Remembering Lakeland's hottest day on record

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

Temperatures are expected to stay well above 90° this week, so we’re staying inside and looking back at some of the headlines on the hottest days we’ve had here in Swan City.

The day the heat set records

Lakeland’s hottest day on record took place on June 4, 1985, when temperatures hit a record-breaking 105°.

That sure puts this weather in perspective, huh? The closest we’ve come to that temperature in the past few weeks was when temps got to 95° on Aug. 13.

What the headlines said

So, what else was going on in Lakeland on the hottest day on record in 1985? Looking back, the city’s biggest news included a county-wide burn ban + water restriction and the resignation of City Manager Robert Youkey, .

The papers also covered the intense weather we were having at the time, saying how the heat index — which reached 125° — heightened the risk of heat exhaustion and stroke to Lakelanders, and also posed a threat to crops, livestock, and poultry.

How to weather the weather today

Okay, so we’re not breaking records (yet) , but that doesn’t mean braving this weather is easy. Thankfully, we have tons of indoor activity recommendations to keep you cool (and dry when the rain inevitably hits) , as well as several spots around town where you can indulge in a picture-perfect frozen treat .

Don’t forget to check in on our city’s inclement weather resources and take a peek at what the rest of the season has in store for us. Who knows, maybe this will be a record-breaking year after all.