37 minutes ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

Were those taken in high summer Dave?

I think they might have been Ray.  If it were winter you'd probably see snow.

The American southwest has different climates depending on altitude.  Phoenix, for instance, has an altitude of 1086 feet while Flagstaff has an altitude of 6909 feet.

Phoenix is in the northern part of the Sonoran desert, while Flagstaff is in the southern part of the Colorado Plateau.  

Driving north from Phoenix you're in the desert filled with Saguaro Cactus until you climb the Mogollon Rim.  Then you are in green meadows and evergreen forests.

Here in Roswell New Mexico once you get out of town you drive through the treeless brush country of the prairie.  But just 70 miles west of us are the Sacramento Mountains where Betty and I used to hike a lot.  It's green and cool all summer in these mountains.  Roswell sits at an altitude of 3,573 feet while Ruidoso in the Sacramento Mountains is at an altitude of 6,920 feet.  While we have little snow in the winter they get quite a bit.

Noel

A little bit of altitude out here makes a big difference in climate.

Noel

@birdguy, thanks for the geography description. Altitude and mountains make a considerable difference to weather. Temp drops by 3°C (5°F) per thousand feet so Ruidoso will be 10°C (18°F) cooler than Roswell.

The windward side of mountains is where all the rain falls. Hence why the climate in Manchester (windward side of the Pennines) is very different to Sheffield on the leeward side. Sunshine amounts vary too. You don’t have to go far in the British Isles to experience very different weather.

I was just outside for a  while, 7:45 PM.  It is 95F with 30% humidity.  As long as I wasn't in direct sunlight, it was actually quite comfortable.

I'm 80 miles northeast of Dallas.

Hook

Were still at 101 with a 16% RH right now at 7:12PM.  Not bad at all.

Noel

 

We get heat AND humidity, with all of that moisture coming off the Gulf of Mexico.  Last week we hit 100 deg air temp but the heat index made it feel like 115 degF they said.

WE have never seen anything like it (cough) , 23 June 1976 to 27 August 1976 never rained drought conditions peak temp 35.9C, Roads started melting sand was spread on roads by councils, weather recording only started in the 20th century highest temp 56.7C  134F recorded 1913, from arkeological evidence UK was 3% hotter 2000-3000 years ago  

I'm down in the southwest of the UK and we've been getting temperatures in the high 20's for the last two weeks. I'm keeping all the doors and windows open to try and keep it cool but I think it's more psychological than actually functional lol. I'm off to RIAT this weekend too which is looking to be a scorcher!

2 hours ago, G-RFRY said:

WE have never seen anything like it (cough) , 23 June 1976 to 27 August 1976 never rained drought conditions peak temp 35.9C, Roads started melting sand was spread on roads by councils, weather recording only started in the 20th century highest temp 56.7C  134F recorded 1913, from arkeological evidence UK was 3% hotter 2000-3000 years ago  

 

Well it's true in terms of modern records. 35.9 was beaten a while back. See earlier in thread or Google.

You seem to be nudging the conversation toward climate change which will irritate the moderators.

The point you are missing is that we know the causal factors responsible for tempreture increase 2000 to 3000 years ago. (Decreased volcanism, increased solar activity , changes in ocean circulation) Those causal factors aren't present now. We know something  that is though. And of course it's a long term global average that's important not a local peak temp. 👍

If you want to chat about climate change and any doubts you have, PM is the place.

Edited July 12, 20223 yr by martin-w

17 minutes ago, james42 said:

I'm down in the southwest of the UK and we've been getting temperatures in the high 20's for the last two weeks. I'm keeping all the doors and windows open to try and keep it cool but I think it's more psychological than actually functional lol. I'm off to RIAT this weekend too which is looking to be a scorcher!

 

Well you'll definately get burnt at RIAT in this weather so make sure you slap sunscreen on. 

A good trick is to open windows both sides of the house. When the breeze blows past the pressure is lower and draws cool air through. Fan by open window helps too.

Edited July 12, 20223 yr by martin-w

The temperature never dropped below 19.6°C here overnight but with humidity at 72% it was an uncomfortable night. The highest minimum I’ve recorded is 20.2°C back in 2016.

When it gets really oppressive I look at the Dew Point. The highest I’ve recorded in 13 years of observations was 23°C but yesterday it never got above 16.5°C so it wasn’t too bad.

Seeing those temps from those across the pond makes me shudder.

20 minutes ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

When it gets really oppressive I look at the Dew Point. The highest I’ve recorded in 13 years of observations was 23°C but yesterday it never got above 16.5°C so it wasn’t too bad.

 

Do you record meteorological data for an official body Ray, or for your own interest? 

We'll be hitting 26 today, so could be worse. In the Midlands, UK, where I used to live, only 23.

Edited July 12, 20223 yr by martin-w

3 minutes ago, martin-w said:

Do you record meteorological data for an official body Ray, or for your own interest? 

Just for my own interest Martin. I’ve been interested in weather since I was a teenager. Today’s great equipment makes recording so easy. I do upload to the Met Office WOW site as well as WUnderground.

 

7 minutes ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

Just for my own interest Martin. I’ve been interested in weather since I was a teenager. Today’s great equipment makes recording so easy. I do upload to the Met Office WOW site as well as WUnderground.

 

 

Well, it's a complex and fascinating subject, so I can see why you'd be interested in it. 

Presumably you have a monitoring setup in your garden. What kind of equipment?

1 minute ago, martin-w said:

Presumably you have a monitoring setup in your garden. What kind of equipment?

It’s on the Station Info link on my website.

http://www.cheadlehulmeweather.co.uk/station_info.htm

Davis equipment from the US. Not cheap but high quality- ideal for the amateur enthusiast.

Just had a quick look Ray. Impresive gear. 👍 

And you may be an amateur but you are still making a contribution to our monitoring and understanding of the weather which is vital in this day and age.