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Is It Raining At Texas Motor Speedway Right Now?
A massive high-pressure system now over the Southwest has led to a weather phenomenon called “rainsqualls” or “raining races.” This unique weather event has been ongoing for more than a week and has affected a large portion of the U.S., especially the Midwestern United States. The Weather Channel has named it “The Great Western Shakeout,” an event that combines the “shakes” from recent powerful earthquakes (known as the “Ring of Fire”) with flooding caused by heavy rain and snowmelt. This past Friday marked the eighth day of the event, which began in southern California, spreading to Washington, Texas, and Nevada. The cause of the massive earthquake that initiated the shakeout is still unknown.
Depending on which direction you look, you will see one of two distinctly different weather patterns. If you live in the Midwest, for example, you will see many small rivers and streams overflowing their banks. If you live in a more elevated location, like Seattle or Portland, you will see the water flowing very quickly and unexpectedly. In some places, like San Francisco, the amount of rain is so great it actually creates localized water shortages. If you decide to brave the elements and take a spin in the wet gravel yourself, then congratulations, you have won the lottery. But if car collecting is your thing, then you may want to stay away.
What Is a Rainsquall?
Let’s start from the beginning. A rainsquall is a brief but intense cloudburst that occurs in heavy rain. (If you’re not familiar, a squall is a violent windstorm that typically accompanies a thunderstorm.) The sudden downpour creates a dramatic and sometimes dangerous situation because of the possibility of flooding. It is not uncommon for people to be caught off guard when a rainsquall strikes, especially if they are not used to frequent or heavy downpours. In most cases, the downpour ends within a minute or two, but in others it can last for several minutes. The heaviest rain generally occurs for about five minutes and then the downpour stops as suddenly as it began. After the downpour, the sky will often remain cloudy for hours. If you ever watched the Disney Channel’s “Girl Meets World,” then you may remember the episode where the characters travel back in time to the 1950s and witness a classic western movie called “The Big Squall.” In real life, a rainsquall is a very similar event except, you know, without the gunslinging and the big hats. Thanks, Disney! (Sorry, Mom and Dad.)
The Great Western Shakeout
So how does all this raining affect the rest of the country? Let’s take a look.
Well, as mentioned, the epicenter of the great shakesnatch was southern California, where the Los Angeles and Greater LA areas endured some of the most intense shaking. As the region continues to recover from the devastating effects of the “Big One” earthquake (which struck in March), residents are still wary of falling debris and unexpected floods. If you live in a region bordering on the Pacific Ocean, like Hawaii, then you know what to expect this time of year. The combination of wet weather and wind can make for some wild storms that spray water everywhere. The wind will often howl for several minutes before calm weather returns. This weather pattern is popularly known as the “Northwest weather trade winds,” but everyone just calls it “the rain.” In other parts of the country, especially the Midwest, farmers have been dealing with a month-long stretch of abnormally wet weather. (Source: National Weather Service)
The Weather Apocalypse
For those of you who follow weather science, you know that once the rain stops, the temperature begins to rise, and this is when the real trouble begins. If you live in a region where the climate is determined by the seasons (as opposed to all year round temperatures, which you can find anywhere in the country), then you know that late spring and early summer are usually marked by a sharp increase in the temperature. The reason for this is that the ground has been warm for a while and the added temperature causes the water to expand. If you live in a more tropical climate, then the rainy season is also the hottest season, which also makes for some interesting meteorological phenomena. For example, in areas where the rainforest climate is prevalent (like the Amazon), you may witness many tropical downpours, but during the day, the temperature will rarely rise above 75 degrees Fahrenheit, rarely hitting 80 degrees. This will continue until the rain stops, at which point you will begin to see the temperature rise.
As the days continue to get longer and the weather gets cooler, we are one step closer to summer, which means there is less rain and more sunshine. This is great news for everyone, especially residents of the Southwest, who have been enduring the brunt of the rain for the past few weeks.
The question is, will this pattern continue? And in case you were wondering, yes, it will. According to scientists at the National Weather Service, this pattern will likely continue for the rest of the year. (Source: National Weather Service)
The End Of An Era
There is more than one way to determine the end of an era. For some, it will be the passing of time, for others it may be a combination of factors. Regardless, the era of “rainsqualls” may be coming to an end, at least in some regions. As we have been repeatedly reminded by the Weather Channel, this is an unusual weather event that has no real precedent in recorded history. While there will always be a chance of precipitation during the year (it is, after all, America), residents of the Southwest may finally see some respite from the stormy weather. (Source: National Weather Service)
What Now?
With all this talk of flooding and mudslides, you may be wondering what to do next. If you are in an area where floods are a possibility (which they almost certainly will be in one form or another), then it is imperative that you take the necessary precautions. This means getting out in the mud and sand with your four-wheel drive (if you have one) and checking for any debris that may have fallen during the storm. For those living in a community that was damaged by the floods, there are government assistance programs that can help. Many insurance companies also have special policies to cover flood damage.
Above all else, make sure that you are prepared for the possible worst. The last thing you want to do is rush out to recover your vehicle only to find that it has been damaged beyond repair or that you have missed an important appointment because of the weather. In most cases, these types of incidents can be avoided with a little planning and forethought. Unfortunately, Mother Nature is a fickle mistress and there will always be the possibility that another “big one” could hit at any time.