Climate change leaving East Tennessee with warmer mornings
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) — Those hot temperatures and extended heat waves have climatologists alerting how climate change is happening right here in east Tennessee.
People planning their days around the heat may see some different trends that could last for years to come.
A recent climate study revealed that Knoxville has had an abnormal amount of mornings where temperatures are above 90.
Thursday, just after sunrise, the whistles were blowing for the Sevier County Smoky Bears, practicing early to beat the heat.
The marching band was prepping a Latin show for 2025. The band was already sizzling from the sun as temperatures approached 80 by 10 a.m.
“Well, it’s hot, I’ll tell you that,” said Drum Major Abigail Hallam. “But, it is absolutely wonderful. We’re doing what we love, trying to put on a good show for this fall.”
For the band, it’s all about finding the shade and water through practice.
“It breaks about every 10 minutes, 10 or so minutes, and during that we get in the shade, talk about stuff we need to fix, stuff that can help, just to pump each other, keep each other up,” said Slade Hickman.
While they’re out at the coolest part of the day, the earliest parts of the days are hotter than ever.
Climatologists have noticed temperatures are starting above 70 more often.
“Practices in the morning, and that’s because it’s typically the coolest part of the day. But when we put that attribution science to work to explain how unusual the warmth is when you walk out the door each day, those numbers are consistently for this heat wave, reaching a climate shift index of five,” said Shel Winkley, a Meteorologist with Climate Matters.
It’s about 17 days in summer where temperatures have been above average. That creates the highest level of climate change on the scale happening right here.
“So what we know about climate change is that summer nights are warming about twice as fast as summer days. Just a lot of us don’t realize it, because we’re sleeping in our air-conditioned homes, right? And we sleep through a lot of that,” he said.
For these teams on the field, getting ready for fall Friday nights, it’s about prepping at night to be ready for the summer heat the next day.
“Always make sure I get enough sleep, drink enough water, just so I’m not completely exhausted and everything when I get out here,” added Hickman.
“We have a limit to how long we can stay out here, but we do take lots of breaks make sure none of our members overheat,” said Hallam.
Climatologists said while the heat is not un-normal, so many days in the morning above 90 and starting above 70 becomes the problem, and creating issues for years to come. More heat evaporates more moisture in the atmosphere, allowing for heavy rains to happen more often.
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