2011 Now hottest feeling year on record?
There is little doubt that this has been a very hot summer, likely an understatement for many. On a strictly temperature stand point though it’s only currently the 5th hottest on record since 1939 and the 7th hottest since 1878. There’s a split there because from 1878-1939 the temperatures in Charlotte were taken uptown at the post office. Then in 1939 the temperature observations were moved to their current location at the airport.
Though based on another metric this has now become the hottest feeling summer ever. I’m talking about the heat index, or the “feels like” reading. Which if you remember is a calculation of the heat and humidity together and how it makes a human being feel. Remember this post about the heat index back in July. (The Heat Index & Records for Charlotte)
This year so far we have officially surpassed the most number of hours with a heat Index of 100° or higher since these records have been kept. Which only started back in 1972 which is 39 years ago.
Today we stand at 131 hours of 100° Heat Indices or higher
You should note that 1999 and 1983 had more hours of 105° plus which made them feel likely even hotter. This summer has had the most combined hours above 100°. If you like you can see the complete rundown of data below. Remember, we still have over a month left in astronomical summer!
Heat Index Counts for KCLT from 1972 through 2011
| Year | 100-104 | 105-109 | 110-114 | ≥115 | Total |
| 1972 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 1973 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| 1974 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 1975 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 1976 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 1977 | 98 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 103 |
| 1978 | 40 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 48 |
| 1979 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 |
| 1980 | 80 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 90 |
| 1981 | 31 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 32 |
| 1982 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1983 | 52 | 25 | 4 | 0 | 81 |
| 1984 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1985 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1986 | 73 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 73 |
| 1987 | 64 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 64 |
| 1988 | 46 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 51 |
| 1989 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| 1990 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 |
| 1991 | 76 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 78 |
| 1992 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 |
| 1993 | 100 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 104 |
| 1994 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 1995 | 44 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 |
| 1996 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 1997 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| 1999 | 56 | 31 | 5 | 0 | 92 |
| 2000 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 |
| 2001 | 26 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 29 |
| 2002 | 47 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 48 |
| 2003 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| 2004 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | 40 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 46 |
| 2006 | 29 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 30 |
| 2007 | 44 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 48 |
| 2008 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| 2009 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 2010 | 111 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 130 |
| 2011 | 105 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 131 |
| Sum Avg |
1424 36 |
149 4 |
11 0 |
0 0 |
1584 40 |
