Weather

It’s official: New heat record set in Savannah

As of July 29, 2016, there were 74 heat exhaustion cases on Hilton Head Island beaches since June 1, officials said. Lifeguards say they’ve seen people pass out in the heat.
As of July 29, 2016, there were 74 heat exhaustion cases on Hilton Head Island beaches since June 1, officials said. Lifeguards say they’ve seen people pass out in the heat. File photo

It’s never been this hot this long.

The temperature reached at least 90 degrees for a record 57th consecutive day in Savannah on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. The previous record ended at 56 days in July 2011.

Savannah is the service’s closest station to Beaufort County.

The record follows the hottest month ever recorded in Charleston.

July was also the second-driest month recorded in Savannah. The lack of rain could be contributing to the sustained high temperatures, National Weather Service meteorologist Pete Mohlin said.

Since the beginning of June, the temperature has reached at least 95 degrees in Savannah 39 times. It has reached 100 degrees on two of those days.

This story was originally published August 17, 2016 at 12:30 PM with the headline "It’s official: New heat record set in Savannah."

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