Perseid Meteor Showers

Earth is entering a stream of dusty debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle, the source of the annual Perseid meteor shower. Although the shower won't peak until August 11th and 12th, the show is already getting underway.

Earth passes through the densest part of the debris stream sometime on August 12th. Then, you could see dozens of meteors per hour.

For sky watchers in North America, the watch begins after nightfall on August 11th and continues until sunrise on the 12th. Veteran observers suggest the following strategy: Unfold a blanket on a flat patch of ground. (Note: The middle of your street is not a good choice.) Lie down and look up. Perseids can appear in any part of the sky, their tails all pointing back to the shower's radiant in the constellation Perseus. Get away from city lights if you can.

There is one light you cannot escape on August 12th. The 55% gibbous Moon will glare down from the constellation Aries just next door to the shower's radiant in Perseus. The Moon is beautiful, but don't stare at it. Bright moonlight ruins night vision and it will wipe out any faint Perseids in that part of the sky.


The Moon is least troublesome during the early evening hours of August 11th. Around 9 to 11 p.m. local time (your local time), both Perseus and the Moon will be hanging low in the north. This low profile reduces lunar glare while positioning the shower's radiant for a nice display of Earthgrazers.

Earthgrazers are meteors that approach from the horizon and skim the atmosphere overhead like a stone skipping across the surface of a pond. They are long, slow and colorful—among the most beautiful of meteors. An hour of watching, may net only a few of these at most, but seeing even one can make the whole night worthwhile.

The Perseids are coming. Enjoy the show.

South Texas Heat and the Big Country!

THE SUMMER OF 2009 IS SO FAR ON TRACK TO BECOME ONE OF THE WARMER SUMMERS FOR SOUTH AND CENTRAL TEXAS. THE PERIOD FROM JUNE 1ST TO AUGUST 6TH...2009 WAS THE WARMEST JUNE 1ST TO AUGUST 6TH PERIOD AT AUSTIN MABRY...AND SAN ANTONIO...AND TIED WITH 1980 AND 1996 FOR THE 3RD WARMEST AT DEL RIO.

SO FAR THIS YEAR...THURSDAY AUGUST 6TH WAS THE 47TH 100 DEGREE DAY AT AUSTIN MABRY...THE 39TH 100 DEGREE DAY AT AUSTIN BERGSTROM...THE 44TH 100 DEGREE DAY AT DEL RIO...THE 41ST 100 DEGREE DAY AT SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...AND THE 51ST 100 DEGREE DAY AT SAN ANTONIO STINSON FIELD.

AS FOR AS ABILENE GOES....WE HAVE SEEN 21 DAYS OF 100+ DEGREE TEMPERATURES AS OF AUGUST 7TH. HOWEVER, THIS DOESN'T COME CLOSE TO BREAKING ANY RECORDS. THE WARMEST SUMMER ON RECORD OCCURRED IN 1952 WHEN WE HIT 100 DEGREES OR MORE.....43 TIMES!!! THE RECORD FOR MOST CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF 100 DEGREE WEATHER IS 30....WHICH OCCURRED IN 1952 AS WELL.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE HAVE HAD 6 SUMMERS WHERE WE 'NEVER' HIT 100 DEGREES, THOSE YEARS WERE...1890, 1961, 1968, 1975, 1992, AND 2007.

JUST THINK, OUR FIRST DECENT COLD FRONT USUALLY ARRIVES THE THIRD WEEK OF SEPTEMBER. SO THE COOLER WEATHER IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK. WE ALSO HAVE EL NINO DEVELOPING IN THE PACIFIC. WHAT DOES THAT SPELL FOR WEST TEXAS AND SURROUNDING AREAS????? STAY TUNED, THAT WILL BE MY NEXT TOPIC OF DISCUSSION VERY SOON.

August Heat and Water Restrictions

KTAB Viewers,

As you have probably heard on August 4^th on KTAB News, Mayor Norm Archibald has set water restrictions for the Abilene area. This happens when Lake Ft. Phantom's water level drops to AT or BELOW 5feet from the top of the dam...or FULL POOL.

Full Pool is: 1,635.90'.

Current Lake level is at 1,630.85'

We are now 5.05' BELOW full pool

For more information on the current watering restrictions, go to:

http://www.abilenetx.com/WaterUtilitiesDept/yearround.htm

For frequently asked questions about water restrictions, go to:

http://www.abilenetx.com/Press/documents/WaterConservationfaqs_000.pdf

For more information on Texas lake levels, go to:

http://wiid.twdb.state.tx.us/ims/resinfo/BushButton/lakeStatus.asp

So, this being said…. looks like the Big Country will be in a prolonged period of hot and dry weather through most of the month of August, as an upper level high (sinking air) will be entrenched overhead. Afternoon highs will reach the century mark through the end of the week. After Friday, the ridge of high pressure shifts east briefly into the southeastern parts of the United States, bringing a more east-southeast flow in the upper levels off of the Gulf of Mexico. This will allow any disturbances or tropical development to head into the parched areas of South Texas, bringing some WELCOME relief to their ongoing drought. This brief pattern shift will also bring our humidity levels back up a bit in the Big Country and the Heartland, dropping afternoon highs back to near normal through the weekend and into early next week.

The extended forecast through mid August….look for near normal temperatures with afternoon highs in the mid to upper 90’s, with morning lows in the low to mid 70s.

I will also keep you all informed on the latest information on the developing El Nino, or warming waters in the Pacific Ocean, on KTAB News at 5, 6 and 10 though the coming months.

Dan Edwards