Summer 2012 One of the Warmest

Summer 2012

Record-tying Warmth in Detroit, Top 15 for Flint, Top 5 for Saginaw

Another season of extreme warmth has come and gone in Southeast Michigan. After a record-warm spring, summer in the Detroit Area saw an average temperature of 74.8F, tying it with 2005 for the warmest summer (June 1 - August 31) in Detroit's historical record. In Flint, this summer ranked 13th, with the top 5 there being occupied exclusively by the 1930s. For the Tri-Cities, this summer is tied for 4th, also behind two years from the 30s in addition to 1921.

Warmest Summers on Record

Detroit

Rank	Average Temp.	Year
T-1	74.8	2012
T-1	74.8	2005
3	74.5	1995
T-3	74.5	1955
5	74.4	2011

Flint

Rank	Average Temp.	Year
1	74.2	1933
2	74.0	1934
3	72.7	1936
4	72.6	1939
T-4	72.6	1931
13	71.7	2012

Tri-Cities

Rank	Average Temp.	Year
1	72.7	1933
2	72.6	1931
3	72.1	1921
T-4	72.0	2012
T-4	72.0	2010
T-4	72.0	1995
T-4	72.0	1988

Calendar Year 2012

Given that an unusually warm winter was followed by record warmth in Spring 2012 and near record warmth in the summer, it is no surprise that the year-to-date (January 1 - August 31) ranks as the warmest start to any year on record. The previous record was occupied by 1998, which largely driven by an extraordinarily intense el Nino that brought persistent warmth to the Great Lake early in the year.

Warmest Years through the First Eight months (January - August)

Detroit

Rank	Average Temp.	Year
1	56.8	2012
2	55.2	1998
3	55.1	1921
4	54.7	2010
5	54.7	1991

Flint

Rank	Average Temp.	Year
1	54.6	2012
2	52.6	1998
3	52.6	1987
4	51.9	2010
	51.9	1991

Tri-Cities

Rank	Average Temp.	Year
1	54.2	2012
2	53.3	1998
3	52.3	2010
4	51.3	1987
5	51.1	1991