Blount sets record high of 102
By Joel Davis | (joeld@thedailytimes.com)
Record-high temperatures have hit Blount County and East Tennessee, and they will not be going away anytime soon. Friday’s high of 102 broke the record of 101 set in 1936, according to Meteorologist Sam Roberts of the National Weather Service.
The temperature also tied the record high for June, which was set June 18, 1944. The all-time record high is 104 set July 12, 1930.
Roberts said he expected today’s temperatures to be even warmer, and next week will still be very hot, but not at the 100-degree level.
“Hopefully we will get some showers next week, as there is a slight chance, and that will cool things down a little bit,” Roberts said.
Heat index values will be slightly higher than actual high temperatures, so the NWS has posted a heat advisory.
East Tennessee is not sweltering alone. Nashville set an all-time record with a high temperature Friday of 109, breaking the old record by 2 degrees. It was the hottest temperature in Nashville in 141 years of record keeping.
The 106 in Chattanooga tied the all-time record for the city set back on July 28, 1952. In the Tri-Cities, the high hit 102, tying the all-time record set on July 29, 1952.
Friday’s high of 103 in Memphis broke the record for the date, eclipsing the 101 set in 1988.
Indoor activities
Meanwhile, with weekend temperatures forecast to reach triple digits, Blount Countians might want to consider finding indoor activities.
The Blount County Public Library has a few options of offer, according to Executive Director Kathy Pagles. The Knoxville Zoo Mobile will be at the library at 11 a.m. today. It will feature nocturnal animals.
The library also offers story hours at 10 a.m. on Tuesday and Friday mornings. There is Toddler Tadpole Tales at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. There is preschool and early elementary school story time at 10 a.m. on Thursday.
“You can always get a smoothie at the cafe,” Pagles said. “That happens all the time.”
People are welcome to just come hang out in the nice, air-conditioned library, Pagles said, and “look at magazines and get something cool to drink and just relax.”
Daily Times Reporter J.J. Kindred contributed to this story.
