Climate Decade in Review - Post 19: Highest Temperature Ever Recorded in S. Dakota

July 15, 2006 - South Dakota records its highest temperature in recorded history: 120 degrees F.

The temperature record (actually a tie with an earlier date) occurred near the town of Usta, SD.

By itself, a new high temperature record does not necessarily mean that climate change is occurring. New high and low temperature records are set every year. However, over the last decade or so, the number of new high temperature records set has been about double the number of low temperature records being set in the United States. This pattern is consistent with what one would expect if average temperatures over the US were increasing due to climatic changes (which they are).

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This is one in the series of "Decade in Review" posts on this blog that began in January 2010. These posts present climate-change-related events that occurred during the 00's, the warmest decade in recorded history.

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