Droughts Stink

[jerry]

Hi Folks

Just finished hand carrying buckets of water to my garden. Thats the only way we are allowed to water here in eastern Pa. Along with no car washing or open hoses etc. The lawn is blonde and there is no rain in sight. Its been 6 weeks since measurable rain.

I heard on the news that there are drought problems in 49 of the 50 states. I was wondering how many of my RP buddies were affected by this problem.

Check in if you get a chance.

Thanks
Jerry

[Sanda]

We are in drought here in Australia too. Although we don't have water restrictions here in the city our poor farmers are really doing it tough. I was watching the news last night and the stock losses and dry farm land was very distressing.
We could use a week of rain although I suspect it's too late for many farmers here.

[Mike Needham]

It wont make you feel better, but over in the good ol UK its the height of summer and we are getting plenty of rain - I wouldnt mind guessing you would trade for a bit. Is there any sign of a letup in the drought?

[G. Couch]

It was bone dry here in North Carolina (Raleigh) up until about a 2 weeks ago. We seem to be getting lots of afternoon showers now but we are still way behind on our water levels.

[Ed_L]

Jerry,

I could have written your post! It's been 6 weeks since we've had measurable rain too. We don't live far from Chicago, and they've had rain a few times (fairly heavy), but it missed us. Towns even a few miles from us have had *some* rain, but we didn't get any. A few hours ago we had a cold front come through (it's about 84 degrees now), and we had a lot of thunder, with the skies very dark. It began to rain, but it stopped before it even got our deck wet. We have flower and vegetable gardens, and we've been watering, or there would be nothing left. We have a well, and we live in an unincorporated area with no restrictions. We're just hoping we don't run the well dry.

How are you guys doing Tom?

Ed

[CJ Swartz]

Phoenix received 0.77 inch during the first two weeks of our rainy season (July 1-July 16) compared to the 0.19 inch which had fallen from January thru June of this year. Our metro area is not requiring water restrictions, but is asking us to conserve.

Our northern counties have been feeling the drought the most, including the Navajo Indian Reservation. "More than 7,000 stock ponds are dry across 17 million acres of the reservation in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. Many of the tribe's 900 windmills, most of them pumping groundwater from shallow, subsurface pools, are expected to stop producing within the next month.The Arizona Republic, June 02, 2002

I've seen some forecasts that show an end to the drought in most areas currently suffering by late winter...

[sohagler]

In my part of NC (Charlotte), we're much lower than typical for our rainfall measures, but the mayor recently refused the governor's request for a voluntary water usage cutback. I won't go into how irritating I find his actions.

I will mention that with drought conditions, I get even more irate at seeing all the poorly aimed sprinkler systems watering the roads and parking lots around here.

--
Sonya

[thomasgeorge]

Three years of drought up here...Old Timers say it's worse than the 1930's...Dust storms in January...Irrigation impoundments at very low levels, water holes dry, one crop of hay per summer instead of the usual 2 to 3, pasture in terrible shape, Cattle herds reduced by 1/2 to 2/3d's....many Ranchers on the verge of Bankruptcy...Rainfall so far below normal ( usually 12 inches per year) that I dont even like thinking about it...pretty grim. Tom

[Jakaleena]

We had a couple of days earlier this week with heavy rain and thunderstorms. Before that, it was getting a little dry, though, and when the rains hit you could hear people voicing the customary, "yup, we needed it"...

We're on well water here, and so there are no restrictions, but my step dad mentioned the other day that we might want to be careful not to run water excessively in case the well might run dry. We haul in our drinking water from a local spring (the well water has a lot of iron in it and tastes icky) and the spring has slowed down some, but that's fairly normal for this time of year.

The weather forecast has us in for a few T-storms for 6 of the next 10 days. I hope we do get more rain, and I hope some of it rolls around to you guys who are so dry...

[DJ Dubovsky]

I think I know where all the rain went to. It's been raining here in South Florida for the last couple months almost non stop. There's so much in fact that they actually had to drain some off of Lake Okachobee. Two years ago, we were in the draught with water restrictions and the lake down over 13 feet with them telling us it will take years to get the lake back up to normal. Yeah right, now they're draining the over flow. What a crazy world lately.
DJ

[jerry]

It looks like a lot of you are in a similar boat as I am. It sure seems to me that the weather patterns are a lot different than they used to be. That global warming thing is for real...I think.

Thanks for answering
Lets get that rain dance going..

Jerry

Possible thunder storms tonight...Fingers crossed...

[Ed_L]

Don't bank on it. We've had possible thunderstorms many times, but no rain.

Ed

[Ed_L]

For the last week, we've had rain start about 5 times. This morning we finally got a little bit. Probably in the range of 1/2 inch or so. It's headed towards Ohio and Pennsylvania, so be prepared!

Ed

[G. Couch]

It's rained 3 times since I arrived in New Mexico on Thursday! I thought it was supposed to be dry out here...

[Jakaleena]

It's raining cats & dogs here right this minute!

[CJ Swartz]

It's raining cats & dogs here

-- Jak


It rained here one evening last week - but only 'cats', not 'cats & dogs'....

[Jakaleena]

That is too funny, CJ! Looks like he's decided where there's a lake, there MUST be fish...

[Ed_L]

Wow! Does this mean the nation wide drought is over (We still need a lot more)

Ed

[jerry]

Good one CJ.. It is still dry as a bone here in my part of eastern Pa. We have had only a couple of showers in 7 weeks. Still hand carrying water to the garden. Grass is like straw. Heat index was 105 today.. We are not used to that Florida stuff (DJ) . Still looking at the sky.. Maybe this week..

Hope to get back to challenges in a couple of weeks.
Later folks.
Jerry

P.S. The miners are out (9 for 9). Although this accident is in Western Pa. We have had similar accidents near to here.. Could not have had better news than this....