July 29, 1952…
The State of Alabama was in the waning days of a critical heat wave and drought at this time during 1952.
During an 11-day stretch, the “coolest” high temperature in Birmingham was 99. The heat peaked at 106 degrees on July 25th and again on the 29th. This was just one degree short of the highest temperature ever recorded in Birmingham.
20th -100
21st -101
22nd -99
23rd -105
24th -104
25th -106
26th -101
27th -102
28th -105
29th -106
30th -99
Here are the highs for July 29, 1952 from the official Weather Bureau map…
Here is the upper air chart from that day…
Notice the huge upper level anticyclone parked over the southern U.S. that led to the incredible heat wave.
During that heat wave and drought, some wells in Alabama went dry that had never been dry before.
