Summer Heat

This summer in Texas has been unbearably hot. We have set all kinds of heat records for Austin too- not something I am too excited about but at least everyone agrees it is HOT. According to meteorologists, Austin usually has 12 days a year that are over 100 degrees. I am not sure I completely believe that estimate, but I guess we may have a lot of 99s and 100s. Or maybe it is just because over the past few years the summers have been extremely hot. In 2009, we were 1 day shy of tying the all time hottest summer ever. 68 days over 100 degrees. The record was 69 days over 100 degrees set in 1925. I remember being upset that we were so close to the record and did not get it. I mean, if we had to suffer through a hot summer, we should have set the record. Well, Texas heat has done it this year. We officially have had the hottest summer ever on record. We have had 75 100 degree days, and are expecting at least 2 more. We set the record for the most number of consecutive 100 degree days in a year too. We had the hottest temperature ever recorded in Austin at 112 degrees on August 29th, 2011. Many days have set the all time high record for that day as well. The mornings start out at 80 or just higher, so even they are not refreshing. It has been CRAZY hot, in case you didn't know.

One more tidbit- it is so hot here that people's compost piles are spontaneously combusting and causing brush fires.

The weather people are excited because we are expecting cooler weather this weekend with a slight chance of rain. The cooler weather has highs in the high 90s -- 98, 96, etc. Hard to get too excited about that, but I guess I will take what I can get. I really want low 90s to 80s.

Another horrible thing is that we are also in record droughts for all of Central Texas. We have not had rain here in forever. The lakes are extremely low- almost the lowest ever. The rivers are pretty much dry. We have been on water restrictions for a while, but they are going to get worse very soon- we can only water with sprinklers once week starting in September and they think we may not be able to use sprinklers at all next spring. Everything is dying- trees, plants, grass, weeds, etc. Driving down the road the vegetation is "burnt" a reddish brown color. Animals are suffering from heat exhaustion and lack of water- wild and domestic. They have record numbers of horse, cattle, pig rescues and of course the wildlife are starving too.

We need rain desperately and hope to get lots this Fall. However, I think it would have to rain for months to make a dent in our deficit and fill up the lakes and I feel that is unlikely to happen. I think we have to hope for a tropical depression or three to come and sit over Texas - without the dangerous flooding please.

We have tried to do fun things with the kids- but overall, that really only includes the pool and other water activities. It is too hot for parks, the zoo, walks- morning or night, or anything outdoors. It has been a long summer in so many ways, we need relief! I would love relief in the form of lots of rain and cooler weather, but I will take COOLER weather as a start.