Tenacious U.S. Drought Worsens, To Last Through Winter
The Northern Plains continue to be the hardest hit states, where Wyoming and Nebraska recorded their driest January to October period on record. Four other states ranked among their top ten driest January to October periods on record as well. Some locations in these states may set all-time records for dryness during November, as well, with some pla… Read More
‘Atmospheric River’ Aims At West Coast; Warmup in Plains
The Pacific storms will play a major part in shifting the jet stream across the U.S., and setting up what is likely to be a remarkably warm start to December, particularly for the Plains and Midwest. Computer model projections show that these areas may see temperatures climb to as high as 20°F above average between Nov. 28 and Dec. 3.… Read More
NOAA Seeks Public Input On Looming Satellite Gap
The next-generation of polar orbiting satellites, known as the Joint Polar Satellite System, or JPSS, has been delayed by mismanagement, billions in cost overruns, and technical development challenges. This has pushed back the launch date of the next polar orbiting satellite to 2017 at the earliest, which is past the design lifetime of the youngest… Read More
Winter Outlook Offers Hope For U.S. Skiers & Boarders
There are many reasons why this winter is likely to play out differently than last year, chief among them being the conditions in the equatorial tropical Pacific Ocean. Last year there was a strong La Niña event, with much below average sea surface temperatures in this region.… Read More
Winter Storms Bring A Little Relief to U.S. Drought Areas
Nearly 60 percent of the continental U.S. is still under drought conditions, according to the latest update from the U.S. drought monitor. While the past week brought rain to many of the afflicted regions, it may not be nearly enough to compensate for the historically low levels of rainfall seen across the country since early spring. However, the … Read More
October Ties for 5th Warmest; Winter Forecast Uncertain
As Climate Central reported on Nov. 9, the U.S. is very likely to set a record for the warmest year on record, unless the rest of November and all of December are among the coldest ever seen for such a period, which is unlikely. According to Jake Crouch of NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C., there is a greater than 90 percent c… Read More
Obama Affirms Support for Action on Climate Change
Obama reaffirmed his view that manmade emissions of greenhouse gases are contributing to global warming, and stated his intent to continue to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. “I am a firm believer that climate change is real, that it is impacted by human behavior and carbon emissions, he said, noting that “We have an obligation to f… Read More
Amid Energy Boom, Report Warns of Unsustainable Path
The oil and natural gas boom in the U.S. is having far-reaching effects on the global energy landscape, according to the “World Energy Outlook report released by the International Energy Agency (IEA). The report shows that the U.S. is likely to become the largest global oil producer by about 2020, overtaking Saudi Arabia and Russia, although Saudi… Read More
