Published on 08/09/07

Health concerns mount with several days around 100

By David Emory Stooksbury
University of Georgia

The impact of hot weather on human and animal health is cumulative and increases with the number of days without relief. Researchers have found a large increase in people and animals suffering major heat-related health problems beginning on the third day of a heat wave.

Just as important, and sometimes more important, is how much cooling occurs at night. If the heat index at night doesn't fall below 74 degrees, people and animals have a hard time recovering from the daytime heating. Without adequate recovery time in a cool environment, heat-related health problems increase.

The heat-related health problems are a concern especially for the elderly, those with underlying health problems and those on medications that interfere with the body's ability to cool.

Because of the dire consequences of heat-related medical problems, be sure you check or friends and relatives during the current heat wave.

Since the impact of heat is cumulative, check a number of times over the next several days. Even when the high temperatures fall back into the middle 90s, checking on family and friends is still in order.

Animals that can't get to well-ventilated shade and don't have a ready supply of cool, fresh, drinking water are also at risk. A doghouse in an open pen doesn't supply well-ventilated shade.

Many locations in Georgia are approaching 103 degrees this week. Here are the last times these Georgia places reached 103 degrees or higher prior to 2007:

Albany: June 26, 1998 (103 degrees).
Alma: July 20, 2000 (104).
Athens: July 31, 1999 (103).
Atlanta: July 17, 1980 (105 - record high for Atlanta).
Augusta: Aug. 4, 2006 (103).
Blairsville: Has never recorded a temperature greater than 100.
Columbus: Aug. 18, 2000 (104).
Rome: Aug. 22, 1983(103).
Savannah: July 20, 2000 (104).

Below are runs of three or more 100-degree days in a row since 1950:

Albany (last 100 degree day before 2007: July 16, 2006)::

Aug. 1-3, 1999
June 28 - July 2, 1998
June 22-26, 1998
June 21-23, 1990
July 31 - Aug. 3, 1986
July 20-22, 1986
July 13-16, 1986
June 5-7, 1985
July 25-27, 1983
July 23-25, 1981
July 15-18, 1981
June 16-24, 1981
Aug. 21-23, 1980
Aug. 6-10, 1980
July 9-15, 1980
July 4-6, 1979
June 13-15, 1963
May 26-28, 1962
May 20-22, 1962
September 10-12, 1954
July 16-18, 1951
June 26-28, 1950

Alma (last 100 degree day before 2007: Aug. 6, 2006):

June 22-25, 1998
Aug. 25-31, 1995
Aug. 16-20, 1995
July 30-Aug. 2, 1986
June 2-6, 1985
July 14-17, 1981
July 11-13, 1980
Aug. 6-8, 1963
June 26-28, 1954
July 23-25, 1952
July 13-15, 1951

Athens (last 100 degree day before 2007: Aug. 4, 2006):

Aug. 6-9, 2007
July 30 - Aug. 1, 1999
July 27-29, 1993
July 18-22, 1993
July 18-21, 1986
June 4-6, 1985
Aug. 19-24, 1983
July 21-24, 1983
Aug. 6-9, 1980
July 1-3, 1970
June 20-22, 1964
July 1-3, 1954
July 27-29, 1952
June 26-28, 1952

Atlanta (last 100 degree day before 2007: Aug. 18, 2000):

July 27-29, 1993
July 19-21, 1986
Aug. 6-9, 1980
July 11-13, 1980
July 22-24, 1952

Augusta (last 100 degree day before 2007: Aug. 4, 2006):

Aug. 5-9, 2007
Aug. 10-14, 1999
July 30 - Aug. 1, 1999
June 27-30, 1998
July 28-30, 1993
July 19-21, 1993
July 9-11, 1993
July 3-6, 1993
June 8-11, 1993
July 5-11, 1990
June 29 - July 1, 1990
July 22-24, 1987
July 18-21, 1986
July 8-11, 1986
June 1-6, 1985
Aug. 19-23, 1983
Aug. 5-8, 1980
July 11-13, 1980
June 27-29, 1978
July 20-22, 1977
July 7-12, 1977
Aug. 21-24, 1968
July 31 - Aug. 3, 1953
July 28-30, 1952
July 20-24, 1952
June 24-28, 1952
July 12-14, 1951
June 24-27, 1950

Blairsville (last 100 degree day before 2007: June 29, 1936) Blairsville has only reached 100 degrees three times since temperature records started in 1931:

July 23, 1934
July 25, 1934
June 29, 1936

Columbus (last 100 degree day before 2007: July 16, 2006):

Aug. 16-19, 2000
July 30 - Aug. 2, 1999
Aug. 14-18, 1995
July 20-22, 1993
July 30 - Aug. 2, 1986
July 19-21, 1986
June 4-6, 1985
Aug. 20-24, 1983
July 10-14, 1980
July 13-16, 1977
July 6-8, 1977
July 23-25, 1952

Macon (last 100 degree day before 2007: Aug. 4, 2006):

Aug. 7-9, 2007
July 18-21, 2006
June 21-23, 2006
July 17-19, 2002
Aug. 11-14, 1999
July 31 - Aug. 2, 1999
June 28-30, 1998
July 26-29, 1993
July 16-21, 1993
July 6-10, 1990
June 30-July 2, 1990
June 19-21, 1990
July 28 - Aug. 2, 1986
July 18-21, 1986
July 8-13, 1986
June 2-6, 1985
Aug. 19-24, 1983
July 22-25, 1983
July 14-17, 1981
Aug. 20-22, 1980
Aug. 5-9, 1980
July 9-13, 1980
June 27-30, 1978
July 12-14, 1977
July 6-8, 1977
June 27-29, 1977
June 12-14, 1977
July 1-3, 1970
Aug. 21-24, 1968
July 12-14, 1966
June 27-30, 1959
Aug. 11-13, 1954
June 30 - July 3, 1954
June 25-28, 1954
July 28-30, 1952
July 23-25, 1952
July 19-21, 1952
June 24-28, 1952
July 14-16, 1951
July 24-27, 1950

Rome (last 100 degree day before 2007: Aug. 11, 2006):

July 28-30, 1993
July 6-9, 1977
Aug. 31-Sept 2, 1957
Aug. 1-3, 1957
Aug. 9-12, 1956
July 28-30, 1955
September 3-7, 1954
Aug. 14-18, 1954
July 13-16, 1954
July 4-8, 1954
June 30-July 2, 1954
June 26-28, 1954
July 27-29, 1952
July 22-25, 1954

Savannah (last 100 degree day before 2007: July 15, 2006):

June 28-30, 1998
July 16-18, 1993
July 10-12, 1993
July 18-21, 1986
July 8-12, 1986
June 1-4, 1985
July 17-19, 1983
July 13-16, 1981
June 21-23, 1981
June 15-18, 1981
July 10-13, 1980
July 7-9, 1977
Aug. 4-6, 1954
July 23-25, 1952
June 24-27, 1952

Updated weather information is at www.georgiaweather.net. This University of Georgia network has 71 automated weather stations statewide.

(David Emory Stooksbury is the state climatologist and a professor of engineering and atmospheric sciences in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.)

David Emory Stooksbury is associate professor of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Experts/Sources:

David E. Stooksbury, Ph.D.

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