HIGH POINT, N.C. (WGHP) — We can always count on hot weather in the summer here in North Carolina.
We are now rolling through May, and this is the month when we normally experience our first 90-degree day.
You may be surprised to learn that our first 90 has been arriving later over the years. Over the past 122 years since records began for the Triad in 1903, the first 90-degree day of the year averages to May 19. Since 1950, it has averaged to May 25, and, since 2000, the first has averaged May 29.
The earliest was March 17, 1945, and the latest was July 18, 1971. I prefer years like 1971.
How many of these hot days can we expect?
If we go by all-time, it would be 37 days. Based on records for the Triad, that is the average from 1903-2024.
If we just look at 1903-1950, that period averaged 43 days. That was at a time when most people did not have air conditioning.
In the period from 1950-1999, the average dropped to 32 days.
Since 2000, that number has remained very stable, sitting at 34 days, well below the average from 1903-1950.
The coolest summer we ever had, based on 90-degree days, was 1971 when only seven days got that hot.
The most was 82 days back in 1914.
When we talk about “normals,” we use the most recent 30 years.
We are sitting at 33 days. Over the last two years, we have hit 90 degrees on 29 days in both 2023 and 2024.
