The Gulf of Mexico...

[phantom power]

is warming up right smartly:

[skids]

1. And we have an "Investigational area"...

...lurking east of Florida. Though it's projected to be a coast-rider and not get into the gulf.

http://skeetobiteweather.com/picservice.asp?t=m&m=91

[NNadir]

2. How does our status compare with this time last year?

[phantom power]

4. Well, the site I get those maps from won't go back to 2005...

which I find annoying. Isn't the Web supposed to be our new racial memory? Heck, I'm starting to use it for my short-term memory too.

However, Jeff Masters says that the Gulf was even warmer last year than this year. That's not necessarily saying much, since last year was an all-time record breaker. It's definitely still warmer than the "1070-1991" average that gets used frequently as a reference.

I expect that if it breaks any more records, we'll read about it on Wunderground, and I'll gleefully post it here. Because I'm a nancy tree-hugger who hates all of your freedoms, etc.

[NNadir]

6. I have noticed that you hate our freedoms.

Why do you hate America?

[phantom power]

7. Because the trees never hug me back, and it makes me hateful.

[Dead_Parrot]

8. You can cheat:

Just change the year in the url. Can't get '04, though.

[phantom power]

11. Clever! Looks pretty much the same to me.

[Dead_Parrot]

13. I'll actually have $2 on "a bit warmer"...

But not more. Given the clusterfuck last year turned into, I certainly hope it was worse...

[morningglory]

10. It ain't August yet.... nt

[hatrack]

3. Hey, PP - you take the Gulf, and I'll take the Arctic - sound fair?

I figure a little division of labor might help us both do a better job.

:toast:

More to the point, it IS warming right up, isn't it?

[phantom power]

5. Good idea!

We can sustain our illusion of control with twice the efficiency!

:toast:

[XemaSab]

9. Look on the bright side:

at least you have an ocean you can swim in. :eyes:

[phantom power]

12. True, at least whenever the wind isn't blowing at 155mph.