25th Anniversary of the 1980 Texas Heat Wave

[CaptinCrunch]

For those of us who live in the South and Southwest we know it can get pretty HOT for periods of time, but in 1980 just about the entire state of Texas was feeling the effects of the longest and hottest Summer recorded. There were 69 100-degree days, the most of any year. Additionally, the thermometer exceeded 100 at DFW on 42 consecutive days, from June 23rd to August 3rd. The warmest temperatures ever recorded the Dallas-Fort Worth area --- 113 degrees --- occurred June 26th and 27th. July averaged the warmest ever, and there were 37 maximums that tied or set records for the date, the most for a single year. All told, there were 60 deaths statewide, and near 1300 nationwide. The heat was accompanied by a drier than normal pattern that prevailed most of the year.

100°F Weather Summary for Dallas/Fort Worth

Most: 69 (1980)
Least: 0 (1906, 1973)
Most consecutive: 42 (Jun 23 - Aug 3, 1980)
Most in a month: 31 (Jul 1980)

Fast Facts for Summer of 1980

29 tied or broken daily records
Highest temperature: 113°F (Jun 26, Jun 27, all time record)
Highest monthly average maximum temperature: 105.3°F (July, all time record)
Highest monthly average: 92°F (July, all time record)
7th driest June through August: 1.96" (normal 6.36")

[gboudx]

Let's hope that we don't see anything like that this summer. I'm just concerned since we're in a rain deficit. I remember 1998. Geez that was hot.

[CaptinCrunch]

Let's hope that we don't see anything like that this summer. I'm just concerned since we're in a rain deficit. I remember 1998. Geez that was hot.

I Remember that summer very well, that's when I was working as a A/C tech, and when it's 100+ and you add 80 degree air coming off a outside unit it's just HELL with out the fire and pitchforks. That was my last year in that business.

The summer was hot and dry. At DFW, there were 56 100-degree days May-October, 29 of them in a row from July 6-August 3. It was the greatest number of 100 degree days in the metroplex since 1980 (which had 69), and the second longest streak after 1980 (which had 42) . The warmest temperatures were on July 12, when DFW reached 110 degrees. There were 39 official heat-related fatalities, most in Dallas county. The heat and accompanying drought took a large toll on agriculture and livestock, with damage estimated at $1.5 billion statewide.

[gboudx]

That was the summer we moved into our 1st house in Rowlett. I believe it was July 12th that me and my brother-in-law laid down the sod for our backyard. It had to be because I remember my wife bringing us some water and saying, "Y'all know it's 110 out here huh?" As if the sweat dripping off us couldn't answer that question.

[Roxy]

That was the summer our family moved to Houston from Colorado...we moved in August and my dad was SOOO mad that our yard was brown!

LOL!

[CaptinCrunch]

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
240 PM CDT THU JUN 9 2005

.DISCUSSION...
MORNING CLOUDS BECOMING PARTLY CLOUDY EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR
NEXT FEW DAYS. AFTERNOON SEA BREEZE TYPE SHOWERS/ISOLD TSTMS
EXPECTED IN THE SOUTHEAST. OTHERWISE...EVENING CONVECTION FROM THE
PANHANDLE MAY MOVE INTO NORTHWEST COUNTIES OVERNIGHT. REPEAT AGAIN
ON SATURDAY...ALTHOUGH SATURDAY MORNING TSTMS MAY MOVE FAR ENOUGH
SOUTH AND EAST TO ACTUALLY REACH THE METROPLEX. ONLY SLIGHT
CHANCES...BUT MORE THAN RECENT DAYS. NEXT WEEK...BY TUESDAY THE
RIDGE REESTABLISHES AND WE MAY SEE TEMPERATURES NEAR THE TRIPLE
DIGIT POINT. HEAT INDICES WILL SURELY MAKE IT INTO THE 100S. IF
MODELS ARE RIGHT...THIS WILL PERSIST ON THROUGH THE FOLLOWING
WEEKEND.

Well it's about time for the 100+ temps to start showing up, Now if I can just hurry and get the backyard leveled and the POOL up and running by the 4th of July weekend!!