Image of the Day: No. of Days with Extreme Heat

2017 third-warmest year on record globally

Global land and ocean combined surface temperature reached a near-record high

2017 was the third-warmest year on record globally, behind 2016 (first) and 2015, according to the 28th annual State of the Climate report. The planet also experienced record-high greenhouse gas concentrations as well as rises in sea level.

Sea level rise hit a new high

Highest levels of of greenhouse gases on record

Heat in the upper ocean hit a record high

Record low Arctic maximum sea ice coverage

Record low Antarctic sea ice coverage

Image of the Day: No. of Days with Extreme Heat [NOAA]

• Access highlights from the BAMS State of the Climate in 2017 report.

 

State of Emergency Declared in N. California Due to Wildfire

Extreme heat puts 36.5 million Californians, or 98% of population, under a heat advisory –NWS

California Governor has issued an emergency declaration for a raging wildfire in Butte County in the northern part of the Golden State.

The so-called Ponderosa Fire has consumed about 3,800 acres and destroyed at least 30 homes, prompting evacuation orders to residents of more than 500 homes in the area, fire officials said.

San Francisco sets all-time heat record at 106 degrees (41.1ºC)

“San Francisco continues to climb. Latest high temperature for downtown is an incredible 106 degrees!” the NWS’s Bay Area station reported Friday.

Previous all-time record high in Downtown #SanFrancisco was 103 set on June 14, 2000. High so far today: 106! #CAwx #CAheatwave

— NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) September 1, 2017

Recap of #BayArea high temperatures on 9/1. San Francisco (106°) and SFO Airport (104°) set all-time record highs. #CAheat #CAwx #heatwave pic.twitter.com/9E9ye7dyfX

— Daniel Alrick (@SFmeteorologist) September 2, 2017

Statewide Wildland Fire Map for Saturday, September 2, 2017 pic.twitter.com/XKL7hgrCgo

— Cal OES (@Cal_OES) September 2, 2017

36.5 million Californians are under a Heat Advisory/Warning this weekend – or about 98% of the state's population. #CAheat #cawx #heatwave pic.twitter.com/cBSboyqysI

— NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) September 1, 2017

Australia: Sickly Canary in Planet Coalmine

205 Weather records broken in 90 days: Climate Council of Australia

Excerpts from “ANGRY SUMMER 2016/17: CLIMATE CHANGE SUPER-CHARGING EXTREME WEATHER”

The Australian summer of 2016/17 marked the return of the Angry Summer with record-breaking heat especially in the east of the nation. The Angry Summer was characterised [sic] by intense heatwaves, hot days and bushfires in central and eastern Australia, while heavy rainfall and flooding affected the west of the country.

Key Findings:

• More than 205 records were broken across Australia in 90 days.
• New South Wales (NSW) experienced its hottest state-wide mean temperature on record with temperatures 2.57°C above average.
• The 2016/17 extreme summer heat in NSW was at least 50 times more likely to occur due to climate change.

Bushfires Plague Australia

Wildfires consume thousand of acres, 15 homes in Victoria, Australia

About 900 firefighters responded to dozens of grass and bushfires across the state of Victoria on Sunday amid hot, dry and windy conditions from South Australia that pushed into New South Wales.

Extreme heat caused some of Victoria state’s worst fires burning out of control over the the weekend.

On Sunday, “more than 6,000 people in the Indigo Valley were texted emergency alerts when they were told it was too late to leave, and to instead take shelter.”

“[The fire] closed the Hume Freeway for hours, saw hundreds of cars backed up on the Hume Freeway, in 40 degree temperatures, not a nice place to be,” said Victoria’s Emergency Management Commissioner.

“[We had] multiple fires across the state but our fire crews did a fantastic job to pull up, we had the potential to have this morning many, many fires.”

A fire in Scotsburn killed more than a thousand sheep, five horses, 12 homes, 30 sheds and much of the fencing in the area, he said.

On Monday, dozens of warnings and alerts were in effect across the country including multiple fire warnings in New South Wales & ACT, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia.

Extreme Heat Wave Setting Australia on Fire

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
.

Extreme Heat Warnings Issued in Australia

Massive bushfire destroys dozens of homes in the Perth Hills area of Western Australia, killing at least one person.

The fire follows a heatwave in Western Australia over the weekend, with temperatures topping 44ºC (111 degrees) in Perth on Saturday and 48ºC degrees (118 degrees) elsewhere in the state.

Massive bushfire leaves a trail of destruction in WA, destroying at least 44 homes. Source: DFES/WA.

Meanwhile, authorities have warned of severe health consequences as extreme heat begins moving from Western Australia into the country’s southeast.

Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) is warning temperatures will be in the 40s throughout this week.

Western Australia has just ended a scorching week, with temperatures reaching 48ºC degrees (118 degrees).

“That really extreme heat is now moving eastwards and is expected to move into South Australia and north-west Victoria over the next 24 to 48 hours,” he said.

“That really extreme heat is now moving eastwards and is expected to move into South Australia and north-west Victoria over the next 24 to 48 hours,” said BOM.

“Then it will gradually move down across the rest of south-eastern Australia, into southern New South Wales and western New South Wales as the week progresses.

“So really we’re really looking at a fairly extreme heatwave where temperatures are going to reach into the 40s for quite a number of days in a row.”

Related Links

• Back-to-Back Disasters Could Hit Australia: FIRE-EARTH Forecast

Crop Disaster Declared for 123 Counties in 10 States

Excessive Rain, Freezing Temps and Extreme Heat Cause Agricultural Disaster in 10 States

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated at least 123 additional counties as agricultural disaster areas across 10 states.

The crop disasters areas are in the states of Connecticut, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Washington.

USDA issued a total of 6 separate disaster declarations on October 1, which were posted on their website on October 17, 2013 due to the government shutdown.

New York – First Disaster Designation due to damages caused by excessive rain and related flooding, high winds and hail that began May 1, 2013 and continues.

Disaster areas are Albany, Essex, Monroe, Otsego, Seneca, Broome, Franklin, Montgomery, Putnam, Sullivan, Cayuga, Fulton, Oneida, Rensselaer, Ulster, Chenango, Genesee, Ontario, Saratoga, Washington, Clinton, Greene, Orange, Schenectady, Wayne, Columbia, Herkimer, Orleans, Schoharie, Westchester, Cortland, Jefferson, Oswego, Schuyler, Wyoming, Dutchess, Madison, Allegany, Delaware, Livingston, St. Lawrence, Tompkins, Bronx, Erie, Niagara, Steuben, Warren, Cattaraugus, Hamilton, Onondaga, Tioga, Yates, Chemung, Lewis and Rockland counties.

Also included in the above designation

• Connecticut: Fairfield and Litchfield counties.
• Massachusetts: Berkshire County.
• New Jersey: Passaic and Sussex counties.
• Pennsylvania: Pike, Susquehanna and Wayne counties.
• Vermont: Addison, Bennington, Chittenden, Grand Isle and
  Rutland counties.

New York – Second Disaster Designation due to damages and losses caused by freeze and frost that occurred March 13 – May 28, 2013.

Crop Disaster Areas: Cayuga, Columbia and Oswego, Albany, Greene, Madison, Rensselaer, Ulster, Cortland, Jefferson, Oneida, Seneca, Wayne, Dutchess, Lewis, Onondaga and Tompkins counties.

Also included in the above designation

• Massachusetts: Berkshire County.

New York – Third Disaster Designation due to damages and losses caused by weather-related disease and fungi infestation that began June 19, 2013, and continues.

Disaster areas are Cayuga, Cortland, Oswego, Tompkins, Onondaga, Seneca and Wayne counties.

Oregon – Disaster Designation 1

USDA has designated three counties in Oregon as crop disaster areas due to damages caused by freezing temperatures that occurred April 8-30, 2013.  The counties are Baker, Umatilla and Union.

Also included in the above designation

• Minnesota: Grant, Malheur, Morrow and Wallowa counties
• Idaho: Adams and Washington counties.
• Washington: Benton, Columbia and Walla Walla counties.

Oregon – Disaster Designation 2

USDA has designated nine counties in Oregon and Washington as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by freezing temperatures and excessive rain that occurred March 22 – June 30, 2013.

• Oregon: Wasco , Clackamas, Hood River, Marion, Wheeler, Gilliam, Jefferson and Sherman counties
• Washington: Klickitat County

Oregon – Disaster Designation 3

USDA has designated nine counties in Oregon and Washington as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by freezing temperatures and extreme heat that occurred April 8 – May 13, 2013. Those counties are

• Oregon: Gilliam, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Wasco and Wheeler counties.
• Washington: Benton and Klickitat counties.

[All counties listed above were designated natural disaster areas Oct. 1, 2013.]

The latest designations raise the total [listed] crop disaster areas to at least 3,844 counties across 44 states so far this year.

The crop disasters for year 2013 include losses and damages caused by

• DROUGHT
• FLOOD
• Flash flooding
• Excessive rain, moisture, humidity
• Severe Storms, thunderstorms
• Ground Saturation, Standing Water
• Hail
• Wind, High Winds
• Freezing Temperatures and Excessive Rain
• Fire, Wildfire
• Heat, Excessive Heat, High temp. (incl. low humidity)
• Winter Storms, Ice Storms, Snow, Blizzard
• Frost, FREEZE
• Hurricanes, Typhoons, Tropical Storms
• Tornadoes
• Volcano
• Mudslides, Debris Flows, Landslides
• Heavy Surf
• Ice Jams
• Insects
• Tidal Surges
• Cold, Wet Weather
• Cool/Cold, Below-normal Temperatures
• Lightning
• Disease
• Freezing Temperatures
• Extreme Heat
• Excessive Rain and Related Flooding
• High Winds and Hail
• Weather-related Disease and Fungi Infestation

Notes:
1. USDA trigger point for a countywide disaster declaration is 30 percent crop loss on at least one crop.

2. The counties listed above as agricultural disaster areas includes both primary and contiguous disaster areas.

3. The U.S. has a total of 3,143 counties and county-equivalents.

4. A number of counties have been designated crop disaster areas more than once due to multiple disasters.

5. The disaster designations were approved by USDA between January 9 and September 25, 2013.

Secretary Vilsack also reminds producers that Congress has not funded the five disaster assistance programs authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill.These are SURE; the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP); the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP); the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP); and the Tree Assistance Program (TAP). Production losses due to disasters occurring after Sept. 30, 2011, are not eligible for disaster program coverage.

Related Links

• Crop Disaster Losses 2013 September 27, 2013
• 2013 Agricultural Disasters
• Drought 2013

State of Emergency Declared in San Joaquin County Due To Extreme Heat

Extreme heat to last through Friday in San Joaquin County, California

Extreme heat in San Joaquin County has forced the Office of Emergency Services to declare a state of emergency. The heat is forecast to last through Friday, forecasters said.

Prolonged high heat and humidity that can be dangerous and even life-threatening is forecast for San Joaquin County, said the County Public health officials, urging the public  to take precautions that will protect them and their families.

“The Stockton Memorial Civic Auditorium has been set up as one of 11 cooling centers across San Joaquin County to provide residents a safe and cool gathering place during the week-long heat emergency,” said a report.

Stockton is the county seat of San Joaquin County with a population of about 300,000.

• In July 2012, Stockton became the most populous city in the U.S. to  file for protection under Chapter 9 of the US Bankruptcy code.
•  The city was ranked as 10th most dangerous place in America, and the 2nd most dangerous in California (violent crimes per 1000: 14.5; trailing Oakland).
• In 2013, Stockton was ranked as the 3rd least literate city in the United States.

Heat Wave Continues in Western U.S.

On Tuesday, temperatures will once again be 10 to 20 degrees above-normal for much of the Western United States. The Excessive Heat Warnings that have been in place for several days will continue through the middle of the week. Many of the same locations that broke records recently could shatter records again on Tuesday. —NWS

-oOo-

Wildfires Raging in Southern Europe

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,298 Days Left

[August 26, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,298 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History…

• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011...

–

Thousands evacuated as wildfires ravage drought-hit western Balkans

Lingering heatwave has pushed the temperatures above 40°C (104 degrees), triggering over a thousand wildfires in dr5ought-stricken Greece, Spain and western Balkans.

Serbia and neighboring Bosnia are said to be worst hit.  Serbia has evacuated thousands of villagers and mobilized its army to tackle the fires, while Bosnia has appealed for international help.

The situation in Serbia has been described as “extremely serious” by the head of the ministry’s Emergencies Department.

Map of total precipitation in Europe (mm) – week ending August 18

Computer generated map of total precipitation in Europe (mm) for the week ending August 18, 2012. An area of high pressure brought above-normal temperatures (up to 4°C above normal) to the western half of Europe triggering more than a thousand wildfires.  Image source: CPC/NOAA

• Kosovo. The emergency services have asked NATO’s Kosovo peace force for helicopter support.
  • “There’s a huge part we can’t reach because of the landmines from the last war and we can hear explosions time after time,” Kosovo’s Emergency Department told Reuters.

• Greece. In Athens, one of the latest wildfires raged in the capital’s suburbs, blanketing the city with choking smoke.
  
  • Major wildfires have ravaged thousands of hectares across Greece over the past two weeks.

• Spain.  Wildfires have consumed more than 150,000 hectares in Sapin, claiming  several lives, so far this summer.

• Italy. The Ministry of Health raised the extreme heat warning to the maximum level ‘red’  on August 21, after heatwave enveloped 8  cities including the capital Rome.
  • Wildfires were reported at multiple locations across southern Italy.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Heatwave Fuels Wildfires Ravaging Balkans

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,302 Days Left

[August 22, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,302 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History…

• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011...

–

State of emergency declared as wildfires threaten Bosnia towns

Residents and tourists are being  evacuated from Bosnian towns, as raging wildfires fueled by the extreme heat and strong winds approach.

• Authorities declared a state of emergency in the town of Bratunac (eastern Bosnia) as wildfires approached from 4 directions.
• Residents and tourists are being evacuated from the town TouKonjic (southern Bosnia) as multiple wildfires engulf the surrounding areas.

Authorities both in Serbia and Croatia have issued extreme heat warnings, instructing people to stay indoors to avoid dehydration and heatstroke.

• Italy. The Ministry of Health raised the extreme heat warning to the maximum level ‘red’  after heatwave enveloped 8  cities including the capital Rome.
  • Wildfires were reported at multiple locations across southern Italy.

• France. Heatwave has also affected most parts of France since last week.
  • In southern France, temperatures exceeded 40ºC (104 degrees).

• Spain. A major wildfire fueled by the extreme heatwave has scorched more than 8,000 hectares in the central Spanish province of Leon, reports said.
  • Fires in Spain have consumed about 150,000 hectares of wild land killing several people this summer.

• Greece.  Hundreds of fires were ignited across the Greek Islands over the weekend, scorching thousands of  acres of forest.

• Belgium and Germany have also been affected by the heatwave since late last week.

Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events

• Ecuador. Tungurahua volcano (summit elevation: 5,030 m) near Banos erupted again on Tuesday, August 20, 2012 spewing lava, ash and volcanic debris  into the air.  Authorities raised the alert level to ‘orange, and evacuated some of nearby residents, while advising others to leave the are voluntarily.
  • Tungurahua’s last major eruption occurred from 1916 to 1918, but the volcano became active again in October 1999.

Tungurahua volcano seen from Huambalo, Ecuador, Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012. (Photo: Dolores Ochoa/AP). Image may be subject to copyright.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Record Heatwave Kills Dozens in U.S.

Deadly heat persists in eastern U.S.

At least 46 people have died amid extreme heat that has paralyzed more than two dozen states from the Midwest to the East Coast.

Heat-related fatalities occurred in Virgina (at least 12 deaths reported), Maryland (11), Chicago (10), Wisconsin (4), Ohio (3), Pennsylvania (3) Tennessee (2), and Indiana (1), where an infant died after being left in a vehicle in triple-digit temperatures outside her home in Greenfield, about 25 miles east of Indianapolis.

Hundreds of thousands of people in West Virginia, Virginia, Ohio, New Jersey, Maryland and Indiana are still without power 9 days after deadly storms swept through the region causing widespread destruction and ‘catastrophic damage’ to power grids.

Map of Temperature Departure from Normal

Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events

• Krasnodar Region, Russia. The worst flooding in living memory in southern Russia’s Krasnodar Region, near the Black Sea, has left at least 153 people dead and and more than 5,000 homes destroyed or damaged, reports said.
  • “The flash flood inundated the cities of Gelendzhik, Krymsk and Novorossiysk as well as the four villages of Divnomorskoe, Nizhnebakanskaya, Neberdzhaevskaya and Kabardinka.”
  • “The streets of Krymsk are now mostly deserted. The town looks like the set of a post-apocalyptic movie,” RT reported .
  • About 3,000 people have been evacuated from flood-hit areas in Krasnoda, as of posting,  while 30,000 people are without power in the region, and more than 80 percent of the population of Krymsk have lost their gas supply cut off.

Trends in Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide

Up-to-date weekly average CO₂ at Mauna Loa

• Week of June 24, 2012:     395.33 ppm
• Weekly value from 1 year ago:     393.50 ppm
• Weekly value from 10 years ago:     375.08 ppm

Recent Mauna Loa CO₂

• June 2012:     395.77 ppm
• June 2011:     393.68 ppm

Recent Global CO₂

• May 2012:     393.77 ppm
• May 2011:     391.90 ppm

Links to Recent Related Entries

• Drought Disaster Declared in Montana Posted on July 5, 2012
• Colorado Declared Agri Disaster Area Posted on July 4, 2012
• Disaster Declared in 94 Counties across 4 States Posted on July 3, 2012
• Deadly Heat Blankets Eastern U.S. Posted on July 2, 2012
• States of Emergency Declared in 4 States and DC as Storm Death Toll Rises Posted  on July 1, 2012
• Deadly Heat Wave Affects Third of U.S. Population Posted on June 30, 2012
• The record-setting heat wave continues to expand Posted on June 30, 2012
• Explosive Wildfires Continue Erupting Across the U.S. Posted on June 29, 2012
• Destructive Wildfire Activity Intensifies in Colorado Posted on June 28, 2012
• Drought 2012 Posted on January 8, 2012

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Hottest U.S. Spring on Record

U.S. experiencing record-breaking  temperatures: Report

Spring 2012 was the hottest spring on record. United States has also recorded both warmest year-to-date and twelve-month periods for lower 48, and 2nd warmest May: NOAA

March-May nationally-averaged temperature rose 5.2°F above the 1901-2000 long-term average of 57.1°F, breaking the record for warmest spring set in 1910 by 2.0°F, reported NOAA.

The 11 warmest 12-months periods ever recorded in the U.S.

The June 2011-May 2012 period was the warmest 12-month period of any 12 months on record for the contiguous United States.

These are the warmest 12-month periods on record for the contiguous United States. [All of these periods have occurred since June 1999. ] During the June 2011-May 2012 period, each of the 12 months ranked among the warmest third of their historical distribution for the first time in the 1895-present record. The odds of this occurring randomly is 1 in 531,441.  Source: NCDC/NOAA. Temp Departures Table.

The warmest year-to-date

“The January-May months were the warmest such period on record for the contiguous United States, with an average temperature of 49.2°F, 5.0°F above the long-term average. Twenty-nine states, all east of the Rockies, were record warm for the five-month period and an additional 14 states had temperatures for the period among their ten warmest.”

• Click for similar supplemental information for about 150 U.S. cities

The second warmest May on record

May 2012 the second warmest May on record with the average temperature for the contiguous U.S. reaching 64.3°F, 3.3°F above the long-term average.

“The month’s high temperatures also contributed to the warmest spring, warmest year-to-date, and warmest 12-month period the nation has experienced since recordkeeping began in 1895.”

Other significant climatic events during 2012 spring include

• 31 states east of Rockies experienced record warm.
• Gila National Forest Wildfire (Whitewater-Baldy Complex fire), aided by the ongoing drought and windy conditions, grew to 210,000 acres by the end of May, surpassing 2011’s Las Conchas Fire as the largest NM wildfire on record. [Currently reported at about 2670,000 and growing.]
• NW OR received record precipitation at 10.83 inches,  more than 69% above average.
• 3rd smallest snow cover extent across contiguous U.S.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Heat, Worsening Drought Kill Thousands of Cattle

Mounting Human Toll Yet to Be Revealed

Deadly heat across the central and eastern United States  expands into the Ohio Valley and East Coast States

Highest heat indexes reported over the southern Plains, the Midwest, the Ohio Valley and the Mid-Atlantic: NWS

At least 5,000 cattle have died from heat in Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota, reports said.

Composite Hazard Map Covering Temperature and Wind Threats, Precipitation, Soil/Wildfire Conditions. Click image to enlarge.

Maximum Daily Heat Index Map – Forecast. Click image to enlarge.

Drought

Current U.S. Drought Monitor. Click image to enlarge.

Highlights and Excerpts from the Weekly Report

• Great Plains:  The drought conditions across the Southern Great Plains persisted, and worsened across most areas.
• Texas: 94% of the range and pastureland was described as being in poor or very poor condition— a record weekly value.
• Oklahoma: Across Oklahoma, 78% of the range and pastureland described as poor or very poor.

• Great Lakes: Continued dryness that began about 60 days ago prompted the introduction of an area of abnormal dryness (D0) to the map across the lower Great Lakes region.
• Across western New York and Pennsylvania, continued dry conditions lead to an expansion of the recently introduced D0 area.
• Southeast and mid-Atlantic: A dry pattern persisted for the Carolinas, prompting a slight expansion in coverage of all the drought categories.
• Rockies and Southwest: Rainfall (approximately 0.5 inch) associated with monsoonal moisture contributed to a small improvement across northwest New Mexico (McKinley County).  The central portions of New Mexico remained dry while some portions across the south received nearly 6 inches of rainfall.  Even with 4-6 inches falling in the Cloudcroft region, improvement could not be pursued as average rainfall is 5.2 inches.  Within the same climate division, most other stations reported less than 1 inch of total rainfall during July.
• Colorado: Impacts from the drought continue to linger across the SW Colorado.

Temperature Forecast: Temperatures are expected to remain above normal for the central portions of the contiguous 48 states and below-normal along the Pacific Coast. (Source: )

Indiana and Ohio

“Their crops are behind, and to make things even worse, they are dry now, too,” said Ken Scheeringa, Indiana’s associate state climatologist.

The dry parts in the Midwest is forecast to expand merging into a larger area from eastern Iowa through northern Illinois, stretching into Ohio, Scheeringa said.

“That dome of hot air over Missouri-Kansas — that is so strong, it’s just overwhelming the whole United States now,” he said. “It’s huge.”

Illinois

“I think all the heat that has developed out in the Plains has spilled over into the rest of the Midwest. That has certainly been a contributing factor,” said  the state climatologist for Illinois.

Corn Supplies

“Because corn supplies in the United States, the world’s largest producer and exporter of the grain, are projected to fall to a 16-year low by the end of August, the grain trade is counting on a large harvest this fall.” Said a report.

Soil Moisture Forecasts

Constructed Analog Forecasts based on Soil Moisture. Source: CPC

Related Links

• Killer Heat Wave Continues in Central and Eastern U.S.

Killer Heat Wave Continues in Central and Eastern U.S.

Excessive heat and humidity expected to expand into the Ohio Valley and East Coast states this week: Forecasters

High heat index values of between 105 and 115 degrees through Friday (locally higher values possible) to expand into the Ohio Valley and East Coast, NWS reported.

Currently Excessive Heat Warnings, Watches and Heat Advisories are in effect over most of the central U.S., Ohio Valley and the Atlantic east coast from the Carolinas into New England.

US Weather Hazards Map.

 

Composite Hazard Map Covering Temperature and Wind Threats, Precipitation, Soil/Wildfire Conditions. Click image to enlarge.

Maximum Daily Heat Index Map – Forecast. Click image to enlarge.

Related Links:

• US Nuke Plants Threatened by Extreme Heat
• Killer Heat Persists in Central United States

 

US Nuke Plants Threatened by Extreme Heat

WARNING!

Sustained Heat Could Overwhelm Cooling at Nuclear Power Plants

Extreme Heat Could Severely Impact Nuclear Power Plants in Central, Midwest and Eastern United States Leading to Potential Nuclear Disasters

Cooling at the U.S. Nuclear Power Plants

Map of the Licensed Nuclear Reactors in the U.S. Subdivided by Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Regions.

All but less than two dozen of a total of 104 nuclear reactors in the U.S. fall within the extreme heat zone as shown in the forecast map below.

Persistent heat could severely impact the ability of cooling systems in the reactors, causing overheating in one or more NPPs that could potentially lead to nuclear disasters at multiple locations.

Hazards Assessment Map

NWS has forecast that excessive heat will persist from today through July 29 in all the eastern half of the country except for the Northeast. Click image to enlarge.

Highest Heat Indexes

Tuesday’s highest recorded heat indexes in the U.S. were

• Knoxville, Iowa: 131 (ºF)
• Freeport, Illinois: 124
• Madison, Minnesota: 124
• Watertown, Wisconsin: 119
• Tekamah, Nebraska: 117
• Camberlain, South Dakota: 115

Heat Index Forecast:

• Washington, DC: 116
• Richmond, Virginia: 118

Maximum heat index forecast for July 22, 2011. Click image to enlarge.

Probability of a Nuclear Disaster by Country

The following probability figures are calculated by FIRE-EARTH on April 8, 2011 (Last UPDATED: July 20, 2011)

• Japan (880)³
• United States (870)
• France (855)
• Taiwan (850)
• Belgium, China, Finland, India,  South Korea, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Russia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Armenia, Slovenia, Croatia, Romania,  Hungary, Bulgaria, Spain,  Pakistan, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico,  South Africa, Canada (810)
• Germany, Sweden, Netherlands (800)
• Switzerland  (750)

Notes:

1. The list represents a snapshot of events at the time of calculating the probabilities. Any forecast posted  here is subject to numerous variable factors.
2. Figures in the bracket represent the probability of an incident occurring out of 1,000; the forecast duration is valid for the next 50  months.
3. Probability includes a significant worsening of Fukushima nuclear disaster, and future quakes forecast for Japan.
4. A nuclear incident is defined as a level 5 (Accident With Wider Consequences), or worse, on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (INES). See below.
5. Safety issues considered in compiling these lists include the age, number of units and capacity of nuclear reactors in each country/state, previous incidents, probability of damage from human-enhanced natural disasters, e.g., earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic activity, hurricanes, tornadoes, storms, wildfires, flooding… ]
6. The Blog’s knowledge concerning the extent to which the factors described in (3) might worsen during the forecast period greatly influences the forecast. (Last UPDATED: July 20, 2011)

Related Links

• Killer Heat Persists in Central United States

Killer Heat Persists in Central United States

Excessive Heat Warnings, Heat Watches and Advisories are in effect in 19 states

All or parts of the following states are under Excessive Heat Warnings, Heat Watches and Advisories

Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi

Red Flag Warnings
Red Flag Warnings are in effect in parts of Utah and Nevada.

Highest Heat Indexes

The highest recorded heat indexes in the U.S. were

• Knoxville, Iowa: 131 (ºF)
• Freeport, Illinois: 124
• Madison, Minnesota: 124
• Watertown, Wisconsin: 119
• Tekamah, Nebraska: 117
• Camberlain, South Dakota: 115

Heat Index Forecast:

• Washington, DC: 116
• Richmond, Virginia: 118

Maximum heat index forecast for July 22, 2011. Click image to enlarge.

Hazards Assessment Map

NWS has forecast that excessive heat will persist from today through July 29 in all the eastern half of the country except for the Northeast. Click image to enlarge.

Tuesday’s weather highlights for the central United States include:

• Blazing heat continues in the Plains and gradually spreads across the Midwest
• A band of states at risk of severe storms stretches from the Pacific Northwest to the Mid-Atlantic
• Rain and thunderstorms over the Rockies, the eastern Great Lakes and the western Gulf Coast (Source: NOAA)

Related Links

• Extreme Heat Threatens Central Plains, Midwest, Eastern U.S.

Wild, Wild Weather in Central US

Extreme heat, severe storms, major flooding grips central United States

Central United States could expect a smorgasbord of extreme weather this weekend including  extreme heat, severe weather and major flooding: Forecasters

US Weather Hazards Map – July 1, 2011

Click image to enter NWS interactive portal.

Today’s Hydrometeorological briefing from the NWS includes:

• Excessive Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories for the northern and central Plains, the Upper Mississippi Valley and the Middle Mississippi Valley (Excessive Heat Warnings were already in effect this morning for northwestern Missouri, northeast Kansas and eastern Oklahoma.)
• Critical Fire Weather conditions in parts of southwestern Colorado, western Kansas, the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles and surrounding areas
• Severe thunderstorms across the northern and central Plains and the Upper Mississippi Valley
• Continued major flooding on the Missouri River and tributaries from North Dakota to Missouri

Dangerous heat will threaten very young, the very old and the infirm from northern Minnesota to the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles and along the Missouri and Mississippi River drainages.

• Heat indices for northern areas are expected to be in the high 90s and low hundreds
• Actual high temperatures in parts of Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas are expected to range from 106 to 110 degrees.
• Many areas will see their second day of such extreme heat with little or no overnight cooling. Areas under heat warnings and advisories include:
• Eastern North Dakota and South Dakota and Nebraska
• Kansas
• All of Minnesota but the Arrowhead
• Iowa
• Northern, central and southern Missouri;
• Eastern Oklahoma;
• All but very northern Wisconsin
• Western Illinois.

Red Flag Warnings

Red Flag Warnings, prompted by extreme heat (temperatures as high as 106-110 degrees) combined with windy conditions (20-25 mph) and low relative humidity (as low as 4-8 percent) for parts of 7 states:

• Nevada
• Utah
• Colorado
• Western Kansas
• New Mexico
• Oklahoma Panhandle
• Texas Panhandle.

Missouri River Breaches SW Iowa Levee

Meantime, the Missouri River has breached another section of a southwestern Iowa levee, forcing 1,200 people to evacuate and closing part of Interstate 29, authorities were reported as saying.

“About 40 miles of I-29 was closed from Bartlett, Iowa, to the I-29/US 136 interchange in Missouri now because of Missouri flooding and another 16 mile stretch of the interstate is closed in the Council Bluffs, Iowa, area across from Omaha.”

Global Disasters To Intensify

FIRE-EARTH Models show that global disasters could intensify in the 9 month period starting about July 2011 compared with the previous corresponding period (pcp). See: WARNING: Global Disasters to Intensify

Related Links

• Back to the Primordial Future
• U.S. corn production may fall on flooding, heat, drought
• WARNING: Global Disasters – June 21, 2011