topic Re: Dry Air in Community Chat

Dry Air

Kachina624 — Thu, 12 May 2022 00:26:08 GMT

The fires in New Mexico continue to rage after an unusually windy day today. The relative humidity tomorrow at many locations including Albuquerque is predicted to be 1 to 2%. Is it any wonder the forests are tinder dry? The largest fire increased by 33,000 acres just yesterday.

Re: Dry Air

ECBG — Thu, 12 May 2022 00:35:51 GMT

So very sorry. Praying.

Re: Dry Air

SilleeMee — Thu, 12 May 2022 00:41:33 GMT

I have a humidity gauge out on my deck and it has been reading as low as 1% to 6% everyday for the past week or so. Colorado state officials are about to launch a burn ban and it will be in affect all summer long. Even though I live in a suburban development, there is still a risk of fire b/c of tall trees and flammable building materials in my neighborhood. Seems there are house fires reported almost everyday. It's very concerning.

Re: Dry Air

PamfromCT — Thu, 12 May 2022 01:34:51 GMT

@Kachina624, Every time I see a map of fires, and see your state, I send a prayer out to the universe hoping it is not close to you!

Believe it or not, we are starting to have a few fires in CT due to dry conditions.

Maybe Mother Earth is trying to tell us something, me thinks?

Re: Dry Air

Kachina624 — Thu, 12 May 2022 01:38:46 GMT

@SilleeMee I wonder how many idiots will be setting off firecrackers on the Fourth of July? They may find a lynch mob after them if they do. People are dead serious about avoiding a fire.

We don't live in a forest but there are tons of low desert vegetation like dried tumbleweeds, sage, chimesa, tall grasses, etc. The ground is 100% covered with it.

Re: Dry Air

MoJoV — Thu, 12 May 2022 01:41:02 GMT

@PamfromCT So true. I think Mother Earth is screaming at us. These fires are heartbreaking. It's unbearable to see it on the news.

Re: Dry Air

SharkE — Thu, 12 May 2022 01:41:26 GMT

we had some little hail and it actually rained some last night like maybe for a whole 15 minutes. Everybody is thrilled. Hopefully, it repeats tonight.

Been so long since I heard rain didn't know what that was. LOL

Re: Dry Air

Kachina624 — Thu, 12 May 2022 01:54:14 GMT

@PamfromCT wrote:
@Kachina624, Every time I see a map of fires, and see your state, I send a prayer out to the universe hoping it is not close to you!
Believe it or not, we are starting to have a few fires in CT due to dry conditions.
Maybe Mother Earth is trying to tell us something, me thinks?

@PamfromCT Methinks Mother Earth is speaking loud and clear.

Re: Dry Air

Tinkrbl44 — Thu, 12 May 2022 01:58:03 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
The fires in New Mexico continue to rage after an unusually windy day today. The relative humidity tomorrow at many locations including Albuquerque is predicted to be 1 to 2%. Is it any wonder the forests are tinder dry? The largest fire increased by 33,000 acres just yesterday.

@Kachina624

So sorry ... How far away are you from the fires?

I know the feeling of fires nearby ... and winds makes it more scary and unpredictable ... if that is even possible. And days when the percentage of containment drops because it's spreading so darn fast.

I missed it ... how far away are you from the fires .... do you have any relatives close to them?

Re: Dry Air

On It — Thu, 12 May 2022 02:06:08 GMT

@Kachina624 This is beyond belief. We are trying to follow the fires on the news apps, but it is overwhelming. The humidity levels, unrelenting winds, and high temperatures are making a difficult job almost impossible. The firefighters have to be exhausted. The containment percentages are still so low on the fires.

We finally got some rain here in West Texas last night, but we need much more. I hope there is a big monsoon season this year. Of course, New Mexico needs it yesterday without having to wait for the rainy season.

I know it is drastic, but the forests need to be closed to the public. They can miss one year of camping if it means there will be a forest there for the next hundred years instead of charred stumps.

Re: Dry Air

Tinkrbl44 — Thu, 12 May 2022 02:16:17 GMT

@On It wrote:
@Kachina624 This is beyond belief. We are trying to follow the fires on the news apps, but it is overwhelming. The humidity levels, unrelenting winds, and high temperatures are making a difficult job almost impossible. The firefighters have to be exhausted. The containment percentages are still so low on the fires.

We finally got some rain here in West Texas last night, but we need much more. I hope there is a big monsoon season this year. Of course, New Mexico needs it yesterday without having to wait for the rainy season.

I know it is drastic, but the forests need to be closed to the public. They can miss one year of camping if it means there will be a forest there for the next hundred years instead of charred stumps.

Just slightly OT .... but speaking of firefighters ..... these are the hardest working people when these fires hit. If your local fire departments ever have fundraisers, please do what you can to donate even a small amount.

After one of our local FDs had a fundraiser, they got some special "non-mandatory" equipment. Among other things, they got some tiny little masks for pets and animals pulled from burning homes and need oxygen before it's too late. The little animal masks are usually used on dogs and cats, but other animals, too.

The fire fighters really do so much to help their communities.

(Okay, I'm off my soap box)

Re: Dry Air

Desertdi — Thu, 12 May 2022 02:51:37 GMT

Humidity in PHX is 4% at almost 8pm. This is LOW for this hour. It's after sundown here. Fires mostly in northern part of the state, so far.....

Re: Dry Air

Kachina624 — Thu, 12 May 2022 02:56:51 GMT

@Tinkrbl44 The big forest fires are fought largely by "hot shot" crews that contract with the forest service to fight these fire. They come from all over the US but wildland fire fighting is a specialty with many Indian tribes. Of course they also contract for big planes to drop slurry and big helicopters to drop water. Local firefighters do help.

Ironically, the big fire was caused by a "controlled burn" by the forest service that they did despite it being a windy day. It got out of control. People are furious about that. That happens way too often.

Re: Dry Air

Spurt — Thu, 12 May 2022 11:26:28 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@SilleeMee I wonder how many idiots will be setting off firecrackers on the Fourth of July? They may find a lynch mob after them if they do. People are dead serious about avoiding a fire.

We don't live in a forest but there are tons of low desert vegetation like dried tumbleweeds, sage, chimesa, tall grasses, etc. The ground is 100% covered with it.

@Kachina624

We have had dry spells before and yep fireworks were an issue...they even established a special hot line to report violaters because fireworks are illegal in the city limits....but there were still a bunch of idiots setting them off despite the very dry conditions, some people have no sense.............SMH! And unless something changes in the weather pattern it looks like fireworks will again be a problem...And even in the countryside a wild fire could easily be started.....everything is nice and green right now, but by July everything will be dried out and brown...except for the Crepe Myrtle trees...and Live Oaks...and buffalo grass......

Re: Dry Air

RollTide2008 — Thu, 12 May 2022 11:48:35 GMT

Everything you say about where you live makes it sound awful.

Re: Dry Air

SilleeMee — Thu, 12 May 2022 13:30:37 GMT

Today is my cleaning day and I usually do my weekly dusting....BUT WHAT'S THE SENSE OF IT??! Wind is just too much.Gusting 50mph already and it's not even 8am. I'm so irritated right now, it's not funny.

Re: Dry Air

dancingwoman — Thu, 12 May 2022 13:54:17 GMT

@SilleeMee It's not even real dust..it's red gritty dust. I've had all the windows closed except one. Today the temp is only supposed to be 64° so the house should be cooler.

Its starting to get windy already..we are under a fire ban in the county but there are always those stupid ones that don't care. Or throw a cigarette out the window.

My eyelids are all dry and I have allergies to most moisturizers...so I just put a little organic coconut oil on them b4 bed.

Colorado was never this bad. I think we have half of the AZ desert blown in.

@Kachina624 Are you smelling smoke? That's the worst for me. I hate smelling smoke all summer long....

Going out to do a rain dance...!! DW

Re: Dry Air

SilleeMee — Thu, 12 May 2022 14:07:05 GMT

@dancingwoman

No smoke here today. But a few days ago the sky was really hazy and it wasn't smoke. It was find sand blown here from the Great Sand Dunes Park! I couldn't believe it. Everything felt gritty and yucky. My skin and eyes are horribly dry. I'm going to shut my windows and turn on my humidifier. I need it badly.

Re: Dry Air

SilleeMee — Thu, 12 May 2022 14:51:43 GMT

@dancingwoman

The sky is weird here. To the east I see smoke but to the west it's completely clear with blue skies. So where I am seems to be on the edge of the smoke plume. The weather report mentioned that earlier today. Hope it stays over there!

Re: Dry Air

Still Raining — Thu, 12 May 2022 15:23:35 GMT

I am following the ones up by Santa Fe and it is hard.

Stay safe @Kachina624