Global Temperature Analysis

2013 Ties with 2003 as the fourth warmest year on record: NCDC

2013 was the 37th consecutive year (since 1976) with the annual global temperature remaining above average.

Highlights from NCDC Report

• The combined land and ocean surface temperature was 0.62°C (1.12°F) above the 20^th century average of 13.9°C (57.0°F).
• Currently, the warmest year on record is 2010 with the temperature 0.66°C (1.19°F) above average.
• 9 of the 10 warmest years since records began in 1880 have occurred in the 21^st century.
• 1990, the third warmest year on record, is the only one of the top 10 records set in 20^th century.

Global combined land and ocean annually-averaged temperature rank and anomaly for  the 10 warmest years on record (since 1880). Tie is based on temperature anomaly in °C. Data Sourced from NCDC

Global Land Temperature

The average global land temperature in 2013 was 0.99°C (1.78°F) above the 20th century average and ranked as the fourth highest annually-averaged value on record.

Global Ocean Temperature

Globally-averaged ocean surface temperature in 2013 saw an anomaly of 0.48°C (0.86°F) above the 20^th century average, tying with 2006 as the eighth warmest year on record, reported NCDC.

The departure was just 0.04°C (0.07°F) below the record high of 0.58°C (1.04°F), which was set in both 1998 and 2003.

NOTE: The 1901-2000 average combined land and ocean annual temperature is 13.9°C (56.9°F), the annually averaged land temperature for the same period is 8.5°C (47.3°F), and the long-term annually averaged sea surface temperature is 16.1°C (60.9°F).

Billion-Dollar Weather/Climate Disasters

Some 151 weather/climate disasters have occurred between 1980 and 2013, with the overall damages/costs reaching or exceeding $1 billion (including CPI adjustment to 2013). The total cost of these 151 disasters exceeds $1 trillion, according to NCDC.

The 2013 toll of billion-dollar weather and climate disasters across the United States stands at 7 events, which included five severe weather and tornado episodes, a major flood episode, and the western drought/heat wave.

Tennessee Declares Statewide Energy Emergency

EXTREME CLIMATIC EVENTS
ENERGY EMERGENCY
.

State of emergency declared in Tennessee amid dwindling propane supplies

Gov. Haslam has proclaimed a state of emergency on Tuesday to speed up shipments of propane to the Volunteer State.

Haslam has indicated in the executive order that the frigid temperatures forecast for the rest of the week would  cause increased demand and disrupted supply.

“This has been a hard winter already for many home and business owners in Tennessee,” said Haslam. “This executive order will help families, farmers and businesses get the necessary energy resources to stay warm, stay open and keep operating.”

Propane shortages are already occurring in northeastern parts of Tennessee, said Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation spokeswoman, the Tennessean reported.

“The executive order would exempt drivers in the state from federal mandates, which require drivers moving hazardous materials to drive no more than 11 hours a day with at least a 10-hour break in between shifts.”

Current – Emergency Declarations, Waivers, Exemptions & Permits

In addition to the state of Tennessee, governors in 30 other states and DC have issued similar executive orders waving the licensing requirements for out-of-state propane transporters allowing them to bring propane into their respective states because of widespread fuel shortages, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The following Emergency Declarations are currently in effect:

• Regional Emergency Declaration Issued by Southern Service Center (PDF)
  • Affected States: Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Oklahoma
• Regional Emergency Declaration Issued by Eastern Service Center (PDF)
  • Affected States: Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont and West Virginia
• Regional Emergency Declaration Issued by Midwestern Service Center (PDF)
  • Affected States: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin

NOTE: The list of Emergency Declarations above may not be complete. Additional declarations may be in effect even if not listed here.

Related Links

• Ohio Declares Statewide Energy Emergency January 20, 2014
• State of Emergency Declared in Oklahoma due to Propane Shortage January 8, 2014

Polar Déjà vu

UPDATED at 09:30UTC – January 22, 2014

EXTREME CLIMATIC & WEATHER EVENTS
.

New York, New Jersey, Delaware Declare States of Emergency as Polar Vortex II shuts down DC,  grounds thousands of flights

New York: Governor Cuomo declared a state of emergency Tuesday for the following counties: Suffolk, Nassau, Richmond, Kings, Queens, New York, Bronx, Westchester and Rockland as a major winter storm battered the tristate area, bringing serious snow and extremely cold temperatures. A dangerous polar vortex is chasing the storm.

“This winter storm will bring a one-two punch of snow and extreme cold. I urge all those in the affected regions to exercise caution, and avoid travel if possible,” said Cuomo. “State resources are deployed to clear snow and help those impacted by the storm, but above all it is important that New Yorkers remain safe both during and after the storm.”

New Jersey

Governor Christie declared a State of Emergency in New Jersey, authorizing the emergency services to activate, coordinate and prepare  response to the storm.

“Today’s winter storm is expected to produce heavy snow, dangerous conditions and travel hazards throughout the state,” said Christie. “I’ve authorized state officials to take all necessary action to prepare, and my Administration will continue monitoring conditions throughout the remainder of the storm. I encourage all New Jerseyans to stay off the roads if possible so that our first responders and public safety officials can safely respond to any emergency situations.”

Delaware

Delaware’s governor Markell has declared a state of emergency as the winter storm brought snow and high winds to the East Coast.

The storm, which forced  schools, government offices and businesses in Delaware to close early, is forecast to  bring up to 16 inches of snow to mid-Atlantic region.

• Maryland declared a snow emergency.

Govt Shutdown

Hundreds of thousands of federal workers in DC area were ordered to stay home Tuesday. Schools and offices were also shut down throughout the region.

• The storm forced Governments in Delaware and Maryland to shut down.
• Connecticut sent home nonessential state workers.
• Philadelphia schools and offices were closed.

NWS Forecast

A Powerful winter storm continues to intensifying off the East Coast with bitter cold spreading into the Eastern U.S., said the National Weather Service (NWS).

“A storm system will strengthen overnight in the Atlantic waters off the East Coast spreading heavy snow and strong wind into coastal sections of New England and the Northeast. Blizzard conditions are possible in eastern Massachusetts. In addition, temperatures across the eastern U.S. will be 10 to 25 degrees below average with bitter wind chills.”

The forecast also warned of

• Heavy snow from the Mid-Atlantic to the Northeast Coast

• Temperatures will be 15 to 30 degrees below average over parts of the Upper Midwest

• Temperatures will be 15 to 25 degrees below average for the Mid-Atlantic/Central Appalachians into the Lower Great Lakes

• Storm along the Mid-Atlantic Coast will deepen rapidly while moving northeastward to the Canadian Maritimes paralleling the Coast by Wednesday evening.

• … another storm over the Upper Midwest will move southeastward to the Central Appalachians by Thursday morning.

Hazardous Weather Warnings

Hazardous conditions extended along a 1,700-km front from Kentucky to Massachusetts on Tuesday, snarling  transport and triggering multiple weather Warnings, Watches and advisories including Blizzard Warning, Winter Storm Warning, Storm Warning, Special Marine Warning, Flood Warning, Gale Warning, Wind Chill Warning, Hard Freeze Warning and Freeze Warning among others.

Flight Delays and Cancellations

More than 6,000 flights within, into, or out of the United States were canceled or delayed on Tuesday, according to FlightAware.com. An additional 1,400 flights have been canceled for Wednesday.

National Low and High Temperature [contiguous United States]

Issued 7 pm EST Tuesday, January 21, 2014

• -38ºC (-37 degrees) at Embarrass, MN

• 29ºC  (84 degrees) at Camarillo, CA

Source: NWS Weather Prediction Center, College Park, MD

Temperature spread 67ºC (121 degrees).

On January 7, 2014 FIRE-EARTH said [Google and WordPress censored]:

FIRE-EARTH Models show more Extreme Weather Events could wreak havoc across North America in the coming days and weeks.

• More Extreme Weather Events to Hit North America