Monday, August 31, 2009
Weather columnist Kevin Myatt: 90 is hard to reach for in '09
Kevin Myatt is The Roanoke Times' weather columnist.
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In an average August, there are nine days that reach 90 degrees or higher in Roanoke.
But in 2009, there have only been nine days that have reached 90 degrees on higher in the entire year through August. A typical year has 33 days of 90-plus heat.
August has had four 90-degree days, more than any other month this year, including the longest stretch of 90-degree weather this season, a three-day period from Aug. 9 to 11. That included the year's highest temperature to date, 92 on Aug. 9.
That's the closest thing to a "heat wave" that summer '09 has been able to produce.
With a cloudy, showery day today that might struggle to reach even 70, it's pretty safe to say 90-degree weather is over for August.
Whether there will be a 10th 90-degree day in 2009 is doubtful.
September averages four 90-degree days, according to National Weather Service statistics. But there is a tendency for hot fall weather to be more likely if the summer before it was hot.
Don't look for any 90-degree weather this week. In fact, with a shot of cooler air from Canada arriving, it will take a push just to reach 80 by late in the week.
