As we enter mid-July, the tropics are busily producing waves of disturbances and low pressure systems both in the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. Pictured is Tropical Storm Cristina in the Eastern Pacific currently moving westward and away from Mexico. We also have Tropical Storm Fay which is currently dumping moisture on the Northeastern US and Canada.
Image: T.S. Cristina (courtesy NOAA and GOES West). Click on the image to enlarge.
While Fay is drenching areas of New Jersey, Delaware, New York and beyond, Cristina poses no weather threat to land areas although it could still develop into hurricane force and dangerous to shipping in the 15° to 25° N latitudes in the Eastern Pacific. The storm is drifting westward at a rate of about fifteen knots.
The only effect Cristina is having on us here in the middle of Arizona is a few high clouds. We have summertime temperatures here for sure with forecast highs in the 110-117° F. range for the weekend. We almost wish the storm would make a hard right turn and bring us some monsoon weather, but I guess monsoons will be coming sooner or later without the help of T.S. Cristina.
In other news, we have been doing genealogy research here and have been discovering some interesting things about our ancestors. We now know that we had several ancestors who were in the military for the Revolutionary War, The War of 1812 and the Civil War (on both sides of it). We already knew about our grandparents and parents involvement in WW1 and WW2.
We also submitted a DNA sample and found out our roots from a general ethnic standpoint. The results dispelled a family rumor that we had Native American ancestors, which proved not to be the case. We have DNA in common with English, Irish, Scottish, German, Dutch and Swedish ancestors with a possibility of some other European lineage thrown in the mix.
The DNA result also proved that I’m related to other family members who also submitted samples: a nephew (my brother’s son) and a granddaughter (my daughter’s daughter). The DNA also shows we’re linked to other users of the service, most of whom we don’t know nor care much about (fourth to eighth cousins twice removed?). Some of those are sort of interesting in understanding the family tree, but we don’t especially want to dig any far distant relatives out of the woodwork at this point.
We are still sorting out facts and hints in the family tree (from a pedigree point of view) and are halfway through our third great grandparents level (of which there are 32 potential ancestors). I will post something further on this if I discover an ancestor built the Brooklyn Bridge or something of similar magnitude.
I did the “23andMe” thing, and pretty much confirmed what I’d been told. My Dads’ side (Polish) contributed the Eastern European blood, and my Mom’s side (Irish) supplied the Northern European component. The only thing that surprised me, was some Asian/Eskimo markers, so no idea which side that came from!
Been hotter than blazes here. High 90’s~100’s, and 10~12% RH. Red Flag fire alerts through the mid-week, with 20% chance of precip, which means we’ll see huge thunderheads, with lots of lightning and some thunder, and might get some sprinkles. In the three years we’ve been here (already?) I’ve learned more about the weather than in the 35 years I lived in SoCal. One thing I’ve learned is that unless the NWS says at least a 40% chance of precip, we won’t get any.
And the farmers and ranchers really need the water…..
Wow! Having met you in person over the years, I would never have suspected ESKIMO or anything of that nature. Dominant genes I guess. Maybe Damsel and I will try the 23&me thing (we did Ancestry) as a backup.
It has been very red flag dry here for the last several months. We’re needing some rainfall but the Good Lord only knows when that might happen. Thankfully, It always does happen and we will be soaked, I’m sure.