More
7

For the past three days, we have been bombarded with "DIRE ALERTS!" that temperatures are going to reach 100 degrees on June 20th, and how this is "NEAR RECORD TEMPERATURES!!!"

First off, it's Houston, it is on the coast, so 100 degrees is about the limit due to the humidity and closeness to the Gulf of Mexico. (oceans tend to smooth out temperatures swings while increasing precipitation.) So we don't usually ever get higher than 101-102.

Second, the news just mentioned that the average first day of the calendar year for triple digit temperatures is June 19th (today). The first day this year MAY be tomorrow. This is being broadcast as the world is ending, we are all going to die, unusual, aberrant weather behavior.

I don't get it - it's Texas. It's summer. It's HOT!!! It's been this way since I first moved here in 1978. Why this is such a big story is beyond me.

For the past three days, we have been bombarded with "DIRE ALERTS!" that temperatures are going to reach 100 degrees on June 20th, and how this is "NEAR RECORD TEMPERATURES!!!" First off, it's Houston, it is on the coast, so 100 degrees is about the limit due to the humidity and closeness to the Gulf of Mexico. (oceans tend to smooth out temperatures swings while increasing precipitation.) So we don't usually ever get higher than 101-102. Second, the news just mentioned that the average first day of the calendar year for triple digit temperatures is June 19th (today). The first day this year MAY be tomorrow. This is being broadcast as the world is ending, we are all going to die, unusual, aberrant weather behavior. I don't get it - it's Texas. It's summer. It's HOT!!! It's been this way since I first moved here in 1978. Why this is such a big story is beyond me.

9 comments

[–] COFfeebreak 2 points (+2|-0)

I'm not too far north of you and we had 103 today, same tomorrow. We don't have your humidity though. It's ratings for them, same as every year. Along with this the ambulance companies posting their (almost) heat stroke numbers. The bad part is we can't be like some foreign countries where the weather bunnies wear bikinis to demonstrate just how hot it is.
[–] cyclops1771 [OP] 1 points (+1|-0)

We get the humidity, you get the tornadoes and other High Plains remnants. These West African tropical storms we get here can fuck right off!

So, it's visual clickbait. I'd like to run a test. Have them do 1 week of shows using every overblown rhetoric tactics, clickbait traits, and Mike Greenberg teasers they can throw out. Check ratings.

The next week, do the news, but then just be factual and human. Not just, "weather is next" robot talk, but just normal "Hey, it's Texas! It's hot! Weather forecast next, as if you need it!" type of promotion. See ratings.

If there were an actual HUMAN interacting group, they'd soar to top of ratings. Look at Howard Stern and Dan Patrick. Their shows went to the top because they can imitate human conversation in the midst of doing their job.

[–] Kannibal 1 points (+1|-0)

doing some quick research, i find this

Temperatures will climb to near or above record values this afternoon with highs of 105-110 degrees likely within the warned area. Both DFW and Waco’s record highs (107 and 106, respectively) will be attainable.

so maybe it will be a bit hotter than you suspect?
[–] cyclops1771 [OP] 0 points (+0|-0)

Yeah, it's hot - you got that right!!!! LOL! It's Texas in late July. Don't get me wrong, I'm not denying that, I'm just curious why they make it seem so dire (it has been 98+ for the past 2 weeks. It was 98 today. Tomorrow may hit 101. Life is ending.)

It's hot here this time of year every year. And it is pretty consistent.

Put it this way: the AVERAGE first 100 degree day in Houston, TX is June 19th. The RECORD high on June 19th is 101. Just process that, and let me know what you think. Crazy, isn't it? .~)
[–] Kannibal 0 points (+0|-0)

I was going to get the historical data for yesterday's high temps for Houston for the past 50 years. but the weather underground history function is glitching out.

the idea was to graph it out similar to something I saw done for fresno a while back

https://i.imgur.com/V7qIRLJ.jpg
[–] cyclops1771 [OP] 0 points (+0|-0)

One thing for sure, is that the temperature today will almost NEVER be the "average", which a-hole TV meteorologists call "normal."

Average <> Normal.

[–] E-werd 1 points (+1|-0)

Second, the news just mentioned that the average first day of the calendar year for triple digit temperatures is June 19th (today).

Psst... I know time is moving super fast as we get older, but it's actually July now.

Anyway, these heat alerts get more and more common over time. I think it's a response to the fact that baby boomers are now senior citizens and they need reminded that they can't take that shit anymore.
[–] DKeere 0 points (+0|-0)

I grew up near Corpus. I spent a significant amount of time in California and Colorado(almost a decade) before returning to visit family. Imagine my surprise when I almost couldn't hack the humidity. Didn't stop me from spending almost a week straight catching redfish though.

©2016-2022 Phuks LLC. All Rights Reserved.
ToS | Privacy | Changelog | Canary | Donate | Bugs | License
Served by c7693d2284ae