It’s been a very long nine months of school but we’ve made it to the final stretch before summer break and as summer break approaches, the weather changes drastically. The temperatures skyrocket from the 60s to the 90s or higher during the months of June to August. Just last year, Texas went down as having the second hottest heatwave in a while. Temperatures stayed at 100 degrees and higher for weeks. Cities which include El Paso and Austin, went more than 40 days without a single day that didn’t reach 100 degrees. Some are even saying that this summer will be even hotter than last which is a huge concern to a majority of the residents in Texas.
But why? Why is this so concerning to those who live in Texas? Well that’s because the heat can cause many problems. For one, the lack of water causes plants to die from dehydration. Nevertheless, temperatures get so high up that it feels as if you’re melting from the heat and right now, the highest temperature that Texas has gotten up to is 120 degrees. This is something that causes a variety of problems. The hotter it is, the drier the soil gets and this is what causes underground pipes to rupture. Once the pipes rupture, water leakage can be a huge problem in homes. Irritability is also a common effect of high temperatures. Heat can lead to restlessness and restlessness leads to annoyance and drowsiness. Once the annoyance hits, many fights start to take place which increases the violence rate in Texas.
As there are cons to why residents do not like summer heat, there are also some pros as to why they like summer heat. When it gets very hot, it gives them the chance to hangout at the pool or the beach which is not only relaxing but allows them to have some fun during their summer break. Another thing that some residents do during the summer is travel around to escape the harsh temperatures. This gives them the chance to visit other family members that they haven’t seen in a while. Not only will they stay cool but they will get to rekindle their relationships with friends and family.
A weather phenomenon known as a “heat dome” traps hot air above a certain area. This year, as that air came across Texas
in mid-June, it was heated by warm Gulf waters and ground temperatures in Mexico. The spring precipitation that had saturated the ground evaporated as the air descended to the earth and heated even more. Last summer, in 2023, Texas had the second hottest on record in the state with an average of 85.3 degrees. You are probably thinking, how is the summer 2024 going to be in summer? The heatwave researcher at the University of Graz, Chloe Brimicombe, explains “If we look at the forecast for the next three months in the long range, it’s suggesting that the trend that we’re seeing in baseline warming could continue, and so 2024 could rival 2023 for being the hottest year on record, which is very scary,”. So make sure you guys buy a lot of fans this summer!!
At the maximum of heat expressed in a Texas summer can be incredibly harshful, to people this can even lead to heat strokes. With temperatures soaring well beyond 100 degrees can remove the human body of moisture and energy. But being in this heat for long periods of time could cause major dehydration and overheating making the risk of heat strokes incredibly high. It’s very important for people tok stay well hydrated and be inside during these major heat waves. And limit their time outside with outdoor activities during the hottest times of the days to reduce the chances of having a heat stroke in the Texan heat.
