Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

Texas floods kill 5
Posted by: Dr. Jeff Masters, 3:59 PM GMT on May 26, 2007 +6
Flash flooding triggered by heavy thunderstorm rains of up to seven inches in 24 hours claimed at least five lives in Texas Friday, and large portions of the state remain under flood warnings or flood watches today, as thunderstorms continue across the state. All of those killed were swept away in their vehicles, and police were still looking for a missing man who drove around a barricade blocking a swollen creek.


Figure 1. Precipitation for the 24 hours ending at 8am EDT Saturday May 26, 2007.

Drought last year, floods this year
As I discussed in a March blog last year, grass fires in drought-parched Texas killed seven people on March 12 in the Panhandle, four of them in a car crash on I-40 caused by thick smoke obscuring visibility. More than 1,000 square miles of Texas burned that day--an area about two-thirds the size of Rhode Island. It's amazing what a turnaround has occurred in the past year. Most of Texas and Oklahoma were under drought conditions that reached the extreme level last spring (Figure 2), but this year, the Texas/Oklahoma drought is gone (Figure 3), and instead has moved into the Southeastern U.S. We don't understand very well what causes these shifts in drought patterns, but they do seem to be linked to changes in large-scale sea surface temperature patterns in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific, plus shifts in the jet stream pattern. Are the floods in Texas this year and drought last year partially due to global warming? Yes, they might be. Global warming theory predicts that both droughts and floods will grow more severe as the climate warms. Floods will increase, since a warmer atmosphere holds more water vapor that can then rain out into heavier floods. Scientists have already documented about a 5% increase in global atmospheric water vapor due to global warming, and this extra moisture is undoubtedly causing heavier rains and more flooding in some regions. Drought will increase in intensity due to global warming, thanks to the hotter temperatures drought-striken areas will receive when jet stream and sea surface temperature patterns conspire to keep rainfall from the drought area.


Figure 2. Drought map for March 7, 2006.


Figure 3. Drought map for May 22, 2007.

Jeff Masters
Categories: Climate Change Flood
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452. Alec 6:42 AM GMT on May 27, 2007    
confirms my suspicions...*poof*
453. TheCaneWhisperer 6:43 AM GMT on May 27, 2007    
Sorry FlBoy! I think this thing is going to Pop tonight! Very Soon! I had my doubts but, looking very good right now! Several Hours before the maximum but, remember, you have the MJO and the ITCZ in the area now!
457. 0741 6:57 AM GMT on May 27, 2007    
would that dry air over florida move over carribbean pull area ne or kill area sw carribbean you can see wv that dry trying move into nw carribbean on loop of wv
459. TheCaneWhisperer 7:00 AM GMT on May 27, 2007    
WV shows it's reaching high FLBOY! Due Time!
462. TheCaneWhisperer 7:06 AM GMT on May 27, 2007    
COC has been covered for a long time now and by the looks of Satalite is under little or no shear! No surface low? I find it hard to believe!
467. G35Wayne 10:42 AM GMT on May 27, 2007    
there aint sheet goin on down there
468. hurricane23 10:58 AM GMT on May 27, 2007    
Good morning....

Seems like our area down in the caribbean remains rather disorganized at development if any should be slow.
Member Since: May 14, 2006 Posts: 8 Comments: 13329
469. stoormfury 11:03 AM GMT on May 27, 2007    
Good morning to all. the sw caribbean disturbance seemed to have held its own during the night. the sydtem looks s little bit more organise this morning and is on the verge of becoming an invest. the system is under 5-10 knots wind shesr at the moment,and has a good chance of forming into a TD today. as usual the NHC always takes its time to make a positive take on this system.
Member Since: August 22, 2006 Posts: 0 Comments: 2320
470. WPBHurricane05 11:11 AM GMT on May 27, 2007    
When looking at the latest GFDL model run for Tropical Depression 1E it shows another system developing closer to Mexico. It moves this system into Mexico. The GFS and at one point the ECMWF were predicting a storm to do something like this and than move over Florida. If this solution does play out this could be beneficial rain for Florida.
Member Since: July 31, 2006 Posts: 56 Comments: 8008
471. StoryOfTheCane 11:12 AM GMT on May 27, 2007    
472. StoryOfTheCane 11:13 AM GMT on May 27, 2007    
Let the season begin
473. hurricane23 11:27 AM GMT on May 27, 2007    
06Z NAM brings a 1008mb low into the NW caribbean.
Member Since: May 14, 2006 Posts: 8 Comments: 13329
474. StoryOfTheCane 11:30 AM GMT on May 27, 2007    
shear is going to rip it apart (actually maybe not, the forecast looks like it might be in its favor)
475. WPBHurricane05 11:36 AM GMT on May 27, 2007    
I guess these tropical disturbances didn't get the memo that they need to go give Florida some good amount of rain.
Member Since: July 31, 2006 Posts: 56 Comments: 8008
476. StoryOfTheCane 11:42 AM GMT on May 27, 2007    
I think Florida will see more than its fair share come the end of the season
477. WPBHurricane05 11:42 AM GMT on May 27, 2007    
Yikes! Got my Storm 2007 book this morning from the Palm Beach Post. It looks like Palm Beach has a 7% chance of a storm, 2% chance of a hurricane and about .6% chance of a major.
Broward County has a 4% chance of a storm, 1% chance of a hurricane and .4% chance of a major.

And in Miami Dade county...well if you live there you won't like this. There is an almost 30% chance for a Tropical Storm, a 9% chance for a hurricane, and a 2.4% chance for a major.

This forecast was made by the Colorado State University forecast team. It was made by dividing storm landfalls by years and adding in this season's prediction.
Member Since: July 31, 2006 Posts: 56 Comments: 8008
478. StoryOfTheCane 11:45 AM GMT on May 27, 2007    
florida and the east coast will probably see the majority of the larger landfalls
479. hurricane23 11:46 AM GMT on May 27, 2007    
Posted By: WPBHurricane05 at 11:42 AM GMT on May 27, 2007.

Yikes! Got my Storm 2007 book this morning from the Palm Beach Post. It looks like Palm Beach has a 7% chance of a storm, 2% chance of a hurricane and about .6% chance of a major.
Broward County has a 4% chance of a storm, 1% chance of a hurricane and .4% chance of a major.

And in Miami Dade county...well if you live there you won't like this. There is an almost 30% chance for a Tropical Storm, a 9% chance for a hurricane, and a 2.4% chance for a major.

This forecast was made by the Colorado State University forecast team. It was made by dividing storm landfalls by years and adding in this season's prediction.


Hey WPBHurricane05 i got my newpaper down here in my miami yesterday and read that we get ours on wednesday or is it today.Thanks adrian
Member Since: May 14, 2006 Posts: 8 Comments: 13329
480. WPBHurricane05 11:50 AM GMT on May 27, 2007    
I'm not sure adrian. I think I have a different newspaper than you.
Member Since: July 31, 2006 Posts: 56 Comments: 8008
481. StoryOfTheCane 11:54 AM GMT on May 27, 2007    
did anybody else happen to have the displeasure of seeing the disgusting content posted yesterday? I hope that guy was banned from here.
482. WPBHurricane05 11:55 AM GMT on May 27, 2007    
I did Cane. That was very disgusting.
Member Since: July 31, 2006 Posts: 56 Comments: 8008
483. StoryOfTheCane 11:56 AM GMT on May 27, 2007    
yea, that definitely takes the cake as the worst ive seen on here
484. StoryOfTheCane 11:56 AM GMT on May 27, 2007    
lol have we all pretty much caught on that StormTop is now StormKat? must've gotten banned and made a new account.
485. hurricane23 12:01 PM GMT on May 27, 2007    
Posted By: WPBHurricane05 at 11:50 AM GMT on May 27, 2007.

I'm not sure adrian. I think I have a different newspaper than you.

This article your talking about was written by colorado state can you post a link?
Member Since: May 14, 2006 Posts: 8 Comments: 13329
487. WPBHurricane05 12:22 PM GMT on May 27, 2007    
It was in the Palm Beach Post Storm 2007, in todays paper from the Palm Beach Post. You should be able to pick it up at a Publix or Winn Dixie.
Member Since: July 31, 2006 Posts: 56 Comments: 8008
488. Patrap 12:25 PM GMT on May 27, 2007    
Hurricane Season 2007
Times-Picayune Special Edition..Link
Member Since: July 3, 2005 Posts: 377 Comments: 112985
489. StormJunkie 12:25 PM GMT on May 27, 2007    
Morning all ☺

Posted By: StoryOfTheCane at 11:56 AM GMT on May 27, 2007.
lol have we all pretty much caught on that StormTop is now StormKat? must've gotten banned and made a new account.


Don't think this is the case Story. Go check the blogs. StormTop has not been banned from what I can tell so I doubt he is StormKat. Could be wrong though, but I do know ST has not been banned.

CSU forecast.
Go to the 2007 forecast schedule.

Member Since: August 17, 2005 Posts: 26 Comments: 15240
490. Patrap 12:27 PM GMT on May 27, 2007    
View cover graphic pdf Link
Member Since: July 3, 2005 Posts: 377 Comments: 112985
491. hurricane23 12:27 PM GMT on May 27, 2007    
Thanks patrap.

Thought that was the link to the palm beach post but its from Nola.Thanks anyway.
Member Since: May 14, 2006 Posts: 8 Comments: 13329
492. Thunderstorm2 12:30 PM GMT on May 27, 2007    
GFDL brings TD 01-E down to a TS with winds at 61kts (70mph) and 994 hPa. That is a big change from the 960 hPa CAT 3 it was predicting..lol
Member Since: December 22, 2006 Posts: 129 Comments: 7608
493. Patrap 12:33 PM GMT on May 27, 2007    
Hello 23,.. its Sunday morning roundup.
Member Since: July 3, 2005 Posts: 377 Comments: 112985
494. hurricane23 12:33 PM GMT on May 27, 2007    
TD 1 is not going to be a problem for any landmass so nothing significant concerning this system.Track basically shoots it striaght west.
Member Since: May 14, 2006 Posts: 8 Comments: 13329
495. Thunderstorm2 12:36 PM GMT on May 27, 2007    
And into cooler water so we can forget about it.
Member Since: December 22, 2006 Posts: 129 Comments: 7608
496. StormJunkie 12:44 PM GMT on May 27, 2007    
Latest CMC still want to form something in the Carib and bring it up the E coast clipping the OBX at about the 144+hr time frame. Looks to develop a little pocket of low shear, but I don't think it will be enough to allow anything to form. Shear around this supposed system will be too high, IMHO.

Did notice that the CMC, GFS, and Nogaps all appear to show the shear lifting N towards the end of the run. Also show the shear dying off some in the E Carib.
Member Since: August 17, 2005 Posts: 26 Comments: 15240
498. pensacolastorm 1:07 PM GMT on May 27, 2007    
Who runs the cmc? Does anyone know its historical accuracy?
Member Since: July 30, 2006 Posts: 0 Comments: 170
499. StormJunkie 1:11 PM GMT on May 27, 2007    
Welcome pcs, that is the Canadian model. Sometimes good, sometimes not, but it is one of the major models.
Member Since: August 17, 2005 Posts: 26 Comments: 15240
500. pensacolastorm 1:15 PM GMT on May 27, 2007    
It definately has something hitting the outer banks after it brushes s fla.
Member Since: July 30, 2006 Posts: 0 Comments: 170
501. sarepa 1:16 PM GMT on May 27, 2007    
Heres last night reports when i went on realweather on flight simulator with a hurricane hunter with radar ects on the blob on the carribean

Maxium winds i found was 17 mph
Pressure couldent find it
Rain Moderated/heavy
Thunderstorm/ isolated
Light Turbulance ;)
Circulation: well i found a broad circulation with some thunderstorms there but again wasent good spining but when i was going i saw like another center trying to form not sure..
This is the report
Member Since: January 17, 2006 Posts: 0 Comments: 26

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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.

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