Summer 2026 Banter Thread

[Chicago Storm]

i’ll kick it off with a current view…

 

[michsnowfreak]

I will be spending 10 days in June with a much colder view...going to Alaska June 7-17! Bucket list trip.

[A-L-E-K]

14 minutes ago, Chicago Storm said:

 

i’ll kick it off with a current view…

 

 

montrose clears

[Chicago Storm]

montrose clears

st pete beach > any trash beach chicago has to offer.

[TheClimateChanger]

 

[Brian D]

June 1

1993: St. Cloud records its latest ever freezing temperature, with a record low of 32.

For Monday, June 1, 2026
1812 - Apple trees at New Haven CT did not blossom until the first of June, the latest such occurrence during the period beginning in 1794. Snow whitened the ground in Cleveland OH and Rochester NY. (David Ludlum)
1903 - A strong tornado just 50 to 75 yards in width killed many persons around the Gainesville GA Cotton Mill. The tornado strengthened and widened near the end of its four mile path, killing 40 persons at New Holland GA. A total of 104 persons were killed in the tornado. (The Weather Channel)
1980 - A man from Falmouth ME was struck by lightning restoring his eyesight. The man had been blind and partially deaf since a truck accident in 1971. (The Weather Channel) (Note: WOW! That's so cool!)
1987 - Severe thunderstorms in the Upper Mississippi Valley and the Lower Ohio Valley produced wind gusts to 81 mph at Albert Lea Airport in southern Minnesota, and baseball size hail around Otterbein IN, Sarona WI, and Danville IL. Two inches of hail totally destroyed 5000 acres of corn and soybean north of Danville. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
1988 - Thunderstorms drenched north central Texas with torrential rains, with more than 14 inches reported in Commanche County. Afternoon thunderstorm in New Jersey and Pennsylvania produced wind gusts to 70 mph. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
1989 - Thunderstorms developing during the afternoon over the Southern Plains Region produced severe weather through the evening and the night, spawning nine tornadoes. Thunderstorms produced wind gusts to 80 mph at Alpine TX, and baseball size hail at Balmorhea, TX, Fluvanna, TX, and in Borden County, TX. (Storm Data) (The National Weather Summary)

[michsnowfreak]

I know everyone already knows this, but TCC and twitter/x handler TheGlobalWarmer are the same person, so in addition to always quoting/replying to his own posts, TCC is now embedding his own TGW tweets.

Detroit got a special shout out because I corrected the BS of a normal winter with transient cool shots by posting the actual mean temp maps showing it was a cold winter in the east. 

This year has been unusual in many areas due to the large diurnal swings. This is why TCC has suddenly abandoned actual avg/mean temps for max temps only. Due to the very warm Mar/Apr, the year is still running above avg to date, despite the fact that Mar/Apr are the only warmer than avg months since October. Detroits avg max temp year to date of 50.2F ranks 19th warmest....but the avg min temp of 31.1F is tied with 6 other years for 59th warmest. Thus, the actual mean temp is 30th warmest to date, tied with 3 other years.

It stuck in the craw of the heatmisers that it was an unexpectedly cold winter in the Lakes/east, so theres plenty of excess energy to burn after a warm spring. With the record warmth out west, it was seen as criminal that people in the east were discussing the cold winter where they lived rather than the warm west where they didnt live. And again, no one was acting like this was some record cold winter...it was just a consistently cold, white winter, esp from MI eastward, despite the fact that some tried to paint it as normal. 

Jan 15-Feb 9th was the 3rd coldest on record at Detroit. Extend that out 4 days to a full month-period (intra month, a stat we have seen posted here many, MANY times wrt warmth), it was the 11th coldest 30-day period on record for Detroit Jan 11-Feb 9th. Quite a transient cool shot!

Dec-Jan combined ranked 36th coldest out of 153 years, although the actual avg min temp during this timeframe ranked 26th coldest out of 153 years.

The entire winter 2025-26, with a mild 2nd half of Feb, ranked 44th coldest out of 153 years, but the avg min temp for DJF ranked 31st coldest out of 153 years.

[TheClimateChanger]

3 hours ago, michsnowfreak said:

I know everyone already knows this, but TCC and twitter/x handler TheGlobalWarmer are the same person, so in addition to always quoting/replying to his own posts, TCC is now embedding his own TGW tweets.

Detroit got a special shout out because I corrected the BS of a normal winter with transient cool shots by posting the actual mean temp maps showing it was a cold winter in the east. 

This year has been unusual in many areas due to the large diurnal swings. This is why TCC has suddenly abandoned actual avg/mean temps for max temps only. Due to the very warm Mar/Apr, the year is still running above avg to date, despite the fact that Mar/Apr are the only warmer than avg months since October. Detroits avg max temp year to date of 50.2F ranks 19th warmest....but the avg min temp of 31.1F is tied with 6 other years for 59th warmest. Thus, the actual mean temp is 30th warmest to date, tied with 3 other years.

It stuck in the craw of the heatmisers that it was an unexpectedly cold winter in the Lakes/east, so theres plenty of excess energy to burn after a warm spring. With the record warmth out west, it was seen as criminal that people in the east were discussing the cold winter where they lived rather than the warm west where they didnt live. And again, no one was acting like this was some record cold winter...it was just a consistently cold, white winter, esp from MI eastward, despite the fact that some tried to paint it as normal. 

Jan 15-Feb 9th was the 3rd coldest on record at Detroit. Extend that out 4 days to a full month-period (intra month, a stat we have seen posted here many, MANY times wrt warmth), it was the 11th coldest 30-day period on record for Detroit Jan 11-Feb 9th. Quite a transient cool shot!

Dec-Jan combined ranked 36th coldest out of 153 years, although the actual avg min temp during this timeframe ranked 26th coldest out of 153 years.

The entire winter 2025-26, with a mild 2nd half of Feb, ranked 44th coldest out of 153 years, but the avg min temp for DJF ranked 31st coldest out of 153 years.

The funniest part of this is that the goalposts move depending on which statistic is inconvenient.When I use mean temperatures, they complain that highs matter more because daytime warmth is what people actually experience. When I use maximum temperatures, they suddenly discover minima and diurnal ranges.

There is a method to my madness here. Since the ASOS sensor/shield changes, minimum temperatures appear to be running unusually cool relative to the old observing regime, especially under radiational cooling setups. That means larger diurnal ranges can show up in the data in a way that is not necessarily apples-to-apples with the older record. That is why I have been emphasizing maximum temperatures more recently when it comes to ASOS readings. Highs are more likely to be consistent across the long-term record than minima that are especially sensitive to calm, clear-night radiational cooling and sensor/shield behavior.

And, ironically, these unusually large diurnal ranges are the opposite of what you would expect if the signal were simply urban heat island or greenhouse-gas-enhanced nighttime warming. AGW tends to compress diurnal range by warming nights more than days. UHI also tends to show up most strongly in overnight minima.

So yes, Detroit had a cold stretch. Nobody is denying that. But calling the winter some kind of grand rebuttal to the broader warmth is absurd. Year-to-date is still above average, March and April were very warm, and warmth has easily won the larger battle. You can cherry-pick January 15 to February 9 all you want. I can also pick March and April. That is why we look at the full context.

But the rule cannot be:
Mean temps matter when they help you.
High temps matter when they help you.
Min temps matter when they help you.
And everything else is “spin” when it does not.

[roardog]

27 minutes ago, TheClimateChanger said:

The funniest part of this is that the goalposts move depending on which statistic is inconvenient.When I use mean temperatures, they complain that highs matter more because daytime warmth is what people actually experience. When I use maximum temperatures, they suddenly discover minima and diurnal ranges.

There is a method to my madness here. Since the ASOS sensor/shield changes, minimum temperatures appear to be running unusually cool relative to the old observing regime, especially under radiational cooling setups. That means larger diurnal ranges can show up in the data in a way that is not necessarily apples-to-apples with the older record. That is why I have been emphasizing maximum temperatures more recently when it comes to ASOS readings. Highs are more likely to be consistent across the long-term record than minima that are especially sensitive to calm, clear-night radiational cooling and sensor/shield behavior.

And, ironically, these unusually large diurnal ranges are the opposite of what you would expect if the signal were simply urban heat island or greenhouse-gas-enhanced nighttime warming. AGW tends to compress diurnal range by warming nights more than days. UHI also tends to show up most strongly in overnight minima.

So yes, Detroit had a cold stretch. Nobody is denying that. But calling the winter some kind of grand rebuttal to the broader warmth is absurd. Year-to-date is still above average, March and April were very warm, and warmth has easily won the larger battle. You can cherry-pick January 15 to February 9 all you want. I can also pick March and April. That is why we look at the full context.

But the rule cannot be:
Mean temps matter when they help you.
High temps matter when they help you.
Min temps matter when they help you.
And everything else is “spin” when it does not.

[TheClimateChanger]

21 minutes ago, roardog said:

Oh yeah, I forgot: we’re only allowed to suggest modern readings may be biased warm.

It is apparently anathema to point out that some sensor/site discrepancies could cut the other way — especially when the daily highs line up better than the lows.

[Chicago Storm]

51 minutes ago, TheClimateChanger said:

There is a method to my madness here. Since the ASOS sensor/shield changes, minimum temperatures appear to be running unusually cool relative to the old observing regime, especially under radiational cooling setups. That means larger diurnal ranges can show up in the data in a way that is not necessarily apples-to-apples with the older record. That is why I have been emphasizing maximum temperatures more recently when it comes to ASOS readings. Highs are more likely to be consistent across the long-term record than minima that are especially sensitive to calm, clear-night radiational cooling and sensor/shield behavior.

lol

[OrdIowPitMsp]

[michsnowfreak]

1 hour ago, roardog said:

indeed 

In 2023 when Detroit failed to surpass 90F for the first time since 1915, I was told it was the wildfires fault that the max temps were held down. The warmer summer mins were noticeable in holding up the avg temp. NOW....the mins are lower because of an ASOS upgrade .

Whats funny...is that the mins STILL run warmer at Detroit (DTW) than all surrounding areas. So I guess every other AWOS, personal weather station etc is in on the min temp conspiracy.

The 2026 min temp to date (Jan-May) at DTW is 31.1F. Just 10 miles west at YIP it is 29.4F at 25 miles west of DTW it is 26.7F. Even 25 miles NE in the actual city, Detroit City airport min temp is 31.0F.

DTW 31.1
DET 31.0
YIP 29.4
ARB 26.7

Looking at the cold month of January, mins at those same locations:

DTW 13.8
DET 14.9
YIP 12.0
ARB 9.0
 

DTW is the only regulated ASOS station, so it would be the only one that this mysterious min mania applies to. And yet, it is the warmest in the area year-to-date.

 

[Brian D]

13 minutes ago, michsnowfreak said:

indeed 

In 2023 when Detroit failed to surpass 90F for the first time since 1915, I was told it was the wildfires fault that the max temps were held down. The warmer summer mins were noticeable in holding up the avg temp. NOW....the mins are lower because of an ASOS upgrade .

Whats funny...is that the mins STILL run warmer at Detroit (DTW) than all surrounding areas. So I guess every other AWOS, personal weather station etc is in on the min temp conspiracy.

The 2026 min temp to date (Jan-May) at DTW is 31.1F. Just 10 miles west at YIP it is 29.4F at 25 miles west of DTW it is 26.7F. Even 25 miles NE in the actual city, Detroit City airport min temp is 31.0F.

DTW 31.1
DET 31.0
YIP 29.4
ARB 26.7

Looking at the cold month of January, mins at those same locations:

DTW 13.8
DET 14.9
YIP 12.0
ARB 9.0
 

DTW is the only regulated ASOS station, so it would be the only one that this mysterious min mania applies to. And yet, it is the warmest in the area year-to-date.

 

This is what DTW Jan-May warmest mins look like. ASOS mins rather robust compared to pre aprt years by the looks of it. Man, some people's kids I tell ya!

1998	mint	37.5	1	1	1	0
2012	mint	36.7	2	2	2	0
2024	mint	36.4	3	3	3	0
1921	mint	35.8	4	4	4	0
2017	mint	35.6	5	5	5	0
2006	mint	35.1	6	6	6	0
1882	mint	34.9	7	7	7	0
1880	mint	34.5	8	8	8	0
2023	mint	34.4	9	9	9	0
2010	mint	34.4	9	9	10	0
1991	mint	34.4	9	9	11	0
1878	mint	34.1	12	10	12	0

[Brian D]

But there is a discrepancy in station data from moves. It all depends, like moving to/from large bodies of water, or inner city/town to more semi-rural/rural or vice versa, and significant elevation changes. Then you'll get diurnal changes, regardless of the equipment used. Then you have micro site changes that can affect that as well. Long term records are fraught with this stuff. It is what it is, and there has been lots of debate on adjustments that are made, or not made. Won't go any further with that. 

[cyclone77]

I'm going through Canadian smoke withdrawal.  

[TheClimateChanger]

1 hour ago, michsnowfreak said:

indeed 

In 2023 when Detroit failed to surpass 90F for the first time since 1915, I was told it was the wildfires fault that the max temps were held down. The warmer summer mins were noticeable in holding up the avg temp. NOW....the mins are lower because of an ASOS upgrade .

Whats funny...is that the mins STILL run warmer at Detroit (DTW) than all surrounding areas. So I guess every other AWOS, personal weather station etc is in on the min temp conspiracy.

The 2026 min temp to date (Jan-May) at DTW is 31.1F. Just 10 miles west at YIP it is 29.4F at 25 miles west of DTW it is 26.7F. Even 25 miles NE in the actual city, Detroit City airport min temp is 31.0F.

DTW 31.1
DET 31.0
YIP 29.4
ARB 26.7

Looking at the cold month of January, mins at those same locations:

DTW 13.8
DET 14.9
YIP 12.0
ARB 9.0
 

DTW is the only regulated ASOS station, so it would be the only one that this mysterious min mania applies to. And yet, it is the warmest in the area year-to-date.

 

This does not rebut anything.

The claim is not “DTW should be colder than every nearby station.” The claim is that an equipment change can affect continuity in DTW’s own record.

NOAA replaced ASOS temp/dew point sensors networkwide with the new Vaisala sensors/shields, and that rollout has been completed. So DTW, DET, YIP, and ARB are not some clean “control group.” They were all part of the retrofit.

All you’ve shown is that DTW remains warmer than nearby stations. That’s siting/geography. It says very little about pre/post retrofit homogeneity.

[TheClimateChanger]

8 minutes ago, cyclone77 said:

I'm going through Canadian smoke withdrawal.  

Withdrawal symptoms should subside shortly. Canada is reactivating the smoke machine as we speak.

[TheClimateChanger]

1 hour ago, Brian D said:

This is what DTW Jan-May warmest mins look like. ASOS mins rather robust compared to pre aprt years by the looks of it. Man, some people's kids I tell ya!

1998	mint	37.5	1	1	1	0
2012	mint	36.7	2	2	2	0
2024	mint	36.4	3	3	3	0
1921	mint	35.8	4	4	4	0
2017	mint	35.6	5	5	5	0
2006	mint	35.1	6	6	6	0
1882	mint	34.9	7	7	7	0
1880	mint	34.5	8	8	8	0
2023	mint	34.4	9	9	9	0
2010	mint	34.4	9	9	10	0
1991	mint	34.4	9	9	11	0
1878	mint	34.1	12	10	12	0

I think this misses the point. I’m not making a broad ASOS-era vs pre-ASOS-era argument. The issue is the ASOS sensor retrofit — Vaisala HMP155E probes replacing the older DTS-1 / HO-83/1088 sensors across the network. That rollout occurred last summer, so all of those Jan–May years are on the old sensor. The relevant comparison is before vs after the retrofit, not Jan–May rankings going back to the 1800s.

[TheClimateChanger]

25 minutes ago, TheClimateChanger said:

This does not rebut anything.

The claim is not “DTW should be colder than every nearby station.” The claim is that an equipment change can affect continuity in DTW’s own record.

NOAA replaced ASOS temp/dew point sensors networkwide with the new Vaisala sensors/shields, and that rollout has been completed. So DTW, DET, YIP, and ARB are not some clean “control group.” They were all part of the retrofit.

All you’ve shown is that DTW remains warmer than nearby stations. That’s siting/geography. It says very little about pre/post retrofit homogeneity.

And just to put this in perspective: NOAA has District 10 — southeast Lower Michigan — at the 23rd warmest January–April average low since 1895.

DTW, meanwhile, is only 53rd warmest for the same period (1895-2026). Some of that is obviously tied to station history/site moves, but it illustrates the broader point: NOAA does not build climate averages from one airport thermometer. It uses the broader station network precisely because individual stations have siting, equipment, and continuity issues.