MikeS 66 Index 120512

Wow. Looking at yesterday's data shows that the above normal temperatures are not just a regional thing. It's national.

All 6 climate centers represented by locations in my index experienced above normal temperatures. Some were very impressive.

Selected cities include Miles City in Montana at 22 degrees above normal; Denver at 23 degrees above normal; Laramie WY at 24 degrees above normal.

Again, here is how it breaks down for the 6 climate regions...

High Plains      43.0
                       16.0 degrees ABOVE NORMAL

Midwest         33.7
                        3.5 degrees ABOVE NORMAL

Northeast       42.9
                        6.6 degrees ABOVE NORMAL

Southeast       62.3
                        9.4 degrees ABOVE NORMAL

Southern         55.1
                        8.6 degrees ABOVE NORMAL

West               51.0
                       10.2 degrees ABOVE NORMAL

The MikeS 66 Index for the U.S. is...
47.5

What does this number mean? Simple math, averaging the 6 climate regions' average temperature (high + low temps and divide by 2 for each climate region)

Departure from normal....9.05 degrees ABOVE NORMAL

...One other factoid. Looking at snow cover across the U.S., we are at 6.0% nationwide. Last year on this date, 38.6% of the nation had some measure of snow cover.

MS