Last month's heat wave broke Richmond County's 129-year record for the highest average temperature for August.

Almost a dozen straight days of triple-digit heat pushed the record to 85.4 degrees, according to Meteorologist Gregory Lamberty of the National Weather Service office in West Columbia, S.C. The previous record of 85 degrees was set in August 1878 - just four years after officials began keeping temperature data for the area.

Mr. Lamberty said the number is about one degree shy of the all-time record average of 86.3 degrees, set in July of 1993.

Assistant state climatologist Pam Knox said there is no clear reason for the high August temperatures but attributed it to a combination of factors.

Natural variability in temperatures and a lingering high pressure system that kept moisture at bay contributed to the problem, she said.

"When you don't have water in the soil then every bit of sunlight that comes in goes to heating up the soil and the air above it, as opposed to evaporating moisture off of bodies of water," Ms. Knox said.

Naturally, temperatures decrease as summer gives way to autumn, but predictions for lower temperatures remain uncertain, Mr. Lamberty said. He said the area has a one in three chance of seeing above-average temperatures this month.