2012 Heat Wave; 1,015 the Number of Records Set in the Past Seven Days

[Leonard]

On Tuesday 251 new daily high temperature records were set, boosting to 1,015 the number of records set in the past seven days.

The consequences range from comical — a bacon-fried driveway in Oklahoma — to catastrophic, as wildfires consuming parts of the Rocky Mountains are fueled by oppressive heat and gusty winds.

The record-breaking numbers might seem big, but they're hard to put into context — the National Climatic Data Center has only been tracking the daily numbers broken for a little more than a year, said Derek Arndt, head of climate monitoring at the center.

Still, it's impressive, given that records usually aren't broken until the scorching months of July and August.

"Any time you're breaking all-time records in mid- to late-June, that's a healthy heat wave," Arndt said.

And if forecasts hold, more records could fall in the coming days in the central and western parts of the country and extend to the East Coast through the weekend.

Though it's been a week that could fry a person's soul — and their soles and hands, really anything exposed to the relentless sun — no matter where you are, the objective is the same: stay cool.

HIGH STAKES, HIGH TEMPS
All bets are off at the famed thoroughbred racetrack Churchill Downs during the heat wave — at least they will be Thursday.

The Louisville, Ky., venue canceled its racing card as meteorologists predicted temperatures would touch at least 100 degrees. Track spokesman Darren Rogers said he thinks it's the first time the home of the Kentucky Derby has canceled racing due to extreme heat.

WILDFIRES
Wildfires pack intense heat, but soaring temperatures and whipping winds are piling the pressure on the men and women battling the blazes raging across the Rocky Mountains.

U.S. Forest Service firefighter Owen Johnson had to work overnight and avoided the piping-hot daytime temperatures in the region, which toppled records in Colorado, Wyoming and Montana. On Tuesday, Colorado Springs reached 101 degrees, and Miles City in eastern Montana soared to 111 degrees, the highest ever recorded in that area.
More.............. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/28...33109.html

[TennisMom]

I guess it's time to stop complaining about our cool weather here in OR. People are suffering out there.

[blondemom]

Here in OKC it is not as hot as it was last year. We have only been above 100, 3 days ( it is not above it yet today) this year, last year we had already had 6 days of it, we ended up having over 60 days.

OKC has been smart there are 200 cool zones located in the area, for people to go to. So hopefully people are utilizing them.

[Tiamat]

I guess it's time to stop complaining about our cool weather here in OR. People are suffering out there.

I belong to another forum with folks from all around. The eastern seaboard and midwest and soutwest are already at peek, deadly heat.

[orygunluvr]

Since the article doesn't actually list any record heat, I guess I will.

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0001416.html

[chuck white]

This is not the evidence you are looking for, There is no global warming, move along.

[TennisMom]

My sister in NY says she loves this weather. Right now she is at the beach which is nice. Later on, she is taking a train to meet up with friends to go to a Yankee game. That is insane. Maybe Oregon is the right place for me after all.

[hillclimber]

This is not the evidence you are looking for, There is no global warming, move along.

Do you accept rising ocean levels as evidence of global warming? Or more specifically, do you understand that if the globe is warming, the oceans will rise inordinately as a result?

[PonderThis]

The oceans ARE already rising though, and this is just the beginning - projections show this increasing massively within a comparitively short period to come. Does this not alarm you?

[bbqboy]

Nothing alarms HC. Except poor folks.

[chuck white]

Do you accept rising ocean levels as evidence of global warming? Or more specifically, do you understand that if the globe is warming, the oceans will rise inordinately as a result?

The ocean levels are a little more complex. The level is not the same everywhere on earth. Areas near the south pole and green land have a large body of mass (ice) which attracts ocean water (gravity). This leads to higher levels near polar areas. As land mass looses ice mass it also begins to rise up out of the mantel. This is happening on the east coast since the last ice age. There is also the effect if land mass rises up, other tectonic plates will sink.
In other words, the earth is moving up and down too much for us to get an accurate value from just one location.

[Clone]

The ocean levels are a little more complex. The level is not the same everywhere on earth. Areas near the south pole and green land have a large body of mass (ice) which attracts ocean water (gravity). This leads to higher levels near polar areas. As land mass looses ice mass it also begins to rise up out of the mantel. This is happening on the east coast since the last ice age. There is also the effect if land mass rises up, other tectonic plates will sink.
In other words, the earth is moving up and down too much for us to get an accurate value from just one location.

Intelligence is so much sexier than Pam...even butter flavored.

[Crazylace]

The ocean levels are a little more complex. The level is not the same everywhere on earth. Areas near the south pole and green land have a large body of mass (ice) which attracts ocean water (gravity). This leads to higher levels near polar areas. As land mass looses ice mass it also begins to rise up out of the mantel. This is happening on the east coast since the last ice age. There is also the effect if land mass rises up, other tectonic plates will sink.
In other words, the earth is moving up and down too much for us to get an accurate value from just one location.

Intelligence is so much sexier than Pam...even butter flavored.

Too true.

[Crazylace]

Consider yourself complimented.

[chuck white]

The ocean levels are a little more complex. The level is not the same everywhere on earth. Areas near the south pole and green land have a large body of mass (ice) which attracts ocean water (gravity). This leads to higher levels near polar areas. As land mass looses ice mass it also begins to rise up out of the mantel. This is happening on the east coast since the last ice age. There is also the effect if land mass rises up, other tectonic plates will sink.
In other words, the earth is moving up and down too much for us to get an accurate value from just one location.

Intelligence is so much sexier than Pam...even butter flavored.

Too true.

Ahh Shucks

[Scrapper]

http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/13/us/midwest...google_cnn

Farmers suffer as soaring temperatures worsen drought in Midwest


The Department of Agriculture said 1,016 counties in 26 states are natural disaster areas.

[orygunluvr]

Breaking a record in one city, that doesn't even come close to a state record, really is meaningless. Besides, how could there be a record to break, some going back more than a hundred years, if it hasn't ever been this hot or cold somewhere? If heat records have been broke that were 100 years old, what made it that hot 100 years ago?

[PonderThis]

There's always randomness to weather. Long term averages mean a lot more. Melting glaciers put it into obvious territory.

Why are you so willing to risk screwing things up for future generations when you think the current generation has done you so wrong?

[orygunluvr]

Melting glaciers? What happens when you turn off your freezer? Ice age ends and you think glaciers aren't going to recede? I guess the Ice Age and the Dark Ages are more your style?

[PonderThis]

Mostly I don't want to be held responsible for screwing it up for others. Seems kind of piggish to me.