If it seems like there has been lots and lots of hot weather this summer, that’s because there has. Although temperatures have mercifully dropped of late and much-needed rains have fallen, the summer of 2011 is already one for the books in southern Missouri.
According to information on the Weather Underground web site (www.wunderground.com), West Plains experienced a streak of 17 consecutive days with highs at or above 90 degrees that began on July 18 and concluded Wednesday, Aug. 3 when a reading of 108 degrees set an all-time record high in the city for any date since records began being kept in 1948. West Plains’ hot streak included 11 days at or above the 95 mark and six at 97 or higher. And just for good measure, the temperature rose back to 99 last Friday.
Residents of Springfield have had an even hotter go of it this summer.
The Queen City’s streak of consecutive days at or above 90 degrees began on July 14 and ended Monday when the high was only 77 (which followed Sunday’s record high of 102). During that 25-day stretch, there were 20 days at 95 degrees or above, 16 at 97 or higher and a whopping 10 days when the temperature soared into the 100s.
The streak ended with a bang, as record highs were recorded in Springfield on Aug. 1, 2, 3, and 7.
Both Ozarks cities experienced all-time highest minimum temperatures on Aug. 3, as the mercury went down to only 79 in West Plains and 78 in Springfield.