For over six decades, Arlene Cole maintained a ritual of recording daily temperature, rain, and snow measurements from her home in Newcastle, Maine. Her tenure began on May 13, 1965, and concluded at the age of 96, ending a consistent record-keeping practice that provided data for local climate, commerce, transport, and agriculture.
Her contributions were vital for creating a detailed long-term picture of local environmental conditions. Originally requiring manual outdoor checks, her routine evolved in the 1980s with the installation of kitchen-based indoor temperature monitoring, though precipitation data still necessitated physical trips outside until her recent retirement.
Separately, in preparation for the expected El Niño, the Kenyan government is implementing a strategy to harvest over 100 million cubic metres of rainwater. Irrigation Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho stated the project utilizes over 35,000 household waterpans and 600 rehabilitated dams to mitigate water waste and address agricultural needs. The state is collaborating with the ministries of Defence and Health to assist residents in vulnerable areas in moving to higher ground as part of a wider effort to reduce dependence on rain-fed agriculture.