Multimedia Report: Water, water everywhere!

Multimedia report by Mark Webber, Rick Burd and Melissa Cordova

A group of 35 teachers at a prominent journalism school put on their journalism hats and descended upon downtown Phoenix in search of locals who could give them tips on coping with the record breaking desert heat.

But many in the northeast corner of the United States in areas like New York, Connecticut, Vermont or Maine are asking, “when is it going to warm up around here?” At this moment, these same folks are scratching their heads in search of the illusive spring that relieves them of the shortened days and dark nights, cold weather and expensive snow removal.

For teachers in the northeast, April not only marks Spring Break and a chance to recharge, but also the beginning of blue skies, long sunny days, and warmer weather. What they’ve gotten instead is the constant cover of rain clouds, grey skies and below normal temperatures. Many have sent e-mails to those teachers participating in the program in Phoenix with comments like, “please bring back some sun with you” or “another grey day.”

According to weather reports from the Connecticut Post, Thursday through Sunday were expected to be rainy and overcast with thunder showers expected. The average high in Connecticut for the month of June is 77 degrees; the average high so far this month—69!

At mid-month this June, the total rainfall so far has exceeded the average of 4.44 inches, and with thirteen days left of the month, 9 have a 30 percent chance or better of precipitation.

So what does this mean for those in the Northeast? It means cancelled picnics and school field trips, empty swings and wet slides at the park; cold, wet, soggy and ruined trips to the amusement parks and no one soaking up the sun at the beach.

On a more serious note, it means that in the case of obesity, states in the east have “a higher prevalence than states on the West Coast and the Midwest,” according to a study done by Johns Hopkins School of Public Health.

Further, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, their latest data indicates 7.65 percent of adults 18 or older experienced at least one major depressive episode in the past year nationwide. Connecticut, Washington D.C. and Ohio were among the highest with more than 9 percent while California, Arizona and Texas had were all within 1 percent below the national average.

Furthermore, Suicide Statistics' data shows that New York reported 1,187 suicides in 2005 while New Mexico reported only 356. While these numbers may be circumstantial, they certainly offer researchers a starting point when dealing with these issues.
The lesson learned? When the temptation arises to gripe about the heat, just remember that people don't cancel their plans to the beach due to hot weather and nobody has to shovel the sunshine.

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One of the lush and colorful floral arrangements at the Arizona Center, which resembles an oasis. (Photo by Rick Burd)
Palm trees ring a grassy area at the Arizona Center. (Photo by Rick Burd)