National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Contents of This Report:

• Overview
• Heat Waves In Perspective
• Recent Records
• Additional Data for Selected Cities
• Related Links

Overview

In recent days, the area of above normal temperatures has expanded into parts of the East and West. Temperatures during the first 7 days of August were as much as 5 C (9 F) above average in the Central U.S. with anomalies greater than 2.5 C (4.5 F) in the Northeast and parts of the InterMountain West. Daily maximum temperatures have been more than 10 F above the 1961-1990 average on many occasions across many parts of the U.S. The image above shows temperatures more than 12 F above the 1961-1990 average on August 8 across a large part of the Northeast and Upper Midwest. Plots of daily average temperatures and temperature departures from normal are also available for this and other recent days . The adjacent figure shows average daily high temperatures during the month of August (1961-1990 average).

larger image

Heat Waves In Perspective

Although temperatures and humidity levels have been much above average, the number of deaths resulting from this summer's heat has not approached the magnitude of heat waves of the recent past. The 1995 Chicago heat wave resulted in more than 400 deaths in a 9-day period as shown in the adjacent plot. In the disastrous heat wave of 1980, more than 1250 people died across the U.S. as the direct result of extreme conditions, with an estimated 10,000 deaths related to heat stress. Additional information on heat and drought-related deaths and economic impacts during the past 20 years can be found in the Billion-Dollar U.S. Weather Disasters technical report.

larger image

Recent Records

Additional Data for Selected Cities

Related Links

For information on the heat index, heat disorders and hot weather safety tips, visit http://www.crh.noaa.gov/arx/heatindex.html or http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/heat/index.htm

To view NOAA's heat wave story, visit http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories/s702.htm

For all climate questions other than questions concerning this report, please contact the National Climatic Data Center's Climate Services Division:

Climate Services Division
NOAA/National Climatic Data Center
151 Patton Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801-5001
fax: 828-271-4876
phone: 828-271-4800
email: ncdc.orders@noaa.gov

Karin Gleason
NOAA/National Climatic Data Center
151 Patton Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801-5001
fax: 828-271-4328
email: Karin.L.Gleason@noaa.gov

-or-

Jay Lawrimore
NOAA/National Climatic Data Center
151 Patton Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801-5001
fax: 828-271-4328
email: Jay.Lawrimore@noaa.gov

 

http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2001/heatwave/us_heatwave.html
Downloaded Tuesday, 23-Sep-2008 02:25:22 EDT
Last Updated Tuesday, 13-Nov-2007 10:38:22 EST
Please see the NCDC Contact Page if you have questions or comments.