Q: It is starting to feel like the summer doldrums already. What is the record for the highest temperatures in Atlanta?
— James Quarles, Atlanta
A: That depends on how you want to quantify discomfort.
The record for highest daily temperature was 105 degrees, which occurred on three consecutive days starting on July 17, 1980. There was also another reading of 104 that month.
But for extended misery, it’s hard to beat August of 2007, when temperatures broke 100 degrees for more than a week (Aug. 8-17), according to the National Weather Service. That month became the hottest in city history, dating back to 1878, when records were first kept.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services grew so concerned that month that it designated $6.4 million in emergency assistance for low-income households facing huge power bills.
Over time, July is typically Atlanta’s hottest month, with an average high of 88 degrees. Not that August is any bargain, with the average high of 87. This is not uncommon for the humid subtropical climate, which is the region’s official climate zone. Other cities sharing the same classification are Hong Kong, Brisbane, Australia, and Rize, Turkey.
But it could be worse. Atlanta’s altitude (1,050 feet) has a tempering effect on temperatures. And despite the recent dry years, the rain helps. Atlanta’s average rainfall per year (50 inches) is far more than soggy Seattle (37 inches).
Louis Mayeux wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get an answer. Call 404-222-2002 or q&a@ajc.com (include name and city).
