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Saturday, July 2, 2011

The weather here is not pleasant...

except for a brief time in the morning (and not always even then). June is usually relatively bearable here in central Oklahoma, not as nice as April and May but still ok. Not this year, the heat arrived early and has dug in. July, August and part of September is scorching here usually...this year June can be added to that list. Quite remarkable.

As of June 30th in Oklahoma: (source)
Today marks the 29th consecutive day over 90. That is a record.
Today is forecast to be the 10th day above 100 in June. That is a record.
Today marks the 34th consecutive day above normal.
June 2011 set or tied single-day record high temperatures on the 17th, 18th, 19th, and 27th. Those record temperatures were 103, 104, 101, and 103 degrees, respectively.

Rainfall is multiple inches below normal and all the animals and plants are suffering. The bunnies out at Heartland Rabbit Rescue are being shortchanged on opportunities to get outside. Only a brief time in the morning is available before the heat becomes too oppressive for them. Nessie Rae, the resident bunny queen here, has staked out an air-conditioning vent in the living room floor and stretches out over it for much of the day.

In general, October is my favorite month both because of the temperature and because of the exquisite colors associated with the plants. Well, 90 something days and counting until then.

In the meantime, goodbye June, 2011...you were the hottest June in Oklahoma ever recorded by the human animals. It is likely that your record achievements won't stand for too long though.

11 comments:

Laloofah said...

I've been watching your weather down there on the Weather Channel web site for a while now and feeling so badly for you all, humans (esp. those who can't afford a/c), critters (especially those left outdoors to bake in that heat, like those in feedlots or dogs chained up with no shade, or heaven forbid, no water!), and plants. I don't know how anyone can stand those temps. Is it also humid where you are?

I'm sure hoping you all get a break from that awful heat soon - some freakish change in the jetstream that brings you a blast of cool air from Canada or rain from the Pacific NW or something! (I fear this spring and summer's weather is merely a harbinger of worse to come, courtesy of Global Warming and our species' proclivity to screw things up and then pretend it wasn't us so we don't bear any responsibility for fixing it!) >:-(

Nessie Rae is one smart bunny. I'd be sitting there right beside her if she'd let me!

Bea Elliott said...

Yep... Same thing in Florida: May and June were the hottest and driest on record. Up until a week ago we had no significant rain for 2 months. I live in an area that boasts 553 lakes - Most are "chain" lakes that interconnect. Well, not any more. People who have left their boats docked have them sitting in mud now... And if you have to get to another lake to get your boat out - Tough luck. The water table is so low it's taxing wells and causing sink holes...

Yeah, I think this is serious stuff alright.

Now, the critters who get caught in the mess we've created? As if "nature" didn't provide them with enough challenges. Oy.

But that's soooo cool - literally! - That Nessie Rae is chillin it!

Christina said...

Yep its been fabulous. Me and my sweaty armpits so appreciate it. I got to work the other night and the heat was blowing out of the vents. I almost cried. (they got it fixed) Nessie has the right idea. I wonder if she would remember me and my kisses and share that vent?

Anonymous said...

Woah! Hope you're hanging in there. One of my friends did her master's thesis on climate change in northern Canada--and how the First Nations people up there were perceiving it. My friend wrote, "We took everything from these people. Now we're taking their weather, too."
I will never forget that line. Ever. It is not romanticizing them nor the past to say that they did not live by industrialized agriculture that destroyed the earth, air, and water --and left only fire. I am truly sorry for it all.

veganelder said...

Thank you Laloofah for commenting. As a species we're pretty prone to point fingers everywhere but at ourselves aren't we?

Nessie Rae would be one grateful fur person if some Canadian coolness visited...thanks for the good wishes.

veganelder said...

Thank you Bea for commenting. I'm not optimistic about all this climate stuff. Check out the photos of Nessie ridding the vent.

veganelder said...

Thank you for commenting Christina. You're welcome to visit Nessie Rae anytime (a glass of wine will be waiting). Vent sharing? I dunno, you'll have to negotiate with her about that. :-)

veganelder said...

Thank you for commenting DEM. Thats a powerful piece of writing by your friend and depressingly true. It really pisses me off that I have to feel so much embarrassment, chagrin and shame for my species' behavior toward the other animals and my culture's behavior toward the First Nations. Fat lot of good it does, shame and embarrassment doesn't save lives or climates or planets.

I think I might be too overwhelmed to feel sorry, I just feel appalled.

Have Gone Vegan said...

Wow, I didn't realize it had gotten that hot! Ouch. I wouldn't be able to stand it, for sure. Wish I had the power to send some of our relatively cooler weather (and rain!) your way. Will be thinking of you and all the critters that have to survive this heat.

Krissa said...

I am so, so sorry for you guys. What you are going through now is exactly what happened here last summer. It was horrific. Simply horrific. My thoughts go out to everyone suffering in that kind of heat. Wishing you cooler temps and some gentle rain soon.

veganelder said...

Thank you for commenting HGV and Krissa. I appreciate your good wishes, there doesn't seem to be any end in sight for now. We have just entered the hottest time of the year here and just wow. Thanks for the good thoughts though.