Forecasters Predict Record-Breaking Temperatures in Much of US for Summer 2024

An exceptionally hot summer has been forecasted for most of the United States this year by weather forecasters. Warmer-than-average temperatures are anticipated from June through August. A summer forecast map released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on April 18 shows most of the United States bathed in shades of red or orange.

According to NOAA, the Northeast and major parts of the West will likely face the brunt of the heatwave, which some forecasters believe could be one of the hottest summers on record.

Previous record-breaking temperatures were noted in 1936 and more recently in 2021. According to Todd Crawford, a forecaster with the Weather Company, these records could be matched or even surpassed this year.

The Weather Company also supports NOAA’s forecasts and has announced that much of summer 2024 could see extended periods of warmer-than-average conditions.

Nevertheless, not all forecasters share the same optimism for a hot summer. According to AccuWeather, temperatures are not looking as promising as projected by other weather service agencies.

AccuWeather, which is scheduled to release its summer forecast on May 1, has predicted a milder-than-average summer across much of the United States, with occasional hot spots in the Northeast and Southwest, as reported by USA Today.

NOAA meteorologist Anthony Artusa highlighted additional factors that could potentially influence elevated temperatures this summer. Mr. Artusa mentioned the diminishing El Niño, along with the emerging La Niña, as the main contributing factors for a warmer-than-average summer.

This also includes long-term trends of above-normal temperatures, particularly in the northeastern parts of the United States, as stated by Mr. Artusa.

El Niño and La Niña are natural weather phenomena known for warming sea surface temperatures that occur periodically, mainly in the central-east equatorial Pacific.

El Niño signifies the warmer-than-average phase, while La Niña represents the cooler cycle, according to the Met Office.

“These episodes alternate in an irregular inter-annual cycle called the ENSO cycle. ‘ENSO’ stands for ‘El Niño Southern Oscillation’, where ‘Southern Oscillation’ refers to atmospheric pressure variations between the east and west tropical Pacific that accompany both El Niño and La Niña episodes in the ocean.”

Both phenomena can also impact tropical storm developments in the North Atlantic.

On the other hand, individuals hoping for cooler-than-average summer temperatures may be disappointed, except for those residing in the far northern Plains, which could experience lower temperatures.

While a wet summer could still prevail along much of the Eastern Seaboard, the Plains and the Rockies can anticipate a drier-than-average summer. This, combined with the heat, may raise the risk of wildfires and drought in the western regions, according to Mr. Artusa.

From NTD News