Heat Waves - Records are being broken & broken & broken!?

Paco Dennis

Paco Dennis

SF VIP
Location
Mid-Missouri
Here some pics of records of temperatures rising.

2022Records_Local_austin_en_title_lg.jpg
You can see the increase by decades. it ends in 2020

this from 1979 thru July 2023
2023-07-18-heat-records-update-index-mediumSquareAt3X.png
Records of increasing heat are definitely rising faster.

This is not a climate warming debate thread. I am interested in what others think we can do to adapt. We seniors will possibly not have to change very much, but are we aware of the heat our children and grandchildren ( the people born after we die ) are going to have to change a lot. What about an energy crisis that shuts down AC, or the water supply drying up. We are witnessing almost daily some extreme weather event somewhere around the world. Help me figure out what else is likely to happen if the next decade is 2-3 degrees hotter, and so on? I wonder about food scarcity because of crop failure. People having to move to somewhere they can live ( which is going to be harder to find ). The new normal might not be livable if ( and the records show us ) that sooner or latter the heat is going to become a big problem for mankind and all of life.
 

There is little doubt that the climate is warming. Those "surviving" here 100+ years from now, will live in a different world then what we know. Between Climate Change and Overpopulation, humanity is headed for a major crisis. As the temperatures climb, and the oceans rise, most of our coastal cities will be abandoned, and Canada and Siberia will become the major population centers.
 
We have been up and down in the triple digits. I think 108°F has been the highest. Don't have any insightful comment about the future.


We were coming back from the store and were just about to pull into the driveway. A bird flew over an dropped a rock on the windshield. Scared me, of course. Wondered what I did to that bird. :) Examining the rock found it was sticky. The streets around areas that are not major traffic areas are tarred and gravel poured on them (not pavement or concrete and patched cracks are just tar). The rock must have stuck to the bird's foot or beak and just happened to fall off on the car.
 
Temperate coastal environments, well above sea level, will increasingly become the envy of billions of Earth monkeys some of which will have wealth resources to relocate anywhere in the world that accepts money. That will make real estate and banks corps happy. Good time for the young and wealthy to get a second residence or land in still ignored, backwater, soggy Del Norte and Humboldt Counties.
 

Saguaro cacti collapsing in Arizona extreme heat, scientist says​


Reuters
By Liliana Salgado
July 26, 20231:28 AM EDTUpdated 16 hours ago

PHOENIX, July 25 (Reuters) - Arizona's saguaro cacti, a symbol of the U.S. West, are leaning, losing arms and in some cases falling over during the state's record streak of extreme heat, a scientist said on Tuesday.

Summer monsoon rains the cacti rely on have failed to arrive, testing the desert giants' ability to survive in the wild as well as in cities after temperatures above 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 Celsius) for 25 days in Phoenix, said Tania Hernandez.

“These plants are adapted to this heat, but at some point the heat needs to cool down and the water needs to come," said Hernandez, a research scientist at Phoenix's 140-acre (57-hectare) Desert Botanical Garden, which has over 2/3 of all cactus species, including saguaros which can grow to over 40 feet (12 meters).

… Cacti need to cool down at night or through rain and mist. If that does not happen they sustain internal damage. Plants now suffering from prolonged, excessive heat may take months or years to die, Hernandez said.

https://www.reuters.com/business/en...izona-extreme-heat-scientist-says-2023-07-25/
 
This article needs to be read to understand the extent of the heatwave currently engulfing the US...it is a little long but needs to be.

2/27/2023

‘Heat health emergency’: Nearly half the US at risk as dangerous heat expands and intensifies in the Northeast​

Heat is intensifying for millions of people in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic Thursday, creating a “heat health emergency” as nearly half of the country bakes in dangerously high temperatures.

Around 150 million people from coast to coast are under heat alerts Thursday after extreme heat expanded into the highly populated I-95 corridor, bringing the highest temperatures of the year there.

The heat also won’t let up in the South and Southwest, where heat-related deaths are climbing, emergency rooms are filling with heat-related burn victims and even animals are falling victim to heat illness.

Live updates: The latest news on heat and extreme weather

Heat indexes – a measure of what the temperature feels like when accounting for relative humidity – are expected to top 100 degrees Fahrenheit across many areas in the Midwest, mid-Atlantic and Northeast through Friday.

These kinds of temperatures can be deadly – heat kills more people in an average year than hurricanes and tornadoes combined – so both Boston and Philadelphia have declared heat emergencies, opening cooling centers and warning residents to check on the elderly and others most vulnerable to heat illness.

“Let’s be clear: heat can kill,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said on Twitter Thursday. “This is dangerous. Take precautions.”

New York has also opened cooling centers as nearly 9 million residents across the nation’s largest city are under an excessive heat warning through 9 p.m. Friday. Temperatures in the mid-90s combined with high dew points will drive up the heat index and make it feel as hot as 105 degrees. Those temperatures will feel even hotter for millions of New Yorkers in intense urban heat island hot spots.

The temperatures are also testing infrastructure. PJM Interconnection – the nation’s largest power grid system – has declared an emergency alert. The move activates all systems to be online, including those with planned outages.

PJM coordinates electricity for more than 65 million people in all or parts of Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, DC, according to its website.

And high heat has already disrupted work on some major US oil refineries, one of several factors driving higher gas prices.

Here are some other notable places bracing for and dealing with the severe heat:

  • Washington, DC: The nation’s capital is under an excessive heat watch as temperatures are expected to challenge 100 degrees. But they will feel much hotter: Thursday may feel as high as 104 degrees while the “feels like” temperature could reach as high as 107 degrees Friday.
  • Baltimore: The Charm City in Maryland has activated the season’s first Code Red Extreme Heat Alert through Saturday, according to a city news release. The declaration signals the city plans to open several cooling centers as temperatures in the region could feel higher than 100 degrees.
  • Connecticut: Gov. Ned Lamont activated the state’s extreme hot weather protocol, which is in effect through the weekend. Cooling centers across the state will be available, with the governor’s office warning that temperatures could feel between 95 to 105 degrees. Lingering impacts are expected to persist during the overnight hours, particularly in urban areas throughout the state, according to a news release.
  • Missouri: Heat indices across St. Louis and Kansas City will top 100 degrees Thursday and Friday. Temperatures could reach the low 100s in both cities, where excessive heat warnings are in effect.
  • Minnesota: The Twin Cities are under an excessive heat warning Thursday, when heat indices are expected to hit 105 degrees. “Little cooling relief is expected tonight as temperatures remain in the 70s overnight,” the NWS in the Twin Cities said.
  • Indiana: The capital city of Indianapolis will see temperatures as high as 100 degrees by Friday. The heat index could be as high as 109 degrees Friday.
  • Phoenix: The epicenter of the persistent heat wave is forecast to top 110 degrees again Thursday, which would be the 28th consecutive day with a high temperature exceeding 110 degrees. Some relief back to “normal” temperatures below 110 degrees is forecast by Sunday into next week.
  • Texas: Triple-digit highs are expected across the state including in Dallas, San Antonio, Amarillo and El Paso, where temperatures have topped 100 degrees for a record-breaking 41 consecutive days.
The Northeast, mid-Atlantic and upper Midwest face an additional weather threat Thursday: strong-to-severe storms that could disrupt travel and knock out power amid the sweltering heat.

Brief and isolated tornadoes can’t be ruled out, but the Level 2 out of 5 threat is primarily for damaging winds that could affect the entire I-95 corridor from Washington, DC, to Boston. The storms should fire up in the early afternoon into the evening and could affect the afternoon rush hour commute, so also look out for flooding on roadways.

Parts of northern Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota, including Duluth, Minnesota, are under a Level 3 out of 5 threat Thursday for damaging storms that could produce wind gusts as high as 75 mph along with large hail. The Twin Cities faces a Level 2 out of 5 threat, also for strong winds and hail. Wind gusts that strong could easily down power lines and make for a miserably hot powerless evening.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/27/weather/us-heat-wave-thursday/index.html
 
New innovations like this one in cooling will help. Look to inventions to help cope.
https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/fervo-energy-breakthrough-in-next-gen-geothermal-power-in-nevada/

For instance, produce growing greenhouses have been used in colder climates for years - the same basic technology can be used for cool growing. Funny thing, actually the Southern ocean is getting cooler. Not suggesting it be used for growing produce though.
https://www.businessinsider.com/one-place-in-the-world-that-isnt-warming-2016-6
 
A quick look back to 1936 shows some of the hottest temps recorded. Just look at July 14th when it hit it's peak.
Keep in mind, this was before there was any "feels like xxx". Also, wasn't much air conditioning in houses either, so I imagine the "feels like" temp was pretty high... if of course, there was such a made up thing back then.
Not sure, but, this looks like it was kinda hot back then too. I'm not saying it isn't hot... I'm just pointing out that what's happening today isn't all that unusual.

On July 9, 1936 temperature’s spiked, with many all-time record highs being set in both the Great Lakes and Northeast United States. The recap of temperatures are as follows for July 9th.

Rockford, IL: 101 °F (38 °C)[22]
Pittsburgh, PA: 101 °F (38 °C)
Syracuse, NY: 102 °F (39 °C)
Rochester, NY: 102 °F (39 °C)
Detroit, MI: 102 °F (39 °C)[28]
Philadelphia, PA: 103 °F (39 °C)
Albany, NY: 103 °F (39 °C)[29]
Baltimore, MD: 103 °F (39 °C)
Scranton, PA: 103 °F (39 °C)
Washington DC: 104 °F (40 °C)
Johnstown, PA: 104 °F (40 °C)
Columbus, OH: 105 °F (40.6 °C)
Warren, OH: 105 °F (40.6 °C)
Williamsport, PA: 106 °F (41.1 °C)
Trenton, NJ: 106 °F (41.1 °C)
Central Park, New York City: 106 °F (41.1 °C)

On July 10, the heat peaked in Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, with some areas setting all-time record highs in parts of the South and most of the Midwest. The recap is as follows.

Atlanta, GA: 100 °F (37.8 °C)
Pittsburgh PA: 101 °F (38.3 °C)
Detroit, MI: 102 °F (38.9 °C)[28]
Grand Rapids, MI: 102 °F (38.9 °C)[26]
Central Park, New York City: 102 °F (38.9 °C)[5]
Youngstown, OH: 103 °F (39.4 °C)
Philadelphia, PA: 104 °F (40.0 °C)
Richmond, VA: 105 °F (40.6 °C)
Washington DC: 105 °F (40.6 °C)
Lynchburg, VA: 106 °F (41.1 °C)
Rockford, IL: 106 °F (41.1 °C)[22]
Bowling Green, KY: 106 °F (41.1 °C)
St. Cloud, MN: 106 °F (41.1 °C)[30]
Baltimore, MD: 107 °F (41.7 °C)
Lexington, KY: 108 °F (42.2 °C)
Xenia, OH: 108 °F (42.2 °C)
Cumberland & Frederick, MD: 109 °F (42.8 °C)
Runyon, NJ: 110 °F (43.3 °C)
Phoenixville, PA: 111 °F (43.9 °C)
Martinsburg, WV: 112 °F (44.4 °C)
Aberdeen, SD: 114 °F (45.6 °C)

On July 13, the heat spread south through the Great Plains, with Wichita, Kansas reporting a high of 101 °F (38.3 °C), Fort Smith, Arkansas hitting 106 °F (41.1 °C), Tulsa, Oklahoma hitting 107 °F (41.7 °C), and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma hitting 101 °F (38.3 °C). Elsewhere, temperatures began to significantly rise with multiple areas hitting above 110 °F (43.3 °C). The recap is as follows:

Columbus, OH: 101 °F (38.3 °C)
Detroit, MI: 102 °F (38.9 °C)[28]
Green Bay, WI: 104 °F (40.0 °C)[24]
Minneapolis, MN: 105 °F (40.6 °C)[30]
Alpena, MI: 106 °F (41.1 °C)
Madison, WI: 106 °F (41.1 °C)[23]
Duluth, MN: 106 °F (41.1 °C)[25]
St. Cloud, MN: 107 °F (41.7 °C)[30]
Decatur, IL: 108 °F (42.2 °C)[18]
Grand Rapids, MI: 108 °F (42.2 °C)[26]
Evansville, IN: 108 °F (42.2 °C)
Kalamazoo, MI: 109 °F (42.8 °C)[26]
Rockford, IL: 110 °F (43.3 °C)[22]
Saginaw, MI: 111 °F (43.9 °C)[28]
Eau Claire, WI: 111 °F (43.9 °C)[31]
Waterloo, IA: 112 °F (44.4 °C)[21]
Mt. Vernon, IL: 112 °F (44.4 °C)[18]
Mio, MI: 112 °F (44.4 °C)
Henderson, KY: 113 °F (45.0 °C)
Wisconsin Dells, WI: 114 °F (45.6 °C)

July 14 was the peak day of the heat wave for most areas with countless record-breaking temperatures broken across many areas. The records are as follows.

Detroit, MI: 104 °F (40.0 °C) (105 °F (40.6 °C) on July 24, 1934)
Springfield, MO: 104 °F (40.0 °C) (113 °F (45.0 °C) in 1954)
Indianapolis, IN: 106 °F (41.1 °C) (tied July 22, 1901 and July 21, 1934)[32]
Columbus, OH: 106 °F (41.1 °C) (tied July 21, 1934)
Cincinnati, OH: 106 °F (41.1 °C) (tied July 24, 1934)
Madison, WI: 107 °F (41.7 °C)[23]
Louisville, KY: 107 °F (41.7 °C)
Kalamazoo, MI: 108 °F (42.2 °C)[26]
Minneapolis, MN: 108 °F (42.2 °C)[30]
Rochester, MN: 108 °F (42.2 °C)
Xenia, OH: 108 °F (42.2 °C)
St. Louis, MO: 108 °F (42.2 °C) (115 °F (46.1 °C) in 1954)
Lima, OH: 109 °F (42.8 °C)
Cedar Rapids, IA: 109 °F (42.8 °C)[18]
Dubuque, IA: 110 °F (43.3 °C)
Terre Haute, IN: 110 °F (43.3 °C)
Springfield, IL: 110 °F (43.3 °C) (112 °F (44.4 °C) in 1954)[18]
Decatur, IL: 110 °F (43.3 °C) (113 °F (45.0 °C) in 1954)[18]
Moline, IL: 111 °F (43.9 °C)[18]
Burlington, IA: 111 °F (43.9 °C)[18]
Rockford, IL: 112 °F (44.4 °C)[22]
Waterloo, IA: 112 °F (44.4 °C)[18]
Palestine, IL: 112 °F (44.4 °C) (114 °F (45.6 °C) in 1954)[18]
Mt. Vernon, IL: 114 °F (45.6 °C)[18]
Collegeville, IN: 116 °F (46.7 °C)
 
squatting dog said:
A quick look back to 1936 shows some of the hottest temps recorded. Just look at July 14th when it hit it's peak.
Keep in mind, this was before there was any "feels like xxx". Also, wasn't much air conditioning in houses either, so I imagine the "feels like" temp was pretty high... if of course, there was such a made up thing back then.
Not sure, but, this looks like it was kinda hot back then too. I'm not saying it isn't hot... I'm just pointing out that what's happening today isn't all that unusual.
Click to expand...

If you look at the global mean temperatures from 1850-2022, 1936 doesn't stand out much. But, look at how the temp just keeps rising. Very steep increases since 1975.

press_release.png
 
Don M. said:
There is little doubt that the climate is warming. Those "surviving" here 100+ years from now, will live in a different world then what we know. Between Climate Change and Overpopulation, humanity is headed for a major crisis. As the temperatures climb, and the oceans rise, most of our coastal cities will be abandoned, and Canada and Siberia will become the major population centers.
Click to expand...
Part of a Plan?
 
Relocation is temping, but the thought of selling out and trying to find suitable and affordable lodging beyond what we have now is daunting.

Rethinking it, preparation for next year's repeat of this year's heat is in order. Minimum quick fix is reflective screening for all the windows in the house. Think we can probably work in maybe replace four of the single pane windows with insulated ones-at least on the sun side of the house. AC is running almost 24hr constant now. It's four years old, so think we can squeeze one more season out of it.

Keeping the gas tank on the truck full or at nearly full in case of a power failure we'll have emergency refuge from the heat. Evacuating Houston is a no-go, more realistically a never-go. Panic traffic is inhuman so staying put is the only option. Power grid failure is the gorilla in the room. That'll be the killer for worry. Roof has new-style full-length vent caps. Thinking about augmenting those with install of old-style turbine vents to additionally extract heat from the attic-presently heating to 140deg F late afternoon.

At about 90% thinking we'll gut it out here. Maybe if the (over)population the Houston metro flees north, it will mitigate the urban heat island effect we are presently suffering under. Again, power grid failure is the big concern. With assured power, adapting to and surviving the climate here is doable with difficulty.

Lawn watering has to stop. Houston is on Phase I drought conditions allowing for odd-number lawn watering Wed and Sat 7:00P-5:00A. We're in the Harris County portion of Houston. Lacking any published guidance from the county, we go with the Houston Phase I as a courtesy. Plan is to let the lawn go natural and weed out. Weeds are at least green and need minimal water unlike with a grass lawn. Home Owners Association is being a PITA. They are going to have to adapt to the change. It is no longer the 1960s.
 
Have been giving alternate energy solutions consideration since this lingering heat wave with broken, broken and more broken record highs, and just as importantly record high lows [if you can unscramble 'record high lows' you're a better person than me Charlie Brown :) ]

Been a lot of roof installed solar panels appearing around the sub-division. Guess thats o.k., but I take a different tack. Why should I subsidize the power utilities when it is their responsibility, yea indeed their charter, to provide energy to the consumer? Way I see it, installing home solar panels allows them to skate their responsibility of providing power and shoulder it onto the homeowner. Just a thought.

Here's another 'Just a thought'. How about installing a solar panel grid on the median of the interstate highway system? Plenty of usable space there that is already committed. Instead of sectioning off acres and acres of un-developed land at who knows how much expense and environmental damage. And heck, it'd provide lots of meaningful construction employment jobs too. There is already talk of employing in-the-road charging systems for Ecars. What better way to provide power for that with the residual going to local community and county residential areas.
 
Don M. said:
There is little doubt that the climate is warming. Those "surviving" here 100+ years from now, will live in a different world then what we know. Between Climate Change and Overpopulation, humanity is headed for a major crisis. As the temperatures climb, and the oceans rise, most of our coastal cities will be abandoned, and Canada and Siberia will become the major population centers.
Click to expand...
Well, Canada has these issues too. Im speaking about areas of our country on both sides of the Rocky Mountains. Right now there are out-of-wildfires to the east, north, and west of us, some still out of control. Even Central Canada has experienced aspects of climate shift.

A friend of mine whose expertise is in ecology had a college textbook published in 1968, which had a section on the predictions. In very recent years, I learned that the earliest clear statement about the direction things could take with respect to climate, due to industrial CO2 emissions, was published in a scientific journal in 1938!

Personally, I didn't know anything about the prospects of climate change until the late 1970s, due to having had a different sort of training after high school. I was a freelance magazine & newspaper journalist in the 1980s & later, and I did some writing informed by what I was learning about the topic, during those years. So I've known that this could be coming, as have many people in my friendship circles. And it's quite sad for me. You know, our kids, their kids, etc.
 

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