Kicking off Heat Watch 2011
It's nearing the end of October, and it seems it is time to play my annual Beijing game, Heat Watch.
While we have experienced some fairly cold temperatures in the mountains this month, we have not yet felt that kind of cold at our lower altitude. That all changed ever so quickly Sunday. Late last week we had humid, mild temperatures in Beijing that were accompanied by the thick, toxic fog that no longer shocks me. Sunday morning we left for Mass at the usual time, about 7:30, and the smog was so thick that visibility could easily be measured in meters. During Mass we could hear the wind picking up, and the light rain starting. Walking out of the church I immediately noticed a difference in air quality. "Look," I said to Randy. "I can see the trees so clearly on the other side of the parking lot." By the time we got home later that afternoon, The Great Wall was easily spotted from our kitchen.
What cleaned out our air were winds from the North, which then also brought us much colder temperatures. Sunday night I went to bed still wearing my slippers for the first time this fall. Sunday and Monday we noticed slight, dark wisps coming from the smokestacks in Changping. More evidence that heating season is coming soon...but when?
I have not yet gone in to pre-pay our heat yet. I should learn then when to expect warmer temperatures at home. If it gets unbearably cold before then, we do have a functioning space heater.
While we have experienced some fairly cold temperatures in the mountains this month, we have not yet felt that kind of cold at our lower altitude. That all changed ever so quickly Sunday. Late last week we had humid, mild temperatures in Beijing that were accompanied by the thick, toxic fog that no longer shocks me. Sunday morning we left for Mass at the usual time, about 7:30, and the smog was so thick that visibility could easily be measured in meters. During Mass we could hear the wind picking up, and the light rain starting. Walking out of the church I immediately noticed a difference in air quality. "Look," I said to Randy. "I can see the trees so clearly on the other side of the parking lot." By the time we got home later that afternoon, The Great Wall was easily spotted from our kitchen.
What cleaned out our air were winds from the North, which then also brought us much colder temperatures. Sunday night I went to bed still wearing my slippers for the first time this fall. Sunday and Monday we noticed slight, dark wisps coming from the smokestacks in Changping. More evidence that heating season is coming soon...but when?
I have not yet gone in to pre-pay our heat yet. I should learn then when to expect warmer temperatures at home. If it gets unbearably cold before then, we do have a functioning space heater.
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