Meteorology

Global Temperatures and Precipitation

Listed in alphabetical order by city.

 

 

AVERAGE TEMPERATURE °

F(°C)

AVERAGE ANNUAL PRECIPI-

CITY

JAN

APR

JUL

OCT

TATION LEVELS IN INCHES (MM)

Ankara, Turkey

27 (-2)

49 (9)

69 (20)

52 (11)

13.6 (346)

Beijing, China

26 (-3)


57 (13)

79 (26)

57 (13)

25.1 (630)

Buenos Aires, Argentina

75 (23)

62 (16)

50 (10)

61 (16)

38.5 (970)

Cairo, Egypt

57 (13)

71 (21)

83 (28)

75 (23)

1(25)

Casablanca, Morocco

55 (12)

60 (15)

73 (22)

66 (18)

16.1 (400)

Christchurch, New Zealand

63 (17)

54 (12)

44 (6)

53 (11)

25.5 (640)

Colombo, Sri Lanka

81 (27)

84 (28)

83 (28)

82 (27)

87.8 (2,230)

Doha, Qatar

63 (17)

80 (26)

96 (35)

85 (29)

3.2 (80)

Hanoi, Vietnam

62 (16)

76 (24)

86 (30)

78 (25)

66.2 (1,682)

Havana, Cuba

71 (21)

76 (24)

82 (27)

78 (25)

48.2 (1,225)

Jerusalem, Israel

46 (7)

59 (15)

73 (22)

66 (18)

23 (580)

Johannesburg, South Africa

69 (20)

61 (16)

52 (11)

64 (17)

28.7 (720)

Kandahar, Afghanistan

44 (6)

68 (19)

89 (31)

64 (17)

7.4 (180)

Lima, Peru

74 (23)

71 (21)

64 (17)

65 (18)

0.3 (7.6)

Lisbon, Portugal

51 (10)

58 (14)

73 (22)

64 (17)

27.9 (708)

London, UK

39 (3)

46 (7)

62 (16)

51 (10)

29.7 (750)

Mbarara, Uganda

69 (20)

69 (20)

68 (20)

69 (20)

35.3 (890)

Moscow, Russia

16 (-8)

42 (5)

63 (17)

39 (3)

23.6 (590)

Nice, France

48 (8)

55 (12)

74 (23)

62 (16)

32.4 (820)

Nuuk, Greenland

17 (-8)

25 (-3)

45 (7)

31 (0)

23.9 (600)

Pala, Chad

77 (25)

87 (31)

77 (25)

78 (26)

40.4 (1,027)

Reykjavfk, Iceland

31 (0)

37 (2)

52 (11)

40 (4)

32.2 (810)

Rotterdam, The Netherlands

38 (3)

47 (8)

63 (17)

52 (11)

N/A

Santiago, Chile

70 (21)

59 (15)

47 (8)

58 (14)

13.4 (340)

Sao Paulo, Brazil

74 (23)

70(21)

63 (17)

69 (20)

53.2 (1,350)

South Pole, Antarctica

-16 (-26)

-69 (-56)

-74 (-58)

-58 (-50)

0.1 (2.5)

Sydney, Australia

72 (22)

65 (18)

53 (11)

64 (17)

44.5 (1,130)

Tokyo, Japan

42 (5)

57 (13)

77 (25)

64 (17)

60.2 (1,520)

Toronto, ON, Canada

21 (-6)

44 (6)

70(21)

48 (8)

30.1 (760)

Vilnius, Lithuania

23 (-5)

41 (5)

62 (17)

42 (6)

26.3 (669)

N/A: not available.

 

 

 

 

 

World Temperature Extremes

highest recorded air temperature

lowest recorded air temperature

REGION

PLACE (ELEVATION)

°F

°C

PLACE (ELEVATION)

°F

°C

Africa

Al-’Aziziyah, Libya (112 m [367 ft]; 13 Sep 1922)

136.0

57.8

Ifrane, Morocco (1,635 m [5,364 ft]; 11 Feb 1935)

-11.0 -

23.9

Antarctica

Vanda Station, Scott Coast (15 m [49 ft]; 5 Jan 1974)

59.0

15.0

Vostok, 78° 27″ S, 106° 52″ E (3,420 m [11,220 ft]; 21 Jul 1983)

-129.0 -

89.4

Asia

Tirat Zevi, Israel (-220 m [-722 ft]; 21 Jun 1942)

129.0

53.9

Oymyakon, Russia (806 m [2,625 ft]; 6 Feb 1933)

-90.0 -

67.8

Australia

Cloncurry, Queensland (190 m [622 ft]; 16 Jan 1889)

128.0

53.3

Charlotte Pass, New South Wales (1,755 m [5,758 ft]; 29 Jun 1994)

-9.4 -

23.0

Europe

Seville, Spain (8 m [26 ft]; 4 Aug 1881)

122.0

50.0

Ust-Shchuger, Russia (85 m [279 ft]; exact date unknown)

-67.0 -

55.0

North America

Greenland Ranch, Death Valley, California (-54 m [-178 ft]; 10 Jul 1913)

134.0

56.7

Snag, Yukon (646 m [2,120 ft]; 3 Feb 1947)

-81.4 -

63.0

South America

Rivadavia, Argentina (206 m [676 ft]; 11 Dec 1905)

120.0

48.9

Colonia, Sarmiento, Argentina (268 m [879 ft]; 1 Jun 1907)

-27.0 -

32.8

Tropical Pacific

Tuguegarao, Philippines (22 m [72 ft]; 29 Apr 1912)

108.0

42.2

Haleakala, Hawaii (2,972 m [9,750 ft]; 17 May 1979)

12.0 -

11.1

Normal Temperatures and Precipitation for Selected US Cities

Statistics from city airports, 1971-2000. Alphabetical by state.

 

 

MEAN TEMPERATURE (°F)

 

ANNUAL

CITY

JAN

APR

JUL

OCT

PRECIPITATION (IN)

Montgomery AL

46.6

64.3

81.8

65.4

54.77

Anchorage Ak

15.8

36.3

58.4

34.1

16.08

Phoenix AZ

54.2

70.2

92.8

74.6

8.29

Little Rock AR

40.1

61.4

82.4

63.3

50.93

Los Angeles CA

57.1

60.8

69.3

66.9

13.15

San Francisco CA

49.4

56.2

62.8

61.0

20.11

Denver CO

29.2

47.6

73.4

51.0

15.81

Hartford CT

25.7

48.9

73.7

51.9

46.16

Wilmington DE

31.5

52.4

76.6

55.8

42.81

Miami FL

68.1

75.7

83.7

78.8

58.53

Atlanta GA

42.7

61.6

80.0

62.8

50.20

Honolulu HI

73.0

75.6

80.8

80.2

18.29

Boise ID

30.2

50.6

74.7

52.8

12.19

Chicago IL1

22.0

47.8

73.3

52.1

36.27

Indianapolis IN

26.5

52.0

75.4

54.6

40.95

Des Moines IA

20.4

50.6

76.1

52.8

34.72

Topeka KS

27.2

54.5

78.4

56.6

35.64

Louisville KY

33.0

56.4

78.4

58.5

44.54

New Orleans LA

52.6

68.2

82.7

70.0

64.16

Portland ME

21.7

43.7

68.7

47.7

45.83

Baltimore MD

32.3

53.2

76.5

55.4

41.94

Boston MA

29.3

48.3

73.9

54.1

42.53

Detroit MI

24.5

48.1

73.5

51.9

32.89

Minneapolis MN

13.1

46.6

73.2

48.7

29.41

Jackson MS

45.0

63.4

81.4

64.4

55.95

St. Louis MO

29.6

56.6

80.2

58.3

38.75

Missoula MT

23.5

45.2

66.9

44.4

13.82

Lincoln NE

22.4

51.2

77.8

53.5

28.37

Las Vegas NV

47.0

66.0

91.2

68.7

4.49

Concord NH

20.1

44.6

70.0

47.8

37.60

Newark NJ

31.3

52.3

77.2

56.4

46.25

Albuquerque NM

35.7

55.6

78.5

57.3

9.47

New York NY2

31.8

50.1

74.8

56.5

42.46

Charlotte NC

41.7

60.9

80.3

61.7

43.51

Fargo ND

6.8

43.5

70.6

45.3

21.19

Cleveland OH

25.7

47.6

71.9

52.2

38.71

Tulsa OK

36.4

60.8

83.5

62.6

42.42

Portland OR

39.9

51.2

68.1

54.3

37.07

Philadelphia PA

32.3

53.1

77.6

57.2

42.05

Providence RI

28.7

48.6

73.3

53.0

46.45

Charleston SC

47.9

64.2

81.7

66.2

51.53

Rapid City SD

22.4

44.7

71.7

48.2

16.64

Memphis TN

39.9

62.1

82.5

63.8

54.65

Dallas TX3

44.1

65.0

85.0

67.2

34.73

Salt Lake City UT

29.2

50.0

77.0

52.5

16.50

Burlington VT

18.0

43.5

70.6

47.7

36.05

Richmond VA

36.4

57.1

77.9

58.3

43.91

Seattle WA

40.9

50.2

65.3

52.7

37.07

Charleston WV

33.4

54.3

73.9

55.1

44.05

Milwaukee WI

20.7

45.2

72.0

51.4

34.81

Casper WY

22.3

42.7

70.0

45.7

13.03

The oldest detected meteorite impact on Earth occurred 3.47 billion years ago. The meteor left geochemical evidence of its impact in southern Africa and Australia and is thought to have been about 20 km (12 mi) wide. It would have taken less than two seconds to pass through the atmosphere and slam into the surface of the planet, causing immense tsunamis and devastating erosion to the ocean floor and small continents.

Indexes

Wind Chill Index

The wind chill index is based upon a formula that determines how cold the atmosphere feels by combining the temperature and wind speed and applying other factors.

TEMPERATURE (°F)

CALM

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

-5

-10

-15

-20

-25

-30

5

36

31

25

19

13

7

1

-5

-11

-16

-22

-28

-34

-40

-46

10

34

27

21

15

9

3

-4

-10

-16

-22

-28

-35

-41

-47

-53

15

32

25

19

13

6

0

-7

-13

-19

-26

-32

-39

-45

-51

-58

20

30

24

17

11

4

-2

-9

-15

-22

-29

-35

-42

-48

-55

-61

WIND 25

29

23

16

9

3

-4

-11

-17

-24

-31

-37

-44

-51

-58

-64

SPEED 30

28

22

15

8

1

-5

-12

-19

-26

-33

-39

-46

-53

-60

-67

(MPH) 35

28

21

14

7

0

-7

-14

-21

-27

-34

-41

-48

-55

-62

-69

(MPH) 40

27

20

13

6

-1

-8

-15

-22

-29

-36

-43

-50

-57

-64

-71

45

26

19

12

5

-2

-9

-16

-23

-30

-37

-44

-51

-58

-65

-72

50

26

19

12

4

-3

-10

-17

-24

-31

-38

-45

-52

-60

-67

-74

55

25

18

11

4

-3

-11

-18

-25

-32

-39

-46

-54

-61

-69

-75

60

25

17

10

3

-4

-11

-19

-26

-33

-40

-48

-55

-62

-69

-76

Heat Index

The Heat Index shows the effects of the combination of heat and humidity. Apparent temperature is the temperature as it feels to your body.

AIR TEMPERATURE (°F)

relative

70

75

80

85

90

95

100

105

110

115

120

humidity

 

 

 

 

apparent temperature

 

 

 

 

0%

64

69

73

78

83

87

91

95

99

103

107

10%

65

70

75

80

85

90

95

100

105

111

116

20%

66

72

77

82

87

93

99

105

112

120

130

30%

67

73

78

84

90

96

104

113

123

135

148

40%

68

74

79

86

93

101

110

123

137

151

 

50%

69

75

81

88

96

107

120

135

150

 

 

60%

70

76

82

90

100

114

132

149

 

 

 

70%

70

77

85

93

106

124

144

 

 

 

 

80%

71

78

86

97

113

136

157

 

 

 

 

90%

71

79

88

102

122

150

170

 

 

 

 

100%

72

80

91

108

133

166

 

 

 

 

 

HEAT INDEX/HEAT DISORDERS

Heat Index

Possible heat disorders for people in higher risk groups*

130°F or higher

Heatstroke/sunstroke highly likely with continued exposure.

105°-130°F

Sunstroke, heat cramps, or heat exhaustion likely, and heatstroke possible with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity.

90°-105°F

Sunstroke, heat cramps, and heat exhaustion possible with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity.

80°-90°F

Fatigue possible with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity.

*Small children, the elderly, the chronically ill, those on certain medications or drugs (especially tranquilizers and anticholinergics), and persons with weight and alcohol problems are particularly susceptible to heat reactions, especially during heat waves in areas where moderate climate usually prevails.

Ultraviolet (UV) Index

The Ultraviolet (UV) Index predicts the intensity of the sun’s ultraviolet rays. It was developed by the National Weather Service and the uS Environmental Protection Agency to provide a daily forecast of the expected risk of overexposure to the sun. The Index is calculated on a next-day basis for dozens of cities across the US. Other local conditions, such as cloud cover, are taken into account in determining the UV Index number. UV Index numbers are: 0-2 (minimal exposure); 3-4 (lowexposure); 5-6 (moderate exposure); 7-9 (high exposure); and 10 and over (very high exposure).

Some simple precautions can be taken to reduce the risk ofsun-related illness: limit time in the sun between 10 am and 4 pm, when rays are generally the strongest; seek shade whenever possible; use a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15; wear a wide-brimmed hat and, if possible, tightly woven, full-length clothing; wear UV-protective sunglasses; avoid sunlamps and tanning salons; and watch for the UV Index daily. The UV Index should not be used by seriously sun-sensitive individuals, who should consult their doctors and take additional precautions regardless of the exposure level.

Hurricanes

Hurricane and Tornado Classifications

The Saffir/Simpson Hurricane Scale1 is used to rank tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic Ocean and the eastern North Pacific.

Category 1. Barometric pressure: 28.91 in or more; wind speed: 74-95 mph; storm surge: 4-5 ft; damage: minimal. Category 2. Barometric pressure: 28.50-28.91 in; wind speed: 96-110 mph; storm surge: 6-8 ft; damage: moderate. Category 3. Barometric pressure: 27.91-28.47 in; wind speed:111-130 mph; storm surge: 9-12 ft; damage:extensive. Category 4. Barometric pressure: 27.17-27.88 in; wind speed:131-155 mph; storm surge: 13-18 ft; damage: extreme. Category 5. Barometric pressure: less than 27.17 in; wind speed: 155 mph or more; storm surge: 18 ft or more; damage:catastrophic.

Tornado classifications.

Tornado intensity is commonly estimated after the fact by analyzing damaged structures and then correlating the damage with the wind speeds known to produce various degrees of damage. Tornadoes are assigned specific values on the Fujita Scale, or F-Scale, of tornado intensity established by meteorologist T. Theodore Fujita. Categories:

F0. Wind speed: 40-72 mph; damage:light. F1. Wind speed: 73-112 mph; damage:moderate. F2. Wind speed:113-157 mph; damage:consider-able.

F3. Wind speed: 158-206 mph; damage: severe. F4. Wind speed: 207-260 mph; damage:devastat-ing.

F5. Wind speed:261-318 mph; damage:incredible.

Hurricane Names

In 1953, the National Hurricane Center developed a list of given names for Atlantic tropical storms. This list is now maintained by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Until 1979 only women’s names were used, but since then men’s and women’s names have alternated. There are six listscurrently in rotation, so names can be reused every six years. Any country affected by a hurricane, however, can request its name be retired for ten years. Also, if a storm has been particularly destructive, the WMO can remove it from the list and replace it with a different name.

Deadliest Hurricanes in the US

Listed below, in order of number of deaths, are the 30 deadliest hurricanes to hit the US or its territories in 1851-2006. Hurricane names are given in parentheses after the location, when applicable. Note:ranking numbers 10 and 20 on the list are repeated due to the equal number of fatalities in separate hurricanes. Source: National Hurricane Center.

 

HURRICANE LOCATION

YEAR

CATEGORY

DEATHS

1

Galveston TX

1900

4

8,0001

2

NC; SC; Puerto Rico

1899

3

3,419

3

Lake Okeechobee,

1928

4

2,5002

 

Florida

 

 

 

4

Cheniere Caminada

1893

4

2,0003

 

LA

 

 

 

5

southeastern LA; MS;

2005

3

1,500

 

FL (Katrina)

 

 

 

6

Sea Islands, South

1893

3

1,0004

 

Carolina and Georgia

 

 

 

7

Puerto Rico; US Virgin

1867

3

811

 

Islands

 

 

 

8

Puerto Rico

1852

1

800

9

GA; SC

1881

2

700

10

Last Island, Louisiana

1856

4

6003

 

New Orleans LA

1915

4

6003

12

southwestern LA;

1957

4

416

 

northern TX (Audrey)

 

 

 

13

Florida Keys

1935

5

408

14

northeastern US

1944

3

3903

15

FL; MS; AL

1926

4

372

 

 

HURRICANE LOCATION

YEAR

CATEGORY

DEATHS

16

Grand Isle LA

1909

3

350

17

Puerto Rico (San Felipe)

1928

5

312

18

southern TX; Florida Keys

1919

4

287

19

Galveston TX

1915

4

275

20

MS; southeastern LA;

1969

5

256

 

VA (Camille) New England

1938

3

256

22

US Virgin Islands; Puerto Rico

1932

2

225

23

northeastern US (Diane)

1955

1

184

24

GA; SC; NC

1898

4

179

25

TX

1875

3

176

26

southeastern FL

1906

3

164

27

Indianola TX

1886

4

150

28

FL; MS; AL

1906

2

134

29

FL; GA; SC

1896

3

130

30

FL; northeastern US (Agnes)

1972

1

122

Listed below, in order of the highest monetary damage figures in constant 2006 US dollars, are the 30 deadliest hurricanes to hit the US or its territories in 1900-2006. Locations of the damaged areas are given in parentheses after the hurricane name. Note that figures for Hurricane Hugo reflect the damage done by that storm both on the US mainland and on its Caribbean territories.

 

 

 

 

ESTIMATED

DAMAGE

 

 

 

 

DAMAGE (US$),

IN CONSTANT

RANK

HURRICANE (LOCATION)

YEAR

CATEGORY

NOT ADJUSTED

2006 US DOLLARS

1

Katrina (LA; MS; FL)

2005

3

81,000,000,000

84,645,000,000

2

Andrew (southeastern FL;

1992

5

26,500,000,000

48,058,000,000

 

southeastern LA)

 

 

 

 

3

Wilma (southern Fl)

2005

3

20,600,000,000

21,527,000,000

4

Charley (southwestern FL)

2004

4

15,000,000,000

16,322,000,000

5

Ivan (northwestern FL; AL)

2004

3

14,200,000,000

15,541,000,000

6

Hugo (SC; US Virgin Islands; Puerto

1989

4

8,000,000,000

14,982,000,000

 

Rico)

 

 

 

 

7

Agnes (FL; northeastern US)

1972

1

2,100,000,000

12,424,000,000

8

Betsy (southeastern FL;

1965

3

1,420,500,000

11,883,000,000

 

southeastern LA)

 

 

 

 

9

Rita (LA; TX; FL)

2005

3

11,300,000,000

11,808,000,000

10

Camille (MS; southeastern LA; VA)

1969

5

1,420,700,000

9,781,000,000

11

Frances (FL)

2004

2

8,900,000,000

9,684,000,000

12

Diane (northeastern US)

1955

1

831,700,000

7,700,000,000

13

Jeanne (southeastern FL)

2004

3

6,900,000,000

7,508,000,000

14

Frederic (AL; MS)

1979

3

2,300,000,000

6,922,000,000

15

(New England)

1938

3

300,000,000

6,571,000,000

16

Allison (northern TX)

2001

TS1

5,000,000,000

6,414,000,000

17

Floyd (mid-Atlantic US;

1999

2

4,500,000,000

6,342,000,000

 

northeastern US)

 

 

 

 

18

(northeastern US)

1944

3

100,000,000

5,927,000,000

19

Fran (NC)

1996

3

3,200,000,000

4,979,000,000

20

Alicia (northern TX)

1983

3

2,000,000,000

4,825,000,000

21

Opal (northwestern FL; AL)

1995

3

3,000,000,000

4,758,000,000

22

Carol (northeastern US)

1954

3

460,000,000

4,345,000,000

23

Isabel (NC; VA)

2003

2

3,370,000,000

3,985,000,000

24

Juan (LA)

1985

1

1,500,000,000

3,417,000,000

25

Donna (FL; eastern US)

1960

4

386,500,000

3,345,000,000

26

Celia (southern TX)

1970

3

453,800,000

3,038,000,000

27

Bob (NC; northeastern US)

1991

2

1,500,000,000

2,853,000,000

28

Elena (MS; AL; northwestern FL)

1985

3

1,250,000,000

2,848,000,000

29

Carla (northern and central TX)

1961

4

300,000,000

2,604,000,000

30

Iniki (Kauai, Hawaii)

1992

3-4

1,800,000,000

2,563,000,000

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