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AsahinaKimi

(20,776 posts)
Sat Jun 30, 2012, 06:26 AM Jun 2012

As a heat wave rolls across U.S., scientists predict more to come

Climate scientists have this to say about the record-breaking heat wave rippling across the country: Get used to it.

This week’s spike toward triple-digit temperatures is unusual, they say. But as Earth gets warmer and greenhouse gases build, highs will keep getting higher.

“There have always been heat spells,” said Glen MacDonald, the director of the UCLA Institute of Environment and Sustainability, in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. “That’s just the climate system. But … if you’re generally warming things, you have a greater chance to reach new highs. Your hot spells become even hotter than they had in the past.”

According to federal climate data, dozens of heat records have fallen or been tied in the past week, and even more in the past month. In the past 30 days, the number of broken daily records climbed beyond 2,360, hitting nearly 35,000 over the past year.

more...
http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-heat-wave-climate-20120629,0,1202636.story
video also at the link.

31 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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As a heat wave rolls across U.S., scientists predict more to come (Original Post) AsahinaKimi Jun 2012 OP
We just got slammed here in DC last night by one of the most powerful storms ever to hit the area. DCBob Jun 2012 #1
I am really worried about my mother there. NutmegYankee Jun 2012 #7
That is an issue. Right now the temps are fine but later this afternoon it will be hot. DCBob Jun 2012 #8
Is it possible for her to have a window A/c unit? dixiegrrrrl Jun 2012 #10
She has no electricity right now. NutmegYankee Jun 2012 #13
Yikes!!!!!! dixiegrrrrl Jun 2012 #23
Look at the Washington Post main story NutmegYankee Jun 2012 #24
From Jeff Master's weather blog: a word I have never heard dixiegrrrrl Jun 2012 #30
heat waves, drought, wild fires of the super size variety -- it's all the new normal. nt xchrom Jun 2012 #2
Thank God there's no global warming, 'cause then we'd really be in trouble... nt Xipe Totec Jun 2012 #3
exactly-- this must just be God's will... NoMoreWarNow Jun 2012 #6
Me thinks; greiner3 Jun 2012 #12
........because we aren't stoning teh gays...... kestrel91316 Jun 2012 #17
In addition: floods and tropical storms. nt morningglory Jun 2012 #14
Wonder if I could buy some property in Nunavut...nt raccoon Jun 2012 #4
I've been thinking about the Hudson Bay area, myself. (eom) neeksgeek Jun 2012 #5
There are polar bears around there. Of course, they're in Nunavut too, I guess. nt raccoon Jun 2012 #25
whoa there brovibes Jun 2012 #9
Thanks for the post AsahinaKimi; greiner3 Jun 2012 #11
kochira koso AsahinaKimi Jun 2012 #27
Any time it snows, the climate deniers are out in force NightWatcher Jun 2012 #15
I think the problem is the name nobodyspecial Jun 2012 #16
Maybe they don't want to admit there's no solution in sight flamingdem Jun 2012 #19
I'm with you on this one Ezlivin Jun 2012 #28
Good imagery with the raft flamingdem Jun 2012 #29
Ding Ding Ding! +1000 NickB79 Jun 2012 #31
And my brother in law is still in denial about global climate change... backscatter712 Jun 2012 #18
Where I live we are having the opposite problem Bandit Jun 2012 #20
You must be up here with me in the great pacific northwet. uppityperson Jun 2012 #26
People at the highest levels convince themselves its all cyclical. raouldukelives Jun 2012 #21
It's not going to get cooler. Gregorian Jun 2012 #22

DCBob

(24,689 posts)
1. We just got slammed here in DC last night by one of the most powerful storms ever to hit the area.
Sat Jun 30, 2012, 06:29 AM
Jun 2012

It was really weird. Continuous lightning and very high winds. No doubt the very hot weather fueled it.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/record-heat-scorches-washington-region/2012/06/29/gJQAgOlUCW_story.html

Still over a million people out of power. Im one of the lucky few who have power.

NutmegYankee

(16,177 posts)
7. I am really worried about my mother there.
Sat Jun 30, 2012, 08:09 AM
Jun 2012

It' going to hit 100 degrees again today but there is no AC.

DCBob

(24,689 posts)
8. That is an issue. Right now the temps are fine but later this afternoon it will be hot.
Sat Jun 30, 2012, 08:15 AM
Jun 2012

Maybe by then the power will back on. Hope so for your mother and others without power.

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)
10. Is it possible for her to have a window A/c unit?
Sat Jun 30, 2012, 08:38 AM
Jun 2012

I can't afford to cool the whole house down enough, but I do use a window unit for one room, ( the one with the puter, natch) and hunker down here for most of the hottest days.
Best investment I have made, very low cost to buy.

NutmegYankee

(16,177 posts)
13. She has no electricity right now.
Sat Jun 30, 2012, 09:11 AM
Jun 2012

The storms have knocked out the power for 1.5 million people in the DC area.

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)
23. Yikes!!!!!!
Sat Jun 30, 2012, 12:33 PM
Jun 2012

I am very aware my physical condition makes no A/C dangerous, but at least have the option to find a motal for a few days if power goes out here.

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)
30. From Jeff Master's weather blog: a word I have never heard
Sat Jun 30, 2012, 04:34 PM
Jun 2012

A violent line of organized severe thunderstorms called a derecho swept across the U.S. from Illinois to Virginia on Friday, damaging houses, toppling trees, bringing down power lines. The storms killed six people in Virginia, two in New Jersey, and one in Maryland, and left at least 3.4 million people without power.

a derecho is a thunderstorm complex that produces a damaging wind swath of at least 240 miles (about 400 km), featuring a concentrated area of thunderstorm wind gusts exceeding 58 mph (93 km/hr.) A warm weather phenomenon, derechos occur mostly in summer, especially June and July in the Northern Hemisphere.

Friday's derecho began near Chicago in the early afternoon, then marched east-southeast, peaking in intensity over Virginia and Washington D.C. on Friday evening. The derecho was unusually intense due to the extreme heat, which helped create an unstable atmosphere with plenty of energy to fuel severe thunderstorms.
http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=2141

brovibes

(5 posts)
9. whoa there
Sat Jun 30, 2012, 08:17 AM
Jun 2012

Last night I was just staring at my window at the madness of it all. It felt like a tornado of heat was blowing through northern virginia and my power kept fluctuating on and off, luckily my power remains.

 

greiner3

(5,214 posts)
11. Thanks for the post AsahinaKimi;
Sat Jun 30, 2012, 08:39 AM
Jun 2012

And thanks for my new Sig line to Gmail; "There is no medicine to cure Stupidity"

AsahinaKimi

(20,776 posts)
27. kochira koso
Sat Jun 30, 2012, 03:12 PM
Jun 2012

you are welcome. Also come by the Asian group, we are building up some interesting Japanese sayings.

NightWatcher

(39,343 posts)
15. Any time it snows, the climate deniers are out in force
Sat Jun 30, 2012, 09:21 AM
Jun 2012

Where are they now? Where are the climate scientists with global warming warnings now? It's 100 in many cities today. We are a receptive bunch. Take advantage of the heat to get the message out.

Edit: I know Bill Mckibben is out front every day with warnings and info, but where is everybody else.

nobodyspecial

(2,286 posts)
16. I think the problem is the name
Sat Jun 30, 2012, 09:25 AM
Jun 2012

Climate change is more accurate and understandable than global warming for just the reason you cited.

flamingdem

(39,304 posts)
19. Maybe they don't want to admit there's no solution in sight
Sat Jun 30, 2012, 10:40 AM
Jun 2012

and that it's gone to far -?

I'd like to hear something assuring but the truth is there wasn't enough will to stop this, worldwide.

Ezlivin

(8,153 posts)
28. I'm with you on this one
Sat Jun 30, 2012, 03:16 PM
Jun 2012

I believe that the PTB are not dumb; they are very well-informed and know that the climate is warming.

But I suspect that they know:

  1. The cost to try to mitigate it now is astronomical;

  2. It's too late to successfully mitigate it;

  3. People would riot if they knew industry had covered this up and doomed us;

  4. You have to make your own personal life raft as comfortable as possible.

flamingdem

(39,304 posts)
29. Good imagery with the raft
Sat Jun 30, 2012, 04:21 PM
Jun 2012

We all have to confront this, maybe that's why there is silence ... people are absorbing what it means.

NickB79

(19,113 posts)
31. Ding Ding Ding! +1000
Sat Jun 30, 2012, 05:02 PM
Jun 2012

Life rafts are what we need to strive for. For example, I'm a big follower of the Transition Town movement. While it was originally designed to address Peak Oil, the principles of local sustainability are just as applicable to dealing with the impacts of climate change.

Bandit

(21,475 posts)
20. Where I live we are having the opposite problem
Sat Jun 30, 2012, 10:40 AM
Jun 2012

The coldest and wettest May and June anyone can remember.....I am not complaining though, not at all. Fifty degrees is just fine and as far as being wet, the trees and grass love it...

uppityperson

(115,674 posts)
26. You must be up here with me in the great pacific northwet.
Sat Jun 30, 2012, 02:08 PM
Jun 2012

sitting here with a blanket on my shoulders, watching it drizzle into the tall grass. Slugs love it.

raouldukelives

(5,178 posts)
21. People at the highest levels convince themselves its all cyclical.
Sat Jun 30, 2012, 11:47 AM
Jun 2012

To agree otherwise would be admitting they have spent their lives mortgaging the future of every living thing on this planet for short term luxury for themselves.
They will never be convinced. There will always be a shield between Wall St and the fruits of the labor they nurture. Comforting and protecting them in gilded, climate controlled towers while we all suffer the agony of their indifference.

Gregorian

(23,867 posts)
22. It's not going to get cooler.
Sat Jun 30, 2012, 12:09 PM
Jun 2012

And by the time people realize there is a problem, it'll be too late.

But there are two problems. People cannot even agree there is a problem. And people don't act until there are symptoms.

The prognosis is bad.

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