WEEKLY WATER NEWS

7-11 August 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:

• Flooding woes --
  • In west Texas, more than 15 inches of rain has fallen last week over the El Paso metropolitan area, resulting in flooding and mudslides. An earthen dam in neighboring Ciudad Juarez, Mexico was in danger of being breached and potentially flooding downtown El Paso, but this danger appears to have been lessened. [USA Today]
  • In India, torrential rains associated with the summer monsoon circulation pattern produced flooding coastal area of the state of Andhra Pradesh that resulted in at least 31 people late last week. [USA Today]
• Eye on the tropics --
  • In the Western North Atlantic basin, the third tropical cyclone (low pressure systems that reach tropical storm or hurricane status) of the 2006 hurricane season in that basin formed early last week. Named Tropical Storm Chris, this storm moved to the west-northwest before finally weakening and becoming a tropical depression last Friday as it moved across the Turks and Caicos islands. [USA Today] A visible satellite image from NOAA's GOES-11 satellite captures Tropical Depression Chris as it was near Grand Turk Island last week. [NOAA OSEI]
  • In the Western North Pacific, Typhoon Prapiroon (a Western Pacific counterpart to a hurricane) formed over the South China Sea early last week and moved toward southern China, before weakening to a tropical storm before making landfall. At least 31 people were killed because of the torrential rain and strong winds associated with Tropical Storm Prapiroon, a region that had experienced Tropical Storm Bilis earlier. [USA Today] An image of Tropical Storm Prapiroon was captured by sensors onboard the Japanese geosynchronous satellite. [NOAA OSEI]
  • Updated hurricane season outlooks announced -- At the beginning of August, the 2006 hurricane season for the North Atlantic Basin, including the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, has experienced three tropical storms, which is less than the eight named tropical cyclones that had developed by 1 August 2005.
  • Hurricane expert, Professor Bill Gray of Colorado State University, updated his forecast at the start of August. Due to slightly lower sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic than anticipated, along with slightly higher surface pressure and stronger tropical winds, he had reduced the of hurricanes from the nine that he had predicted last December to seven. He also downgraded the number of intense hurricanes (Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Scale) from five to three. [USA Today]
  • NOAA scientists should issue an update to their official NOAA Atlantic Hurricane Outlook during the second week of August. In May, they had predicted 13 to 16 named tropical cyclones, with eight to 10 becoming hurricanes, of which four to six could become "major" hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher.
  • Public is encouraged to prepare for an active hurricane season -- Max Mayfield, the director of the National Hurricane Center, is encouraging the public in hurricane-prone areas to begin their hurricane preparations now. Following in the wake of two extremely active hurricane seasons, several NOAA agencies are preparing for another active season in 2006. [NOAA Magazine]
• Taming hurricanes contemplated -- Scientists from Stevens Institute of Technology and Princeton University claim that they could tame hurricanes by cooling the surface water temperatures over a large area ahead of an approaching hurricane using pumps that would bring colder water to the surface. They propose that an array of 1.6 million wave or wind-powered pumps be deployed. [USA Today]
• Lightning deaths are on the rise -- Officials with the National Weather Service have warned of the "alarming" increase in the number of lightning deaths that occurred during the second half of July 2006, as between 14 and 17 people across the nation were killed by lightning, nearly doubling the number during the first six and one half months of 2006. In addition, the number is more than double the number of fatalities normally found during comparable periods of recent years. [NOAA News]
• An astronaut's view of an old waterway -- An astronaut onboard the International Space Station recently took a picture of the ship traffic leaving the Egypt's Suez Canal and entering the Mediterranean Sea. This canal, built more than 130 years ago, connects the Mediterranean and Red Seas and provides a more direct transportation route between European and eastern Asian markets. [NASA Earth Observatory]
• A satellite view of the elusive Northwest Passage -- Images of the Beaufort Sea off Canada's northwest coast made from data collected by the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) instrument onboard MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite on the same date in July 2005 and 2006 show open water in 2005 but a ice covered sea this year. This region would be along what is often identified as the "Northwest Passage", a route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific basins that numerous explorers have attempted sail for more than five centuries. Lower than average temperatures in the Beaufort Sea during last winter appear to have caused the ice to remain longer than one year ago. [NASA Earth Observatory]
• Quiet weather across the Pacific -- Sea surface height data across the equatorial Pacific obtained from the NASA/French Jason satellite during late May 2006 appear to indicate that the La Niña event that had been evident across the region in early 2006 had faded, resulting in near normal sea heights. [NASA Earth Observatory]
• Gravity changes associated with massive earthquake detected by satellites -- Scientists from Ohio State University and the University of California, Santa Barbara have used satellite data obtained from NASA's two GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) satellites to detect changes in the earth's surface and local gravity caused by the massive magnitude 9.1 earthquake off Sumatra that initiated the deadly tsunami which swept the Indian Ocean in December 2004. The scientists indicate that the earthquake that caused a massive uplift of the seafloor changed gravity by changing the region's geometry and changing the density of the underlying rock. [Ohio State University Research News]
• New radar technique employed to locate moisture sources -- Researchers at the National Center for Atmospheric Research are involved with a field project named REFRACTT (Refractivity Experiment For H2O Research And Collaborative operational Technology Transfer) where multiple Doppler Radar units are employed to track water vapor in the lower atmosphere through the changes in radar signal speed associated with atmospheric refraction due to vapor. This technique is hoped to help weather forecasters better identify the location and timing of storms. [UCAR/NCAR]
• Supercomputers to be used in weather modeling effort -- Officials with the San Diego Supercomputer Center are collaborating with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Colorado State University whereby the center's supercomputers can be used to help in the numerical processing involved in high resolution climate and weather forecasting. Some of the computational work involves more detailed analysis of the role of clouds and of hydrological processes, with an eventual goal of producing more accurate worldwide weather and climate forecasts. [University of California, San Diego]
• Heat continues to be a major killer -- Researchers at the National Climatic Data Center report that more than 150 people across the US have died as a direct result of heat to date during the summer of 2006. With much above average temperatures expected through the rest of summer, this number was expected to continue to rise. Consequently, heat is the number one non-severe weather related killer, with about 175 Americans dying due to heat every year. The National Weather Service has developed a Heat Index Program and a Heat Health Watch/Warning System to alert the public and appropriate authorities to the hazards associated with heat waves. [NOAA Magazine]
• Experiment reveals deadly potential -- National Weather Service employees at the Milwaukee (WI) Forecast Office performed an experiment early last week that demonstrated how quickly temperatures in a closed vehicle can reach deadly levels. Using electronic thermometers, they monitored the temperature inside and outside a dark blue colored vehicle that was parked in the midday sun with the air conditioning system off and the windows closed. They found that the interior temperature reached a potentially deadly reading of 119 degrees Fahrenheit within 10 minutes, approximately 27 Fahrenheit degrees above the outdoor temperature. [NWSFO Milwaukee]
• Rare clouds above Antarctica -- Nacreous clouds, also called polar stratospheric clouds, were observed recently at Australia's Mawson station in Antarctica. The altitude of these clouds were estimated to be 20 km above the earth's surface. [Yahoo! News]
• 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:

• 7 August 1904...A flash flood near Pueblo, CO washed a train from the tracks killing 89 passengers. A bridge, weakened by the floodwaters sweeping through the valley below, gave way under the weight of the train dashing all but the sleeping cars into the torrent drowning the occupants. Rail service was frequently interrupted in the Rocky Mountain Region and southwestern U.S. that summer due to numerous heavy downpours, which washed out the railroad beds, delaying trains as much as five days. (David Ludlum) (The Weather Channel)
• 7 August 1922...A violent hailstorm struck a passenger train near Pinneo, CO. Sixty-mile per hour winds blew jagged chunks of ice into the train, breaking windows and injuring the passengers. The train was so severely damaged that another train had to pick up the passengers to take them on their way. (Flora, Hailstorms of the United States, 1956)
• 7 August 1984...El Paso, TX normally receives 1.21 inches of rain in August. They got that amount in forty-five minutes, with four more inches to boot, during a storm that left Downtown El Paso under five feet of water. (The Weather Channel)
• 7 August 1990...A thunderstorm moving through Nome, AK, the ninth thunderstorm of the year, more than in the previous 20 years combined. (Intellicast)
• 7-8 August 1995...Lockington Dam, OH recorded 10.75 inches of rain, establishing a 24-hour maximum precipitation record for the Buckeye State. (NCDC)
• 8 August 1882...An August snowstorm was reported by a ship on Lake Michigan. A thick cloud reportedly burst on the decks covering them with snow and slush six inches deep. Snow showers were observed at shore points that day. (David Ludlum) (The Weather Channel)
• 8 August 1982...Scattered severe thunderstorms dropped up to three inches of rain over western Arizona. Mud and rock debris from the rain covered approximately 250 miles of highway. Water to depths of three feet were reported in Parker and the town was isolated for three days. A number of streets in Lake Havasu City were seriously damaged. (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
• 8 August 1987...Thunderstorm rains in eastern Nebraska sent the Wahoo River and Ithica River above flood stage. Thunderstorm rains in western Iowa sent the Nishnabotna River over flood stage. Up to seven inches of rain deluged the Council Bluffs area Friday evening and Saturday morning. Thunderstorms produced 4.4 inches of rain in three hours Friday evening, along with golf ball size hail. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
• 8 August 1992...Parts of south central and southeastern Indiana were hit by three to thirteen inches of rain in six hours. Streams rose between 30 to 35 feet in northern Clark and southwest Lincoln Counties. Sixty-five miles of Conrail railroad tracks were washed out. One death was reported as a man was swept away as he attempted to wade across a flooded road east of Scottsburg. (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
• 9 August 1988...Tropical Storm Beryl deluged Biloxi with 6.32 inches of rain in 24 hours, and in three days drenched Pascagoula, MS with 15.85 inches of rain. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
• 9 August 1989...Evening thunderstorms in Arizona deluged Yuma with record torrential rains for the second time in two weeks. The rainfall total of 5.25 inches at the Yuma Quartermaster Depot established a 24-hour record, and was nearly double the normal annual rainfall. As many as 1000 homes were flooded with water to 5 feet deep. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
• 9 August 1997...Heavy thunderstorms over central Mojave County in Arizona produced flash flooding near Kingman shortly after midnight. To the east of Kingman, a passenger train was derailed upon crossing a flood-weakened creek and 116 of 302 passengers were injured. (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
• 10-11 August 1831...A violent hurricane devastated Barbados. Death toll was estimated to be from 1500 to 2500 people. (The Weather Doctor)
• 10 August 1856...The Isle Derniere (Last Island) disaster occurred off the coast of Louisiana. A storm tide drowned 140 vacationers as a five-foot wave swept over Low Island during a hurricane. (The Weather Channel) The hurricane completely devastated the fashionable hotel and pleasure resort on Last Island, 150 miles east of Cameron. Storm surge swept an estimated 400 people to their death. Today the island is just a haven for pelicans and other sea birds. (Intellicast)
• 10 August 1980...Hurricane Allen came ashore north of Brownsville, TX dropping fifteen inches of rain near San Antonio, and up to 20 inches in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, ending a summer long drought. Winds at Port Mansfield gusted to 140 mph with a storm surge of 12 feet. Tidal flooding occurred along the South Texas coast. Hurricane Allen packed winds to 150 mph, and also spawned twenty-nine tornadoes. Total damage from the storm was estimated at 750 million dollars. (David Ludlum) (Intellicast)
• 10 August 1981...Up to six inches of rain fell in several hours over the desert in the Moapa Valley of northeast Clark County in Nevada. A massive flash flood resulted, with 762 cows killed on a dairy farm in Hidden Valley. (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
• 11 August 1940...A major hurricane struck Savannah, GA and Charleston, SC causing the worst inland flooding since 1607. (David Ludlum)
• 11 August 1979...Rainfall totals for the previous two weeks were up to 20 inches in parts of India's state of Gujarat. A rain-weakened dam broke on the 11th, resulting in a 20-foot high wall of water that devastated Morovi, and drowning approximately 5000 people. (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
• 11 August 1987...An early evening thunderstorm in Wyoming produced hail up to two inches in diameter from Alva to Hulett. Snowplows had to be used to clear Highway 24 south of Hulett, where hail formed drifts two feet deep. (The National Weather Summary)
• 11 August 1988...Moisture from what remained of Tropical Storm Beryl resulted in torrential rains across eastern Texas. Twelve and a half inches of rain deluged Enterprise, TX, which was more than the amount received there during the previous eight months. (The National Weather Summary)
• 11 August 1989...One of the most severe convective outbreaks of record came to a climax in southern California after four days. Thunderstorms deluged Benton, CA with six inches of rain two days in a row, and the flooding that resulted caused more than a million dollars damage to homes and highways. Thunderstorms around Yellowstone Park, WY produced four inches of rain in twenty minutes resulting in fifteen mudslides. Thunderstorms over Long Island, NY drenched Suffolk County with 8 to 10 inches of rain. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
• 12 August 1778...A Rhode Island hurricane prevented an impending British-French sea battle, and caused extensive damage over southeast New England. (David Ludlum)
• 12 August 1891...An 80-minute deluge, possibly related to a tropical storm system, pelted Vampo, CA with between 11.5 and 11.8 inches of rain. The observer measured, then emptied the rain gauge several times as it filled. No other U.S. storm has come close to producing this much precipitation in an 80-minute span. (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
• 12 August 1955...During the second week of August, hurricanes Connie and Diane produced as much as 19 inches of rain in the northeastern U.S. forcing rivers from Virginia to Massachusetts into a high flood. Westfield, MA was deluged with 18.15 inches of rain in 24 hours, and at Woonsocket, RI the Blackstone River swelled from seventy feet in width to a mile and a half. Connecticut and the Delaware Valley were hardest hit. Total damage in New England was 800 million dollars, and flooding claimed 187 lives. (David Ludlum)
• 12 August 1985...With the span of two hours, 17.32 inches of rain fell at Gajo, Gansu, China, marking a worldwide record rainfall event for such a length of time. (NWS)
• 12 August 1997...A storm three to five miles upstream produced a 10 to 30 foot high wall of water in Antelope Canyon, located approximately 5 miles southeast of Page, AZ. Eleven hikers and tourists died. Only the guide survived, after being carried several miles downstream. All had been warned not to enter the canyon. (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
• 13 August 1923...A flash flood with a crest up to 100 feet high and 200 feet wide swept down Farmington Canyon in Utah. A family of six camping in the canyon were swept away and two women died at Willard when their house was demolished. Some flood survivors were rescued from trees and rooftops. (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
• 13 August 1979...Fifteen yachtsmen died and 23 boats sank or were abandoned as storm-force winds, along with high seas, raked a fleet of yachts participating in an annual race between southwestern England and Fastnet Rock off southwestern Ireland. (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
• 13 August 1987...Thunderstorms deluged the Central Gulf Coast States with torrential rains. Thunderstorms in Mississippi drenched Marion County with up to 15 inches of rain during the morning hours, with 12.2 inches reported at Columbia. Floodwaters swept cars away in the Lakeview subdivision of Columbia when the Lakeview Dam broke. Flash flooding caused more than three million dollars damage in Marion County. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
• 13-14 August 1987...Slow-moving thunderstorms deluged northern and western suburbs of Chicago, IL with torrential rains. O'Hare Airport reported 9.35 inches in 18 hours, easily exceeding the previous 24-hour record of 6.24 inches. The airport was closed due to extensive flooding, the first time ever for a non-winter event. Flooding over a five-day period resulted in 221 million dollars damage. It was Chicago's worst flash flood event, particularly for northern and western sections of the city. Kennedy Expressway became a footpath for thousands of travelers to O'Hare Airport as roads were closed. The heavy rains swelled the Des Plaines River above flood stage, and many persons had to be rescued from stalled vehicles on flooded roads. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data) (The Weather Channel) (Intellicast)
• 13 August 2004...Hurricane Charley, a Category 4 tropical low pressure system on the Saffir-Simpson scale, struck the Gulf Coast of southwest Florida, making landfall north of Captiva, FL. At landfall, sustained winds of 145 mph, along with an unofficial gust of 173 mph on a medical building tower in Punta Gorda near Fort Myers. The greatest destruction occurring at Punta Gorda. Fifteen fatalities were directly attributed to the hurricane, with another 20 indirect deaths. Damage estimates were approximately $14 billion. A gust of 104 mph hit Arcadia, where a storm shelter with 1200 people inside lost a wall and part of a roof. (Wikipedia) (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)

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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.