Earlier tonight on our conference chats, J.B. was marvelling at some of the high tempertaures today across the Northern Plains and out in Death Valley.
He pointed out that it was 117F in Pierre, South Dakota. A quick check revealed that this sizzling high was just three degrees short of the all time record high for the state, which was 120F set on July 5 1936 in Gann Valley.
It's not often you see a state record high threatened like that.
In addition, J.B. pointed out that the high of 125F in Death Valley today was just 9 degrees short of the all time record high for the United States. It was 134F in Death Valley on July 10, 1913. The 134F reading at Greenland Ranch - Death Valley is questioned by some experts as you see below. Given the information below, Saturday's high may have been even closer to the all time U.S. record.
ON JULY 16, 2002: Death Valley/Furnace Creek, California reached 127F (the morning low was 81F). This is only one degree lower than its record high of 128F since 1913. (Death Valley/Greenland Ranch had five maximums ranging from 129F to 134F in July, 1913, but these extremely high observations are not supported by the maximums at surrounding stations during the same period.)
Trustworthy readings of 128F were attained in Death Valley in July, 1972, and in June, 1994. In June, 1994, a park ranger measured 131F at Badwater in Death Valley with a sling psychrometer. Badwater is typically a few degrees hotter than Furnace Creek on summer afternoons.
Other memorable readings from this very hot day: 126 at Bullhead City AZ (just two degrees short of the all-time Arizona record of 128F). Las Vegas, NV reached 116F, just one degree shy of its all-time maximum of 117F. The record temps were the result of an unusually strong upper-level high pressure system that was sprawling over the Southwest.
He pointed out that it was 117F in Pierre, South Dakota. A quick check revealed that this sizzling high was just three degrees short of the all time record high for the state, which was 120F set on July 5 1936 in Gann Valley.
It's not often you see a state record high threatened like that.
In addition, J.B. pointed out that the high of 125F in Death Valley today was just 9 degrees short of the all time record high for the United States. It was 134F in Death Valley on July 10, 1913. The 134F reading at Greenland Ranch - Death Valley is questioned by some experts as you see below. Given the information below, Saturday's high may have been even closer to the all time U.S. record.
ON JULY 16, 2002: Death Valley/Furnace Creek, California reached 127F (the morning low was 81F). This is only one degree lower than its record high of 128F since 1913. (Death Valley/Greenland Ranch had five maximums ranging from 129F to 134F in July, 1913, but these extremely high observations are not supported by the maximums at surrounding stations during the same period.)
Trustworthy readings of 128F were attained in Death Valley in July, 1972, and in June, 1994. In June, 1994, a park ranger measured 131F at Badwater in Death Valley with a sling psychrometer. Badwater is typically a few degrees hotter than Furnace Creek on summer afternoons.
Other memorable readings from this very hot day: 126 at Bullhead City AZ (just two degrees short of the all-time Arizona record of 128F). Las Vegas, NV reached 116F, just one degree shy of its all-time maximum of 117F. The record temps were the result of an unusually strong upper-level high pressure system that was sprawling over the Southwest.
on July 15, 2006, 11:03 pm
...POSSIBLE ALL TIME RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE TIED FOR THE STATE OF
SOUTH DAKOTA...
A HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 120 DEGREES WAS RECORDED AT A NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE COOPERATIVE WEATHER SITE THIS AFTERNOON...LOCATED 8 MILES
WEST-NORTHWEST OF USTA. IF THIS TEMPERATURE IS OFFICIALLY
VERIFIED...IT WILL TIE THE ALL TIME RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE FOR THE
STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA. ON JULY 5 1936...GANN VALLEY SET THE RECORD
OF 120 DEGREES.
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