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| Real feel temp is going to be 43oC |
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| 43.0oC in Fahrenheit is 110oF |
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| Definitely 38oC at 12.00 noon when I took this pic although Accuweather says it is 32oC |
Even Norway agrees - today's heat will be the hottest temperature that I have even seen for our area. Bearing in mind that our hottest months are from mid-Jan to the end of March, I dread the months ahead.
We have had exactly 15.0mm of rain for the whole month of December - the lowest monthly rainfall total since I have started keeping records - with no rain forecast in the next 10 days. Our rain water tanks are over half empty, the country's farmers are unable to plant their crops so South Africa is havig to import maize which is the staple food of the majority of the inhabitants, the Orange Free State (the bread basket of South Africa) apparently looks like Saudi Arabia, and our dams are apparently full of blue green algae.
Add to that the state of our political affairs, and things seem quite dire.
Those who pray, please, could I ask you to pray for rain in South Africa.
We need it desperately.
Tornadoes in the US, thick snow in Texas, floods in Argentina with over 150 000 people affected, 12oC in Salzburg, Austria on the 24th December, and currently hectic rain / flooding in the UK.
Climate change / global warming is a reality...
Update: Prayer works. Yesterday afternoon a solitary cloud came overhead, and dropped 10.5mm of rain in half-an-hour. Thank you for your prayers.
Please continue to hold South Africa in your prayers - our farmers need your help desperately.
Update: Prayer works. Yesterday afternoon a solitary cloud came overhead, and dropped 10.5mm of rain in half-an-hour. Thank you for your prayers.
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| I kid you not - a single cloud drifted overhead |
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| Rain falling over Swellendam |
Well said Dani, I can't believe there are still any doubters.
ReplyDeleteKirsty -Me neither. The evidence is out there for all to see. They only have to take off their blinkers...
Deletei agree with you and kirsty. and Dani, as we usually have mild winters in december, and get our first real snow in late december (we got our first snow 2 days ago), it is still very mild out. today , even though there was 10cms of snow on the ground, it was bright and sunny, no wind at all, and we walked around the yard in t-shirts and pants. we also got into the hottub several times. when we go out to the hottub tonight, jam and i will both do a naked raindance in the snow (with out boots on) and pray for rain for South Africa. i promise!
ReplyDeletesending much love to you and all of yours! your friend,
kymber
Dani - you left a comment on our blog about us being off-grid. i haven't been staying on top of my comments (my bad!) but i wanted to let you know that we are not off-grid. i am sorry if anything on our blog lead you to believe that we were off-grid.
Deletehowever, we are finding ways and means of being able to go off-grid in a few years. we have a friend from the mainland who visits our friends in our community regularly, and he is a specialist in solar/wind/hydro technology. he has told us that based on where we are located we could go totally off-grid using one or all 3 technologies. we will start with wind-power first but before that we want to completely pay off our mortgage which is our only debt besides monthly car insurance. that is what we are working towards. xox
kymer - 12oC in Salzburg, which is normally in the -oC in December. Tornadoes in the US - in December? Everything is wacky...
DeleteI probably got the wrong end of the stick. Going off grid in eastern (western, northern or southern) Canada can't be easy. Hope you get off grid as soon as you can though - it gives you a freedom I will never be able to get the words to convey ;)
Climate has been changing since the beginning of time. Geoengineering.....look it up.
ReplyDeleteTewshooz - Yes, I understand that. But, what the planet is suddenly experiencing is, to me, abnormal. Previous changes in weather (excluding impacts from deep space and the immediate consequences therefrom) didn't occur within 35 - 50 years - more it was a gradual change over a century or two or three.
DeleteIt was so hot, I opened the tap of my water barrel to fill up a watering can and walked away. Walked away and poured about 30 litres of water into the ground. My brain is melting!
ReplyDeletePQSA - Ouch - well, at least that patch under the rain barrel tap got well watered. Did you know that 1mm of rain = 1 ltr of water / mtr2?
DeleteFeeling a bit foolish about this, but at least it wasn't full. Definitely getting another huge rain tank before winter rains start, plus a hose to run my bathwater onto the parched parts.
DeletePQSA - If you can afford two tanks, you won't regret it... ;)
DeleteSending prayers for rain and for a better future for South Africa, a beautiful country
ReplyDeleteThank you, Shirley - greatly appreciated :)
DeleteDani - we raindanced nekkid in the snow and said prayers for rain to come to South Africa. then we jumped in the hottub. once we warmed up, we got back out and raindanced in the snow again. then got back in the hottub. we'll do this every night under the moon until you get some rain. you're really going to owe us - bahahahah! (actually it's pretty fun to jump around nekkid in the snow when you know that the hottub is just a few feet away!) xoxo
ReplyDeleteThank you kymber. Your nekkid dancing produced 10.5mm rain. Not much, but better than nothing. I look forward to receiving plenty given your dancing and prayers :)
DeleteOh, boy - what I'd give for some snow - I'd even go nekkid in it to show my appreciation...!! :D
Dani - we did more nekkid raindancing tonight...and we'll keep doing it until all of your tanks are full and running over! it's actually kind of fun...and you have given us a purpose! we like having jobs, ya know?!?!?! bahahahahah!
Deleteyou should make plans to come and visit some year...we'd love to have you!!! xoxoxo
Ah, my friend - you are a friend indeed :) Thank you, thank you, thank you :)
DeleteAs I have said before... climate change is real all right. I just don't believe humans are the cause, although all our measures to reduce the CO2 levels and educe pollution is not a waste... just a god way to live. Here is another YouTube channel that I follow https://www.youtube.com/user/BPEarthWatch He tracks sunspots and solar flares. There was a huge flare on 28th December. I've noted that 2 to 3 days after a solar flare we have a heat wave.. coincidence? I think not. The question is what causing the changes in the solar system?
ReplyDeleteBrat - Lots of questions, not enough answers...
DeleteInteresting hypothesis though. Better stay out of the sun this summer - those flares are nothing to trifle with.
May you get the rain and cooler weather you need, and soon. These will be challenging times for farmers everywhere. Blessings on South Africa.
ReplyDeleteHere in Virginia we had multiple new record high temps in December. A few days ago it was 77 F, over 30 degrees avove normal and beating the old record by 5 degrees. Our winter veggies are bolting from the heat, honeybees are out foraging as if it's spring, daffodils are blooming, yesterday a neighbors boy caught a snake. All in the winter. Just crazy.
Bill - That's crazy. But, they say there's no such thing as global warming / climate change - even though the signs are all out there. As long as the powers that be deny it, the "unknowing" will follow. As long as the "unknowing" do nothing, the powers that be will have no opposition, and can proceed along their merry path. But, Mother Earth is hurting...
Delete