Getting to 100 Degrees--Is It A Badge Of Honor In Texas?

Last summer was so different in West Texas. 100 degree days for days on end, mostly dry with rare instances of rain... At least that's what I experienced here in the Permian Basin starting July 5th when I got here. This summer has been filled with seemingly endless rain and thunderstorms, with temperatures tickling 100 from time to time but mostly in the 80's and 90's for highs. And with the rain, the insect population has seemed to triple. I don't remember this many mosquitos, beetles, grasshoppers--and MOTHS. Those things are in crazy abundance right now-at least around Adobe Meadows!

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I've seen several articles now written about the entire state of Texas not being as warm this year as in years past-with statistics being thrown out there about cities all across the state that are usually in the 100's for numerous days by now only seeing one or two days with temps that high so far. Here in the Midland-Odessa area we hit 100 yesterday for the first time since June and BOOM there were the articles mentioning the accomplishment as if it's a badge of honor. Which is a little confusing to this boy from the Midwest because I'm not used to consistent temps that high--but more importantly I've spoken to a lot of people who are from the area who love it because of all the rain we've been getting. So IS it a badge of honor for the natives? I have to say--I could do without all the bugs and if the hotter temps are what slows that down like last year--I say BRING IT BACK MOTHER NATURE! Comment below and tell us--are you loving the cooler weather and the rain or are you longing for the West Texas usual?

LOOK: The most expensive weather and climate disasters in recent decades

Stacker ranked the most expensive climate disasters by the billions since 1980 by the total cost of all damages, adjusted for inflation, based on 2021 data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The list starts with Hurricane Sally, which caused $7.3 billion in damages in 2020, and ends with a devastating 2005 hurricane that caused $170 billion in damage and killed at least 1,833 people. Keep reading to discover the 50 of the most expensive climate disasters in recent decades in the U.S.