National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce
August 2007 Heatwave
by Sam Shamburger, Forecaster

A large and intense upper level ridge of high pressure centered over the southern United States brought record heat to Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana from August 8th through August 14th.  Numerous locations saw temperatures rise over the 100 degree mark for the first time in one to two years.  Some areas saw high temperatures soar to readings not seen since the record heat wave that occurred 7 years ago in the summer of 2000.  This oppressive heat has even lasted through the overnight hours, with temperatures only falling into the 70s and lower 80s at night.  Some of these warm overnight temperatures set records, and a few were even the warmest minimum temperatures ever recorded for the month of August.
These extreme temperatures, when combined with dewpoints in the upper 60s to middle 70s, led to dangerous heat index values in the 105 to 112 degree range during the late morning and afternoon hours across the area for several days.  NWS Lake Charles issued near-daily heat advisories to warn the public of the dangerous outdoor conditions caused by the record heat.
 
RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES FOR AUGUST 8-14, 2007
LOCATION
DATE
NEW RECORD
OLD RECORD
Lake Charles LA 8/11/2007 101 in 2007 100 in 1962
Lafayette LA 8/11/2007 101 in 2007 101 in 1925
New Iberia LA 8/11/2007 102 in 2007 100 in 1962
Lafayette LA 8/12/2007 101 in 2007 100 in 1962
New Iberia LA 8/12/2007 101 in 2007 99 in 1962
Lafayette LA 8/13/2007 101 in 2007 100 in 1951
New Iberia LA 8/13/2007 101 in 2007 100 in 1948
Alexandria LA 8/14/2007 103 in 2007 103 in 1962
Lake Charles LA 8/14/2007 102 in 2007 101 in 1925
New Iberia LA 8/14/2007 100 in 2007 100 in 1948
 
RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURES FOR AUGUST 8-14, 2007
LOCATION
DATE
NEW RECORD
OLD RECORD
Lafayette LA 8/8/2007 81 in 2007 78 in 1959
8/9/2007 81 in 2007 78 in 1980
8/10/2007 *82 in 2007 79 in 1969
8/11/2007 *82 in 2007 81 in 1970
8/12/2007 79 in 2007 78 in 1987
8/13/2007 79 in 2007 77 in 1980
New Iberia LA 8/9/2007 77 in 2007 77 in 1999
8/10/2007 *80 in 2007 77 in 1999
8/11/2007 *80 in 2007 76 in 2001
8/12/2007 78 in 2007 78 in 1987
8/13/2007 77 in 2007 77 in 1949
Lake Charles LA 8/12/2007 80 in 2007 78 in 1987
8/14/2007 79 in 2007 78 in 1957
* All-time record for the month of August
 
100+ DEGREE TEMPERATURES SINCE JANUARY 1, 2000
LOCATION
DATE
HIGH TEMPERATURE
Beaumont/Port Arthur TX 7/15/2000 101
7/20/2000 100
8/30/2000 103
8/31/2000 *108
9/1/2000 102
9/2/2000 104
9/3/2000 103
9/4/2000 105
9/5/2000 104
9/21/2005 101
9/22/2005 100
8/11/2007 101
8/12/2007 101
8/13/2007 102
8/14/2007 101
Lake Charles LA 7/15/2000 101
8/30/2000 105
8/31/2000 *107
9/2/2000 101
9/3/2000 103
9/4/2000 105
9/5/2000 104
9/20/2005 100
9/21/2005 101
9/22/2005 100
8/11/2007 101
8/12/2007 100
8/13/2007 102
8/14/2007 102
Alexandria LA 7/16/2000 100
7/19/2000 102
7/20/2000 100
7/21/2000 100
8/10/2000 100
8/11/2000 100
8/16/2000 100
8/17/2000 101
8/18/2000 101
8/19/2000 101
8/20/2000 101
8/21/2000 101
8/26/2000 101
8/27/2000 100
8/29/2000 102
8/30/2000 106
8/31/2000 108
9/1/2000 *109
9/2/2000 106
9/3/2000 106
9/4/2000 107
9/5/2000 107
7/14/2004 100
7/15/2004 101
8/21/2005 100
9/20/2005 101
9/21/2005 100
7/17/2006 100
8/11/2007 103
8/12/2007 100
8/13/2007 103
8/14/2007 103
Lafayette LA 8/30/2000 104
8/31/2000 103
9/1/2000 101
9/2/2000 102
9/3/2000 103
9/4/2000 101
9/5/2000 100
8/16/2006 100
8/11/2007 101
8/12/2007 101
8/13/2007 101
New Iberia LA 7/16/2000 100
8/31/2000 103
9/1/2000 102
9/2/2000 101
9/3/2000 101
9/4/2000 *103
9/5/2000 101
9/6/2000 101
8/11/2007 102
8/12/2007 101
8/13/2007 101
8/14/2007 100
* All-time record high temperature for that location