In one of the 2010-12 summers those Chesapeake water temps reached 97°F. And it wasn’t just a random near-shore buoy, either.
In regionally dry summers with reduced streamflow input, those shallow waters just sit and sizzle.
June 2010 had seven 90+ days at DCA by this point. This June has two.
And 2010 had 11 straight 90+ days from 6/19-6/29, including seven 95+ days and a 100.
One wildcard for the South/Plains will be how much of that abundant Gulf moisture advects north. Not that these 6 week precip mean depictions are particularly useful in general.