Fourth warmest May on record
The globe recorded its fourth warmest May on record, according to the National Climatic Data Center. The period January - May tied with 2003 as the sixth warmest such period on record. Global temperature records go back to 1880.
A warm and wet May for the U.S.
For the contiguous U.S., May temperatures were the 24th warmest in the 115-year record, according to the National Climatic Data Center. The Southeast region experienced its second wettest May in 115-years of record-keeping. In contrast, the West North Central region had their sixth driest May. Both Florida (9.86 inches) and Arkansas (10.91 inches) experienced their all-time wettest May. The last time Florida saw a record wet May was in 1976 when 9.15 inches of precipitation fell. Arkansas experienced its last record wet May in 1930 when 10.07 inches of precipitation fell. U.S. tornado activity was below average in May, according to NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.
On June 9, 2009, 14% of the contiguous United States was in moderate-to-exceptional drought. This is a drop from the 19% figure observed at the beginning of the year. The amount of the U.S. in the highest levels of drought, extreme to exceptional, decreased from 2.6% on May 12 to 1.5% on June 9. These extreme drought regions were in South Texas.
El Niño watch issued
NOAA's Climate Prediction Center issued an El Niño Watch last week, saying "that conditions are favorable for a transition from neutral to El Niño conditions during June - August 2009". The pattern of changes in surface winds, upper-level winds, sea surface temperatures, and deeper water heat content are all consistent with what has been observed during previous developing El Niños. We are currently experiencing neutral conditions, with ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Eastern Pacific just 0.2°C below the threshold for El Niño. In the week since the El Niño watch was issued, ocean temperatures have remained nearly steady in the Eastern Pacific, so we are not rushing into an El Niño just yet. As discussed in detail in an earlier blog post, most of our more advanced El Niño computer models are predicting a weak El Niño event for the coming Atlantic hurricane season. If this indeed occurs, it is likely that Atlantic hurricane activity will be suppressed due to the strong upper-level winds an El Niño usually brings to the tropical Atlantic, creating high wind shear that tears hurricanes apart.
Sea ice extent in the Arctic near average during May
May 2009 Northern Hemisphere sea ice extent was near average in May, coming in at 15th lowest (16th highest) since 1979, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center. The record May low was set in 2004. The rate of ice decline in May accelerated, and by the end of the month the decline rate was equal to last year's rate. Warmer than usual temperatures over the Arctic during May contributed to this acceleration. The Arctic remains vulnerable to near-record melting this summer if much warmer than average temperatures occur over the region, since the ice is at record thinness this summer. Thin ice requires less energy to melt, and it also tends to be more fractured, with increased open water amid the ice. Since water absorbs more sunlight than ice, heat from the sun can more rapidly melt this fractured ice.
Jeff Masters
Reader Comments
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I think you are confusing the short term impact and the long term impact.
Short term = hurricanes SUCK. After Ike, I never want to go through another hurricane.
Long term = hurricanes provide a measurable uptick in the local economy, especially in the construction and restoration industries. Ike is a big reason why the Houston area did not see much in the way of impact from the first half of the economic downturn. (well, Ike and oil)
In response to Viman, I completely agree. Ike was my first real hurricane. I was all kinds of gun-ho for a good storm. After the storm (and feeling my apartment building's floor "ripple" with each wind gust)... I have no desire to ever experience another hurricane. Combine that with what I've seen post-Ike, there is a lot of bad things to go around. With every storm, some good things do emerge, but overall, its a losing proposition. (see my current blog for more details) I think the original point of the topic was more along the lines of the economic uptick due to a hurricane is the storm's "silver lining".
Prepare for the worst,
Hope for the best.
(and in a best case scenario, you can donate all of your unused hurricane food to a local food bank after the season, as long as it isn't expired)
Walking, or slithering, might be more fun than running...
I run/jog 15 miles every day......LOL!
Hey NRAmy dont you have some environmental friendly fake trees to plant in Cali?
I think RitaEvac has been pretty good about not "doom-casting" or "wish casting". Yes, RitaEvac has been a bit on the more pessimistic side of things, but if you went through a pair of severe hurricanes in the space of 4 years... you would be pretty gun-shy and pessimistic with tropical systems too. Ike was my first storm, and he opened my eyes a bit to the real impact of a storm.
Don't bash other people for being "doomcasters" or anything like that. There is an ignore link for a reason... its not there to look pretty.
your joking of course, wouldn't call that running weather.
"Keep it civil. Personal attacks, bickering, flaming, and general trollish behavior will not be tolerated. Disagreements are fine, but keep them civil and short. "
You just fulfilled every single item between the commas.
Poof, but without the pixie dust, ya didn't earn any.
LOL fits your screename, now you get out pal!
Please tell me you have a camelbak or something like that to carry your water with you... You will need a heck of a lot in this heat.
"What goes down, must come back up." - George Hadley
548. TampaSpin
Did 12 around noon yesterday. In my business, It's good to get used to the heat.
My brother runs about 5 miles in the EARLY MORNING...not when it's a heat index of 107? WTH?
I'm in the mood to find a beach with a lounge chair....an umbrella.....and plenty of water.....
102.0 °F Scattered Clouds
Humidity: 38%
Dew Point: 72 °F Wind: 8.1 mphfrom the SSW
Wind Gust: 8.1 mph
Pressure: 29.91 in (Rising)
Heat Index: 112 °F Visibility: 10.0 miles
UV: 10 out of 16
Clouds: Scattered Clouds 6000 ft
(Above Ground Level)
Elevation: 728 ft
Updated: 2 sec ago
97.1 °F
Mostly Cloudy
Humidity: 54%
Dew Point: 78 °F
Wind: 5.0 mphfrom the NNE
Wind Gust: 15.0 mph
Pressure: 29.93 in (Rising)
Heat Index: 114 °F
Visibility: 10.0 miles
UV: 7 out of 16
I'd hate to see the temps if it wasn't "Mostly Cloudy". It's too hot here to even breath.
To run or jog....in that?
I truly hope that will be your first and last hurricane. I respectfully disagree about confusing long and short term. But to each there own. I do agree whole heartedly that I don't want to go thru another either. Ike/Rita/Katrina were their own particular kinds of monsters. I would imagine that every storm is like that. So our experiences are all different. I'm just coming from my experience as are you. :)
I know the feeling. My A/C started to go out Saturday early afternoon (coolant leak)... thankfully the apt. complex maintenance guy was in the office when I called them to report it. I'm scared to see my electric bill for this month...
Lets all hope for the best this upcoming season.
To run or jog....in that?
114 thats down right bad, dangerous, but I better stop doomcasting! thats scare mongering lol
Hmm, how smart is that? Most people like to run at sunrise or sundown to avoid the hottest parts of the day, but not wild man Tampa LOL!
I have a two-story house. Thermostat is downstairs. Heat rises.....
My electric bill will run at least $200 a month in this weather.
Updated: 1 sec ago
91.3 °F
Scattered Clouds
Humidity: 57%
Dew Point: 75 °F
Wind: 5.0 mphfrom the NE
Wind Gust: 12.0 mph
Pressure: 29.97 in (Falling)
Heat Index: 102 °F
Crazy hot here too
EVAPORATE!
I'm in a third floor apartment that faces SSE.
My only saving graces are a very efficient A/C, lots of trees nearby, and crazy insane insulation in the roof.
LOL.
Yes, the fast runs usually need to be done when it is cooler.
Great song. Plant rules (right after Gilmour, of course).
Song for running on a hot day.
Cold day.
You keep using those two names...I see no reason to think that right now. You should be prepared no matter what type of season anyway.
Updated: 4:09 PM EDT on June 17, 2009
90.2 °F
Partly Cloudy
Humidity: 72%
Dew Point: 80 °F
Wind: 1.0 mph from the SSE
Wind Gust: 11.0 mph
Pressure: 29.95 in (Steady)
Heat Index: 108 °F
Visibility: 10.0 miles
UV: 9 out of 16
Clouds: Few 2300 ft
(Above Ground Level)
Elevation: 14 ft
Thank God for that strong breeze...or i'd be a puddle right now. (sarcasm)
Link
A Historical Study of Tropical Storms and
Hurricanes that have affected Southwest
Louisiana and Southeast Texas
To account for the above, a radius of 150 nautical miles from Lake Charles was chosen. All tropical cyclones that have reached tropical storm strength and have passed through this area were included in this paper. This region encompasses the metropolitan areas of Houston and Beaumont in Texas and the cities of Lake Charles, Lafayette, Alexandria, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport in Louisiana
Written in 1997. But still interesting. Sorry if ya already saw it. :)
that is some crazy dewpoints
Should have 2 ac units, we did,
That's what I mean, always think of those 2 storms every year
That's pretty fascinating! 5 out of the 8 major hurricane striking the area in that period were during moderate/strong El Nino events...
It's a death wish... I wouldn't run or jog while the sun is up.
That kinda jumped out at me too. Specially this year. :)
I don't get it either. The link I posted gives NWS Lake Charles' view of EL NINO and our area Hope it helps.
Link
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