Heat wave continues as the Shoals breaks records

The heat wave of 2007 continued Thursday with another record high temperature in the Shoals.

The temperature at the Northwest Alabama Regional Airport in Muscle Shoals reached 106 degrees at 2:14 p.m., marking the hottest Aug. 16 recorded in the Shoals.

Weather service officials began keeping temperature records in 1893.

The previous Aug. 16 record of 105 degrees was set in 1954, according to National Weather Service archives.

Thursday was the fifth consecutive day the temperature has tied or broken the record high for the date. It was also the 10th day in a row that the temperature reached triple digits in the Shoals.

It has been 16 days since the last rain was recorded at the Muscle Shoals airport. The lack of rain prompted the Alabama Forestry Commission to ban outdoor burning in much of the state, including the Shoals.

State Forester Linda Casey declared a drought emergency in 59 of Alabama's 67 counties Thursday. During the emergency, it is illegal to build a campfire or bonfire, or to burn debris or other material that may cause a wildfire.

Coleen Vansant, information manager for the forestry commission, said the combination of scorching hot temperatures, low humidity and no rain has created prime conditions for wildfires.

"With the bad temperatures the past 10 days, our fire activity is starting to pick up," Vansant said. "We're starting to have the big fires again. The fires are burning hot. They are blowing up into the treetops and are difficult to control."

Casey said some of the fires have threatened homes.

The outdoor burning ban will continue until further notice.

Vansant said the restrictions could last for months. "With us going into fall fire season in six weeks, I could see us staying under this through fall if we don't get some significant rain," she said.

Scattered thundershowers are possible daily today through Wednesday, but no widespread rain is in the forecast.

Dennis Sherer can be reached at 740-5746 or dennis.sherer@timesdaily.com.