2014 3rd warmest globally, Minnesota coolest on earth
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's monthly State of the Climate report is in, and it's an eye opener.
June came in as the hottest June on record globally. That marks two consecutive hottest months on record globally after May also came in as the hottest on record.
The recent hot streak now places 2014 as the 3rd warmest year on record globally with the first half of 2014 now in the books. Here are the warm highlights from NOAA.
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Global Highlights
The combined average temperature over global land and ocean surfaces for June 2014 was the highest on record for the month, at 0.72°C (1.30°F) above the 20th century average of 15.5°C (59.9°F).
The global land surface temperature was 0.95°C (1.71°F) above the 20th century average of 13.3°C (55.9°F), the seventh highest for June on record.
For the ocean, the June global sea surface temperature was 0.64°C (1.15°F) above the 20th century average of 16.4°C (61.5°F), the highest for June on record and the highest departure from average for any month.
The combined global land and ocean average surface temperature for the January–June period (year-to-date) was 0.67°C (1.21°F) above the 20th century average of 13.5°C (56.3°F), tying with 2002 as the third warmest such period on record.
Minnesota: coolest place on earth so far in 2014
You might be forgiven for wondering how it could be the third warmest year on record globally if you live in Minnesota.
Temperatures here are running a good 2 to 4 degrees cooler than average in Minnesota so far this year. In fact, the Upper Midwest is the coolest place on earth relative to average so far this year.
Check out the map from NOAA. While the vast majority of the planet is bathed in red so far in 2014, Minnesota is the epicenter for cool blue hues.
So why is Minnesota so cool this year? Who knows is probably the most honest answer.
El Nino has yet to unfold in the tropical Pacific. So we can't blame El Nino for cool summer weather. For some reason the polar vortex has been a semi-persistent feature over the Upper Midwest this year.
It make a great point though. You can't see the whole planet from Minnesota, and you can't make assumptions on global climate trends based on what you can see from your living room window.
2014: A shot at the warmest year on record?
The latest El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) trends from the tropical Pacific show a slow developing El Nino that may not be as strong as previously expected.
If a moderate El Nino does develop, that could boost global temps in the second half of 2014. There is a chance that 2014 may challenge 2005 and 2010 for the hottest years on record globally.
Stay tuned.
