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;

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;

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;

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;

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

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;

Unofficial temperature and precipitation data for selected sites;

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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