Weather Extremes

There were 178 records broken for the week of Sept. 2. Seventy-seven new high temperature records were observed compared with only two record lows for that week. Most of the heat records fell in the Northeast and the Far West. Drought-stricken Southern California saw highs well over the 100-degree mark. It was 113 in Riverside on Sept. 2. Santa Ana soared to a record 105 and Long Beach, Calif., reached 103 on Sept. 3.

It was hot in the normally mild Upper Midwest as Green Bay, Wis., had a record high of 92 Wednesday. Extremes were also felt in the Northeast as highs climbed into the upper 80s to the mid-90s Friday and Saturday. On Sept. 2, readings soared into the 90s in Montana. It was a record 97 degrees in Helena on that date.

Record rainfall was seen in parts of the West and central U.S. last week. Yuma, Ariz., reported a record 1.79 inches of rain on Sept. 2. Quillayute, Wash., reported 1.27 inches of moisture on Sept. 3. Precipitation amounts were more impressive in Michigan, as Marquette received a record one-day total of 4.29 inches. On Saturday, Joplin, Mo., received an amazing 5.20 inches. Even Alaska experienced record rains as 3.01 inches fell in Valdez on Saturday.