August 2007 Fourth Hottest Ever

COLUMBIA — Columbia weather buffs can write, “Aug. 2007, Fourth Hottest Ever” as the last entry in their climate scrapbooks for August.

The high temperature today at Columbia Regional Airport was 86 degrees, raising the average daily temperature for the month to 82.8 degrees, said Fred Glass, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in St. Louis.

This average places Aug. 2007 in Columbia just behind Aug. 1913, which is currently the third hottest August on record, with an average daily temperature of 83 degrees.

Aug. 1936, which had an average daily temperature of 85.1 degrees, narrowly edges out Aug. 1947, at 85.0 degrees, for the title of “Hottest August,” since record keeping began in 1889.

Aug. 2007 also tallied 25 days with a daily high of at least 90 degrees, 16 days with a high of at least 95 degrees and 6 days with a high of 100 degrees or higher.

Glass said 25 days at 90 degrees or higher ties Columbia with Aug. 1936 and Aug. 1900 for third on the list of most days with a high at or over 90 degrees.

Topping off that list is Aug. 1980 and Aug. 1913 with 27 days of at least 90-degree temperatures. Aug. 1984 ranks second, with 26 days over 90 degrees.

A significant lack of precipitation has also accompanied the record-breaking heat.

As of Aug. 23, the U.S. Drought Monitor had Boone County listed in a “moderate drought.” A moderate drought is defined as “some damage to crops, pastures.”

Missouri State Climatologist Pat Guinan said the current precipitation deficit is “right at about 6½ inches below normal.”

He said the majority of Columbia’s summer precipitation came from only two days — July 19 and Aug. 24.