Michigan Wx Michigan Wx

Weather World Records – Pt 1

Posted on by MichaelV (Otsego)

If you are a weather observer with a personal weather station, the NWS claims temperature sensors should be 6 feet off the ground – wind sensors should be set to 30 feet.  The WMO  (World Meteorological Organization) states 4.9 feet for temp sensors.

Temperatures measured directly on the ground may exceed air temperatures by 30 to 50 °C (54 to 90 °F).  The highest natural ground surface temperature ever recorded was 93.9 °C (201.0 °F) at Furnace Creek, Death Valley, California, United States on 15 July 1972.  In recent years a ground temperature of 84 °C (183.2 °F) has been recorded in Port Sudan, Sudan.  The theoretical maximum possible ground surface temperature has been estimated to be between 90 and 100 °C (194 and 212 °F) for dry, darkish soils of low thermal conductivity.  Definitely hot enough to fry an egg or a pork chop…

Satellite measurements of ground temperature taken between 2003 and 2009, taken with the MODIS infrared spectroradiometer on the Aqua satellite, found a maximum temperature of 70.7 °C (159.3 °F), which was recorded in 2005 in the Lut Desert, Iran. The Lut Desert was also found to have the highest maximum temperature in 5 of the 7 years measured (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009). These measurements reflect averages over a large region and so are lower than the maximum point surface temperature.

Satellite measurements of the surface temperature of Antarctica, taken between 1982 and 2013, found a coldest temperature of −93.2 °C (−135.8 °F) on 10 August 2010, at 81.8°S 59.3°E. Although this is not comparable to an air temperature, it is believed that the air temperature at this location would have been lower than the official record lowest air temperature of −89.2 °C (−128.6 °F).

The highest air temperature ever recorded was 56.7 °C (134.1 °F) on 10 July 1913 in Furnace Creek (Greenland Ranch), California, United States, but the validity of this record is challenged as possible problems with the reading have since been discovered. Christopher C. Burt, a weather historian writing for Weather Underground, believes that the 1913 Death Valley reading is “a myth”, and is at least 2.2 or 2.8 °C (4 or 5 °F) too high.  Burt proposes that the highest reliably recorded temperature on Earth could be at Death Valley, but is instead 54.0 °C (129.2 °F) recorded on 30 June 2013.  This alleged record has since been tied twice by readings in Kuwait and Iran. The WMO has stated they stand by the 1913 record pending any future investigations.

The former highest official temperature on Earth (held for 90 years by ‘Aziziya, Libya) was reassessed in July 2012 by the WMO which published a report that invalidated the record.  There have been other unconfirmed reports of high temperatures, with readings as high as 66.8 °C (152.2 °F) in the Flaming Mountains of China in 2008.  However, these temperatures have never been confirmed, and are currently considered to have been recorder’s errors,  thus not being recognized as world records.

Other Temperature Records

  • Fastest temperature drop: 27.2 °C (49 °F) in 5 minutes; Rapid City, South Dakota, 10 January 1911.
  • Coldest summer (month of July in the Northern Hemisphere): −33 °C (−27.4 °F) degrees; Summit Camp, Greenland on 4 July 2017.

We are 20 degrees colder this morning than yesterday morning at this time (7am) with some light snow falling – we have about half an inch on the ground.  We reached 47° yesterday.  We will spend a couple days in the deep freeze with light snow off and on with minor accumulations then it will warm back up above freezing Thursday and Friday.  This week we will remain cloudy with another system moving in for the weekend which will be a rain/snow event.

 

 

Category: Michigan Weather Forecast

27 thoughts on “Weather World Records – Pt 1”

  1. Wow GFS MODEL is showing a Whopper of a snow storm for Michigan next Tuesday. .One thing that’s for sure we are in stormy Winter pattern..Its 19* degrees outside January cold stay warm …INDY

  3. We got about 4″ of snow here and it is still snowing. Nice winter day. Christmas lights look pretty with the snow.

  5. 2 inches of snow on the ground out at thee YARDofBRICKS NE of GR …We officially sit at 13 inches of snow for the young winter season only 94 more to go …Great White Hype …..INDY …

  7. While not much. There is just under 2″ of snow on the ground here at this time with a few flakes still falling and a temperature here of 25°
    Slim

  9. What a GREAT winter day! We have already seen an inch of snow are getting pounded with snow as we speak! Can you say an overproducer baby? Conditions up in snow country are going to be incredible this weekend! Winter is the best season ever!

  10. With yesterdays 0.42” of rain fall Grand Rapids total for the year 2019 is now at 48.60” and that is just 0.20” below the record of 48.80” set in 2008. At this time 2019 is the 2nd wettest year of record here at Grand Rapids.
    Slim

    1. Might as well set a new record being this close, but man I hope the rain eases up in the next year. The devastation I’ve witnessed up and down the lakeshore is reaching critical levels. The state and county parks are just being destroyed, not to mention all the houses and cottages.

      1. The water level of the great lakes have their ups and downs. As for lake front property owners that is one of the issues they have for having the privilege of living at the lake shore. There will come a time when the lake levels are down and they will be complaining on not having enough water to dock their boats. Seen it happen in 1964.
        Slim

  11. We had a quick inch come down earlier this morning, but the rest of the time it has just been light flurries that don’t really amount to anything. Certainly nothing like the lake effect we’ve received many times in the past. Maybe a inch and a half total on the ground.

    1. I have a buddy who works Zeland sent me some pictures of the snow looks over 2-3 inches and still snowing … Interesting I would have to say…INDY ..

  12. Just took a snow fall reading and here at my house it is just over a half inch. With snow falling the current temperature is 25.
    Slim

  15. Light snow falling out at thee YARDofBRICKS NE of GR with a temp of 24* degrees bundle up going outside today feels like mid January cold…. Let it snow let it snow let it snow….Have a Super but warm Tuesday….INDY …

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