4 Temperature

The maps and information below were generated from gridded (spatial) climate normals: values averaged over 15, 30, or 100 years. Data were obtained from the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).

4.1 Annual Mean Temperature

4.2 Monthly Mean Temperature

4.2.1 30-year normals

Based on monthly averages over a 30-year period (1991-2020; see Table 4.1 and Figure 4.2), the coldest month in the Mississippi Sound Watershed is January. The lowest mean January value, in the northern part of the watershed, is 43.5 °F, with temperatures along the coast being higher at 52 °F. The hottest month is July, at 79.8 °F in the northern part of the watershed and 82.7 °F along the coast.

Table 4.1: Monthly mean temperature by month in the Mississippi Sound Watershed, averaged over 30 years (1991-2020). For each month, the minimum, mean, and maximum of the monthly means within the watershed are provided.

Month	min	mean	max
Jan	43.5	48.1	52.0
Feb	47.4	52.0	55.7
Mar	54.7	58.5	61.4
Apr	61.9	64.9	67.9
May	70.1	72.5	75.3
Jun	77.2	78.8	81.1
Jul	79.8	81.1	82.7
Aug	79.3	80.6	82.9
Sep	74.0	76.2	79.4
Oct	63.1	66.1	70.8
Nov	52.3	55.9	60.6
Dec	45.8	50.1	54.3

Figure 4.2: Monthly mean temperature averaged over 30 years (1991-2020).

4.2.2 Comparing time periods

The maps below show only a subset of months. Each map contains the averages over a 100-year baseline, and 30- and 15- year normals. Each time period is a row, and the months line up vertically. Louisiana in particular shows some differences based on the time of aggregation in March and June.

4.2.2.1 Cool Months

Figure 4.3: Comparison of long-term winter temperature averages across a 100-year baseline, and 30- and 15-year normals.

4.2.2.2 Warm Months

Figure 4.4: Comparison of long-term spring and summer temperature averages across a 100-year baseline, and 30- and 15-year normals.

About

The .qmd file that generated this section was: temperature.qmd.

For information on data processing, see Appendix A.2.2.