AUSTIN | Projects & Construction II

[OU812]

Originally Posted by LoneStarMike

Re: the weather. I agree with everyone's comments. It's crazy. It's weird looking at your pictures of Saturday's clear skies and 80 degree weather and people in shorts (in January, no less) and then looking out the window 24 hours later and seeing overcast skies and wind and having to turn the heat on.

Just another typical Central Texas winter. I've lived in this area almost my entire life and it's the exact same ole same ole every single year... The weather reports on the local news are telling: they always show the record temps for the day- extreme highs and lows..

[OU812]

I was also out biking on the trails Saturday and noticed how Spring looks kind of lonely all tall and skinny and whatnot. Kind of wish they would've built 2 of those like diagonally to each other...

[hismasterplan]

Originally Posted by OU812

I was also out biking on the trails Saturday and noticed how Spring looks kind of lonely all tall and skinny and whatnot. Kind of wish they would've built 2 of those like diagonally to each other...

Or if it were just built downtown.

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by OU812

Just another typical Central Texas winter. I've lived in this area almost my entire life and it's the exact same ole same ole every single year... The weather reports on the local news are telling: they always show the record temps for the day- extreme highs and lows..

I've lived here my entire life and it is not exactly same ol same ol anymore. Our winters used to have alittle more kick to them when I was younger. The past two years alone have seen much warmer overall than what we used to get 15 to 20 years ago. Plants that used to die back every winter still have leaves on them and are growing this year. My rose bush out my window is in full bloom when it should be dormant by this time of year. The problem is while it gets cold some days and warm others, which is mostly common of a central Texas winter, the temperatures used to be more consistant and not quite as extreme from one day to another, it also dosen't get as cold as it used to for as long as it used to. Freezing temps this year have only lasted a very few short hours and the ground continues to stay warm due to lack of rain so the plants that usually die back are not feeling the cold in the soil. While winter is typically dry usually, we used to get periods of 3 to 4 days of light rain and drizzle which helped keep the soil moisture in balace, this year, with the drought conditions, the soil does not have any moisture and we get maybe one day of light rain here and there and then with the dry winds after a front pushes through, it dries up. I can definatly tell that things are out of wack.

[Northcrossed]

Temperature: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ewx/html/cli/aus/ausmontemp.htm
Precipitation: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ewx/html/cli/aus/ausmonpcpn.htm

[Dan Denson]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

I've lived here my entire life and it is not exactly same ol same ol anymore. Our winters used to have alittle more kick to them when I was younger. The past two years alone have seen much warmer overall than what we used to get 15 to 20 years ago. Plants that used to die back every winter still have leaves on them and are growing this year. My rose bush out my window is in full bloom when it should be dormant by this time of year. The problem is while it gets cold some days and warm others, which is mostly common of a central Texas winter, the temperatures used to be more consistant and not quite as extreme from one day to another, it also dosen't get as cold as it used to for as long as it used to. Freezing temps this year have only lasted a very few short hours and the ground continues to stay warm due to lack of rain so the plants that usually die back are not feeling the cold in the soil. While winter is typically dry usually, we used to get periods of 3 to 4 days of light rain and drizzle which helped keep the soil moisture in balace, this year, with the drought conditions, the soil does not have any moisture and we get maybe one day of light rain here and there and then with the dry winds after a front pushes through, it dries up. I can definatly tell that things are out of wack.

I've been here since 1971 (most of that time) and my recollection is similar to yours. I remember winters where we were cold, foggy, and gray for weeks on end (1978 seemed to be the worst in that regard). The last 10 years have been pretty strange. This drought is horrible. People aren't watering their trees and are going to be in for a big surprise when they lose their trees (unless we start getting enough rain to get some significant soil moisture).

[WestAustinite]

The COA has posted an updated version.
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/downtown/downloads/emerging_poster_jan09.pdf

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by Dan Denson

I've been here since 1971 (most of that time) and my recollection is similar to yours. I remember winters where we were cold, foggy, and gray for weeks on end (1978 seemed to be the worst in that regard). The last 10 years have been pretty strange. This drought is horrible. People aren't watering their trees and are going to be in for a big surprise when they lose their trees (unless we start getting enough rain to get some significant soil moisture).

I agree, the first trees that will be the first to start dying will be the non-natives, but even the natives are stressed out really bad. Deep ground watering is recomended. No point using sprinkler systems unless the days you want to water have no wind and fairly high humidities. Days of dry windy weather are a no no for above ground watering.

Back on downtown, Ive noticed on the city's projects list, they no longer give an estimated date of completion for all of the proposed projects. Save for maybe the Hotel Van Zandt which says may start this year...

[KevinFromTexas]

^That poster list they provide doesn't include dates.

But they've also updated the Central Emerging Projects list on PDF file that includes the full list and a map. It lists most of the start and end dates.
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/downtown/default.htm#emerging

[OU812]

Well, I'm in my mid 30s now and have lived here since age 2. Can't exactly remember the weather on a day to day basis as a child but I do recall some snowy days. Also- have the photos to refresh my memory. For the most part the weather tends to be a rollercoaster here in the winter and I just go with it. It's kind of annoying to hear the local meteorologists talk about how "crazy" the weather is "this" year. HUH?? This year??? I'll never forget Christmas day 1989 walking around the neighborhood smoking a joint in 90+ degree temperatures with my friends, in my new leather biker jacket during my punk rock/metal hippy teenage days. Thinking back, we all looked pretty stupid with our long hair and thick jackets in the Texas winter heat LOL. O yes good times.

[OU812]

Originally Posted by WestAustinite

The COA has posted an updated version.
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/downtown/downloads/emerging_poster_jan09.pdf

The new central library really needs to be majorly accelerated real quick like. The current one is quite ghetto. Outdated, cramped, and smells bad.

[Dan Denson]

Originally Posted by OU812

Well, I'm in my mid 30s now and have lived here since age 2. Can't exactly remember the weather on a day to day basis as a child but I do recall some snowy days. Also- have the photos to refresh my memory. For the most part the weather tends to be a rollercoaster here in the winter and I just go with it. It's kind of annoying to hear the local meteorologists talk about how "crazy" the weather is "this" year. HUH?? This year??? I'll never forget Christmas day 1989 walking around the neighborhood smoking a joint in 90+ degree temperatures with my friends, in my new leather biker jacket during my punk rock/metal hippy teenage days. Thinking back, we all looked pretty stupid with our long hair and thick jackets in the Texas winter heat LOL. O yes good times.

I was thinking that 1989 was when we got down to 4 degrees at Mueller Airport on about Dec 23, and it was as low as 5 below zero in the valleys along Loop 360. So I doubt it was 90 on Christmas Day. But I'll try to find the actual data and report back. Do you already have some data you can post? Thanks

[OU812]

Originally Posted by Dan Denson

I was thinking that 1989 was when we got down to 4 degrees at Mueller Airport on about Dec 23, and it was as low as 5 below zero in the valleys along Loop 360. So I doubt it was 90 on Christmas Day. But I'll try to find the actual data and report back. Do you already have some data you can post? Thanks

Nope, just my hazy memory... Just for the record I no longer indulge in the funny cigarettes.. Quit it years ago!

[KevinFromTexas]

Originally Posted by OU812

Well, I'm in my mid 30s now and have lived here since age 2. Can't exactly remember the weather on a day to day basis as a child but I do recall some snowy days. Also- have the photos to refresh my memory. For the most part the weather tends to be a rollercoaster here in the winter and I just go with it. It's kind of annoying to hear the local meteorologists talk about how "crazy" the weather is "this" year. HUH?? This year??? I'll never forget Christmas day 1989 walking around the neighborhood smoking a joint in 90+ degree temperatures with my friends, in my new leather biker jacket during my punk rock/metal hippy teenage days. Thinking back, we all looked pretty stupid with our long hair and thick jackets in the Texas winter heat LOL. O yes good times.

Hey, watch it. My hair is longer than that of most women I know. And yes, I have the leather jacket too. Nothing says "screw you winter" like wearing a dead cow.

Actually the first time we went to the trail of lights this year it was really cold. Just mid-30s, but it was humid and windy. Still not as bad as 2007 though when it was mid-20s and windy, about 30 mph winds. That sucked. Thank god for hot chocolate.

[LoneStarMike]

Originally Posted by Dan Denson

I was thinking that 1989 was when we got down to 4 degrees at Mueller Airport on about Dec 23, and it was as low as 5 below zero in the valleys along Loop 360. So I doubt it was 90 on Christmas Day.

You have a good memory. From noaa.gov

The coldest it has been in late December since the late 1800's came during the December 1989 Arctic outbreak. On December 23, 1989 the low fell to 4 at Austin Mueller Airport...6 at Austin Bergstron...6 in San Antonio...and 10 in Del Rio

[KevinFromTexas]

I remember that one. We have a 25 foot palm tree out front, and my dad was worried that it would die. It didn't. I believe it's a Mexican fan palm. It's been covered in ice more than a few times with the fronds hanging down from the weight of the ice.

[Dan Denson]

Originally Posted by OU812

Nope, just my hazy memory... Just for the record I no longer indulge in the funny cigarettes.. Quit it years ago!

OU812, I don't think your memory is too hazy. I emailed Mark Murry at KVUE and he sent me the following URL for December 1989 weather:

http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KATT/1989/12/6/MonthlyHistory.html

Even though the low was only 5 degrees on December 23rd, the high was in the 70s by the 26th, which might be what you're remembering. That's quite a swing.

I remember the 22nd, because my boss at the time took us to Tres Amigos on 290 for lunch, and the temp was only up to 17 degrees at midday. The high that day was only 23. Seems like it was sunny and the wind was blowing like crazy. There were about 5 of us in my boss' Surburban and we were telling him to hurry up, we were freezing.

The record high for Dec 25 was 90 in 1955. So now we know that you're really remembering 1955 and you're much older than we thought, eh? haha (JK).

Anyway, these weather data are great and posters can use the above URL (with modifications for particular years/months) when weather questions come up.

[LoneStarMike]

I remember the other cold Christmas that page referenced - December 1983. I was working at a two-story Lamar Savings in that shopping center at Spicewood Springs & 183. Christmas Day, the alarms went off and when the manager went to check on things she found that the pipes in a second floor restroom had burst and there was a lovely waterfall cascading down onto my (brass) teller counter. Thank God I didn't have to clean up that mess!

At the time, the Austin Public Library had a branch in our building. They were the only other tenant. They occupied all of the second floor (all books) and about a third of our lobby on the ground floor (more books and the checkout desk.) Luckily, no books were damaged. Just the restroom upstairs, my teller station and all the carpet in the lobby.

[KevinFromTexas]

My parents saw Dune in the theatre as it came out that year. My mom said that the snow storm hit while they were inside. She said it was funny to be watching a movie that took place in the desert and then to come outside and find the biggest snow storm in years. I believe we got about 4 or 5 inches.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by Dan Denson

I was thinking that 1989 was when we got down to 4 degrees at Mueller Airport on about Dec 23, and it was as low as 5 below zero in the valleys along Loop 360. So I doubt it was 90 on Christmas Day. But I'll try to find the actual data and report back. Do you already have some data you can post? Thanks

I remember that! Crazy. Friends were living at the RailYard.... their pipes burst! Disaster!