Developing Tropical System Headed for Caribbean
For now it’s known only as Tropical Depression 5, or TD5 — an organized group of thunderstorms, located several hundred miles northwest of South America and making its way due west, toward the Windward Islands that mark the boundaries of the Caribbean Sea. Within 48 hours, however, TD5 could tighten to become Tropical Storm Ernesto, the fifth named… 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
Coverage of 2012 Summer Heat Waves
A widespread and unusually intense heat wave gripped much of the continental U.S. from mid-June through early July 2012. Triple-digit temperatures began in the West, greatly enhancing the wildfire problems in Colorado, Utah and other states, before expanding eastward into the Plains, Midwest, and eventually reaching the East Coast. By the time the … Read More
Drought’s Silver Lining is Fewer Tornadoes Across U.S.
July 2012 may break a record for the least tornadoes for the month, as the drought has helped keep tornado numbers low.… Read More
Drought Tightens Its Grip on High Plains, Central States
While the drought is likely related to natural climate variability, including a long-lasting La Niña event that is still winding down, manmade climate change has likely made the drought worse by making the drought hotter than it otherwise would be. Extreme heat can help perpetuate drought conditions, since soils dry out faster during periods of hig… Read More
Great Lakes Water Temperatures At Record Levels
After a mild winter, warm spring, and extremely warm summer, the Great Lakes have heated up to record levels.… Read More
The Story Behind Record Ice Loss in Greenland
NASA detected the melt event using observations from three different satellites, and the satellite record extends back by about three decades. The satellites have never caught anything like this either, not even for a very short time period.… Read More
