June 2025 discussion-obs: Summerlike

[SACRUS]

 

Next rain will come between Fri-Sat with frontal boundary storms but otherwise drying out and heating up after the 12 days cool/wet period

 

[Sundog]

1 hour ago, Dark Star said:

When electricity was relatively cheap...

Electricity wasn't even that bad up until 2020. Then we decided that we need to get rid of nuclear, shut down fossil fuels too quickly, depend on slow to be built and expensive off shore wind farms, etc. 

What can go wrong!

[SACRUS]

59 minutes ago, LibertyBell said:

It's more than just onshore flow though Chris, a lot of our heat records go back to the 1940s, 1950s, etc.  It seems like it's not just added rainfall and onshore flow, but something else which has limited the extent of our heatwaves and extreme heat.  We just do not get 7+ days of heat consecutively anymore and particularly not long lengths of 95+ heat like we did back in 1944 and 1953.

 

You are using two examples of a records heat wave (sustained heat) and saying  like we used to get, when it only happened those two years, when there were many years in the 40s and 50s that had less 90 degree days than normal. Those streaks are rare but the area (mayne not the park) came close in 1988, 1991, 1993, 2002, 2010.

Outside the park, Bluewave has shown overall temps and even # of 90(+) days have increased vs the 40s/50s.  There has been a tendency 2021 - 2024 for onshore flow limiting heat east of the Hudson, we'll see how this year evolves. For the summer weather lovers, those type heat streaks are welcome .

[Stormlover74]

Maybe tonight?

from FB: NORTHERN LIGHTS UPDATE: we are on track for KP index of 8. Meaning we CAN see the Aurora tonight. Timing as of now: 12am - 4am Monday morning. 

[Dark Star]

43 minutes ago, Sundog said:

Electricity wasn't even that bad up until 2020. Then we decided that we need to get rid of nuclear, shut down fossil fuels too quickly, depend on slow to be built and expensive off shore wind farms, etc. 

What can go wrong!

Another problem are homes becoming more efficient.  The power producing companies have to make a profit, so it doesn't how much you decrease your electrical efficiency, they still have to make the same amount of money...

[wdrag]

9 minutes ago, Stormlover74 said:

Maybe tonight?

from FB: NORTHERN LIGHTS UPDATE: we are on track for KP index of 8. Meaning we CAN see the Aurora tonight. Timing as of now: 12am - 4am Monday morning. 

Thanks for the alert. KP values very good but not sure if we can see it down here after sunset. Please see attached.

 

[LibertyBell]

1 hour ago, gravitylover said:

My senior year of high school, sitting in those newer rooms with the big windows in the OHS was brutal. On our off periods we'd go sit in our cars with the AC on.

I can't imagine getting that kind of heat, not even now, 42 years later, when our climate is warmer.  Maybe September 2010 was the closest we've come to a repeat, although even that fell short of what happened in September 1983.

 

[LibertyBell]

50 minutes ago, Dark Star said:

Another problem are homes becoming more efficient.  The power producing companies have to make a profit, so it doesn't how much you decrease your electrical efficiency, they still have to make the same amount of money...

Con Edison with a heavy emphasis on the *Con* part, this is a corrupt company and have been prosecuted as such.

[LibertyBell]

45 minutes ago, wdrag said:

Thanks for the alert. KP values very good but not sure if we can see it down here after sunset. Please see attached.

 

Walt, this is going to be a level 4 Geomagnetic storm, I read that aurorae viewing is possible down to the Carolinas and Alabama.  Even if you can't see them you can still capture them with your camera.

[LibertyBell]

1 hour ago, SACRUS said:

 

You are using two examples of a records heat wave (sustained heat) and saying  like we used to get, when it only happened those two years, when there were many years in the 40s and 50s that had less 90 degree days than normal. Those streaks are rare but the area (mayne not the park) came close in 1988, 1991, 1993, 2002, 2010.

Outside the park, Bluewave has shown overall temps and even # of 90(+) days have increased vs the 40s/50s.  There has been a tendency 2021 - 2024 for onshore flow limiting heat east of the Hudson, we'll see how this year evolves. For the summer weather lovers, those type heat streaks are welcome .

In the record books there are several examples of record hot streaks that haven't been matched since, I just listed the two most glaring examples.  1955 had the most 95+ days.  1949 had 5 days of 99 degrees or higher.  1948 had three days of 100 degrees or higher even at JFK.  There is something unique about this period that hasn't been matched since.

2010 was absolutely amazing and set the JFK records for several categories but didn't have a super heatwave like that. It looks like 2002 was the last time we had one of those.

[MANDA]

43 degrees this morning to open June.  Great sleeping weather with the windows open and the breeze blowing.  About to come to an end.  Not expecting an overnight low of 43 again until the Fall.

[LibertyBell]

1 hour ago, Sundog said:

Electricity wasn't even that bad up until 2020. Then we decided that we need to get rid of nuclear, shut down fossil fuels too quickly, depend on slow to be built and expensive off shore wind farms, etc. 

What can go wrong!

You're completely dismissing the inherent corruption and greed of these corporations that need to be directly regulated and overseen by the state.

we need state ownership of power companies pure and simple.

*Con* Edison and the failed Lilco have shown that these companies can't be trusted.

 

[MANDA]

Smoke lifting north as trof / upper level low lifts out.

Elevated and diluted smoke reaching into SNJ this morning.

[LibertyBell]

Just now, MANDA said:

Smoke lifting north as trof / upper level low lifts out.

Elevated and diluted smoke reaching into SNJ this morning.

it's also cloudy now

[cleetussnow]

1 hour ago, Sundog said:

Electricity wasn't even that bad up until 2020. Then we decided that we need to get rid of nuclear, shut down fossil fuels too quickly, depend on slow to be built and expensive off shore wind farms, etc. 

What can go wrong!

NY isn’t off fossil fuels by any means, we just buy it from elsewhere.  We produce clean energy - but thats not what we use by and large.  NY has utterly lost control of energy prices despite having one of the largest last untapped clean energy sources in the US.  The propaganda is if the smoke came out of a stack in another state, it didn’t happen.  We believe it nonetheless.  

France has 60+ reactors running, with over 70% of their electricity production.  Amazing. Why cant we be like France.  Nice food too.  They are also the closest country in the free world to a fusion reactor apparently.  Adding - they are also the leading exporter of energy in the world.  Guess who the biggest customer is?  Their neighbors (the always effervescent and affable Germans) who closed ALL of the their nuclear plants a few years ago.  Sound familiar?  Yes - they produce clean energy (shhh coal is not clean) but they use nuclear anyway.  If the reactors in France blow up, Germany will be fine!  Oh wait…no.  
 

I think nuclear return to the US though in a relatively short time in many states (never here). We just need to find scientists who will leave their countries and work here.  We don’t have strong nuclear programs in universities anymore.  (We do have strong gender studies programs though). The only nuclear engineers we have work in the Navy and they will be busy fighting China in a few years. 

[LibertyBell]

Just now, cleetussnow said:

NY isn’t off fossil fuels by any means, we just buy it from elsewhere.  We produce clean energy - but thats not what we use by and large.  NY has utterly lost control of energy prices despite having one of the largest last untapped clean energy sources in the US.  The propaganda is if the smoke came out of a stack in another state, it didn’t happen.  We believe it nonetheless.  

France has 60+ reactors running, with over 70% of their electricity production.  Amazing. Why cant we be like France.  Nice food too.  They are also the closest country in the free world to a fusion reactor apparently.  
 

I think nuclear return to the US though in a relatively short time in many states (never here). We just need to find scientists who will leave their countries and work here.  We don’t have strong nuclear programs in universities anymore.  (We do have strong gender studies programs though). The only nuclear engineers we have work in the Navy and they will be busy fighting China in a few years. 

and let's not dismiss the corruption of the aptly named *Con* Edison, these companies need to be closely regulated and monitored and prosecuted as soon as they go off the rails, as that company has done throughout its sordid history.

[cleetussnow]

1 hour ago, Dark Star said:

Another problem are homes becoming more efficient.  The power producing companies have to make a profit, so it doesn't how much you decrease your electrical efficiency, they still have to make the same amount of money...

Look at the bill.  2/3rds is not electricity cost.  At least.  They get their money or the lights go out.  

[cleetussnow]

1 minute ago, LibertyBell said:

and let's not dismiss the corruption of the aptly named *Con* Edison, these companies need to be closely regulated and monitored and prosecuted as soon as they go off the rails, as that company has done throughout its sordid history.

True facts!

[LibertyBell]

2 minutes ago, cleetussnow said:

NY isn’t off fossil fuels by any means, we just buy it from elsewhere.  We produce clean energy - but thats not what we use by and large.  NY has utterly lost control of energy prices despite having one of the largest last untapped clean energy sources in the US.  The propaganda is if the smoke came out of a stack in another state, it didn’t happen.  We believe it nonetheless.  

France has 60+ reactors running, with over 70% of their electricity production.  Amazing. Why cant we be like France.  Nice food too.  They are also the closest country in the free world to a fusion reactor apparently.  
 

I think nuclear return to the US though in a relatively short time in many states (never here). We just need to find scientists who will leave their countries and work here.  We don’t have strong nuclear programs in universities anymore.  (We do have strong gender studies programs though). The only nuclear engineers we have work in the Navy and they will be busy fighting China in a few years. 

Food in France and Italy is much better but that's a different story, they don't use the crap artificial ingredients we use and are also healthier overall.

[cleetussnow]

3 minutes ago, LibertyBell said:

Food in France and Italy is much better but that's a different story, they don't use the crap artificial ingredients we use and are also healthier overall.

Preach on man.  Neither country is paradise of course but the food…amazing.  

[LibertyBell]

Just now, cleetussnow said:

Preach on man.  Neither country is paradise of course but the food…amazing.  

Thanks, I hope we get there one day with better food and a healthier society.

People talk about the high healthcare costs here -- some of it is greed and some of it is because of what we eat.

 

[Sundog]

1 minute ago, LibertyBell said:

Thanks, I hope we get there one day with better food and a healthier society.

People talk about the high healthcare costs here -- some of it is greed and some of it is because of what we eat.

 

A lot of is we just eat too much, period. There's definitely crap in the food, but if we also ate less we'd also eat less of the crap. 

[LibertyBell]

1 minute ago, Sundog said:

A lot of is we just eat too much, period. There's definitely crap in the food, but if we also ate less we'd also eat less of the crap. 

Yes true, whenever I talk to people visiting from these countries they are absolutely amazed by the size of the portions we eat.

[weatherpruf]

1 hour ago, Sundog said:

Electricity wasn't even that bad up until 2020. Then we decided that we need to get rid of nuclear, shut down fossil fuels too quickly, depend on slow to be built and expensive off shore wind farms, etc. 

What can go wrong!

nuclear reactors are catastrophically expensive, take 20 years to build, no one will insure them, and they are almost entirely dependent on government subsidies. and no one can solve the waste issue. and we are far behind on shutting down fossil fuels. does this site tend to attract the wingnuts, or what?

 

4 minutes ago, cleetussnow said:

NY isn’t off fossil fuels by any means, we just buy it from elsewhere.  We produce clean energy - but thats not what we use by and large.  NY has utterly lost control of energy prices despite having one of the largest last untapped clean energy sources in the US.  The propaganda is if the smoke came out of a stack in another state, it didn’t happen.  We believe it nonetheless.  

France has 60+ reactors running, with over 70% of their electricity production.  Amazing. Why cant we be like France.  Nice food too.  They are also the closest country in the free world to a fusion reactor apparently.  
 

I think nuclear return to the US though in a relatively short time in many states (never here). We just need to find scientists who will leave their countries and work here.  We don’t have strong nuclear programs in universities anymore.  (We do have strong gender studies programs though). The only nuclear engineers we have work in the Navy and they will be busy fighting China in a few years. 

yes, why can't we be like france...universal healthcare, paid family leave, paid childcare, free school lunches, free university, generous paid vacations, not one bankruptcy due to medical bills....sign me up. right now. oh, and better soccer, if that's your thing. did you ask about scientists coming here? is that a serious question? we are gutting science programs, because scientists discover and teach things some people don't like......we were on the cusp of an mrna vaccine for hiv, but it caused hives, a minor reaction that can probably be tweaked, and shows the vaccine was likely working. but it's been shut down. 

[Dark Star]

29 minutes ago, LibertyBell said:

Con Edison with a heavy emphasis on the *Con* part, this is a corrupt company and have been prosecuted as such.

Electrical generating companies are considered essential.  Therefore, they are guaranteed to make a profit, no matter how much electricity is used.

[Sundog]

11 minutes ago, weatherpruf said:

nuclear reactors are catastrophically expensive, take 20 years to build, no one will insure them, and they are almost entirely dependent on government subsidies. and no one can solve the waste issue. and we are far behind on shutting down fossil fuels. does this site tend to attract the wingnuts, or what?

NYC already had a nuclear plant that provided 20% of its electricity needs, free of global price shocks and instability, and a clean source of 24/7 baseload power. 

Then the geniuses that run this place decided that it needed to be shut down. And guess what? Now we use far more fossil fuels to make up the loss on supply and my bills are approaching DOUBLE what I paid in 2020, and I even installed efficient heat pumps.  

The only wingnuts are the pretend environmentalists that have an irrational hate for nuclear. 

[LibertyBell]

7 minutes ago, weatherpruf said:

nuclear reactors are catastrophically expensive, take 20 years to build, no one will insure them, and they are almost entirely dependent on government subsidies. and no one can solve the waste issue. and we are far behind on shutting down fossil fuels. does this site tend to attract the wingnuts, or what?

 

yes, why can't we be like france...universal healthcare, paid family leave, paid childcare, free school lunches, free university, generous paid vacations, not one bankruptcy due to medical bills....sign me up. right now. oh, and better soccer, if that's your thing. did you ask about scientists coming here? is that a serious question? we are gutting science programs, because scientists discover and teach things some people don't like......we were on the cusp of an mrna vaccine for hiv, but it caused hives, a minor reaction that can probably be tweaked, and shows the vaccine was likely working. but it's been shut down. 

wait, we were close to having a vaccine for aids?

when was this project shut down?

 

[Dark Star]

16 minutes ago, cleetussnow said:

Look at the bill.  2/3rds is not electricity cost.  At least.  They get their money or the lights go out.  

Utility recovery fee.  They have an infrastructure in place, and the cost must be recovered, whether we use it or not.  Power lines to carry the electricity.  Of course now, many of the electrical utilities have sold off parts of their system, so one produces the electricity, while another transmits it, perhaps yet another maintains the lines...

[LibertyBell]

Just now, Dark Star said:

Utility recovery fee.  They have an infrastructure in place, and the cost must be recovered, whether we use it or not.  Power lines to carry the electricity.  Of course now, many of the electrical utilities have sold off parts of their system, so one produces the electricity, while another transmits it, perhaps yet another maintains the lines...

sounds like our healthcare issues with PBMs being the middlemen that are responsible for the increased costs.

[cleetussnow]

1 minute ago, weatherpruf said:

nuclear reactors are catastrophically expensive, take 20 years to build, no one will insure them, and they are almost entirely dependent on government subsidies. and no one can solve the waste issue. and we are far behind on shutting down fossil fuels. does this site tend to attract the wingnuts, or what?

not in France.  Its the cheapest energy source in Europe by a wide margin.  The operation and cost of fuel per kilowatt hour is cheap even compared to many fossil fuels.  Its the regulation that is costly.  This is changing in many states however.  
 

As far as waste, France uses about 20% of its nuclear waste to produce more electricity!  They lead the world and show us how it's done.  

1 minute ago, weatherpruf said:

 

yes, why can't we be like france...universal healthcare, paid family leave, paid childcare, free school lunches, free university, generous paid vacations, not one bankruptcy due to medical bills....sign me up. right now. oh, and better soccer, if that's your thing. did you ask about scientists coming here? is that a serious question? we are gutting science programs, because scientists discover and teach things some people don't like......we were on the cusp of an mrna vaccine for hiv, but it caused hives, a minor reaction that can probably be tweaked, and shows the vaccine was likely working. but it's been shut down. 

As an approved wingnut, don’t get me started. Lol. We gave up on science decades ago.  Technical schools have been disappearing since the 70s. College has become more about social status than anything.  Marketing and money.  Oberlin isn’t teaching anyone how to split the atom safely.  Sure is hard to get into though!  What does that 300k get you?  You can say you went to Oberlin!  And the rest of us get high electric bills.  Thanks Oberlin!