To put this heat wave into perspective (Knoxville, Cookeville: live, moving)

[JMT]

We all know that it has been ridiculously hot and dry here in Tennessee. I was shocked when I read the following on the NWS-Nashville web site which shows just how hot it has been, particularly the part that said in the last 15 years the temperature in Nashville has surpassed 100 only 6 times, but so far this year it's already surpassed 100 degrees 15 times! Nashville is also on pace to have the driest summer in recorded history.

OK here's what the NWS said:

"There has [sic] been 15 days of 100 degrees or above in Nashville this month.....this Summer and this year so far. This is more than twice as many days as previously recorded in the month of August. The previous record was 7 days set back in 1954.

"To put the heat wave in perspective...the 15 days of 100 degrees and above in Nashville this month... is more than twice what occurred in the previous 15 years. From 1991 to 2006... Nashville only had 6 daysof 100 degrees and above.

"Currently... August 2007 in Nashville is averaging 9.5 degrees above normal. This is 4.6 degrees hotter than the hottest August on record... which was in 1995.

"August 2007 could also end up being the hottest...of any month since record keeping began in Nashville... nearly 137 years ago. The daily high temperature in Nashville this month is averaging 99.9 degrees through August 25th. This is more than 12 degrees above the 30 year average high temperature for the month of August. There have been 24 consecutive days of 95 degrees and above in Nashville. This is unprecedented in the weather records at Nashville. The old record was 19 days back in June 1952. Yesterday was the 31st consecutive day of 90 degrees and above in Nashville. A string that began back on July 26th. This ties the record for the most consecutive days of 90 degrees and above......ever recorded in Nashville. Nashville also had a stretch of 31 consecutive days back in June of 1952 and again in June of 1954.

"The 106 degrees on August 16th not only broke the record high temperature for that date...but also broke the all time record high for the month of August...which had been 105 degrees set back in August 1930. This also was the hottest temperature in Nashville inthe last 55 years... only surpassed by the all time record heat of 107 degrees back on July 27th and 28th 1952. We have only had 0.08 inches of rain in Nashville in the last 31 days. Nashville had a similar stretch of 32 days back in Augustof 1998. The driest August on record... was back in 1929 when only 0.51 inches fell. Other dry augusts include... 1936... 1968 and 1987. Since the first of June... Nashville has recorded only 3.92 inches of rainfall. The driest June through August on record... was in 1954... when 4.74 inches of rain fell. Other years with a dry June through August include... 1925... 1948 and 1943."

[firepower]

Crazy...Just crazy.

We got 2 good hours of steady rain in Cookeville late Friday night & I'm SOOO glad! Won't change much yet but any bit helps.
Everyone was just standing around staring at it like in some kinda movie.Like aliens were landing or something!

91 in Cookeville today feels like a spring day!


firepower

[mjb62676]

It's been pretty crazy!

What's been really amazing to us is that since moving here we've lived through one of the hottest months in Knoxville history, and it doesn't feel as bad as home...(KC area).

I don't think I want to know what the humidity SHOULD be like around here!

It appears to almost be over...I'm ready for it...our yard is FRIED and the power bill is nutso.

[jguillot]

I'm happy to hear that Cookeville finally got some rain and that the temperatures are beginning to drop. Hopefully, you won't have a repeat of this next summer.

[jsherman9901]

Originally Posted by jguillot

Hopefully, you won't have a repeat of this next summer.

Yeah, that's what we said LAST summer (sigh).

[hiknapster]

What has been really creepy and very noticeable this past week, is all of the trees that are dying. The leaves are just turning brown and falling off the trees. Last Saturday, I came across a dead tree just laying in the road.