Now we are in another race to a different record. This time it is for the greatest number of 100+ days in a year, not consecutive. 1 69 1980 2 56 1998 3 52 1954 4 50 2011* We will definitely make it to 2nd place in this one too and that will be by the middle of next week. By August 31st the weather guy believes we will have 65 days under our belt and there is a very good possibility that we will tie or break the 1980 record of 69 days because we generally have a few 100+ days in Sept. Oh joy, oh joy. Such a fun time being had down here setting daily records and going for the gold in two different events.
You could be suffering from several heat related maladies, plurimus fervens dies or fervens dies recordus comes to mind.....both seem to go into remission as cold weather approaches. Jerry
I am usually afflicted by one of the maladies each August and yes remission does begin sometime in November. I am not sure what is going to happen this year since the affliction began in June, it could be January before any signs of remission are seen. By the way, here is another bit of weather record trivia for you.... We are #1 in the number of 80+ degree over night temperatures at 40 as of this morning. Also 4 of those over night temperatures were 86 degrees which was the highest overnight temperature ever recorded in north Texas.
Presently it is 104 degrees (day 9 of the new consecutive days streak) and has put us in second place for number of days in a year.... 1 69 1980 2 57 2011 and still counting 3 56 1998 4 52 1954
Yesterday, Houston passed the most 100 days in a year record set back in 1980. I haven't been keeping close track of the records, but there's one hard to miss... it's been 100+F every day of August so far.
The extreme high temperatures have stopped for now at 68 days this year of 100+, one day away from tying the record. We have until the end of the year for the temperatures to count so we very easily could at least tie at 69 or even go on to 70...not unheard of to have 100+ temps in Oct. We ended the number of consecutive days of 100+ at 40, 2 shy of tying the record...the second streak of consecutive days was 20 days long. June had 7 100+ days and no record high low temperatures. In July, we didn't have any record breaking high temps because 1980 dominated but we did have 10 record breaking highest overnight lows ranging from 82-86, the 86 deg. being an all time record highest low for July. There were 30 days of 100+ temps in July. For the month of August we had 28 days of 100+ temps including 9 record breaking high temps. There were 20 record breaking highest low overnight temperatures, ranging from 82 to 86. Three times we only got down to 86 overnight and those were all time record highest lows for August. The first 3 days of Sept were 100+ but no records, those were all back in 2000 at 109 each day. Now we really have to get working on finding some rain, preferably a nice slow soaking rain that will last for a couple of weeks to hopefully give plants a chance to revive and soak all the wildfire embers that are deeply buried under mounds of ash that used to be trees and homes.
All of that heat does cause brain damage ya know... I have lived down there and have some myself. My youngest and family are brain damaged from living in Texas too... I cant even get them to move north to a more healthful climate.
This is a most distressing account of heat in your area. I wish that it would be possible for you guys to change venues. Of course I worry about your garden, but also I worry about you guys. Aside from the uncomfortableness of your account, I do find it pretty interesting.
AA, sometimes I do feel crazy because of the heat. I spend most of the summer holed up in the house just trying to make it through. What some people feel in the dead of winter, I feel about summer. Frank, there is perverse feeling of let down to have come that close to two extreme weather records and miss them by 1 and 2 days. And not just on my part, but on the part of the weather forecasters on our local TV stations. Tired, exhausted and miserable from the continued heat, but 'Darn we missed it by just this much' Sjoerd, I get depressed watching my plants die, most are not going dormant to protect themselves from the heat, they are dead. I really want to get out in the yard now that the mornings are very comfortable but it is very distressing to see what has become of my garden and wonder how I will ever get things cleaned up and replanted. I used to want to move north and live someplace cooler but being native Texans we just can't leave the state where our family history is.
I wanted to ask you about this. If it were me I would be peeved that it was so close but not close enough!
Drum roll Please!!! We have finally tied 1980 for the number of 100+ days in one year. It's 102 at this time. Tomorrow is forecast to be 105 and Wednesday to be 100. Looks like we will take first place away afterall. At least this time the nights have been cool which means there is no residual heat from the day before that will make the days as miserable as in August.
The record now belongs to the year 2011. Yesterday was day 70 and the temp was 107. It might reach 100 again today but actually who the heck cares, I sure don't anymore. My garden is fried, the ground is like concrete and last months water bill was in the triple digits along with the temps (right up there with the hottest temp in August)
You know, I always thought I wouldn't mind moving to Texas, if I had the choice. I have changed my mind. I think I will stay right here for the time being. Never had a forest fire, never had standing water over the road, no hurricanes no 100+ temps for days on end...pretty tame here. You all have my sympathy and I really hope your weather pattern changes soon and you get some of the moisture you so desperately need.
