Forest Service Fights All Fires Now, But at What Cost?
On July 12, lightning sparked a forest fire in western Montana’s Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex — a place where wildfires are common this time of year. Usually, if they’re small and don’t threaten to get out of control, the U.S. Forest Service will let them burn. Small fires are good for the forest ecosystem, burning off dead timber and creating … Read More
U.S. Heartland Sees No End in Sight to Epic Drought
The drought that has been pummeling the U.S. for much of the summer shows no signs of letting up, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor released Thursday. While the overall area under drought was largely unchanged over the previous week’s figures, the nature of the drought has gotten more dire. Conditions in the nation’s agricultural heart… Read More
July Sizzles, Records Fall: Warmest Month on Record
July 2012 was officially not only the warmest July on record, but also the warmest month ever recorded for the lower 48 states, according to a report released Wednesday by scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Climatic Data Center. The average temperature for the month came in at 77.6°F overall, which is 3.3°F… Read More
The Heat Goes On (And It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over)
The extreme heat that has plagued the U.S. for much of the summer continues to sear the nation. With a large area of High Pressure setting up across the West for at least a week, if not longer, a prolonged heat event is taking shape from Washington to the desert Southwest.… Read More
Hansen Study: Extreme Weather Tied to Climate Change
Extreme weather events, such as the heat waves that have broiled the High Plains and Midwest this summer, smashing thousands of temperature records, are a direct consequence of global warming, according to a new study led by prominent climate scientist, James Hansen of NASA… Read More
Drought Intensifies and May Last Through October
“It’s hard to believe that it’s getting worse, but it is, even with some rain in the region, said Brian Fuchs, a climatologist with the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.… Read More
USDA Expands Drought Disaster Zones Across U.S.
On Wednesday, Agirculture Secretary Tom Vilsack added 218 more counties in 12 states to the list of primary natural disaster areas "due to damage and losses caused by drought and excessive heat," a USDA press release said.… Read More
Drought Helps Dry Up Tornadoes as July Sees Record Low
"2012 has really been the most incredible tornado season anyone out here on the Prairies has seen," a Canadian storm chaser told The Weather Network. According to The Weather Network’s website, American storm chasers have migrated north to chase severe storms.… Read More
