The Alabama summer heat seems to be never-ending. But we could be in the hottest part of the summer right now.

A map of typical summertime heat patterns from NOAA shows that the mid-July through mid-August is usually the hottest for Alabama as a whole — and much of the contiguous U.S. as well.

July 15 through Aug. 1 is typically the hottest for most of Alabama. But areas in western and south-central Alabama can be their hottest in early to mid-August.

Areas in Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas are also at their hottest during that part of August.

After mid-August most areas in the continental U.S. are done with their hottest weather. However, areas very close to the Pacific coast in California, Oregon and Washington state typically then begin their hottest stretch of the summer.

All this is based on climate data compiled from 1991-2020, according to NOAA.

Why is the hottest weather later in the summer and not around the time of the summer solstice or the longest day of the year?

According to NOAA, the amount of solar radiation reaching Earth (in the Northern Hemisphere) peaks at the summer solstice on June 21, but temperatures usually continue to increase into July. From NOAA: “The continued warming occurs because the rate of heat input from the sun during the day continues to be greater than the cooling at night for several weeks past the solstice, until temperatures start to descend in late July and early August.”

Most of Alabama was expected to feel above-average temperatures today, and heat advisories are in effect for all but two of Alabama’s 67 counties today.

Highs are expected to climb into the mid- to upper 90s in a lot of spots today.

And extreme Alabama heat frequently continues into September. In fact, Alabama’s hottest temperature on record, 112 degrees, was recorded on Sept. 6, 1925, near Centreville in Bibb County.

Will the hot trends hold true for the rest of July? A look at the Climate Prediction Center’s six- to 10-day temperature outlook shows a good chance of above-average temperatures for Alabama through July 29.