It has been one hot summer !

We are experiencing the hottest spring in Austin history–remember summer doesn’t begin until Tuesday! So, are you wondering how this incredibly hot start to our summer season stacks up with Austin’s hottest summers ever?
So was I, and you’re not going to like what I found.

Our hottest summer ever was in 2009. I know you remember it–68 days of triple digit heat–only one day shy of the all-time record. But, by this time in June, 2009, we had only experienced four 100 degree days. Today will be our 13th in 2011! Can you believe our average number of 100 degree days for an entire year is just 12?
One year earlier, the summer of 2008 had tied 1998 as our hottest on record. On June 17, 2008 we also reached our 13th 100 degree day, but none were hotter than 102 degrees. This month we’ve already recorded four 103 degree days and one 104 degree high temperature. And, we’re forecasting record breaking temperatures of 104-105 degrees through Sunday!
Bottom line–we may be looking at something historic. We have tied or broken record high temperatures for 12 of the last 23 days. I could easily see this summer becoming our hottest ever, which would make our top 3 hottest summers since the 1850s, occurring between 2008 and 2011! Global warming is certainly not good for Texas!
The good news? I may be completely wrong. A pattern change will be taking place toward the middle of next week, which should transport in some tropical moisture, decreasing temperatures a few degrees, and spreading a few showers and thunderstorms across the area.
Should that pattern hold for awhile, a more favorable environment for some tropical rains, or even a tropical cyclone could develop for Texas. Keep your fingers crossed!

As reported by Jim Spencer