Summer heat causes power outages; why this season has felt more brutal
AUSTIN (KXAN) -- This summer has been a hot one and it's had a toll. Earlier this week, multiple power outages were reported in east Austin. One of those outages, according to Austin Energy, was caused by a sensor triggering due to high demand.
"If you don't have great air conditioning, if you experience a power loss, which I know a lot of folks did last week, it can be it can be life threatening," said Joellen Russell with the University of Arizona.
Russell said the entire Gulf Coast region has seen excessive heat this summer. While Central Texas has had fewer triple digit days this year than in recent years, it still has been rough.
"These heat waves now are lasting longer and and are much hotter than they used to be," Russell said.
What is causing the summer heat wave?
According to Russell, we can blame the warm water in the Gulf of Mexico for much of the heat. "That is contributing to the humidity at night, which is helping keep all of the heat in."
Water vapor in the air, Russell said, traps heat near the ground when it would typically escape at night. "We've now got stagnant air over a huge part of the Gulf, and it is being contributed to by all this extra humidity coming off the hot water of the Gulf."
Power outages and heat
People across the nation are seeing an increase in power outages caused by heat. According to Climate Central, a non-profit tracking the impacts of climate change, power outages have seen a spike in the last twenty years.
Between 2000 and 2023, Texas has reported 107 power outages as a result of summer heat. These outages have occurred 60% more often than they did between 2000 and 2009.
Will we see any relief?
The good news is things are starting to cool off. Central Texas is dropping out of the triple digits this weekend, according to the KXAN First Warning Weather Team.
"Most of Texas can expect above average temperatures all week, and the hottest days will end for most at the end of the workweek, starting Saturday," Russell said.
The bad news, with El Niño coming to an end and La Nina ramping up, we can expect a warm dry winter in our near future.