AS THE miserable summer of 2000 gives way to fall, the heat is
still a constant source of conversation throughout the Delta.
How hot has it been? When has it been worse?  1980 Often 1980 is
cited as having been the last summer with such heat and drought.
Are the comparisons valid? They're pretty close, says Bart
Freeland.  "In 1980, August wasn't nearly as hot as this year.
July 1980, on the other hand, averaged 96.3 degrees. This year,
the temperature in July averaged 94 degrees. Those temperatures
were taken in Stoneville, Miss., and are the average daily
maximum temperatures."  This summer, Stoneville has seen 12 days
where temperatures have either met or beat previous records. The
hottest summer on record was 1930 when the entire month of July
averaged over 100 degrees, says Freeland, who works at the Delta
Research Extension Center's Weather/GIS Data Center.
"Comparisons in rainfall shows that the 30-year average for July
is 3.66 inches. This year we received 0.64 inch. In 1980, we
received 1.46 inches.