March 2012: warmest in U.S. history
Not only was March 2012 the warmest March in the U.S. since record keeping began in 1895, it was also the second most extreme month for warmth in U.S. history, said NOAA yesterday, in their monthly "State of the Climate" report. The average temperature of 51.1°F was 8.6 degrees above the 20th century average for March, and 0.5°F warmer than the previous warmest March in 1910. Of the more than 1,400 months that have passed since the U.S. weather records began in 1895, only one month--January 2006--had a larger departure from its average temperature than March 2012. A remarkable 25 states east of the Rockies had their warmest March on record, and an additional 15 states had a top-ten warmest March. Only four states were cooler than average, with Alaska being the coldest (tenth coldest March on record.)
Figure 1. Temperature rankings for March 2012 in the Contiguous U.S. Twenty five states set records for warmest March in the 118-year records (red colors.) Image credit: NOAA.
March 2012: most daily records broken of any month since July 1936
A wunderground analysis of weather records from NOAA's National Climatic Data Center temperature record database reveals that more daily high temperature records were broken in March in 2012 than for any month except July 1936, going back at least 100 years. Fully 11.3% of all daily high temperature records for the month of March in the U.S. are now held by the year 2012, for the 550 stations in NOAA's National Climatic Data Center database that have weather records extending back at least 100 years. The only month in U.S. history holding a higher percentage of daily temperatures records is July 1936. That month holds 14.4% of all the U.S. high temperature records for the month of July. That month occurred in the great Dust Bowl summer of 1936, the hottest summer in U.S. history.
Summer in March 2012: records not merely smashed, but obliterated
Among the 15,000 daily records for warmth set in March 2012 were 21 truly astonishing ones: cases where the low temperature for the day beat the previous high temperature for the day. It is quite rare for a weather station with a 50+ year period of record to break a daily temperature record by more than 10°F. During "Summer in March, 2012", beating daily records by 10° - 20°F was commonplace, and NOAA lists 44 cases where a daily record was broken by more than 22°F. Extraordinarily, four stations broke a record for the date by 30°F or more. Canada holds the most surreal record of this nature during the "Summer in March, 2012" heat wave: Western Head, Nova Scotia hit 29.2°C (85°F) on March 22, breaking their previous record for the date (10.6°C in 1969) by 18.6°C (33.5°F.) Canada also had several stations break their all-time warmest April temperature records in March.
Last 3 months and 12 months were the warmest on record
The previous 12-month period (April 2011 -March 2012), which includes the second hottest summer (June-August) and fourth warmest winter (December-February), was the warmest such period for the contiguous United States. The year-to-date period (January - March) was also the warmest on record. NOAA's U.S. Climate Extremes Index, an index that tracks the highest 10 percent and lowest 10 percent of extremes in temperature, precipitation, and drought, was 39 percent, nearly twice the long-term average and the highest value on record for the January - March period. The predominant factor was the large area experiencing extremes in warm daily maximum and minimum temperatures.
Analyzing the "Summer in March, 2012" heat wave
Dr. Martin Hoerling of NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory in Boulder has posted a thorough analysis of the heat wave, which he calls, "Meteorological March Madness 2012". He explains that the event was probably a natural phenomenon, one that was predicted more than a month in advance by NOAA's long-range CFS model. A similar, though not as intense heat wave occurred in March 1910. However, he notes that the approximate 0.5 - 1°C warming in the Ohio Valley/Midwest U.S. in recent decades--due to human-caused emission of heat trapping gases like carbon dioxide--has significantly increased the odds of major heat waves occurring. He speculates that the odds of a 1-in-40 year heat wave in the Midwest may have increased by about 50% due to human-caused global warming, but that we really don't know how much global warming may have increased the odds of the March 2012 heat wave, saying "This issue of estimating reliable statistics of extreme, rare events continues to be a matter of active research." He estimates that human-caused global warming likely increased the intensity of the March 12 - 23, 2012 heat wave by about 5 - 10%, and concludes by saying, "The probability of heatwaves is growing as [human-caused] warming continues to progress. But there is always the randomness."
Jeff Masters
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From: treehugger.com
Along just one stretch of coastline in Peru, more than 3,000 dead dolphins have washed ashore in just the last 3 months, and the disturbing trend may only be escalating. With the latest discovery of 481 lifeless dolphins there in recent days, residents have begun to demand an explanation for the mysterious mass deaths -- and as far as enlisted experts can tell, offshore oil exploration in the region is the most likely culprit.
According to a report from Peru 21, local fishermen in Lambayeque, north Peru, were first to notice the inexplicable rise in dead dolphin appearing on shore -- averaging roughly 30 per day. While such mass orca strandings are not entirely uncommon, or fully understood, Peruvian biologist Carlos Yaipen of the Scientific Organization for Conservation of Aquatic Animals says activity from petroleum companies in the nearby waters is to blame in this instance.
Yaipen believes that a controversial technique for detecting oil beneath the seabed, using sonar or acoustic sensing, is leading the death of marine life en masse.
"The oil companies use different frequencies of acoustic waves and the effects produced by these bubbles are not plainly visible, but they generate effects later in the animals. That can cause death by acoustic impact, not only in dolphins, but also in marine seals and whales."
In 2003, scientists from the Zoological Society of London discovered that underwater sonar can lead to the formation of microscopic bubbles of nitrogen in the bloodstream and vital organs of aquatic mammals, afflicting the animals with a lethal condition commonly known as the Bends. Additionally, low-range acoustic sensors are suspected to cause disorientation and internal bleeding to exposed wildlife.
As of this writing, Peruvian authorities have yet to identify the company whose activities may be leading to this grim toll on native marine life. According to Offshore Magazine, a trade publication of petroleum news, at least one entity, Houston-based oil company BPZ Energy, has been actively surveying the seabed along the coast of Peru since the beginning of the year.
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
315 PM CDT WED APR 11 2012
TXC389-112100-
/O.CON.KMAF.SV.W.0061.000000T0000Z-120411T2100Z/
REEVES TX-
315 PM CDT WED APR 11 2012
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM CDT
FOR SOUTH CENTRAL REEVES COUNTY...
AT 313 PM CDT...THE PUBLIC REPORTED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING
QUARTER SIZE HAIL. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED OVER BALMORHEA...OR ABOUT
31 MILES SOUTHWEST OF PECOS...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.
SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED BY THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE...SARAGOSA
AND VERHALEN.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
DOPPLER RADAR HAS DETECTED WEAK ROTATION WITHIN THIS STORM. WHILE NOT
IMMEDIATELY LIKELY... A TORNADO MAY STILL DEVELOP. IF A TORNADO IS
SPOTTED... ACT QUICKLY AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IN A STURDY
STRUCTURE... SUCH AS A BASEMENT OR SMALL INTERIOR ROOM.
&&
LAT...LON 3120 10351 3098 10339 3082 10365 3095 10386
TIME...MOT...LOC 2015Z 267DEG 17KT 3102 10372
$$
Pretty good hook there.
That's over central Tangi now, headed for st. Tammany.
Now that could be destructive, probably averaging inch size hail.
This could break your windshield or give you a really good ding in the head, if you get hit by one of the big ones.
Eek..
Origin time 04:31 PST (12:30 UTC)
Magnitude 6.7 Mw
Depth 19.0 km (11.8 mi)
Epicenter 34.207°N 118.535°WCoordinates: 34.207°N 118.535°W
Countries or regions United States (Southern California)
Max. intensity IX - Violent
Peak acceleration 1.7g
Casualties 57 killed
more than 8,700 injured...........Wiki.............The Northridge earthquake was an earthquake that occurred on January 17, 1994, at 04:31 Pacific Standard Time in Reseda, a neighborhood in Los Angeles, California, lasting for about 10–20 seconds.[1] The earthquake had a "strong" moment magnitude of 6.7, but the ground acceleration was one of the highest ever instrumentally recorded in an urban area in North America,[2] measuring 1.7 g (16.7 m/s2)[3] with strong ground motion felt as far away as Las Vegas, Nevada, over 270 miles (435 km) from the epicenter. The death toll came to a total of 57 people, and there were over 8,700 injured. In addition, the earthquake caused an estimated $20 billion in damage, making it one of the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history.[4]The earthquake struck in the San Fernando Valley about 20 miles (31 km) northwest of downtown Los Angeles near the community of Northridge. The actual epicenter of the quake was in Reseda, near the intersection of Reseda Boulevard and Strathern Street. However, it took several days to pinpoint the epicenter with accuracy, and in the meantime the media had already dubbed it "The Northridge Earthquake." The name stuck, in part due to the extensive damage and loss of life in Northridge. The National Geophysical Data Center places the hypocenter's geographical coordinates at 34°12′47″N 118°32′13″W and a depth of 17 km (10.56 mi). Despite the area's proximity to the San Andreas Fault, the Northridge quake did not occur along this fault, but rather on the previously undiscovered Northridge blind thrust fault (also known as the Pico thrust fault).[5]
What's wrong with me? I cant read about this as I love all animals ...however murder stories and autopsies dont bother me ...
Poor little dolphins
I think this is the strongest warned cell at the moment.
It's also a very, very slow mover, so um...2.75in max hail size and only moving 4knots could really dump on somebody.
Could get some interesting youtube videos out of this if somebody there has a camera.
Correction: NE
Do you need a membership on that unidata site to get the GEMPAK?
TORNADO WARNING
TXC401-112115-
/O.NEW.KSHV.TO.W.0033.120411T2022Z-120411T2115Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
322 PM CDT WED APR 11 2012
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SHREVEPORT HAS ISSUED A
* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
SOUTHEASTERN RUSK COUNTY IN NORTHEAST TEXAS...
* UNTIL 415 PM CDT
* AT 319 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR MINDEN...OR
14 MILES SOUTH OF HENDERSON...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH.
* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO MOUNT
ENTERPRISE AND LAWSONVILLE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. THIS
STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING TORNADOES. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF
THIS TORNADO...TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY.
THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.
&&
LAT...LON 3184 9469 3196 9481 3204 9465 3199 9459
3197 9459 3197 9457 3192 9451
TIME...MOT...LOC 2022Z 326DEG 5KT 3197 9471
Senator James Inhofe?
GEMPAK is not easy at all to get. There are several other programs that you have to install before getting GEMPAK to work. That and coding is necessary. I had to get a friend to do it for me and it took forever.
Oops... I don't even know my directions...
I guess you saw it too
I ain't getting it then because I don't have friends that can do it haha
Any particular reasons the NWS hasn't issued a tornado warning?
I only see a severe t storm warning but I'm not sure.
yes, and 2.75 inch hail.
That's the one I was talking about.
It is a very slow mover if it's exactly the same cell.
Somebody is going to hit very hard if they are in the path of it, hail, wind either way.
North of Amarillo
72 reflectivity and VIL above 50.
And yeah, I got no clue why that isn't a tornado.
-87kts and plus 122kts max wind, and clear signature on the radar.
Maybe nothing's on the ground yet...
It clearly is rotating and it isn't rain wrapped yet so of there's a storm chaser over that way then try will see it it's only a matter of time
"If you want some optimism, there's that icon of postmodernist survivalism, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, who, on a date in one of the later series, is told by her boyfriend that knowing her leads to him puzzling over what the plural for apocalypse is."
I'm about to get slammed pat...
I almost disabled the NOAA Alert Radio early in the morn, but resisted that urge.
be safe.
I know, it made me sick when I first read it as well.
I mean seriously...What cruel person/people what kill (on purpose) one of the world's gentlest creatures!
BP comes to mind..
Louisiana dolphins are 'very sick;' study of 'unusual mortality event' continues
Published: Friday, March 23, 2012, 3:48 PM
We're still 324 preliminary tornadoes ahead of last year...it'll take a while for last year to catch up.
Don't forget "most intelligent."
with last years april, i dont know.
April 14-16 had quite a few and is rapidly approaching, we would need this next event to carry the load.
Well, that's getting out of hand now.
That will be locally catastrophic as far as crop damage or cars or small buildings.
This will easily defoliate trees and pretty much kill any crop I can think of.
There's one in New Mexico just like it.
X0 Otero NM 68 dBZ 38,000 ft. 59 kg/m² 90% Chance 100% Chance 3.00 in. 10 knots WNW (284)
Geesh!
WUUS56 KHNX 112044
SVRHNX
CAC019-031-107-112115-
/O.NEW.KHNX.SV.W.0002.120411T2044Z-120411T2115Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY CA
144 PM PDT WED APR 11 2012
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HANFORD CA HAS ISSUED A
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
CENTRAL FRESNO COUNTY IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA...
NORTHEASTERN KINGS COUNTY IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA...
THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF HANFORD...
EXTREME WEST CENTRAL TULARE COUNTY IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA.
* UNTIL 215 PM PDT.
* AT 133 PM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL. THIS
STORM WAS LOCATED 7 MILES NORTH OF LEMOORE...OR 7 MILES NORTHWEST
OF HANFORD...AND MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.
* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
9 MILES SOUTH OF KINGSBURG BY 155 PM PDT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH...PREPARE
IMMEDIATELY FOR DAMAGING WINDS...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...AND DEADLY CLOUD
TO GROUND LIGHTNING. PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...
PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
LAT...LON 3652 11949 3626 11945 3628 11988 3650 11989
TIME...MOT...LOC 2043Z 270DEG 24KT 3639 11966
I think the rotation was too broad, but it may be tightening up now after that cycling it just went through.
Viewing: 801 - 851
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