Is it a record high, or not?

According to the National Weather Service the record high for Saturday is either 92° or 94°.  The online database, which we've been referencing all week, lists the record for May 10 as 92° set in 2003.  Then today, the NWS issued a climate statement listing the record for May 10 as 94° set in 1927.

So I called them.  Apparently, there are two different databases being used here. One list shows the record temps recorded at Bush IAH and the other database shows the all time record observed at the "official" recording site, regardless of where that site was located. From 1889 through the 1960s, the "official" data was collected in downtown Houston. The "official" site moved to the big airport in 1969.

Either way, Saturday is going to be a hot day. Just by chance, my forecast calls for a high of 93°, which will be a record high or a near record high.  A wind shift on Sunday will drop the temps back into the 80s and bring us lower humidity. Just for you, Mom.

Updated Saturday Evening: The National Weather Service issued a statement regarding my questions on the record temps:

NCDC (the National Climatic Data Center) has issued a new set of records for Houston which go further back in time than the previous set. We are in the process of updating this information on the NWS HGX website. The correct records can be found in the daily climate products.

So the new record high for May 10 is 94° set in 1927. The official high at Bush IAH on Saturday was 91°, a near record high. Until we hear otherwise....

Comments

[Jeff Xie]

Can't they just use the average for the record high if they're disputing record highs?