Thanks for those Cameron... So funny to think about the extremes.

I remember when I lived there in the summers, I loved to watch SF Giants games on TV because it was always so cold and foggy there, with people often in parkas. And the first time I visited L.A. and was going to a Dodger night game, I was warned about needing a jacket in July and when I later realized why it was needed -- I had spent the warm day on the beach -- I remember saying to myself, "That's it! I'm moving here."

The cool summer evenings and mornings with warm, relatively mild afternoons is the main reason I left OK for Cali and will always be the biggest impediment to me ever returning.

ou48A, I didn't mean the biggest difference between highs and lows... I meant that OKC seems unique in being among the hottest places around yet still getting cold, crappy winter weather too.

Denver and places further north don't get these brutal summers.


I guess it depends on what your definition of “getting cold, crappy winter weather” is because about 99% of central Oklahoma winter weather is not really very bad to me. But they could be better a plowing the roads
How much weather disrupts daily living and the local economy is a good indication of how extreme the weather really is. For the most part the weather in central Oklahoma is not nearly as disruptive as it is in the northern plains
It can still get very hot in the northern plains, their heat waves typically only last for 10 days / 2 weeks. They also have their droughts, dirt storms and a few tornadoes.
But where they more than make up for their comparatively mild summers is the weeks they spend below zero. Many times it’s -20 or greater. -60 windchills are common. I have seen reports of -120 windchills. It not uncommon to see 60 to 70 degree temp swings in a few hours. A daily near 50 degree Temp swing is actually fairly common. Their extreme cold drastically slows the Bakken oil and NG output for several weeks. Their annual spring thaws that some call the break up can cause destructive flooding and prevents heavy truck travel on gravel roads by law sometimes for several weeks. I have worked outdoors in -80 wind-chills; it’s much worse than working out in +110. I have personally seen drifts of snow coving high line wires in western Kansas. The dirt also drifts western Kansas.
The weather in the northern plains is a much greater hindrance to their economy. They will lose much more work time per year than we do.. Construction activity comes to nearly a complete stop for about 2 to 3 months. Our heat, cold, ice and snow can slow us down but it’s relatively rare that we lose more than a hand full of work days per year in central Oklahoma.

Its been 109 in Norman so far

It's true the truly cold climates are more disruptive and generally less appealing, which is why the population is continually shifting south and west.

It's just that very few places in this world have to endure several months of 100 degree plus temps, then also have to deal with single-digits and ice and snow.

Actually it got down to an all-time Oklahoma record low in Nowata this past winter at -31.
They had a deep 30’’+ snow pack.
-25 was common in the northern and eastern parts of OK where they had 3 to4 nights of below zero lows.
It was -5 here in Norman one night.

But I like a few days of real cold weather each year to help beat back the bugs and unwanted plants.

FYI
If you are driving interstate speeds in the peek heat be sure you are driving on good tiers.

112 for Tulsa today and tommorow's forcasted high for T-town is 115!The All-Time Oklahoma High temp is 120,so parts of the State will come close.

112 for Tulsa today and tommorow's forcasted high for T-town is 115!The All-Time Oklahoma High temp is 120,so parts of the State will come close.

The all-time high for Tulsa is 115 (113 in OKC). It will be interesting to see if both break it tomorrow. Folks this is historic, once-in-a-lifetime heat. It has been 3 DECADES since we have experienced anything close to this....

It is going to be sad when it cools off to the 90s and we bust out the parkas. :-P
I have seen that happen...out in Vegas it was relatively cool (in the 70s), Casinos had the heat turned on and the shuttle drivers were wearing heavy winter coats/parkas. My mother and I couldn't stop laughing.

Then on the other extreme, when I lived up in Waterloo Iowa, the first time the temps got back up to around the freezing mark (after a winter of 40 degree below temps, not counting wind chill), folks would be out in t-shirts and shorts!

Then on the other extreme, when I lived up in Waterloo Iowa, the first time the temps got back up to around the freezing mark (after a winter of 40 degree below temps, not counting wind chill), folks would be out in t-shirts and shorts!

You lived in Waterloo? That's where I was born, although it was a brief sojourn. We moved to Minnesota when I was 18 months old.

You lived in Waterloo? That's where I was born, although it was a brief sojourn. We moved to Minnesota when I was 18 months old.
All together now...it's a Small World After All....

We moved up there on April 1 (that should have told us something), just in time for the Blizzard of '73. This is the way I remember it...there was 6 feet of snow on the ground (not counting drifts). We were staying at a motel on the outskirts of town and ate toaster oven sandwiches from the motel office. There was a couple of restaurants in walking distance (a Shakey's Pizza and a place called Friar Tuck's). Attended grade school and jr. high. We were there for 4 years. Rented a nice 2 story house that was owned by a former mayor. Think we lived on western(?). My dad was in drug store mgt (Osco Drug) and worked at the one downtown across the street from Black's Dept Store. Saw the Legend of Boggy Creek at the local DT theater. First job was delivering the Des Moines Register. Stupid kid that I was, I started in the fall and quit in the spring (after delivering papers before sunrise in 40 degree below)...all for $10/week (and that's when you had to collect yourself). LOL

I am personally about to die with this hot weather. Our central air unit finally died and we can't afford to put a new one in. We bought window units for the bedrooms, but the rest of the house was 90 degrees today. It's been miserable and no end in sight. I get claustrophobic staying in the bedroom for too long of a period of time unless I'm sleeping.If you all want to get together and pay for me to get a new heat and air unit, I would be most appreciative.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d1/okchemyst/Aug02_2011.jpg

Taken at 7:10 PM last night on West Lindsey in Norman.

I am personally about to die with this hot weather. Our central air unit finally died and we can't afford to put a new one in. We bought window units for the bedrooms, but the rest of the house was 90 degrees today. It's been miserable and no end in sight. I get claustrophobic staying in the bedroom for too long of a period of time unless I'm sleeping.If you all want to get together and pay for me to get a new heat and air unit, I would be most appreciative.

Maybe your coworkers and boss at work could help you out.

I am personally about to die with this hot weather. Our central air unit finally died and we can't afford to put a new one in. We bought window units for the bedrooms, but the rest of the house was 90 degrees today. It's been miserable and no end in sight. I get claustrophobic staying in the bedroom for too long of a period of time unless I'm sleeping.If you all want to get together and pay for me to get a new heat and air unit, I would be most appreciative.

Time to start spending your afternoons at the library or mall.

I am personally about to die with this hot weather. Our central air unit finally died and we can't afford to put a new one in. We bought window units for the bedrooms, but the rest of the house was 90 degrees today. It's been miserable and no end in sight. I get claustrophobic staying in the bedroom for too long of a period of time unless I'm sleeping.If you all want to get together and pay for me to get a new heat and air unit, I would be most appreciative.

SQ, I was in line at Lowe's the other day behind a lady that was buying one of those large, white room air conditioners that you can move around somewhat. The guy checking her out said he had purchased one because his a/c was not keeping up. He told her it was working fine. You just have to "vent it to the outside" somehow. Out a window if possible. Just a thought for a temporary fix.

SQ, I was in line at Lowe's the other day behind a lady that was buying one of those large, white room air conditioners that you can move around somewhat. The guy checking her out said he had purchased one because his a/c was not keeping up. He told her it was working fine. You just have to "vent it to the outside" somehow. Out a window if possible. Just a thought for a temporary fix.

Sam's often has those marked down in their 'returns' area. Only thing concerning is most people bring them back because they just don't put out much cool air.

However, the larger portable units about the size of an outdoor air conditioner and you fill them with water) are pretty incredible. I have a friend with two on his patio and another guy has one in his 600 sq. foot automative shop office because the window A/C can't keep up and costs too much to operate.

Sam's often has those marked down in their 'returns' area. Only thing concerning is most people bring them back because they just don't put out much cool air.

However, the larger portable units about the size of an outdoor air conditioner and you fill them with water) are pretty incredible. I have a friend with two on his patio and another guy has one in his 600 sq. foot automative shop office because the window A/C can't keep up and costs too much to operate.

I grew up with a window unit water cooled air conditioner back in the 50's and 60's. It worked great.

I am personally about to die with this hot weather. Our central air unit finally died and we can't afford to put a new one in. We bought window units for the bedrooms, but the rest of the house was 90 degrees today. It's been miserable and no end in sight. I get claustrophobic staying in the bedroom for too long of a period of time unless I'm sleeping.If you all want to get together and pay for me to get a new heat and air unit, I would be most appreciative.

Did you ever find anyone to give you a new air unit?

My AC stopped running sometime in the middle of the night as if the breaker had blown of something but that isn't it. It is warmer than i would like but with fans blowing on high, it is bearable until the apt complex can figure out what the issue is.

I've learned the hard way. Go ahead and buy a set of fuses, capacitor and even a fan motor for your unit (if you're in a house) and keep them in the garage for when your AC goes out on a weekend or in the middle of the night. You can buy all three parts for less than a single AC service call and they will solve 80%+ of your most common issues.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lhe72STTn7k

The Twilight Zone episode for this summer, as the Earth hurtles toward the sun.

Oklahoma heat unrivaled by any US State!http://www.tulsaworld.com/site/articlepath.aspx?articleid=20110809_11_A1_CUTLIN36 3370

I've learned the hard way. Go ahead and buy a set of fuses, capacitor and even a fan motor for your unit (if you're in a house) and keep them in the garage for when your AC goes out on a weekend or in the middle of the night. You can buy all three parts for less than a single AC service call and they will solve 80%+ of your most common issues.

Yup - agreed. Both times our AC has gone out in the last twelve years have been on a weekend - once with company in from out of town. The first time, we learned the hard way about capacitors. We were ready the second time.

My AC stopped running sometime in the middle of the night as if the breaker had blown of something but that isn't it. It is warmer than i would like but with fans blowing on high, it is bearable until the apt complex can figure out what the issue is.
GREAT NEWS FOR ME!
It was breaker related. While the old one didn't trip, they replaced it with a new one and immediately started running again. Just shut off for the 1st time a couple of minutes ago...should be able to sleep well tonight!

No matter what the issue has been over the years (stopped up plumping, hot water heater leaking, pipe burst, AC out pipe leaks from the upstairs apt, etc). It has been my experience that whenever something goes wrong, it is either
1) After hours
2) on the weekend
3) on a holiday

Can't think of a single time when it happened when the apt office was open

Just saw on Channel 9's extended forecast "only" a high of 100 Wed, with highs "only" in the 90s right on through....

Larry, glad you have your AC back.

And am also glad for the "only" 100 degree forecasted high. Seems like we have broken out of that awful heat wave and are back in a more typical late summer pattern - quite hot but not like THAT, with at least some chances for summer showers.

The A\C in my wife's office has been out for two days. Last night she was not pleasant. I'm not looking forward to going home tonight either. And what I don't get is she says that a contractor has been out there working on it. You can replace a whole system in 2 days!

If they decided that a whole system replacement was what was called for (and the unit sitting on the shelf), that could very well be the case. However the delay may be in trouble shooting. If the cause isn't immediately evident, you start with the easiest/cheapest thing first, then thru trial & error, continue on until you find the problem. now if there is some sort of computer diagnostic thing that will give them a code 9or set of possible codes) that can expedite things, but i don't know if that exists with AC units like it does w/cars.

If they decided that a whole system replacement was what was called for (and the unit sitting on the shelf), that could very well be the case. However the delay may be in trouble shooting. If the cause isn't immediately evident, you start with the easiest/cheapest thing first, then thru trial & error, continue on until you find the problem. now if there is some sort of computer diagnostic thing that will give them a code 9or set of possible codes) that can expedite things, but i don't know if that exists with AC units like it does w/cars.

A rooftop package unit is really pretty simple. A blower motor and a contactor for it. The compressor and a contactor for it. An evaporator coil. A condenser coil. An expansion valve. And then a few safety devices and control timers. It isn't rocket science.

BTW. The excessive time taken seems to be due to the tech working on it for an hour then disappearing for two over and over.

Who is Hot?..........no me! Loving this 72 degree, damp afternoon. Beats 102 all to pieces. I can hear all the trees, plants and grass expressing a collective "ahhh".

Who is Hot?..........no me! Loving this 72 degree, damp afternoon. Beats 102 all to pieces. I can hear all the trees, plants and grass expressing a collective "ahhh".

Me too. Not, and I mean really not stealing from McDonald's. I'm lovin' it.

+100000000 :-)