Hey Birmingham, temperatures have topped 90 degrees every day in September. Stay safe this weekend

Screen Shot 2019 09 14 at 6.31.53 AM Hey Birmingham, temperatures have topped 90 degrees every day in September. Stay safe this weekend
Screenshot of Birmingham’s temperatures for September from AccuWeather.

On Friday, September 13th, the mid-day temperature in Birmingham topped 99 degrees.  Well, at least we were not Chattanooga, which blew past 100 degrees and reached 103!

Fun fact for us weather geeks out there:

Temperatures in Birmingham have topped 90 degrees every day during the first two weeks of September 2019 and according to AccuWeather expect that trend to continue until the end of September.

In fact, AccuWeather’s long term forecast predicts Birmingham will be 5 to 11 degrees above the historic average until September 28th!

Screen Shot 2019 09 14 at 6.32.15 AM Hey Birmingham, temperatures have topped 90 degrees every day in September. Stay safe this weekend
Screenshot from AccuWeather’s September temperature predictions for the next two weeks in Birmingham, Alabama – September 15-28, 2019.

2nd Year in a Row for Hot September Weather

Is September the new August in Birmingham?

Last year in 2018, Birmingham experienced a similar heat wave with 12 straight 90 degree plus days.  Here was our Bham Now story last year:

Birmingham has experienced 12 straight days of 90 plus temperatures. We ask WIAT CBS 42’s Ashley Gann about the present heat wave.

Stay Safe Birmingham

Earlier this summer, Bham Now’s Beth Cunningham published a heat wave safety guide.  Below are 5 useful tips from that story.  We added one additional tip about ozone air pollution.

Check out the list – and stay safe!

1. Bring in your Pets

If you have dogs, cats, or other small animals who normally live outside, bring them inside! Make sure they have water available.

Screen Shot 2019 09 14 at 7.14.56 AM Hey Birmingham, temperatures have topped 90 degrees every day in September. Stay safe this weekend

If you have horses or other large animals, be sure to keep them in a shaded area, give them lots of fresh, cool water, and check on them frequently. Large fans or misting can be helpful as well!

2. Check on your Relatives & Neighbors

That Birmingham community spirit is exhibited all the time in the Magic City! It is so important for us to look out for our neighbors, especially during extreme weather.

Collat Hey Birmingham, temperatures have topped 90 degrees every day in September. Stay safe this weekend
Photo via United Way of Central Alabama

If you have elderly or shut-in neighbors and relatives, drop by and check on them! Make sure they have everything they need and let them know they can call you if necessary.

3. Eat Cool!

Don’t turn the oven or stovetop on. Make a salad or a sandwich instead!

Don’t forget to stay hydrated. Drink lots of water and make sure your kids do, too.

IMG 9866 Hey Birmingham, temperatures have topped 90 degrees every day in September. Stay safe this weekend
Magic City Sweet Ice Wani Shaw serving a scoop of ice cream. Photo by Pat Byington for Bham Now

Looking for some sweet treats to cool down with? Check out our 10 favorite summer popsicles, or 21 delicious ice cream shops in Birmingham.

4. Stay Inside

Some Birmingham kiddos are back in school this week, but for the little ones, don’t miss these 8 places to take your kids when it’s too hot out.

Adults—a few of those options are no-kids-required, such as the Birmingham Art Museum! One of our resident Bham Nowers claims that movie theatres have great AC, so go catch a flick while you cool off.

5. Triple-Check the Backseat!

Even if the windows are lowered, pets and kids still should never be left in a hot car.

We’ve all heard the horror stories, and you may think it could never happen to you! Before you get out of your car, triple-check and make sure you’re not locking a child, pet, or even an adult in a hot vehicle.

In these temperatures, it only takes minutes for a hot car to become dangerous and even deadly.

6. Make Sure the Air is Safe to Breathe

Birmingham issued three Orange Air Quality Alert Days this past week for Ozone pollution. Visit regularly the Alabama Partners for Clean Air website especially on  cloudless days over 90 degrees – the best conditions for high ozone days.

Stay safe out there, Birmingham! Let us know how you’re staying cool by tagging us on social @BhamNow

Pat Byington
Pat Byington

Longtime conservationist. Former Executive Director at the Alabama Environmental Council and Wild South. Publisher of the Bama Environmental News for more than 18 years. Career highlights include playing an active role in the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild program, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Dugger Mountain Wilderness, preservation of special places throughout the East through the Wilderness Society and the strengthening (making more stringent) the state of Alabama's cancer risk and mercury standards.

Articles: 2610