A Very Dry Start to Summer

For much of the Northwest, it hasn't rained since mid-June, when we had an unusually heavy one-day deluge of over an inch (see accumulated precipitation at Seattle Tacoma Airport over the past four week, red is observed, blue is normal).  Interestingly, because of that one-day amount, the last four weeks had nearly normal rainfall!

A map of the total precipitation over the past two weeks shows less than .1 inches over most of the western U.S., with most locations getting nothing.

The departure from normal shows .75 to roughly 2 inches below normal over western Washington.  The departures from normal are not large because we get very little precipitation this time of the year.

In fact, we are now entering the driest time of the year in the Northwest, with the lowest precipitation amounts the last week of July and first week of August (see climatology for Seattle)

 The models are forecasting little or no precipitation for the next few weeks.
For example, the 21-member NOAA/NWS GEFS ensemble (many forecasts made to explore uncertainty) show virtually nothing for the next 192 hours.

 The even larger NAEFS (US plus Canadian) ensemble shows the same thing  through the 21st (second panel)

 And the larger European Center ensemble indicates no precipitation or a few hundredths (gray colors) during the next ten days.  The bottom panel is the ensemble average... maybe a slight misting on Monday.

With above normal temperatures and no rain, the demand for water in Seattle has increased substantially (see Seattle SPU graphic)--see the red line.

This year has certainly been one of contrasts:  the wettest winter for many and now a very dry early summer.

Should Personal Fireworks Be Banned?

It causes over 10,000 injuries a year involving going to an emergency room, including loss of life, limbs, and vision.  Or permanently degrading some individual's  hearing.

It results in over 15,000 fires per annum, destroying homes, businesses, and vehicles and  causing wildfires that affect thousands of acres.

It seriously pollutes the air with particles and toxic chemicals, undermining the health of those with asthma and heart disease. 

It scares dogs and cats, causing some to cower in the corner or run away.

It can seriously disturb some of our veterans, particularly those with PTSD, bringing on terrifying memories and fear.

It ruins the sleep of many and breeds a disrespect for the law.

You would think we would finally act regarding something that was so profoundly negative in so many ways.  But we don't.  We tolerate personal fireworks.  

And perhaps it is time to get serious about stopping them.

Today, I checked the small particulate levels in our air....the kinds of particles that move deeply into our lungs (PM2.5).   The pollutant numbers surged in Seattle and Marysville and went crazy (nearly 160) in Tacoma.  And many of the fireworks have toxic chemicals and heavy metals.

According to Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, the air was dangerously unhealthy all over the south Sound last night and during the morning hours.

The news was full of the normal results of careless fireworks, including several homes seriously damaged and unlivable.  Among the fires was one in Magnolia and a two-alarm fire in Renton.

Renton Fire:  Picture credit Mike Perry

Magnolia Fire:  KING TV

Every year several young people lose fingers and other serious injuries from fireworks in our area.

And a number of stories talk about fireworks be unsettling to combat veterans.

The effects of fireworks on many pets is profound, producing terror and hiding in closets and under beds.   The fear was obvious in my small dog last night.

Sleep?   Forget it.  My neighborhood in North Seattle sounded like a war zone, with big explosions going off until 2 AM on Tuesday morning.  The vibrations were so profound on the fourth of July that my neighbors car alarm went off.  In Tacoma an apartment complex was burnt down and cable service was cut off for 10,000 customers.

Fireworks put a huge amount of debris into our waterways and in our parks, with obviously negative impacts on wildlife.

Picture credit:  West Seattle Blog

Puget Sound beaches were full of debris (picture credit, NC Pizza)

And it breeds disrespect for our laws and law enforcement.   It is clear that police are looking the other way on July 4th....not enforcing absolutely explicit laws.

So why do we continue the carnage, damage, and scared pets?   Particularly when folks can enjoy a wide collection of professional community displays?

Personal fireworks are illegal in much of the State, including Seattle, so why do the police allow it?  None of the official excuses make sense (e.g., the difficulty in catching people in the act).  Go to any of the major parks, especially ones in the water. (e.g., Mathews Beach Park), on the evening of July 4th.  Catching fireworks felons would be like catching fish in an aquarium.   But before the police did that, an announcement of a no-tolerance policy should be made at least a month before, to discourage folks from stocking up.

The biggest source of fireworks is probably the native american "boom cities", such as the ones in Marysville and Auburn.   Clearly, the State needs to work with the tribes to end the sales of fireworks there.  It is demeaning to the environmental traditions of native americans to degrade our environment with toxic smoke and noise.

Some folks may argue that fireworks are part of "Americana" and independence day traditions.    But no one is arguing to get rid of public displays.   But is the "fun" worth deaths, injuries, and burned down homes?   Of loss of hearing and inducing fear in our pets and vets?  I don't think so.   Why not start new traditions, like the use of colorful LED lights or special July 4th drones, with special lightning?

It is time that society gets serious about banning personal fireworks.