Hi
everybody and welcome to the summer of 2003! Summer is finally here and it is
by far my favorite season. The traffic is lighter, there are shorter lines at
the restaurants and stores are not nearly as crowded. It’s also the time to
enjoy all your favorite outdoor activities whether it be swimming, taking out
the boat on the weekend, or just lounging in the sun at the beach. With all the
time we spend outdoors it’s a good idea to check the latest UV index for the
day and be sure you use plenty of sunscreen. Using some simple common sense
during the hot days of summer will ensure that you are eating lobster for
dinner and not feeling like one.
For
those of you venturing into the surf, the current surf temperature reported by
Bruce Wagenfeller of the National Weather Service was 79 degrees as of
Wednesday, June 25th. Bruce records the readings from his home on
Hutchinson Island near Jensen Beach.
A lot of
people seem to think that the summer heat is just too much for planting some of
our favorite plants. One example of this is the Impatiens. Many people shy away
from this delicate flower during the summer because of the large amounts of
water it needs to thrive. The impatiens plant is one of the best-known and most
popular flowers available. These plants can thrive and look beautiful even
during the dog days of summer if they are planted in the right locations.
Choose an area that is shaded by lots of trees or even an overhang. The
filtered light that comes through the trees is perfect for these colorful
plants. Be sure to water daily or more often if they start to look wilted or
droopy. If the plants become too leggy and tall, simply cut them back and you
will be rewarded with another round of vibrant color. The Impatiens I have in
my yard just keep blooming and blooming as long as I keep giving them the
proper care. Happy planting!
Last
week I talked a little about the flooding that was occurring in Manatee County
near Tampa. They have received more then 20 inches of rain which is an
unprecedented amount to receive in only a week. Record flooding occurred along
the Myakka River near Myakka State Park where highway 72 was under water. Major
flooding also occurred along the Horse Creek near Arcadia where nearly 100 homes
were in danger of being flooded. With the drier air filtering in, this flooding
will slowly subside. The residents in this area will be on close watch as a
low-pressure center drifts toward our area with more rain forecast on Saturday,
June 28th.
Here is
a quick fact to keep you cool during the mid-day heat. Did you know that many
of the cold fronts that affect the United States are the result of Pacific
weather systems? This polar air is born when it looses its heat over the cold
ocean surface while gaining moisture from evaporation. These fronts are
generally very moist and can be the cause of many of the winter storms that
cross our country. On the contrary, many of the cold and dry air masses
originate out of Canada. These air masses are the result of radiational cooling
of an air mass that is over very cold or frozen terrain. The majority of the
cold Polar air comes out of northwestern Canada.
Now, on
to the Time Capsule….
July 4, l962 -- morning -- Madison Co., Puttis Springs -- Thunderstorm winds toppled a large tree in a picnic area, killing l and injuring four.
July 4, l965 -- Hillsborough Co., Tampa -- Lightning killed a man on a golf course.
July 4, l970 -- Volusia Co., Ormond Beach -- Lightning struck a lifeguard - he died July l0.
July 4, l987 -- Nassau Co., Hillard -- Lightning killed a 74-year old woman in her garden.
July 4-7, 1994 -- Tropical Storm Alberto -- formed in the southeast Gulf of Mexico on July l and moved north at l0 mph. The center crossed the panhandle near Destin on July 3. At landfall the minimum central pressure was 993 MB with maximum sustained winds of 63 mph and gusts unofficially estimated at 86 mph. The maximum storm tide was 5 feet and the immediate rainfall totaled two to7 inches. About 2000 people voluntarily evacuated. No significant injuries were reported. Thirteen people were rescued from boats in the northeast Gulf of Mexico. Coastal damage included shoreline erosion (up to l4 feet at Cape San Blas), damage to sea walls, piers and boats, and roof damage to a few beachfront motels. Inland damage included downed signs, billboards, trees, and power lines. Electricity was cut to l8, 500 customers for up to two days. Alberto weakened to a depression before moving into southeast Alabama the evening of July 3, then meandered around east central Alabama and west central Georgia for 72 hours dropping rains that locally exceeded 20 inches in southwest Georgia. River flooding in Georgia and Alabama spread into the Florida panhandle on July 5, and along with six to l4 inches of additional rain from the remnants of Alberto, caused extensive flooding. Flood crests exceed l00-year events on the Apalachicola and Chipola Rivers. The first flood crest on the Apalachicola River occurred on July l0 -l2. The Apalachicola River remained above flood stage into August, and standing water in localized areas of the panhandle, continued into September, due in part to Tropical Storm Beryl. The flooding caused 3,000 people to evacuate to Red Cross shelters. Damage to buildings, roads, water systems and other public property was estimated at $40 million. Insured losses to buildings and vehicles were estimated at $l5 million. Agricultural losses were estimated at $25 million including up to 50% of the peanut, cotton, soybean, and corn crops. Animal losses included 300,000 chickens, l25 steers and hogs, and 90% of the oysters in Apalachicola Bay. The tourist industry is estimated to have lost several million dollars in potential revenue.
July 4, 1996 -- Palm Beach Co., Pahokee -- In a park, nine youths, ages 9 to 18, were injured by lightning when they huddled beneath an Australian pine tree. They had just come from swimming in Lake Okeechobee. One of the injuries was serious. The lightning strike was the only one observed during the thunderstorm.
July 5, 1916 -- northwest Florida -- A hurricane-making landfall near Biloxi, MS brought 104-mph winds to western Panhandle and left 4 dead.
July 6, 1996 -- Santa Rosa Co., Navarre Beach -- A 27-year-old male was swimming near Navarre Beach when he was pulled under the water by a strong rip current. He drowned in the rough surf before he could be rescued.
July 7, l966 -- afternoon -- Palm Beach Co., South Bay -- Lightning killed a crane operator.
July 7, 1996 -- Santa Rosa Co., Navarre Beach -- A 35-year-old male was scuba diving in the Gulf just offshore Navarre Beach. A strong rip current ripped his mask off and he was overcome by the water. He was brought to shore and taken to a local hospital but died later that day.
July 7, 1996 -- afternoon -- Walton Co., Seagrove Beach -- A man was caught in a severe rip current and drowned in the Gulf of Mexico at Seagrove Beach. Another man drowned when caught in a severe rip current in the Gulf of Mexico at Inlet Beach. His body washed ashore the next day at Panama City Beach, east of where he drowned.
July 8, l962 -- afternoon -- Broward Co., Ft. Lauderdale -- Lightning killed a person and injured a person on the beach.
July 8, l975 -- Lafayette Co., Mayo -- Lightning killed three people and injured six. The workers were stringing tobacco under a tin shed. All were knocked down by the lightning bolt.
July 8, l994 -- Palm Beach Co., Boca Raton -- A 37-year-old male was struck and killed by lightning in Boca Point West subdivision. The lightning struck a nearby tree while the man was loading cleaning equipment onto a truck. The man was wearing rain gear and rubber-soled shoes and was struck near the beginning of a fast-moving thunderstorm.
July 9, l948 -- Washington Co., Wausau -- Tornado associated with a Tropical Storm destroyed a house and two barns, injuring two.
July 9, l968 -- St. Petersburg -- Lightning killed a man while fishing on the Florida Presbyterian College campus.
July 9, l970 -- Clay Co., Green Cove Springs -- Lightning struck a tree near the city pier, killing a boy and injuring two.
July 9, l979 -- Brevard Co., Cocoa Beach -- A tornado moved along six blocks of Cocoa Beach's motel strip, severely damaging four motels, an office complex, a fast food restaurant, a bank, pharmacy and supermarket. Many cars were damaged as the tornado moved north along A1A. Only six minor injuries were reported.
That’s all for this weeks Time Capsule. I hope you enjoyed it. I love to hear from you! Please e-mail me your ideas and suggestions to JOESDISCOWEATHER@AOL.COM. As always, for the latest in severe weather updates and now winter weather updates from your hometown go to JOESDISCOWEATHERCENTRAL.COM! You can also join me for a free cup of coffee and a free copy of The Hometown News at the Stuart K Mart garden center every Saturday morning!