Rare May Snowstorm Annihilates Records in Midwest
In Iowa, the 11 inches recorded at the town of Britt, which is in the north central part of the state, is also likely a state record. The 6.7 inches that fell in Des Moines was the biggest May snowstorm on record for that city as well. In Wisconsin, 16.2 inches fell at Ashland, which also set a state record for the heaviest May snowstorm on record.… Read More
Tell Me Why: We Need ‘Normals’ and Long-term Trends
What is “normal” when it comes to temperature and precipitation? The definition not only varies with location and time, but it changes from decade to decade. And it’s those decadal trends that interest climate scientists like Anthony Arguez. He explains the importance of “normals” in this version of Tell Me Why.… Read More
Tell Me Why: Climate Science Is So Important
What’s seen from the sky can tell us a lot about what’s happening on Earth. Scientists rely on data gleaned from satellites for information on how our climate already has changed, and for clues on how it might change in the future. Scientist Jeff Privette tells us more in Tell Me Why.… Read More
Tell Me Why: The Climate Extremes Index Matters
The Climate Extremes Index, or CEI, tracks the highest and lowest 10 percent of extremes in a number of categories. As climate scientist Deke Arndt explains in this edition of Tell Me Why, the CEI contains critical information on how are climate is changing and what climate trends we may see.… Read More
Extreme Weather 101: Climate Change and Precipitation
When it rains, it pours. That’s how we may want to think about the effects of climate change on precipitation. Scientist Tom Petersen and meteorologist Dan Satterfield explain the link between rainstorms and global warming in Extreme Weather 101.… Read More
Extreme Weather 101: Rising Temps & Snowstorms
Can a warming planet really play a role in big snowstorms? In Extreme Weather 101, scientist Jay Lawrimore and meteorologist Dan Satterfield detail how increased temperatures can affect the formation of snowstorms that can blanket and paralyze a city.… Read More
Extreme Weather 101: Drought & Our Changing Climate
Drought has left huge swaths of the United States parched this year. Are these dry conditions simply a fluke, or something we many need to get used to in a warming world? Scientist Mike Brewer and meteorologist Dan Satterfield explain the connection between drought and a changing climate in our series Extreme Weather 101.… Read More
Extreme Weather 101: Heat Spikes On the Rise
Heat records tumbled across the country this spring and summer as heat waves and warmer-than-normal temperatures blistered much of the United States. As scientist Deke Arndt and meteorologist Dan Satterfield explain in this edition of Extreme Weather 101, these heat spikes are likely to become more commonplace as greenhouse gases heat up the planet… Read More
