Heat update: 47 days of 100s in Abilene now second hottest year

Greg Jaklewicz, Abilene Reporter-News
·2 min read

With a high of well past 100 on Wednesday, 2022 moved into the No. 2 slot for all-time hottest years for Abilene.

Power providers AEP and Reliant again issued statements asking Texas residents to back off electricity use for six hours, from 2-8 p.m., when AC use peaks. Those warnings likely will continue.

Some cloud cover Tuesday kept the temperature lower than previous days at 104. Still, Abilene tied the 1934 total of 46 days.

On Wednesday, 2022 took the No. 2 spot all to itself, with the temperature back at 104 degrees by 2 p.m.

Only 2011 has been hotter with 81 days of 100 or more.

Over the weekend, it was 107, 106 and 106, with 106 again Monday. The average high temperature in July is right at 104 degrees. The "coolest" day was July 3 at 99.

This is a departure of plus 6.7 degrees from a typical July.

The updated forecast for the next few days: 105 Wednesday, 104 Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and 105 Sunday through Tuesday. If that plays out, Abilene will pass 50 days of 100s.

How does this compare with 2021? Abilene did not record a 100-degree day until July 25.

Here is the list of the most 100-degree days in a year:

1. 81 - 2011

2. 47 - 2022

3. 46 - 1934

4. 44 - 1943

5. 43 - 1952

6. 42 - 1980 and 1978

8. 40 - 2012 and 2000

10. 37 - 1998 and 1953

July and August normally are the city's hottest months, though this year we had a record 14 100-degree days in May and a record-tying 21 days in June.

AEP asked customers to set thermostats 2-3 degrees warmer than normal. Every degree the temperature is dropped increased energy use 6% to 8% percent, so a 75-degree setting saves use and cost far more than 72 degrees.

Also, avoid using large appliances such as washing machines and dryers during the heat of the day., and to keep blinds closed to keep in the cool.

There is no rain predicted this week by the NWS. Currently, the year has produced 4.64 inches of precipitation, 8.82 inches below normal.

At this point in 2021, we had measured 19.45 inches of rain.

Greg Jaklewicz is editor of the Abilene Reporter-News and general columnist. If you appreciate locally driven news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com.

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Heat update: 47 days of 100s in Abilene now second hottest year