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Remembering Lexington’s hottest day on record

Lexington’s hottest day on record was July 15, 1936 when LEX hit 108°.

Kids kayaking in Jacobson Park's reservoir.

One of our favorite ways to stay cool in LEX is kayaking at Jacobson Park.

Photo courtesy of @lexkyparks

There’s no getting around it: It’s hot, Lexington.

The dogs days of summer bring along heat indexes of over 100° temperatures, so we’re staying inside and looking back at some of the headlines on the hottest days we’ve had here in Lexington.

The day the heat set records

Lexington’s hottest day on record took place on July 15, 1936 when temperatures hit a record-breaking 108°.

That sure puts this weather in perspective, huh? The closest we’ve come to that temperature in the past few years was when temps got to 100° on Sept. 10, 2019.

A newspaper clipping from July 15, 1936

On Lexington’s hottest day, severe weather made the rounds across the country.

Clipping via Newspapers.com

What the headlines said

So, what else was going on in Lexington on the hottest day on record? Looking back, the city’s biggest news included details about the Bluegrass Limited’s first trip, which was a bus that transported Lexingtonians to Louisville and back every day (y’all ok, LOUtoday?)

The paper also covered the intense weather we were having at the time, which quoted Federal Meteorologist J.L. Kendall saying that despite winds + a 20-minute rain, there were “no immediate prospects for relief.”

How to weather the weather today

Okay, so we’re not breaking records (yet), but that doesn’t mean braving this heat is easy. Thankfully, we have 13 museums, 12 vintage and thrift shops, and nearly 15 music venues where you can stay cool inside.

Don’t forget to check in on our city’s inclement weather resources and stay tuned for our fall weather forecast coming soon.

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