Saturday, February 14, 2009

Rare Hawaiian Tornado Captured on Video

A rare tornado on the Hawaiian island of Oahu was captured on video Wednesday. The twister was strong enough to lift a golf cart weighing 800 to 1000 pounds, as well as an assistant golf pro weighing 250 pounds. Local National Weather Service meteorologists will be consulting with more experienced colleagues on the mainland to do a damage assessment. Initial analysis indicates the storm was an F0 on the Fujita scale, but it could possibly have reached F1. There have been only 37 previous tornadoes reported in Hawaii since records began in 1950; 10 have occurred in the current decade. The most recent F1 storm was on March 26, 1988.

Friday, February 13, 2009

January 2009 7th Warmest on Record

The preliminary analysis of January 2009 data released today by NCDC/NOAA shows that "the globally averaged combined land and sea surface temperature was the seventh warmest on record for January."

Other January highlights:

* January 2009 temperatures were above average in much of the land areas of the globe, with the exception of cooler-than-average temperatures across the northeastern and midwestern contiguous U.S., western Alaska, eastern Russia, western Europe, northwestern Africa, southeastern Asia, northeastern Australia, and northern Argentina.

* Precipitation during January 2009 was above average across Iceland, the British Isles, Alaska's panhandle, northeastern Australia, eastern and southern parts of Europe, northern South America, and southeastern Asia. Drier-than-average conditions were observed across eastern Asia, most of the continental U.S., eastern and southern parts of South America, and northern Europe.

* Cold phase El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) (La Niña) conditions were present across the equatorial Pacific Ocean during January 2009.

Images (click to enlarge): Historical January global temperature departures from average, January 2009 global temperature distribution, from National Climatic Data Center/NOAA

Thursday, February 12, 2009

NOAA Nomination Hearing Held

The Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing today on the nomination of Jane Lubchenco to be NOAA Administrator.

Video is available here.

Questionable Authority provides a play-by-play commentary and analysis.

WaPo political blog says Obama Science Nominees Warmly Welcomed on Hill.

ScienceInsider finds the hearing uneventful.

New Maine All-Time Record Low Temperature Confirmed

Images (click to enlarge): Maine low temperatures Jan. 16, 2009 from National Weather Service; U.S. temperature departure from average Jan. 11-17, 2009 from Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin, NOAA/National Agricultural Statistics Service

PM Update (Feb. 13): It's getting big play from the usual suspects in certain layers of the blogosphere, but Dr. Jeff does his usual Masterful job of putting this particular stat in proper perspective today:

Record -50°F confirmed for Maine; is this inconsistent with global warming?

BTW, Cold Weather Guys, how's your forecast for a "MEMORABLE wintry weather period" this week working out for you?

Original post:
The National Weather Service confirmed on Tuesday that the low temperature of -50°F (-45.3°C) recorded Jan. 16 at Big Black River in far northern Maine is a new all-time record low for the state. This ties a previous all-time record low in Vermont for the lowest in the 6 New England states. The NWS statement says:
On the morning of January 16, as New England was under the grip of an arctic blast, an all-time low temperature of -50° Fahrenheit was recorded for Maine. It was recorded at 7:30 a.m. EST at a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) stream gauge on the Big Black River near Depot Mountain in northwestern Aroostook County. The previous record, -48° Fahrenheit, was set in Van Buren, Maine almost 84 years earlier, on January 19, 1925.

"It is exciting to be a part of this historic event," said George Jacobson, Maine State Climatologist and Member of the State Climate Extremes Committee (SCEC), the group that vetted this measurement for consideration as a new all time minimum temperature record for the State of Maine. "But the real benefit to the State is in good weather and climate data being recorded daily by the NWS, USGS and other partners in the scientific community."

The lowest temperature ever recorded in the U.S. was -80° Fahrenheit on January 23, 1971 at Prospect Creek, Alaska, according the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC). The lowest temperature recorded in the lower 48 states was -70° Fahrenheit on January 20, 1954 at Rogers Pass, Mont.
Some Maine low temperatures for Jan. 16 were:
LOCATION            MIN TEMPS    TIME/DATE    COMMENTS
DEGREES OF
(F) MEASUREMENT

MAINE

...AROOSTOOK COUNTY...
BIG BLACK RIVER -50 731 AM 1/16 USGS BBRM1
NINEMILE BRIDGE -48 841 AM 1/16 USGS NINM1
ALLAGASH -47 722 AM 1/16 COOP ALGM1
DICKEY -45 833 AM 1/16 USGS DICM1
LILLE -45 717 AM 1/16 AR034
MASARDIS -45 840 AM 1/16 USGS MASM1
CLAYTON LAKE -44 832 AM 1/16 COOP CLTM1
GRAND ISLE -44 722 AM 1/16 SPOTTER
OXBOW -43 842 AM 1/16 COOP OXBM1
FORT KENT MILLS -41 853 AM 1/16 AR054
STOCKHOLM -41 717 AM 1/16 SPOTTER
VAN BUREN -41 845 AM 1/16 COOP VANM1
EAGLE LAKE -40 902 AM 1/16 COOP EGLM1
FORT KENT -40 851 AM 1/16 COOP FISM1
FOX BROOK -40 835 AM 1/16 COOP FOXM1
PRESQUE ISLE -39 758 AM 1/16 AWOS KPQI
LIMESTONE -38 917 AM 1/16 COOP LIZM1
CARIBOU WFO -37 718 AM 1/16 ASOS KCAR
MADAWASKA -37 832 AM 1/16 AR037
SHERMAN -37 902 AM 1/16 AR072
HOULTON -35 838 AM 1/16 ASOS KHUL
LIMESTONE -35 717 AM 1/16 AR035
FRENCHVILLE -30 835 AM 1/16 ASOS KFVE
ASHLAND -28 716 AM 1/16 SPOTTER
KNOWLES CORNER -18 839 AM 1/16 COOP KNCM1

...HANCOCK COUNTY...
WALTHAM -30 725 AM 1/16 SPOTTER
PENOBSCOT -20 717 AM 1/16 HA037
BAR HARBOR -15 831 AM 1/16 AWOS KBHB
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK -10 830 AM 1/16 COOP ANPM1
PROSPECT HARBOR -10 842 AM 1/16 COOP PPHM1
STONINGTON RAINWISE -5 844 AM 1/16 COOP STOM1

...PENOBSCOT COUNTY...
GRINDSTONE -38 837 AM 1/16 USGS GRNM1
SHIN POND -38 843 AM 1/16 USGS SBSM1
CORINNA -31 852 AM 1/16 COOP CORM1
OLD TOWN -30 841 AM 1/16 COOP OLDM1
MATTAWAMKEAG -29 840 AM 1/16 USGS MATM1
WEST ENFIELD -28 845 AM 1/16 USGS WENM1
BANGOR -24 831 AM 1/16 ASOS KBGR
MILLINOCKET -24 841 AM 1/16 ASOS KMLT
PATTEN -24 842 AM 1/16 COOP PATM1
SUNKHAZE N.W.R. -22 843 AM 1/16 COOP SHZM1
DIXMONT -12 833 AM 1/16 COOP DIXM1

...PISCATAQUIS COUNTY...
KOKADJO -39 839 AM 1/16 COOP KKJM1
ABBOT VILLAGE -37 811 AM 1/16 USGS ABTM1
BLANCHARD -35 831 AM 1/16 USGS BLAM1
GUILFORD -35 723 AM 1/16 COOP GULM1
RIPOGENUS DAM -35 843 AM 1/16 COOP RIPM1
SEBEC LAKE -32 838 AM 1/16 COOP GREM1
DOVER-FOXCROFT -31 852 AM 1/16 COOP DFXM1
MILO -24 851 AM 1/16 COOP MLDM1
GREENVILLE -21 837 AM 1/16 ASOS KGNR

...SOMERSET COUNTY...
SAINT AURELIE -44 844 AM 1/16 COOP STAM1
TURNER BROOK RAWS -38 845 AM 1/16 COOP TNBM1

...WASHINGTON COUNTY...
DANFORTH -35 833 AM 1/16 COOP DANM1
WESLEY -31 845 AM 1/16 USGS WSLM1
CHERRYFIELD -28 831 AM 1/16 USGS CFDM1
EPPING -26 835 AM 1/16 USGS EPPM1
MOOSEHORN N.W.R. -26 841 AM 1/16 COOP MWRM1
MACHIAS -25 840 AM 1/16 USGS MACM1
DENNYSVILLE -24 834 AM 1/16 USGS DVLM1
PRINCETON -22 842 AM 1/16 COOP PNNM1
WHITING -21 801 AM 1/16 WS038
GRAND LAKE STREAM -20 836 AM 1/16 COOP GLSM1
TOPSFIELD -20 852 AM 1/16 COOP TOPM1
WAITE -20 722 AM 1/16 WS034
EAST MACHIAS -18 852 AM 1/16 COOP ESTM1
JONESBORO -14 838 AM 1/16 COOP JONM1
JONESPORT RAINWISE -13 839 AM 1/16 COOP JPTM1
CUTLER RAINWISE -12 833 AM 1/16 COOP CUTM1
MILBRIDGE -12 723 AM 1/16 WS031
EASTPORT -9 834 AM 1/16 COOP EPOM1

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

More Mid-Atlantic Marks Made
Temperature Records Tied, Set in Virginia Through New York

Images (click to enlarge): U.S. temperatures at 3 pm EST, from Unisys; Month-to-date mean temperature and departure from average, Climate Prediction Center/NWS/NOAA

AM Update, Feb. 12: The NOAA NCDC reports that 54 new daily maximum temperature records were set nationwide on Feb. 11, for a total month-to-date of 677. The number of minimum temperature records is 81, for a ratio of over 8 to 1 in favor of warm records.

PM Update (4:45): Other records have been broken from West Virginia through New York:
A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 71 DEGREES WAS SET AT WASHINGTON DULLES DC TODAY.
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 67 SET IN 1999.

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 64 DEGREES WAS SET AT ALLENTOWN, PA
TODAY. THIS BROKE THE OLD RECORD OF 61 SET IN 1981.

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 69 DEGREES WAS SET AT ATLANTIC CITY, NJ
TODAY. THIS BROKE THE OLD RECORD OF 63 SET IN 1960.

AT 152 PM...THE TEMPERATURE REACHED 58 DEGREES IN WILLIAMSPORT. THIS
SURPASSES THE OLD RECORD OF 55 SET IN 1960. THE TEMPERATURE WILL
LIKELY CONTINUE RISE THIS AFTERNOON.

AT 140 PM...THE TEMPERATURE REACHED 60 DEGREES IN HARRISBURG. THIS
BROKE THE OLD RECORD OF 59 LAST SET IN 1999. THE TEMPERATURE WILL
LIKELY RISE A FEW MORE DEGREES THIS AFTERNOON.

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 58 DEGREES WAS SET AT ISLIP NY TODAY.
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 52 SET IN 2002.
Martinsburg, WV broke a record at 68°.
Other regional highs (not records):
Washington National 72
Baltimore (BWI) 70
Hagerstown 68
Charlottesville 70
Richmond 72
Salisbury 68
Norfolk 74

Original post:
The 2 pm temperature at Washington Dulles of 69° was 2° above the previous record for Feb. 11.

Danville, VA tied its record at noon:
THE HIGH TEMPERATURE SO FAR TODAY AT DANVILLE VIRGINIA WAS 70
DEGREES. THIS TIES THE RECORD MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE FOR FEBRUARY 11TH
LAST SET IN 1999. WITH WARMER READINGS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON...A
NEW RECORD MAXIMUM IS LIKELY.

Other records were tied or broken yesterday:
IN WEST VIRGINIA...

THE HIGH OF 67 AT THE AIRPORT IN BLUEFIELD IS A NEW RECORD HIGH FOR
THE 10TH OF FEBRUARY...BREAKING THE OLD RECORD OF 66 SET IN 1965.

IN ADDITION...THE MORNING LOW IN BLUEFIELD WAS 53...WHICH MAY BE A
NEW RECORD HIGH MINIMUM FOR THE DATE. THE CURRENT RECORD IS 49...
SET IN 1960.

IN VIRGINIA...

IN DANVILLE...THE HIGH OF 72 TIES THE RECORD SET IN 1954.

IN ROANOKE...THE HIGH OF 71 TIES THE RECORD SET IN 1959.

IN BLACKSBURG...THE HIGH OF 66 TIES THE RECORD SET IN 2001.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

More Temperature Records Set in Carolinas, West Virginia
DC misses by 1°

Image (click to enlarge): U.S. temperatures at 3 pm EST, from Unisys

Here's some news you won't see at the cold-mongering IceCap.

Some daily temperature records for Feb. 8 reported by the National Weather Service:
A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 74 DEGREES WAS SET AT CHARLOTTE TODAY.
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 73 SET IN 1925.

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 74 DEGREES WAS SET AT NORTH MYRTLE
BEACH SC TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 72 SET IN 1999.

THE TEMPERATURE AT RALEIGH-DURHAM INTL AIRPORT REACHED 75 DEGREES AT
309 PM. THIS BREAKS THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 74 FOR THE DATE WHICH WAS
SET IN 1965.

THE TEMPERATURE AT PIEDMONT TRIAD INTL AIRPORT REACHED 72 DEGREES
AT 307 PM. THIS BREAKS THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 71 FOR THE DATE
WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY SET IN 1937.

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 68 DEGREES WAS SET AT CHARLESTON WV TODAY.
THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD OF 68 SET IN 1925.
Washington's high of 67° missed the record set in 1900 by 1°.

Total U.S. daily temperature records so far this month:
Lowest minimum: 59
Highest maximum: 316 (includes 115 on the 7th alone, across 11 states)

Seasonal Outlook

Latest seasonal forecast: Click here.


Latest 3-month temperature outlook from Climate Prediction Center/NWS/NOAA.