WEATHER ALERT
European climate agency says this will likely be the hottest year on record — again
Read full article: European climate agency says this will likely be the hottest year on record — againIt's now virtually certain 2024 will be the hottest year on record, and the first with over 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming above the pre-industrial average, according to the European climate agency Copernicus.
Forecasters still predict highly active Atlantic hurricane season in mid-season update
Read full article: Forecasters still predict highly active Atlantic hurricane season in mid-season updateFederal forecasters are still predicting a highly active Atlantic hurricane season thanks to near-record sea surface temperatures and the possibility of La Nina.
July ends 13-month streak of global heat records as El Nino ebbs, but experts warn against relief
Read full article: July ends 13-month streak of global heat records as El Nino ebbs, but experts warn against reliefEarth’s string of 13 straight months with a new average heat record came to an end in July.
The Galapagos Islands and many of their unique creatures are at risk from warming waters
Read full article: The Galapagos Islands and many of their unique creatures are at risk from warming watersThe wondrous Galapagos Islands and its many creatures have always been sensitive to changes in ocean temperatures.
Monday breaks the record for the hottest day ever on Earth
Read full article: Monday breaks the record for the hottest day ever on EarthClimate scientists say the record for the hottest day globally has been broken for the second consecutive day and that the worldwide temperature could rise yet more this week.
Is it a hurricane or a tropical storm? Here's a breakdown of extreme weather terms
Read full article: Is it a hurricane or a tropical storm? Here's a breakdown of extreme weather termsBeryl regained hurricane strength over the weekend after a short downgrade to a tropical storm as it weakened over land.
From Zambia to Afghanistan, WFP warns El Nino's extreme weather is causing a surge in hunger
Read full article: From Zambia to Afghanistan, WFP warns El Nino's extreme weather is causing a surge in hungerThe UN’s World Food Programme says extreme weather attributed to the El Nino phenomenon is causing a surge in hunger in several countries, including Zambia and Afghanistan, and called on donors for much-needed help.
Hawaii officials stress preparedness despite below-normal central Pacific hurricane season outlook
Read full article: Hawaii officials stress preparedness despite below-normal central Pacific hurricane season outlookForecasters say this year's hurricane season for waters around Hawaii will likely be “below normal” with one to four tropical cyclones across the central Pacific region.
John Adams' Nativity oratorio 'El Nino' gets colorful staging at the Met
Read full article: John Adams' Nativity oratorio 'El Nino' gets colorful staging at the MetComposer John Adams’ work is returning to the Metropolitan Opera for the first time in a decade in a new staging of his Nativity oratorio “El Nino.”.
Zimbabwe declares drought disaster, the latest in a region where El Nino has left millions hungry
Read full article: Zimbabwe declares drought disaster, the latest in a region where El Nino has left millions hungryZimbabwe’s president has declared a state of disaster over a devastating El Nino drought sweeping across much of southern Africa.
Much of America asks: Where did winter go? Spring starts early as US winter was warmest on record
Read full article: Much of America asks: Where did winter go? Spring starts early as US winter was warmest on recordAcross much of America and especially in the normally chilly north, the country went through the winter months without, well, winter.
Houston is experiencing El Nino, but what’s the difference between that and La Nina?
Read full article: Houston is experiencing El Nino, but what’s the difference between that and La Nina?If the weather in Houston has felt odd to you over the last few months, you’re not alone. Much of the southern part of the United States, especially Houston, have been experiencing the weather phenomenon known as El Nino.
'Pineapple Expresses' and rising seas are battering California's piers, threatening iconic landmarks
Read full article: 'Pineapple Expresses' and rising seas are battering California's piers, threatening iconic landmarksRising seas and frequent storms are taking their toll on California's iconic public piers and raising questions about the future of the landmarks.
Scientists explain why the record-shattering 2023 heat has them on edge. Warming may be worsening
Read full article: Scientists explain why the record-shattering 2023 heat has them on edge. Warming may be worseningThe latest calculations from several science agencies showing Earth obliterated global heat records last year may seem scary.
An early hurricane heads-up for Houston and Texas
Read full article: An early hurricane heads-up for Houston and TexasFor 20 years now, engineer Dale Link has issued a broad hurricane forecast for the United States (and all over the world) indicating not “how many” hurricanes we’ll have in a given season, but where those storms have a 50-50 chance of making landfall.
NOAA forecasts drought improvement across Southeast, Gulf Coast and Texas amid ongoing El Nino
Read full article: NOAA forecasts drought improvement across Southeast, Gulf Coast and Texas amid ongoing El NinoThis year, El Nino is in place heading into winter for the first time in four years, driving the outlook for warmer-than-average temperatures for the northern tier of the continental United States, according to NOAA’s U.S. Winter Outlook released last week by the Climate Prediction Center — a division of the National Weather Service.
September sizzled to records and was so much warmer than average scientists call it 'mind-blowing'
Read full article: September sizzled to records and was so much warmer than average scientists call it 'mind-blowing'After a record-smashing hot summer, Earth's warming somehow got even worse in September.
Food prices are rising as countries limit exports. Blame climate change, El Nino and Russia's war
Read full article: Food prices are rising as countries limit exports. Blame climate change, El Nino and Russia's warRestrictions on food exports are spilling over from rice and wheat to other essentials.
This summer was a global record breaker for the highest heat ever measured, meteorologists say
Read full article: This summer was a global record breaker for the highest heat ever measured, meteorologists sayThe U.N. weather agency says Earth endured its hottest Northern Hemisphere summer ever measured with a record warm August capping a season of brutal and deadly temperatures.
How a mix of natural and human-caused factors cooked up Tropical Storm Hilary's soggy mess
Read full article: How a mix of natural and human-caused factors cooked up Tropical Storm Hilary's soggy messScientists figure a natural El Nino, human-caused climate change, a stubborn heat dome over the nation’s midsection and other factors cooked up Hilary’s record-breaking slosh into California and Nevada.
A rice shortage is sending prices soaring across the world. And things could get worse
Read full article: A rice shortage is sending prices soaring across the world. And things could get worseCountries worldwide are scrambling to secure rice after a partial ban on exports by India cut global supplies by roughly a fifth.
NOAA doubles the chances for a nasty Atlantic hurricane season due to hot ocean, tardy El Nino
Read full article: NOAA doubles the chances for a nasty Atlantic hurricane season due to hot ocean, tardy El NinoFederal forecasters are doubling chances of a nasty Atlantic hurricane season this summer and fall.
Scientists look beyond climate change and El Nino for other factors that heat up Earth
Read full article: Scientists look beyond climate change and El Nino for other factors that heat up EarthScientists are wondering if global warming and El Nino have an accomplice in fueling this summer’s record-shattering heat.
Meteorologists say Earth sizzled to a global heat record in June and July has been getting hotter
Read full article: Meteorologists say Earth sizzled to a global heat record in June and July has been getting hotterThe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says an already warming Earth steamed to its hottest June on record, smashing the old global mark by nearly a quarter of a degree, with global oceans setting temperature records for the third straight month.
Recent events that indicate Earth's climate has entered uncharted territory
Read full article: Recent events that indicate Earth's climate has entered uncharted territoryScientists say global heat that inched into worrisome new territory this week is a clear example of how pollutants released by humans are warming their environment.
June temperatures briefly passed key climate threshold. Scientists expect more such spikes
Read full article: June temperatures briefly passed key climate threshold. Scientists expect more such spikesWorldwide temperatures briefly exceeded a key warming threshold earlier this month, drawing notice in the scientific community and prompting public chatter that climate change might be accelerating.
The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season is now underway. Here's what to know.
Read full article: The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season is now underway. Here's what to know.It’s time for residents along the southeastern U.S. coastline to get plans in place as the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season gets underway on Thursday.
How busy will Atlantic hurricane season be? Depends on who wins unusual battle of climatic titans
Read full article: How busy will Atlantic hurricane season be? Depends on who wins unusual battle of climatic titansTwo clashing climatic behemoths, one natural and one with human fingerprints, will square off this summer to determine how quiet or chaotic the Atlantic hurricane season will be.
El Ninos are far costlier than once thought, in the trillions, study says -- and one's brewing now
Read full article: El Ninos are far costlier than once thought, in the trillions, study says -- and one's brewing nowA new study finds the natural burst of El Nino warming that changes weather worldwide is far costlier with longer-lasting expenses than experts had thought, averaging trillions of dollars in damage.
The likelihood that Earth briefly hits key warming threshold grows bigger and closer, UN forecasts
Read full article: The likelihood that Earth briefly hits key warming threshold grows bigger and closer, UN forecastsThe United Nations' weather agency says there's a two-out-of-three chance that the world will reach the internationally accepted global temperature threshold for limiting the worst effects of climate change sometime in the next five years.
2023 hurricane forecasts are surging in
Read full article: 2023 hurricane forecasts are surging inUniversities and private forecasting companies have begun to issue their thoughts on just how active our upcoming Atlantic hurricane season will be and, generally speaking, most predictions are slightly above the average.
One early hurricane forecast
Read full article: One early hurricane forecastVery few seasonal hurricane forecasts come out before April simply because the skill level is not there. About all you can go on now is water temperature and, sometimes, the forecast for La Nina/El Nino. Saying that, a group out of England called Tropical Storm Risk issued their first 2023 Hurricane forecast last December (!) and below you’ll see they are calling for a fairly average season citing stronger trade winds last summer and noting that historically a year that follows three La Nina seasons usually comes in about average.
La Nina equals triple tropical trouble!
Read full article: La Nina equals triple tropical trouble!I’ve been talking all year about La Nina, that cooler-than-normal water in the Pacific, which basically means dry weather for Texas and a lack of upper level winds across the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. Its opposite, El Nino, is warmer than normal Pacific water which creates those upper level winds and those winds can shear apart developing tropical systems. So El Nino is El Amigo in that regard! La Nina not so much.
What to know about our Warmest Year!
Read full article: What to know about our Warmest Year!Yesterday, NASA released the hot details of our record-tying 2020 which is literally in a ‘dead heat’ with 2016. However, that has switched now and cooler water is out there, known as La Nina. Speaking of which, What’s up with La Nina? The red line below is the model consensus for La Nina and it’s below that middle black line. No changes in La NIna until summerUnfortunately, that is also the height of hurricane season and with traffic snarling again, look for a warm 2021.
‘We’ll be with you to get through this season’: Here is Frank Billingsley’s letter to Houstonians as hurricane season begins
Read full article: ‘We’ll be with you to get through this season’: Here is Frank Billingsley’s letter to Houstonians as hurricane season beginsOnce again our hurricane season has begun BEFORE June 1st (Tropical Storm Arthur & Bertha) and once again all the official forecasts are coming in with an above average forecast. Average is 12 storms, 6 of those becoming hurricanes and 3 of those becoming major--the National Hurricane Center has a forecast that potentially doubles that to 12 hurricanes and 6 majors! Hurricane Harvey did hit to our south in Rockport as a Cat 4 and we certainly felt the horrible effects of a flooding hurricane. So we can split hairs all we want, the bottom line is there is no reason to think the Gulf won't have an active season. You'll likely have to stay put unless you live in a surge zone and then you'll need a place on higher ground.