NO doubt that the Midland/Odessa area is much drier than the Tri-State area, not only in summer, but of course all year.

On the other hand, one must keep in mind that it’s all relative to the location. While folks on the East Coast…who are used to a wet/humid/high rainfall climate…would be shocked at the intensity of a west Texas drought…it’s equally true that folks in the drier western states… might be shocked when a single month brings 55 to 70 inches of rain (which happened here back in 1955 –when three tropical cyclones hit the lower East Coast, then spread rain across the East Coast). Folks in Texas would think it was the end of the world if that much rain fell (lol). So no doubt the is a huge difference between the drier western states and the much more humid/high rainfall East Coast.

The same could be said for the “green landscape”. People on the East Coast are used to lush forests and a thick green canopy of trees 7 months out of the year due to that very wet nature of the climate here and the long growing season. So an aird landscape, with stunted dead looking grass and plants (like the photo above) would be shocking to people in humid lowland climates. On the other hand, I can just imagine a west Texas hunter in humid/green/buggy swamp in coastal Connecticut, the lower Chesapeake or Delaware Bay…etc in the middle of July with a 97 F temp and a 77 F dew point… they would think they were in the Amazon –lol.

It’s all what your’re used to I guess…and on the East Coast we are used to “the wet” lol.

I think the whole USA has been hot, sunny, and dry this summer, not just Texas. Here in the Tri-State area, lakes and wells are running well below normal. Thanks to recent rains this past weekend, we gained a little rain back. Today the sun and 88 F heat is at it again in my garden!

More heat & humidity on tap for today, but that's okay! I'll take this over cold, crappy Winter anytime!

Shoreliner...It looks as though the Atlantic lowlands should start to pay attention to events in the tropical Atlantic in the coming days!

Although the concern level is rising…I would not push the panic button just yet along the East Coast of the USA. However,Irene has the CHANCE to hit anywhere between Hilton Head, SC and Cape Cod, MA right now.

The biggest question remains how the trough of low pressure… which will move across the Eastern USA on Wed/Thur… will affect Hurricane Irene (track and intensity). The timing and strength of this trough and the intensity of Irene by the time it reaches/interacts with the trough - will determine how quick Irene turns away from the USA eastern seaboard/coastal plain.

Having watched many of these paths over the years (despite what the models might show now), with each run the forecast track of Irene will continue to turn eastward and parallel the East Coast of Florida and Georgia, and South Carolina in the coming day or so. The area from Myrtle Beach to the Outer Banks is the most likely area to be brushed as Irene turns northward. As far as further up the coast from the Virginia Beach, VA to Long Island/Connecticut - if the trough passes by too quickly (and it looks like a fair bet at this point it just might do that)…then Irene would stay about 100 miles off the East Coast and cross the USA coastline around Long Island or Rhode Island. it's important to note that the error in 4 and 5 day track forecasts remains high—around 200 miles in either direction (often more). The official track has nudged a bit east since this morning, which reduces the threat to southern Florida and Georgia. One thing that I think will happen no matter how close/off shore Irene gets to Long Island/CT - the humidty will start rising by this weekend and swells will start to hit the Rhode Island and Long Island beachs by late week. The surfers will be out in force at Ruggles (lol).

As far as intensity…since Irene is in a low shear/high moisture region, Irene will likely intensify into a major hurricane in the next day or so. Irene is still disorganized on its south side because of interaction with Hispaniola and dry air, but recent satellite imagery suggests increasing outflow at high levels to the south of the center, which is necessary for the hurricane to intensify. SST are near 85 F along the track the cyclone will take, so it is likely that winds could reach 120-mph in the southeastern Bahamas in the coming days (lets hope not). Both the GFS and the ECMWF are forecasting Irene to develop into a very large and intense hurricane

Come this weekend...we should start to feel some effects from Irene in some way I think. At they say in the Florida Keys...now is the time to get the storm shutters out and count them...

I would definitely watch this one. We've had a lot of rain lately in the northeast, and if nothing else Irene or its remnants could bring more heavy rainfall if it comes far enough north, sometimes tropical systems' precip shields "fan out" and become widespread as they head north and become extratropical, especially to the north and west of the track.
For the time being we are enjoying a nice early taste of fall in New England after the wicked thunderstorms on Sunday that knocked down trees in my area. Unfortunately this nice weather may not hold through the weekend, depending on Irene's track.

Poor Erica Grow....with humidity, and tropical storm conditions on the way...she must wish she was back in dry , calm, stable Texas - lol

that's what it was like in summer when i went to college in central spain (salamanca) all summer it never rained, brush fires would start, and they wouldn't even bother to put them out... i was soo nice to see new england green... winters were cold and dry...

Hey erica....now you see what life is like on the stormy margins of the humid half of the mainland.

Wait till late October comes, you will be so tired of the hurricane rains you,ll wish you were back in dry Texas. How did you like that tropical humidity when the eye crossed Long Island - lol

Hey everyone, thanks for your comments! I just want you to know that I grew up in Pennsylvania, and only lived in Texas for less than 2 years. Midland/Odessa, TX was my first TV job out of college, and for a "Yankee" like myself, the weather was quite a shock to the system!