9th warmest February on record; La Niña conditions continue but weaken
Global temperatures in February remained about where they've been the past year, with Earth recording its 9th warmest February on record, according to statistics released by the National Climatic Data Center. This past winter was the eighth warmest winter on record (December-February), and the January-February year-to-date period was also the eighth warmest. The most notable extreme February heat occurred February 7 in southern Australia. Many locations set new all-time hottest temperature records, including an all-time state record for Victoria when temperatures reached 48.8°C (119.8°F) in Hopetoun, shattering the previous record of 47.2°C (117.0°F) set in January 1939. The extreme heat was accompanied by very dry conditions that contributed to the development of deadly wildfires that killed 210 people. The most notable cold conditions for the winter of 2008/2009 occurred in the United Kingdom, which had its coldest winter since 1995/1996.
Figure 1. Departure of temperature from average for the month of February 2009. Image credit: NOAA's National Climatic Data Center.
A dry and warm February for the U.S.
For the contiguous U.S., February temperatures were the 27th warmest in the 114-year record, according to the National Climatic Data Center. The month was very dry, ranking as the 8th driest February. New Jersey and Delaware had their driest February ever recorded. The winter of 2008/2009 (December - February) ranked as the 5th driest winter on record, and the year-to-date January - February period was the driest ever such period. Texas recorded its driest winter. Thanks to all the dry weather, the U.S. has only seen about 50% of normal tornado activity in 2009, according to NOAA's Storm Prediction Center. On March 19, 2009, 21% of the contiguous United States was in moderate-to-exceptional drought. This is unchanged from January.
La Niña conditions continue
La Niña conditions continued in the Eastern Pacific Ocean in February, and NOAA's Climate Prediction Center is continuing their La Niña Advisory. They define La Niña conditions as occurring when the 1-month mean temperature anomaly in the equatorial Eastern Pacific (the area 5°N - 5°S, 120°W - 170°W, also called the "Niña 3.4 region") cools below -0.5°C and is expected to persist for three consecutive months. In addition, the atmospheric response typically associated with a La Niña must be observed over the equatorial Pacific Ocean. Sea surface temperatures anomalies peaked at -1.1°C below average in the Niña 3.4 region during early January. It appears that La Niña has peaked, as ocean temperatures in the Niña 3.4 region have warmed to -0.4°C below average as of March 15. Nearly all the model forecasts for the Niño 3.4 region show that La Niña will dissipate between May - July 2009, and neutral conditions are expected for the August - October peak of hurricane season. Only three out of 16 El Niño models are predicting an El Niño event for hurricane season. The number of Atlantic hurricanes is typically reduced in an El Niño year, due to increased wind shear from strong high-level winds, but that doesn't look like it will happen this year.
Expected impacts of the current La Niña conditions during during March - May 2009 inlude above-average precipitation over Indonesia, and below-average precipitation over the central equatorial Pacific. Compared to the Northern Hemisphere winter, La Niña impacts over the United States are typically less pronounced. For the contiguous United States, potential impacts include below-average precipitation across the southern states. Other potential impacts include below-average temperatures in the Pacific Northwest and above-average temperatures across much of the southwestern and south-central United States.
Sea ice extent
February 2009 Northern Hemisphere sea ice extent was the 4th lowest on record, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center, and is currently near its annual maximum. The record February low was set in 2005. Since today is the Spring Equinox, the sun will rise at the North Pole, bringing 24-hour daylight and warming conditions that will begin melting Arctic sea ice.
Portlight Relief Walk this weekend
Saturday March 21 in New Orleans marks the inaugural event in a series of 18 fundraising Relief Walks sponsored by Portlight.org. A hearty thanks go to all the organizers and participants in this effort!
Jeff Masters
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Pretty crazy, huh?
I checked AKsnowlover's blog when I got home earlier and said to myself, something's happening. Left a comment there and been watching this ever since.
http://twitter.com/alaska_avo
Volcano: Redoubt (CAVW #1103-03-)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WARNING
Current Aviation Color Code: RED
Issued: Sunday, March 22, 2009, 11:26 PM AKDT (20090322/0726Z)
Source: Alaska Volcano Observatory
Notice Number: 2009/A12
Location: N 60 deg 29 min W 152 deg 44 min
Elevation: 10197 ft (3108 m)
Area: Cook Inlet-South Central Alaska
Volcanic Activity Summary: The eruption of Mt. Redoubt continues. The height of the eruption cloud is estimated to be 50,000 ft above sea level. Further reports will be issued as more information becomes available.
Recent Observations:
[Volcanic cloud height] The height of the eruption cloud is estimated to be 50,000 ft above sea level. Further reports will be issued as more information becomes available.
[Other volcanic cloud information] Nil
[Mudflow] Mudflows are possible on Drift and Crescent Rivers.
[Ash fall] Ashfall likely in the vicinity of and downwind from the volcano.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED AN ASHFALL
ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM AKDT MONDAY.
REDOUBT VOLCANO AT 60.5N 152.7W HAS ERUPTED AT AROUND 1040 PM
AKDT. VOLCANIC ASH IS FALLING AND IS EXPECTED TO REACH THE SURFACE
ACROSS THE SUSITNA VALLEY. PRELIMINARY INDICATIONS ARE THAT
ASHFALL WILL BE VERY LIGHT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
AN ASHFALL ADVISORY MEANS THAT ASH WILL BE DEPOSITED IN THE
ADVISORY AREA. PEOPLE IN AREAS OF ASHFALL SHOULD SEAL WINDOWS AND
DOORS. PROTECT ELECTRONICS AND COVER AIR INTAKES AND OPEN WATER
SUPPLIES. MINIMIZE DRIVING. LISTEN TO YOUR RADIO STATION FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION.
Magnitude 1.5
Date-Time Monday, March 23, 2009 at 07:19:00 UTC
Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 11:19:00 PM at epicenter
Location 61.035°N, 150.617°W
Depth 28 km (17.4 miles)
I lost my uncle John yesterday. I'm not taking it too well. I spent a pretty good chunk of my childhood with him and my grandmother.
When a family member dies and you sit back and take that time to reflect on the impact they've had on your life growing up and what your interests are in the present, I must say he played a significant part. He very much supported my interest in weather and astronomy. Being involved with computers at an early age I can thank him for. I can say without a doubt I would of never had a computer if not for him. My parents couldn't afford anything such as that. Getting out and playing golf every once and awhile I can thank him for.
After high school we'd only see each other during holidays are when the family would get together for dinner, so not very often. But I swear, on all those occasions I can recall what we did because he was that vibrant of a person. Always doing something. Playing golf in the snow. Taking Kate and I for flying lessons. Outside having a cigarette on Christmas Eve in the freezing cold naming constellations.
He also served in two branches of the military. A very distinguished man and extremely intelligent but was always calm and reserved.
This is the one I got. Good beginners scope & should be good to learn on..
I think I want me one of thems...
500 dollars -_-'
the scope??
2009-03-23 00:30:12
As of 12:27AM March 23, 2009, AVO has recorded three large explosions at Redoubt volcano at the following times:
March 22 10:38PM
March 22 11:02PM
March 23 00:14AM
*edit - LOL OOPS
PEACE!
If this tells me anything, that La Nina conditions have drastically appeared in the last few weeks starting in early march.
The volcano is exciting. Is the ash plume hiting or headed toward any populous areas? I don't even know that those time zones stand for except Alaska.
Northeast Florida is getting a bit of a drought break thanks to some slow creeping rain from the southeast. I can't think of the last time we got rain from the south east, that wasn't a part of a tropical cyclone rotation. It might be just my observations but I am greatful for any rain we can get. A welcome surprise.
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
240 AM AKDT MON MAR 23 2009
AKZ145-231600-
/X.EXT.PAFC.AF.Y.0001.000000T0000Z-090323T1600Z/
SUSITNA VALLEY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...TALKEETNA...WILLOW...CANTWELL
240 AM AKDT MON MAR 23 2009
...ASHFALL ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM AKDT THIS MORNING...
THE ASHFALL ADVISORY IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM AKDT THIS
MORNING.
REDOUBT VOLCANO AT 60.5N 152.7W HAS ERUPTED SEVERAL TIMES DURING
THE NIGHT. LIGHT ASHFALL HAS ALREADY BEEN REPORTED AT SKWENTNA.
LIGHT ASHFALL IS POSSIBLE THROUGHOUT THE SUSITNA VALLEY THIS
MORNING.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
AN ASHFALL ADVISORY MEANS THAT ASH WILL BE DEPOSITED IN THE
ADVISORY AREA. PEOPLE IN AREAS OF ASHFALL SHOULD SEAL WINDOWS AND
DOORS. PROTECT ELECTRONICS AND COVER AIR INTAKES AND OPEN WATER
SUPPLIES. MINIMIZE DRIVING. LISTEN TO YOUR RADIO STATION FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION.
Mirror Site
Current Home weather station data.
Florida is finally getting some much needed rain :)
Posted this on the last blog,
over the past few weeks the La Nina hasn't weekend it has infact drastically re-appeared, you can see by the anomoly chart it shows how it warmed, then starting around the 9th the anomolys have chilled, and this can also be visible on the SST maps.
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