Blastfurnace 2022

[BabaYaga 15289]

Just now, Brisketexan said:

The worst is when I have the temp perfectly dialed-in.....and a summer gullywasher pops up and pours on it for 10 minutes, knocking the temp down 100 degrees.  Thought about welding a roof onto it, but shit, I have to replace my rusted-out firebox first.

Egg has a "nest" under the roof.  Added when we put in the pool.  Tired of dealing with crap like that.  

[YChang 3443]

So I definitely made the right call signing up for a running club this week to train for the marathon. Yeeeeeeeeep

[texasdago 7569]

8 minutes ago, BabaYaga said:

Had a friend that did that crap.  Dude's a Marine and can run for days.

Funny story - how he got into distance running, was going through a divorce, never wanted to go home

Yeah, the weeks leading up to Badwater, he was out there running in 100 degree temps... just gradually running loops through the hood.  In fact, the very first time I met him, he was in the middle of running a 100 mile solo ultramarathon for charity in our hood (100 laps) because his ultramaraton was cancelled due to Covid. 

[BabaYaga 15289]

9 minutes ago, texasdago said:

Yeah, the weeks leading up to Badwater, he was out there running in 100 degree temps... just gradually running loops through the hood.  In fact, the very first time I met him, he was in the middle of running a 100 mile solo ultramarathon for charity in our hood (100 laps) because his ultramaraton was cancelled due to Covid. 

Some people are just built different.  And some people feel a little discomfort and pull the cord quick.  Just have to figure out the happy middle-ground

[Biff Tannen 45666]

8 minutes ago, BabaYaga said:

Some people are just built different.  And some people feel a little discomfort and pull the cord quick.  Just have to figure out the happy middle-ground

This.  Can we all agree that the heat sucks though?

[Bozo_Casanova 26437]

4 hours ago, Biff Tannen said:

Y'all training for something or just like the challenge?

I'm just a bad motherfucker

[Brisketexan 105082]

4 minutes ago, Bozo_Casanova said:

I'm just a bad motherfucker

profile pic says otherwise.

[Bozo_Casanova 26437]

33 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

profile pic says otherwise.

I'm boycotting your place for the rest of the week

[yoladu 4092]

https://www.statesman.com/story/weather/2022/08/01/austin-tx-weather-heat-rainfall-drought-10-real-numbers/65386567007/

good stuff.

we didnt realize how good we had it last summer

 

[landman 559]

Good size fire on 165 between Dripping and Blanco.  Homes being evacuated.  Dripping Springs is prohibiting all outdoor watering to help with supply to fight the fire.

Saw another good size fire east of SH 130/Austin area a couple of hours ago, but not seeing any news reports of it.

 

[Updawg 2266]

That one is over by 973 I think and more under control

The dripping springs one and the one by enchanted rock aren’t

Hell summer

[Brisketexan 105082]

1 hour ago, yoladu said:

https://www.statesman.com/story/weather/2022/08/01/austin-tx-weather-heat-rainfall-drought-10-real-numbers/65386567007/

good stuff.

we didnt realize how good we had it last summer

 

Oh, I did.  Shit, we commented on it a few times, and knew we were whistling past the graveyard.  The piper always gets paid, eventually.

[4th_and_18 687]

Good size fire on 165 between Dripping and Blanco.  Homes being evacuated.  Dripping Springs is prohibiting all outdoor watering to help with supply to fight the fire.
Saw another good size fire east of SH 130/Austin area a couple of hours ago, but not seeing any news reports of it.
 

It’s showing on zoom earth now. Check out the Fredericksburg fire. Smoke blowing for over 100 miles.

Zoom Earth
http://zoom.earth/#view=30.53674,-98.37648,9.48z/map=live/overlays=heat,wind

[FartingDreamer 138]

This heat alone is making me consider leaving Texas for some place with really cold winters.  I'll take the uber cold over the Texas heat anytime.  

[Larry T. Spider 1746]

I think I could do the cold if I was completely work from home. Fuck commuting in that shit.

[FartingDreamer 138]

2 minutes ago, Larry T. Spider said:

I think I could do the cold if I was completely work from home. Fuck commuting in that shit.

Driving in it sucks, but all you have to do is dress warm and its tolerable.  Especially if in a dry climate with low humidity.  Higher humidity is another matter though.  

[Biff Tannen 45666]

1 hour ago, 4th_and_18 said:

It’s showing on zoom earth now. Check out the Fredericksburg fire. Smoke blowing for over 100 miles.

Zoom Earth
http://zoom.earth/#view=30.53674,-98.37648,9.48z/map=live/overlays=heat,wind

That's badass

[BottleRocket 644]

It’s showing on zoom earth now. Check out the Fredericksburg fire. Smoke blowing for over 100 miles.

Zoom Earth
http://zoom.earth/#view=30.53674,-98.37648,9.48z/map=live/overlays=heat,wind

This is my FIL’s ranch in Willow City. They have named it the Big Sky fire. 10% contained and 400 acres burned so far. Say some prayers.

[InkaUtexas 25875]

damn man, sorry to hear that. Pedernales is closed. 

 

[texasdago 7569]

6 hours ago, Biff Tannen said:

This.  Can we all agree that the heat sucks though?

Yes.  Definitely. F all this. 

[BillyGoatHill 4312]

4 hours ago, landman said:

Good size fire on 165 between Dripping and Blanco.  Homes being evacuated.  Dripping Springs is prohibiting all outdoor watering to help with supply to fight the fire.

 

 

These Fokkers ( or were they Messerschmitts?), flew over the house until sundown to help slow it down. Even got a big bird 737 to join the party.

[atomheartbevo 89630]

So we decided to up and go to Cloudcroft for several days.  Not fun doing hikes in Lincoln that take the wind out of you because of the altitude adjustment, but at least it's in the low 70s at 4pm.

But holy fuck, for such a tiny town, the place was crawling with people from Austin (and even a few aggy) and Texas in general.  We ran into folks from Austin out on random trails.  It's not that bad of a drive from Austin, but still far enough that we were surprised.

And I saw rain and had a few sprinkles

[hornian 5210]

1 hour ago, atomheartbevo said:

So we decided to up and go to Cloudcroft for several days.  Not fun doing hikes in Lincoln that take the wind out of you because of the altitude adjustment, but at least it's in the low 70s at 4pm.

But holy fuck, for such a tiny town, the place was crawling with people from Austin (and even a few aggy) and Texas in general.  We ran into folks from Austin out on random trails.  It's not that bad of a drive from Austin, but still far enough that we were surprised.

And I saw rain and had a few sprinkles

Going to Durango at the end of the week. My wife said she was disappointed the forecast calls for rain. I told her we'd be out playing in it. 

 

[atomheartbevo 89630]

2 minutes ago, hornian said:

Going to Durango at the end of the week. My wife said she was disappointed the forecast calls for rain. I told her we'd be out playing in it. 

[Biff Tannen 45666]

1 hour ago, atomheartbevo said:

So we decided to up and go to Cloudcroft for several days.  Not fun doing hikes in Lincoln that take the wind out of you because of the altitude adjustment, but at least it's in the low 70s at 4pm.

But holy fuck, for such a tiny town, the place was crawling with people from Austin (and even a few aggy) and Texas in general.  We ran into folks from Austin out on random trails.  It's not that bad of a drive from Austin, but still far enough that we were surprised.

And I saw rain and had a few sprinkles

My former boss (native Austinite) bought a second home there and spends 4-5 months a year there now. I will be visiting her as soon as possible. 

Edited August 3, 2022 by Biff Tannen

[Biff Tannen 45666]

The sad fact is that most of us are 5-10 years late on the moving out of texas due to the weather phenomenon. We’ll be lucky to get the scraps. 

[atomheartbevo 89630]

1 hour ago, Biff Tannen said:

The sad fact is that most of us are 5-10 years late on the moving out of texas due to the weather phenomenon. We’ll be lucky to get the scraps. 

[Snake Diggity 4620]

I grew up in south Texas without AC until age 9, both at home and at school.  I know I’ve gone soft since then, but it wasn’t like this.

I try to run 3 miles a couple of times a week, and the way my schedule is with work (from home) and my kids, usually the only free time I have is between 2pm and 4pm.  The last 6 weeks I just can’t fucking do it.  I get about 1/3 of the way in and the last 2 miles is me just walking, getting sunburned, and cursing greenhouse gases and my own dumb ass.

[NorthLoop 14183]

10 hours ago, hornian said:

Going to Durango at the end of the week. My wife said she was disappointed the forecast calls for rain. I told her we'd be out playing in it. 

 

It rained most of the days we were in Colorado a few weeks ago. The locals kept "apologizing" for the rain on our vacation, and we just laughed. Told them it makes a Texan happy to see rain in the Summer. I even kept my window down on the Pikes Peak train when it started sprinkling. I'm sure that pissed off some folks but boo hoo. 

[yoladu 4092]

12 hours ago, atomheartbevo said:

So we decided to up and go to Cloudcroft for several days.  Not fun doing hikes in Lincoln that take the wind out of you because of the altitude adjustment, but at least it's in the low 70s at 4pm.

But holy fuck, for such a tiny town, the place was crawling with people from Austin (and even a few aggy) and Texas in general.  We ran into folks from Austin out on random trails.  It's not that bad of a drive from Austin, but still far enough that we were surprised.

Cloudcroft is probably the closest cool retreat (drivewise) in the summer months from Austin. but a 9 to 10 hour is a commitment.

10 day forecast right now calls for lows in the mid 50s, highs in the low 70s. Sigh.

[Js1 85296]

4 hours ago, Snake Diggity said:

I grew up in south Texas without AC until age 9, both at home and at school.  I know I’ve gone soft since then, but it wasn’t like this.

I try to run 3 miles a couple of times a week, and the way my schedule is with work (from home) and my kids, usually the only free time I have is between 2pm and 4pm.  The last 6 weeks I just can’t fucking do it.  I get about 1/3 of the way in and the last 2 miles is me just walking, getting sunburned, and cursing greenhouse gases and my own dumb ass.

After an hour with my personal trainer, the gym door to my car door feels like I just trekked through the Sahara. 

[atomheartbevo 89630]

1 hour ago, yoladu said:

Cloudcroft is probably the closest cool retreat (drivewise) in the summer months from Austin. but a 9 to 10 hour is a commitment.

9-10 hours is about the max for us, although I’m willing to make it a two day drive for Colorado if we spend at least a week there.  But Cloudcroft is good enough for now.

1 hour ago, yoladu said:

10 day forecast right now calls for lows in the mid 50s, highs in the low 70s. Sigh.

It’s glorious.  There are some small towns in outlying areas at a lower elevations that don’t have as much snow/cold in the winter.  Poor man’s Colorado or something.

[South Austin 52458]

Guys, it’s really hot out. I mean, really.

[Guest]

11 minutes ago, South Austin said:

Guys, it’s really hot out. I mean, really.

Ugh. I'm about to have to go out in it for a bit. 

[texasdago 7569]

For my money, I'd rather push just a little bit further and make it out to Santa Fe.  

I'm working under my shaded back patio right now... was fine until noon... its starting to get a bit toasty now and the ceiling fan just feels like dog's breath.

[InkaUtexas 25875]

yeah, came in for lunch about 1 and said fuck going back out. Have a meeting at a cafe at 5 with terrible AC. Hoping the wind picks up so there is a breeze outdoors. That will be fun.

[NorthLoop 14183]

Is Cloudcroft worth it if you're not a skier? 

[atomheartbevo 89630]

4 minutes ago, NorthLoop said:

Is Cloudcroft worth it if you're not a skier? 

There’s no snow in the summer.  It’s a small village, one gas station, handful of restaurants and hotels, lots of area air bnbs, everything closes down around 5pm.  More about getting a cabin/whatever In the mountains, and hiking, etc. or just chilling in beautiful weather and beautiful terrain.  I’m sitting on a porch just after it rained and it’s in the upper 60s.

And they love their hummingbirds.

[NorthLoop 14183]

16 minutes ago, atomheartbevo said:

There’s no snow in the summer.  It’s a small village, one gas station, handful of restaurants and hotels, lots of area air bnbs, everything closes down around 5pm.  More about getting a cabin/whatever In the mountains, and hiking, etc. or just chilling in beautiful weather and beautiful terrain.  I’m sitting on a porch just after it rained and it’s in the upper 60s.

And they love their hummingbirds.

Sounds lovely

[Brisketexan 105082]

18 minutes ago, atomheartbevo said:

There’s no snow in the summer.  It’s a small village, one gas station, handful of restaurants and hotels, lots of area air bnbs, everything closes down around 5pm.  More about getting a cabin/whatever In the mountains, and hiking, etc. or just chilling in beautiful weather and beautiful terrain.  I’m sitting on a porch just after it rained and it’s in the upper 60s.

And they love their hummingbirds.

IIRC, there's a joint in town that serves a damn fine bowl of posole.

[atomheartbevo 89630]

41 minutes ago, NorthLoop said:

Sounds lovely

For every 5-6 UT caps/t-shirts you see being worn, there was an aggy cap or t-shirt so….

[yoladu 4092]

What's crazy is it will be 65 in Cloudcroft and 30 minutes away in Alamogordo it will be 95.

[Bevo 13570]

8 minutes ago, yoladu said:

What's crazy is it will be 65 in Cloudcroft and 30 minutes away in Alamogordo it will be 95.

I'm going to Santa Fe in a few weeks. It should be in the low to mid 80s and then drop to the mid 50s at night.

[texasdago 7569]

3 hours ago, InkaUtexas said:

yeah, came in for lunch about 1 and said fuck going back out. Have a meeting at a cafe at 5 with terrible AC. Hoping the wind picks up so there is a breeze outdoors. That will be fun.

I just stepped outside to do some raking up dead leaves because, you know, wildfire fuel.  Sucks today 

[bolverk 29657]

One of my oldest, best friends bought a place in Cloudcroft and moved during the pandemic. Two of his kids are out of school and living away, while his wife and last high school kid live up there. He spends about half of his time with them but works the other half in the Permian Basin just driving a work truck around the oil patch monitoring and checking gauges and shit on pumps and tanks for a week before driving back up to Cloudcroft to stay with them for week or so.

He'll often send pics, showing the turning leaves, recent snow, or just the temperature to taunt me about escaping the heat. Bastard.

[atomheartbevo 89630]

29 minutes ago, bolverk said:

He'll often send pics, showing the turning leaves, recent snow, or just the temperature to taunt me about escaping the heat. Bastard.

They like to brag about actually having four seasons.

[Born to Run 6569]

It’s glorious.  There are some small towns in outlying areas at a lower elevations that don’t have as much snow/cold in the winter.  Poor man’s Colorado or something.

I have been to that area twice. Once as a kid, once as an adult where I quickly realized I'd likely never return. I'd rather drive another hour or so north and be in Santa Fe area, and if I'm looking for powder maybe suck it up and hit Wolf Creek or Taos a bit further still.

Riudiso area is like bothering to trek to Vegas, only to stop on the outskirts at a truckstop casino and a super 8 and calling that vegas. I realize that area has cooler weather but, meh.

[Loop 1604 227]

1 hour ago, Born to Run said:

I have been to that area twice. Once as a kid, once as an adult where I quickly realized I'd likely never return. I'd rather drive another hour or so north and be in Santa Fe area, and if I'm looking for powder maybe suck it up and hit Wolf Creek or Taos a bit further still.

Riudiso area is like bothering to trek to Vegas, only to stop on the outskirts at a truckstop casino and a super 8 and calling that vegas. I realize that area has cooler weather but, meh.

Ruidoso

[Wulaw Horn 19068]

In blue ridge mountains outside Asheville NC right now. Went kayaking with the boy yesterday. It was 87 degrees with humidity. River was cool when we went swimming. 60 percent humidity. Heat index was 95. Being on the river was nice. 95 heat index is a welcome change from 114 at home. 95 is just fine. Waterfall hike today. Looking forward to it. Locals were like- you came here to escape the heat- sorry. We were laughing and saying mission accomplished this is nice. They looked at us funny. 

[Storm the Field 5294]

Long-range forecasts are making it look like Houston might actually be in a for a standard, uncomfortably muggy August as opposed to the horrendous May-July we just experienced.

Today is the only day in the 15-day forecast with a temp above 95. Cloud cover and decent rain chances most days (~40%) should keep us decently below 100. 

From SpaceCityWeather:

Quote

 

Houston now has officially recorded 20 100-degree days this year, which is enough to tie us for fourth all-time for any calendar year. The bad news is that we’re going to see yet another day with widespread triple-digit temperatures across the region today. The good news is that this may be the last one for at least several days with relief on the horizon.

 

Friday

As high pressure retreats, an upper-level low pressure system will help usher in a surge a tropical moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. This will lead to partly to mostly cloudy skies, and bump up rain chances for areas that are either east of Interstate 45, along the coast, or both. We’re talking about a 60 or 70 percent chance of rain for these areas, with lesser chances further inland and westward. Overall accumulations won’t be above a few tenths of an inch for most locations, but some areas should see bullseyes of 1 to 2 inches. Highs will be dependent upon clouds and rain, but should hold in the low-90s for much of the area.

 

Next week

This should be, dare I say it, a decent week for August? For the most part we’re going to see high temperatures in the low- to mid-90s, and the most likely outcome is that high pressure does not build back over the region. Rather, we should see enough moisture for at least a 30 percent, if not higher, chance of rain each day. For August, man, I’ll take it.