Winter season continues to break records; climate information
Wed Mar 3 2010 @ 00:03 EST
The 2009-2010 winter season continues to break records. Take, for example, the DC metro area: In Maryland, 262.5 inches of snow have been recorded at one garage managed by the Maryland State Highway Administration. "In Oakland, National Weather Service observer Sherry Helbig reports a seasonal total of 210 inches, more than double the winter average of 95 inches."
AccuWeather reports on Florida's coldest winter in 30 years. Much of the unusual winter weather we've seen in the Midwest and the East Coast has been caused by upstream weather patterns associated with El Niño and the negative phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). A negative NAO typically brings cold, snowy weather to the Eastern United States and can actually cause parts of Greenland to be warmer than locations in the United States!
In climate news, Professor Phil Jones of the Climatic Research Unit (CRU), responds to important climate questions after being widely criticized over the content of e-mails between colleagues that were stolen by a computer hacker. The BBC article is the definitive source for this interview — there have been many articles that mis-quote Phil Jones. While Jones may have made mistakes with regard to his research, I feel that it is only proper to read his original statements and the interview itself.
The National Weather Service has proposed a National Climate Service for the United States, which will help supply the public with climate information, similar to how the Weather Service provides information on current conditions, weekly forecasts, and severe weather. NOAA would like to have the Service running by the end of 2010, in celebration of its 140th Anniversary.
The Weather Service has already started a new website, climate.gov to provide publicly-accessible climate information, even before the new Service is officially created.
Historic winter continues with President's Day snowstorm
Tue Feb 16 2010 @ 00:55 EST
Continental US satellite image from Monday afternoon
A winter storm is ongoing in the Midwest, bringing even more snow from Illinois to the East Coast. Last week, the Ohio Valley and the East Coast were battered by snow.
In Baltimore, 72.3 inches of snow has been measured this winter, shattering the previous record of 62.5 inches set in 1995-96.
This week, another storm system that moved out of the Plains is bringing even more snow to the region. Snow from this storm system is expected to add another 8 inches of snow for Central Ohio with lesser amounts to the South. The system will move off to the East overnight Tuesday, bringing moderate snow to Pennsylvania. A winter storm watch has been issued for most of Massachusetts and Southern Maine.
Cities in Ohio are on par to break record February snowfall amounts. With almost half of the month to go, Cincinnati has broken its February record of 21.4" with 21.8" as of 5 PM Monday. This is currently the third most snowy February in Dayton and Columbus. View updated snowfall amounts.
Earlier on Tuesday, a 50+ car pile-up occured on Interstate 71 just North of Columbus, Ohio.
The causes of this historical winter season are most likely El Niño along with other less-widely-known weather patterns (oscillations). Brian Neudorff from WROC-TV in Rochester, NY gives an explanation of these oscillations.
Christmas winter storm batters the Plains and Northeast
Fri Dec 25 2009 @ 03:38 EST
2:15 PM Friday update: Winter storm warnings continue to be in effect, with Blizzard and white-out conditions, throughout much of the Northern Plains. Very cold air is filtering in behind the powerful low pressure system currently over Iowa. Temperatures have dropped quickly as far east as St. Louis and the cold air will push into the Midwest and the Ohio Valley later today.
3:30 AM Friday update: A major winter storm that developed over the Southern Plains has caused blizzard conditions in the Northern Plains and Midwest, and will bring freezing rain and ice to the Northeast on Friday.
The state of Oklahoma has declared a statewide emergency and ordered all highways closed due to the extreme weather conditions. The airport in Oklahoma City reported 13 inches of snow, and was closed for travel late Thursday night.
6 to 10 inches of snow are expected in Eastern Kansas and Eastern Nebraska. The storm system will push North into the Dakotas, Minnesota, and Wisconsin through Christmas day. View a web briefing from the Omaha, Nebraska Weather Forecast Office.
Behind the storm system and associated cold front, gusty winds will occur. Wind advisories and high wind warnings are in effect throughout the Southeast. 6 to 10 inches of snow are expected in Northeast
Tornadoes were also reported in Texas on Thursday.
FEMA has further information on Winter Weather precautions.
Tracking Tropical Storm Ida
Tue Nov 10 2009 @ 00:04 EST
Rainfall totals in the Gulf states may reach 6-8 inches. If you live in the Gulf states, be on the lookout for rising rivers and flash flooding. Although Ida has weakened since yesterday when it was a hurricane, it is still capable of extreme rainfall and minor wind damage.
Related links
- National Data Buoy Center
- Great wind and radar maps of Tropical Storm Ida
- Weather Cams: Alabama • Mississippi • Georgia
Hurricane Ike makes landfall
Sat Sep 13 2008 @ 05:06 EDT
Houston/Galveston, TX Doppler Radar
Railroad cam in Houston
Hurricane Ike made landfall as a strong Category 2 hurricane at 2:10 AM CDT near Galveston, Texas. A State of Disaster has been declared in coastal counties in Texas. FEMA is prepared to send 5 million meals and 5 million liters of water to the region, and generators are in place for hospitals and water plants.
In Galveston, the historical district is flooded and several buildings burned down after firefighters were unable to get to the buildings during the height of the storm. Over four million people are without power in the Galveston and Houston areas. Galveston City Manager Steve LeBlanc said about 40 percent of the city's residents — some 20,000 people — chose to stay even after evacuation orders.
In Houston, many windows were blown out of the 75-story JP Morgan Chase Tower. Localized flooding was occuring in suburbs.
The Coast Guard has rescued over 100 people so far from floodwaters and flooded homes.
The storm has caused three deaths in Texas.
Multimedia
- KHOU Live Video Stream from Houston
- Audio updates from the National Hurricane Center
- HurricaneTrack.com Live Web Cam
- Weather cams in the state of Texas
Weather conditions
Emergency information
- Harris County Emergency Management — Houston area
- Texas Governor's Division of Emergency Management — state-wide
