Just How Warm Has It Been? Summer 2012

So exactly how hot has it been?

We all know that it has been a warm summer thus far across much of the Northern Plains, but how does this year, so far, compare to previous years? Below is a table that shows what the average temperature has been so far this year (January 1 through July 15) and the associated record.

Site	1/1/12-7/15/12 average temp (ranking)	Record average temp, or next closest year
Aberdeen	47.0 degrees (2)	47.2 degrees; 1931
Mobridge	46.9 degrees (2)	47.6 degrees; 2006
Pierre	49.6 degrees (1)	49.1 degrees; 1981
Watertown	46.5 degrees (2)	47.6 degrees; 1987
Sisseton	47.2 degrees (1)	44.2 degrees; 2006
Wheaton	45.7 degrees (1)	45.1 degrees; 1990
Murdo	51.2 degrees (1)	49.7 degrees; 1976

Additionally, we are in what is typically the warmest time of the year. Below is a table that shows what the normal average temperature is through July 15^th, what the current average temperature is through the 15^th, and what the record average temperature is through the 15^th.

Site	Normal Average Temp (7/1 through 7/15)	Current Average Temp (departure from normal)	Record Average Temp (7/1 through 7/15)
Aberdeen	70.8 degrees	77.3 degrees (+6.5)	87.3 degrees (1936)
Mobridge	71.9 degrees	77.7 degrees (+5.8)	89.4 degrees (1936)
Pierre	74.4 degrees	79.8 degrees (+5.4)	89.1 degrees (1936)
Watertown	70.8 degrees	76.8 degrees (+6.0)	83.4 degrees (1936)
Sisseton	70.8 degrees	76.3 degrees (+5.5)	84.6 degrees (1936)
Wheaton	72.6 degrees	76.6 degrees (+4.0)	79.1 degrees (1957)
Murdo	75.7 degrees	81.3 degrees (+5.6)	82.4 degrees (1925)