2019 U.S. extreme weather recap

Since 1980, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) has tracked United States weather and climate events. This tracking process is specific and addresses the economic and societal impacts. So far, the United States has sustained well over 250 weather events where the overall damage costs reached or surpassed the mark of $1 billion.

The year 2019 witnessed many costly weather or climate events. A total of 14 events surpassed the $1 billion amount as well as impacting human life. Below, are those events that made that distressing impact. Three major flooding events — the Missouri River-North Central Flooding, the Mississippi River-Midwest and Southern Flooding in March, also the Arkansas River Flooding in May. Eight severe storm events — Southeast, the Ohio Valley and Northeast severe weather in February. Texas hail storm in March. Southern and Eastern Tornadoes and severe weather in April. South and Southeast severe weather and the Rockies, Central and Northeast tornadoes and severe weather, Central severe weather all in May. Colorado hailstorms in July. Hurricane Dorian on the East Coast in August into September. Tropical Storm Imelda along the Gulf Coast in September. Texas tornadoes and Central severe weather in October. Finally, California and Alaska wildfires in summer and fall 2019.

During the past five years (2015-19), the United States has witnessed 69 separate billion dollar-plus weather-related events. The nation, on average, is seeing nearly 14 costly events a year. Over the last 40 years (1980-2019), years with 10 or more separate billion-dollar disasters include 1998, 2008, 2011-2012, and 2015-2019.

If you are interested in reading a full detailed analysis prepared by the National Centers for Environmental Information, contact me through The Star newspaper and I’ll connect you with the website.

Well, how did January 2020 shake out weather wise? Let’s take a look. All data is from my home weather station. High temperature was 54.5˚F on the 31st. The low temperature was 4.3˚F on 14th and the mean for the month was 33.9˚F. The all-time high was 57˚F in 1971, all-time low was -17˚F in 1950. The all-time mean is 26.8˚F. So, our mean for this January was a whopping 7.1˚F higher than the all-time mean. That will cause a change in the overall mean. Precipitation for January was 1.62 inches with 6.2 inches of snowfall. The maximum precipitation for the month of January is 2.52 inches back in 1959. The mean is 1.06 inches. The maximum snowfall for the month is 21.6 inches in 1950, while the mean snowfall for January is 6.3 inches. Also, according NOAA, the January 2020 global land and ocean surface temperature was the highest on record at 2.05˚F above the 20th-century average. This surpassed the record set in January 2016 by 0.04˚F. Seems our readings here locally are in agreement with this information.

The next full moon will occur on March 9. The Full Moon in March is the Worm Moon, and it is usually considered the last Full Moon of winter. It is also called Lenten Moon, Crow Moon, Crust Moon, Chaste Moon, Sugar Moon, and Sap Moon.