Living Car Free - Yikes! 100F here tomorrow

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Des+Moines&state=IA&site=DMX&textField1=41.5767&textField2=-93.6174&e=0

Not sure how I'll survive the ride to work. I'll just roll the windows down and see what happens.

I have enough food for a few days, so no need for grocery trips.

:)

Well, it won't be 100 degrees when you go to work. No problem there.

Riding home, take it easy, carry plenty of water and drink a bunch starting about 20 minutes before you leave.

According to the Forecastfox widget with data provided by AccuWeather, it was 104 actual and heat index of 113 at 1600 hrs today in my zip code. The weather station is located at my children's school about a mile and half away.

Since I'm unemployed, at least I don't have to get out in the heat, except to spray down the A/C or a quick jaunt to the store that is 3 blocks away.

Heading this way for the weekend....of course I have a bunch of heavy outside chores that need to get done. :P Oh well, drink lots of water and work in the shade as much as possible.

Aaron :)

101 predicted for tomorrow here. I'll be stringing the tarps over the container garden in the AM for a sun shield.

100+ in Chicago on Thursday ..... FINALLY some good weather here !!

Just took a quick look for the weekend :eek: Calling for 105*F (40.5*C) and that DOES NOT factor in the humidity. So I am expecting "feels like" in the 115*-120* range.

Aaron :)

I usually don't have a problem with 100 degrees heat when I ride... but when I get off I die. I am trying to take it much easier on my ride home (usually takes me 30 minutes and I try to take 45) but when I pedal I don't feel the heat until it's too late. :notamused:

I dunno.

Sounds like your average August day to me (Houston).

Hotter than a $2 hooker on nickle night. ;)

Only 100? It peaked at 109 here yesterday, with heat index pushing 114 (last I checked, it probably got higher). I also was riding the day last August when we had a record-setting 112.

Yeah, it sucks. The first 15 minutes is like sticking your face in an oven.
That being said, I've found that consistent riding while the temperatures are warming up April-June helps condition the body, now the extreme heat is just a little bit more, not some terrifying pinnacle. I can only imagine how bad it must be for people that stay inside in the spring until its time to take their kids/themselves to summer vacation and have to deal with the heat unprepared... now THAT is a scary proposition.

Otherwise, yeah, water is your friend.

That being said, I've found that consistent riding while the temperatures are warming up April-June helps condition the body, now the extreme heat is just a little bit more, not some terrifying pinnacle.

Leaving my air-conditioned work this afternoon, the heat was pretty intense. Seemed like riding through molasses.

Only 100? It peaked at 109 here yesterday, with heat index pushing 114 (last I checked, it probably got higher). I also was riding the day last August when we had a record-setting 112.

Yeah, it sucks. The first 15 minutes is like sticking your face in an oven.
That being said, I've found that consistent riding while the temperatures are warming up April-June helps condition the body, now the extreme heat is just a little bit more, not some terrifying pinnacle. I can only imagine how bad it must be for people that stay inside in the spring until its time to take their kids/themselves to summer vacation and have to deal with the heat unprepared... now THAT is a scary proposition.

Otherwise, yeah, water is your friend.

For us it is a lot of heat, and early in the season. We typically don't see temperatures like this prior to late July, early August. Also according to a couple of articles I have seen over 1,000 temperature records have been broken in the past week. Odd part...Seattle is cooler than normal, and has had nearly double the normal rainfall.

Aaron :)

Is it humid there as well? Here in SF, it is too perfect of a temperature to ride bike, around mid-60s. I already don't like that temperature because September and October are usually warmest of the year and if June already is this cool, September and October are going to be sizzling.

Is it humid there as well? Here in SF, it is too perfect of a temperature to ride bike, around mid-60s. I already don't like that temperature because September and October are usually warmest of the year and if June already is this cool, September and October are going to be sizzling.

Deep South and Humidity are one word...that is a given. I routinely have to schedule crews to work nights to try to beat the heat and humidity of the day time hours. However it seems almost pointless when it is 87* at midnight with a 10* heat index factor. :P

Aaron :)

Yep, my coworkers are freaking out I'll be riding tomorrow. I tie this cooling scarf around my neck to help with the heat http://www.rei.com/product/691097/kafkas-kool-tie. It really does help in temps above 90 and I don't care if I look dorky. I agree you just need to sweat it out and get used to the hot heat... oh and hydrate.

Two days ago that weird ridge of warm air passed my northern town. We didn't break the record but still 98º is hot. We've been below normal for a couple of weeks. Yesterday the ridge passed us and we went down to just barely above average temperatures. The thing is that being near the edge of that system has made our winds remain at a constant fifteen miles per hour. Gusts have been near fifty.

That wind caused a big problem and spread a wild fire into the edge of town. I got to hang out for a little while yesterday and watch air tankers bombard the edge of the fires with flame retardant. It is amazing to watch in person. The airport was within sight of the fire so I got to watch the planes take off and return to reload. There were a couple of helicopters doing it too. They fly to the nearby lake and just dip their huge water bladders into the water and take off. I wonder how many fish get dropped on fires.

The fire is mostly out now. Cyclists can pedal through the city without a respirator.

^^Lends a whole new meaning to the term "fish fry"...

I am not liking this one at all. It looks like we will be caught in the middle of it for the next 4-5 days before we see a break in the heat. They are predicting 100*+ in my area for the next 5 days. :eek:

Aaron :)

I don't think it's ever gotten to 100 here in Lansing, but it was pretty close today. I took an air conditioned bus to work this afternoon. Tomorrow it's supposed to "only" in the low 90s, so I'll be back to walking and riding everywhere.

The lack of rain is what's really starting to worry me. They say prices of some food--especially meat and grains--will probab;y be up 25% because of the drought. The heat wave in March already wiped out a lot of Michigan's fruit crops, so cherry pie will be pretty much unavailable after the canned and frozen cherries from last year are used up.

Yeah, it rarely gets up to 100F in Des Moines. We normally have a stretch in the 90s and then it heads back to normal.... about 86F. Yesterday was 102F and we seem to be into a 10 day stretch of high 90s. Rain is also noticeably missing. I believe it's officially a drought here.

Is it humid there as well? Here in SF, it is too perfect of a temperature to ride bike, around mid-60s. I already don't like that temperature because September and October are usually warmest of the year and if June already is this cool, September and October are going to be sizzling.

Once I went to a conference in Toledo, Ohio in the middle of July. It was 96 degrees and 96% humidity. The first day, you could tell the people who were from the Bay Area. They were still wearing sweaters when they arrived.

We haven't had any breaks in the weather. A couple of more 100F days coming up.

But as others suggest, you get used to it. I see a lot of recreational cyclists doing it early in the morning when it's actually quite nice out. I enjoy the mornings.

The lack of rain is what's really starting to worry me. They say prices of some food--especially meat and grains--will probab;y be up 25% because of the drought. The heat wave in March already wiped out a lot of Michigan's fruit crops...

Climate change is already shrinkng crop yields. (http://www.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2012/07/conventional-agriculture-nor-ready-climate-change) We ain't seen nothin' yet.

Climate change is already shrinkng crop yields. (http://www.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2012/07/conventional-agriculture-nor-ready-climate-change) We ain't seen nothin' yet.




I was thinking of pointing out to you that a few hot days shouldn't be considered evidence of climate change. However, it hit 102F today and I nearly melted riding home. Hotter than hell. IIt's been 100F or more for quite a few days so far this year.

And I kind of wonder if you might not be right.

Climate change is already shrinkng crop yields. (http://www.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2012/07/conventional-agriculture-nor-ready-climate-change) We ain't seen nothin' yet.



Warmest winter and summer on record in many parts of the country.

I am building a pergola frame for our gardens, they pretty well burned up this year. A few things survived but many did not. Just put my second crop of corn in, hope it doesn't burn up like the middle batch did.

Aaron :)

I was thinking of pointing out to you that a few hot days shouldn't be considered evidence of climate change. However, it hit 102F today and I nearly melted riding home. Hotter than hell. IIt's been 100F or more for quite a few days so far this year.

And I kind of wonder if you might not be right.

Looking at the pattern of new records being set almoat every year since the early 1990s, most climate scientists are pretty sure that climate change is occurring much faster than was originally predicted.

Looking at the pattern of new records being set almoat every year since the early 1990s, most climate scientists are pretty sure that climate change is occurring much faster than was originally predicted.

Yeah... for most non-scientists though it's this stretch of hot weather that really makes the point. The weather people are calling for 5 more days of 100F + weather here. No rain so far this month (.28 inches... 4 is average..) and seems like crops are being destroyed.

Meanwhile.... it's much more noticeable the farther north you travel. I keep thinking of this weather forecast for one of the most northerly towns in Canada... mid December 2010. Temps above freezing! Almost unheard of.
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Yeah... for most non-scientists though it's this stretch of hot weather that really makes the point. The weather people are calling for 5 more days of 100F + weather here. No rain so far this month (.28 inches... 4 is average..) and seems like crops are being destroyed.

I thought corn liked heat but I've never seen such pathetic crops around here. and where are my tomatoes? I've always had tomatoes by now. I went for an evening ride tonight to avoid the 100 and ended up eating about 20 bugs. this has been a record year for bug eating.

Yeah... for most non-scientists though it's this stretch of hot weather that really makes the point. The weather people are calling for 5 more days of 100F + weather here. No rain so far this month (.28 inches... 4 is average..) and seems like crops are being destroyed.

Meanwhile.... it's much more noticeable the farther north you travel. I keep thinking of this weather forecast for one of the most northerly towns in Canada... mid December 2010. Temps above freezing! Almost unheard of.
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HI Gerv,

And just think the fair is about month away when it really gets hot! :) I've decided to ride slower coming home and adjust the route so that I pass a nice AC cooled bar after a couple of the harder climbs. :)

fasthair

I thought corn liked heat but I've never seen such pathetic crops around here. and where are my tomatoes? I've always had tomatoes by now. I went for an evening ride tonight to avoid the 100 and ended up eating about 20 bugs. this has been a record year for bug eating.

Corn likes heat, but it needs water too...

Aaron :)

Looking at the pattern of new records being set almoat every year since the early 1990s, most climate scientists are pretty sure that climate change is occurring much faster than was originally predicted.
Interesting to note that in Des Moines, two years in the 1930s saywa longer stretch of 100F + heat. 1934 and 1937.

So I'm still a little reluctant to correlate a bunch of hot weather with climate change. The actual cc pattern is probably more like a long stretch of drought, like we see in the Mid West, followed by torrential and devastating rains.

Like everyone around me this year, I tend to connect the dots with this hot weather, but need to see the bigger picture of what climate change is likely to do. Over time, drought will not be the real picture of the upper midwest. Actually, I believe we should have much a wetter climate.

Good sunscreen and a bandana goes a long ways when riding.

Interesting to note that in Des Moines, two years in the 1930s saywa longer stretch of 100F + heat. 1934 and 1937.

So I'm still a little reluctant to correlate a bunch of hot weather with climate change. The actual cc pattern is probably more like a long stretch of drought, like we see in the Mid West, followed by torrential and devastating rains.

Like everyone around me this year, I tend to connect the dots with this hot weather, but need to see the bigger picture of what climate change is likely to do. Over time, drought will not be the real picture of the upper midwest. Actually, I believe we should have much a wetter climate.

By the time we know for sure what climate change will do, it will be much too late to do anything about it. NOAA/NASA has confirmed that the Texas drought was definitely a result of anthropogenic global warming. This is a very prudent and judicious group of scientists. They will not make willy-nilly statements.

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/10/12665235-2011-texas-drought-was-20-times-more-likely-due-to-warming-study-says?lite

I hate it when "global" means my backyard.

By the time we know for sure what climate change will do, it will be much too late to do anything about it. NOAA/NASA has confirmed that the Texas drought was definitely a result of anthropogenic global warming. This is a very prudent and judicious group of scientists. They will not make willy-nilly statements.

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/10/12665235-2011-texas-drought-was-20-times-more-likely-due-to-warming-study-says?lite

I see. The odds of weather being warmer is greatly increased. And a warm spell has a better chance of being long and a cold spell a better chance of being shorter.

But I'm guessing a statistic of the overall temperature increase over the last 25 years would be a better indicator than a hot spell or two.

For most people, though, it's the dramatic effect of a severe drought or a really hot spell.

We are getting some cooling and a little rain tonight, so we won't beat the 1936 records, but it's evident that crop failures are looming and the weather outlook until October is continuing dry spell.

I see. The odds of weather being warmer is greatly increased. And a warm spell has a better chance of being long and a cold spell a better chance of being shorter.

But I'm guessing a statistic of the overall temperature increase over the last 25 years would be a better indicator than a hot spell or two.

For most people, though, it's the dramatic effect of a severe drought or a really hot spell.

We are getting some cooling and a little rain tonight, so we won't beat the 1936 records, but it's evident that crop failures are looming and the weather outlook until October is continuing dry spell.

BTW, as you probably know, the heat records from the 1930s were associated with the Dust Bowl. This was a climate event that permanently altered the history of the United States. There was a mass migration out of the lower Midwest and the prairies. Many thousands of people were affected. The Depression, which had been heading for recovery, hit the skids again. Hard working Americans starved to death. The stage was set for America's entry into World War II a few years later. On the positive side, the Dust Bowl winds stirred up some great music, art and literature.

Watch for similar earth changing events to become more common in the next couple decades.

BTW, as you probably know, the heat records from the 1930s were associated with the Dust Bowl. This was a climate event that permanently altered the history of the United States. There was a mass migration out of the lower Midwest and the prairies. Many thousands of people were affected. The Depression, which had been heading for recovery, hit the skids again. Hard working Americans starved to death. The stage was set for America's entry into World War II a few years later. On the positive side, the Dust Bowl winds stirred up some great music, art and literature.

Watch for similar earth changing events to become more common in the next couple decades.

like a resurgence in folk music? I suspect this time instead of Californians keeping people out at gun point, folks will be trying to keep Californians in at gun point. (please accept my most heartfelt apologies if you're from California).

Figured I'd bump this thread.

Just found an excellent blog post by Andrew Revkin in the NY Times Dot Earth blog site. (http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/13/a-closer-look-at-extreme-drought-in-a-warming-climate/)

Interesting quote from a researcher at National Center for Atmospheric Research:



In essence, I think the U.S. has been very fortunate to have experienced a wetting trend from the 1950s to the 1990s, in contrast to many other low- and mid-latitude land areas. However, this luck is about to run out, because the tropical Pacific sea surface temperatures apparently switched into a cold phase around 1999 that typically lasts for 20-30 years and brings below-normal precipitation and drought over much of the West and southern U.S. On top of that, the greenhouse-gas-induced global warming is predicted to cause severe drying in the coming decades over the U.S. Even if the tropical Pacific condition changes after 1-2 decades into a warm phase, the U.S. is unlikely to return the wet conditions of the 1977-1999 because of the expected large drying from global warming.


Seems like these warmer temps may be a double whammy.