Climate change is here!

[JustBonee]

On the global news tonight they’re showing major floods in the NE US. Once in a 1000 year events.

Same in India and Japan.

I hope none of SF family are in any of these areas.

Vermont has really been hit hard from all the news reports ...

Also, the sizzling HOT areas from Florida to California continue to feel unbearable.
The temperature in Death Valley is expected to get to over 130+ this weekend, breaking all records.

 

[Jackie23]

....many Insurance companies have gone bankrupt or moved out of Florida.

 

[Myrtle]

It doesn't make much sense, air conditioning is not a necessity. I grew up without it, doesn't get much hotter than Louisiana August nights with no AC. But we survived just fine. I have it now, but know its a luxury, one I have earned and pay for, like going out to dinner.

Actually until the 60s or 70s most all of us lived without AC.

I do think heat bothers older people more than kids and can be fatal for the elderly in extreme temperatures. I seem to remember fatalities in some large cities in extremely hot weather.

You are right though, AC is not a necessity for most but I really, really like it.

 

[JustBonee]

I do think heat bothers older people more than kids and can be fatal for the elderly in extreme temperatures. I seem to remember fatalities in some large cities in extremely hot weather.

Studies show that older people, expesically anyone with health issues already, have a harder time of extreme heat.
Everyday now there are reminders given out to the general public in the South and Southwest
.. also many cooling centers are open, as numerous people live without A/C.

From the CDC website
If your body becomes overheated, you can be in danger of heat-related illness. These illnesses can includeexternal icon :

• Heat syncope, or sudden dizziness.
• Heat cramps.
• Heat edema, or swelling in your legs and ankles.
• Heat exhaustion—when your body can no longer stay cool. This often appears as feeling thirsty, dizzy, weak, uncoordinated, or nauseated. You may sweat a lot and have cold and clammy skin or a rapid pulse.
• Heat stroke, which is a medical emergency. Signs can include fainting, behavior changes, high body temperature (over 104° F), dry skin, a strong and rapid pulse, a slow and weak pulse, and no longer sweating even though it’s hot.

https://www.cdc.gov/aging/emergency-preparedness/older-adults-extreme-heat/index.html

 

[Alligatorob]

I do think heat bothers older people more than kids and can be fatal for the elderly in extreme temperatures.

Studies show that older people, expesically anyone with health issues already, have a harder time of extreme heat.

I have heard that, and I am sure there is something to it. Maybe adaptation, take the AC away and an older person does not adapt as well as younger.

My grandparents on both sides lived in Louisiana without air-conditioning and none died of anything heat related, or ever had trouble with the heat that I can recall. Same was true for many other relatives and acquaintances in both Florida and Louisiana. In fact both sets of grandparents refused to install AC when it became available, and would complain about places that had it.

AC is not a necessity for most but I really, really like it.

Me too, would not be without it unless I had to. Not taking after the grands...

 

[JustBonee]

I don't know much about the 60's-70's in the South @Alligatorob , as I was a Yankee living up north back in those days
Did move to Phoenix in the 70's.

Local news (Houston) is saying that we are breaking heat index records everyday now, records that go back to the 1920's.
That plus the length of the misery .... recovery time is harder in the current situation.



Then there are stories like this about Phoenix - from the Washington Post yesterday:

Temperatures are forecast to soar to among the worst in history and set records for electricity demand. Experts worry that this combination could create a nightmare scenario: a brutal heat wave and multiday blackout that, according to one study, could kill thousands of people and send half the city to the emergency room.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/07/13/phoenix-heat-wave-blackout/



@MarkinPhx .... you doing okay?

 

[Don M.]

There is little doubt, in my mind, that the climate is warming. Here, we are having very hot days, with little rain. I have gobs of outdoor things to do, but I can only go out in the mornings....by Noon, it's time to stop. I'm already wishing that October would hurry up and arrive.

 

[MarkinPhx]

I don't know much about the 60's-70's in the South @Alligatorob , as I was a Yankee living up north back in those days
Did move to Phoenix in the 70's.

Local news (Houston) is saying that we are breaking heat index records everyday now, records that go back to the 1920's.
That plus the length of the misery .... recovery time is harder in the current situation.



Then there are stories like this about Phoenix - from the Washington Post yesterday:

Temperatures are forecast to soar to among the worst in history and set records for electricity demand. Experts worry that this combination could create a nightmare scenario: a brutal heat wave and multiday blackout that, according to one study, could kill thousands of people and send half the city to the emergency room.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/07/13/phoenix-heat-wave-blackout/



@MarkinPhx .... you doing okay?

I'm doing fine. Thanks for asking. We are having records for consecutive days over 110 and over but as long as the grid holds up then things will be ok. I do feel bad for the homeless though. I know that there are emergency shelters are being setup but I doubt there will be enough room for those who seek relief.


I just read an article that 12 people have died to heat related instances so far. While sad, that is a relative low number compared to previous years. And two of those deaths occurred because a couple of hikers ignored the closed trail signs and died of heat exhaustion while hiking a city mountain trail at noon.

 

[Alligatorob]

Local news (Houston) is saying that we are breaking heat index records everyday now, records that go back to the 1920's.
That plus the length of the misery .... recovery time is harder in the current situation.

I believe it is getting warmer, but slowly. Temperatures well above 100 were recorded in Houston back as far as I can find records. Though not as often as recently.

Highest temperature recorded at Houston each year

Max °F	Date	Max °C
104	July 10, 2022	40
100	June 13, 2021	38
100	August 16, 2020	38
100	August 14, 2019 +	38
100	August 22, 2018 +	38
102	July 29, 2017	39
99	August 09, 2016 +	37
104	August 11, 2015	40
98	August 25, 2014 +	37
105	June 29, 2013	41
102	June 26, 2012 +	39
106	August 27, 2011	41
99	August 16, 2010 +	37

103	July 05, 2009	39
100	August 02, 2008	38
102	August 12, 2007	39
99	June 13, 2006	37
100	September 21, 2005 +	38
97	September 17, 2004 +	36
102	August 07, 2003	39
97	August 03, 2002	36
97	July 22, 2001	36
108	September 04, 2000	42
101	August 20, 1999 +	38
102	July 17, 1998	39
98	August 21, 1997 +	37
97	August 02, 1996 +	36
99	July 28, 1995	37
97	August 15, 1994 +	36
97	August 18, 1993 +	36
97	August 26, 1992	36
97	July 20, 1991	36
–	1990	–
97	September 02, 1989	36
100	August 08, 1988	38
98	June 25, 1987	37
99	August 02, 1986 +	37
98	September 01, 1985 +	37
97	July 18, 1984 +	36
96	August 31, 1983 +	36
101	August 14, 1982	38
98	July 24, 1981	37
103	July 17, 1980	39
95	July 17, 1979	35
97	July 18, 1978 +	36
98	August 02, 1977 +	37
98	August 07, 1976 +	37
97	July 31, 1975	36
97	July 28, 1974 +	36
97	May 27, 1973	36
97	September 04, 1972	36
99	July 20, 1971	37
99	July 04, 1970	37
101	August 11, 1969 +	38
96	August 22, 1968 +	36
99	June 26, 1967	37
97	July 31, 1966 +	36
100	July 28, 1965	38
101	July 25, 1964	38
100	June 16, 1963	38
106	August 13, 1962	41
96	September 06, 1961 +	36
98	July 30, 1960 +	37
96	August 04, 1959 +	36
100	August 03, 1958 +	38
99	August 18, 1957 +	37
101	September 19, 1956	38
98	August 24, 1955 +	37
104	July 26, 1954	40
100	August 09, 1953	38
98	August 23, 1952 +	37
100	August 17, 1951 +	38
97	September 14, 1950 +	36
100	July 07, 1949	38
101	August 21, 1948 +	38
103	August 09, 1947	39
97	August 19, 1946 +	36
102	August 18, 1945	39
100	August 02, 1944 +	38
99	July 24, 1943	37
95	June 13, 1942	35
98	August 20, 1941	37
99	September 10, 1940	37
104	July 08, 1939	40
97	October 02, 1938	36
100	August 10, 1937	38
99	August 10, 1936	37
100	August 09, 1935	38
100	July 18, 1934 +	38
98	July 11, 1933 +	37
102	July 17, 1932 +	39
97	September 09, 1931 +	36
102	August 19, 1930	39
98	August 14, 1929	37
98	August 10, 1928 +	37
102	August 31, 1927	39
96	August 07, 1926 +	36
102	August 16, 1925	39
103	August 25, 1924	39
98	August 18, 1923	37
98	September 06, 1922 +	37
100	August 22, 1921	38

https://www.currentresults.com/Year...n/extreme-annual-houston-high-temperature.php

 

[JustBonee]

Glad you are doing fine Mark.. I know it can be brutally hot. Take care.
Hope some of the extreme temps let up there, and in Vegas too.



@Alligatorob ... it's 99 here right now, but temperature without heat index doesn't tell the true picture.
The humidity is the killer, especially when there is no breeze.


This map is the US today ...

 

[ArnoldC]

Past time for an executive order declaring national emergency. Military branches all have 'Temper Tents', self-contained fully air conditioned or heated with overhead lighting. No reason those cannot be deployed to affected areas to relieve stress for those that cannot afford or do not have conditioned air.

That's the short-term band-aid. That and a full ground stop of all unnecessary movement and activities. Period.

Long-term as necessary will adversely affect millions. Make Covid lock-down look like child's play.

This is a big deal, and it is being dismissed as an anomaly. Heat kills. Big time.

 

[Myrtle]

Past time for an executive order declaring national emergency. Military branches all have 'Temper Tents', self-contained fully air conditioned or heated with overhead lighting. No reason those cannot be deployed to affected areas to relieve stress for those that cannot afford or do not have conditioned air.

That's the short-term band-aid. That and a full ground stop of all unnecessary movement and activities. Period.

Long-term as necessary will adversely affect millions. Make Covid lock-down look like child's play.

This is a big deal, and it is being dismissed as an anomaly. Heat kills. Big time.

Who's pushing this action? I think they will find that people aren't going to to be locked down as easily as they were in the pandemic.

 

[ArnoldC]

Hey Myrtle. Nobody is pushing this action. That's the problem. Only my personal opinion which, of course, carries little weight.

Something has to change. And change quickly. Again, my personal opinion.

 

[Myrtle]

Hey Myrtle. Nobody is pushing this action. That's the problem. Only my personal opinion which, of course, carries little weight.

Something has to change. And change quickly. Again, my personal opinion.

OK, sorry I was startled. It sounded like something straight out of DC.

 

[Alligatorob]

@Alligatorob ... it's 99 here right now, but temperature without heat index doesn't tell the true picture.
The humidity is the killer, especially when there is no breeze.

My father's family is from the Lake Charles area, I understand what you are feeling. I know your climate is hotter than Florida, we used to go back and forth when I was a kid - much harder to sleep without AC in Lake Charles than Florida. I've also been to Houston a lot, same heat...

 

[JustBonee]

The map shows the land temps., but doesn't give water temperatures that affect the continent too.
And we know the problems with the ocean these days.

Sea breezes affect the low morning temperatures, and it's getting alarming.
... around the Texas coast water temps. have been in the 90's lately, and on Florida coast yesterday it was around 100 ... so days start out too warm.

 

[ArnoldC]

OK, sorry I was startled. It sounded like something straight out of DC.

My apologies, Myrtle. Did not mean to startle.

Perhaps my thinking out loud is a bit extreme. Maybe setting the bar at the extreme forces more reasonable actions to address, or at least hold in check, climate change?

Best Regards. Arnold

 

[Alligatorob]

The map shows the land temps., but doesn't give water temperatures that affect the continent too.
And we know the problems with the ocean these days.

Sea breezes affect the low morning temperatures, and it's getting alarming.
... around the Texas coast water temps. have been in the 90's lately, and on Florida coast yesterday it was around 100 ... so days start out too warm.

You make a good point with respect to water temperatures.

I don't have the data, but know from my fishing that the Gulf waters are warming. Best example are snook. Snook are subtropical fish and very temperature sensitive. When I was a kid there were essentially no snook to be had north of Tampa bay. Now snook are caught regularly 100+ miles north of there, and occasionally all along the northern Gulf. Could not have happened without warming...

Manatee are also seen further north, but I am not sure if that is due to temperatures or just a population increase.

 

[Myrtle]

My apologies, Myrtle. Did not mean to startle.

Perhaps my thinking out loud is a bit extreme. Maybe setting the bar at the extreme forces more reasonable actions to address, or at least hold in check, climate change?

Best Regards. Arnold

No, there was nothing wrong with your comment, Arnold. Just a bit of an overreaction on my part. Keep sharing! That's what keeps things interesting.

 

[fuzzybuddy]

It is impossible to burn billions of tons of coal and billions of gallons of oil ,and not affect the planet. Those combustion gases don't magically disappear. The fact that we are breathing oxygen is proof life affects the planet. Some can wallow in conspiracies, but the fact is global warming has become scientifically proven from a host of validated sources. And what was predicted decades ago, is now becoming a reality.