The Land of Rising Heat

Global Disasters/ Significant Events

2012 warmest year on record for continental U.S.

The Lower 48 experienced its warmest year on record in 2012 as the average temperature rose to 12.9°C (55.3°F), some 1.8°C (3.2°F) above the 20^th century average, and 0.6°C (1.0°F) above 1998, the previous warmest year, NOAA reported.

Every state in the contiguous U.S. had an above-average annual temperature for 2012. Nineteen states had a record warm year and an additional 26 states had one of their 10 warmest. Source: NOAA

Other Highlights

• 2012 was the 2nd most extreme year on record for the country, according the U.S. Climate Extremes Index. “The index, which evaluates extremes in temperature and precipitation, as well as landfalling tropical cyclones, was nearly twice the average value and second only to 1998. To date, 2012 has seen 11 disasters that have reached the $1 billion threshold in losses, to include Sandy, Isaac, and tornado outbreaks experienced in the Great Plains, Texas and Southeast/Ohio Valley.”
• The average precipitation total for the contiguous U.S. for 2012 was 67.5 cm (26.57 inches), 6.5 cm (2.57 in) below average.
• The 2012 drought plagued 61 percent of the U.S. at its peak in July. “The dry conditions proved ideal for wildfires in the West, charring 9.2 million acres — the third highest on record.”

Annual Extremes: Several locations throughout the United States experienced temperature and precipitation extremes in 2012. Most striking was the number of locations across the country that broke their average annual temperature record. These records were primarily driven by extremely warm maximum day time temperatures or daily highs, especially during the spring and summer months. More than a dozen of these locations also experienced their driest year on record. In those areas, the combination of the extreme warm and dry period resulted in a drought comparable to the drought episodes of the 1950s. Source: NOAA/NCDC

Significant weather and climate events- Preliminary

Significant weather and climate events- preliminary

GLOBAL WARNINGS

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!
• Europe: The First Phase of Collapse Has Started 
• United States: The First Phase of Collapse Has Begun

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DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,158 Days Left 

[January 9, 2013] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,158 Days Left to the most Fateful Day in Human History
• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011 ...

Weather Chaos Across the U-S

The Day Before Washington’s Birthday

Blizzard, Winter Storm, Gale Warning, Critical Fire Weather and other Red Flag Warnings

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Real-Time U.S. Composite Satellite Image

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• Click HERE to Animate Image. (Source: SSEC/Wisc-Uni)

A Winter Storm is expected to affect Upper Midwest during the long Washington Birthday weekend. A surface low pressure system will take shape near the Four Corners region tonight and trek into central Nebraska and Kansas by Sunday morning, bringing heavy snowfall across much of the region Saturday night through Monday morning. Strong winds will also bring blowing and drifting snow across the region Sunday afternoon into early Monday. Near blizzard conditions are expected in open areas from west central to south central Minnesota. (Source: NWS)

A major winter storm is taking aim on the Northern Plains. Snow will move into the western and central part of South Dakota tonight, then spread across the rest of the area tomorrow morning. Northerly winds will increase and become quite gusty, creating widespread blowing and drifting snow. 6 to 12 inches will be common, with a more heavier band setting up over portions of central and eastern South Dakota, into Minnesota where amounts will be closer to a foot or perhaps more. (Source: NWS)

The next in a series of winter storms will bring significant snow accumulations to most mountains of eastern Utah and western Colorado this weekend. An associated cold front will pass this evening changing valley rain and snow to all snow tonight. Isolated thunderstorms are possible ahead and along the cold front this afternoon and evening. Snow accumulations of at least a foot of snow are likely in most mountain locales, with up to 2 feet in the southwest San Juan Mountains. The storm exits to the east Sunday night with quieter weather conditions expected Monday and Tuesday. (Source: NWS)

A winter storm will move across the region Sunday and Sunday night. Snow is expected to develop across central Wisconsin Sunday morning, then spread into northeast and north central Wisconsin Sunday morning into Sunday afternoon. The snow may be heavy at times Sunday afternoon. A heavy band of snow with accumulations of 8 to 13 inches is expected along and south of Highway 29. Along with the heavy snow, northeast winds are expected to increase Sunday afternoon and then continue Sunday night. Areas of blowing and drifting snow are expected across central and north central Wisconsin. Along and east of Highway 41, strong northeast winds gusting up to around 45 mph will create significant blowing and drifting of the snow and create near blizzard conditions late Sunday afternoon and into Sunday night. The snow will taper off early Monday morning, but considerable blowing and drifting snow will continue across northeast Wisconsin Monday morning. (Source: NWS)

Cloudy skies this afternoon as conditions deteriorate across Wyoming. Snow will develop by mid-afternoon over central portions, becoming more widespread during the evening hours. This activity will continue throughout the nighttime hours toward daybreak. Snow will begin to decrease by late Sunday morning before finally ending by the afternoon. Winter storm Warnings and Advisories have been issued for much of the state. Please refer to individual areas for specific details as well as the Top News Story on the Homepage. …IMPACTS OUTLOOK… TONIGHT… Lows tonight will drop into the single digits and teens across most locations with areas to the south in the 20s. These cold readings, coupled with winds of 20 to 30 mph, will drag wind chill values into the -0s to -20s. Blowing and drifting snow will be a concern as well, as snowfall rates approach 1 inch per hour, greatly reducing visiblities. TOMORROW… Snow activity will be winding down by noon on Sunday. Any remaining snow will be reduced to flurries. Highs will be in the teens across north-central and eastern Wyoming, while the rest of the state slowly climbs into the 20s. A few locations to the south may reach the lower 30s. Breezy conditions will remain across the western mountains as well as the Lower Green River Basin. MONDAY…Minimal Impact Expected. (Source: NWS)

Warm and windy weather will develop once again across the Panhandles on Sunday. With dry conditions continuing, fire weather concerns will increase across the area. A Red Flag Warning is in effect for all of the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles on Sunday. Southwest winds of 25-35 mph with gusts approaching 45 mph are expected. In addition, unseasonably warm afternoon highs are also anticipated with temperatures ranging from near 60 across the northwestern Panhandles to the mid 70s in the far southeast Texas Panhandle. (Source: NWS)

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Snow and Rain

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Current NWS Weather Hazard Warnings (U.S.)

• Tornado
• Hurricane
• Severe Thunderstorm
• Flash Flood
• Flood
• Winter Storm
• Special Marine
• Non Precipitation
• Tsunami
• Space Weather
• All Warnings

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NEW Snowstorm to Hit Upper Midwest

… as  Drought Persists in the South, Southeast

By this time next year, extreme climate could devastate parts of the U-S, leading to famines, epidemics and civil strife

USDA declares parts of 16 states as natural disaster areas due to drought

Drought continues to increase in intensity and coverage across the southern and central Plains,and parts of the southeast,  NWS/CPC forecast.

Drought will persist and expand from central and southern Texas eastward along and near the Gulf Coast through the southern Atlantic Seaboard.

Drought is forecast to also persist in the central and southern Plains, and expand into south-central Nebraska and northwestern Kansas, and from the southern Rockies, central Great Basin into central Nevada… Read full forecast here.

Meanwhile…

NEW Snowstorm pushes  more snow toward the upper Midwest

“Snow will develop today ahead of a storm system dropping down into the Plains. The heaviest snow is expected to fall from central Minnesota down through northeast Iowa and northwest Illinois. 3 to 5 inches of snow is expected to fall over this area by Thursday morning with lesser amounts to the northeast across western Wisconsin.” NWS – Weather Forecast Office.

Related Links:

• Michigan: A 2010 Disaster Area
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• Your World Under Siege

• Megadisasters Loom

• 2010 Disasters
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• 2010: The Year of Disasters
• Earth’s Human Induced Antiphase Nears Completion

• FEWW DISASTER FORECAST 2011
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• 2011 SIX TIMES MORE DISASTROUS THAN 2010