Ok you Texans...what are normal summers really like? (Austin: vacation, deal)

[Marat]

Like others have said, they always suck. Historical averages show July and August averaging about 96. In my 16 years here, I would say when it is more like average, the weather tends to be more humid as well. Overall, not too much different than this year.

[cBach]

Originally Posted by blakely

Wow..that's an interesting statistic, and possibly more relevant than the days over 100, because it speaks to the DURATION of the heat, which I find the hardest part of this weather.....that it seems interminable some years.

I'd be curious to see how many days over 90 degrees 2011 will bring.

That's if you think 90 is hot. I find lower 90's very pleasant, especially if it's dry. I would say a more reliable number would be days over 95.

[eepstein]

I have lived here 8 years and 6 of those years have been drought years with little or no rain. Its pretty much the norm.

Originally Posted by 10scoachrick

Usually...should be...most of the time...two year cycle...HAH!!!

This is our FOURTH summer here and EACH one has been a record-setter in drought, average high, days over 100....SOME heat-related method of measuring the flippin' HOT weather!!!

I know....'07 was cool and wet...yeah, yeah, yeah...What have you done for me LATELY???

It's like someone buying Longhorn season tickets because 'they USUALLY....'


FOUR summers is a long time to wait for a 'normal' season....just sayin'.

[ScoPro]

I've been here 52 years and don't notice too much difference - just the newbs & tv newsreaders complaining more about it.

[capcat]

Very hot and very dry, of course. It's Texas. Don't expect mild heat, and don't expect significant rain in the summer months. Texas, especially this part of the state, isn't the place for that. Dallas (cue the choir of angels for a couple of posters here ) gets more rain.

But, our weather this summer is extreme. That's evident to me in my 43rd summer in Austin. It's also evident in the records it has broken.

There's a difference between 100 and 107. There's a difference between getting or not getting rain in the spring through mid-June, then going through the expected dry periods for the rest of the summer.

Maybe this is a permanent weather change, maybe it's just the unfortunate result of cyclical weather patterns in the Pacific, but it is record-setting in our history. Maybe not to the degree temps have been for the rest of the country, but enough to tell a difference.

[infoseeker2010]

Originally Posted by oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots

Since you've been here what is a "normal" summer in terms of weather? Thanks if you care to share. Also, have we beat the record yet for the drought?

If you are planning to move here, consider this as normal summer. 2008 and 2009 were considered record breaking and horrible. 2010 was little milder COMPARATIVELY. 2011 is again record breaking.

Also don't buy into average temp BS. Good knows since what years they are counting because certainly last few years have been horrible. So rather than saying its record breaking they should say its the new average, but they won't accept reality. In 2010 the temps could have been 5-7 degrees lower (which would have pleased the 100F degree days record keepers) but it was humid and hence heat index was almost similar to what it is right now.

As someone suggested, the real parameter should be 90F+ days and again someone said its 100 such days. That tells you how horrible Austin summers are.

[CarnivalGal]

I agree with the other posters. This is normal. The lack of rain is worse than usual, but the heat is about par for the course. Yes, we have a ton of days over 100, but really, is there that much of a difference between 99 and 101?

[ScoPro]

For most of us the heat ain't that bad since we now have A/C in our homes, workplaces, cars, & public stores/venues.

Try living in similar Texas summer heat for years without any of that. I did from 1946-49.

Now I sure as heck wouldn't want to be working outside in the sun these days.

[neddy]

Hmm, I seem to be without ac since the blower went out yesterday...ahh its only 94 in the house with 4 fans on me and the hamsters..

[Westerner92]

Originally Posted by love roses

I posted this in another thread, but the weatherman said that this is the hottest july ever in Austins recorded history.

Yeah, I don't get what's with the people saying this is normal. The hottest month ever recorded in a city known for its heat isn't normal. Neither is the worst drought in a generation.