Every June some friend of mine here in Texas can be heard stating “it’s gonna be a hot summer!” At which point everyone in earshot will look at the dude, probably wondering if he thinks that’s funny, or if it’s possible Captain Obvious here really doesn’t understand what latitude and hemisphere Texas occupies. Summers in the southwest are always hot, but August is usually the most brutal month of them all. Back-to-back triple digit days are the norm. And don’t give us any of that “dry heat” nonsense either (I’m looking at you, Florida!). When it’s over 100 degrees for hours on end, it can kill in record time, no matter how dry it is.
As if the desert southwest needed more heat at this time of year, here’s a cheery observation:
This year’s scorching summer events, like heat waves rolling through southern Europe and temperatures nearing 130 degrees Fahrenheit in Pakistan, are part of this broader trend. The chart above, based on data from James Hansen, a retired NASA climate scientist and professor at Columbia University, shows how summer temperatures have shifted toward more extreme heat over the past several decades. … Practically, that means most summers are now either hot or extremely hot compared with the mid-20th century.
Well, maybe we don’t have it quite that bad in Texas, yet. It’s not likely to hit 130. But the first crisp cool front, usually in mid to late September, sure seems a longs ways off right about now.
from Daily Kos http://ift.tt/2vn2Szj
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