Reconstructed Annual Minimum Temperatures for the Gulf States, 1799–1988

Abstract

A very long series of minimum winter temperatures for the United States Gulf Coast region was developed. A search was made through sources of archival data to locate early temperature records for the region. Records from a number of different locations were combined to produce a single series extending back to 1799. Where possible, data have been analyzed to assess relative homogeneity. Examination of the series revealed no significant long-term trends, but recent decades appear slightly colder in comparison to the rest of the record. Extension of the series back from circa 1880 to 1799 yields mean values that are not appreciably different from the 1900?1950 period. Severe freeze events appear not to be randomly distributed with lime, but instead clustered in groups.