NOAA: April warm, dry over much of nation; second-warmest April since 1880 globally

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ^ | May 16, 2002

[cogitator]

We continue to need rain here in central Maryland despite good recent rains. Hope the rest of you that need it, get it.

What's bizarre is how chilly it is now. Parts of central and western Maryland might get frost tonight.

[KSCITYBOY]

I believe everything these guys say even though it was cold and wet here in the middle of the country. I guess in 1880 the green house gases were really out of control. Dammed cars.

[IGNATIUS]

SE Colorado reportedly dryest in a century.We've had about one inch since Jan 1.Even the native pinon pines are dying.Neighbors all selling their cows for lack of grass.

[KSCITYBOY]

These guys are lying. After looking at the map it was way wrong about Kansas & Missouri. What a bunch of bullsh*t.

[SAJ]

Over 108 years, which is the span the weather analysts Davis and Russo at SSMB use, this past April ranked 45th for temperature levels in Missouri, nice and normal. The current month, if temps don't move higher, will rank 98th.

Clearly global warming (three consecutive all-time low temps overnight here, including last night).

[cogitator]

Over 108 years, which is the span the weather analysts Davis and Russo at SSMB use, this past April ranked 45th for temperature levels in Missouri, nice and normal.

I don't know what SSMB stands for, but why do you think the SSMB analysis is so much different than the NOAA analysis?

[cogitator]

After looking at the map it was way wrong about Kansas & Missouri.

Your comment isn't specific. How was it wrong?

(Note that the map isn't for April, it's for November 2001-April 2002).

[balrog666]

(Note that the map isn't for April, it's for November 2001-April 2002).

And why average over 6 months at all? Is this how they presented the data in the past? Just show us the data for each month and let us draw our own conclusions.

We had a very mild winter in Florida, but this spring was brutally cold (comparitively speaking).

[cogitator]

And why average over 6 months at all? Is this how they presented the data in the past? Just show us the data for each month and let us draw our own conclusions.

I don't know. I would have preferred to see a map of the April conditions, too. Wait for my next post.

[Intimidator]

Yeah, and May will go down as the second coldest month, hehehehe

[cogitator]

Climate of 2002: April in Historical Perspective

That's better. They are clearly trying to tell a story with their lead figure, which is barely discussed in the press release.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Its funny how we can set record new highs every year and it doesn't get any warmer.

[balrog666]

That April 2002 map is either total crap or highlights a truely flawed data collection methodology. Ask anyone in Florida with a swimming pool about how the average temperature has been this year compared to previous years.

[cogitator]

Its funny how we can set record new highs every year and it doesn't get any warmer.

Well I don't know about where you live, but I'd prefer at least a bit of ice and snow in the winter. This past winter was downright weird (and the lack of snowpack is seriously affecting reservoir levels and groundwater resources).

[cogitator]

That April 2002 map is either total crap or highlights a truely flawed data collection methodology.

I was in the Tampa area near the end of April and a lot of "natives" were commenting that it was particularly hot and humid for that time of the spring. As somebody else pointed out, Florida covers a lot of area and a couple of climate zones. If the Panhandle and northern Florida were warmer than usual, it could compensate for cooler than normal conditions elsewhere.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

I live in Illinois, just north of Chicago. We've had rain every week for over a month. Last night it was 33 degrees. Plus we've had record cold days several times in the last couple years. Last summer it was 45 degrees in July. The coldest day on record in Illinois was set in the winter of '99-'00, minus 37 degrees.

I vote for global warming.

[longshadow]

What they don't tell is that April's data will likely be offset by colder-than-average months later on...... like MAY, which so far has been about 10 degrees below average in the North East, and featured snow across much of Northern NE a few days ago (later than I have EVER seen) and hard frost warnings for several subsequent days in a row.

[Leto]

It's interesting that they use 1880 as the starting point for their caculation of the average mean temperature. The ereption in 1883 caused the year without a summer and significently lowered global temps for a couple of years. I wonder how big a difference there would have been if they has used say 1902 as a starting point and measured the last century.

BTW I'd really like to see the comparison for the area at the start of the last mellinium. When Vikings were growing grapes in New Brunswick Canada (aka Vinland. I'm guessing the avg temps were much higher than were're seeing now.