Near Record Heat

The 30-year average for the high temperature for today is 73 degrees and the record high is 87 set in 1965. The actual low recorded at the Birmingham International Airport this morning was 69 degrees – very close to the average high for this date! And a whopping 22 degrees above the average low of 47.

So while it is not statistically prudent to forecast records, it does seem likely that today’s record could be in jeopardy. Aloft we have a large ridge bulging northward from the Gulf of Mexico that is being somewhat enhanced by the deep trough on the West Coast.

Morning low clouds helped to temporarily retard the warming process, but in the last hour as the clouds broke up, the temperature climbed a quick 5 degrees in one hour. So will we see the record tied or broken? Always a tough call but I think we’ll see a new record today.

And tomorrow we may see a repeat of today with the record of 88 degrees set in 1995 in jeopardy, too.

-Brian-

Update at 1:10 pm: Birmingham Airport reached 85 degrees with the 1 pm ob just 2 degrees from the record. Satellite indicates an almost completely clear sky as well as several stations just to the west reporting 86 and 87 degrees. So a tie or new record is that much closer.

Update at 2:15 pm: The Birmingham Airport reported 87 degrees on the 2 pm observation which ties the record for this date.

Category: Alabama's Weather