The Mother of all Birmingham Heat Waves

It now appears that the worst of the Heat Wave of 2007 is over for Alabama.

So, where does this heat wave rate in the annals of Birmingham weather history?

To study this question, I downloaded the entire database of Birmingham climate date since 1895. I calculated the mean temperature for each day since then.

…August 16, 2007 tied as the hottest mean daily temperature in Birmingham history with a high of 103F and a low of 81F, making for a mean of 92F. This mean was measured on two other days in our history…July 16, 1980 and June 29, 1931.

I then looked at running four, seven, fifteen and thirty day means. The results revealed that the 2007 Heat Wave is at the top in several categories.

It is not tops in the short run. The hottest four day period in Birmingham history occurred in the 1925 heat wave when the mean temperature for the four day period ending September 7th was 90.5F. There also were actually hotter four day stretches in 1930 and 1931. The 2007 heat wave ranks fourth with a peak mean four day run that ended on August 17th this year with a mean of 89.88F.
90.50 1925 Period ending 9/7/1925
90.13 1930 Period ending 7/13/1930
90.00 1931 Period ending 6/30/1931
89.88 2007 Period ending 8/17/2007

In terms of seven day runs, the 2008 heat wave ranks a respectable third.
89.86 1925 Period ending 9/9/1925
89.57 1980 Period ending 7/17/1980
89.50 2007 Period ending 8/16/2007

But this heat wave has been remarkable for its longevity. When you get to the fifteen day stretches, this one rockets to number one.
88.60 2007 Period ending 8/24/2007
87.17 1980 Period ending 7/20/1980
86.53 1895 Period ending 7/31/1895

Then, looking at thirty days straight, this heat wave outdistances them all.
88.60 2007 Period ending 8/24/2007
87.17 1980 Period ending 7/20/1980
86.53 1895 Period ending 7/31/1895

So, as this heat wave comes to an end, it is one for the record books.

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