Texas Summer 2023

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JDawg512
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Re: Texas Summer 2023

#1281 Postby JDawg512 » Fri Aug 25, 2023 10:52 am

dpep4 wrote:
JDawg512 wrote:
Tejas89 wrote:There’s a house down the street from us that went with the desert, fine gravel and cactus/yucca landscaping during a recent remodel.

It looks great and they’re taking those hundreds (thousands?) of dollars in water bill savings to the bank I’m sure.

But as another poster alluded to, I fear what the temps in Dallas would be if everyone did that. Talk about heat island. We’d be Phoenix but with the occasional major street flooding from runoff after the deluges we’re sure to also get.


The problem with urban desertification is that it wipes out habitats for creatures we want around like bees, fireflies, butterflies. What's more it doesn't actually help with the environment. Simply plant native grass, native plants and trees. Once established they require little care and are so important to keeping beneficial urban wildlife. What happens to those rock/sand yards once the rain comes back? Grass and other plants will grow and what usually happens is the homeowners spray weed poison all over to kill it which in turn isn't very good. You can be water wise and still have a lovely landscaped yard focusing on natives. I encourage everyone not in the Austin area to check out The National Wildflower Center. They partner with Native American Seed co. out of Junction and you can get all sorts of seeds native to your specific region as they cover all the ecological regions.


'Wipes out' is overstating, I'd go with 'has potential to reduce'. It would take widespread adoption, whole suburbs and HOA conversions, to have a significant impact. Most front and backyards lawns, like Bermuda grass, are not native, so conversion to rock type lawns is not near as impactful to the urban ecosystem that has adapted compared to when that land was developed and converted from native vegetation.

And of course you can still have all kinds of flowers, groundcover, shrubs, and trees with a rock lawn, from ornamental to extensive swaths. Still mix in flower beds, mulchscaping, etc. The kind of vegetation that attracts bees and other manner of natural fauna, few of those actual require lawn grass. Deciduous shade trees can help mitigate the warming effects of rock replacing grass.

That said, I agree that landscaping as native as practical is often the preferable way to go and you give good advice in that regard. I don't want to see subdivision regulations changed to require non-native xeriscaping. But to individuals who want to convert their grass lawns to rock, I say go for it. But recommend a light-colored theme, of coarse (SWIDT?)



Fireflies need grass and are being wiped out by rock yards. It is vital to provide grass if people still want to see them in urban areas which they are disappearing from (though there are additional reasons compounding the problem as well, loss of grass habitat is up near the top). Native grasses are ideal for protecting firefly habitats as they burrow into the soil layer during the day and require the shading from the grass to keep the soil temp cooler. Their larva stay in the soil until the time is right, they cannot live or sustain themselves under a layer of rocks. I'm not saying no rock gardens, there are applications where it works best like the south face of buildings with no shade, just not the entire yard. Plenty of native grasses or a combination look just as nice as non natives and you don't have to mow as often. Win win situation.
Last edited by JDawg512 on Fri Aug 25, 2023 10:59 am, edited 3 times in total.
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Re: Texas Summer 2023

#1282 Postby jasons2k » Fri Aug 25, 2023 10:52 am

SoupBone wrote:
Iceresistance wrote:
SoupBone wrote:I can literally see the clouds dropping rain less than a mile from my house. And it's moving away from me. That's my luck.

Heat Miser has reported Thunder


Yeah, Cinco and SW Houston is getting a huge cell roll through. Everything is poofing in my area. I think me and Jason must be very close to each other.

@jason, I'm going to need you to sell your house and move away, taking your damn rain shield with you. I wish I could post the pic, my area looks like I'm in the donut hole, rain all around me. I'm bone dry.

Sometimes it feels like a forcefield.
I’m in Imperial Oaks. When our youngest son finishes High School at Oak Ridge, we are outta here. 5 long years to go.

I was hoping to never see a repeat of 2011 in my lifetime. I’m done. Raising the white flag and moving back to Florida.
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Re: Texas Summer 2023

#1283 Postby Ntxw » Fri Aug 25, 2023 10:59 am

captainbarbossa19 wrote:
Ntxw wrote:
Tireman4 wrote:I think Bush hit 109 today, I think


IAH hit 109F today (before clouds rolled in) which ties 2000 and 2011 as the hottest temperature ever recorded for that location. Records since 1889.


Given that there have only been 2 times recorded since 1889 with such hot temperatures, I think the recurrence interval should not be very frequent. A summer like this probably has a recurrence interval of at least 50 years especially given the unusual length and intensity of heat. Last year wasn't great either, but I suspect that next year should be much better especially once ENSO begins to take over our weather pattern later this year. It would be nice if we would see a change sooner than later though because forest fires are becoming an extreme threat currently to many areas. East Texas is particularly vulnerable right now.


I certainly hope so. This was my belief last summer that the next would be better, that didn't age well.

Fact of the matter is, when you sit deeply in -PDO your risks of a very hot summer increases. I was talked out of this many times and have been burned. Nevertheless, do still believe the El Nino will resolve in the coming seasons. 1972 and 2006 were such times and the next year was better.
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Re: Texas Summer 2023

#1284 Postby rwfromkansas » Fri Aug 25, 2023 11:08 am

JDawg512 wrote:
dpep4 wrote:
JDawg512 wrote:
The problem with urban desertification is that it wipes out habitats for creatures we want around like bees, fireflies, butterflies. What's more it doesn't actually help with the environment. Simply plant native grass, native plants and trees. Once established they require little care and are so important to keeping beneficial urban wildlife. What happens to those rock/sand yards once the rain comes back? Grass and other plants will grow and what usually happens is the homeowners spray weed poison all over to kill it which in turn isn't very good. You can be water wise and still have a lovely landscaped yard focusing on natives. I encourage everyone not in the Austin area to check out The National Wildflower Center. They partner with Native American Seed co. out of Junction and you can get all sorts of seeds native to your specific region as they cover all the ecological regions.


'Wipes out' is overstating, I'd go with 'has potential to reduce'. It would take widespread adoption, whole suburbs and HOA conversions, to have a significant impact. Most front and backyards lawns, like Bermuda grass, are not native, so conversion to rock type lawns is not near as impactful to the urban ecosystem that has adapted compared to when that land was developed and converted from native vegetation.

And of course you can still have all kinds of flowers, groundcover, shrubs, and trees with a rock lawn, from ornamental to extensive swaths. Still mix in flower beds, mulchscaping, etc. The kind of vegetation that attracts bees and other manner of natural fauna, few of those actual require lawn grass. Deciduous shade trees can help mitigate the warming effects of rock replacing grass.

That said, I agree that landscaping as native as practical is often the preferable way to go and you give good advice in that regard. I don't want to see subdivision regulations changed to require non-native xeriscaping. But to individuals who want to convert their grass lawns to rock, I say go for it. But recommend a light-colored theme, of coarse (SWIDT?)



Fireflies need grass and are being wiped out by rock yards. It is vital to provide grass if people still want to see them in urban areas which they are disappearing from (though there are additional reasons compounding the problem as well, loss of grass habitat is up near the top). Native grasses are ideal for protecting firefly habitats as they burrow into the soil layer during the day and require the shading from the grass to keep the soil temp cooler. Their larva stay in the soil until the time is right, they cannot live or sustain themselves under a layer of rocks. I'm not saying no rock gardens, there are applications where it works best like the south face of buildings with no shade, just not the entire yard. Plenty of native grasses or a combination look just as nice as non natives and you don't have to mow as often. Win win situation.


When I go home to small town KS in summer, it's crazy how many fireflies/lightning bugs there are. They are everywhere crazy thick. And I haven't seen one in my yard here in DFW, and I'm in far west northwest FW near Saginaw, so on the edge of development. Sad.
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Re: Texas Summer 2023

#1285 Postby weatherdude1108 » Fri Aug 25, 2023 11:28 am

JDawg512 wrote:
Tejas89 wrote:There’s a house down the street from us that went with the desert, fine gravel and cactus/yucca landscaping during a recent remodel.

It looks great and they’re taking those hundreds (thousands?) of dollars in water bill savings to the bank I’m sure.

But as another poster alluded to, I fear what the temps in Dallas would be if everyone did that. Talk about heat island. We’d be Phoenix but with the occasional major street flooding from runoff after the deluges we’re sure to also get.


The problem with urban desertification is that it wipes out habitats for creatures we want around like bees, fireflies, butterflies. What's more it doesn't actually help with the environment. Simply plant native grass, native plants and trees. Once established they require little care and are so important to keeping beneficial urban wildlife. What happens to those rock/sand yards once the rain comes back? Grass and other plants will grow and what usually happens is the homeowners spray weed poison all over to kill it which in turn isn't very good. You can be water wise and still have a lovely landscaped yard focusing on natives. I encourage everyone not in the Austin area to check out The National Wildflower Center. They partner with Native American Seed co. out of Junction and you can get all sorts of seeds native to your specific region as they cover all the ecological regions.


Oh yeah, there are a few neighbors down the street who did the exact same thing. Put rocks and agave in the nuisance strips and half of their front yard. We don't live in Arizona, even though it has felt like it for three months. Then, like you said, the rains come and there are weeds. Not sure if they spray the weed poison (hopefully not).

Sure the water bill is better, but it just heats it up even more (so more people crank up the AC, using more electricity/burning whatever energy).
So counterproductive, and LAZY IMO. Irritates the (blank) out of me! :mad:

I mean, I guess the other side of that is my neighbor mows his St. Augustine really short with his gas mower, then waters it for hours (wastes water and pollutes the air with his mower).

This wildlife doesn't stand a chance without our help. Some people don't get it, or don't care.

The Wildflower Center has a ton of good information. Also a great place to visit for natural beauty and educational research. :wink:
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Re: Texas Summer 2023

#1286 Postby rwfromkansas » Fri Aug 25, 2023 12:24 pm

GFS shows some weakening and shifting of the ridge at the very end of the runs of late, but I am grasping at straws. Maybe 9/10-9/15 will see some help. I hope. Even 95 is preferable.

Crazy the temps it shows even in Iowa before this happens.

This heat wave is one for the record books across the country.
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Re: Texas Summer 2023

#1287 Postby Cpv17 » Fri Aug 25, 2023 3:01 pm

The latest CPC forecast still looks downright ugly into Mid September.
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Re: Texas Summer 2023

#1288 Postby Brent » Fri Aug 25, 2023 3:23 pm

Well we get a front Sunday Monday and then oh look more 100s next weekend. It's never going to end :spam:
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Re: Texas Summer 2023

#1289 Postby Portastorm » Fri Aug 25, 2023 3:36 pm

Cpv17 wrote:The latest CPC forecast still looks downright ugly into Mid September.


That is what Cosgrove has been saying for a while now ... the pattern for us doesn't really break until mid-late September.
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Re: Texas Summer 2023

#1290 Postby tajmahal » Fri Aug 25, 2023 3:51 pm

The 22 weather stations in Texas whose climate records began in 1950 or earlier that have broken or tied their hottest temperature record this summer (through August 24).
(B=broken, T=tied).

116°.T...Cotulla La Salle County AP
115°.B...Del Rio Area
115°.T...Laredo Area
114°.T...Carrizo Springs 3S
114°.T...San Angelo Area
114°.T...San Angelo Mathis AP
112°.T...College Station Area
112°.T...San Angelo WFO
111°.T...Abilene Area
111°.B...Abilene Regional AP
111°.T...Eden
111°.T...Junction Kimble County AP
110°.T...Fort Worth Meachem AP
110°.T...Lufkin Angelina AP
109°.T...Houston Area
109°.B...Rocksprings
108°.T...Beaumont–Port Arthur Area
108°.B...Beaumont Research Center
108°.T...Port Arthur Southeast Texas Regional AP
107°.B...Pine Springs Guadalupe Mountains NP
107°.T...San Antonio Randolph AFB
103°.T...Marfa AP
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Re: Texas Summer 2023

#1291 Postby tajmahal » Fri Aug 25, 2023 4:59 pm

These are the weather stations in Texas whose climate records include all of the summer of 1950 –and– whose June 1–August 24, 2023, was the hottest such period on record. Also listed is the first full summer covered by each location.

92.1°..1903..Laredo Area
91.9°..1906..Del Rio Area
89.7°..1889..College Station Area
89.5°..1893..Hallettsville 2N
89.4°..1898..Austin Area
89.4°..1938..Austin Camp Mabry
88.7°..1885..San Antonio Area
88.7°..1943..San Antonio International AP
88.6°..1878..Brownsville Area
88.6°..1899..Brownsville–South Padre AP
88.6°..1887..El Paso Area
88.6°..1938..El Paso International AP
88.6°..1902..Llano
88.4°..1929..Crane
88.3°..1931..Houston Hobby AP
87.9°..1943..Corpus Christi AP
87.9°..1887..Corpus Christi Area
87.9°..1889..Houston Area
87.7°..1948..Junction–Kimble County AP
87.6°..1903..Victoria Area
87.4°..1898..Conroe
87.4°..1940..Fort Stockton
87.4°..1907..Lufkin–Angelina County AP
87.4°..1949..San Antonio Randolph AFB
87.2°..1897..Beeville 5NE
87.1°..1943..Austin Bergstrom AP
87.1°..1943..Austin Bergstrom AP Area
87.0°..1948..Nixon
86.4°..1902..Beaumont–Port Arthur Area
86.4°..1948..Port Arthur SE Texas Regional AP
86.1°..1948..Beaumont Research Center
85.5°..1897..Austwell
85.3°..1939 .Eden
85.1°..1899..Boerne
79.6°..1947..Chisos Basin
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Re: Texas Summer 2023

#1292 Postby Tejas89 » Fri Aug 25, 2023 5:43 pm

Not sure if DFW has touched 110 but last reading before 5 was 109, or a bit higher than forecast, and of course another daily record falls.
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Re: Texas Summer 2023

#1293 Postby Nederlander » Fri Aug 25, 2023 5:49 pm

jasons2k wrote:
Sometimes it feels like a forcefield.
I’m in Imperial Oaks. When our youngest son finishes High School at Oak Ridge, we are outta here. 5 long years to go.

I was hoping to never see a repeat of 2011 in my lifetime. I’m done. Raising the white flag and moving back to Florida.

Small world, I just moved from Woodson’s/Bender’s area off of Rayford and 99 over to 1488 between The Woodlands and Conroe. I need to go much further north lol
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Re: Texas Summer 2023

#1294 Postby SoupBone » Fri Aug 25, 2023 6:36 pm

Nederlander wrote:
jasons2k wrote:
Sometimes it feels like a forcefield.
I’m in Imperial Oaks. When our youngest son finishes High School at Oak Ridge, we are outta here. 5 long years to go.

I was hoping to never see a repeat of 2011 in my lifetime. I’m done. Raising the white flag and moving back to Florida.

Small world, I just moved from Woodson’s/Bender’s area off of Rayford and 99 over to 1488 between The Woodlands and Conroe. I need to go much further north lol


Definitely, like to Colorado.
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Re: Texas Summer 2023

#1295 Postby bubba hotep » Fri Aug 25, 2023 7:17 pm

Boo!!!

Image
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Winter time post are almost exclusively focused on the DFW area.

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Re: Texas Summer 2023

#1296 Postby Texoz » Fri Aug 25, 2023 7:59 pm



It's beyond freakish how long the heatwave has gone on for central Texas. I'm hesitant to think about what this means for the future. Really hope that El Nino kicks in and gives us 12+ months of above average rain and below average temps.
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Re: Texas Summer 2023

#1297 Postby Yukon Cornelius » Fri Aug 25, 2023 9:26 pm

110 once again today. I lost count of 110 degree days at this point. Still 93 at 9:30
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Re: Texas Summer 2023

#1298 Postby Brent » Fri Aug 25, 2023 10:22 pm

Tied for hottest day of the year here at 104 but the real story was the isolated storms in part of the city around 4pm... I happened to drive through one. It was very surreal but a sign of things maybe changing and then it was back to the otherwise relentless hot and sunny
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Re: Texas Summer 2023

#1299 Postby dpep4 » Fri Aug 25, 2023 11:01 pm

So DFW is now just 2 days away from forecast highs next week in the mid-90's (maybe upper on Fri) and lows in the low-70's to upper 60's. Everybody's working for the weekend Monday.

LOL at fireflies allegedly being 'wiped out' by rock lawns when they make up less than 2% of yards here. The decline can mostly be attributed to the footprints and habitat fragmentation from industries, retail, govt bldgs, housing, streets, driveways, parking lots, etc. 'Rock yards' responsibility for the decline is below 1% so far in Texas.
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Re: Texas Summer 2023

#1300 Postby cstrunk » Fri Aug 25, 2023 11:28 pm

Hottest day of the year. 109F in Longview broke today's previous record of 104F.
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