I was just looking over some climate data out of curiousity when I noticed that the two coldest days in August, 2007, were the 1st and the 26th with high temperatures ONLY reaching 94. I find it quite hard to believe that I can use 94 and coldest in the same sentence, but them’s the facts!
Actually what I set out to do was to find out how many times the temperature hit 95 or higher since records began in 1895 in Birmingham. I was surprised to find that even with all the records for high temperatures and longest triple digit string, 2007 just barely makes it into the top 10 for most days with 95+ degree highs. Here’s the data as I’ve calculated it:
1. 56 days in 1954
2. 52 days in 1962
3. 46 days in 1902
4. 45 days in 1980 & 1925
5. 44 days in 1995
6. 42 days in 1931
7. 40 days in 1952
8. 39 days in 1990, 1930, 1921, & 1897
9. 34 days in 2007, 2000 & 1896
10. 33 days in 1953
Wow, if the weather goes in cycles, since 1953 was followed by an even hotter 1954, then maybe we can draw the conclusion that 2007 will be followed by an even hotter 2008! IF (please notice the use of capital letters to make that a BIG IF) – IF that happens, then I’ll take credit for making the forecast a year in advance. If it doesn’t happen, you never heard from me!
Stay cool. Even if the TDH (James should have worked for the government with his abbreviations) is over, it’s still hot and humid so take it easy.
-Brian-
PS Corrected to include the additional day in June when we made it over 95. Thanks for noticing the error, Mike.
