July 31, 2014

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A couple of weeks ago, when we enjoyed that three–day stretch of mild weather, I didn't expect to see anything like it again for a couple of months, at least.

But we may be in a similar stretch now. It isn't quite as mild as it was then, but the difference is only a few degrees, really.

By noon yesterday, the temperature was still in the upper 70s. By 3 p.m., it was 84°. By 6 p.m., it was 89°, and the humidity was higher than 60%. It was very muggy outside, and that seemed to make it warmer inside somehow. It was definitely cooler than it has been in a week and a half, I would say, but it was warm enough to raise my utility consumption.

Current forecasts tell us we can expect highs between 82° and 86° and lows in the 60 for the next three days.

Last night's low was predicted to be 73°. It was 74° when I woke up.

This morning's meter reading is 17414. Yesterday's reading was between 17395 and 17396. My consumption was 18½ kWh. That's 23% higher than the day before, but it is nearly 20% lower than my consumption on this date in 2013.

July 30, 2014

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The weather is definitely getting milder.

I'm not sure if the actual temperature yesterday made it into the 90s, but the heat index surely did. I didn't really know, until I checked my meter, whether my consumption went up or down. I feared that it would go up even though I was sure the air temperature was milder.

Last night's low was expected to be in the mid–70s. When I woke up, the temperature was 77°.

This morning's meter reading is between 17395 and 17396. Yesterday's reading was between 17380 and 17381. My consumption was 15 kWh. That is more than 45% lower than my consumption in the previous 24–hour period, and it is 36% lower than my consumption on this date a year ago.

July 29, 2014

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Temperatures were milder yesterday than they have been, but they were still hot — in the mid–90s in the afternoon.

According to the forecasters, though, today will be the last day in the 90s until Sunday — and not by much, either. Today's high is expected to be 92°, then it will be in the 80s for the next four days. Sunday's high is expected to be 93°.

Last night's low was expected to be in the 70s. The temperature was 75° when I woke up.

And my electricity consumption dropped below 30 kWh.

This morning's meter reading is between 17380 and 17381. Yesterday's reading was 17353. My consumption in the last 24 hours was 27½ kWh. That is more than 15% lower than the day before, and it is exactly the same as this day in 2013.

July 28, 2014

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Yesterday may have been the hottest day of the year, but if the forecasters are right, we're in for lower temperatures all this week.

It was already in the 90s by 10 a.m. yesterday. It was 100° before 2 p.m.

Last night's low was expected to be 79°. When I woke up this morning, it was 83°.

This morning's meter reading is 17353. Yesterday's reading was between 17320 and 17321. Thus, my consumption in the last 24 hours has been 32½ kWh. That is less than 2% higher than my usage in the previous 24 hours. It is also 30% lower than my consumption on this date last year — but, in my own defense, yesterday's high seems to have been close to 10 degrees warmer than it was a year ago.

July 27, 2014

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Yesterday was another hot day in Dallas.

By the middle of the afternoon, the temperature was 98° (heat index 101°). It was 99° (heat index 102°) by 6 p.m. It was still in the 90s by 10 p.m.

They say we can expect more of the same today, but then temperatures are supposed to start easing off tomorrow.

Last night's low was supposed to be 78°. The temperature was 81° when I woke up.

The meter reading this morning is between 17320 and 17321. Yesterday's reading was between 17288 and 17289. That means consumption was 32 kWh in the last 24 hours. That is a drop of about 3% compared to the previous 24 hours, but it is about 36% higher than my consumption on this day in 2013.

July 26, 2014

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I hope the forecasters are right — that temperatures will be cooler (at least by comparison) in a few days.

Yesterday, it was nearly 90° by 11 a.m. Shortly before 2 p.m., it was 97° (101° heat index). The heat remained long after sunset. The temperature was 90° (heat index 95°) at 10 p.m.

Last night's low was expected to be in the upper 70s. It was 81° when I woke up.

I figured that my electricity usage would go up, and I was right.

This morning's meter reading is between 17288 and 17289. Yesterday's reading was between 17255 and 17256. That means my consumption was 33 kWh in the last 24 hours. That is an increase of more than 53% compared to the previous 24 hours. It is an increase of less than 12%, though, when compared to this day in 2013.

July 25, 2014

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Yesterday was another hot July day in Dallas. It was already in the 90s by midday.

The weekend, they say, will be brutal. The daytime highs for the next three days are expected to be at or above 100°. But then the forecasts suggest a relenting weather pattern. It will be in the low to mid–90s on Tuesday. Highs on Wednesday and Thursday next week will be in the upper 80s, the forecasters are saying, with low in the lower 70s.

Not as good as it was last week, but an improvement.

Last night's low was expected to be in the upper 70s. The temperature was 76° when I got up.

This morning's meter reading is between 17255 and 17256. Yesterday's reading was 17234. My consumption was 21½ kWh. That's about 4% lower than the previous 24 hours, and it is 14% lower than this date a year ago.

July 24, 2014

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We wrapped up the workshop yesterday, and it was hot when I left the campus — 94° (heat index 99°).

It will be worse over the next four days, they say, with daytime highs at or above 100°. It will cool off to the mid–90s on Monday.

Overall, though, it looks like July will be much nicer than I expected. Last night, in what has become a familiar pattern, the temperature dropped below 90° after the sun went down — only this time, it dropped sharply to 82° (according to NOAA). And then we had a pretty strong rain. It didn't last long, but it was intense, and, apparently, it brought cooler–then–expected temperatures.

Last night's low was expected to be 79°. It was 74° when I woke up.

This morning's meter reading is 17234. Yesterday's reading was between 17211 and 17212. My consumption in the last 24 hours was 22½ kWh. That is about 8% lower than my consumption in the previous 24 hours, and it is nearly 20% lower than this date last year.

July 23, 2014

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Yesterday was another hot one. By the time I got home from the workshop, the temperature was 96° and the heat index was 100°.

Last night's low was supposed to be in the upper 70s. It was 77° when I woke up.

The workshop wraps up today. I've been inclined to think this week that my consumption has been lower than it would be if I was at home more. I guess I'll find out if that is true starting tomorrow. Of course, the forecast is calling for higher temperatures so the days won't be strictly comparable.

This morning's meter reading is between 17211 and 17212. Yesterday's reading was 17187. Thus, my consumption in the last 24 hours was 24½ kWh. Once again, that is about 4% higher than the day before, but it is about 9% lower than it was on this date a year ago.

July 22, 2014

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Yep, the heat is back.

I spent most of yesterday indoors at the first day of a three–day workshop on the Richland campus, so I don't know what the weather was like most of the day.

But it was in the mid–90s when I left, and the heat index was over 100°. The temperature didn't drop below 90° until after the sun went down.

Last night's low was expected to be 76°. It was 78° when I woke up.

This morning's meter reading is 17187. Yesterday's reading was between 17163 and 17164. My consumption in the last 24 hours was 23½ kWh. That's nearly 18% higher than the previous 24 hours, but it's about 4% lower than my consumption on this date a year ago.

July 21, 2014

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It was obvious yesterday morning that warmer temperatures were on the way back. As enjoyable as the last several days have been, it was time to acknowledge that summer really isn't over yet.

It was nearly 80° by 11 a.m. Three hours later, it was 87° (heat index 92°). It reached 90° around 4 p.m. — first time since Wednesday afternoon.

Last night's low was predicted to be 72°. It was 75° when I woke up. It is definitely warmer around here.

The meter reading this morning is between 17163 and 17164. Yesterday's reading was 17144. Consumption in the last 24 hours was 19½ kWh. That is more than double my consumption in the previous 24 hours, and it is precisely the same as my usage on this date in 2013.

July 20, 2014

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The forecasters insist that today really will see the return of temperatures in the 90s.

The temperature didn't get as high as originally predicted yesterday. It was 76° around 4 p.m. That is probably as high as it has been in four days, maybe five, and the skies have been overcast, which has kept the temperatures down.

But today's forecast calls for sunny skies and a high around 93°. Well, I knew it wouldn't last. I just hate to see it leave for a couple of months or so — and that is probably how long it will be before we see temperatures in the 60s in the morning again.

Last night's low was, after some fluctuating forecasts, expected to be in the 60s again. It was 68° when I woke up. Current forecasts say it will be in the 70s again tonight.

This morning's meter reading is 17144. Yesterday's reading was 17136. Thus, my consumption in the last 24 hours went up to 8 kWh. That's an increase of more than 14% compared to the previous 24 hours, but it is 60% lower than my consumption on July 20 last year.

July 19, 2014

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The weather here has been unbelievable. It really has felt more like early spring or late fall than summer.

For two straight days now, the daytime highs have not gone over 80°. The weather forecasters tell us that streak will end today, when the daytime high rises into the mid– to upper 80s. We shall see.

Last night's low was expected to be 67°. It was 69° when I woke up.

This morning's meter reading is 17136. Yesterday's reading was 17129 so my consumption has been 7 kWh in the last 24 hours. That is nearly 7% lower than my consumption in the previous 24 hours.

And it is about 66% lower than my consumption on this date in 2013.

July 18, 2014

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Yesterday was a unique July day in my experience.

I didn't grow up in Dallas, but my grandparents lived here, and my family visited two or three times a year when I was a child, and we often spent time here in the summer. I feel I have a pretty good idea what to expect around here in the summer. It was always hot here when I was a child, and it seldom seemed to rain during the summer. When it did, it rarely cooled things off. It seemed leave a wet heat in its wake.

As I mentioned yesterday, the temperature was in the upper 70s when I got up — but then an amazing thing happened. Some rain came through the area, and temperature dropped into the upper 60s. It stayed there through the morning; it was only 69° shortly before 1 p.m. It was just barely 70° by 3 p.m.

Last night's low was expected to be 69°. It was 66° when I got up.

It appears this cool front may linger for awhile. Currently, today's forecast calls for a high of 79°, and tonight's low is supposed to be back in the 60s. Right now, it is expected to be in the upper 80s tomorrow, but that could be lowered.

This morning's meter reading is 17129. Yesterday's reading was between 17121 and 17122. My consumption was only 7½ kWh in the last 24 hours. That is 58% lower than the previous 24 hours and 57% lower than this day in 2013.

July 17, 2014

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We had more humidity yesterday than we had the day before — probably because of the approaching storm, which, when all is said and done, is supposed to leave between 2 and 4 inches of rain in this area.

The temperature was 86° by 1 p.m. The heat index was a degree higher. By 3 p.m. it was 90°, but the skies were getting cloudy. The temperature stayed around 89° or 90° for the rest of the afternoon. It was 86° by 7 p.m. — and the temperature continued to drop.

Last night's low was expected to be 74°. It was 77° when I woke up.

Frankly, I expected my electricity consumption to go up. But I was surprised.

This morning's meter reading is between 17121 and 17122. Yesterday's reading was between 17103 and 17104. My consumption in the last 24 hours was 18 kWh. That's a drop of more than 7% compared to the previous 24 hours. The cool front was still with us on this day last year — in fact, July 17 seems to have been unseasonably mild every year that I have done this — so my consumption is still more than 56% higher than it was on this date in 2013.

July 16, 2014

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Yesterday was cooler than the day before — but the temperature still got into the 90s. Humidity was low so the heat index wasn't a factor.

It was 92° by 3 p.m. — but the heat index was 90°. By 6 p.m., it was 91° (heat index was 88°).

Last night's low (as well as tonight's, Thursday's and Friday's) was expected to be in the low 70s. It was right at 70° when I woke up.

This morning's meter reading is between 17103 and 17104. Yesterday's reading was 17084. Thus, my consumption was 19½ kWh. That is 13% lower than the day before, but, because of the cool front that was in the area at this time last year, my consumption was more than twice my consumption on this date in 2013.

July 15, 2014

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The temperature was already 88° before 10 a.m. yesterday. By 11 a.m., it was 94° (heat index 98°). By 2 p.m., it was 100° (heat index 104°), and the radio was reporting that the high was expected to be 101°.

But some rain came through the area around 4 p.m., and the temperature dropped to 94°. An hour later, the temperature had dropped to 90°. By 6 p.m., it was below 90°. That hasn't happened before sunset in awhile.

And by 8 p.m. it was 80°.

The forecasters continued to assure us we can expect a cool front this week. We were told we would start feeling its effects today — but it would be more pronounced tomorrow, Thursday and Friday when temperatures are in the 80s and rain is a distinct possibility. I think we're already there.

Today's temperature is expected to reach 90°, but there is a 20% chance of rain, and I am hoping for something similar to yesterday — a shower that leaves lower temperatures in its wake.

Last night's low was supposed to be in the mid–70s. It was 78° when I got up.

This morning's meter reading is 17084. Yesterday's reading was between 17061 and 17062. That means my consumption in the last 24 hours was 22½ kWh. My consumption went down more than 27% in those 24 hours. However, because this date a year ago was really unseasonably mild, my consumption in the last 24 hours was more than double by comparison.

July 14, 2014

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I knew we were in for another scorcher when the temperature was nearly 90° before 10 a.m. yesterday. By 1 p.m., it was 96° (heat index 100°). By 4 p.m., the temperature was 100° (heat index 102°) — I believe it was the first triple–digit reading of the year.

It dropped back into double digits an hour later, but it didn't fall below 90° until well after dark.

More of the same is expected today, then the temperatures should start to cool off. The light at the end of the tunnel/week is daytime highs in the mid–80s and nighttime lows as low as 68°.

Last night's low was expected to be 79°. It was 83° when I woke up.

They're still talking about a cool front this week, but each day the predicted highs for Wednesday through Friday are about a degree or two higher — and I expect that, by the time Wednesday gets here, it won't be quite as unseasonable as they were saying late last week.

This morning's meter reading is between 17061 and 17062. Yesterday's reading was between 17030 and 17031. My consumption in the last 24 hours was 31 kWh. That is an increase of about 3% over the previous 24 hours — but it is about 6% lower than this day in 2013.

July 13, 2014

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The temperature was around 90° by 11 a.m. yesterday. By 3 p.m., it was 96°, but, because humidity was so low, the heat index was only 97°.

The forecast called for a high of 99°. It may have reached 97° or 98°, but I don't think it reached 99°. It was still 90° just before 10 p.m.

Apparently, if the cool front does arrive here around Tuesday or Wednesday — and the current forecast still suggests that is likely — we paid for it yesterday, and we're going to pay for it today and tomorrow.

Last night's low was supposed to be 76°. It was 80° when I woke up.

This morning's meter reading is between 17030 and 17031. Yesterday's reading was between 17000 and 17001. In the last 24 hours, I used 30 kWh. That is an increase of more than 15% compared to the previous 24 hours, but it is more than 14% below my consumption on this date in 2013.

July 12, 2014

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Another hot, dry summer day.

But it is looking more and more like we can expect some relief next week.

A cool front is supposed to come through the area Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, bringing unseasonably cool temperatures during the day (i.e., 80s) and even a pretty good chance of rain.

Yesterday, though, the temperature was around 90° by midday and warmed up into the mid–90s by the middle of the afternoon.

Last night's low was supposed to be in the upper 70s. It was 80° when I got up.

This morning's meter reading is between 17000 and 17001. Yesterday's reading was between 16974 and 16975. My consumption in the last 24 hours was 26 kWh. That's not quite 2% higher than my consumption in the previous 24 hours, and it is nearly 9% lower than my consumption on this date in 2013.

July 11, 2014

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As usual yesterday, the temperature was in the 90s before noon — but the humidity stayed down so the heat index wasn't really a consideration.

What you felt was what you got. And it was still hot at 10 p.m. Nevertheless, my consumption went down.

The predictions called for a high around 98°. By mid–afternoon, it was 95°. By 4 p.m., it was 97°. Forecasters are speaking of triple digits this weekend.

But there is a glimmer of hope. The forecast for the middle of next week calls for a cool front that will bring the possibility of rain and temperatures in the 80s. They speak of lows around 71°.

Well, we'll see.

Last night's low was expected to be 79°. It was 76° when I woke up.

This morning's meter reading is between 16974 and 16975. Yesterday's reading was 16949. My consumption was 25½ kWh. That is 16% lower than the previous 24 hours, and it is 24% lower than this day in 2013.

July 10, 2014

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I knew yesterday would be a scorcher. It was almost 90° by 11 a.m. It was 95° (heat index 99°) by 2 p.m. It was still 95° (but the heat index had dropped to 95°) by 7 p.m. It was still in the 90s after the sun went down.

The forecast called for a high of 97°, though, so it doesn't appear to have been quite as hot as expected.

Last night's low was expected to be in the upper 70s. It was 80° when I woke up.

This morning's meter reading is 16949. Yesterday's reading was between 16918 and 16919. Thus, my consumption in the last 24 hours was 30½ kWh. That's a drop of about 3% compared to the previous 24 hours (how I managed to do that I will never know), but it is nearly 9% higher than my consumption on this day a year ago.

July 9, 2014

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This time of the year is just hot. There is no other word for it.

The temperature was 90° before noon yesterday (heat index was 96°). It just got worse as the day went on. By 3 p.m., the temperature was 97° (heat index 102°). I guess it goes without saying that it was still over 90° after the sun went down.

Last night's low was expected to be around 78°. But the trend for the actual nighttime lows appears to have been that temperatures are usually a couple of degrees higher than the forecast called for so my guess was that it wouldn't drop below 80°.

Anyway, it was 81° when I got up.

This morning's meter reading is between 16918 and 16919. Yesterday's reading was 16887. My consumption in the last 24 hours was 31½ kWh — my first 30–plus consumption day of the summer, but I'm sure it won't be my last.

My consumption went up a little more than 8% in the last 24 hours, and it is more than 12% higher than my consumption on this date in 2013.

July 8, 2014

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Hot and dry. That's what Dallas has been lately — and most likely will be for awhile.

The temperature was already in the 90s before noon yesterday. By the middle of the afternoon, the temperature was 96° (heat index 99°). It was still 90° well after the sun went down.

The high was expected to be 96°. I don't believe it got any hotter than that yesterday — but if the seven–day forecast is accurate, it will.

Last night's low was supposed to be 77°. It was 81° when I woke up.

This morning's meter reading is 16887. Yesterday's reading was 16858. Thus, my consumption in the last 24 hours was 29 kWh. That is an increase of more than 11% since the previous 24–hour period, and it is exactly the same as my consumption on this day in 2013.

July 7, 2014

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The temperature was around 90° by noon yesterday. By 2 p.m., it was 92° (heat index 96°). By 5 p.m., it was still 92°, but the heat index had dropped to 93°.

I suppose that is what we can expect all week. Gradually warmer days, but, thankfully, the nights look like they will be relatively cool. Anyway, it looks like they will stay in the 70s.

Last night's low was supposed to be 74°. It was 77° when I woke up.

This morning's meter reading is 16858. Yesterday's reading was 16832. In the last 24 hours, my consumption was 26 kWh, nearly 2% higher than the previous 24 hours, but it was about 7% lower than my consumption on this date in 2013.

July 6, 2014

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By 3 p.m. yesterday, the temperature was 89° (heat index 92°). It went past 90° between 3 and 4, then dropped below 90° sometime before 7 p.m.

According to the forecast, yesterday was a mild as it's going to get for at least another week. Forecasts for today and the rest of this week are in the mid– to upper 90s.

And there is no rain in the seven–day outlook. It hasn't been as hot as it often is around here at this time of the year, but it is about as dry.

Last night's low was expected to be around 72° — and that was the best forecast for a nighttime low this area is expected to see for at least another week. The rest of the week's lows are expected to be in the mid– to upper 70s. Maybe it did drop to 72° at some point, but it was 75° when I got up this morning.

This morning's meter reading is 16832. Yesterday's reading was between 16806 and 16807. That means my consumption in the last 24 hours was 25½ kWh. That's 4% higher than the previous 24 hours — and it is roughly 6% higher than my consumption on this date in 2013.

July 5, 2014

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It wasn't as hot around here as the Fourth of July frequently is, but it was warm enough.

By 10 a.m., we were already in the 80s. It was in the 90s by 2 p.m. The forecast called for a high of 91°. It was 92° by 4 p.m. But it did drop below 90° before 6 p.m., and it was 85° by 9 p.m.

Last night's low was expected to be 71°. It was 74° when I woke up this morning.

This morning's meter reading is between 16806 and 16807. Yesterday's reading was 16782. My consumption was 24½ kWh in the last 24 hours. That is just about 29% higher than the previous 24 hours, but it is nearly 6% lower than my consumption on this date in 2013.

July 4, 2014

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Yesterday started off unusually cool — it was 70° when I woke up.

By noon it was 80° (heat index 82°) and cloudy. By 2 p.m., it had only gone up a single degree in both categories; the sun was shining, sort of, but it still wasn't hot.

In the late afternoon hours, the temperature accelerated. By 4 p.m., it was 85° (heat index 88°). It got into the upper 80s late in the afternoon, but I'm not sure if it ever cracked 90°.

Last night's low was expected to be 74°. If it got that low last night, it didn't stay there long. It was 77° when I woke up.

This morning's meter reading is 16782. Yesterday's reading was 16763 so my consumption was 19 kWh. That's a drop of nearly 21% compared to the previous 24 hours.

But the cool front that was in the area this time last year hadn't yet moved on so, as low yesterday's consumption was for this time of year, it was still nearly 6% higher than my consumption on this date in 2013.

July 3, 2014

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It was another hot one yesterday — but, for awhile, I thought perhaps it might not be quite as hot.

The skies were overcast, and it was still under 90° by the middle of the afternoon. At 3 p.m., the temperature was 89° (heat index 92°). By 5 p.m., it was 92° (heat index 94°). So it got hot, and it stayed in the 90s until well after dark, but I had reason to believe my electricity consumption might not be quite as high as it was the day before.

I was disappointed.

Last night's low was expected to be 75°. To my surprise, it was 70° when I woke up. The forecast calls for lows of 73° tonight and tomorrow night.

This morning's meter reading is 16763. Yesterday's reading was 16737. My consumption was 26 kWh. That is 4% higher than my consumption in the previous 24 hours. And, because this area was still experiencing an unseasonable cool front on this day in 2013, it is nearly 49% higher than my consumption on this date last year.

July 2, 2014

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A recognizable summer pattern has descended on Dallas.

It hasn't been as hot as it ordinarily is, but it has been hot enough. By noon yesterday, the temperature was 86° (heat index 89°). By 5 p.m., it was 94° (heat index 99°).

Still avoiding triple digits, but I doubt that will last. It stayed warm last night. The low was supposed to be in the 70s, but it was 80° when I woke up before 7 a.m.

This morning's meter reading is 16737. Yesterday's reading was 16712. My consumption in the last 24 hours was 25 kWh. That is a 4% increase over the previous 24 hours, and it is 47% than my consumption on this date last year (the area was still enjoying a mild stretch of weather that was keeping my consumption down).

July 1, 2014

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We were well on our way to a hot day before noon yesterday, and the forecast suggests we can expect more of the same all week.

By noon, it was 88° (92° heat index). By 3 p.m., it was 94° (heat index 97°). By 8 p.m., it was still in the 90s.

Last night's low was supposed to be 76°. The temperature was 77° when I got up.

This morning's meter reading is 16712. Yesterday's reading was 16688. That means my consumption in the last 24 hours was 24 kWh. That is 11% lower than the previous 24 hours — but, thanks to a brief cool front in the area this time last year, it is more than 26% higher than my consumption in 2013.