La Nina’s Last Stand & Sensible Bathrooms – Top 3 Takeaways – April 19th, 2023
- Ding dong La Nina’s dead and South Florida’s weather is already different. Much like the Wicked Witch of the West, nothing good seemed to come from her. La Nina, which brings us warmer temps, less rain and more hurricanes (pretty much the opposite of everything we want in South Florida) is thankfully gone. And what we’ve seen with our weather over the past couple of weeks is about as visible of an indication in April of how significant the recent shift in our weather pattern has been. South Florida has experienced more rain in the past two weeks than in the first three months of the year. And you may have even noticed that April started out cooler than March and a quick look at the extended forecast will show you it’s likely to stay that way. Odd? Yes, explainable, entirely. This is because La Nina has gone away, and our weather pattern has begun to swing the other way. I touched on this changing of the tide in one of my takeaways in late March in discussing the first hurricane forecasting for this year when I said... I don’t know how accurate AccuWeather’s 2023 hurricane forecast will be. But more important than the number of storms they’re projecting at this point in the year, is the reason they’re calling for far fewer of them this year. The impact of La Nina going bye-bye, but also the now increased likelihood we’ll be saying hello to El Nino. This is the meteorological equivalent of a pendulum swinging from one extreme to the other. La Nina patterns bring cooler surface temperatures to the Pacific Ocean while doing just the opposite in the Atlantic. And along with warmer surface temperatures in the Atlantic, comes less windshear as well. For the better part of the past eight years and eight hurricane seasons La Nina stirred the meteorological pot. About a month ago we conclusively knew that we’d finally be saying goodbye to La Nina, but what was unclear was whether the weather pattern would be neutral or whether we’d be seeing El Nino – the pattern which brings warmer surface temps to the Pacific, with cooler surface temps to the Atlantic along with a whole lot of windshear. We’re currently in a neutral phase, however the pattern is still shifting and by August – just in time for the traditional two busiest months of hurricane season - we’ll be in an El Nino. So, goodbye La Nina and hello El Nino. That preverbal pendulum swing is what we’ve begun to experience and the seeming outliers in our weather of late are all part of a new pattern. One we haven’t experienced in eight years, that’s cooler, wetter, yet calmer in the tropics - which is exactly what Colorado State University’s preseason hurricane forecast called for last week. So yeah, ding dong La Nina’s dead and what a difference it’s already made for our weather.
- When did common sense become controversial? Among the many pet peeves I have with what are often woke reporters these days, is the proliferation of the use of the term “controversial”. Exhibit “A”, the reporting on Florida’s proposed Facility Requirements Based on Sex bill, aka “Bathroom Bill”. Yes, the bill which simply states that when using public restrooms, you should enter the one which corresponds with your biological sex, can’t possibly be reported on without being labeled “controversial”. Here’s an excerpt from a story yesterday: A controversial bathroom bill is poised to pass in the House. During sometimes contentious debate on the floor, Rep. Rachel Plakon, a Lake Mary Republican, called her bill (HB 1521) “common sense.” If passed, it would forbid individuals from using restrooms designated for a sex different from one assigned at birth. But she dismissed concerns that this would make it impossible for transgender people to simply use the bathroom. Democrats pressed Plakon on the impact the legislation has on anyone whose gender identity doesn’t align with their birth certificate. “Is there a concern that a trans kid is not going to be able to pee because they don’t feel comfortable going to the bathroom that might reflect the gender identity that they were assigned at birth versus what they express today?” asked Rep. Anna Eskamani, an Orlando Democrat. Now...
- You tell me what’s more controversial here? The position that one should use the public restroom which is consistent with their biological sex. Or, quoting Anna, whatever the heck you call this position...Is there a concern that a trans kid is not going to be able to pee because they don’t feel comfortable going to the bathroom that might reflect the gender identity that they were assigned at birth versus what they express today? And actually Anna, I’m happy to answer that question, which throughout the entirety of human history in all civilizations hasn’t even been a question until about five years ago. No, I’m not the least bit worried that a trans kid won’t be able to pee if they go to the bathroom with others who have the same parts. We have thousands of years' worth of data proving it works. If the trans kid in question can’t pee, I’d be more worried that it would be the result of hormone blockers, surgery and the resulting mental illness that comes from people like you who’ve advocated for those forms of child abuse. The science denying, I submit to you, is what’s controversial here. And that it’s presented exactly the opposite way by your news media tells you just 180 degrees out of whack even the mainstream libs in our society truly are today. There obviously isn’t room in the bathroom for common sense with them anymore because even that has become controversial.