 44 75 20 20 35 43 49 66 71 70 56 45 34 25 45 2 -6 26 32 33 55 63 66 48 28 19 4 -6 green 0.06 0.43 0.06 0.05 0.08 0.49 1.00 0.53 0.94 1.23 0.62 1.54 7.03 Wunderground Weather Historyhttp://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KAMA/2011/6/10/MonthlyHistory.html Seasonal Temperature and Precipitation Information May 10, 2014 Wunderground.com May 2014 Amarillo, Texas (Normals) Y 50.6 54.2 62.5 71.1 79.5 87.7 91.4 89.4 82.6 71.9 60.0 49.7 71.0 23.4 26.4 33.3 41.6 51.8 61.0 65.2 64.2 56.4 44.7 32.5 24.0 43.8 green .72 .56 1.39 1.40 2.29 3.16 2.84 2.91 1.92 1.66 .80 .71 20.36 NOAA (extremes 1892–present),http://www.nws.noaa.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=ama National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Weather Service Climate 2013-05-04 The Weather Channel http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/golf/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USTX0029?from=36hr_bottomnav_golf Monthly Averages for Amarillo, TX – Temperature and Precipitation 2008-11-25 The Weather Channel HKO (sun only, 1961–1990)http://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/world/eng/n_america/us/Amarillo_e.htm Climatological Normals of Amarillo 2010-06-08 Hong Kong Observatory dead https://web.archive.org/web/20051003221122/http://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/world/eng/n_america/us/amarillo_e.htm October 3, 2005 August 2010 See also 2010–2013 Southern United States and Mexico drought References autocollapse Category:2010s heat waves North American heat wave Category:Heat waves in Canada Category:Heat waves in the United States Heat wave, North America Heat wave