Climate Extremes Rule!

U.S. Climate Extremes, Significant Events November, Fall 2015

November, saw 4,502 record warm daily high (1,642) and low (2,860) temperature records, which is five times the 866 record cold daily high (494) and low (372) temperature records, NOAA reported.

U.S. Selected Significant Climate Anomalies and Events November and Autumn 2015 – NOAA

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Climate Highlights — (September–November)

• The September-November contiguous U.S. average temperature was record warm at 56.8°F, 3.3°F above the 20^th century average. This surpassed the previous record warm autumn of 1963 which had a temperature of 56.6°F.

• Every state across the contiguous U.S. and Alaska had an above-average autumn temperature. Forty-one states across the Rockies, Great Plains, Midwest, Northeast, and Southeast were much warmer than average. Florida tied its warmest autumn on record with a statewide temperature of 75.5°F, 3.6°F above average.

• Above-average November temperatures were widespread across the eastern half of the nation, where 32 states were much warmer than average. New Jersey had its warmest November on record with a statewide temperature of 49.7°F, 6.6°F above average.

• Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island had a record warm autumn maximum temperature.

• The autumn minimum (nighttime) temperature was 45.1°F, 3.7°F above average, the warmest on record. This bested the previous record set in 1998 by 0.3°F.

• Minimum temperature in Colorado, Florida, New Mexico, North Dakota, Nebraska, and Minnesota was record warm.

• South Carolina had its wettest autumn on record, partially driven by historic rainfall in early October. South Carolina’s autumn precipitation total was 23.62 (600mm) inches, 13.77 inches above average, and bested the previous record of 18.42 inches set in 1959.

• Based on REDTI, the contiguous U.S. temperature-related energy demand during November was 68.0 percent below average and the fourth lowest in the 1895-2015 period of record.

To avoid many overlapping or crowded dots on the map, a subset of only about 200 stations across the United States were plotted. There are many stations having “top three” or “bottom three” years that are not shown here. The stations under consideration are listed in other supplemental pages (temperature, precipitation).

Related Links

• November gridded temperature maps
• November gridded precipitation maps

Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, State of the Climate: National Overview for November 2015, published online December 2015, retrieved on December 15, 2015 from http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/national/201511.

State of Emergency Declared in Flint, Michigan

Lead pollution affecting children and other residents in Flint

Flint Mayor Dr. Weaver has declared a state of emergency, calling on the Genesee County Board of Commissioners to conduct a Special Meeting before the end of December to tackle the water crisis, according to local reports.

Weaver says lead exposure is causing irreversible damage in children and would lead to some having learning difficulties.

“The City of Flint has experienced a Manmade disaster,” said the Mayor, proclaiming the State of Emergency.

“I am declaring a state of emergency in the incorporated boundaries of the city of Flint, Michigan.

“The city of Flint has experienced a man-made disaster” by switching to the use of the Flint River, she said.

“Flint children have experienced increased bloods lead levels since the switch to the Flint River.”

“This damage to children is irreversible and can cause effects to a child’s IQ, which will result in learning disabilities and the need for special education and mental health services and an increase in the juvenile justice system.

“This will increase the need for foster and adoptive parents as a result of social services needed due to the detrimental effects of the high blood lead levels.

“I am requesting that all things be done necessary to address this state of emergency declaration, effectively immediately. This action is being taken to protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Flint.’

“Flint, a city of about 99,000 people, switched from Detroit’s water system while under state emergency financial management. The Flint River was supposed to be an interim source until the city could join a new system getting water from Lake Huron that is scheduled to be completed next year. But residents complained about the taste, smell and appearance of water coming into their homes and businesses from the Flint River, said a report.

Water samples from Flint, on the left, and Detroit. Credit Steve Carmody / Michigan Radio

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