Page 122 - CHASING THE WIND EDIT

The hurricane season of 2017 brought unprecedented flooding to large parts of Texas,
Florida and Puerto Rico. Our (Northeast FL – Southeast GA) problem was the
combination of nor-easter winds, exceptionally high tides from the solar-lunar phases,
coastal and lowland development, and widespread heavy rainfall from Hurricane Irma
that drenched the entire state from the Atlantic and Gulf coasts into southeastern US.
Eastern Texas received historical rainfall - totals up to 60 inches. It will take many
years for Puerto Rico to recover from the double whammy hit from Hurricanes Irma
and Maria.

CHAPTER 36 - Extreme Weather – Hot
Jacksonville’s official highest recorded temperature was 104 degrees on July 28, 1872,
and July 7, 1954.

The one-hundred-degree mark is usually not reached during many summers because
the rising inland heat is often replaced with a cooling sea breeze from the Atlantic
Ocean, or because of the cooling effect of convective clouds and scattered afternoon
showers.

Heat waves usually affect our area when the atmosphere is extremely dry and a
westerly breeze blocks the coastal seabreeze. One of the hottest days occurred in 1954
on June 28 when the mercury hit 103 degrees.

The most extreme heat waves on record occurred during the summers of 1980 and
1981. On July 11, 12 and 13, 1980 the temperatures were 100, 102 and 102
respectively. The following summer was even hotter.

The heat wave started on July 11, 1981, with 100 degrees, followed by 101 on the 12th
and 13th, 102 on the 14th, 15th and 16th. The 103 degrees reached on July 17, 1981,
was our hottest since 1879.

This heat wave broke all records for the most 100’s in one year. Two other years topped
one hundred. The temperature reached 102 degrees on July 20, 1985, and 102 again on
July 31, 1999.

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