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Posted on Mon, Aug 1, 2011 : 2:53 p.m.

Heat wave makes July the hottest on record in Ann Arbor

By Cindy Heflin

We already knew July was hot, but now the statistics have confirmed it as a record breaker.

July was the hottest on record in the Ann Arbor area since statistics began being compiled in 1880, said University of Michigan weather observer Dennis Kahlbaum.

072411_weather.jpg

Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com

The average temperature for the month was 78.6, breaking the previous record of 77.6 set in 1955 in Ann Arbor. The normal average temperature for the month is 72.7, Kahlbaum said.

The month also had 15 days at 90 degrees or above, three times as many as normal, Kahlbaum said.

Kahlbaum said many other communities in Michigan also had record-setting heat in July.

June also was hotter than normal, with an average temperature of 70.2, compared to the normal average temperature of 68.9, Kahlbaum said.

July was also dry for most of the month, although heavy rains at the end of the month caused minor flooding. Local rain totals varied widely, making it difficult to draw conclusions about whether the month as a whole was drier then normal, Kahlbaum said.

Whether the summer is a record-breaking one for heat will depend on what happens in August. But so far, forecasters don't expect the month to be a record setter.

The Climate Prediction Center of the National Weather Service forecasts near normal temperature and precipitation for the month, Kahlbaum said.

Today's high so far is 90, with a temperature of up to 92 forecast, according to the National Weather Service.

Highs for the rest of the week will top 90 in Tuesday, then drop into the mid-80s through Friday.

Comments

Macabre Sunset

Mon, Aug 1, 2011 : 11:24 p.m.

I just feel bad for poor sweaty old guy at the Art Fair. That picture has been on, what, 45 stories already?

Tru2Blu76

Mon, Aug 1, 2011 : 8:19 p.m.

"But so far, it (Summer 2011) doesn't look like a record setter." BS! Doesn't matter whether the whole summer will set a record, the extremes are the important aspect and "above normal" happens to be THE BASIS for talking about climate change. Unless we get the next 30 days of August well UNDER normal, this will be a summer of above normal temperatures (both day and night time). At 3:55 PM, the temp was 91 º F with a Heat Index of 98º. Tomorrow is forecast to be nearly the same, so August just might "surprise" people thinking this month won't be hot - hotter than normal. Ms. Heflin, please take note of this. Generally, unless it's a science oriented journalist doing the work, this kind of article is just gossip about hot spells rather than informing readers.

Cindy Heflin

Mon, Aug 1, 2011 : 9:41 p.m.

Tru2Blu76: I have rephrased the sentence to clarify that it addresses the prediction for the month of August.

Subroutine

Mon, Aug 1, 2011 : 8:48 p.m.

The fact that you would reference "heat index" implies that you sir are not interested in science either. Heat Index is just a way to sensationalize the weather report, and has little basis in real science. There are way too many variables to account for in order for the local weatherman to tell me how hot I "feel" at any given time. And pretty much all TV, Print and blog news is "gossip" to some degree.

Bertha Venation

Mon, Aug 1, 2011 : 7:01 p.m.

"Hot town. Summer in the city. Back 'a' my neck gettin' dirty and gritty."