Public Information Statement

Issued: September 4, 2007

...Central Alabama Weather & Climate Information...
...August 2007...


...2007 Heat Wave Boiled Central Alabama...

The strong upper level ridge that produced record heat across the Western United States during July...redeveloped eastward and produced another round of record heat across the Southeastern United States. This oppressive heat was greatest during the weeks of August 12th and August 19th when Heat Advisories were in effect for the entire area. But due to the prolonged heat...many heat illnesses were not felt until the last week of August.

Heat Illness Statistics;

The Alabama Department of Public Health
August 2007 Heat Statistics Statewide
Heat Related Illnesses Total 600
Heat Related Illnesses Admitted to Hospital 136
Heat Related Illnesses Treated but not Admitted 450
Males Affected 462
Females Affected 138
Age Group Most Affected 25-44
Heat Related Fatalities 14
Fatalities by County - Henry (3), Morgan (2), Greene (2), Chilton (1), Autauga (1), Elmore(1), Montgomery (1), Coffee (1), Chambers (1) & Lowndes (1).

Record high temperatures were set (or tied) at several locations from August 4th through August 24th across Central Alabama. Some of these high temperatures actually tied or broke the all time high temperatures for August or for any month. Here are the new record high temperatures measured at selected locations;

Location Date New Record Old Record
Montgomery August 6th 100 99 in 1963
12 Days August 7th 101 100 in 2006
  August 8th 103 102 in 2006
  August 9th 104 Tie 104 in 1954
  August 10th 106 99 in 2000
  August 11th 106 101 in 1954
  August 12th 106 102 in 1954
  August 13th 104 103 in 1874
  August 14th 106 103 in 1954
  August 15th 105 102 in 1995
  August 16th 102 Tie 102 in 1990
  August 22nd 104 101 in 1983
***The 106 degree reading on several days in August established a new all time high for the month of August.
Location Date New Record Old Record
Anniston August 8th 103 101 in 1980
11 Days August 9th 103 102 in 1980
  August 10th 102 98 in 2006
  August 11th 102 101 in 1956
  August 12th 100 99 in 1957
  August 13th 102 100 in 1995
  August 14th 104 99 in 1976
  August 15th 104 100 in 1995
  August 16th 104 102 in 1995
  August 22nd 104 103 in 1983
  August 23th 103 101 in 1983

 

Location Date New Record Old Record
Tuscaloosa August 4th 100 Tie 100 in 2006
14 Days August 7th 100 Tie 100 in 1956
  August 8th 102 Tie 102 in 1954
  August 9th 103 101 in 2006
  August 10th 107 102 in 1956
  August 11th 105 102 in 1954
  August 12th 105 104 in 1954
  August 13th 105 103 in 1954
  August 14th 106 103 in 1954
  August 15th 106 103 in 1954
  August 16th 103 Tie 103 in 2000
  August 22nd 103 98 in 1990
  August 23rd 103 100 in 1987
  August 24th 100 Tie 100 in 1983
***The 107 degree reading on the 10th established a new all time high for the month of August. This 107 degree reading on the 10th also tied the all time high for any month.
Location Date New Record Old Record
Pinson August 2nd 98 97 in 1951
18 Days August 3rd 99 Tie 99 in 1952
  August 4th 100 Tie 100 in 1954
  August 7th 101 100 in 1980
  August 8th 103 102 in 2006
  August 9th 105 100 in 1980
  August 10th 102 100 in 2000
  August 11th 105 100 in 1999
  August 12th 103 101 in 1999
  August 13th 105 102 in 1999
  August 14th 104 99 in 1954
  August 15th 107 100 in 2000
  August 16th 104 Tie 104 in 2000
  August 18th 105 104 in 2000
  August 20th 100 Tie 100 in 1983
  August 21st 102 101 in 1983
  August 22nd 107 100 in 1983
  August 23rd 106 99 in 1983
***The 107 degree reading on the 15th and the 22nd tied the all time high for the month of August.

 

Location Date New Record Old Record
Birmingham August 9th 103 102 in 1980
10 Days August 10th 102 100 in 1956
  August 11th 102 99 in 1999
  August 12th 102 101 in 1896
  August 13th 103 102 in 1999
  August 14th 104 101 in 1995
  August 15th 105 101 in 1995
  August 16th 103 Tie 103 in 1995
  August 22nd 104 100 in 1983
  August 23rd 105 101 in 1924
***The 105 degree reading on the 15th and the 23rd established a new all time high for the month of August.

Below are the records for the number of days at or above 100 degrees in any month at selected locations
August 2007 established or tied the record at all locations;

Location # of Days Historical Rank Previous Record
Birmingham 14 1st 12 - September 1925
Montgomery 15 1st 14 - August 1954
Tuscaloosa 15 Tied 1st 15 - August 1954
Anniston 14 1st 10 - July 1952
Pinson 17 1st 11 - July 1952

 

Here are the records for consecutive days with high temperatures greater than or equal to 100 degrees for selected locations
August 2007 established or tied the record at all locations;

Location # of Days Historical Rank Previous Record
Birmingham 10 1st 8 - July 1980
Montgomery 12 1st 7 - August 1980
Tuscaloosa 11 1st 8 - August 1954
Anniston 10 1st 8 - July 1952
Pinson 12 1st 11 - July 1952

 

Here are the records for the number of days that measured 100 degrees or more for the entire year for selected locations;

Location # of Days Historical Rank Record
Birmingham 14 Tied 2nd 15 - 1925
Montgomery 20 2nd 26 - 1954
Tuscaloosa 17 Tied 4th 33 - 1954
Anniston 14 2nd 17 - 1954
Pinson 18 Tied 1st 18 - 1952

The excessive heat during the month of August did not help the prolonged drought conditions. Much of Central Alabama has been placed in a D4 Exceptional Drought. Mandatory and voluntary water restrictions remain in place due to water supply impacts. Some communities have been close to running out of water.

The United States Geological Survey reported many creeks and streams below the 10th percentile of normal. Several locations have been at record low levels. major rivers and reservoirs continued much below normal levels.

The Alabama Office of the State Climatologist reported extremely low soil moisture across a majority of Central Alabama. Soil moisture was generally below the 10th percentile of normal. with the rain amounts the last week of August...the lawn and garden index improved quite a bit from Montgomery to Troy...while other areas remained very dry. The crop moisture index was in an Emergency Level from Birmingham northeastward. The United States Department of Agriculture reported poor to very poor conditions that concerned the cotton, soybean, peanut, livestock, and pasture crops.

The Alabama Forestry Commission declared a Drought Emergency for all of Central Alabama due to the prolonged dry conditions. Therefore... the entire area was placed under a No Burn Order. 227 wildfires occurred in August statewide. These fires burned over 3000 acres.

Even though drought conditions persisted through August...typical summertime afternoon and evening thunderstorms developed on several days. Some of these thunderstorms produced damaging winds and large hail. Severe thunderstorms occurred on the 3rd, 10th, 17th, 18th, 24th, 25th and 27th. due to the abnormally dry conditions. Several lightning strikes ignited fires and a few homes were totally destroyed. There were even a few reported dust devils that developed across Central Alabama in August.

Rainfall was very sparse across central alabama for much of August. Little if any rain was measured for the first half of the month. A front stalled across Central Alabama the last week of Aaugust. This produced more widespread rain and some appreciable rain totals. a few selected locations actually received near to above normal August rainfall.

Unofficial Precipitation and Deficits for the Period January through August 20th 2007;

Location Precipitation Deficits
Birmingham 20.22 -17.39
Montgomery 24.24 -14.23
Tuscaloosa 16.09 -24.33
Anniston 14.09 -23.34

Unofficial temperature and precipitation data for selected sites;

Birmingham
August 2007
Highest Temperature 105 on the 15th & 23rd
Lowest Temperature 71 on the 31st
Average High Temperature 98.4
Average Low Temperature 75.4
Average Daily Temp 86.9
Departure From Normal +7.3
Precipitation 4.88
Departure From Normal +1.40
Highest Wind Gust 53 mph on the 16th

 

Montgomery
August 2007
Highest Temperature 106 on the 10th/11th/12th & 14th
Lowest Temperature 72 on the 4th & 29th
Average High Temperature 99.2
Average Low Temperature 74.7
Average Monthly 87.0
Departure From Normal +5.8
Precipitation 4.22
Departure From Normal +0.59
Highest Wind Gust 48 mph on the 25th

 

Tuscaloosa
August 2007
Highest Temperature 107 on the 10th
Lowest Temperature 68 on the 12th
Average High Temperature 99.5
Average Low Temperature 72.5
Average Monthly 86.0
Departure From Normal +4.6
Precipitation 2.31
Departure From Normal -1.39
Highest Wind Gust 29 mph on the 18th

 

Anniston
August 2007
Highest Temperature 104 on the 14th, 15th, 16th & 22nd
Lowest Temperature 67 on the 12th
Average High Temperature 98.2
Average Low Temperature 72.3
Average Monthly 85.2
Departure From Normal +5.7
Precipitation 1.71
Departure From Normal -1.64
Highest Wind Gust 30 mph on the 10th

 

Calera
August 2007
Highest Temperature 105 on the 14th & 15th
Lowest Temperature 69 on the 14th & 15th
Average High Temperature 97.7
Average Low Temperature 73.2
Average Monthly 85.4
Precipitation 7.59
Highest Wind Gust 53 mph on the 24th

 

Troy
August 2007
Highest Temperature 106 on the 10th
Lowest Temperature 69 on the 26th
Average High Temperature 96.9
Average Low Temperature 72.8
Average Monthly 84.9
Precipitation 4.01
Highest Wind Gust 39 mph on the 17th

Here are additional statistics for the month of August and the heat wave of 2007 overall;

BIRMINGHAM - RECORDS DATE BACK TO 1895.
-------------------

-The average high temperature for August 2007 was 98.4 degrees. This was the hottest August and the hottest monthly temperature ever recorded. The previous record was 96.3 degrees set in august 1995.

-The average low temperature for August 2007 was 75.4 degrees. This established a new record for the warmest average low temperature for any month of the year and for any August. The previous record was 74.1 degrees in August 2006.

-The average daily temperature for August 2007 was 86.9 degrees. This established a new all time record high average daily temperature for any month and for August. The previous record for any month was 84.8 degrees in august 1995.

TUSCALOOSA - RECORDS DATE BACK TO 1948.
---------------------

-The average high temperature for August 2007 was 99.5 degrees. This was the hottest August and the hottest monthly temperature ever recorded. The previous record was 99.1 degrees set in august 1954.

-The average low temperature for August 2007 was 72.5 degrees. This tied the record for the 4th warmest August low temperature. The record is 73.5 degrees set in August 1980.

-The average daily temperature for August 2007 was 86.0 degrees. This established a new all time record high average daily temperature for any month and for August. The previous record for any month was 85.0 degrees in August 1954.

MONTGOMERY - RECORDS DATE BACK TO 1895.
----------------------

-The average high temperature for August 2007 was 99.2 degrees. This was the hottest August and the hottest monthly temperature ever recorded. The previous record was 98.7 degrees set in August 1954.

-The average low temperature for August 2007 was 74.7 degrees. This tied the record for the 2nd warmest average low temperature in August. The record is 75.4 degrees in August 1878.

-The average low temperature for August 2007 was 74.7 degrees. This tied the record for 6th warmest average low in any month. The record is 76.6 degrees set in July 1875.

-The average daily temperature for August 2007 was 87.0 degrees. This established a new all time record high average daily temperature for any month and for August. The previous record for any month was 86.1 degrees in July 1875.

ANNISTON - RECORDS DATE BACK TO 1903...BUT SOME DATA IS MISSING
------------------ESPECIALLY BETWEEN 1906 AND 1931.

-The average high temperature for August 2007 was 98.2 degrees. This was the hottest August and the hottest monthly temperature ever recorded. The previous record was 95.9 degrees last set in August 1954.

-The average low temperature for August 2007 was 72.3 degrees. This was the 2nd warmest August low temperature and the 2nd warmest low temperature for any month. The record is 73.0 degrees set in August 1995.

-The average daily temperature for August 2007 was 85.2 degrees. This established a new all time record high average daily temperature for any month and for August. The previous record for any month was 83.8 degrees in July 1980. The previous record for August was 82.9 degrees in August 1995.

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