Was 2023 the hottest summer on record? The answer: yes. While tropical-like weather conditions are no stranger to the United States, late August and the first week of September brought record-breaking temperatures to several parts of the country.
Typically, the U.S. experiences average temperatures in the 80s and 90s through the months of July and August. The average temperature was 75.7 degrees Fahrenheit in July and 74.4 degrees in August, according to a national climate report. This year, the average daytime temperature was recorded at a whopping 87.5 degrees, the third hottest on record. The Northeast, Southern Plains, Upper Midwest, and the Gulf of Mexico all recorded above-average temperatures from June to August, while the Southeast and Central Plains saw below-average temperatures. Residents are advised to prepare their ac units for the hot weather. This is a great time fix any hvac issues especially if your ac smells bad or has mechanical damage. If you’re in need of technicians specializes in AC Repair Tampa, FL, you may contact companies like Tampa AC Services Inc.
In the fourth week of August and the first few days of September, a heat wave caused by high pressure blazed the Central U.S., fueled by winds pushing hot air from the West. Temperatures reached upwards of 100 degrees in the Southeast and Central U.S., with Louisiana facing the highest. On September 6, Lancaster County’s temperatures soared to 96 degrees Fahrenheit. On Labor Day, a high temperature of 97 degrees was recorded. This not only broke the previous record set in 1929, but it also was the hottest day of the year. The day after saw no give, with the heat wave continuing at 95 degrees, also breaking a previous record. As for the residents all over area, there’s no perfect time than right now to improve their homes’ indoor air quality to counter this heat.
According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, above-average temperatures are set to continue across the U.S. in the month of September. To many, this may just seem like another hot beginning to the fall, but it raises another question: will 2024 be the hottest summer on record, just a year after this summer was our hottest?
First-year Claire Book is a Contributing Writer. Her email is cbook@fandm.edu.