Armando Eheurrta with his dog Goffy cool off at Belvedere Park East Los Angeles Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012. The record setting heat is expected to continue throughout the week with temperatures topping the triple digits. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
My little brothers, soaking up that California sun in Santa Monica. It was by the ocean, which was quite pleasant and not as warm as it was further inland.
As I drove out of Oklahoma about two weeks ago, it was
on fire, it was
hot, it was
summer.
I came back yesterday and I am welcomed with nighttime temps that are tolerable and what looked like widespread moisture on the ground I can only assume came from rain. What a fantastic homecoming!
Though, I was along the ocean in Los Angeles for more than a week. So, it never got much above 80 the entire time I was there. That’s right: 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
And that, my weather friends, is glorious. The windows were open literally all the time, the cool ocean breeze refreshing and delightful especially at night. Even when we were involved in an intense beach volleyball battle, when the cool breeze wasn’t enough to cool us down, the water was cold relatively and perfect.
Not all of the greater Los Angeles metro area was so lucky. Much of inland Southern California was in the throws of a
heat wave. We ventured inland a couple days, and while it was indeed hot, it was quite different than the heat I left you with.
While watching their local news, it was hard to take them seriously when they said “heat wave,” considering I left Oklahoma when Oklahoma City was tying all-time records of 113. But for many people, it was a dangerous time.
I saw firefighters respond to a group of hikers who had to be rescued from the top of Mount Lee, where the Hollywood sign is located. Having made that hike the day before, I can say that it very well could have been me needing a rescue. The AP reported that about 13 of about 50 teen hikers needed attention.
People were asked to conserve as much electricity as possible to meet increased demands and prevent black or brownouts, which can plague that area in the summer.
Lightning strikes ignited wildfires in parts of California.
So, what I’m saying is: Sorry for bring Oklahoma’s woes to your sunny disposition, Southern California.
While it is hot today in Tulsa, there are real and actual chances of productive rains and cool temperatures over the coming days. As we go, day by day, toward fall, that trend will continue. The chance of below-average temperatures is high over the next few weeks.
While it is always just beautiful by the ocean in California, which makes it nice to visit, I would deeply miss what’s about to happen here in a month or so: season change.
-Jerry Wofford
