Alaska Hits the 90s, But Atlanta and St. Louis are Still Waiting: How Did That Happen?

Linda Lam
Published: June 6,2015




 

The late-spring weather pattern set the table for an odd temperature flip-flop this year, where cities that typically hit 90 by now are still waiting for the heat.
This has changed as the weather pattern modified during the first week of June. This change has allowed drier and warmer conditions to develop in the Plains and parts of the South, while rain and below-average temperatures developed in parts of the East.
Below we take a look at several areas where 90-degree temperatures have been noticeably absent this year. We'll also spotlight surprising cities that have been feeling the heat already.

Missing the 90’s

No, we are not talking about the 1990’s, but instead temperatures in the 90s. The reason for the lack of high heat has been a southward dip in the jet stream, along with a series of disturbances that brought record rainfall to the southern Plains.
The good news is an upper-level ridge of high pressure moved into the region. The bad news is the recent rain and increased sunshine added moisture to the airmass, sending "feels like" temperatures into the mid-to-upper 90s.

Dallas did not hit 90 degrees in 2015 until Wednesday, June 3 -- typically, that happens around April 19. The last time it had it the 90 mark there was October 10, 2014, which is the longest stretch between 90 degree days since the 1996-97 cool season.
(MORE: Record Rainfall in May)
Oklahoma City reached 90 for the first time this year on Thursday, June 4. Typically, OKC would have marked 90 at least three times by the start of June. In fact, temperatures for the entire month of May were below average. It looks like with the area of high pressure building into the southern Plains the thermometer may hit 90 in the Sooner State capital a few more times through the weekend.
St. Louis usually sees its first 90 degree day on May 21, but the highest temperatures have only risen to 87 -- twice -- still shy of 90.  Last year the first 90 was on June 1, but the pattern may keep St. Louis out of the more intense heat through mid-June, which will give the electric bills a nice break. There is a chance, however, the Gateway to the West may see temperatures near 90 degrees the first weekend of June.
(MAPS: 10-day Forecast)
This is the third year in a row that Memphis has been behind on hitting the 90-degree mark. Typically, the city hits 90 by May 24, but the first 90 of the year was not reached until June 5 when the thermometer climbed to 91 degrees. June 2013 and June 2014 both saw the high heat get a late start, too, with 90s holding back until June 10 and June 7, respectively.
The lack of 90s extends into parts of the Southeast, whereAtlanta has not yet officially hit 90 degrees. "Hotlanta" has been close, though, hitting 89 in May. Even with the lack of 90s the average temperature for May was 3 degrees above average. Atlanta may finally hit 90 degrees this weekend or early next week.

Here Are the 90's

So where have the 90s been hiding? You might be surprised.
On May 23, Alaska set a new record for the earliest 90 degree day in the year when the high in Eagle hit 91. Temperatures for May overall were in the top five warmest on record for many locations, and you can blame an area of high pressure that parked over the region. Changes have already happened after an Arctic cold front earlier this week crashed temperatures into the 20s and 30s, and even wrung out snow in a few spots.
(MORE: 90s to Snow in Alaska)
Parts of Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas saw 90s even earlier than that, as a freakishly hot air mass sent temperatures as high as 94 degrees on March 16, making it the hottest winter day ever recorded in several Plains cities.
Even parts of the Pacific Northwest may see their first 90 before some of the cities mentioned above. This includes Portland, Oregon, where 90s are possible this weekend. Portland typically sees its first 90 of the season around June 15. Interior sections of Washington state could even reach the 100s by Sunday.
Earlier we talked about Memphis staying cool, but that's not the case in Tennessee's second largest city. Nashville reached 90 degrees on May 8 and 92 on May 10, which is about three weeks sooner than average.

Charlotte, North Carolina, saw its first 90-degree day on May 11, about a week before average. It was a warm May for the area, with temperatures for the month 4.3 degrees above average.
(MAPS: Weekly Planner)
The Mid-Atlantic has seen summer-like conditions, bringing the heat to Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia. Washington, D.C. hit 90 seven times during May, the first arriving May 12. All that heat contributed to the warmest May on record in the Nation's Capital. Philadelphia saw marked warmth as well. The average temperature for the month was 6.2 degrees above average, establishing May 2015 as the second-warmest May in the books.
(MORE: Record Warm May)
Changes have taken place in the Mid-Atlantic to start June as a stalled front brought rain and cooler temperatures. An upper-level low remained over the Southeast for much of the first week of June, which brought showers and thunderstorms, along with cooler temperatures to the region.
MORE: Southern Plains Flooding and Severe, May 2015 (PHOTOS)