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Nebraska Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (DR-4225)
The Disaster President has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Nebraska in the areas affected by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding during the period of May 6 to June 17, 2015.
Areas worst affected by the extreme weather events, severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding, include the counties of Cass, Dundy, Gage, Jefferson, Lancaster, Lincoln, Morrill, Nuckolls, Otoe, Saline, Saunders, and Thayer.
Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the territory and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.This is the 21st Major Disaster Declaration proclaimed for a U.S. state/territory, so far this year.
Bird Flu Continues to Devastate US Poultry Industry
Infected Commercial Flocks. Commercial flocks have been infected in at least 15 States: Arkansas, California, Idaho, Indiana (May 10, 2015), Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska (May 11, 2015), North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin.
Update on Avian Influenza Findings – Poultry Findings Confirmed by USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories
Detections Reported: 207
Birds Affected: 45,027,793
First Detection Reported: December 19, 2014
Last Detection Reported: June 2, 2015
No of Flocks pending tests: 14
Worst Affected Areas
Iowa: 29,261,400 Birds Affected
Minnesota: 8,394,450
Nebraska: 3,794,100
Wisconsin: 1,950,733
South Dakota: 1,168,200
States of Emergency
Iowa’s Gov. Branstad has extended a State of Disaster Emergency Proclamation until July 1 as more farms continue to report new cases of the deadly avian flu virus in their poultry flocks.
Nebraska Gov. Ricketts proclaimed a state of emergency in May following the discovery of avian influenza in the state’s poultry sector, according to a statement posted on his website.
44.6 Million Birds Affected by Deadly Avian Flu Viruses in U.S.
Iowa’s Gov. Branstad has extended a State of Disaster Emergency Proclamation until July 1 as more farms continue to report new cases of the deadly avian flu virus in their poultry flocks. The Proclmation was due to expire on May 31, 2015.
Update on Avian Influenza Findings – Poultry Findings Confirmed by USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories
Birds Affected: 44,612,573 [up from 33,521,073; additional cases pending]
Last Detection Reported: May 28, 2015 [previously reported on May 13, 2015]
Infected Commercial Flocks
Commercial flocks have been infected in at least 15 States: Arkansas, California, Idaho, Indiana (May 10, 2015), Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska (May 11, 2015), North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin.
The majority of the infections have been reported in the state of Iowa, with 29,095,500 birds affected [up from 24,815,500 on May 13,] across 18 counties, and at least 6 additional flocks being tested for the deadly virus(es).
Minnesota has the second highest number of infections, with 8,220,760birds affected.
Nebraska has 3,794,100affected birds.
Wisconsin reported 1,950,733 birds.
South Dakota has 1,116,200 affected birds.
Wild Flocks with Infection Found in at least 5 States: Kentucky, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.
Wild Bird HPAI Cases in the United States
A list prepared by National Flyway Council reports HPAI cases in wild bird flocks across the following states:
CA, ID, KS, KY, MN, MO, NM, NV, OR, WA, WI and WY.
Key Points: HPAI H5 [CDC Influenza Division]
Increased outreach, reporting and surveillance activities in the United States followed the detection of HPAI H5N2 among commercial poultry flocks in Canada in early December 2014.
USDA has reported
HPAI H5N8 virus in California, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Nevada.
HPAI H5N2 virus in Nebraska, Indiana, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Minnesota, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Kentucky.
HPAI H5N1 virus in Washington.
H5 virus in a wild bird in New Mexico, but diagnostic test did not determine the neuraminidase (NA).
HPAI H5N8, HPAI H5N2 and HPAI H5N1 viruses with this combination of genes had not been detected previously in the United States.
A strain of avian flu, EA-H5N8, which had previously been found only in the Western U.S., was detected in a backyard mixed poultry flock in Whitley County, Indiana on May 11, APHIS reported.
WILD BIRD HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA [Last updated by APHIS on May 14, 2013]
USDA reporting H5 bird flu virus detections in 20 U.S. states
Gov. Ricketts has proclaimed a state of emergency following the discovery of avian influenza in Nebraska’s poultry sector, according to a statement posted on his website.
[Nebraska is now the fourth US state to declare a state of emergency due to the rapidly spreading bird flu epidemic. The three other states are Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.]
“The Nebraska Department of Agriculture is coordinating with several state agencies for a thorough, expeditious response,” said Ricketts.
USDA is reporting H5 bird flu virus detections in 20 U.S. states; 15 states with outbreaks in poultry and 5 states with H5 detections in wild birds only.
The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) and USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have confirmed the presence of a second case of highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial layer flock in Dixon County. The second farm (referred to as Dixon 2) is in close proximity to the initial farm (referred to as Dixon 1) identified on May 12, 2015.
Dixon 2 is a flock of 1.8 million chickens. [Dixon 1 is believed to be a flock of 1.7 million birds.]
“Having a second farm in Nebraska confirmed to have HPAI is unfortunate but not completely unexpected. This follows the pattern we’ve seen in other states when it comes to the spread of the virus,” said NDA Director.
Both farms are under quarantine, and the birds on both properties will be depopulated, the NDA Director added.
“A perimeter has been established around Dixon 2, and as is the USDA protocol, NDA will be visiting all locations within a 6.2 mile radius of the farm that have poultry to conduct testing. Due to the proximity of Dixon 2 to Dixon 1, the 6.2 mile radius overlaps significantly,” said NDA.
Update on Avian Influenza Findings – Poultry Findings Confirmed by USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories
Commercial Flocks Infected in at least 15 States: Arkansas, California, Idaho, Indiana (May 10, 2015), Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska (May 11, 2015), North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin.
Majority of the infections have been reported in the state of Iowa, with 24,815,500 birds affected, and at least 6 additional flocks being tested for the deadly virus(es).
Wild Flocks with Infection Found in at least 5 States: Kentucky, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.
Wild Bird HPAI Cases in the United States
A list prepared by National Flyway Council reports HPAI cases in wild bird flocks across the following states:
CA, ID, KS, KY, MN, MO, NM, NV, OR, WA, WI and WY.
Key Points: HPAI H5 [CDC Influenza Division]
Increased outreach, reporting and surveillance activities in the United States followed the detection of HPAI H5N2 among commercial poultry flocks in Canada in early December 2014.
USDA has reported
HPAI H5N8 virus in California, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Nevada.
HPAI H5N2 virus in Nebraska, Indiana, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Minnesota, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Kentucky.
HPAI H5N1 virus in Washington.
H5 virus in a wild bird in New Mexico, but diagnostic test did not determine the neuraminidase (NA).
HPAI H5N8, HPAI H5N2 and HPAI H5N1 viruses with this combination of genes had not been detected previously in the United States.
A strain of avian flu, EA-H5N8, which had previously been found only in the Western U.S., was detected in a backyard mixed poultry flock in Whitley County, Indiana on May 11, APHIS reported.
USDA reporting H5 bird flu virus detections in 20 U.S. states
Gov. Ricketts has proclaimed a state of emergency following the discovery of avian influenza in Nebraska’s poultry sector, according to a statement posted on his website.
[Nebraska is now the fourth US state to declare a state of emergency due to the rapidly spreading bird flu epidemic. The three other states are Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.]
“The Nebraska Department of Agriculture is coordinating with several state agencies for a thorough, expeditious response,” said Ricketts.
USDA is reporting H5 bird flu virus detections in 20 U.S. states; 15 states with outbreaks in poultry and 5 states with H5 detections in wild birds only.
The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) and USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have confirmed the presence of a second case of highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial layer flock in Dixon County. The second farm (referred to as Dixon 2) is in close proximity to the initial farm (referred to as Dixon 1) identified on May 12, 2015.
Dixon 2 is a flock of 1.8 million chickens. [Dixon 1 is believed to be a flock of 1.7 million birds.]
“Having a second farm in Nebraska confirmed to have HPAI is unfortunate but not completely unexpected. This follows the pattern we’ve seen in other states when it comes to the spread of the virus,” said NDA Director.
Both farms are under quarantine, and the birds on both properties will be depopulated, said NDA Director.
“A perimeter has been established around Dixon 2, and as is the USDA protocol, NDA will be visiting all locations within a 6.2 mile radius of the farm that have poultry to conduct testing. Due to the proximity of Dixon 2 to Dixon 1, the 6.2 mile radius overlaps significantly,” said NDA.
Update on Avian Influenza Findings – Poultry Findings Confirmed by USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories
Commercial Flocks Infected in at least 15 States: Arkansas, California, Idaho, Indiana (May 10, 2015), Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska (May 11, 2015), North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin.
Majority of the infections have been reported in the state of Iowa, with 24,815,500 birds affected, and at least 6 additional flocks being tested for the deadly virus(es).
Wild Flocks with Infection Found in at least 5 States: Kentucky, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.
Key Points: HPAI H5 [CDC Influenza Division]
Increased outreach, reporting and surveillance activities in the United States followed the detection of HPAI H5N2 among commercial poultry flocks in Canada in early December 2014.
USDA has reported
HPAI H5N8 virus in California, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Nevada.
HPAI H5N2 virus in Nebraska, Indiana, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Minnesota, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Kentucky.
HPAI H5N1 virus in Washington.
H5 virus in a wild bird in New Mexico, but diagnostic test did not determine the neuraminidase (NA).
HPAI H5N8, HPAI H5N2 and HPAI H5N1 viruses with this combination of genes had not been detected previously in the United States.
A strain of avian flu, EA-H5N8, which had previously been found only in the Western U.S., was detected in a backyard mixed poultry flock in Whitley County, Indiana on May 11, APHIS reported.
‘Late freeze,’ ‘severe hail’ kill crops in 13 counties across three states
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated a total of 13 counties in three states—Arkansas, Iowa and and Nebraska—as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by an late freeze, or severe hail.
Damages and losses caused by severe hail that occurred on Oct. 2, 2014
Arkansas: St. Francis, Crittenden, Cross, Lee, Monroe and Woodruff counties.
Damages and losses caused by a late freeze that occurred on May 16, 2014
Iowa: Harrison, Crawford, Monona, Pottawattamie and Shelby counties.
Nebraska: Burt and Washington counties
Crop Disasters 2014
Beginning January 10, 2014 USDA has declared crop disasters in at least 2,904 counties across 44 states.
Those states are
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan. Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. [FIRE-EARTH has documented all of the above listings. See blog content.]
Notes:
i. USDA trigger point for a countywide disaster declaration is 30 percent crop loss on at least one crop.
ii. The above disaster lists include both primary and contiguous disaster designations.
iii. Some counties may have been designated crop disaster areas more than once due to multiple disasters.
iv. The U.S. has a total of 3,143 counties and county-equivalents.
v. The disaster designations posted above were approved by USDA on December 24, 2014.
Crop Disasters Declared for 41 Counties across Five States
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has declared crop disasters in 41 counties across five states—Alabama, Georgia, Kansas, Nebraska,Texas—due to the losses and damage caused by extreme weather and climatic events.
Crop disasters caused by drought
Texas: Delta, Franklin, Hopkins, Hunt, Rains and Wood counties.
Crop disasters caused by excessive rain, flash flooding, high winds and hail that occurred from Aug. 9, 2014, through Oct. 2, 2014
Kansas: Brown, Clay, Cloud, Jackson, Jewell, Lincoln, Marshall, Mitchell, Nemah,Osborne, Ottawa, Pottawatomie, Republic, Riley and Washington counties.
Nebraska, Gage, Jefferson, Pawnee, Richardson and Thayer counties.
Crop Disasters 2014
Beginning January 10, 2014 USDA has declared crop disasters in at least 2,768 counties across 41 states. Most of those designations are due to drought.
Those states are
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. [FIRE-EARTH has documented all of the above listings. See blog content.]
Notes:
i. USDA trigger point for a countywide disaster declaration is 30 percent crop loss on at least one crop.
ii. The counties designated as agricultural disaster areas, as listed above, include both primary and contiguous disaster areas.
iii. Some counties may have been designated crop disaster areas more than once due to multiple disasters.
iv. The U.S. has a total of 3,143 counties and county-equivalents.
v. The disaster designations posted above were approved by USDA on October 22, 2014.
EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS MAJOR DISASTERS FEDERAL DISASTERS DECLARED SCENARIOS 444, 111, 088, 066, 023 .
Nebraska Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (DR-4183)
Federal Disaster has been declared for the state of Nebraska due to severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding during the during the period of June 14-21, 2014.
Worst of the damage and losses have occurred in Cedar, Cuming, Dakota, Dixon, Franklin, Furnas, Harlan, Kearney, Phelps, Stanton, Thurston, and Wayne counties.
Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments, said Fema in a statement released by White House.
Iowa Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (DR-4184)
Federal Disaster has been declared for the state of Iowa due to severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding during the during the period of June 14-23, 2014.
Worst of the damage and losses caused by the extreme weather events have occurred in Allamakee, Buchanan, Buena Vista, Butler, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Fayette, Franklin, Hancock, Humboldt, Ida, Kossuth, Lyon, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Sac, Sioux, Winnebago, Winneshiek, Woodbury, and Wright counties.
Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments, said officials.
Nebraska Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (DR-4185)
A second Federal Disaster has been declared for the state of Iowa due to severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding during the during the period of June 1-4, 2014.
Areas worst affected by the disasters are Burt, Butler, Cass, Hamilton, Holt, Nemaha, Pawnee, Polk, Rock, Thurston, Valley, and Washington counties.
Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments, said officials.
South Dakota Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (DR-4186)
Federal Disaster has been declared for the state of South Dakota due to severe storms, tornadoes and flooding during the period of June 13-20, 2014.
Areas worst affected by the disasters are Butte, Clay, Corson, Dewey, Hanson, Jerauld, Lincoln, Minnehaha, Perkins, Turner, Union, and Ziebach Counties and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe within Corson County.
Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments, said officials.
EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS DEADLY TORNADOES MAJOR DISASTER SCENARIOS 444, 111, 088, 066, 023 FEDERAL DISASTER DECLARED .
Nebraska Declared Major Disaster Area (DR-4179)
Federal disaster has been declared for the state of Nebraska affected by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding during the period of May 11-12, 2014.
Areas worst affected by the disasters are the counties of Clay, Fillmore, Saline, Saunders, Seward, and York.
Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments, said Fema in a statement released by White House.
EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS DEADLY TORNADOES MAJOR DISASTER SCENARIO 88 STATE OF EMERGENCY .
Massive Twin Twisters Destroy Homes, Damage Multiple Towns in NE, IA
Massive twin tornadoes swept Nebraska, killing at least one, injuring dozens, 16 critically, and causing substantial damage to at least four towns in Nebraska, according to various reports.
The powerful super-cell storm system spawning the tornadoes has since headed into northwestern Iowa.
“The towns of Pilger [population: ~ 400] and Stanton had suffered damage and emergency officials were searching for survivors, said Al Vacanti, city administrator for the nearby town of Wisner,” reported Reuters.
“Pilger is totally destroyed. We’re heading there to help out,” said Cathy Ruppert, wife of Stanton council member Mike Ruppert. She did not know whether there were injuries.
“A hospital spokeswoman says at least one person is dead and 16 others are in critical condition after two massive tornadoes swept through northeast Nebraska,” AP reported.
“This is one powerful storm that moved across our area and we do believe there is still a threat for strong, severe thunderstorms including the potential for tornadoes,” said a meteorologist at National Weather Service in Omaha.
News release submitted by NE governor’s office:
Tornadoes Hit Stanton, Cuming and Wayne Counties
Several northeast Nebraska communities have been affected by tornadoes and high winds this evening, leaving areas with severe damage. Emergency responders are working in Pilger, Wisner and Stanton conducting searches for people trapped under debris.
Nebraska Emergency Management Agency has had reports of damage from local emergency managers in both Cuming and Wayne Counties.
The State Emergency Operations Center is activated at NEMA. The Nebraska State Patrol and American Red Cross are working with NEMA staff at the SEOC Nebraska Department of Roads staff in the field.
NE Gov. has declared a state of emergency and deployed the national guard.
Nebraska State Patrol has closed off the town of Pilger. No one is being allowed in or out. Norfolk Police Captain said damage was extensive, resources are in place to help, and they’re asking volunteers to stay away so first responders can do their jobs.
The storm Prediction Center (SPC) at NWS has received 20 tornado reports in NE and IA as posting.
Drought Crop Disasters Declared in 39 Counties across 5 States
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 39 counties across five states as crop disaster areas due to drought. USDA issued four separate designations for crop disasters on May 21, 2014.
Drought disaster designations are for the following states:
Texas: Delta, Fannin, Hopkins, Lamar, Franklin, Hunt, Red River and Grayson counties.
Colorado: Yuma County.
Nebraska: Dundy, Chase, Hayes and Hitchcock counties.
Drought Disasters 2014
Beginning January 10, 2014 USDA has declared at least 1,757 separate crop disasters across 24 states. Most of those designations are due to the worsening drought.
Those states are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah and Washington. [FIRE-EARTH has documented all of the above listings.]
Notes:
i. USDA trigger point for a countywide disaster declaration is 30 percent crop loss on at least one crop.
ii. The total number of counties designated as agricultural disaster areas includes both primary and contiguous disaster areas.
iii. Counties may have been designated crop disaster areas more than once due to multiple disasters.
iv. The U.S. has a total of 3,143 counties and county-equivalents.
v. The disaster designations posted above were approved by USDA on My 21, 2014.
Crop Disasters Declared in Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas, Arizona due to Worsening Drought
The U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA has designated a total of 59 counties in five states—Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas and Arizona—as multiple crop disaster areas due to the worsening drought.
Those areas are
Texas: Hall, Briscoe, Collingsworth, Donley, Childress, Cottle and Motley counties.
The White House has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Nebraska in the area affected by severe storms, winter storms, tornadoes, and flooding during the period of October 2-6, 2013.
Areas worst affected by the severe storms, winter storms, tornadoes, and flooding are the counties of Adams, Dawes, Dixon, Howard, Sheridan, Sherman, Sioux, Thurston, and Wayne.
Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments, said FEMA in a statement.
[August 9, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016. SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,315 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History…
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Hi temps and low precipitation intensified drought 2012, covering about 2/3 of the U.S., as deadly wildfires burned millions of acres
July average temperature for contiguous U.S. climbed to 77.6°F, 3.3°F above the 20th century average, making it the hottest July and the hottest month on record for the country, reported NOAA. “The warm July temperatures contributed to a record-warm first seven months of the year and the warmest 12-month period the nation has experienced since recordkeeping began in 1895.”
“The August 2011-July 2012 period was the warmest 12-month period of any 12-months on record for the contiguous U.S., narrowly surpassing the record broken last month for the July 2011-June 2012 period by 0.07°F. The nationally averaged temperature of 56.1°F was 3.3°F above the long term average. Except Washington, which was near average, every state across the contiguous U.S. had warmer than average temperatures for the period.”
The previous warmest July was Dust Bowl summer of 1936 when the average U.S. temperature was 77.4°F.
Precipitation in continental U.S. averaged 2.57, 0.19 inches below average.
Virginia experienced its warmest July, with a statewide temperature 4.0°F above average.
Record heat also contributed to the warmest ever January-to-July period.
U.S. temperatures have now broken the hottest-12-months record 4 times in as many months (see chart below).
The U.S. Climate Extremes Index (USCEI) soared to a record-large 46 percent (more than twice the average value) during the January-July period, beating the previous record large CEI of 42 percent which occurred in 1934.
Year-to-date temperature Chart, by month, for 2012 (red), compared to the other 117 years on record for the contiguous U.S., with the five ultimately warmest years (orange) and five ultimately coolest years (blue) noted. Source: NCDC
The ten warmest 12-month periods recorded in the U.S. Temperatures have now broken the hottest-12-months record 4 times in as many months. Source: NCDC
Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events
U.S. Drought Disaster 2012
About a quarter (24.14%) of the Continental U.S. is now in ‘Extreme’ or ‘Exceptional’ drought (D3 – D4), a rise of about 2 percent since July 31, and nearly a half (46.01%) of the country is experiencing ‘Severe’ to ‘Exceptional’ drought levels (D2 – D4), according to data released by the US Drought Monitor.
U.S. Drought Map. Comparison maps for July 31 and August 7, 2012. Source: US Drought Monitor
New Mexico. USDA has designated eight counties in New Mexico as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the ongoing drought.
Nebraska. USDA has designated 38 counties in Nebraska as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the ongoing drought. The disaster declaration extends to the following counties in bordering states
Iowa: 3 counties
Kansas: 2 counties
South Dakota: 3 counties
Mississippi. USDA has designated 6 counties in Mississippi as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the ongoing drought. The disaster declaration extends to the following counties in bordering states
Arkansas: 2 counties
Oklahoma. USDA has designated 20 counties in Oklahoma as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the ongoing drought. The disaster declaration extends to the following counties in bordering states
Kansas: Cherokee County.
Missouri: 2 counties.
Oklahoma Drought Map
Oklahoma Drought Maps for July 31 and August 7, 2012.Source: US Drought Monitor.
South Dakota. USDA has designated 6 counties in South Dakota as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the ongoing drought. The disaster declaration extends to the following counties in bordering states
Iowa: Lyon County.
Minnesota: 2 counties.
Ohio. USDA has designated 4 counties in Ohio as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the ongoing drought. The disaster declaration extends to the following counties in bordering states
Michigan: Hillsdale County.
Indiana: 2 counties.
Arkansas. USDA has designated 6 counties in Arkansas as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the ongoing drought.
Illinois. USDA has designated six counties in Illinois as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the ongoing drought. The disaster declaration extends to the following counties in bordering states
Wisconsin: 2 counties.
Iowa. USDA has designated ten counties in Iowa as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the ongoing drought. The disaster declaration extends to the following counties in bordering states
Minnesota: 2 counties.
Nebraska: 2 counties.
S. Dakota: 3 counties.
Iowa Drought Maps for July 31 and August 7, 2012. Source: US Drought Monitor. The areas covered by extreme or exceptional drought levels in Iowa have more than doubled from 30.74 percent last week to 69.14 percent on August 7. Iowa is the country’s top corn and soybean producer.
Minnesota. USDA has designated 4 counties in Minnesota as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the ongoing drought. The disaster declaration extends to the following counties in bordering states
Iowa: Lyon County
South Dakota: Two counties
Kentucky. USDA has designated 9 counties in Kentucky as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the ongoing drought. The disaster declaration extends to the following counties in bordering states
Indiana: Perry County.
Kansas. USDA has designated 21 counties in Kansas, a key farm state, as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the ongoing drought. The disaster declaration extends to the following counties in bordering states
Missouri: 2 counties.
Nebraska: 5 counties.
Oklahoma: 2 counties.
Kansas Drought Map Kansas Drought Maps for July 31 and August 7, 2012. Source: US Drought Monitor.
U.S. Corn Condition
Map of the Agricultural Weather Assessments for U.S. Corn Conditions for the week ending August 4, 2012.Source: USDA
Europe. Watch this space!
Manila, Philippines. Authorities in the Philippines have appealed for “more medicines, blankets, mats and, more importantly, dry clothes” to help more than two million people displaced or severely affected by floods in and around Manila, as the death toll mounted.
many evacuation centers are unable to provide warm meals for the growing numbers displaced, AFP reported Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman as saying. “Most local government units do a community kitchen, but the volume of evacuees is so big they have been overwhelmed,” she said.
Extreme Weather Events Cause Agricultural Disasters in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin
Damage and losses caused by the combined effects of blizzards, excessive snow, excessive heat, excessive rain, high winds, hail, freeze, frost, tornadoes, flooding and lightening that occurred between January 1 and May 11, 2012 prompted USDA to declare disaster in 94 counties across 4 states.
List of the 72 Michigancounties declared Primary Disaster Areas
List of 10 Michigancounties declared Contiguous Disaster Areas
The following 12 counties in Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin have also been designated as disaster areas because they are contiguous.
Indiana: Elkhart, Lagrange, La Porte, St. Joseph and Steuben counties.
Ohio: Fulton, Lucas and Williams counties.
Wisconsin: Florence, Forest, Marinette and Vilas counties.
March Heat, April Freezes
According to a report by the Central Region Climate Response Team, March Heat, April Freezes, March 2012 “was the warmest March on record for 25 states east of the Rockies, and for 15 other states this March ranked among the ten warmest.”
“During the middle of March maximum temperatures were averaging 40 degrees F above normal. Maximum temperatures regularly reached the low and mid 80s
well north into Wisconsin. Many locations broke daily records by more than 20 degrees F.”
However, April 2012 experienced “at least three significant cold air masses” that crept into the Midwest and caused freezing temperatures.
Iowa. The freeze caused a 50% destruction of the grape crop, about 90% damage to the apple and fruit tree blossoms and caused significant damage to corn and other crops.
Illinois. The 2012 apple crop in parts of the state was a total loss due to freeze on April 11.
“Sweet corn grower in Vermilion County planted sweet corn on March 19. Plants were up a couple of leaves when back‐to‐back freezes hit (26F and 27F), reducing stand by 5,000 plants per acre.
“Sleepy Creek Vineyard in Vermilion County reported earliest budding grapevines had 100 percent damage, and others had 80 percent damage.”
Michigan. “Thousands of acres of this year’s grape crop have been lost across southwest lower Michigan.
“A surveyor for National Grape Cooperative, better known as Welch’s Foods, said he went through hundreds of acres before even finding a live bud. John Jasper estimates more than 10,000 acres were destroyed April 12, mostly in Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties.
“Many apple, peach, cherry and blueberry orchards have also had substantial losses across northern Indiana and southern Lower Michigan.”
Wisconsin. “Cherry growers in Door County, WI, anticipate losses of 70% …”
Kentucky. Frost damaged apples, peaches, pears, plums, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, and grapes to varying degrees across the state.
“Wheat harvest began two weeks early in Kentucky due to warm weather, but warm temperatures, and then a brief cold snap, have wreaked havoc on the crop’s yield, which some farmers say has been cut nearly in half. Some farmers are getting 12 bu/acre, compared to a normal of 80 bu/acre,” said the report (PDF file).
April 2012: 394.01 ppm (1-year increase: 2.18 ppm)
April 2011: 391.83 ppm
New Zealand Earthquake
A Richter magnitude 7.0 quake struck the Cook Strait, west coast of North Island, NZ, about 100km SSW of New Plymouth and 170 km north-west of Wellington (40.00°S, 173.75°E), at a depth of about 230km on Tuesday, July 3 2012 at 10:36UTC.
NO tsunami warning was issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
NO report of casualties, as of posting.
The quake shook Wellington and was felt as far away as the Bay of Plenty and Christchurch, reports said.
U.S. Heat Wave
US Weather Hazards Map, July 3, 2012.“The heat wave continues for a large portion of the central and eastern U.S., with high temperatures this afternoon forecast to be 10-15 degrees above normal. Combined with high levels of humidity, this will create dangerous heat index values as high as 100-110 degrees for locations such as Minneapolis, Chicago, Kansas City and St. Louis,” said NWS.
The core of the record heat in the central United States is forecast to move gradually to the east this week, however heat alerts and heat indices to 105 degrees will continue. “Much of the eastern half of the country will continue to bake under clear skies, high temperatures and a lack of significant rain,” said NOAA forecasters.
Continued relentless heat through most of the week from the Plains to the Atlantic Coast will dominate the weather events.
Current Warnings Prompted by Unrelenting Heat
Red Flag Warnings, Excessive Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories issued in parts of 26 states from Wyoming to North Carolina.
Heat Advisories
Heat Advisories are in effect until this evening for parts of the Northern Plains, Ohio Valley and the Southeast:
North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Ohio, West Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida.
Record Daily High Temperatures Nationwide – June 2012
All Time Record High Temperatures Nationwide – June 2012
Mid-Atlantic Derecho
Death toll has climbed to 22 after the weekend derecho that ravaged the Mid-Atlantic region, with at least 2 million utility customers, or an estimated 7 million people, experiencing power outages amid the continued heat.
Drought Emergency
Nebraska. Gov. Heineman has declared a state emergency due to the drought conditions throughout the state of Nebraska.
“This declaration is important for continued efforts of state officials to ensure the safety of Nebraskans,” Heineman said. “This action is necessary as dry conditions are presenting an imminent threat to the ability of local governments to respond to drought conditions. Additionally, actions such as haying along the roadsides in Nebraska help with drought conditions.”
Nebraska has broken or tied scores of record high temperatures in recent days.
Extreme temperatures will continue over central and western Nebraska through at least Friday due to high pressure lingering over the Central Plains, NWS reported.
“As excessive heat and dry conditions continue, fire danger is high again today. In addition, isolated thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and evening in north central Nebraska and in the Panhandle. The very dry conditions will continue to make the use of fireworks and even power equipment hazardous.”
Map of U.S. Precipitation (7-day total)
Map of U.S. Precipitation as Percent of Normal (7-day total)
At least five people were reported killed as heavy rains continued to pound the American Midwest on Sunday, flooding towns from Iowa to Michigan and threatening levees as lakes and rivers swelled.
Early Death Toll:
Two delivery workers for The Grand Rapids Press in Michigan were killed Sunday when their car fell into a deep ravine created when a rain-swollen creek washed out a road.
A woman died in Lansing Michigan, when a small trailer blew over on top of her.
At least one person died as the result of rising waters, police spokesman in Columbus, Indiana said.
Meanwhile, storms in Nebraska spun out an early-morning Omaha tornado about a quarter-mile wide that moved northeast. As much as 11 inches of rain flooded central Indiana over the weekend.
Most towns south of Indianapolis and further west in Terre Haute received 6-10 inches of rainfall, said a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. He said some affected areas hadn’t seen a such flooding for 100 years.
Flood waters continued to rise throughout Iowa on Sunday, with the northern part of the state receiving up to 5 inches of rain from a single afternoon storm.
Two delivery workers in Michigan were killed when their car fell into a ravine. (Photo: AP/ The Grand Rapids Press) Image may be subject to copyright. See FEWW Fair Use Notice!
A series of tornadoes destroyed homes, toppled power lines and flipped vehicles Saturday as a small but powerful storm system moved through the region, cutting just south of Chicago before weakening and moving over Lake Michigan.
Some of the damage in Monee. (Photo: Scott Stewart/Sun-Times) Image may be subject to copyright. See FEWW Fair Use Notice!
“It was kind of like a train coming through the living room,” An eye witness said. “The building was shaking. There was a lot of commotion.” He said his neighborhood looked like a war zone, with siding, branches and debris strewn everywhere.
Lightning struck a pavilion at a Connecticut state park killing one person and injuring four others. Strong thunderstorms moved through the state Sunday leaving thousands of homes without power.
Heavy rains caused flooding that forced hundreds of evacuations in Indiana, and a tornado raked Chicago’s suburbs on Saturday as violent thunderstorms pummeled the already soggy U.S. heartland, authorities said.
The U.S. Coast Guard was called out to help rescue stranded homeowners and motorists, and near-record flooding was forecast for rivers and creeks in western and central Indiana where Gov. Mitch Daniels declared an emergency in 10 more counties, added to the 41 counties declared earlier. At least one person was injured and some 29,000 households were without power.
“We’ve had some reports of houses destroyed,” said Andrew Krein of the National Weather Service.
Tornadoes also struck in Iowa and Wisconsin, capping a season that has seen a parade of storms spawning tornadoes, hail and destructive winds. According to the weather service, 112 people have died in tornadoes since the beginning of the year, the most in the United States in a decade.
Large hail, strong winds and heavy rain are reported in northwest Kansas in a powerful storm system that could produce large tornadoes in the state before nightfall.
In a strongly-worded statement Thursday, the National Weather Service warned that parts of Kansas could see hail bigger than baseballs, 80-mph-plus winds and “a few strong to violent long-lived tornadoes.”
Forecasters say severe thunderstorms will form by late afternoon in central and south-central Kansas and move toward eastern Kansas, Nebraska, northwestern Missouri and Iowa.
The Storm Prediction Center – the National Weather Service office responsible for severe weather forecasts and tallies – says that 1,330 tornadoes have been reported this year. Not all of those tornadoes have been confirmed yet, but even still the numbers of confirmed tornadoes are already nearly three times that of the most active periods of previous years.
The National Weather Service Forecast Office in Jackson says 68 tornadoes have been confirmed to have touched down in Mississippi so far this year. In 2007, a total of 33 tornadoes touched down. In less than half the time the number of tornadoes has more than doubled.
At least two tornadoes broke loose Friday morning in the far northeastern corner of Minnesota, where heavy overnight rains led to flash flooding throughout Cook County and the city of Grand Marais. About 5 inches of rain fell at Grand Marais.
Water coming down the hill next to Highway 61, west of Grand Marais. (Photo: Stephan Hoglund/ Star Tribune). Image may be subject to copyright. See FEWW Fair Use Notice!
Fire Earth 