CONTACT: Patricia Viets, NOAA FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Stephanie Kenitzer, NOAA 9/10/98
August 1998 was the warmest August on record globally, the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced today. The average global temperature (land and sea) for the month was 61.4 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 1.3 degrees above the long term mean of 60.1 degrees for August. August 1998 broke the previous record of 61.1 degrees set in 1997.
For the year to date, from January through August, the average global temperature of 58.5 degrees Fahrenheit was also 1.3 degrees above the long term mean of 57.2. The long term mean is based on data from 1880 to 1997.
During August, surface warmth was evident over much of the globe, with cool areas in Europe, Alaska, Siberia, Bangladesh, the South Atlantic, and the Central pacific. In the Central Pacific, sea surface temperatures were below normal, commonly referred to as La Nina, although ocean temperatures off the northwest South American Coast remained warm.
Year-to-Date U.S. Temperatures and Precipitation
Nationally, January through August has been the fifth wettest and fourth warmest on record. For the year to date, the nation has had 22.77 inches of precipitation. The normal for the period is 20.05 inches. The wettest January through August was in 1979, with 23.34 inches of precipitation.
The year 1934 was the warmest January through August with a record 56.9 degrees. In 1998, the temperature for the period was 56.2 degrees. The normal for January through August is 54,3 degrees.
U.S, Regional Temperatures and Precipitation
Regionally, in the West it was the wettest January through August on record. The West had 20.88 inches of precipitation, compared with a normal of 10.33 inches. Other regions in the upper ten percent of the wettest years on record were the Northeast, East, North Central, Central, and the Northwest.
In the Northeast, it was the warmest January through August on record, with an average temperature of 50.9 degrees. The normal for the region is 47,3 degrees. Other regions in the upper ten percent of all years on record were the East North Central, Central, South, and Northwest.
NOAA's National Climatic Data Center is the world's largest active archive of weather data. The preliminary temperature and precipitation rankings are available from the center by calling: 828-271-4800 or on the World Wide Web at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/ol/documentlibrary/cvb.html Historical precipitation and temperature ranking maps are also available on the Internet at: http://nic.fb4.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/regional_monitoring/usa.html
Information for the year to date can be found at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/ol/climate/research/1998/aug/aug98.html NOAA's Outlook
The outlook for the fall and winter 1998-99 includes periods with enhanced probabilities of below normal precipitation in the southwest, central plains, and southeastern United States, with above normal precipitation in the northwest. Conditions are expected to be considerably more variable than the relatively stable and warmer than normal conditions experienced last winter. This outlook is consistent with La Nina conditions, which are expected to continue developing in the central Pacific.
NOAA works closely with the academic and science communities on climate- related research projects to improve forecasting techniques. NOAA's Climate Prediction Center monitors, analyzes and predicts climate events ranging from weeks to seasons for the nation. NOAA also operates the network of data buoys and satellites that provide vital information about the ocean waters, and initiates research projects to improve future climate forecasts, The long lead climate outlooks are available on the Internet at: http://nic.fb4.noaa.gov
Note to editors: U.S. climate regions are:
Northeast Region: ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ, DE, PA, MD
Southeast Region: VA, NC, SC, GA, AL, FL
East-North Central Region: WI, IA, MN, Ml
Central Region: MO, IL, IN, OH, WV, KY TN
South Region: KS, OK, TX, AR, LA, MS
West-North Central Region: MT, WY, ND, SD, NE
Southwest Region: UT, CO, AZ, NM
Northwest Region: WA, OR, ID
West Region: CA, NV