Analysis: ‘Which Year Was Most Extreme?’ in U.S. ‘2012 came out first & 2nd most extreme on the top 2 categories, respectively’
'& 7th on PDSI (Palmer Drought Severity Index). On other 3 indices, the year was well below avg. In other words, the 'extreme label' arose purely because temps were much higher than normal, (normal being 1910-2012 average). Indeed, if temp indices had not been duplicated, the year would have dropped to 5th place. However, a comparison with 1936 questions whether the temp index is even measuring “extreme weather” in any meaningful way'
‘The winter in 1936 was the 2nd coldest on record. Only the winter of 1979 was colder.
The summer of 1936 was the hottest on record.
Annually, 2012 was warmest, whereas 1936 was ranked 72.
So, a very hot summer and very cold winter in 1936 cancelled each other out, to something about average! It is no surprise then that the “US Climate Extremes Index” for maximum temperature shows 1936 as one of the least extreme on record, while 2012 is top.
So, which year really was the more extreme?
