I have spent most of my life in Florida and the weather can change in a moment. It seems like it’s going to be a hot summer. So here are some tips to help you prepare.
Though we’re just getting into March, the predications have already begun to come in for the summer we have to look forward to in 2014. With what has seemed like a long, drawn-out and cold winter for Floridians, the eagerness to get to the warm season is understandable.
According to the Farmer’s Almanac the summer “will be hotter than normal, with the hottest periods in mid-June, from late June through early July, and in early August. Rainfall will be much above normal in the north but a bit below normal in the south.” Several hurricane threats are also predicted for late autumn.
What does this mean for those living in the Sunshine State? Now is the time to prepare for the warmer summer before the hot months get here. With many residents still on a tight budget, here are a few economical things you can do to get your home ready for a hot summer 2014:
- Thermostat Upgrade – If you haven’t already, purchase and install an electric thermostat. These are programmable so you can have the AC on when it is hot and you plan to be home but OFF when you are out of the house. This will save you a lot on your electric bill. These typically run about $40 but are worth it.
- Window Insulation – With the “yo-yo” weather that is a Florida winter, many residents have opened and closed their windows hundreds of times. Before summer arrives, have a window repair company check to ensure all parts of your windows are working properly and inspect for any leaks. Seal these up as soon as possible to keep that expensive air conditioning inside your home.
- Attic Fan – Professionally installed attic fans can go a long way toward keeping your home cool. While most attics ventilate properly, some older homes may trap excess heat in the attic which radiates into the home, often making it 5 degrees hotter or more inside.
Remember El Nino?
“El Nino” became a popularly used term in the mid-90s to describe the heating of an ocean. There is a weak El Nino predicted for the pacific during the middle of 2014. This means wetter weather for the West Coast which can drive low pressure systems Eastward causing more wet conditions in Southern States like Florida. However a contradictory report from Reuters says the exact opposite. I guess it goes to show that the weathermen still can’t agree on anything.
Theme parks throughout the state are preparing for both extremes. New construction at parks like Universal Studios are set to be complete before the worst of the weather conditions are predicted to take place. At Disney World the outside of the Epcot ball has been reinforced to prevent the iconic silver panels from blowing off in hurricane force winds.
Businesses in the Florida Keys are still predicted to board up just before the worst hurricanes as they do every year. It is a common scene which isn’t going to end any time soon. As the locals say, its better to be safe than sorry.