1 August 2024

On Tuesday 30 July after a period of abnormally dry weather Pittsburgh had a series of gully washers that scoured the creeks and greened up the grass. The downpours were sudden and stupendous. In just three brief episodes — fortunately spaced seven hours apart — we received 0.85″ of rain.

Ten years ago we were amazed by these episodes because they were so different from our usual slow, soaking rains. Back then the only place I’d experienced this weather prompted me to call it “Texas rain.” In 2014 climate.gov predicted an increase in heavy rain episodes on this map. Pittsburgh registered an uptick but not the worst.

OLD PREDICTION IN 2014. Heavy Rain Days in 2041-2070

Five years later climate.gov revised their prediction and it was worse.

REVISED! PREDICTION IN 2019. Heavy Rain Days in Late 21st Century

From climate.gov: Prepare for more downpours: Heavy rain has increased across most of the United States, and is likely to increase further.

The two maps are not “apples to apples.” On the 2019 map the prediction time frame is longer and change is expressed as a percentage rather than an absolute number of days.

However the map is scary and it lit a fire under Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) to fix the sewers now before things get worse. Since then they’ve been systematically digging up city streets to replace ancient storm sewer lines while Alcosan (sewage treatment) is implementing their EPA-approved plan to keep sewage out of the rivers.

We don’t need a prediction map to tell us it’s getting wetter in Pittsburgh. Frequent heavy downpours are now a way of life.

Read more — though 10 years old — in this vintage article:

15 July 2024

Excessive heat from the western U.S. is now in the East and the next two days promise to be brutal.

Right now I’m in Tidewater Virginia where today’s high temperature will be 97°F and “feel like” 107°F. Just after dawn the turkey vultures warmed their wings in my sister’s backyard. I’m sure they know where and how to stay cool later today.

We humans, however, are not always in control of our time and some humans are not as smart as turkey vultures so every newscast reminds us to be careful and stay cool.

Yes, today will be hot but tomorrow will be worse. There will be Extreme Heat even in the mountains of Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Fortunately Wednesday will bring relief. Watch the heat for 15-17July on these maps.

18 June 2024

When a heat dome persisted over the Central US. last August my reaction was “At least it isn’t happening here.” Well, now it is.

A high pressure system that was overheating the Southwest moved in on Monday and put a cap over us that’s circulating hot air and trapping heat at the surface.

Meanwhile there are very few clouds to block the sun. It just keeps getting hotter and hotter. Climate Central says the metro areas of Indianapolis, Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., New York City, and Boston are experiencing:

• Record high temperatures from 94°F to 99°F
• High humidity that makes it feels hotter when heat index values reach 105°F
• Nighttime temperatures never cool below the 70-76°F range.

Pittsburgh’s forecast is all orange.

Meanwhile all of us are under stress, especially plants, animals, outdoor workers, people without air conditioning and homeless people.

In addition to all the physical changes, heat makes us irritable, even angry.

Last evening severe thunderstorms knocked out power to more than 100,000 electric customers in southwestern PA. I’m fortunate to have both electricity and air conditioning so I’m staying indoors.

I can hardly wait for it to end.

p.s. US weather maps never show Canada. Did the heat just cease at the border? Nope. It’s hot in Canada, too!