It's official - at least in my mind. The stretch of 90-degree-plus weather we've seen since in Baltimore since July 27 has been worse than the similar heat wave in 2002. Here's why I think so:

The hot spell in August 2002 lasted 11 days - from Aug. 10 to 20. The daily highs at BWI ranged from 90 degrees to 99 degrees. The average daily high reading during that period was an even 95 degrees.

The 2006 heat wave began July 27 and has continued (so far) through Aug. 6 - also 11 days. But the daily highs at BWI this time have ranged from 90 degrees to 100 degrees. And the average daily high came to 95.45 degrees.

So, the upper end of the range was a degree higher, and the average high was higher. In my book, that makes this stretch of summer heat in Baltimore worse than than in 2002.

And we may not be done with it yet. Today's forecast high at BWI is 92 degrees. If we make it, that will bring the current string to 12 days.  After that, happily, we should see daytime highs closer to the long-term average - in the mid-to upper 80s.

One thing seems clear: the 21-day ordeal of hot - (90-degree-plus, ranging from 90 to 103) - weather in July/August 1988 still takes the cake for duration, at least in recent memory. But it's notable that the average daily high during that period was 93.76 degrees, cooler than either heat wave in 2006 or 2002.