Texas Heat!

[NativeSon]

This heat is starting to scare me. It is looking more and more like the summer of '80. My first son was born in Feb. of '80 and during the heat wave my wife couldn't get out of the house with him as the morning low was around 92 degrees every day. I'm praying we don't have that kind of a summer this year.

Charlie

 

[Reg]

fun, Fun, FUN !!!
(in the SUN)

Back a few months ago the man made global warming denying folk were mumbling something about ice storms and snow fall being clear evidence that the planet is cooling.

They go remarkably quiet when heat records fall {or maybe they "rise", this might be a cause of their confusion (-: }

Ho hum; difference between weather and climate - I guess we need to remind them of THIS thread next January/February ?
(IF there is snow)

 

[jinman]

I probably won't make any friends by saying this, but my moisture level seems to be about normal. Looking at the drought report shows that I am just within the changing zone of normal rainfall to extreme drought. My 3/4 acre pond reflects that because it is full, maybe 6" below the spillway. There are also green patches of grass where trees cast their shade/shadow. That tells me that the sun's heat is the biggest culprit for drying. There is moisture still in the ground here, but any unshaded areas are getting baked in the sun-oven. For that reason, I'm not mowing anywhere but about 3 acres around my house and barn. The grass/weeds in my woods are being let go to preserve all the ground moisture their shade can provide. It sounds like a lame excuse for not mowing, but it is obvious when you look at the unwatered mowed areas because they are brown while the grass in my woods is green. My yard around my house is a green oasis. Sprinklers running 6 hours every other day does a marvelous job of keeping a huge patch of green grass. It guarantees the best fire protection around my house in case of a wildfire. The direction from which a fire would come is clear of tall vegetation and solid green grass mowed to 3-1/2" tall.

Maybe I sound overly concerned about fires, but I don't think so. We have neighbors who shoot fireworks off and have a history of getting uncontrolled fires started. I have a huge fire-break between my house and those areas most likely to be burned if a wildfire breaks out. My county has NOT banned fireworks. I think they should, but obviously the economics of fireworks sales has a lot to do with their decision. I'm just worried about neighbors who are not as cautious as I am. I normally have a big 4th of July picnic and fireworks show over our 12 acre lake. That's about as safe as it gets. This year, I'm taking a year off and will try again next year. I'll be spending my 4th with my daughter and grandkids about 75 miles away and watching a Texas Rangers ballgame with fireworks afterward. I'm just hoping I still have a house standing when we get back here around midnight on the 4th.

 

[Western]

Jim, don't know why your worried about a fire, most of Texas has already burned!!

I hear ya though, pretty much the same at my house, but now my water pressure goes down when your sprinklers come on:laughing:

12 acre lake huh?? and your going to be gone all weekend??? hmmm have a "boat" ramp??

Just say'in

 

[Bird]

Maybe I sound overly concerned about fires, but I don't think so.

As far as I'm concerned, there's no such thing as "overly concerned" about fire dangers.

Our lakes are not in bad shape, but I sure hate to keep running up the water bill watering the yard. I just spent two and a half hours with the string trimmer and an hour on the lawnmower working on our yard and the ones on either side of us. That's not a bad job in nice weather, but with 95 degrees out there, it gets a bit uncomfortable.

 

[jinman]

12 acre lake huh?? and your going to be gone all weekend??? hmmm have a "boat" ramp??

Just say'in

Well, the 4th is on Monday, not the weekend. Is the heat gettin' to you Dennis?

No, I don't have a boat dock, but I do have trees near the shore so I can sit in the shade and sip a brew while watchin' my bobber. It's actually way to hot to even fish except for early in the morning. We did throw some catfish food in our small 3/4 acre pond this morning since the water has suddenly cleared. We could see catfish coming from almost half-way across the pond as they zeroed in on the food -- lot's more fish than I expected.:thumbsup:

 

[Western]

One thing I have noticed, the bird bath and any other water sure gets allot of use. We have been watching a pair of Painted Buntings using the water trough allot, but seem to prefer the sprinkler droplets on the rose leaves, same with the Hummingbirds. Actually saw a Hummingbird using the bird fountain, that was a 1st for me.

Watching the Dove is funny, they are like the "big guy" on the block, they take a bath and it's like a sumo wrestler diving in a 4' kiddy pool!

 

[Western]

Worked in Granbury last night. It seemed allot drier the further South I went.

Here is an article on how this is effecting the wildlife.

Texas drought grinding away at wildlife populations

Going to be a record setting year I'm afraid.

 

[Bird]

Worked in Granbury last night. It seemed allot drier the further South I went.

Here is an article on how this is effecting the wildlife.

Texas drought grinding away at wildlife populations

Going to be a record setting year I'm afraid.

Yep, a bad situation getting worse, I'm afraid. It's not going to be a good year.

 

[markrahn]

coming home from work on Tuesday at around 5:30 PM slowed to not smear a raccoon all over the FM road as it ambled accross and then he stood in the ditch looking at me. Must be looking for water. this morning the wife called at about 9:30 and said the dogs had an armadillo cornered by the shed and it was digging in and thumping itself. Dogs were trying to bark it to death. Seem this fella was gettin a sip from the dogs water. Gettin pretty dry around here, my tank is dry dry dry. The frogs are pretty deep underground I bet. Black Widows seem to be doing pretty good for themselves this year. This week alone I bet we have killed several dozen in various places. Snake bites are up also as the snakes are looking to get somewhere that has moisture, cause that is where their food is going to.