The 1980 Heat Wave: July 16th

On this date in 1980, the death toll across the Alabama from an extended heat wave reached 77 and it was rising. Thirty seven of those fatalities were reported in Birmingham.

The Magic City was in its 7th straight day of 100F+ degree heat. The high at the Birmingham Airport reached 105F, a record for the date.

Other hot highs from the 16th included: 103F at Huntsville and 104F at Pinson; Jasper, Cullman and Scottsboro reached 105F. The string would extend one more day before being broken.

At the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Birmingham, meteorologist Harold Quattlebaum said that the forecast was calling for the same thing for the next two days.

Alabama Power Company was buying electricity from other utilities and hospitals across the state were running out of beds.

Before it was all said and done, 120 Alabamians would perish from heat related maladies during the Heat Wave of 1980.

Category: Met 101/Weather History