Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

U.S. experiences warmest 12-month period on record
Posted by: Dr. Jeff Masters, 6:09 PM GMT on May 08, 2012 +42
The past twelve months were the warmest twelve months in U.S. history, said NOAA's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) on Tuesday, in their monthly "State of the Climate" report. Temperatures in the contiguous U.S. during May 2011 - April 2012 broke the previous record for warmest 12-month period, set November 1999 - October 2000, by 0.1°F. The past twelve months have featured America's 2nd warmest summer, 4th warmest winter, and warmest March on record. Twenty-two states were record warm for the 12-month period, and an additional nineteen states were top ten warm. NOAA said that the January - April 2012 period was also the warmest January - April period since record keeping began in 1895. The average temperature of 45.4°F during January - April 2012 was 5.4°F above the 20th century average for the period, and smashed the previous record set in 2006 by an unusually large margin--1.6°F.


Figure 1. The ten warmest 12-month periods in the contiguous U.S. since record keeping began in 1895. Image credit: NOAA/NCDC.


Figure 2. The average temperature of 45.4°F during January - April 2012 was the warmest on record: 5.4°F above the 20th century average for the period, and was 1.6°F above the previous record set in 2006. January - April temperatures have been rising at about 1.9°F per century since 1895. Image credit: NOAA/NCDC.

April 2012: 3rd warmest on record
April 2012 was the third warmest April in the contiguous U.S. since record keeping began in 1895. Ten states had a top-ten warmest April, and no states were cooler than average. But what's really remarkable about April was that eight states--Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia--had average April temperatures cooler than their March temperatures, even though their April temperatures were still above the long-term average for the month. These statistics show just how remarkably warm March 2012 was. Most extreme was Illinois, where April 2012 temperatures ranked in the top 20% for warmest Aprils, yet were cooler than March 2012 temperatures.


Figure 3. Temperature rankings for April 2012 in the Contiguous U.S. Ten states had a top-ten warmest April, and no states were cooler than average. Image credit: NOAA/NCDC.


Figure 4. NOAA's U.S. Climate Extremes Index (CEI) for January - April shows that 2012 had the most extreme weather on record.

Most extreme January - April on record
NOAA's U.S. Climate Extremes Index (CEI), an index that tracks the highest 10 percent and lowest 10 percent of extremes in temperature, precipitation, and drought, was 42% during the January-April period, over twice the average value, and the greatest on record. Remarkably, 82% of the contiguous U.S. had maximum temperatures that were in the warmest 10% historically, and 68% had warm minimum temperatures in the top 10%, with records going back to 1910. The previous records were 56% (2000) and 57% (1992) for maximum and minimum temperatures, respectively. The percentage area of the U.S. experiencing top-10% drought conditions during January - April was 19%, which was the 17th greatest since 1910. Extremes in precipitation as computed by the CEI were near average for the January - April period.

Jeff Masters
Categories: Climate Summaries
  Permalink | A A A
Reader Comments
Display: 0, 50, 100, 200 Sort: Newest First - Order Posted
Viewing: 951 - 1001

Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32Blog Index

951. WxGeekVA 3:59 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
I post ONE LOTR meme and look what happens! And that's why I love this place! Goodnight everyone!
Member Since: September 3, 2011 Posts: 13 Comments: 3354
952. goosegirl1 4:00 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Quoting RTSplayer:


I got that from the official encyclopedia entry.

It's been like that since it was written.

From "Maia":
Melkor (known in Sindarin as Morgoth), the evil Vala, corrupted many Maiar into his service. These included Sauron, the main antagonist of The Lord of the Rings, and the Balrogs, his demons of flame and shadow.[4] These are called in Quenya Úmaiar.

Therefore, Sauron and Balrogs are the same thing, and they are also the same thing as Gandalf, Saruman, and the other "Istari" or "Wizards," as I stated, and as the other article quote also stated.

They are all shapeshifters, and immortal, and none of them can ever actually be killed, even if their physical body is destroyed.


Link

Link

This may help.
Member Since: December 17, 2009 Posts: 0 Comments: 899
953. Jedkins01 4:02 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Quoting WxGeekVA:






LOL
Member Since: August 21, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 5420
954. BobWallace 4:06 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Quoting RTSplayer:
Does anyone know when the Cryosphere today arctic sea ice page is going to be fixed?

It's been broken since the 29th, presumably, since the last good data update was for the 28th.

Here

It scrambles the searches and just gives you random days.

Have their javascript been hacked or something?


I think they are having server problems. No fix date stated as of yet.
Member Since: February 22, 2011 Posts: 0 Comments: 1344
955. Jedkins01 4:07 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Quoting Levi32:


1.) You need to read up.

2.) I won't tolerate a Lord of the Rings hater. Nothing more epic has ever been written and then filmed.



haha agreed, and anyone who criticizes LOTR that way really needs to tone down the ego...
Member Since: August 21, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 5420
956. RTSplayer 4:07 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Quoting Xyrus2000:


Two more years until we break 400! Come on gang! Don't let up now! We're almost there! /snark


We are apparently trying to destroy the planet as efficiently as possible.
Member Since: January 25, 2012 Posts: 27 Comments: 1052
957. KEEPEROFTHEGATE (Mod) 4:09 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
958. RTSplayer 4:09 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Quoting goosegirl1:


Link

Link

This may help.


I got my information from those two the the Maia article.

Lol.

Read carefully, friend.

All three articles tell you that Balrogs are in fact Maia, just like Sauron and Gandalf, etc.

I agree. They were very helpful in supporting my argument.
Member Since: January 25, 2012 Posts: 27 Comments: 1052
959. Jedkins01 4:12 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Quoting Xyrus2000:


Clearly you have never marveled at the complete collection of the He-Man animated series.



hahahahaha dude I gotta hand it to you for giving me the laugh of the night :)
Member Since: August 21, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 5420
960. Jedkins01 4:14 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
.
Member Since: August 21, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 5420
961. KEEPEROFTHEGATE (Mod) 4:15 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Quoting RTSplayer:


We are apparently trying to destroy the planet as efficiently as possible.


I picture a silhouette of a single being, surrounded by the ruin that was once it's home, a remainder of a race that squandered its gifts. But although their mistakes spawned tragedy, this living relic survives so that new hope may breed in place of demise, where empathy may replace indifference, and time may redeem the sins of the past.
Member Since: July 15, 2006 Posts: 147 Comments: 41332
962. Jedkins01 4:19 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Quoting RTSplayer:


I got my information from those two the the Maia article.

Lol.

Read carefully, friend.

All three articles tell you that Balrogs are in fact Maia, just like Sauron and Gandalf, etc.

I agree. They were very helpful in supporting my argument.





come at me bro

Member Since: August 21, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 5420
963. wunderkidcayman 4:27 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
well GFS seem to be on the right track so far but still trust 00Z and 12Z runs better
Member Since: June 13, 2009 Posts: 2 Comments: 5997
964. KoritheMan 4:33 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Quoting wunderkidcayman:
well GFS seem to be on the right track so far but still trust 00Z and 12Z runs better


On track with what?
Member Since: March 7, 2007 Posts: 421 Comments: 15643
965. KEEPEROFTHEGATE (Mod) 4:34 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Member Since: July 15, 2006 Posts: 147 Comments: 41332
966. VAbeachhurricanes 4:38 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Quoting Levi32:


1.) You need to read up.

2.) I won't tolerate a Lord of the Rings hater. Nothing more epic has ever been written and then filmed.


Should have just rode on the gigantic eagles to mordor... solves everything.
Member Since: September 6, 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 4883
967. KEEPEROFTHEGATE (Mod) 4:38 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Quoting KoritheMan:


On track with what?
phatom storm
Member Since: July 15, 2006 Posts: 147 Comments: 41332
968. wunderkidcayman 4:39 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Quoting KoritheMan:


On track with what?

developing some sort of tropical entity between 18th to the 24th
Member Since: June 13, 2009 Posts: 2 Comments: 5997
969. JNCali 4:41 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Jumping Hurricanes, Lord of the Rings and He Man.. gotta be that big Sunspot

Member Since: September 9, 2010 Posts: 5 Comments: 1032
970. Jedkins01 4:47 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Quoting JNCali:
Jumping Hurricanes, Lord of the Rings and He Man.. gotta be that big Sunspot



hahaha
Member Since: August 21, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 5420
971. Birthmark 4:48 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Quoting RTSplayer:
In fact, you learn more about Tom Bombadil than you do Sauron, and he was totally cut from the movies, mercifully, because that was one of the dumbest scenes in the books anyway.

Ah, ha!
Member Since: October 30, 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 1805
972. Birthmark 4:56 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Quoting JNCali:
Jumping Hurricanes, Lord of the Rings and He Man.. gotta be that big Sunspot


Delayed effect of the Super Moon, maybe?
Member Since: October 30, 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 1805
973. RTSplayer 4:59 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Quoting Jedkins01:





come at me bro



I think that actually went off air about time I was getting old enough to watch television and understand it.

I remember a few vague impressions of the cartoon, and of course the movie, and that's about it. I seem to remember a show called "Thundercats" with humanoid cats, which also went off air about the same time.

Now, for Voltron, I actually remember entire scenes, but not the dialogue.

When you get into late 1980's stuff,(ghost busters, ninja turtles, "Cops",etc) I seem to have entire episodes nearly memorized, i.e. able to describe the entire plot of an episode, and many scenes and dialogues accurately from memory, even though I only saw it one time, and haven't seen it for 22 or more years. The visual aspects I could reconstruct more accurately than the dialogue. Synesthesia, Eidetic Memory, Hyperfocus.

Colorful characters, abilities, animations, etc, in the right combinations are actually very hard for me to forget, which is very much a problem for me.

When I watch a new movie, it can sometimes take my brain a few days to a week to sort everything out due to what seems to be the "tetris effect" and an "audio playback" effect that my mind goes through. It is very distracting, and almost crippling at times.

At any rate, I must not have watched "He-Man" very much, or was just too young or something, because there's nothing in there except the vaguest impressions: Skeletor, and obtaining a sword that gave him power, which seems to be a rip-off of Arthurian legends, and such.
Member Since: January 25, 2012 Posts: 27 Comments: 1052
974. KoritheMan 5:00 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Whether we get Aletta or Alberto, I do think the western Caribbean/eastern Pacific needs to be watched over the next two weeks. I'm not a fan of long-range model predictions, and I can guarantee there will not be a tropical cyclone anytime soon. However, the GFS does tend to handle the evolution of the synoptic pattern rather well, even up to two weeks in advance. Plus, the MJO could be in full swing during that timeframe, as well.
Member Since: March 7, 2007 Posts: 421 Comments: 15643
975. RTSplayer 5:00 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Quoting VAbeachhurricanes:


Should have just rode on the gigantic eagles to mordor... solves everything.




lol.
Member Since: January 25, 2012 Posts: 27 Comments: 1052
976. Tazmanian 5:02 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
hi warm tonight
Member Since: May 21, 2006 Posts: 5089 Comments: 111630
977. KoritheMan 5:04 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Quoting Tazmanian:
hi warm tonight


Warm in the west, cold in the east will be the general theme next week.
Member Since: March 7, 2007 Posts: 421 Comments: 15643
978. Tazmanian 5:30 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Quoting KoritheMan:


Warm in the west, cold in the east will be the general theme next week.




you guys can keep the cold i want warm and hot this time of year
Member Since: May 21, 2006 Posts: 5089 Comments: 111630
979. WatchingThisOne 7:19 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
flare 3 hours ago:

STRONG SOLAR FLARE ALERT:
A strong solar flare reaching M5.7 took place at 04:18 UTC Thursday morning.
The flare was centered around Sunspot 1476.

No CME yet.





(from solarham.com)
Member Since: July 15, 2005 Posts: 3 Comments: 1249
980. LargoFl 8:51 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR SOUTH FLORIDA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
415 AM EDT THU MAY 10 2012

AMZ610-630-FLZ063-066>075-168-172>174-110400-
LAKE OKEECHOBEE-BISCAYNE BAY-GLADES-HENDRY-INLAND PALM BEACH-
METRO PALM BEACH-COASTAL COLLIER-INLAND COLLIER-INLAND BROWARD-
METRO BROWARD-INLAND MIAMI DADE-METRO MIAMI DADE-MAINLAND MONROE-
COASTAL PALM BEACH-COASTAL BROWARD-COASTAL MIAMI DADE-
FAR SOUTH MIAMI DADE-
415 AM EDT THU MAY 10 2012

...FEW STRONG OR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE EAST COAST THIS AFTERNOON...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH FLORIDA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THUNDERSTORMS: SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP
TODAY. THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BECOME FOCUSED ACROSS THE EAST COAST
THIS AFTERNOON WHERE A FEW STRONG OR SEVERE STORMS COULD DEVELOP,
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING FREQUENT LIGHTING STRIKES, GUSTY WINDS UP TO 60
MPH, HAIL AND HEAVY RAINS. THERE IS A VERY LOW PROBABILITY
OF A TORNADO DEVELOPING ALONG THE ATLANTIC COAST THIS AFTERNOON.

TORNADOES: A BRIEF TORNADO CANNOT BE RULED OUT ALONG THE ATLANTIC
COAST SHOULD THUNDERSTORMS INTERACT WITH AN EAST COAST SEA BREEZE
THIS AFTERNOON.

WATERSPOUTS: THERE IS A LOW POTENTIAL FOR WATERSPOUTS ACROSS
THE ATLANTIC WATERS AS WELL AS BISCAYNE BAY THIS AFTERNOON.

WIND: STRONG WIND GUSTS OF UP TO 60 MPH IS POSSIBLE.

HAIL: HAIL UP TO QUARTER SIZE IS POSSIBLE.

FLOODING: ISOLATED LOCALES COULD SEE A FEW INCHES OF RAIN OVER A
SHORT DURATION WHICH COULD LEAD TO ISOLATED STREET FLOODING.

RIP CURRENTS: THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AT THE
COLLIER COUNTY BEACHES.


.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS IS FORECAST FOR THE ATLANTIC BEACHES
THIS WEEKEND.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WIDESPREAD SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED, HOWEVER INDIVIDUAL
SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER OR FLOODING TO THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN MIAMI.

FOR MORE INFORMATION...VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN
MIAMI WEBSITE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/MIAMI.

$$

GREGORIA
Member Since: August 6, 2011 Posts: 0 Comments: 22514
981. wunderkidcayman 8:58 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
hey guys look like I said yesterday tropical wave

Member Since: June 13, 2009 Posts: 2 Comments: 5997
982. MahFL 9:47 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
The smell of smoke is strong this am, I could even smell it in the garage. Orange Park, FL.
Member Since: June 9, 2004 Posts: 0 Comments: 2467
983. MAweatherboy1 10:44 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Good morning.

6z GFS:



This run is still showing a TS within 10 days but not nearly as strong as yesterday's 12z run
Member Since: February 11, 2012 Posts: 71 Comments: 6536
984. Neapolitan 10:55 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Quoting KoritheMan:


Warm in the west, cold in the east will be the general theme next week.
Well, not cold, but cooler, and then only in the south, then Florida:

heat

heat
Member Since: November 8, 2009 Posts: 4 Comments: 11308
985. wunderkidcayman 11:00 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Quoting MAweatherboy1:
Good morning.

6z GFS:



This run is still showing a TS within 10 days but not nearly as strong as yesterday's 12z run

maybe when todays 12Z run comes out is show it that strong but for now that is not what strikes me, what strikes me is the consistance of track and time frame
Member Since: June 13, 2009 Posts: 2 Comments: 5997
986. LargoFl 11:10 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Quoting MAweatherboy1:
Good morning.

6z GFS:



This run is still showing a TS within 10 days but not nearly as strong as yesterday's 12z run
HMMM COOLER BY 2 DEGREE'S LOL
Member Since: August 6, 2011 Posts: 0 Comments: 22514
987. LargoFl 11:11 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Good morning folks.................
Member Since: August 6, 2011 Posts: 0 Comments: 22514
988. LargoFl 11:12 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Quoting LargoFl:
HMMM COOLER BY 2 DEGREE'S LOL
Member Since: August 6, 2011 Posts: 0 Comments: 22514
989. TropicalAnalystwx13 11:29 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
The GFS continues to show the development a tropical cyclone in the western Caribbean that moves north but passes just east of Florida. The model has constantly been developing an area of low pressure near Nicaragua/Honduras next Friday so we'll have to start watching closely starting by the middle of next week.
Member Since: July 6, 2010 Posts: 92 Comments: 25984
990. Tropicsweatherpr 11:34 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Quoting TropicalAnalystwx13:
The GFS continues to show the development a tropical cyclone in the western Caribbean that moves north but passes just east of Florida. The model has constantly been developing an area of low pressure near Nicaragua/Honduras next Friday so we'll have to start watching closely starting by the middle of next week.


Good morning 13 and the rest. However,the ECMWF still doesn't show anything of significance in the SW Caribbean,but shows a weak low in the EPAC.

Member Since: April 29, 2009 Posts: 67 Comments: 8794
991. mati 11:36 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Arctic Sea Ice Info:

http://neven1.typepad.com/blog/

Arctic Permafrost Info:

http://www.permafrost.su/en
Member Since: September 6, 2011 Posts: 0 Comments: 45
992. StormTracker2K 11:50 AM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Quoting Tropicsweatherpr:


Good morning 13 and the rest. However,the ECMWF still doesn't show anything of significance in the SW Caribbean,but shows a weak low in the EPAC.



Euro does show lots of precip from the Gulf of Hondorus up to the FL Penisula at 180hrs. The Euro precip map is on this website
Member Since: October 26, 2011 Posts: 0 Comments: 2651
993. StormTracker2K 12:02 PM GMT on May 10, 2012    
4.26" of rain so far this week at my location. Nice to see everything nice and green around here again.
Member Since: October 26, 2011 Posts: 0 Comments: 2651
994. pottery 12:04 PM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Sunshine and Birdsong here this morning.
About time, too !
Member Since: October 24, 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 20866
995. washingtonian115 12:06 PM GMT on May 10, 2012    
I see the GFS is still holding on to that storm.I wouldn't be surprised if it actually happened.Usually sometimes the GFS is the first to pick up on these types of things and then when the event gets closer other models usually fall in.
Member Since: August 14, 2010 Posts: 6 Comments: 11205
996. StormTracker2K 12:10 PM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Quoting washingtonian115:
I see the GFS is still holding on to that storm.I wouldn't be surprised if it actually happened.Usually sometimes the GFS is the first to pick up on these types of things and then when the event gets closer other models usually fall in.


Euro is not far behind as it is showing lots of tropical rains streaming from the Gulf of Honduras up to FL so the GFS may not be that far off base with developement off of Honduras.
Member Since: October 26, 2011 Posts: 0 Comments: 2651
997. GeorgiaStormz 12:12 PM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Rain in W Texas, also that southernmost supercell has a tornado.
Severe thunderstorm watch could be upgraded to a tornado watch later this morning
Member Since: February 11, 2012 Posts: 0 Comments: 7538
998. Grothar 12:18 PM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Quoting Levi32:


1.) You need to read up.

2.) I won't tolerate a Lord of the Rings hater. Nothing more epic has ever been written and then filmed.


Well, it is obvious you have never seen, "The Three Stooges Go to Washington".
Member Since: July 17, 2009 Posts: 58 Comments: 19682
999. Grothar 12:20 PM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Quoting LargoFl:


Nice. We've been getting strong thunderstorms every afternoon, just like the old days.
Member Since: July 17, 2009 Posts: 58 Comments: 19682
1000. StormTracker2K 12:22 PM GMT on May 10, 2012    
Quoting Grothar:


Nice. We've been getting strong thunderstorms every afternoon, just like the old days.


From 2:30pm till the evening hours have been stormy here all week! Looks as if though the rain won't be back until Sunday but more likely on Monday thru all of next week.
Member Since: October 26, 2011 Posts: 0 Comments: 2651

Viewing: 951 - 1001

Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32Blog Index

New Comment
Community Standards Policy Comments will take a few seconds to appear.
Post Your Comments
Please sign in to post comments.
Not only will you be able to leave comments on this blog, but you'll also have the ability to upload and share your photos in our Wunder Photos section.
About JeffMasters
Jeff co-founded the Weather Underground in 1995 while working on his Ph.D. He flew with the NOAA Hurricane Hunters from 1986-1990.

Community Activity