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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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