July 2016 sets new global warmth record; severe weather risk Thursday
NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information announced today that July 2016 was the warmest month on record.
Per NOAA's report :
The July temperature across global land and ocean surfaces was 1.57°F above the 20th century average of 60.4°F. This was the highest for July in the 1880–2016 record, surpassing the previous record set in 2015 by 0.11°F, the previous record holder for the warmest month on record. July 2016 marks the 40th consecutive July with temperatures at least nominally above the 20th century average.
The July globally averaged land surface temperature was 1.98°F above the 20th century average of 57.8°F. This value tied with 1998 as the highest July global land temperature in the 1880–2016 record. This was the 24th consecutive July with global land temperatures above the 20th century average, with July 1992 being the last time July global land temperatures were below average.
The July globally averaged sea surface temperature was 1.42°F above the 20th century monthly average of 61.5°F—the highest global ocean temperature for July in the 1880–2016 record, surpassing the previous record set in 2015 by 0.07°F. July 2016 marks the 40th consecutive July with global ocean temperatures at least nominally above the 20th century average.
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Steamy Thursday, thunder chance increases
It will be a warm Thursday, with highs in the upper 80s to around 90 over southern and central Minnesota:
Northern Minnesota will see mostly lower 80s.
It will feel muggy over much of Minnesota, with dew point temperatures in the upper 60s to around 70.
An approaching cold front will ignite some thunderstorms Thursday morning, especially over northwestern Minnesota.
The National Weather Service Global Forecast System model shows thunderstorms spreading across Minnesota Thursday afternoon and Thursday evening:
The last few frames of the loop show another batch of showers and thunderstorms on Friday
Severe risk
The Storm Prediction Center of the National Weather Service has a slight risk of severe weather Thursday and Thursday night for most of central and southern Minnesota, including the Twin Cities metro area:
In the Twin Cities, the best chance of severe weather appears to be Thursday evening and Thursday night.
Cooler this weekend
Highs Friday will be in the 70s over most of Minnesota:
Highs in the 70s will also be common this weekend, with some 60s over parts of northern Minnesota.
That'll feel downright chilly, compared to our Thursday temps!