Near Record Heat....Sssssssimmering On.

I have been thinking this is the kind of heat only a reptile could love. So here's a couple more shots from the Lake Carlton photo safari. This guy didn't seem to mind posing for these pictures, and I'm glad the camera was able to capture the detail. Pretty neat shots.
Officially Chattanooga's Lovell Field went to 96 yesterday. But a lone thunderstorm was close enough late in the afternoon to drop the temperature into the low 80s around 5pm. That probably doesn't happen today, so I think the record high of 98 will be challenged. And we may be within a few degrees of the record high 99 tomorrow.
July 2006 was hot. Here's a look back:

• Average Monthly Temp.: 80.7 degrees.....1.1 above average.
• Hottest temp.: 97 on the 19th, 20th.
• Coolest temp.: 63 on the 8th
• July rainfall: 4.47", which was .26" below average.
• 20 days in July with highs of 90 or hotter. That's almost half the annual average of 46 days.

Here's a look ahead at August averages:

• August 1st: 90/70
• August 31st: 86/66
• August Average Rainfall: 3.59"

By the way, May, June, and July have all had below average rainfall.

Today and tomorrow: Hazy, hot and humid with near record highs. Only a 20% chance for an isolated storm. High today: 97 High tomorrow: 96

Thursday through Saturday: Partly cloudy, hot and humid. 30% chance for an afternoon storm. Highs 93 to 96.

A new tropical storm this morning. "Chris" had 40 mph winds at 5 am today. And is expected to have at least 65 mph winds over the next several days. This may be near the Bahamas by early Saturday morning.