Well, depends on where you live. In Houston, August 1980 wasn't terrible: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/h ... 285882.php. Only 5 days in triple digits. 'Course, in 1980 we still recorded official temperatures at Hobby Airport; that hadn't moved to IAH yet. So there'd be a variance. Plus that June was a scorcher; each of June and July that year had more 100 degree days than August.wheelgun1958 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 11, 2023 11:34 am The heat this year is no different than any other. Remember 1980?
The hottest August here was 2011. We had 30 days of 100 or higher, and the all-time record for any day was set on August 27, 2011, at 109 degrees. This August is already in #2 place, with 1993 #3 with 14 days; 1999 in 4th with 10 days; and 1902 5th with 9 days. But our 10-day doesn't show us going below 100 unless we get some storms 8 days from now.
Overall, for June, July, August, and September combined, in Houston 2011 ranks #1 with 46 days above 100; 1980 is #2 with 32; 1998 #3 with 24; and we'll be passing 2022 as of Monday for #4...and we have 51 days left to add to that count in 2023.
The big difference statewide, though, is the power grid and demand. In 1980, the population of Texas was 14.23 million. I can't say how much in the way of improvement has been done, but the Great February Freeze makes me think it has not more than doubled its efficiency. The 2022 population was 30.67 million, and we're projected right now to have 31.17 million...but given the Biden Border I expect that's way too low. More people, more energy demand.
If mandatory rolling blackouts start, it ain't gonna make people, plants, or sensitive electronics very happy.