Lordy, it is HOT. And folks are growing awfully tired of baking and sweating and baking some more. Tempers are set to hair-trigger and people are about as crabby as they can be, not to mention physically and even what one might consider "temporarily mentally ill" from the intense and relentless heat - it drives you crazy it's so damned hot. And because it doesn't cool down at night, there's no respite....and worse yet, no real sleep either, because who the hell can snooze comfortably while wallowing in buckets of one's own sweat?
Thats probably what I miss the most about living in the high desert - although you might broil all day, you knew that when that fireball of a sun went down, the temps would drop like a rock, bringing cool, joyous relief to those who suffered through that day....
Davidson County
pressure remains relentless across our area.
Temperatures getting hotter, ground getting drier,
After two consecutive days of temperatures just shy of the 100 degree mark, nashville and several other locations in middle tennessee returned to triple digit temperatures on tuesday. We could see record breaking temperatures today. Nashvilles record high for today is 100 degrees set back in 1983.
Yesterday marked the 12th day of 100 degrees or above in nashville this month. This is by far the most ever recorded in the month of August. The previous record was 7 days set back in 1954. It is also the most ever recorded in any month. The previous record was 11 days back in June 1952.
Nashville has experienced 12 days of triple digit temperatures so far this summer, this is the most since the summer of 1988, which also had 12 days of triple digit heat. The most days of 100 degrees and above to occur during any year on record is 20 back in 1954. 1952 had 19 days of triple digit heat.
Currently, August 2007 in nashville is averaging 9.1 degrees above normal. This is 4.4 degrees hotter than the hottest August on record, which was in 1995. August 2007 could also end up being the hottest, of any month since record keeping began in nashville nearly 137 years ago.
There have been 20 consecutive days of 95 degrees and above in nashville. This breaks the record for the most consecutive days of 95 degrees and above ever recorded in nashville, set previously in June 1952 at 19 days. This streak will likely continue for the next four and possibly five days.
Yesterday was the 27th consecutive day of 90 degrees and above in nashville. This is the most since July 1954, and the 3th most on record. The most ever recorded is 31 days back in June of 1952 and again in June of 1954. We will come close to tying and possibly breaking this record.
The 106 degrees on August 16th not only broke the record high temperature for that date, but also broke the all time record high for the month of August, which had been 105 degrees set back in august 1930. This also was the hottest temperature in nashville in the last 55 years, only surpassed by the all time record heat of 107 degrees back on July 27th and 28th 1952.
Rainfall in nashville so far this month has totaled 0.05 inches. The driest August on record, was back in 1929 when only 0.51 inches fell.
Since the first of June, nashville has recorded only 3.89 inches of rainfall. The driest June through August on record, was in 1954, when 4.74 inches of rain fell. Rainfall since January 1st has totaled 17.36 inches, which is 14.19 inches below normal.
We are currently classified as having an extreme to exceptional drought conditions. Unfortunately there is no significant rain in sight for middle tennessee through the middle of next week.
During the heat wave, some precautions should be kept in mind. Stay inside to the extent possible, preferably in an air conditioned space. If you must be outside, drink fluids frequently, wear light colored clothing with a hat, and stay in the shade as much as possible.
Computer models maintain the upper level high pressure system across our area for the next several days. Subsidence underneath this high pressure system will keep temperatures hot, and the air mass dry.
The latest that nashville has recorded a 100 degree temperature is September 11th 1983.
911 calls rise with heat
Official gives advice to those in distressAs the heat wave sears into its third week, Nashville's safety net for the poor and homeless is straining.
Five to 11 new faces turn up each night at the Nashville Rescue Mission looking for a cool spot to sleep, said Frank Kuntz, director of operations. Its hot patrols, on which workers hand out bottled water to homeless people at downtown parks, are running into emergencies. "Us calling ambulances for heat-related is way up," he said Monday.
Since Aug. 1, there have been 67 heat-related calls to 911, said Amanda Sluss, spokeswoman for the city's emergency communications and preparedness offices. It peaked Aug. 15 with 10 calls.
At least 49 people have died in the Southeast and Midwest from the heat, and Nashville's responders said Monday they are surprised that the city has not had a fatality.
"I think a lot of people are proceeding with caution. They are heeding the warnings," Sluss said.
If someone sees or finds a person unconscious or in distress, call 911, Sluss said. If it's not an emergency or is a check on someone's home, call 862-8600. If you're not sure, call 911.
"We would not scold anyone if they use 911," Sluss said.
Metro's emergency communications office watches for areas generating a lot of heat-related calls.
That's relayed to the Office of Emergency Management, and workers go door to door, offering water and other help.
The emergency staff also can work with the Nashville Electric Service and the Red Cross to set up shelters or response vans if an area faces a long power outage.
It set up a shelter for the Whites Creek area earlier this month at Haynes Middle School when power went out all day.
Heat affects medicine
Nashville's health providers are seeing the heat's long-term effect, too. There have been seven straight 100-degree days and 15 days when the high was 99 or above.
"We're seeing the heat slowly taking its toll," said Scott Ormond at the Downtown Clinic, which provides primary health care and is giving out water.
Nurses there are seeing people whose medications for heart disease or high blood pressure are not working as they should because the people are not drinking enough water.
Rachel Hester of the Campus for Human Development said many who come to its meals and day room are not able to work in the heat. Those who are already sick are getting worse.
Her agency and the rescue mission are in need of bottled water and food.
They also could use caps and white T-shirts to hand out.
Washcloths can be used by the homeless to wet and cool down.
"Homeless people are really taking care of each other," she said. "I think we're doing OK.
"I think this is a time we have to look out for our fellow man."
Cooling is available
The Metro Action Commission is giving away air conditioners to the elderly and disabled.
It gave away 160 air conditioners from Aug. 2 to Aug. 17, compared with the 155 it gave away from May 1 to Aug. 1, spokeswoman Lisa Gallon said. It has about 40 air conditioners on hand, she said, which should be enough.
It also can help pay utility bills for low-income families. A family of four must make less than $2,151 a month to qualify.
You can apply for an air conditioner and money to pay the bill at the same time.
"What we need is for people who need one to call us," she said.
You also may call if you know of a relative, neighbor or church member who needs help.
On Friday, she said, she went to the home of a 74-year-old woman.
"The conditions, it literally took my breath away," Gallon said. "There are a lot of people in the city just toughing it out."
