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Joyce Page (left to right), Wilma Ortenzo and Felice Mullins escape the heat in the shallows of the Rappahannock at the waterfront park in Falmouth.
After a six-mile run, Gary Ferguson of Dromore, Ireland, cools off in the Rappahannock River in Falmouth. Temperatures rose to 97 yesterday, making it the 38th day this summer the mercury has hit 90 or higher. |
By RUSTY DENNEN
Yes, it's been hot. Since June 21, the first day of summer, 38 of the 51 days have been 90 degrees or above.
In fact, the 90-degree days started way back in the spring, according to the Fredericksburg wastewater treatment plant, which supplies data to the National Weather Service.
It was 91 and 90 degrees, respectively, on April 7 and 8. The next 90-degree day would come on May 29.
June started off consistently hot, holding at 91 degrees through the first week. Twenty-one days of the month were over 90, with three days exceptionally hot. It was 99 degrees June 25 and June 28, and 98 on June 29.
July began with a refreshing cool-off and a Maine-like high temperature of 80 on the first two days of the month.
On July 5, the mercury soared to 97 degrees. The mini-heat wave intensified, with temperatures of 98, 102 and 101 the following three days.
Except for one day in the high 80s, temperatures were in the 90s or above until July 24-26 when the high was 100, 101 and 101, respectively.
It was 90 or above for 23 days in July.
Another indication of how hot it was last month: Nighttime low temperatures were 70 degrees or above 19 times.
Temperature readings here vary, according to where they are taken. The wastewater treatment plant is along the Rappahannock River, so readings there weren't as high as those recorded at some other spots surrounded by heat-trapping asphalt.
AccuWeather.com, which gets figures from the treatment plant and Shannon Airport, reported a high temperature for Fredericksburg of 103 degrees on July 7, a record for the date.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that last month, overall, was the 17th warmest July on record. The average temperature for the lower 48 states was 75.5 degrees--1.3 degrees above the 1901-2000 average.
Monthly temperature records were tied or shattered in several East Coast cities, including Washington. States from Maine to Florida posted temperatures that were in their top-10 warmest for July.
Here, the first four days of August were relatively cool, in the 80s--except for Aug. 2, when it was 78. Then the heat began in earnest again Aug. 5 with a high of 94, followed by two days topping out at 96. So far in August, only 6 days have topped 90, the hottest was yesterday, which hit 97 degrees.
With the searing temperatures, drought has gripped much of Virginia.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 34 percent of the state is in moderate to severe drought.
That's a big change from January, when area reservoirs were full and rains and record snowfall recharged lakes and streams.
The dry weather has taken a toll on farmers' crops, lawns, and lowered area reservoirs.
From January through July, the Fredericksburg area got 21.58 inches of rain, according to the wastewater plant, about 2.65 inches below the normal for the period of 24.23 inches.
Meanwhile, heat-related air-quality advisories were in effect yesterday in parts of Northern Virginia, and from Hanover County south to Williamsburg. An advisory means that those with respiratory or heart ailments should reduce outside exertion.
Forecasters say the oven-like temperatures--caused by a lingering ridge of high pressure along the East Coast--will stick around through today, with a high of 98 expected. Tomorrow, a cold front and thunderstorms are expected to usher in weekend temperatures in the 80s.
That won't last: The National Weather Service is calling for above-normal temperatures through the end of the month.
Rusty Dennen: 540/374-5431
Email: rdennen@freelancestar.com
102
Summer high to date
5
Days 100 or above
38
Days 90 or above
102: summer high temperature so far
5: days of 100 degrees or above 38: Number of days of 90 degrees or above this summer
