The drought (Indianapolis, Carmel, Hamilton: how much, home, organic)

[dadr]

So I was in Indy for a job interview recently, and was shocked at the appearance of the bone dry brown grass. I understand there's a drought but it looked like Roundup was just sprayed over the whole city. How much different is this from the normal summer? I've lived in the Midwest my whole life (WI/MN/IL) and have not seen anything this bad. We really like greenery in the summer so that part of Indy was not appealing. Is it usually green there in past summers?

[sweetana3]

Totally different. Dont remember anything like this in 35 years.

[ischyros]

Yes, completely different. Indianapolis had the driest June ever with less than a tenth of an inch of rain the whole month. And July was the hottest month ever recorded since records began in 1870. So it's been a summer like we've never seen. Plus the whole area with the exception of Carmel has been under a watering ban for at least a month or longer. So most places aren't allowed to water the lawns anymore.

[Chicago76]

Originally Posted by ischyros

Yes, completely different. Indianapolis had the driest June ever with less than a tenth of an inch of rain the whole month. And July was the hottest month ever recorded since records began in 1870. So it's been a summer like we've never seen. Plus the whole area with the exception of Carmel has been under a watering ban for at least a month or longer. So most places aren't allowed to water the lawns anymore.

Not only was June the driest June in recorded history, but June-July was the driest June-July as well. The rain in August was too little too late. Still a chance that this will be the driest summer (Jun-Aug) in 80+ years. More than likely at least the driest in the last 45.

[domergurl]

I remember 3 years ago, we had an incredibly cool summer. The reason I remember is because my garden was fabulous. But it seems like the last 2 have been horribly hot and dry. My poor tomatoes. About the only thing that thrives is my jalapenoes and haberneros ...

When I talk to my good organic farmer friend, she's equally bummed. She has lost a lot of chickens due to heat.

food prices will spike this winter.

[BU191433]

Originally Posted by dadr

So I was in Indy for a job interview recently, and was shocked at the appearance of the bone dry brown grass. I understand there's a drought but it looked like Roundup was just sprayed over the whole city. How much different is this from the normal summer? I've lived in the Midwest my whole life (WI/MN/IL) and have not seen anything this bad. We really like greenery in the summer so that part of Indy was not appealing. Is it usually green there in past summers?

Actually it has gotten much better in the past 2 or 3 weeks. So you should have been here in mid July - it was really bad then. Now it is much better.

Typically we have a dry spel each summer. Maybe a 5 or 6 weeks period where we get very little rain. Typically it tends to occur from mid July through August.

What made this year so bad was it started May 1st and last through July and those three months are normally our wettest months of the year. Sp there was a huge deficit. Then you add in the abnormally sunny weather - we had day after day or no clouds at all and the extreme heat - we hardly ever have days above 100 - this year we had many and the whole month of July was above 90 - hottest month on record, ever.

So everything was brown and dead.

[ischyros]

Originally Posted by BU191433

Actually it has gotten much better in the past 2 or 3 weeks. So you should have been here in mid July - it was really bad then. Now it is much better.

This is true. We got more rain last week than we did in May, June, and July combined. So we're seeing a little bit of improvement, such as Hamilton and Boone counties removing their fireworks and burn bans.

[thefallensrvnge]

Everyone must've enjoyed the endless rain we had today. Felt great!

[REM]

Get use to it everyone climate change is real and it's knocking on our doorstep, I only hope it gets worse so brainwashed Americans actually realize that's happening before their very eyes.

[wh15395]

As I was driving home from work today, I noticed how green everything is getting again. The whole city looks so much better than it did a couple weeks ago.