The Washington Post Capital Weather Gang has yet another wildly misleading climate article out again today.
This one GIF encapsulates global warming in the U.S. in 2016 – The Washington Post
2016 was not a hot year in the US. The number of hot days was below average, and ranked 80th hottest since 1895. Only 4.4% of days were over 95F (35C) – compared to 9.8% in 1936.
Relying on “one GIF” of one year in the US to “encapsulate global warming” is utter nonsense. It was an El Nino year, which brings warm weather to the US. The entire country averaged above normal.
The year is finishing with a near record cold December in much of the US.
Next year is looking even colder.
During cold years like 2014 and 2009, they say “the US is only 2% of the planet.” But during warm years the US proves global warming.
The raw thermometer data shows that the US is no warmer than the 1930’s. 2016 is tied with 1921 as second warmest.
Maximum temperatures show a cooling trend since the 1930’s.
Summer maximum temperatures plummeted in the US from the 1930’s to the 1950’s, and never recovered. Summer 2016 was not a hot summer in the US.
The “one GIF” used by the Washington Post tells us nothing about climate. All it tells us is that El Nino brought a very mild year to the US, with a record low number of tornadoes and the longest stretch on record without a major hurricane.
