A Hot One

Statistics indicate 2023 was the hottest year in recorded history.

Triple digit temperatures were a common occurrence in many parts of the United States in 2023.

El Paso, Texas, saw a record stretch of 44 consecutive days at or over 100 degrees in June and July, smashing the previous record of 23 consecutive days set in 1994, records show.

Phoenix, Ariz., saw a record-shattering stretch of 31 days at 110 degrees or greater, surpassing the previous record of 18 consecutive days.

The Hartington area saw plenty of hot days in 2023, as well. While the thermometer only climbed above the century mark four times during the year, there were plenty of uncomfortably hot days.

There were 26 90-plus degree days here. The highest temperature recorded here in 2023 was 102 degrees. It hit 102 here two times last year — on Aug. 22 and again on Sept. 2. Both were new records.

June had only five days where the high temperature was below 80 degrees. Fifteen times during the month, the thermometer soared to 85 degrees or higher.

July had only six days where the high temperature was below 80 degrees. Two of those days, the thermometer topped out at 79. Fifteen times during the month, the thermometer soared to 85 degrees or higher.

After flirting with the century mark much of the summer, the mercury finally climbed about the 100-degree mark in August.

The mercury stayed below the 80-degree mark on only seven days last August. It got to 90 or above seven times during the month. A record hot day was recorded Aug. 22, when the mercury soared to 102 degrees. It was the second day of a three-day stretch where the temperature reached triple digits. Another record hot day was recorded here Sept. 3, when the thermometer once again reached 102 degrees.

It remained hot to start October as the temperature soared to 90 degrees on Oct. 1.

The record high was at least 90 degrees on 26 occasions in 2023.

The Hartington area also saw fewer cold days in 2023 as the thermometer only dipped below zero on 10 occasions. The coldest day of the year, minus-nine degrees, arrived here on Jan. 29.

A cold snap hit the region on Jan. 23, with a low of one degree. The low stayed below 10 degrees on 10 of the next 12 days.

Area residents were worried about drought here until July when the skies opened up dropping 8.21 inches of precip here for the month. The area finished the year well above normal for precipitation.

See page three for a more complete look at the weather of 2023.