The Skagit River In Washington Continues To Shrink While North Texas Shivers From A Cold Front

This morning my nephew sent me email with some more photos of the incredibly shrinking Skagit River in the Skagit Valley of Washington.

The only text in the email said, "Day 48 without rain: Playing with what little remains in the Skagit."

That is my nephew on the left and my great grand nephew (or is it grand great nephew?) Spencer Jack, on the right.

Meanwhile, with the Skagit Valley turning into a desert, here in North Texas we got our promised cold front, blowing in from the north overnight.

Yesterday's high of 104 was record breaking, breaking the record of 102, set in 1963.

This morning when I went swimming it was 62 degrees. I am really terrible at arithmetic. I may be a Republican. But I think that is a 42 degree drop overnight. The sudden drop made the water in the pool seem very warm, because it was. Way warmer than the air.

As you can see, below, it has warmed up a little since this morning's low. The wind chill factor has the air currently feeling like it is being chilled to 60 degrees.

And then there are the current weather stats from my old home zone of Mount Vernon, where it is currently one degree colder than what it feels like in Fort Worth. With Mount Vernon having no wind chill factor factoring in to the equation.

It appears, if the Mount Vernon forecast is correct, that the long Western Washington drought may get a one day respite on Monday, with a low temperature only 11 degrees above freezing.

With it suddenly being so cold at my location on the planet I think I will make a trek to the Tandy Hills today. That should be fun.

And now a couple more of my nephew's photos of the incredibly shrinking Skagit River.

I am amazed that the river is so low that a sand bar has appeared at this location by the downtown Mount Vernon bridge. I have helped sandbag, on more than one occasion, the area on the same side of the river as the white building, sandbagging that was necessary to stop the Skagit River from destroying downtown Mount Vernon during a pair of biblical level floods, (I may slightly exaggerate, there were no arks) that happened only two weeks apart, back in the 1990s.

Mount Vernon is currently building a more permanent fix to the flooding threat than temporary sandbags, in a needed Skagit River Vision project, building a flood wall.

Meanwhile, I think I may have mentioned it before, Fort Worth is also building a flood prevention project. Called the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle. Unlike Mount Vernon's flood control project, Fort Worth's is totally not needed. And will result in a ridiculous flood diversion channel that will end up likely being yet one more Fort Worth Eyesore. With a little pond called the Town Lake, which will give Fort Worth a beautiful waterfront.

Above, that is Spencer Jack in what remains of the Skagit River, with his favorite girlfriend, Brittney.

Yesterday's Record Breaking HEAT Followed By A North Texas Cold Front

Temperature Headline the Star-Telegram

I did not know, til reading my secondary weather information source, that being the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, that we got heated to a HOT new record of 108 degrees yesterday.

Apparently a Cold Front will be cooling us today. Currently it is barely warm in the outer world, at 81 degrees at my location.

Tonight the low is supposed to get to a very very chilly 69 degrees. I shall be sleeping sound with my windows open tonight, with no air-conditioner conditioning my interior space with periodic blasts of semi-frigidity.

This incoming Cold Front dropping us into the chilly 90s puts me in mind of an amusing newspaper headline in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer that I saw upon my arrival one summer during one of the years of this century. I think it may have been summer of 2001.

The headline was something like "Heat Wave Swelters Northwest With Day 3 in the 80s."

Such weather babies are those foggy people up in Western Washington. Three days in the 80s, in summer, in North Texas, would have people getting out their sweaters and long pants.

Another HOT Day Breaks More Texas Temperature Records While The Skinny Dipping Thin Man Swims

In the picture you are looking at the Shadow of the Stocking-Capped Skinny Dipping Thin Man early in the morning of the 2nd Wednesday of September.

I don't know if it was a sound effect during a nightmare, or it really happened, but, I think I heard a loud thunderclap last night and some thunder rolling in the distance when I woke up this morning.

Looking at the early morning sky I can not see any stars due to clouds being between me and the sun's celestial partners. So, I guess thunder and lightning is possible.

Lightning strikes in these parched parts of the planets could set off some explosive wildfires. The prairie land of the Tandy Hills is starting to look like a tinderbox in search of a spark.

Yesterday's high, as measured at the official temperature measuring station at D/FW Airport, reached a record of 107, with yet one more day over 100 breaking the record set in 1980 for number of days of 100 or HOTTER.

The following sentence in this morning's Star-Telegram surprises me....

Meteorologists have already handed Texas the crown for the hottest June through August on record in the U.S., with an 86.8-degree average that burned past Oklahoma's 85.2 degrees in 1934.

June through August in Texas is the HOTTEST on record in the U.S.? I know there were a lot of days we were hotter than the Phoenix zone. But, Death Valley? We were HOTTER here from June through August than Death Valley?

Maybe the nightly low goes lower in the deserts of Phoenix and Death Valley, thus making the average for this zone of Texas higher.

It will be a nice change to segue from record breaking HEAT to the upcoming record breaking cold winter with record breaking snow levels in North Texas.

In the meantime, I am going swimming.

Breaking The Most Days Over 100 Record In Dallas/Fort Worth While Picking Up Tandy Hills Litter

Dry Tandy Hills Creek Litter-Filled Bed

When I left air-conditioned comfort today, around noon, the outer world was heated to 95 degrees.

With a predicted incoming cooling trend I thought this might be my last day to be able to enjoy the salubrious effects of the HOT Tandy Hills Natural Area Sanatorium in 2011.

A strong wind blew across the prairie today. I called the wind Mariah. Mariah created a good Wind Chill Factor that prevented the sauna/steambath factor from kicking in.

Today was my first day on the Tandy Hills since learning of this coming Saturday's Tandy Hills Litter Stomp & Creek Bed Exploration.

In anticipation of Saturday I thought I'd inspect some Tandy Creek Bed today to see if I could find any litter in need of stomping.


I did not have to look very hard. The picture above is the littered view looking west at the creek bed of the recently flooded Tandy Creek that runs under the Tandy Highway, when it is not flooding. This particular litter is located a few feet south of the biggest piece of Tandy Hills litter, other than the old rusting car and truck hulks, that being the Giant Tandy Tire.

The current forecast high for Saturday is 91. Is the Tandy Hills Litter Stomp a "Shirt/Shoes Required Or No Service" type of enterprise?

Speaking of the HEAT, and who isn't? On my way back from the Tandy Hills, listening to the radio, I learned that the official temperature monitoring station at D/FW Airport had confirmed that the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex had hit 100 again, breaking the record for number of days of 100 or more, set in 1980.

It is now almost 4 in the afternoon, with the D/FW temperature measuring station reporting 106 degrees of current HEAT. A record for this 13th day of September.

I must go pick up some litter now.

Another Record Breaking HOT Day Thinking About Being In Fort Worth In 1980

You are looking out my primary viewing portal on the outer world, well before the arrival of the yellow sky heater, on Tuesday the 13th Day of September.

It is currently 77 degrees, so I have my windows open.

Yesterday the temperature high ended up being higher than the predicted high, hitting a high of 103, as measured by the National Weather Service at the official temperature monitoring station at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

In Grapevine.

Monday's HOT high of 103 tied the infamous 1980 record for most days of 100 or more in a year. The predicted HOT high for today seems to range from 104 to 106, depending on who is doing the predicting.

Which means, unless a freakish Arctic Cold Front quickly arrives, today will break the 1980 days of 100 or HOTTER record.

I did not know til this morning that that 1980 record ended on August 11, 1980, when a thunderstorm lowered the temperature causing the high to reach only 97 on that day.

Ironically and bizarrely, I remember that day. My first time ever to visit the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex (the term "Metroplex" had not been invented at that point in time) was in that infamous summer of 1980.

I arrived in Fort Worth on August 11, 1980. I am able to remember this precisely because August 11 is a date I remember. For personal reasons.

I drove to Fort Worth, from Mount Vernon, Washington, in a Toyota without air-conditioning. The entity that caused me to come to Fort Worth put me up in what was then a Ramada Inn.

A Ramada Inn on Beach Street, right off Interstate 30, about 4 miles from where I now live, 31 years later. And less than a mile from the Tandy Hills, where I also live 31 years later.

My impression of Fort Worth and the Dallas area, at that 1980 point in time, was not good. Fort Worth's downtown was not the impressive envy of the world that it is now. I don't think at that point in time there was a single skyscrapers. The Fort Worth Stockyards was not then in the tourist attraction mode it is now.

I remember driving to Dallas and being unable to find Dealey Plaza and the site of the JFK Assassination. That seems very odd now, due to the fact that that location is extremely easy to find.

I got one of my worst sunburns ever that summer in Fort Worth, spending too much time at the Ramada Inn pool. I can not remember the last time I had a sunburn. I do remember the last time I was in a Fort Worth pool.

I think I will go relive that memory of being in a Fort Worth pool right now.

We're Back In HOT Grilling Mode Breaking Temperature Records In North Texas

Another Temperature Record Breaking Day In Texas

Earlier today I blogged about today's predicted temperature whilst relying on out of date information. Thusly I was erroneous when I said we were scheduled to be heated to 99 degrees HOT today in North Texas.

Around 5 this morning the National Weather Service added 2 degrees to today's scheduled heat, taking us over the century mark again, plus one, to 101.

If the temperature as measured at the official North Texas temperature measuring station at D/FW Airport does reach 101 today it will be yet one more temperature record in a summer of record breaking temperatures, with today being the hottest September 12 in recorded North Texas history.

We have not hit 100 in North Texas since September 3, lulling us into a false sense of relief.

The reason we are back HOT again is the upper level high pressure HOT zone that had been moved out of town by an upper level low pressure cold zone, has returned with a vengeance.

The low pressure cold zone is expected to come back fighting, later in the week.

So far in 2011 North Texas has had 68 days of 100 or higher. One HOT day short of the record set in the infamous summer of 1980.

It seems fairly clear that 2011 is going to go down in history as the HOTTEST in North Texas history. A record that will likely fall in 2012, what with this ongoing Global Warming thing we've got happening.

One nice personal side benefit for me due to the return of HOT temperatures. My pool had become a bit cool. It should be a bit warmer by tomorrow morning than it was today.

Another Sunny Sunday In Texas With More Record Breaking Temperatures

Looking through the bars of my patio prison cell at a glowing blue swimming pool on the August 21 Sunday dawn of yet one more HOT morning in Texas.

Currently the outer world is being heated to 84.5 degrees in my location.

Yesterday set yet one more temperature record, with August 20 being the hottest ever, at 107 degrees, as measured at the official measuring station at D/FW Airport.

The overnight lows have been being record breaking highs. This has resulted in an average 2011 summer temperature of 83.8, averaging the highs and lows, thus far, this summer.

The average of 83.8, so far, makes the summer of 2011 the HOTTEST summer ever recorded in the D/FW zone.

Which makes it the HOTTEST summer I have ever lived through. By far.

Which has me thinking it is time to go cool off in the pool.

North Texas Days In A Row Of 100 Or Higher Ends At 40

You are not looking past the bars of my patio prison cell at the dawn of 42 Days in a Row of 100 Degrees or more in North Texas.

The official temperature measuring station at D/FW Airport did not go over 100 yesterday.

Which seems odd to me, due to the fact that yesterday, when I went walking in the shaded jungle of Village Creek, I thought it was the HOTTEST day yet. I'm guessing it must have been very very humid, thus feeling very very HOT.

Officially, the recorder had the temperature climbing to 96 by 3 in the afternoon, yesterday. Then dipping to a chilly 84, then bouncing back to 97. I did experience the odd drop in temperature around 3. I think I mentioned that yesterday. I did see some of what appeared to be thunderclouds.

But I heard no thunder. Apparently locations as close as downtown Fort Worth did hear the clap of thunder and felt a few minutes of rare rain dropping.

So, the record of 42 Days in a Row of 100 or higher, set in 1980 remains. 2011's total of 47 triple digit days is in 4th place. The record number of 100 degree days was also set in super HOT 1980, at 69.

We are scheduled to start being heated to 100 again on Saturday, with 100 degree days into the foreseeable future. I suspect we may still break a 1980 record, this year of 2011.

In the meantime I am going swimming.

The August 11 Morning Of Day 41 Over 100 In North Texas

My internal lights came on at right about the time the sun arrived to light up the 11th day of August.

It is yet one more clear blue sky morning in North Texas, currently chilled to 82.7. This chilly temperature gives my air-conditioner a slight break from its cooling duties.

Unless a Blue Norther Arctic Blast arrives today it will be Day 41 in a Row of 100 Degrees or more, as measured by the official temperature monitoring station at D/FW Airport.

The record numbers of days in North Texas of 100 or more is 42. The current temperature prediction for tomorrow, Friday, the possible Day 42, is 99 degrees. That is the prediction from the Weather Underground. Other predictors are predicting 100 for tomorrow.

I suspect the other predictors are going to end up predicting correctly, with Friday being the record tying day 42 in a row of 100 or more. With the record broken on Saturday, at 43. Followed by several more days in a row over 100.

All this temperature talk has made me HOT. So, I think I will go swimming now.

Microsoft Caused Tardiness On Day 40 In A Row Over 100 On Dr. L.C.'s Happy Birthday

It is almost 4 hours after a pre-dawn picture was taken of the view through the bars of my patio prison cell on this 10th day of August.

Microsoft is always very concerned about evil doers exploiting a weakness and taking over my computer. This morning it was Microsoft installing security updates which took over my computer.

Microsoft really seems to be the only evil doer that regularly takes over my computer.

I just heard from my therapist, Dr. L.C., asking what is wrong with me, apparently concerned that I am tardy with my regular blogging. Dr. L.C. also informed me she was canceling today's regularly scheduled therapy appointment due to needing to go celebrate the 20th Anniversary of her 29th birthday.

Happy Birthday, Dr. L.C.

Speaking of schedules, today we are scheduled to be Day 40 in a Row over 100 degrees in North Texas. The record is 42 days.

Also scheduled is tomorrow's Grand Opening of Fort Worth's first In n' Out Burger joint. I suspect there will be traffic jams on West 7th tomorrow caused by legions of In n' Out fans looking to have a Double Double Cheeseburger.

I won't be one of the legion of fans jamming West 7th. I'll wait for the hubbub to die down to get me a Double Double Cheeseburger.

Day 39 In A Row Over 100 In North Texas While I Ponder Inner Tubing In The Green Trinity River

Looking skyward through the bars of my patio prison cell on the second Tuesday of August, Day 9, I am seeing something that has been a bit rare of late.

Clouds.

According to the forecast there is 0% chance of precipitation today in North Texas. So, those clouds are just a big tease in the sky.

Today will be Day 39 in a Row of 100 degrees or more, as measured at the official temperature monitoring station at D/FW Airport.

21 days til September arrives. In Septembers of the past, in Texas, by the end of September the temperature of the pool starts to be a slight bit of a challenge to acclimate to. I will be glad when that day arrives.

Today is my pool-free day due to the pool getting its weekly shock.

I do not know if the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle is shocking the Trinity River in preparation for Thursday's Rockin' the River Inner Tube Happy Hour Float in the currently very green river.

Perhaps the TRVB could use Fort Worth's former goofy mayor, Mike Moncrief's method for dying the Trinity River purple, to dispense chemicals to turn the formerly purple river a more aesthetically pleasant color than green.

I suppose crystal clear, like a swimming pool, is out of the question.

I can not help but wonder what sort of testing is done of the river water in the Happy Hour Zone prior to encouraging 100s of people to get in the green water?