AUSTIN (KXAN) — Meteorological fall began Sept. 1 and runs through Nov. 30, but with the autumnal equinox still eight days away — arriving Sept. 22 at 1:19 p.m. — Central Texas continues to feel more like summer.
Our media partners at Climate Central did another analysis regarding this. They not only looked at the numbers, but also at the risks these longer summer temperatures could bring to people.
The sample size analyzed was 246 major cities in the United States. Summer is lingering later in 227 of those 246 cities, or 92%. The hot temperatures now extend an average of ten days longer into fall than they did in the 1970s.
A closer look at the numbers finds 20% of the cities see the summer heat extending at least two weeks.
It should be pointed out that not all cities used the same temperature threshold due to their being in different parts of the country.
The states that see the highest increase in these temperatures are Texas and Florida. For example, San Angelo’s summers are extended by 31 days. Specifically, the number of high temperature days of 95° or higher is up 31 days after the meteorological summer season ends. In Florida, Miami’s summer heat, temperatures of 90° or higher, had one of the biggest increases, up 46 days.
The analysis also included one city in both Alaska and Hawaii. In Alaska, Juneau sees six more days of high temperatures at or above 60°. On the island, Honolulu is one of the few cities with fewer days of 90+° highs. There, there are two fewer days.
It should come as no surprise that Austin’s increase was higher than the national average of ten days. The capital city has seen an increase of 23 days of a high of 95° stretching into the fall season.
This is causing a seasonal shift to where summers are getting longer while the winter season is shrinking. This means summer seasons are starting before spring ends and ending after fall begins.
Research shows that if heat-trapping pollution keeps rising, these summer temperatures will keep stretching later and later.
Why does this matter?
There is a potential that summertime allergies will last longer or that fall allergens could start sooner. In the case of the latter, this means earlier starts to the weed season, specifically ragweed and pigweed. The fall elm season could also start sooner.
Longer summers bring a higher demand for indoor cooling, not only in the home but in the classroom. The higher energy demand means higher bills. This is another challenge for schools in urban heat islands, of which there are many here.
Yes, the meteorological fall season is well underway. Eventually, the temperatures will lower to what is most likely to be in autumn.
Credit: Source link
