SE TX/SW LA weather: Much cooler and WET after Tuesday

[Jagno]

Well folks, I officially mowed the garden down today. The severe drought combined with the excessively high temps this early didn't fair well with myself, my water well or my garden. After watching 92L, then 93L it just confirmed that my time needs to be spent on things that I do have some control over. I can't control the drought or the heat but I can get my poop in a group and be prepared for what may come as an extended evacuation considering the oil disaster.

In my personal opinion, landfall of any storm was always the most feared but now the surging oil along with the excessive amount of toxic Corexit will create far more damage over a much larger area no matter where the landfall is. I've asked questions about this oil or toxins getting into the water aquifers and so far no one can say with certainty that this isn't possible. Given the uncertainty, combined with all the underestimations so far, I've opted to plan accordingly.

I live within 20 miles of the coast and during Ike salt water invaded homes and closed roads just one block from my home. To this day people in this area can't seem to grow a simple garden on their land. I'm sure it was the salt but I'm no ag specialist. Will the floods go no further than last time and spare me? In addition to the salt, how much oil and toxins will be combined with the flood waters this time?

I don't have the answers to any of these questions. I've read probably 50 different "experts" with basically mixed opinions so that was no help. I do know that if they kept us from coming home for weeks at a time following Rita then the evacuation would be much longer if they suspect any type of contamination. I'm condensing, organizing, inventorying and packing everything that I will not be using for the next three months. If or when an evacuation is called it will make it much easier to simply pack the day to day items.
If an evacu is never issued then I've just completed my spring cleaning.

Welcome to the first day of Summer, along with all the sleepless weather related nights for us Gulf Coasters. LOL

[srainhoutx]

FLOOD ADVISORY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
448 PM CDT TUE JUN 22 2010

TXC201-222345-
/O.NEW.KHGX.FA.Y.0033.100622T2148Z-100622T2345Z/
/00000.N.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
HARRIS TX-
448 PM CDT TUE JUN 22 2010

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LEAGUE CITY HAS ISSUED AN

* URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY FOR...
SOUTHWEST HARRIS COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS...

* UNTIL 645 PM CDT

* AT 446 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
VERY HEAVY RAIN WAS FALLING NEAR ADDICKS. 1 TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN HAS
ALREADY FALLEN AND ANOTHER 1 TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN WILL BE POSSIBLE BY
545 PM.

[Jagno]

YIPPEE, I got a trace of rain today. What a welcome sight indeed! Looks like you folks around Lafayette got more than your share this afternoon. I'm jealous.

[vbhoutex]

Got another nice Tstorm this afternoon here at the VB abode. Another 0.20" in the gauge means less watering for me. That storm came after a high of 99f this afternoon.

[horselattitudesfarm]

WTF!!! 99 degrees in Houston! Since when did they start getting those kinds of temps there? When I lived there back in the '80's if it got to 90 degrees that was unusual. I remember landscaping there and if it got to 90 degrees we would take the day off. Also, when it got that hot we almost always got popup afternoon showers that cooled it back down again.

[Tireman4]

WTF!!! 99 degrees in Houston! Since when did they start getting those kinds of temps there? When I lived there back in the '80's if it got to 90 degrees that was unusual. I remember landscaping there and if it got to 90 degrees we would take the day off. Also, when it got that hot we almost always got popup afternoon showers that cooled it back down again.

Where you here in 1980? It was stinking hot back then ( summer wise). I know many temperatures were over 100 and I think one time it hit 104.

[Flyinman]

It seems over the years our temps have increased and humidity decreased for the most part..These last couple of weeks excluded. If I remember correctly our actual temps stayed in the low to mid 90's almost all summer but the heat index was mid to upper 100's every day. I do recall some days where we broke 100 with the actual temp but do not recall there being weeks of upper 90's as we have experienced lately.
That being said, my fingers are crossed for some rain today!

[bvigal]

Well folks, I officially mowed the garden down today. The severe drought combined with the excessively high temps this early didn't fair well with myself, my water well or my garden. After watching 92L, then 93L it just confirmed that my time needs to be spent on things that I do have some control over. I can't control the drought or the heat but I can get my poop in a group and be prepared for what may come as an extended evacuation considering the oil disaster.

In my personal opinion, landfall of any storm was always the most feared but now the surging oil along with the excessive amount of toxic Corexit will create far more damage over a much larger area no matter where the landfall is. I've asked questions about this oil or toxins getting into the water aquifers and so far no one can say with certainty that this isn't possible. Given the uncertainty, combined with all the underestimations so far, I've opted to plan accordingly.

I live within 20 miles of the coast and during Ike salt water invaded homes and closed roads just one block from my home. To this day people in this area can't seem to grow a simple garden on their land. I'm sure it was the salt but I'm no ag specialist. Will the floods go no further than last time and spare me? In addition to the salt, how much oil and toxins will be combined with the flood waters this time?

I don't have the answers to any of these questions. I've read probably 50 different "experts" with basically mixed opinions so that was no help. I do know that if they kept us from coming home for weeks at a time following Rita then the evacuation would be much longer if they suspect any type of contamination. I'm condensing, organizing, inventorying and packing everything that I will not be using for the next three months. If or when an evacuation is called it will make it much easier to simply pack the day to day items.
If an evacu is never issued then I've just completed my spring cleaning.

Welcome to the first day of Summer, along with all the sleepless weather related nights for us Gulf Coasters. LOL

Jagno, your post just speaks to my heart. I'm so sorry to hear about your garden, and more, the looming risk from a hurricane hanging over your head that is so much more complicated by potential contributions of the oil spill! (Last night I was watching the coastal fishermen on tv, who have lost their entire livelihood, and they made me sad, too.) I pray that you don't end up living on a property with contaminated well! Hopefully, your excellent plan to pack up and be more mobile with shorter notice will reduce your stress this summer. I hope all your neighbors will follow your excellent example. God bless!

[Jagno]

Thank you BV for your kindness and compassion. We are a strong lot of cajuns around here and as long as we have our health and our families we will be okay.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAJUNMAMA!

[bvigal]

I thought of something good, it will make you laugh! (warning, language is xxx) This always makes me roll on the floor. It's a guy from Houma named 'Jeffie-Pants', with several hillareous video reports during Gustav. Here's a link to one, you can find the others easily from there. Don't miss #7, it's a classic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0RVhcNFi6k

[vbhoutex]

Having another good old fashioned thundershower here at the abode in near NW Houston. Have had moderate to heavy rain for the last 40 minutes or so. One or two of these a week would do wonders for my water bill. Makes it easier to sod(take from the back and give to the front)areas that were killed by the freeze this winter.

[Flyinman]

I can see, hear and smell the storms but nothing here in the last 2 days. Looks like quite a bit more rain for SW to NE Houston tonight

[vbhoutex]

Having another good old fashioned thundershower here at the abode in near NW Houston. Have had moderate to heavy rain for the last 40 minutes or so. One or two of these a week would do wonders for my water bill. Makes it easier to sod(take from the back and give to the front)areas that were killed by the freeze this winter.

Managed 0.70" out of that one. More close by with lots of thunder. Not sure we're going to get this one though. Right now it is just to the East of our area.

[srainhoutx]

Seeing reports of 3 inches near Bellaire. Yikes. Impressive light show from my location.

[jasons2k]

I'm finally getting a decent shower here tonight. Not torrential rain, but intermittent light & moderate rain with lots of thunder. I'm glad to see it because I've been missing out completely for the last two days. I thought it was hopeless and then right after sunset it headed this way

[CajunMama]

I know that the weather played havoc on the airlines tonight. My daughters boyfriend was delayed and hour and a half due to the lightning and the storms. Now he's delayed again due to maintenance. They had to taxi back to the terminal and disembark. Now the status says they're waiting on the crew. They were scheduled to depart at 8:05. The 9:15 flight to lafayette left with no problem!

[jasons2k]

I got .38 last night...it rained for a long time and I was hoping for closer to an inch. Maybe with more sun today things can really get going...

[vbhoutex]

I guess there is a bullseye on our area(not that I'm complaining). We currently have some(based on radar) heavy tstorms moving NW into our area. Definitely noisy right now, but no rain yet. It should start soon though. will edit and report later.

[jasons2k]

what a waste - this outflow boundry just blew by the house and all the storms fell apart before it got here.

[Flyinman]

Yeah I know. At least it brought a nice breeze while mowing the yard. I guess I have just been lucky as this is what has been happening the past 2 summers. Watch the clouds blow over then smell the rain. I am still hoping something might pop up later.