The dreaded "heat dome"?

[bucktalk]

If my memory is correct (scary thought in itself) I seem to recall the 'heat dome' began building in early June of 2011. It seems like things already feel different of this summer. It seems like the air has so much moisture in it than this time last year. But I'm wondering if some of you weather experts can share when the heat dome started last year -also - are the present conditions not like last year at this time?

[WilliamTell]

We've actually talked about moving if we have another summer like last. Because if this trend continues there are going to be some changes in the landscape here.

[SoonerDave]

We don't have a heat dome yet. Although someone like our resident meteorlogist Venture could explain it far better, I think its fair to say that the heat dome is a region of entrenched high pressure that settles in an area due to the absence of any forcing mechanisms in the upper atmosphere to "push" it out of the way, or the region is strong enough that other systems get "pushed" around the clockwise rotation of air around the high. Don't think we're seeing that quite yet...also, keep in mind the extraordinarily high temps from last year were also hand-in-hand with extremely low relative humidity levels. It's very hard to peg the thermometer that high when the air is so moist.

Strange thing is, given that I've lived nearly my entire life here in OK, summers like last year where what I recall being the norm when I was a kid. You just expected the summer heat in the 100's, but it seems now the idea is to make it seem out of the ordinary. Heck, used to remember driving by the bank time-and-temperature signs just to see it flip into three-digit range

[bluedogok]

We've actually talked about moving if we have another summer like last. Because if this trend continues there are going to be some changes in the landscape here.

Last summer in Austin was the "tipping point" for us moving to Denver, we just finally had enough after 90 days of 100+ temps and 130 straight days of over 90. The previous record was 69 days of 100+ which was tied two years before. Last summer was even unusual to long time Austinites, the bulk of those 100+ temps was in the 105-110 range and temps would only get to around 90 at night, we just had enough. Out of the 8 summers that I lived in Austin, 7 of them approached record 100 degree days. It has been in the 80's here quite a bit lately, everyone thinks it's already "summer-like" temps here, if that is summer we will take it.

[WilliamTell]

Last summer in Austin was the "tipping point" for us moving to Denver, we just finally had enough after 90 days of 100+ temps and 130 straight days of over 90. The previous record was 69 days of 100+ which was tied two years before. Last summer was even unusual to long time Austinites, the bulk of those 100+ temps was in the 105-110 range and temps would only get to around 90 at night, we just had enough. Out of the 8 summers that I lived in Austin, 7 of them approached record 100 degree days. It has been in the 80's here quite a bit lately, everyone thinks it's already "summer-like" temps here, if that is summer we will take it.

We've talked about relocating to the Denver area with my job as well. I dont mind the heat, but im not going to allow myself to be locked indoors in the vast majority of the year because its so miserable to go outside. Life is too short and i dont care how 'cheap' it is to live here. Plus my other major problem is night time temperatures like you mentioned. I go to work very early and when its still around 90 degrees at 5am and i instantly start sweating the minute i walk outside, its just not going to work. After spending time in the desert and enjoying the low night time temps despite the high daytime temps im not willing to live in a place that never cools down. People aren't supposed to live like that.

[kevinpate]

When I was active in scouting locally I went to the national training conference center in NE NM in early August a few times. 80's in the day, afternoon showers, 40-50's at night. Paradise. Oh, if I could just make a workable plan to spend each spring/summer there and fall/winter at the base in southern Florida.

[Bunty]

We've actually talked about moving if we have another summer like last. Because if this trend continues there are going to be some changes in the landscape here.

I wonder how the landscape looks in Texas where it was speculated that the drought and heat killed as many as a half billion trees.

[Bunty]

Last summer in Austin was the "tipping point" for us moving to Denver, we just finally had enough after 90 days of 100+ temps and 130 straight days of over 90. The previous record was 69 days of 100+ which was tied two years before. Last summer was even unusual to long time Austinites, the bulk of those 100+ temps was in the 105-110 range and temps would only get to around 90 at night, we just had enough. Out of the 8 summers that I lived in Austin, 7 of them approached record 100 degree days. It has been in the 80's here quite a bit lately, everyone thinks it's already "summer-like" temps here, if that is summer we will take it.

And the much colder winters you find easier to tolerate than the heat in Texas?

[Dustin]

And the much colder winters you find easier to tolerate than the heat in Texas?

Personally, I would much rather deal with the cold than the heat. Especially after that hell we lived through last year.

[MDot]

Personally, I would much rather deal with the cold than the heat. Especially after that hell we lived through last year.

I concur. It's easier for me personally to warm up than it is for me to cool down.

[betts]

I agree. I thought about moving last summer as well. At least for the summer. I'm looking into short term rentals in Chicago right now.

[adaniel]

Remember folks, you don't have to shovel heat.

[MDot]

Remember folks, you don't have to shovel heat.

And? LOL

[adaniel]

And? LOL

Forgive me for my short response. I'm watching the Thunder game right now and that's got my attention.

Not really sure you can use last summer as a measuring stick of much considering it was stupid hot everywhere. I remember going to Montana last August thinking it would be so much cooler and to my horror it was maybe 5 degrees cooler (upper 90's). Plus very few up there have any air conditioning!

For the simple fact that there's way more moisture in the ground (that's partially why its so humid) we will probably not have as hot of a summer as last. But it will be hot nonetheless. Nobody moves to Oklahoma for our delightful climate. Plus, give me heat over shoveling snow and sliding on ice any day of the week.

Outside of San Diego, every place will have some sort of meteorological BS you will have to put up with.

[ljbab728]

I"m not a weather expert like Venture but I understand that La Nina is going away for this year which should signify a change in weather patterns.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-...canes-also-go/

[Easy180]

Remember folks, you don't have to shovel heat.

Nailed it ^^

[MDot]

Forgive me for my short response. I'm watching the Thunder game right now and that's got my attention.

Not really sure you can use last summer as a measuring stick of much considering it was stupid hot everywhere. I remember going to Montana last August thinking it would be so much cooler and to my horror it was maybe 5 degrees cooler (upper 90's). Plus very few up there have any air conditioning!

For the simple fact that there's way more moisture in the ground (that's partially why its so humid) we will probably not have as hot of a summer as last. But it will be hot nonetheless. Nobody moves to Oklahoma for our delightful climate. Plus, give me heat over shoveling snow and sliding on ice any day of the week.

Outside of San Diego, every place will have some sort of meteorological BS you will have to put up with.

I also gave a short response because I was also enthralled by the Thunder game as well, so it's all good.

I can agree with you on shoveling snow and driving on ice but it's not like we get either all the time, although when we do get it we usually get it pretty bad. You're right that we shouldn't use last summer as a measuring stick, that was too much for even me to handle and I'm an outdoors kind of guy.

I hope we have a better summer than last year because as I mentioned. I'm in Mississippi a lot and the humidity there is awful in the summer but I can handle that over the heat we had this past summer, honestly.

[mugofbeer]

Remember folks, you don't have to shovel heat.

Hardly had much snow to shovel this past winter in Denver. Feb. was a little snowy but hardly a flake after that. I'll take a little snow shoveling over 90-days of 100 degree heat any day. It it gets hot here in Denver, we can hop in the car and drive to the mountains. Even on hot days, you can turn on the attic fan and cool the house right off because of the dry air that can vary 40-45 degrees each day from low to hi.

[ou48A]

Remember folks, you don't have to shovel heat.

Exactly right. On occasion Denver can be paralyzed for days by a bad blizzard.
The weather anywhere on the Great Plains is going to vary a great deal from week to week and from year to year.
It’s not like we had another dust bowl.

[ou48A]

As someone who has worked outside for many days at a time in just about any of the worst weather of all types that we see on the great plains the best advice I can give is…….. Get tougher and get the right gear/ clothing. Don’t be so weak and soft and so unprepared that you let the weather drive you away.

[MDot]

As someone who has worked outside for many days at a time in just about any of the worst weather of all types that we see on the great plains the best advice I can give is…….. Get tougher and get the right gear/ clothing. Don’t be so weak and soft and so unprepared that you let the weather drive you away.

Not sure your response is to me or just an "in general" comment but I'm going to respond anyways.

I enjoy all weather types but I was specifically referring to last summer of which I wasn't a fan of. I am outside in most any weather condition and am well adjusted to most weather as well so I guess you can't call me "soft" or "weak" since it appears that's what we're judging on, but I wasn't a big fan of this past summer and I can still warm up faster than I can cool down no matter the weather pattern for said year.

No harm, no foul, ou48A, but I wasn't sure the intent of your response and I did sound like a ***** so I'm just clarifying where I'm coming from even if you weren't indirectly replying to me.

[MDot]

Exactly right. On occasion Denver can be paralyzed for days by a bad blizzard.
The weather anywhere on the Great Plains is going to vary a great deal from week to week and from year to year.
It’s not like we had another dust bowl.

If we're talking about Denver then I retract everything I said, I thought we were talking about Oklahoma City's weather, not Denver's. Besides, I don't recall anyone ever comparing last year to the dust bowl until you mentioned it. But now that's it's mentioned, why would anyone suggest it was like the dust bowl unless they're using it as a comparison (you)?

[ou48A]

Not sure your response is to me or just an "in general" comment but I'm going to respond anyways.

I enjoy all weather types but I was specifically referring to last summer of which I wasn't a fan of. I am outside in most any weather condition and am well adjusted to most weather as well so I guess you can't call me "soft" or "weak" since it appears that's what we're judging on, but I wasn't a big fan of this past summer and I can still warm up faster than I can cool down no matter the weather pattern for said year.

No harm, no foul, ou48A, but I wasn't sure the intent of your response and I did sound like a ***** so I'm just clarifying where I'm coming from even if you weren't indirectly replying to me.

I wasn’t addressing anyone specifically.

I wasn't a big fan of this past summer either but spending time outside is one thing but doing hard physical labor day after day in the heat without addition breaks is another and its type of toughness that I am talking about.
On the other end I have worked outside day after day for many hours at a time in subzero weather and I’m also talking about that too.
But if you let weather alone make a decision about where you would be moving unless your old or have serious health issues then yes that is what I would call soft and weak for letting it control such a major decision in life.

[ou48A]

If we're talking about Denver then I retract everything I said, I thought we were talking about Oklahoma City's weather, not Denver's. Besides, I don't recall anyone ever comparing last year to the dust bowl until you mentioned it. But now that's it's mentioned, why would anyone suggest it was like the dust bowl unless they're using it as a comparison (you)?

As hot as it was in Texas or Oklahoma last summer it wasn’t anywhere near as bad for human living as it was during the dust bowl.
Hardly anyone but the extremely rich had air-conditioning back then and the dust was very oppressive over a huge geographical area.
We are all soft and weak (including me) compared to the people who stuck out the dust bowl in this part of the country.

[MDot]

But if you let weather alone make a decision about where you would be moving unless your old or have serious health issues then yes that is what I would call soft and weak for letting it control such a major decision in life.

Well I agree with you then in that sense.