WEEKLY CLIMATE NEWS

18-22 July 2016

DataStreme Earth Climate System will return for Fall 2016 with new Investigations files starting during Preview Week, Monday, 22 August 2016. All the current online website products will continue to be available throughout the summer break period.

ITEMS OF INTEREST

Peak in the annual temperature curves -- This upcoming week is the fourth full week of July, which for many locations across the nation typically marks the warmest week of the year, as indicated by the daily normal high and low temperatures. Usually, those stations located away from the moderating influences of the oceans reach their highest temperatures during the third to fourth week of July, or a roughly one month after the summer solstice, when the Northern Hemisphere receives the most hours of daylight and the largest amounts of solar radiation. During July, temperatures continue to rise to their highest typical values as radiational heating continues. However, the length of daylight and the amount of sunshine during this month begin decrease and the normal daily temperatures will begin to fall toward their lowest levels in mid to late January. Comparison is invited with the "Warmest Day of the Year" maps generated for the nation by NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information for the 1981-2010 normals interval.
Zenithal Sun -- Residents of Hawaii's Big Island will experience a noontime sun that would be directly overhead during this week (22-23 Jul). This occurrence of a zenithal sun is one of the two times during the year when the noontime sun is directly overhead to residents of Hilo and elsewhere on the Big Island. The other time when the Big Island experienced a zenithal sun was in mid May [US Naval Observatory, Data Services]
Rare "lunar photobomb" captured by NASA's DSCOVR spacecraft -- During a nearly three and one-half hour span during the late night hours of 4 July and the early morning of 5 July 2016, the EPIC (Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera) instrument onboard NASA's Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) spacecraft captured natural-color images of the "far side" of the Moon as it passed between the sunlit Earth and the DSCOVR satellite orbiting approximately one million miles from Earth around the sun-Earth first Lagrange point. This photobomb, or the unexpected appearance of an unintended object into the camera's field of view, was captured only one other time (on 16 July 2015) [NASA Goddard Space Flight Center]

CURRENT CLIMATE STATUS

National weather and climate reviewed for June 2016 -- Scientists at the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) recently reported on their analysis of preliminary weather data collected during the month of June 2016. They found:

The monthly temperature averaged across the coterminous United States for that month was 71.8 degrees Fahrenheit, which was 3.3 Fahrenheit degrees above the 20th-century (1901-2000) June average. Consequently, this past June was the warmest June since 1895 when comprehensive climate records became available nationwide, surpassing the previous monthly record of 71.6 degrees Fahrenheit set in June 1933; incidently, the June nationwide temperature for June 2015 was 71.4 degrees.
With the exception of seven states in the Northeast and in Texas, all the other states in the contiguous US reported above to much above average monthly temperatures for June 2016. Arizona and Utah had record high June statewide temperatures in their respective 122 years of record. In addition, 13 other states extending from California eastward to Tennessee and northward from New Mexico to Montana reported statewide temperatures that ranked in the highest ten temperature readings. The maximum (or daytime) temperature for the 48 contiguous United States was 3.6 Fahrenheit degrees above the 20th century average, which was the third highest in 122 years, while the minimum (nighttime) temperature for the "Lower 48" was 3.0 Fahrenheit degrees above the 20th century average, which was the second highest minimum June temperature on record.
The June 2016 statewide temperature average for Alaska was the ninth highest in the state's period of record that extends back to 1925.
The nationwide average precipitation for June 2016 was 2.46 inches, which was 0.47 inches below the 20th-century average, making that month the fourteenth driest June in 122 years.
Many of the states running from the Intermountain West eastward to the Midwest and the Northeast reported below to much below statewide average precipitation totals. In the Rockies and adjacent Plains, Wyoming, South Dakota and Nebraska experienced statewide precipitation totals in June 2016 that were within the twelve lowest on record. In addition, Massachusetts and Rhode Island had their twelfth lowest June totals since 1895. A half dozen states scattered across the Lower 48 had above average precipitation totals.
[NOAA NCEI State of the Climate]
NOTE: A description is provided of the climatological rankings employed by NCDC for their monthly and seasonal maps. [NOAA/NCDC]
A blog was posted that discusses the record warm month of June 2016 across the contiguous US. [NOAA ClimateWatch Magazine]

A mid-year report on the nation's most extreme weather cities -- A senior meteorologist at The Weather Channel has assembled a listing of those cities across the nation that he considers to have experienced the most extreme weather during the first six months of 2016 ranked in terms of the warmest, coolest, wettest and driest, considering only those cities with at least 50 years of record. [Weather Underground News]
June national drought report -- The National Centers for Environmental Information has posted its June 2016 drought report online. Using the Palmer Drought Severity Index, approximately four percent of the coterminous United States experienced severe to extreme drought conditions at the end of June, while nine percent of the area had severely to extremely wet conditions.

CURRENT CLIMATE MONITORING

An observing network for North American Great Lakes is certified -- During the last month, NOAA certified the Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS) as a Regional Information Coordinating Entity, which signifies that this observing network is collecting and making real-time and historical environmental and ecological data publicly available according to internationally approved high standards. GLOS is the regional association for the Great Lakes observing network for collecting data from a network of federal, state, academic and private institutions as part of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS®). The "GLOS Data Portal" provides weather and lake data, such as dissolved oxygen and turbidity, from point surface observations and satellite observations. Model forecasts for lake levels, waves and ice thickness are also available. [NOAA National Ocean Service News]
Recent deadly West Virginia floods caused by a "thousand-year" rainfall event -- An article was written in NOAA's ClimateWatch magazine describing the excessive rain event during the third week of June across sections of the Appalachian Mountains in southern West Virginia and western Virginia that resulted in deadly flash floods on many of the region's streams and rivers. These flash floods, which were the result of between eight and ten inches of rain in less than two days, claimed at least 23 lives and was considered to be the third deadliest in West Virginia history. The National Weather Service claimed that the heavy 24-hour rainfall totals in the sections of West Virginia could be considered to be a "one thousand-year" rain event, which means that only a 0.1% chance exists of an event of this magnitude happening in any given year. [NOAA Climate.gov News]

CLIMATE FORCING

Springtime Arctic clouds can play a role in determining autumnal sea ice extent -- Using surface-based observed surface radiative fluxes and the derived cloud radiative forcing (CRF) from Barrow, AK between 1993 and 2014, researchers from the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) and Science and Technology Corporation (STC) have found that clouds in spring appear to be an important factor in predetermining autumn sea ice concentrations. In low sea ice years enhanced positive CRF (increased cloud cover enhancing long wave forcing) in April is followed by decreased negative CRF (decreased cloud cover allowing a relative increase in shortwave forcing) in May and June. The opposite is true in high sea ice years. [NOAA Climate Program Office News]
An unusual dust layer detected off coast of Chile -- A natural-color image obtained from data collected by the MODIS instrument onboard NASA's Terra satellite at the end of the first week of July showed a layer of airborne dust over the waters of the eastern South Pacific off the coast of Chile. Large quantities of airborne dust are typically rare along the western coast of South America due to local topography and prevailing winds. [NASA Earth Observatory]

CLIMATE FORECASTS

La Niña watch continues -- ENSO (El Niño/Southern Oscillation)-neutral conditions were observed during June 2016 as sea surface temperatures (SST) across central and eastern sections of the equatorial Pacific were at near or below-average levels. In addition, atmospheric conditions across the tropical Pacific also suggested ENSO-neutral conditions where neither El Niño or La Niña conditions are found. Many of the predictive models used by forecasters with NOAA's Climate Prediction Center (CPC) and the International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI) indicate that La Niña conditions are favored to develop during August -October 2016, with about a 55 -60 percent chance of La Niña during the Northern Hemisphere's fall and winter 2016-17. Therefore, the forecasters continued their La Niña watch as of late last week. A detailed El Niño/Southern Oscillation Diagnostic Discussion with supporting maps and charts is available from CPC.
One of the researchers with IRI has posted an easy to read blog describing the current ENSO-neutral conditions and providing some insight as to the possible development of La Niña conditions later this year. [NOAA ClimateWatch Magazine]
Dramatic increase in extreme heat and humidity across US foreseen -- Climate Central, a nonprofit news organization consisting of scientists and science journalists that analyzes and reports on climate science, has been conducting its "States at Risk" project which is aimed at demonstrating how the public across the nation is experiencing the impacts of climate change. In their current project, the focus is upon the projected surge in "dangerous heat days" when the heat index (the combination of heat and humidity) exceeds 104 degrees Fahrenheit. After analyzing historic trends in summer temperatures since 1970 and projections for future extreme heat for hundreds of metropolitan areas across the contiguous United States, an interactive "States at Risk" map permits identifying the anticipated extreme heat for each state. According to the report, Florida, Texas, Arizona, Colorado would be the states hardest hit by the extreme heat and humidity by 2050. [Climate Central]
Adélie penguin range may shift or shrink due to changing climate -- Scientists from the University of Delaware, Stony Brook University and NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service foresee a decrease in the number of Adélie penguin colonies around Antarctica by a third by the year 2060, based upon several decades of observations of penguin populations and environmental conditions along with computer models of projected changes in climate and other environmental factors. [NASA Earth Observatory]

CLIMATE AND SOCIETY

NOAA Administrator addresses the need to tackle America's water challenges with science -- Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, the NOAA Administrator, wrote a blog early last week addressing the state of the nation's water supply, especially in light of the occurrence of extreme weather events. She identified several future water challenges that include dangerous flooding, rising sea levels, punishing drought and algae outbreaks. [NOAA News]
Funding is made available to address impact of climate change on US agriculture -- During the last week officials at the US Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced that they were making $8.4 million available as funding to study and develop new approaches for the nation's agriculture sector to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change. [USDA NIFA News]
Earthweek -- Diary of the Planet [earthweek.com]

Historical Events:

18 July 1889...A cloudburst in West Virginia along the small creeks in Wirt County, Jackson County and Wood County claimed twenty lives. Rockport, WV reported 19.00 inches of rain in two hours and ten minutes that Thursday evening, setting a 24-hour precipitation record for the Mountain State. Tygart Creek rose 22 feet in one hour, and villages were swept away on Tygart, Slate, Tucker, and Sandy Creeks. (The Weather Channel) (NCDC)
18 July 1942...A record deluge occurred at Smethport in northern Pennsylvania, with 30.70 inches in just six hours. Several additional national records including 3-hour rainfall (28.50"), 4.5-hour rainfall (30.70"), and 12-hour rainfall (34.30"). The 24-hour rainfall total for the day was 34.50 inches, which set a maximum 24-hour precipitation for the Keystone State. The downpours and resultant flooding in Pennsylvania were devastating. (David Ludlum) (Intellicast) (NCDC)
18 July 1955...In Martinstown, England, eleven inches of rain fell in a 15-hour period on this day believed to be the 24-hour greatest rainfall for the United Kingdom. (The Weather Doctor)
18-19 July 1979...A 30-foot high tsunami wave leveled four Indonesian villages on the Sunda Islands during the night. The wave swept 1500 feet inland, causing 589 deaths among the sleeping villagers. A landslide from Mount Werung (Lomblen Island) caused the tsunami. (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
18-21 July 1996...Between six and twelve inches of rain fell on an already saturated Saguenay River Valley of Quebec, producing Canada's first billion-dollar disaster ($1.5 billion). Flooding destroyed or damaged 1718 houses and 900 cottages. Ten people were killed and 16,000 were evacuated. Roads and bridges disappeared. (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar) (The Weather Doctor) (Wikipedia)
18 July 1996...Aurora, IL received 16.91 inches of rain, which established a new 24-hour precipitation record for the Prairie State. (NCDC)
18-22 July 1997...Hurricane Danny, the only hurricane that made landfall in the continental US in 1997, moved inland into coastal Alabama at a snails pace. Radar storm total estimates of 43 inches over Mobile Bay. A torrential 32.52 inches of rain fell on 19-20 July at Dauphin Island Sea Lab, establishing a 24-hour maximum precipitation record for Alabama. (NCDC) (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
19 July 1886...A hurricane from the Gulf of Mexico crossed Florida causing great damage from Cedar Keys to Jacksonville. This was the third hurricane in one month to cross the Florida peninsula. (David Ludlum) (Intellicast)
19 July 1955...The Yarkon Water Project was opened to supply water to Negev desert in Israel. The Yarkon "flows" through the most densely populated areas of the country to the Mediterranean. The river has deteriorated rapidly since the 1950's due to excessive draining for irrigation by the National Water Carrier, with marked decline in water quality, animal habitats, flora and fauna. The National Water Carrier (1964), which crosses Israel from north to south, is the 81-mile main artery connecting all regional water projects in the State. (Today in Science History)
19 July 1974...A severe thunderstorm with winds to 80 mph and up to two inches of rain washed out four to five foot deep sections of roadway in Lake Havasu City, AZ. Three persons in a station wagon died as it was carried 3000 feet down a wash by a ten foot wall of water. (The Weather Channel)
19 July 1977...Thunderstorms produced torrential rains over parts of southwestern Pennsylvania. Some places in the Johnstown area received more than twelve inches in a seven-hour period. The heavy rains cause flash flooding along streams resulting in widespread severe damage, representing the "second Johnstown flood", second to the more disastrous flood in May 1889. The cloudburst flooded Johnstown with up to ten feet of water resulting in 76 deaths, countless injuries, and 424 million dollars damage. (David Ludlum) (The Weather Channel)
19 July 1994...Hurricane Emilia was the first of three Category-5 hurricanes to develop in the Central Pacific in 1994 as unusually warm sea temperatures prevailed south of Hawaii. Sustained winds reached 160 mph. (Intellicast)
19 July 2006...Charlwood, England melted under the highest temperature ever recorded in Britain in July at 97.3 degrees. (The Weather Doctor)
20 July 1930...The temperature at Washington, DC soared to an all-time record of 106 degrees. The next day Millsboro reached 110 degrees to set a record for the state of Delaware. July 1930 was one of the hottest and driest summers in the U.S., particularly in the Missouri Valley where severe drought conditions developed. Toward the end of the month, state records were set for Kentucky with 114 degrees and Mississippi with 115 degrees. (David Ludlum)
20 July 1934...The temperature at Keokuk, IA soared to 118 degrees to establish an all-time record high temperature for the Hawkeye State. (The Weather Channel)
20 July 1965...The 24-hour maximum precipitation record for the Show-Me State was set at Edgarton, MO as 18.18 inches of rain fell. (NCDC)
20 July 1986...The temperature at Charleston, SC hit 104 degrees for the second day in a row to tie their all-time record high. (The Weather Channel)
20 July 1988...The temperature at Redding, CA soared to an all-time record high of 118 degrees. (The National Weather Summary)
20 July 1989...Showers and thunderstorms in the Middle Atlantic Coast Region soaked Wilmington, DE with 2.28 inches of rain, pushing their total for the period May through July past the previous record of 22.43 inches. Heavy rain over that three-month period virtually wiped out a 16.82-inch deficit that had been building since drought conditions began in 1985. Thunderstorms in central Indiana deluged Lebanon with 6.50 inches of rain in twelve hours. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
20 July 1994...Seattle-Tacoma, WA sizzled at 100 degrees, the highest ever temperature recorded there. (Intellicast)
20 July 1997...A torrential 32.52 inches of rain fell at Dauphin Island Sea Lab, establishing a 24-hour maximum precipitation record for Alabama. (NCDC)
21 July 1911...The temperature at Painter, WY dipped to 10 degrees to equal the record low for July for the continental U.S. (The Weather Channel)
21 July 1930...The record high temperature for Delaware was set with 110 degrees at Millsboro. (Intellicast)
21 July 1934...The temperature reached 109 degrees at Cincinnati, OH to cap their hottest summer of record. The state record for Ohio was established that day with a reading of 113 degrees near the town of Gallipolis. (David Ludlum)
21 July 1983...The temperature at Vostok, Antarctic (elevation 11,220 ft) fell to 129 degrees below zero, establishing the all time lowest temperature ever recorded at a surface station on Earth, as well as for the Antarctic continent. (NCDC)
21 July 1991...Windsor Locks, CT hit 101 degrees, the third day in a row with temperatures over 100 degrees. Providence RI reached 102 degrees, their second day of 100-degree readings, very rare for this location. (Intellicast)
22 July 1926...The temperature at Troy, NY reached 108 degrees to set a high temperature record for the Empire State. The record high temperature for Connecticut was set at Waterbury with 105 degrees; this record for the Nutmeg State was broken by one degree in July 1995 at the same city. (Intellicast)
22 July 1972...Fort Ripley, MN received 10.84 inches of rain, to establish a new 24-hour maximum precipitation record for the Gopher State. (NCDC)
22 July 1987...Barrow, AK received 1.38 inches in 24 hours on the 21^st and 22^nd, an all-time record for that location. The previous record was the 1.00 inch water equivalent in a 15 inch all-time record snowfall of 26 October 1926. The average annual precipitation for Barrow is just 4.75 inches. (The National Weather Summary) (The Weather Channel) (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
23 July 1923...Sheridan, WY was drenched with 4.41 inches of rain, an all-time 24-hour record for that location. (22^nd-23^rd) (The Weather Channel)
23 July 1987...Thunderstorms produced a record ten inches of rain in six and a half-hours at Minneapolis, MN, including 5.26 inches in two hours. Flash flooding claimed two lives and caused 21.3 million dollars damage. Streets in Minneapolis became rushing rivers, parking lots became lakes, and storm sewers spouted like geysers. A tornado hit Maple Grove, MN causing five million dollars damage. Baseball size hail was reported at Olivia, MN. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
23 July 2010...The largest (by diameter) and heaviest hailstone on record in the United States fell on Vivian, SD. The stone was 8 inches in diameter and weighed 1.9 pounds. The person who found the stone reported that some melting had occurred before the official measurement was taken. This hailstone broke the previous US record for diameter (7.0 inches - 22 June 2003 in Aurora, NE) and weight (1.67 pounds - 3 September 1970 in Coffeyville, KS). The Aurora, NE hailstone will retain the record for circumference (18.75 inches). Several other stones of 6 inches or more in diameter were measured during the storm survey. (National Weather Service files)
24 July 1928...Wahluke, WA hit a high temperature of 118 degrees, which tied a record high for the state. In August 1961, this all time state record high was tied at Ice Harbor Dam. (Intellicast)
24 July 1936...Record high temperature for Kansas was tied at 121 degrees near Alton. The record high for Nebraska was also tied at Minden with 118 degrees.
24 July 1942...The temperature at Las Vegas, NV hit 117 degrees to set an all- time record for that location. (The Weather Channel)
24 July 1952...The temperature at Louisville, GA soared to 112 degrees to establish a state record. This record for the Peach State was tied in August 1983. (The Weather Channel) (NCDC)
24-25 July 1979...Claudette, a weak tropical storm, deluged southeastern Texas with torrential rains. The Houston suburb of Alvin received 43.00 inches, a 24-hour precipitation record for not only the Lone Star State, but for the U.S. Freeport reported a total of 30 inches. Total damage from flooding was over $400 million. (Intellicast) (David Ludlum) (NCDC) (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)

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