Spring 2012 Seasonal Climate Summary - Hot and Dry...

...Record Breaking Temperatures this Spring Across the Region...

This spring (March, April, May) was a record breaker across much of the Midwest Average temperatures were above normal in nearly every city in the region, with some departures in excess of 8 degrees above normal. Many locations also broke all-time Spring temperature records. Check out the table and images below to see records broken from select cities across the region.

Average Spring Temperature Departure from Normal / Spring Precipitation Percent of Mean
Average Spring Temperature Departure from Normal / Spring Precipitation Percent of Mean
Location / Spring Average Temperature (F) / Rank / Record or Previous Record (F) / Year / Period of Record
Denver, CO / 54.3 / warmest / 53.3 / 1934 / 1872-2012
Concordia, KS / 61.4 / warmest / 57.2 / 1977 / 1885-2012
Dodge City, KS / 60.3 / warmest / 58.5 / 1977 / 1874-2012
Topeka, KS / 63.8 / warmest / 60.0 / 1977 / 1887-2012
Wichita, KS / 64.4 / warmest / 59.9 / 2006 / 1888-2012
Lincoln, NE / 59.3 / warmest / 56.1 / 1977 / 1887-2012
Omaha, NE / 60.6 / warmest / 58.4 / 1977 / 1871-2012
Columbia, MO / 63.0/ warmest / 59.0 / 1921 / 1890-2012
St. Louis, MO / 64.8 / warmest / 61.5 / 1991 / 1874-2012
Quincy, IL / 60.3 / warmest / 59.4 / 1921 / 1901-2012
Waterloo, IA / 55.6 / warmest / 52.7 / 1921
Des Moines, IA / 60.1 / warmest / 57.5 / 1977
Springfield, MO / 62.5 / warmest / 60.4 / 1963
Joplin, MO / 64.4 / warmest / 61.6 / 1946
Moline, IL / 57.3 / warmest / 56.4 / 1977
Record Spring Temperatures From around the Region *table from the High Plains Regional Climate Center

If your curious about the year to May 31st standings as far as temperatures are concerned, Kansas City is still experiencing the warmest year on record. This statement continues to hold true when looking at the past 12 months as well. Below are the top 10 warmest January-May in recorded history. as well as the top 10 average temperatures for the past 12 months.

1 69.2 5/31/2012
2 69.1 5/31/1939, 5/31/1954
4 68.8 5/31/1955
5 68.5 5/31/1964
6 68.4 5/31/1934
7 68.2 5/31/2006
8 68.0 5/31/1935
9 67.6 5/31/1932
10 67.4 5/31/2000 / 1 52.3 5/31/2012
2 51.0 5/31/2006
3 50.7 5/31/1946
4 50.5 5/31/1921
5 48.9 5/31/1938
6 48.8 5/31/1987
7 48.7 5/31/1964
8 48.4 5/31/2000
9 48.1 5/31/1933, 5/31/1934
Past 12 month Average Temperatures / January-May Average Temperatures

...Record Breaking Spring Temperatures in Kansas City, with Below Normal Precipitation During Spring 2012...

The average temperature at the Kansas City International Airport for the Spring 2012 season (March-May) was 62.3 degrees, which is 7.8 degrees ABOVE the 30-year average. Based on the longer term historical 122 year record from various Kansas City observation points, Spring 2012 was the WARMEST Spring season on record. The average high temperature for the season was 73.0 degrees, which is 7.8 degrees above normal, while the average low temperature was 51.6 degrees, which is 7.7 degrees above normal. The highest temperature of season was 92 degrees recorded on April 25rd, and the lowest temperature of 24 degrees occurred on March 4th and 5th. The last sub-freezing day of the 2011-2012 cold season occurred on March 10th, which is the earliest date in recorded history.

The total precipitation at the Kansas City International Airport for the Spring 2012 season (March-May) was 7.49 inches, which is 3.81 inches below the 30-year average. This ranks Spring 2012 as the 23rd driest spring season in the longer term 122 year record in Kansas City. Snowfall was measured at 0.8 inches, which is 2.6 inches below the 30-year average of 3.4 inches for the Spring season.

Kansas City Daily Weather Plot

RECORDS TIED/BROKEN:

1.) MARCH 14, 2012: A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 82 DEGREES WAS SET AT KANSAS CITY INTERNATIONAL

2.) MARCH 16, 2012: A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 82 DEGREES WAS SET AT KANSAS CITY INTERNATIONAL

3.) MARCH 16, 2012: A RECORD WARM MINIMUM OF 61 DEGREES WAS RECORDED AT THE KANSAS CITY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

4.) MARCH 17, 2012: A RECORD WARM MINIMUM OF 64 DEGREES WAS RECORDED AT THE KANSAS CITY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

5.) APRIL 25, 2012: THE HIGH TEMPERATURE REACHED 92 DEGREES THIS AFTERNOON AT THE KANSAS CITY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

6.) MAY 26, 2012: A RECORD WARM MINIMUM OF 75 DEGREES WAS RECORDED AT THE KANSAS CITY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

7.) MAY 27, 2012: A RECORD WARM MINIMUM OF 73 DEGREES WAS RECORDED AT THE KANSAS CITY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

8.) SEASONAL RECORD: RECORD AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 62.3 DEGREES BROKE THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 59.4 DEGREES IN 1946

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/eax/?n=clm_spr_may2012