Hi guys,
"Also, we have been experiencing lots of "brown outs" due to the unusually high demand on the power companies from all the a/c units running."
Not from what >I've< been hearing in Ocean County NJ, JCP&L has been reducing by 3% at peak time which is hardly a brownout, that's the 6% maximum reduction as a last resort. (The RCA WV-120A expanded scale RMS voltmeter tells the tale.) We've been experiencing blackouts due to equipment failure similar to those in Queens NYC which have been all over the news for a week and a half. Underground equipment can't dissapate heat, with the exception of Jenkinson's Pavillion in Point losing a phase all failures so far have been underground.
"Picked up the phone and had a caller ask when the power in her section of town would be back on. Told her to call the power company. Her reply: "Why would I call the power company, they have nothing to do with my power being out."
Hmmm, the poster gives his location as "Northern NJ" when I heard the Lakewood (CNJ) supervisor mention the exact same thing yesterday. The tone of voice was more telling than a ten code description of the caller. (;->)
"Had 3 people die lately here in Phoenix. Quite a bit of heat realated calls dispatched all throughout the day."
Aw hell, Phoenix is hot in DECEMBER! (;->)
Well folks, it's hotter than the devi'ls tail here at the Jersey shore, the unofficial temperature stated by a bridge tender yesterday was 110, no wonder the bridges are stuck. It's expected to peak today and tomorrow and Friday should bring some relief when the Jet Stream releases the high that's stuck over the East and that hot westerly flow abates. Meanwhile I'm hearing all the expected heat related ambulance calls and I sure pity the firemen who have to respond in that heavy turnout gear. Yesterday we had two big ones with lots of mutual aid from a wide area that lasted all day and a smaller one that called them out again around noon today. I'm half expecting them to hold an impromptu wet down, they sure deserve one.
One final note, the lifeguards are more amusing than usual. When one spots a beaver and another isn't interested in chasing tail you know it's HOT! (;->)