WEEKLY WATER NEWS

26-30 June 2006

Water in the Earth System will return for Fall 2006 with new Investigations files starting during Preview Week, Monday, 28 August 2006. All the current online website products will continue to be available throughout the summer break period.

Water in the News:

• TRMM monitors Texas thunderstorms -- The Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis that processes data obtained by instruments aboard the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite reported that as much as nine inches of rain fell over sections of Texas and Louisiana last week. Houston, TX experienced flooding due to these torrential rains. [NASA Earth Observatory]
• NASA is involved with lightning research -- In observance of National Lightning Awareness Week (18-24 June 2006) NASA highlighted the research activities conducted by its research scientists. [NASA Earth Observatory]
• Where is the most lightning? -- A global lightning density map was generated from lightning flashes detected by NASA satellites from 1995 to 2002.  The greatest density of lightning flashes was found over equatorial Africa and Indonesia. [NASA Earth Observatory]
• Intense lightning found around hurricane eye -- Using data collected from satellites and high flying ER-2 aircraft, scientists from NASA, NOAA and ten universities participating in the Tropical Cloud Systems and Processes field experiment found that intense lightning activity was found in the eyewall surrounding the central eye of several hurricanes, including Hurricane Emily. [NASA News]
• First images from GOES-13 -- The first full disk visible image obtained by sensors onboard the newly launched GOES-13 satellite were received last week by the Space Science and Engineering Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This satellite, launched in May, represents the first in a new series of geosynchronous satellites to be used to monitor atmospheric and oceanic conditions from a station located approximately 23,000 miles above the Western Hemisphere. [UW SSEC]
• Drought declared in Georgia -- Because of the lack of significant precipitation this year across Georgia, state government officials in the Peach State have issued a statewide drought, thereby allowing restrictions to be implemented on the outdoor use of water. [USA Today]
• Dry New Mexico experiences flooding -- Thunderstorms produced approximately four inches of rain in Alamogordo, NM late last week, resulting in flooding in the city. Much of the Southwest had been experiencing severe to extreme drought. [USA Today]
• Rains produce flooding in Ohio -- More thunderstorms late last week brought a second round of torrential rain to northern Ohio near the city of Norwalk, resulting in flooding. [USA Today]
• Death toll mounts in Indonesian flooding -- Officials in central Indonesia reported that more than 200 people died as of late last week due to flooding caused by torrential rains. [USA Today]
• Flooding in China continues to cause death -- The Chinese state run newspaper reported that as of late last week, 170 people have died and more than 1.6 million people were evacuated since early May because of the flooding and mudslides due to heavy rain. [USA Today]
• Separate treatment of urine seen as cost-effective -- A researcher at the Delft University of Technology claims that substantial energy savings could result and raw materials reclaimed if human urine were collected and purified separately. [EurekAlert!]
• A magnet helps deduce rainfall patterns -- Two scientists who have analyzed the relationship between atmospheric water vapor in the tropics and rainfall using data obtained from satellites claim that "continuous phase transitions" exist, similar to that of magnets. [EurekAlert!]
• Southern Ocean may hold key to atmospheric carbon levels -- Scientists at Princeton University and at NOAA report that the circulation pattern in the Southern Ocean that surrounds the Antarctic continent south of a latitude of 60 degrees south appears to serve as an important mechanism for regulating levels of global atmospheric carbon dioxide. [Princeton University]
• Heightened hurricane activity in 2005 may be due to increases in global temperatures -- Scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research claim that the warmer waters of the tropical North Atlantic in 2005 that helped generate a record number of tropical storms and hurricanes appears to have been associated with increased global temperatures than due to other natural cycles. [NCAR/UCAR]
• Results from hurricane field experiment discussed -- -- A meeting will be held next week at the National Science Foundation (NSF) in Arlington, VA as researchers will discuss some of the preliminary results that obtained when they flew into the eyes of Hurricanes Katrina, Ophelia and Rita as part of the NSF-funded RAINEX (the Rainband and Intensity Change Experiment). Of special interest is the vortices of rapidly rotating air within the hurricane's eyewall and feeder rain bands. [EurekAlert!]
• Global and US Hazards/Climate Extremes -- A review and analysis of the global impacts of various weather-related events, including drought, floods and storms during the current month. [NCDC]
• Global Water News Watch -- Other water news sources can be obtained through the SAHRA Project at the University of Arizona [SAHRA Project]
• Earthweek -- Diary of the Planet [earthweek.com] Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Historical Events:

• 26 June 1933...A hailstorm swept a path of destruction 12 mi wide and 40 mi long across eastern Saskatchewan. (Northern Indiana NWSFO)
• 26 June 1954...Eight fishermen were swept off the breakwater of the Montrose Harbor in Chicago, IL by a seiche on Lake Michigan. At the time, this killer wave rose suddenly from a serene Lake Michigan; sunny skies and calm wind conditions were reported. The seiche, produced by an earlier squall on the lake, caused the lake water to rise ten feet. (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
• 26 June 1985...A spectacular early morning waterspout developed at 5:20 AM (MST) from a stationary thunderstorm over the south end of the Great Salt Lake in Utah. It was visible 20 mi away, and lasted four minutes. (The Weather Channel)
• 26 June 1986...Hurricane Bonnie made landfall on the upper Texas coast. A wind gust to 98 mph occurred at Sea Rim State Park. The town of Ace recorded 13 inches of rain. (Intellicast)
• 26 June-7 July 1989...Tropical Storm Allison formed in the Gulf of Mexico from remnants of Hurricane Cosme in the eastern North Pacific. Periods of heavy rain caused flooding across parts of Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi. Winnfield, LA reported a six-day total of 29.52 inches of rain. This system was responsible for eleven deaths and approximately $500 million in damage. (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
• 27-29 June 1954...Excessive rains from remnants of Hurricane Alice led to the Rio Grande River's worst flood. Up to 27.1 inches of rain fell at Pandale, TX. As many as 55 people died from the flooding. The river crest at Laredo, TX broke the previous highest record by 12.6 feet. The roadway on the US Highway 90 bridge over the Pecos River was covered by 30 feet of water on the 27^th. (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar) (David Ludlum)
• 27 June 1957...Hurricane Audrey smashed ashore at Cameron, LA drowning 381 persons in the storm tide, and causing 150 million dollars damage in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Audrey left only a brick courthouse and a cement-block icehouse standing at Cameron, and when the waters settled in the town of Crede, only four buildings remained. The powerful winds of Audrey tossed a fishing trawler weighing 78 tons onto an offshore drilling platform. Winds along the coast gusted to 105 mph, and oilrigs off the Louisiana coast reported wind gusts to 180 mph. A storm surge greater than twelve feet inundated the Louisiana coast as much as 25 miles inland. It was the deadliest June hurricane of record for the U.S. (David Ludlum) (The Weather Channel)
• 27-29 June 1997...Although thousands of miles away, a strong low pressure system southeast of New Zealand produced surf up to seven feet, with occasional sets to ten feet, along Hawaii's south-facing coasts. (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
• 28 June 1983...A waterspout was sighted over Hazin Bay on the Yukon-Kuskokwim coast of Alaska. Satellites detected thunderstorms in the area. (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
• 28 June 1992...A slow moving tropical depression produced excessive rains across southwest Florida. Four-day totals ending on the 28^th, ranged up to 25 inches in the Venice area, with a general 8 to 14 inches over Sarasota and Manatee counties. Two deaths resulted from the flooding. (Intellicast)
• 28 June 1960...The maximum 24-hour precipitation record for the Bluegrass State was established at Dunmor, KY when 10.40 inches fell. (NCDC)
• 29 June 1966...Seventy people were given medical attention at the Summerfest celebration at Milwaukee, WI as temperatures reached 95 degrees and dewpoints in the mid-70s produced heat indices to 110 degrees. Water misters probably prevented more heat-related injuries. (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
• 29 June 1975...Litchville, ND recorded 8.10 inches of rain for a state 24-hour precipitation record. (NCDC)
• 30 June 1886...The second destructive hurricane in nine days hit the Apalachicola-Tallahassee area of Florida. (David Ludlum)
• 30 June 1972...The entire state of Pennsylvania was declared a disaster area as a result of the catastrophic flooding caused by Hurricane Agnes, which claimed 48 lives, and caused 2.1 billion dollars damage. (The Weather Channel)
• 30 June 1988...Thunderstorms in eastern Kansas drenched Worden with 12.21 inches of rain, and a wall of water two to four feet deep swept through Lone Star, KS flooding every home in the town. The flood cut a five-mile wide path from west of Lone Star east to US Highway 59. Up to ten inches of rain was reported southeast of Callaway, NE. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
• 30 June 1989...The remains of tropical storm Allison dropped copious amounts of rain on Louisiana. Winnfield, LA reported 22.52 inches of rain in three days, and more than thirty inches for the month, a record for June. Shreveport received a record 17.11 inches in June, with a total for the first six months of the year of 45.55 inches. Thunderstorms also helped produce record rainfall totals for the month of June of 13.12 inches at Birmingham, AL, 14.66 inches at Oklahoma City, OK, 17.41 inches at Tallahassee, FL, 9.97 inches at Lynchburg, VA, and more than 10.25 inches at Pittsburgh, PA. Pittsburgh had also experienced a record wet month of May. (The National Weather Summary) (Intellicast)
• 1 July 1792...A tremendous storm (a tornado or hurricane) hit Philadelphia and New York City. Many young people were drowned while out boating on that Sunday. (David Ludlum)
• 1 July 1915...Pawtucket, RI received a deluge with 5.1 inches of rain in 24 hours. (Intellicast)
• 1 July 1987...Lake Charles, LA was drenched with a month's worth of rain during the early morning. More than five inches of rain soaked the city, including 2.68 inches in one hour. (The National Weather Summary)
• 2-6 July 1994...Heavy rains from the remains of Tropical Storm Alberto produced major flooding across northern and central Georgia. Three-day rains exceeded 15 inches at Atlanta. An impressive 21.10 inches of rain fell at Americus, GA on the 6^th to establish a 24-hour maximum precipitation record for the Peach State. Numerous road closures and bridge washouts. Thirty people were killed and 50,000 were forced from their homes, as 800,000 acres were flooded. Total damage exceeded $750 million... (NCDC) (Intellicast)

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Prepared by AMS WES Central Staff and Edward J. Hopkins, Ph.D., email hopkins@meteor.wisc.edu
ã Copyright, 2006, The American Meteorological Society.