Texas, Oklahoma set summer heat records

Average 86 plus

David Crossley, Sep 06, 11.

Texas is likely to end the summer with an average temperature of 86.7 degrees, which is higher than any state in any previous year, according to an unofficial forecast from Victor Murphy with the National Weather Service, according to a post by Houston Chronicle science writer Eric Berger. But Oklahoma is likely to own the new record of 86.8 degrees, one-tenth more than Texas.

The warmest summer on record for any state, in any year, was set by Oklahoma in 1934. That came during the heart of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. The average temperature was 85.2 degrees.

Fast forward to today: We’re not in a depression, but we just came out of a bad recession and there are fears we’re heading back into a second one. And we’re in the midst of another historic drought, although it hasn’t lasted nearly so long yet as some droughts past including the Dust Bowl.

In any case, both Texas and Oklahoma are going to obliterate the heat record set in 1934.

Although the statewide average temperatures won’t come out for another day or so, unofficially Victor Murphy with the National Weather Service tells me Texas is likely to end the summer with an average temperature of 86.7 degrees, and Oklahoma with an average temperature of 86.8 degrees.