The Star - News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area

We just completed Summer 2022. Before you say, “wait, summer isn’t over yet,” let me remind you there are two ways to look at our seasons. The information here is based on meteorological seasons, not astronomical. Meteorological seasons are based on the annual temperature cycle. On the other hand, Astronomical seasons are based on the position of the sun relative to Earth. Meteorological season are as follows -- Spring is March, April and May. Summer is June, July and August. Fall is September, October and November, and Winter being December, January and February. For those living in the Southern Hemisphere of Earth, the seasons are opposite.

Here is a recap Summer 2022. Honestly, there isn’t enough room to present all the events that occurred in the of Summer 2022. First, I’ll start with some of the broader and notable events this year’s summer brought. Extreme heat, breaking some records across the globe. Wildfires, some were unprecedented and continue today. Major flooding and landslides dominated weather events from around the world. The Chinese Meteorological Administration publicly stated, “…the combined intensity of regional heat wave event of China since June 13 has reached the strongest since the complete meteorological observation record existed.” A surprising statement from a Chinese government entity. Major rivers in China are at very low stages affecting the transportation of goods and water sources for people. The Chinese heat wave has closed a number of major factories and will, ultimately, impact the global economy.

The European Drought Observatory (EDO) provides drought data on what has occurred across the European Union. It shows 47 percent of the European Union (there are 27 nations in the EU) territory is in Drought Warning conditions, and 17 percent in Alert Conditions. Sixty-four percent of the EU is under two levels of drought. Major rivers, the Rhine and Danube, and the Po River in Italy, are at very low stages. These rivers, like the Mississippi River, carry large amounts of goods. Again, economies and great areas of crop lands are affected. In many areas of Western and Eastern Europe, wildfire activity continues and has been well beyond the average.

Here, in the United States, the Colorado River Basin supplies water to many consumers, as well as in Mexico. It is not the roaring river it was historically. Water allotments are being cut. The Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) is asking states and tribes to conserve another 2 to 4 million acre-feet of water, according to a recent news article. The AZCentral article continues and quotes Southern Nevada Water Authority’s general manager John Entsminger. “What has been a slow-moving train wreck for twenty years is accelerating and our moment of reckoning is near,” Entsminger said. “The unreasonable expectations of water users, including the prices and drought profiteering proposals, only divide common goals and interests.” What can happen to irrigatable agriculture that relies on Colorado River water has yet to be told.

Here on the home front, the Summer of 2022 eventually became hot with little precipitation. The following measurements were all from my home weather station. June was generally cool. There were only two days over 90˚F, with a high of 96.3˚F. The low for June was 45.2˚F, and the mean was 64.3˚F. July temperatures rose. The high for July included eight days over 100˚F, with a high of 109.1˚F, while the low for July was 47.9˚F and a mean of 77.3˚F. August continued hot with four days over 100˚F, with the high being 106.8˚F. The low for August was 52˚F, and the mean was 78.4˚F. For the Summer of 2022, a total of 12 days above 100˚F and 36 days above 90˚F. Last summer, 2021, we had a total of 18 days above 100˚F and 34 days above 90˚F.

Precipitation for the Summer of 2022 started out damp. For June, I measured 2.56 inches of precipitation. Then we transitioned into July and August. July produced 0.80 inches of rain, and August only 0.05 inches of rain. The total for the summer, 3.41 inches.

For the three-month period of September, October and November, the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) is showing our region having an equal chance of above or below normal temperatures. It’s probable we will have above normal precipitation for our region. Those same predictions apply out to the end of the year. Regarding our drought conditions, we are listed as D1, moderate drought. The regions around us are listed as D0, abnormally dry.

The full Moon for September occurred on the 10th,. referred to as the Harvest Moon.