Heat Island Effect

[Curt]

I thought I would post a thread documenting the obvious heat islands in the state of TN. Memphis Int'l has always been a heat island especially over the last 10 years. In fact, it is getting to the point that the micro climate of the airport and city are truly out of synch with the rest of the metro area and certainly rural areas outside of Memphis. Last year, it took Memphis Int'l a month longer to experience frost and and freeze than did the burbs. I have noticed a distinct change in Nashville Int'l as well over the last year or two as temps are considerably higher than outlying areas. It will be interesting to see the difference this year between the first freeze in the city and the burbs. Most of the time, the zone forecast for Shelby has no range. The temp at my house in Arlington was 41 this morning.

From 10/3- all locations within Shelby County:
MEMPHIS                                     76     52     
NWS MEMPHIS                              74     45     
MEMPHIS ZOO                              72     49     
GERMANTOWN                              75     44     
COLLIERVILLE                               73     43     

[Clay]

You really notice temperature differences in Middle Tennessee because of our hilly topography. Elevations just here in Davidson Co. range from about 350ft to nearly 1175ft in the southern part of the county.

[StormNine]

A lot of times it will be those top elevations that get the snow.  While the lower elevations like the NWS office will get hardly anything. 

[Cameron K.]

You really notice temperature differences in Middle Tennessee because of our hilly topography. Elevations just here in Davidson Co. range from about 350ft to nearly 1175ft in the southern part of the county.

Brentwood and Southern Davidson do get quite hilly.


Same here Clay. I know for sure the hill right next to me is 1040ft. Just about every time it rains the some of the hills will be in the clouds.

[Clay]

A mile behind me a hill gets up to about 1070ft from 700ft (about what I sit at) but it is over a small gradient so the roads get step. I know some of the best views of Nashville that most are unaware of. I can share if you all like.

[Thundersnow]

A mile behind me a hill gets up to about 1070ft from 700ft (about what I sit at) but it is over a small gradient so the roads get step. I know some of the best views of Nashville that most are unaware of. I can share if you all like.

Oak Hill/Forest Hills/Brentwood Hills area, I presume.  Have you ever hiked up to the top of Shy's Hill (off Harding Place in Green Hills)?  That's a neat place (some Civil War trenches up there left from the Battle of Nashville... along with a view of downtown).  There are some great vistas from some of the hills west of Belle Meade as well (Nine Mile Hill to Luke Lea Heights in Percy Warner Park).

[CookevilleWeatherGuy]

I thought I would post a thread documenting the obvious heat islands in the state of TN. Memphis Int'l has always been a heat island especially over the last 10 years. In fact, it is getting to the point that the micro climate of the airport and city are truly out of synch with the rest of the metro area and certainly rural areas outside of Memphis. Last year, it took Memphis Int'l a month longer to experience frost and and freeze than did the burbs. I have noticed a distinct change in Nashville Int'l as well over the last year or two as temps are considerably higher than outlying areas. It will be interesting to see the difference this year between the first freeze in the city and the burbs. Most of the time, the zone forecast for Shelby has no range. The temp at my house in Arlington was 41 this morning.

From 10/3- all locations within Shelby County:
MEMPHIS                                     76     52     
NWS MEMPHIS                              74     45     
MEMPHIS ZOO                              72     49     
GERMANTOWN                              75     44     
COLLIERVILLE                               73     43     

Man-made Global Warming Fanatics would use today's Memphis numbers as 'proof' of their agenda...

[Clay]

Oak Hill/Forest Hills/Brentwood Hills area, I presume.  Have you ever hiked up to the top of Shy's Hill (off Harding Place in Green Hills)?  That's a neat place (some Civil War trenches up there left from the Battle of Nashville... along with a view of downtown).  There are some great vistas from some of the hills west of Belle Meade as well (Nine Mile Hill to Luke Lea Heights in Percy Warner Park).

I've driven to just about every 1000ft+ summit in South Nashville just for the heck of it and to snap some shots with the digital camera. (Those boring Sunday afternoons) I'll name a few that were very good. Top of Treemont of Tyne. Inns of Granny White. Any of those nice subdivisions of Otter Creek Rd have some nice summits. On Hillsboro Rd. near the new Covenant Church right before you go down into Green Hills.

[Cameron K.]

I've driven to just about every 1000ft+ summit in South Nashville just for the heck of it and to snap some shots with the digital camera. (Those boring Sunday afternoons) I'll name a few that were very good. Top of Treemont of Tyne. Inns of Granny White. Any of those nice subdivisions of Otter Creek Rd have some nice summits. On Hillsboro Rd. near the new Covenant Church right before you go down into Green Hills.

Slap up some pictures (just 1 or 2) that is if it's not to much trouble if you get the time. I'll do the same for my area. Yes Hillsboro Rd is has a real pretty view of Downtown Nashville. Especially during the evenings with a vanilla sky.

[Thundersnow]

Another good view is up Hillview Dr. on the Brentwood side of the hills off Old Hickory Blvd. (across from Maryland Farms... west of Franklin Rd).  That's a steep road up there.  But, the view back to the south (toward Brentwood/Franklin) is pretty spectacular.

As an aside, I have noticed when we have snow, there can be visibly more up on those hill tops, and it takes a little longer to melt than down lower.

[Curt]

Man-made Global Warming Fanatics would use today's Memphis numbers as 'proof' of their agenda...

You are so correct and it is so bogus to think that way. It is a no brainer that micro climates exist within cities due to a number of factors (ie asphalt,buildings, etc...) Radiational cooling nights require light winds in which Memphis Int'l cannot achieve due to overnight FedEx operations amongst other factors. Increased temp similarities result from diffferent sources in this case. Micro climates are very different from Macro climates involving a much more diverse and complex set of factors not withstanding the ozone layer in the atmostphere.

We need to be stewards of what God has created for us; however Iam not a believer in global warming as deduced by today's left leaning, creation-worshipping bleeding heart liberals who use scare tactics for political gain. Wow I had no idea this thread would go in this direction!

[CookevilleWeatherGuy]

You are so correct and it is so bogus to think that way. It is a no brainer that micro climates exist within cities due to a number of factors (ie asphalt,buildings, etc...) Radiational cooling nights require light winds in which Memphis Int'l cannot achieve due to overnight FedEx operations amongst other factors. Increased temp similarities result from diffferent sources in this case. Micro climates are very different from Macro climates involving a much more diverse and complex set of factors not withstanding the ozone layer in the atmostphere.

We need to be stewards of what God has created for us; however Iam not a believer in global warming as deduced by today's left leaning, creation-worshipping bleeding heart liberals who use scare tactics for political gain. Wow I had no idea this thread would go in this direction!

I would encourage you to read the Science/Weather Blog called "Watts Up With That"....he has a series called "How Not To Measure Temperature" that is quite good. 

[StormNine]

That is probably what is happening they are using the heat island numbers to really mess with the average to make it feel like our world is burning up.

[Cameron K.]

It's a pretty clever yet unaccurate way of "proving" global warming.

[Thundersnow]

It may be inadvertent as much as it is clever.  Since reporting stations tend to be in cities/metropolitan areas, and since cities tend to grow and built outward over time... the overall average becomes more affected by urban heat islands.