The 1980 Heat Wave

At this time back in 1980, Alabama and much of the southern U.S. was broiling in one of the greatest heat waves of all time. It still rates as one of the hottest Alabama summers on record.

In the month of July alone, there was an estimated 120 heat-related deaths along with the loss of more than 200,000 chickens and half the state’s corn crop.

On the 14th, it was 103F at the Birmingham Airport, keeping alive a string of five straight days of 100F plus readings in the Magic City. That streak would extend on out to eight days. Starting on the 10th, Birmingham’s highs were 101F, 102F, 104F, 106F, 103F, 102F, 105F, 105F. The string was finally broken on the 18th, when powerful storms formed at mid-afternoon, cooling down the temperature just shy of the century mark.

The hottest day of the summer was July 17th when over 80 percent of the state reached 100 degrees, and nearly one quarter of the state reached 105F. The highest reading on that day was 108 degrees recorded in the cities of Bessemer, Aliceville, and Jasper. It was 105F in Birmingham that day.

Around the nation, the heat wave claimed anywhere between 1,250 and 10,000 lives. Also because of the massive drought, agricultural damage estimates totaled over $50 billion when adjusted for inflation. It is among the billion-dollar weather disasters listed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

In Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, high temperatures exceeded 100° for 69 days between June 23 and September 6. Dallas/Fort Worth reached an all-time high on June 26 and 27, soaring to 113° on both days. In the summer of 1980 in Dallas/Fort Worth, there were 29 days that either tied or broke records for those respective dates. Wichita Falls, Texas would hit 119°F, the second-highest temperature ever recorded in Texas.

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