Extreme Heatwave: Nature Zeroing In On A Primary Target

Record-setting, life-threatening heatwave to impact Southwest, parts of U.S. midsection

Excessive Heat Warning: Prolonged period of intense heat targeting the West!

Massive area of high pressure causing dangerously hot temperatures are forecast across Arizona, Nevada and southeast California Friday through Monday: NWS

U.S. Weather Hazards Map – June 28, 2013. Source: NWS. Record-setting and life-threatening heatwave are forecast across much of the region resulting from a strong area of high pressure across the western United States Friday through Monday. 

Excessive Heat Warnings

Excessive Heat Warnings, Excessive Heat Watches, Heat Advisories, Red Flag Warnings, Fire Weather Watches and heat-related Special Weather Statements are currently in effect, or should be expected, across at least 15 states in western, southern and midsection United States this weekend and into next week. —FIRE-EARTH

Related Links

• “Life-threatening” Heat Wave Developing in SW U.S. June 27, 2013
• FIRE-EARTH FORECAST: World Record High Temperature Could Be Broken This Year June 5, 2013
• U-S Drought 2013: Fueled by Heat from Hell? January 31, 2013 [FIRE-EARTH Forecast]

U.S. Climate: Warming Trend Continues

U.S. had above normal temperatures and precipitation in March: NOAA

March temperatures and precipitation in the contiguous United States averaged above normal, according to NOAA.

• The average temperature in March:  44.0ºF
• Long term average (1901-2000) temps: 42.6ºF

March precipitation, save for record dry in Texas and other areas in the south and southwest, was 0.22 inch above the long-term average.

January to  March

• Average Temps: Near-normal
• Average Precipitation: Below-normal

Source: NOAA. Click images to enlarge.

Extreme Weather Conditions in the US

Severe Thunder Storms, Tornadoes, Wildfires, Heavy Snow, Torrential Rain and Flooding

The United States is experiencing numerous “extreme conditions” throughout the country, NWS forecasts.

Click image to enlarge.

Severe Storms

“A 13-state slice of the central United States from northern Michigan to southern Texas could see severe storms Sunday. The most likely area of severe weather then is an area of Moderate Risk that includes southeast Minnesota, the eastern half of Iowa, extreme northeast Missouri, west-central and southwest Wisconsin and northwest Illinois. A much larger area at Slight Risk for severe weather includes parts of South Dakota, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan and Indiana.” NWS reported.

Click Hazard Map to enter NWS portal.

Flooding

More flooding  reported in northern Plains and Upper Midwest, with

• 19 Major Flood sites
• 29  sites at Moderate Flooding
• 75 sites at Minor Flooding
• 135 sites are Near Flood Stage

U.S. Flood Map. Source: NWS

Wildfire

“Critical fire weather conditions and Red Flag Warnings are in effect for today and Saturday in a 5-state portion of the southern Plains. Areas in which all outdoor burning is discourage include the eastern third of Colorado, the western third of Kansas, the Oklahoma Panhandle and western Oklahoma, the Texas Panhandle along with northwest and southwest Texas and most of new Mexico but the northwest and west-central parts of the state.” NWS reported.

In Colorado, meanwhile, wildfires have forced the evacuations of about 300 homes in the foothills west of Denver , a report said.

Weather Story: Colorado

Severe thunderstorms are expected in north central Oklahoma tonight. This area is in a tornado watch until 1 A.M. Hot, dry and windy weather is expected in western Oklahoma Saturday afternoon. The dry airmass is expected to include the western two-thirds of Oklahoma Sunday when wildfire potential will be extreme. Windy weather and relatively little rainfall will remain through next week. NWS

Tornadoes

Tornado watches 108 and 109 issued by NWS cover 16 counties Kansas and 24 counties in Oklahoma. See report.

“Temperatures will surge into the upper 80s on Saturday afternoon along with strong southerly winds. Severe thunderstorms may develop along the dryline in central Kansas later Saturday afternoon and early evening. The main threat will be hail and winds… but a tornado or two cannot be ruled out.” NWS reported.

Related News

• Tornado severely damages homes at Pulaski: Severe damage to homes has been reported in the Pulaski and Draper areas of Pulaski County after a tornado earlier this evening, local officials and the National Weather Service said. More than 4,500 customers in Pulaski County are without power.

• Tornado Reported In Northern Oklahoma Storm
• Tornado or not? This week’s storm uprooted trees, damaged buildings, but what was it?
• 1.75-mile path left by tornado

Related Links

• U.S. Weather: Flooding, Wildfires, Heavy Snow
• Severe Thunderstorms Pummel North and Central Georgia April 6, 2011
• US Weather Forecast: Thunderstorms, Strong Winds, Flooding, Fire [April 5, 2011]

• US Severe Weather Forecast: T-Storms, Tornadoes [April 4, 2011]
• Red Flag Warnings in Seven States
• Deadly EF2 Tornado Strikes Louisiana Town
• Mega Tornadoes to Bombard U-S Tornado Alley
• U-S Attacked by Continued Severe Weather
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• US Wildfire Pattern Consistent with Drought
• National Fire Stats Falsified?
• Denver wildfire forces evacuation of 10,000 homes
• Fierce Storm Dumps 160mm of Rain over SoCal
• Wildfires Wreaking Havoc Across the U.S.
• World on Fire

Tornado, tornadoes | Tagged: dangerous storm, Kansas weather, severe weather warnings, Thunderstorm, Tornado Alley, Upper Midwest flooding satellite images, US flood warnings, weather Missouri |

April had 195 reported tornadoes

U.S. April Weather Was Hot and Dry

April Saw Above-Normal Temperatures and Below-Normal Precipitation: NOAA

According to NOAA’s State of the Climate report, the April 2010 average temperature for the contiguous United States was 54.3 degrees F, some 2.3 degrees F above the long-term (1901-2000) average  making it the 14th warmest April on record. The average precipitation was 2.18 inches, or 0.25 inch below the long-term average.

NOAA monthly analysis is prepared by NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, NC.

U.S. Temperature Highlights

Source: NOAA. Click image to enlarge.

• Above-normal temperatures caused by warm and dry weather from high-pressure areas experienced by most states east of the Rocky Mountains. Only California, Nevada and Oregon experienced cooler-than-average temperatures last month.
• Northeast and the East North Central Region: Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan experienced their second warmest April ever.
• Central climate region: West Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri had their  fourth warmest April for that region. [link to regional map]

• Northeast: Illinois Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Jersey had their warmest April on record. I
• A total of 31 states experienced above-normal temperatures.
• February to April period: The record warmest in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.
• January to April period: Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire had their warmest year-to-date on record. “Conversely, Florida had its coolest, while South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas’ average temperature ranked among their 10 coolest.”
• “The cooler-than-normal temperatures that prevailed during the latter part of the winter season in the south and southeast were still evident in the three-month (February-April) period. Florida had its coolest such period, while Louisiana and Alabama had their sixth coolest, Georgia its seventh coolest and both Mississippi and Texas their eighth coolest February-April.”

U.S. Precipitation Highlights

Source: NOAA. Click image to enlarge.

• Below average precipitation in most areas east of the Mississippi River.  West Coast was wet, and the Northwest higher than normal precipitation.
• “Many Mid-Atlantic states observed much-below-normal precipitation. Both Louisiana and South Carolina experienced their sixth driest April. It was also abnormally dry in Connecticut (eight), North Carolina (ninth), Virginia (ninth) and Maryland (tenth). Conversely, it was Oregon’s tenth-wettest April on record.”
• Michigan saw its second driest January to April period on record. “The year-to-date period was also the seventh driest for Wisconsin and Kentucky and the eighth driest for Louisiana.”

Other Highlights

• North American snow cover extent was the lowest on record for April since 1966. “It was also the largest negative anomaly, meaning distance below long term average, on record for any month.”
• “NCDC’s Climate Extremes Index (CEI) for January-April was about 6 percent higher than the historical average for that time period. The CEI measures the occurrence of several types of climate extremes (like record or near-record warmth, dry spells, or rainy periods). Factors contributing to this year’s value: a very large footprint (three times larger than average) of extreme wetness and twice the average area with warm minimum temperatures.”
• NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center reported 195 tornadoes in April. Subject to confirmation, “it would be the eighth highest number of April tornadoes.”
• “The most significant tornado of the month, which was rated EF-4 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, devastated areas near Yazoo City, Miss. According to a preliminary analysis by the National Weather Service, the tornado’s path was 149 miles long and stretched from extreme northeastern Louisiana to northeastern Mississippi. The damage path was up to 1¾ miles wide at points.” [More than a dozen people were killed by the tornado.]
• The U.S. Drought Monitor said 9 percent of the United States was affected by drought on April 27.

Related Links:

• Canceling Your Life Insurance Policy with Nature
• U.S. Weather

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Serial No 1,696. Starting April 2010, each entry on this blog has a unique serial number. If any of the numbers are missing, it may mean that the corresponding entry has been blocked by Google/the authorities in your country. Please drop us a line if you detect any anomaly/missing number(s).

U.S. Warmer, Drier in March

Despite the appearances ‘U.S. Averaged Warmer-than-Normal, Drier-than-Normal in March’

According to NOAA’s State of the Climate report the March 2010 average temperature for the contiguous United States was warmer than average.

Thirteen states recorded an average temperature that was among their 10 warmest ever for March:

• Rhode Island experienced its warmest March on record;
• Maine its second warmest for the month
• New Hampshire its third warmest

Again, despite the appearances, average precipitation for the U.S. was below normal, but heavy rainfall in parts of the Northeast set March records.

NOAA’s monthly temperature analysis are based on data recorded since 1895.

U.S. Temperature Highlights

Source: National Climatic Data Center/ NESDIS/NOAA. Click image to enlarge.

Temperature Highlights for March 2010

• March temperature average across the contiguous United States was 44.4 degrees F, some 1.9 degrees F above the long-term average. “However, several storms developed along the Atlantic Coast, bringing below-normal temperatures to the South and Southeast, while bringing warm and wet weather to the Northeast and Midwest regions (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin).”
• Thirteen states averaged temperature among their 10 warmest for March.
• Gulf Coast states, New Mexico, Georgia and South Carolina experienced cooler-than-normal temperatures. Florida recorded its fourth coolest March.
• January-March period
  • Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire: Warmest ever
  • Florida: Coldest ever
  • Louisiana: Second coldest
  • Mississippi and Alabama : Third coldest

U.S. Precipitation Highlights

Source: National Climatic Data Center/ NESDIS/NOAA. Click image to enlarge.

Precipitation Highlights for March 2010

• Average March precipitation  across the contiguous United States fell below the long-term mean (LTM). The month’s national average fell 0.24 inches below the LTM of 2.16 inches. “The Northeast was above-normal, while much of the interior United States was below-normal. All other regions were near normal.”
• January – March period
  • Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Jersey:  Wettest on record
  • Delaware: Second wettest on record
  • Vermont:  Fifth wettest
  • Twenty other states:  Precipitation ranked among the top 10 wettest.
  • Michigan:  Driest ever January-March period
  • Wisconsin: Fourth driest
  • Montana and Wyoming: Sixth driest.

Other Highlights

• The preliminary tornado count for March was 36 – joint  4th quietest March since reliable records began in 1950,  NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center said.
• Mid-March ice coverage over the Great Lakes was at a record low, covering only 3.5 percent of the Lakes’ surface, the Canadian Ice Service said.The average ice extent for the period was estimated at 31 percent of the Lakes’ surface. The records started in 1973.
• Drought on March 30 covered about 9.0 percent of the United States, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Click image to enlarge.

Serial No  1,560. Starting April 2010, each entry on this blog has a unique serial number. If any of the numbers are missing, it may mean that the corresponding entry has been blocked by the authorities/Google in your country. Please drop us a line if you detect any anomaly/missing number(s).