Ask Dan Column for July 25, 2008
From E. Johnson: You showed highs near 100 degrees on the weather map and I was wondering how hot it can get?
The hottest recorded temperature I could find was 136 degrees recorded in El Azsizia, Libya in 1922. Death Valley, California is not far behind; in the summer of 1913 the mercury rose to a sweltering 134 degrees. In 1917, the temperature in Death Valley rose to over 120 degrees for a period of 40 straight days! The overnight temperatures only cooled into the 90s.
Closer to home, most of us remember the summer of 1980. We had day after day of record highs in Green Country. In July, the average temperature was 91.7 degrees in Tulsa, making it the hottest month on record. In fact, that summer there were 50 days of triple-digit temperatures in Oklahoma City. Farmers lost crops, trees and gardens dried up, and we were all rationing water.
The Oklahoma Mesonet is a network of automated weather stations. The hottest they have recorded was 120 degrees in Tipton, OK. That staggering value was reached on 6 different occasions; the most recent was July 27, 1994.
Tulsa reached a 115 in August of 1936. Other cities’ hottest values include: Wichita, KS with 114, Concordia, KS reached 116 once and Wichita Falls’ recorded is 117!
Nightly I have been reminding viewers to take it easy out there. This heat can
sneak up on you and cause some serious health problems. Small children, the elderly, and those who are ill are the most susceptible to heat stress or heat stroke.
Here are some tips to keep in mind:
* Limit your exposure
* Take frequent breaks
* Stay well hydrated (non alcoholic fluids)
* Dress in light clothing
(light colored, light weight, loose fitting clothing)
* Check on friends
* Remember pets
(pets need shelter and cool fresh water)
* Never leave children or pets alone in vehicles.
If you have a weather question, send it to: askdan@kjrh.com
