So far a very cool July. The coolest since 1996. Do you remember the blizzard of '96?

The Arctic Oscillation has been negative since June 1st.



... Unusually cool July for Central Park...

For some perspective... here are the top ten coolest julys on record
since 1869 for Central Park in New York city:

coolest
avg. Temp. Year
70.7 1888
71.9 1884
72.1 1914
72.3 2000/1871
72.4 1891
72.6 1895
72.8 1902/1869
72.9 1956
73.1 1890
73.2 2001


Due to the unusually cool conditions thus far in July... here are
some interesting facts to note...

With an average daily temperature of 71.8... currently running 4.4
degrees below normal... this July is on track for the 2nd coolest on
record. Below average temperatures have occurred on 18 out of 20
days... with the other two days being normal. There have been zero
above normal days.

Central Park has only reached 85 degrees once this month... on the
17th... and has not yet reached 90 degrees this Summer. If this
continues through the end of the month... it will be the first year
since 1996 where 90 degrees was not reached in June or July.
The year 1996 is also the only year on record in which 90 degrees
was not reached in June or July.

CDC predicts an early flu season A snowy winter looms ahead.

Accuweather.com forecasts snowiest winter in 5 years. I told you so.

See my comments June 24 and 29. The cool moist summer could lead to an old fashioned winter. I blame it on sunspots ( a lack thereof ), the Arctic Oscillation and volcano weather. Looks like we will hit the trifecta this winter! What about those Notilucent clouds, too? ( see spaceweather.com )

If a strong El Nino develops, it could cancel the snowy forecast.

SWINE FLU UPDATE JULY, 17th

The CDC expects the swine flu to hit early and often just as soon as schools reopen in September. A cause for concern is the report of a virus strain that resists Tamiflu treatment. A strong effort to prepare an effective vaccine is well underway.

Table. U.S. Human Cases of H1N1 Flu Infection
Web page updated July 17, 2009,
11:00 AM ET
Data reported to CDC by July 17, 2009, 11:00 AM ET.

States and Territories*	Confirmed and Probable Cases	Deaths
States
Alabama	477 cases	0 deaths
Alaska	218 cases	0 deaths
Arizona	762 cases	11 deaths
Arkansas	47 cases	0 deaths
California	3161 cases	52 deaths
Colorado	155 cases	0 deaths
Connecticut	1581 cases	7 deaths
Delaware	364 cases	0 deaths
Florida	2188 cases	12 deaths
Georgia	174 cases	1 death
Hawaii	722 cases	1 death
Idaho	143 cases	0 deaths
Illinois	3357 cases	15 deaths
Indiana	282 cases	1 death
Iowa	165 cases	0 deaths
Kansas	186 cases	0 deaths
Kentucky	143 cases	0 deaths
Louisiana	232 cases	0 deaths
Maine	133 cases	0 deaths
Maryland	732 cases	3 deaths
Massachusetts	1343 cases	5 deaths
Michigan	515 cases	8 deaths
Minnesota	660 cases	3 deaths
Mississippi	219 cases	0 deaths
Missouri	70 cases	1 death
Montana	94 cases	0 deaths
Nebraska	264 cases	1 death
Nevada	406 cases	0 deaths
New Hampshire	247 cases	0 deaths
New Jersey	1350 cases	14 deaths
New Mexico	232 cases	0 deaths
New York	2670 cases	57 deaths
North Carolina	395 cases	4 deaths
North Dakota	61 cases	0 deaths
Ohio	161 cases	1 death
Oklahoma	176 cases	1 death
Oregon	465 cases	5 deaths
Pennsylvania	1914 cases	8 deaths
Rhode Island	188 cases	2 deaths
South Carolina	244 cases	0 deaths
South Dakota	39 cases	0 deaths
Tennessee	247 cases	1 death
Texas	4975 cases	24 deaths
Utah	966 cases	14 deaths
Vermont	59 cases	0 deaths
Virginia	319 cases	2 deaths
Washington	636 cases	4 deaths
Washington, D.C.	45 cases	0 deaths
West Virginia	227 cases	0 deaths
Wisconsin	6031 cases	5 deaths
Wyoming	106 cases	0 deaths
Territories
American Samoa	8 cases	0 deaths
Guam	1 case	0 deaths
Puerto Rico	18 cases	0 deaths
Virgin Islands	44 cases	0 deaths
TOTAL (55)*	40,617 cases	263 deaths
*Includes the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This table will be updated each Friday at 11 AM ET. International Human Cases of H1N1 Flu Infection See: World Health Organization. NOTE: Because of daily reporting deadlines, the state totals reported by CDC may not always be consistent with those reported by state health departments. If there is a discrepancy between these two counts, data from the state health departments should be used as the most accurate number. For more information about how these case counts are updated, see Questions & Answers About CDC's Online Reporting.

Sunday is the better day this weekend

Mostly sunny Saturday with a good chance of some showers or thunderstorms later in the day. Some morning showers then, mostly sunny Sunday and warm.

No heat waves in sight, we are still in a somewhat troughy pattern. June was in the top 10 coolest Junes and July so far, is also quite cool. So enjoy the lower A/C bill. Don't say that I did not tell you so.


SWINE FLU UPDATE

There are concerns that come next autumn , there will be major problems with a widespread flu outbreak.

Table. U.S. Human Cases of H1N1 Flu Infection
Web page updated July 10, 2009,
11:00 AM ET
Data reported to CDC by July 10, 2009, 11:00 AM ET.

States and Territories*	Confirmed and Probable Cases	Deaths
States
Alabama	400 cases	0 deaths
Alaska	122 cases	0 deaths
Arizona	762 cases	11 deaths
Arkansas	42 cases	0 deaths
California	2461	31 deaths
Colorado	146 cases	0 deaths
Connecticut	1364 cases	6 deaths
Delaware	347 cases	0 deaths
Florida	1781 cases	7 death
Georgia	138 cases	0 deaths
Hawaii	722 cases	1 death
Idaho	115 cases	0 deaths
Illinois	3259 cases	14 deaths
Indiana	273 cases	0 deaths
Iowa	156 cases	0 deaths
Kansas	136 cases	0 deaths
Kentucky	130 cases	0 deaths
Louisiana	183 cases	0 deaths
Maine	107 cases	0 deaths
Maryland	686 cases	2 death
Massachusetts	1328 cases	4 deaths
Michigan	489 cases	8 deaths
Minnesota	634	3 death
Mississippi	188 cases	0 deaths
Missouri	68 cases	1 death
Montana	67 cases	0 deaths
Nebraska	215 cases	0 deaths
Nevada	327 cases	0 deaths
New Hampshire	237 cases	0 deaths
New Jersey	1289 cases	10 deaths
New Mexico	232 cases	0 deaths
New York	2582 cases	52 deaths
North Carolina	312 cases	2 deaths
North Dakota	58 cases	0 deaths
Ohio	147 cases	1 death
Oklahoma	150 cases	1 death
Oregon	403 cases	4
Pennsylvania	1794 cases	6 deaths
Rhode Island	177 cases	2 death
South Carolina	176 cases	0 deaths
South Dakota	34 cases	0 deaths
Tennessee	213 cases	0 deaths
Texas	4463 cases	21 deaths
Utah	953 cases	14 deaths
Vermont	50 cases	0 deaths
Virginia	306 cases	2 death
Washington	636 cases	4 deaths
Washington, D.C.	45 cases	0 deaths
West Virginia	179 cases	0 deaths
Wisconsin	6031 cases	4 death
Wyoming	99 cases	0 deaths
Territories
Guam	1 case	0 deaths
Puerto Rico	18 cases	0 deaths
Virgin Islands	15 case	0 deaths
TOTAL (54)*	37,246 cases	211 deaths
*Includes the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This table will be updated each Friday at 11 AM ET. International Human Cases of H1N1 Flu Infection See: World Health Organization. NOTE: Because of daily reporting deadlines, the state totals reported by CDC may not always be consistent with those reported by state health departments. If there is a discrepancy between these two counts, data from the state health departments should be used as the most accurate number. For more information about how these case counts are updated, see Questions & Answers About CDC's Online Reporting.

Mosquito bumper crop, how to repel them.

Mosquitoes locate their victim from the carbon dioxide in the breath. Sight, sound or smell have little to do with it. Insect repellents block the receptors on the mosquito, so in effect they are flying blind. If they can't find you they can't bite you. Insect repellents ( contain DEET ) work best on the skin but they also work when applied to clothing. So, go ahead and spray shoes,socks,pants,shirts and hats, if you don't like repellent on your skin.

It works

WEATHER OUTLOOK

Monday mostly sunny small chance showers
Tuesday partly cloudy better chance of showers
Wednesday, Thursday mostly sunny

NEXT WEEKEND partly sunny and a chance of showers.