More hots: Quantifying upward trends in the number of extremely hot days and nights in Tallahassee, Florida, USA: 1892–2018

Abstract

AbstractHot day and night occurrences in Tallahassee, Florida, USA are analysed and modelled. A hot day is defined as one during which the high temperature exceeds 100°F (37.8°C). A hot night is defined as one during which the low temperature fails to drop below 77°F (25°C). The U.S. National Weather Service Office (WSO) Tallahassee official record shows an upward trend in the number of hot days at a rate of 2.1% (±.96% margin of error [moe]) per year and a more pronounced upward trend in the number of hot nights at a rate of 4.5% (±.71% moe) per year. Increasingly frequent hot days and nights result from more and longer hot events (consecutive hot days/nights). Upward trends estimated from a 127‐year time series of annual hot day/night counts, with the years prior to 1940 adjusted for location, are consistent with upward trends estimated over the shorter, more recent, period. With projected continued warming we expect more hot days and nights making uncomfortable and unhealthy conditions more common in the city.