Extreme Temperature Diary- Sunday August 23rd, 2020/ Main Topic: The Summer Of 2020…A Taste Of Why Those In The United States Will Dread The Warm Season In The Future

Sunday August 23rd… Dear Diary. The main purpose of this ongoing blog will be to track United States extreme or record temperatures related to climate change. Any reports I see of ETs will be listed below the main topic of the day. I’ll refer to extreme or record temperatures as ETs (not extraterrestrials).😉

Main Topic: The Summer Of 2020…A Taste Of Why Those In The United State Will Dread The Warm Season In The Future

Dear Diary. Apparently in the United States and elsewhere the time of year in which the most destructive weather is occurring has shifted from winter to summer. When I was growing up during cooler times in the 1960s and 1970s most in the United States dreaded cold outbreaks with associated frigid winter storms and blizzards as being the worst weather hazard during those years. Now in the 2010s going into the 2020s winter weather can still be vicious at times, but bad summer weather is becoming more destructive.

Think about this. From west to east during 2020 we have historic fire weather in California, oppressive record heat in the deserts of the Southwest affecting the big cities of Las Vegas and Phoenix, drought building into the Plains, a terrible derecho mowing down portions of the Midwest, very hot and oppressive conditions in the Northeast, and now many tropical systems taking aim from the Gulf Coast through the Atlantic Seaboard. That’s quite the list that will add up to many billions of dollars worth of damage before it starts getting cooler in October. Don’t forget that due to climate change the summer season, or time of warmth, will be expanding into fall and spring making May and September/October much hotter.

Unfortunately in future years, more often than not due to climate change, we will see more effects similar to those of 2020. Weather patterns will continue to vary, though, mainly based on what happens during any given year due to ENSO, or the state of El Niño and La Niña. This year a burgeoning La Niña can be blamed on a historically busy Atlantic hurricane season. Residents of the Gulf Coasts are about to experience the wraith of Marco first, then Laura. El Niño years may bring some relief via fewer Atlantic hurricanes and wetter conditions for California but will supercharge hotter conditions for the rest of the United States.

So, what can we do to lessen the effects of summer weather going haywire for our progeny? Simply put, keep the planet’s temperature down by limiting greenhouse gas emissions. Support politicians who will pass a Green New Deal once Biden is elected. Keep protesting against fossil fuel interests. Buy items, such as all electric cars powered by renewables. Electrify your houses such that no natural gas is used, and make sure that items you buy in stores use green, recyclable packaging. Stay away from plastic packaging, and buy produce that is locally grown.

We all need to do our part, otherwise doom and gloom summers, such as those of 2020, will be in our future for as long as humanity remains a species on our planet.

Now here is more on Laura and Marco. The latest information, which will be updated during Sunday, will appear at the top of this list:

https://twitter.com/NWSSanDiego/status/1297601312691908609?s=20

Here are more notes from Sunday on the western fires:

Here is more climate and weather news from Sunday:

(As usual, this will be a fluid post in which more information gets added during the day as it crosses my radar, crediting all who have put it on-line. Items will be archived on this site for posterity. In most instances click on the pictures of each tweet to see each article. The most noteworthy items will be listed first.)

Now here are some of today’s articles and notes on the horrid COVID-19 pandemic:

(If you like these posts and my work please contribute via the PayPal widget, which has recently been added to this site. Thanks in advance for any support.) 

Guy Walton “The Climate Guy”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *