Contacts:))Ellen)Mecray)(Ellen.L.Mecray@noaa.gov)) ) ))))))))) ) ))))))))))))))))))))Eastern)Region)Quarterly)Climate)Impacts)and)Outlook)|)Sept.)2012

)))))))))))))))))Art)DeGaetano(atd2@cornell.edu)) ) )) ))www.drought.gov/portal/server.pt/community/reports

Quarterly Climate Impacts 

and Outlook

National!"!6LJQL¿FDQW(YHQWVIRU-XQH$XJXVW

Highlights for the East

Hottest Days on Record Washington, DC had 7 

days with 100°F or more, breaking their record for 

the highest number of such days. Temperatures in 

the 100s were recorded at 13 NWS stations.

Severe Storms Wind gusts of 70 mph cut power 

to millions in the Mid Atlantic states during a late 

June derecho. Strong thunderstorms also brought 

widespread power outages in July. Lightning killed 

a NASCAR spectator at the Pocono Raceway in 

August and forced the evacuation of the Boston 

Esplanade on July 4.

Ocean Temperatures A nuclear power facility in 

CT was forced to shut down for two weeks when 

water temperatures in Long Island Sound topped 

the 75°F limit.

Hurricane Season Through August 31 there have 

been 11 named storms in the Atlantic. Alberto and 

Beryl brushed the Southeast coast with minimal 

impact and Isaac brought needed rain to the 

region.

Regional)*)Climate(Overview(for(June(2(August(2012

 The summer of 2012 was warmer than normal in the Eastern Region. With an average temperature of 72.0°F it was 1.1°F warmer than normal and 

the 16th warmest summer in the period from 1895-2012. Only South Carolina saw temperatures that averaged below the summer normal. It was the 3rd 

warmest summer on record in Delaware and the 13th warmest in Ohio.

 The Eastern Region was also drier than normal during the summer of 2012. Ohio was the driest state with respect to normal (77% of normal) making 

it the 17th driest summer since 1895 in that state. Vermont also saw 77% of their normal summer precipitation for their 22nd driest summer on record. 

Wetter than normal conditions were experienced in Virginia and Maine. Maine experienced 127% of the normal summer precipitation, making 2012 the 

11th wettest summer in that state.

 With generally drier than normal conditions, the summer saw some localized areas of drought. D1 and D2 drought conditions were prevalent in the 

Delmarva region for most of the summer, with most of Delaware in D1 or D2 drought at the end of August. Central and western New York also saw D1 

drought conditions during most of summer, with abnormally dry conditions in the southern New England states and parts of Virginia and the Carolinas.

Eastern Region

September(2012

Temperature and Precipitation Anomalies Drought in the East

Percent of Normal

Precipitation (%)

Temperature Departure 

from Normal (°F)

June 1 - August 31, 2012 June 1 - August 31, 2012 

June

July

The average U.S. temperature during summer was 74.4°F, 2.3°F above average, the 

third warmest summer on record. Precipitation, averaged across the nation during summer, was 7.39 inches, 0.86 inches below average, marking the 18th driest summer.

Normals(are(for(198142010 US(Drought(Monitor

9/18/2012
Contacts:))Ellen)Mecray)(Ellen.L.Mecray@noaa.gov)) ) )))))))) ))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))Eastern)Region)Quarterly)Climate)Impacts)and)Outlook)|)Sept.)2012

)))))))))))))))))Art)DeGaetano(atd2@cornell.edu)) ) ))) )))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))www.drought.gov/portal/server.pt/community/reports

Regional)Impacts)0)for$June$)$August$2012

Regional)Outlook).)for$Autumn$2012 Eastern(Region(Partners

Aquatic Ecosystems

Water temperatures in drought-affected streams in parts of New York and New 

England exceed 71°F. Temperatures above this threshold are considered 

detrimental to aquatic life.

Coastal Ecosystems

Above average temperatures in the Gulf of Maine led to many lobsters 

prematurely shedding their shells.Catches of soft-shelled lobsters were large 

and four to six weeks earlier than normal. Soft-shelled lobsters were worth less 

than $2 per pound early this summer, and many of Maine’s lobstermen stopped 

lobstering because their expenses were outweighing the low price received from 

the wholesale market.

Marine Ecosystems

Sea-surface temperatures in the Northeast ocean were the highest on record 

for the Jan-July time period and temperatures throughout the water column 

were above the long-term mean. Atlantic cod distributions continue to show a 

northeastward trend and diminished areal extent in the Middle Atlantic Bight as 

documented from annual surveys since 1968.

Health

Warm summer temperatures were partly responsible for an increase in the 

number of West Nile virus cases in the region. Warm temperatures likely 

accelerated the replication of the virus in mosquitos. Dry conditions, however, 

acted to decrease mosquito abundance.

Recreation

Whitewater recreation releases on the Salmon River in NY were cancelled due 

to low reservoir levels. There was concern that water would not be available to 

VXVWDLQÀVKVSDZQLQJÁRZUHTXLUHPHQWV

Northeast Regional Climate Center

!!www.nrcc.cornell.edu

Southeast)Regional)Climate)Center

!!www.sercc.com

National)Integrated))Drought))Information

System)(NIDIS)

!!www.drought.gov

Northeast)River)Forecast)Center

!!www.nrfc.noaa.gov

Mid>Atlantic)River)Forecast)Center

!!www.marfc.noaa.gov

Climate)Prediction)Center

!!www.cpc.noaa.gov!

NOAA)Fisheries))Service)>)Northeast)Fisheries)

Science)Center

!!www.nefsc.noaa.gov

Carolinas)Integrated)Sciences)and)Assessments

))!www.cisa.sc.edu

Consortium)on)Climate)Risk)in)the)Urban)Northeast

!!www.ccrun.org

NOAA’s)North)Atlantic,)South)Atlantic,)and)Great)

Lakes)Regional))Collaboration)Teams

))www.regions.noaa.gov/

Eastern)Region)State)Climatologists

!!www.stateclimate.org

Cooperative)Institute)for)North)Atlantic)Research

))www.cinar.org

NWS)Eastern)Region’s)Climate)Service

))nws.noaa.gov/om/csd/index.

!!php?section=programs#eastern

US Seasonal Drought Outlook Sept. 6 - Nov. 30, 2012

Recent moderate to heavy rain in portions of the mid-Atlantic helped to improve drought conditions. 

The seasonal decline in temperatures over the next 3 months will substantially reduce surface 

water lost to evaporation and vegetative growth. Furthermore, precipitation tends to fall at a more 

PRGHUDWHUDWHRYHUDORQJHUSHULRGRIWLPHZKLFKUHFKDUJHVVRLOPRLVWXUHHIÀFLHQWO\6QRZIDOO

similarly holds moisture that seeps slowly into the soil as it melts. These factors, along with 

anticipated precipitation patterns, at least partially driven by the developing El Nino episode, should 

bring some relief to drought-affected areas in the East

NOAA Seasonal Climate Outlook

The autumn 2012 temperature outlook indicates increased odds for above-normal temperatures for 

the region with the exception of South Carolina. The highest odds for above normal temperatures 

are across New York and northern New England. (www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov).

Sea(surface(temperature(anomalies(for(the(Gulf(of(Maine.((Anoma4

lies(represent(the(difference(between(the(June4August,(2012(water(

temperature(and(the(average(value(for(the(198542012(period.

U.S. Seasonal 

Drought Outlook

Drought Tendency from 

Sept. 6 - Nov. 30, 2012

3-Month Temperature 

Outlook

Valid October-December, 2012

A

40

33

Contoured 

values indicate 

increased chance 

(%) of above normal temperatures

A: Increased 

odds of above 

normal