May 22, 2012
1910 GMT
Current Weather Map
May 22, 2012
1915 GMT
Current Temperature Map
The Weather Channel notes today:
The Heat is Centered over the Ohio Valley with temperatures 15 to 25 degrees above average affecting 40+ million people.
...As the headline suggests (click here), 90s will be a common reading on thermometers from Kansas and Texas to Ohio and Georgia by this weekend. You can see this depicted on the forecast maps to the left below in the red and pink shadings....
Weather Channel Prediction Map of Sunday's Temperatures.
We are not far from triple digit heat and governments at all levels need to prepare for a very long and very hot summer.
Last year with prolonged dry, hot air, Texas experienced infrastructure failure. Skyscrapers need to be safe from extreme cold air inside and ever increasing temperatures outside. Their 'plasticity' needs to be intact, including expansion plates. Texas saw railroad tracks with potential dangers for warping. The railroads are going to have to pay attention to their rails. I have notice in my travels as of late there are many inspection trucks on the tracks. Thank you. Also, Texas experienced exploding sidewalks. The expansion space between the concrete slabs wasn't wide enough and the pressure on the concrete caused rippling which results in cracking due to the pressure of the 'rock' called concrete.
There has been some snow melt to infuse water sources in the west although it has been a late arrival, at least it arrived. The late arrival was probably due to melt from a high altitude, but, scientists more familiar with these areas are probably more than sure what caused it. My best guess is the snow at lower altitudes sublimed from solid to gas, whereas, in higher altitudes the heat would NOT be as intense, but, arrived later due to increasing hot air masses at those altitudes. So, the cooler 'warm' air actually melted the snow. If inspected I am fairly confident the scientists will find snow melt at altitudes not normally effected.
The thing is this; If snow is melting at higher altitudes to actually run off to fill the reservoirs, what happens when that snow is gone? What happens when subliming of snow reaches higher and higher altitudes and LATITUDES? Kindly give it some thought. Thank you.
