Urban air pollution has been associated with morbidity but little information exists on how it affects diurnal variation of lung function in children with asthma. The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute effects of traffic-related pollution on lung function among children with asthma.
We recorded morning and evening forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) for 28 consecutive days in 182 elementary schoolchildren with physician-diagnosed asthma, and monitored ambient hourly air pollution concentrations.
An interquartile range (IQR) increase (6.0 μg·m−3) in the previous 24-h (20:00 h to 20:00 h) mean concentration of fine particulate matter 2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5) was associated with a 0.54% (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.06–1.02) decrease in bedtime FEV1 (p = 0.027). This association persisted in two-pollutant models with ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide. An IQR increase in mean daytime (08:00 h to 20:00 h) PM2.5 of 6.5 μg·m−3 was associated with a 0.73% (95% CI 0.10–1.37) decrease in FEV1 over the course of the day expressed as 100×(FEV1 bedtime − FEV1 morning)/FEV1 morning (p = 0.024).
This study suggests that, in children with asthma, relatively low concentrations of urban air pollution worsen lung function over a short period of time, even within a day. Of the pollutants measured, PM2.5 appears to be the most important.
Acute and chronic exposure to urban air pollution in North America and Europe has been associated with increased respiratory symptoms, reduced lung function, increased number of hospitalisations and increased number of deaths from respiratory diseases 1–5. Although many different study designs have been used, the majority of the evidence comes from comparisons of daily concentrations of air pollutants with daily mortality or hospital admission counts. There have also been several panel studies which have reported associations between daily symptoms and/or lung function and daily measures of various air pollutants 6–14. The present study focuses on acute changes in lung function. We studied the effects of between-day changes in air pollution and tested a relatively unique hypothesis that acute change in lung function within a day, between morning and evening (diurnal change), was associated with fine particulate concentrations on the same day.
The study was carried out in Windsor, ON, Canada, with an estimated population of 216,473 in 2006 15. A unique aspect of the city is the Ambassador Bridge, which carries several thousand trucks daily between Windsor and Detroit, MI, USA. We identified children with asthma from a questionnaire survey carried out in the previous year of ∼16,000 elementary schoolchildren in Windsor. For the present study, we selected children whose parent or guardian had given a positive response to the question “Has a physician ever told you this child had asthma?”, and who had agreed to be contacted about future research. We selected children who were between 9 and 14 yrs of age when the initial questionnaires were completed, who spoke either of Canada’s official languages (English or French) and who lived in homes without cigarette smoke. A list of all eligible children satisfying these criteria was compiled. We telephoned their homes in random order and recruited the first 182 subjects who agreed to participate. The number of respiratory therapists available in Windsor to work on this study limited the number of subjects who could participate. The parent or guardian of each child gave written informed consent before the child participated in the study. The study protocol was approved by the Research Ethics Board of Health Canada.
A short-term longitudinal study design with repeated measures was used. Each child completed a daily symptom diary, and performed forced expiratory flows in the morning and at bedtime for 28 consecutive days. Owing to resource constraints, children were studied in one of two test periods: October 11 to November 7, 2005 or November 14 to December 11, 2005.
Air pollution measurements
City-wide air pollution hourly levels were estimated by averaging measures from two fixed-site monitors located in the western area of the city, upwind from the prevailing winds. These monitors, which are part of Environment Canada’s National Air Pollution Monitoring System, provided ambient levels of hourly fine particulate matter with a mass median aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3) and sulphur dioxide (SO2). The majority of the population lived within 10 km downwind.
Forced expiratory volume in 1 s
Respiratory therapists instructed parents and children on the use of hand-held flow meters and daily symptom diaries. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) was estimated using a PiKo-1 electronic peak expiratory flow/FEV1 meter (Ferraris Medical, Louiseville, CO, USA). Three flows were to be recorded twice each day, first thing on arising in the morning and again at bedtime, before taking breathing medications. For analyses, we used the maximum evening and morning FEV1 values expressed as a percentage of the predicted value based on the equations derived by Hankinson et al. 16. We also analysed the diurnal (within-day) variation in lung function, which was expressed as 100×(FEV1 bedtime − FEV1 morning)/FEV1 morning.
All statistical analyses were performed using the SAS software package version 9.1 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). Differences in the distribution of children’s characteristics between the two study periods were evaluated using the Chi-squared test. Daily mean concentrations of the ambient pollutants as well as temperature and relative humidity were calculated, and Pearson correlation coefficients were estimated to better understand their inter-relationships.
To estimate the mean pollution values 12 and 24 h before the FEV1 measurement, we assumed that, on average, morning FEV1 was performed at approximately 08:00 h and bedtime testing at 20:00 h. To evaluate temporal associations between ambient levels of air pollution and FEV1, we calculated the mean of the hourly air pollution measures for the following periods preceding the FEV1 measure: <12 h, 12 to <24 h and 0 to 24 h. A similar approach was used to create temporal metrics for temperature and relative humidity.
The results obtained from linear mixed models were expressed as the percentage change in median FEV1 corresponding to an increase in the interquartile range (IQR) in air pollutant levels. The use of the IQR serves to standardise each pollutant, facilitating comparisons between the magnitude of effect of different pollutants 17.
We used an autoregressive covariance structure (AR1), which allows for a greater within-subject autocorrelation for FEV1 measures taken more closely in time. We assumed a random intercept and a fixed slope. There were no statistically significant differences in the fit of the models using fixed slopes compared with random slopes.
The same approach was used to control for confounding in the logistic and linear mixed model. We adjusted symptoms and FEV1 for all variables that were associated at a level of significance of p≤0.15 with both ambient measures of air pollution and FEV1 (table 1⇓). This list of potential confounders included the daily mean temperature, relative humidity, day of the week, number of hours spent on outdoor activities (<2 or ≥2 h), sex and study period. Two pollutant models were used to characterise which pollutant was more strongly associated with FEV1 after adjusting for the effects of other correlated ambient measures.
Characteristics of the participants are shown in table 1⇑. During the first period of enrolment, a smaller percentage of participants were female (30.5%) compared with the second period (44.8%; p<0.05). Overall, 58.8% of children’s households were reported as having a household pet. To be included in the study, all subjects had a history of “ever had asthma”, and most (95.1%) reported that they still had asthma. Of the participants, 96.7% reported at least one respiratory symptom during the 28-day study period, but 42.3% did not report taking any asthma medication during this same time. Children in the first study group reported a mean of 2.2 h outside daily compared with 1.6 hours in the second group (p<0.0001).
For each child, we calculated the morning and bedtime FEV1 % predicted averaged over their 28 days of study (table 2⇓). The median values for both these measures were similar to the mean values (<2%), which were consistent with a near normal distribution. The diurnal change in FEV1 from morning to evening, expressed as 100×(FEV1 bedtime − FEV1 morning)/FEV1 morning was 2.3%, whereas the median (IQR) change was only 0.4 (0.4–7.6)%. We assessed the effect of time on lung function to determine whether there was evidence of a learning effect. The variables time (number of days each subject was studied), study period (October–November, November–December) and time×study period were not significantly associated with FEV1 (all p-values greater than 0.2).
Concentrations of air pollutants and IQRs were well below the US Environment Protection Agency ambient air quality guidelines for PM2.5 of 35 μg·m−3 for a 24-h average and 15 μg·m−3 for an annual average 18. In the present study, the 24-h mean was 7.8 μg·m−3 and the IQR was 6.0 μg·m−3 (table 3⇓). O3 decreased, SO2 increased and PM2.5 remained stable over the study period (fig. 1⇓).
SO2, NO2 and PM2.5 were positively correlated with each other, whereas ozone was negatively correlated with these three pollutants (table 4⇓). The strongest correlation between two pollutants was 0.68 (p<0.0001), which was observed with NO2, and PM2.5.
Adjusted for daily mean temperature and relative humidity, day of the week, duration of outdoor activity, sex and study period, an IQR increase (6.0 μg·m−3) in the previous 24-h (20:00 h to 20:00 h) mean concentration of PM2.5 was associated with a 0.54% (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.06–1.02) decrease in bedtime FEV1 % predicted (p = 0.03) (table 5⇓). No statistically significant associations were found between bedtime FEV1 and prior PM2.5 concentrations averaged over 24–48 h, 0–48 h or 0–72 h before lung function was measured. We found no statistically significant associations between evening FEV1 and NO2, SO2 and O3. In two-pollutant models with SO2, NO2 or O3, the PM2.5 effect remained significant at p<0.05 (fig. 2⇓).
We found no associations between morning FEV1 % predicted and pollutant concentrations with averaging times of 08:00 h on the day before to 08:00 h on the test day, 20:00 h to 08:00 h and 24:00 h to 08:00 h (overnight period). For the latter, adjusted mean interquartile increases in air pollution were associated with changes of 0.41 (95% CI -0.18–0.99) for SO2, 0.09 (95% CI -0.25–0.43) for NO2, -0.17 (95% CI -0.69–0.35) for O3 and 0.28 (95% CI -0.12–0.68) for PM2.5.
Diurnal change in FEV1
An interquartile increase in daytime PM2.5 (6.5 μg·m−3) averaged between 08:00 h and 20:00 h was associated with a 0.73% (95% CI 0.10–1.37) decrease in diurnal FEV1 change, expressed as 100×(FEV1 bedtime − FEV1 morning)/FEV1 morning (p = 0.024) (table 6⇓). No statistically significant association was found between diurnal FEV1 and PM2.5 concentrations averaged 24–48 h, 0–48 h or 0–72 h before lung function was measured. Diurnal declines in FEV1 during the daytime were also associated with increases in daytime NO2 (p = 0.024) and SO2 (0.036) (table 6⇓). In two-pollutant models with SO2, NO2 or O3, the PM2.5 effect remained statistically significant (p = 0.016) only with O3 (fig. 3⇓).
Effect modification of the FEV1 response to air pollutants
For the association between FEV1 and PM2.5, the first-order interaction term for corticosteroid use (on at least 50% of the study days versus less) was not significant, but power was poor with only 35 subjects reporting corticosteroids on at least half of the days. No significant differences in the FEV1–pollutant association were found for any of the pollutants and the following groups: male versus female subjects, those who spent at least 2 h outdoors daily versus those who spent less, and those whose baseline FEV1 was <85% versus ≥85%. For the sex comparison, the change in FEV1 % predicted for an interquartile change in 24-h mean PM2.5 was -0.54 (95% CI -1.13–0.04) for males and -0.54 (95% CI -1.37–0.28) for females. For baseline FEV1 level, the change in FEV1 % predicted was -0.88 (95% CI -1.53–-0.22) in the group with FEV1 ≥85% and -0.19 (95% CI -0.89–0.52) in those with lower FEV1.
Other response variables
The presence or absence of difficulty breathing, cough, wheeze and chest tightness was indicated on the daily diary. The odds ratio for reporting chest tightness was 1.30 (1.06–1.58) for days with a mean SO2 in the greatest quartile (≥8.8 ppb) versus the lowest quartile (<2.3 ppb). No other similar contrasts between air pollutants and symptoms were significant at p<0.05. We did not find any significant effects of air pollutants on the peak expiratory flow measures but all point estimates were negative. For an interquartile increase in 24-h mean PM2.5, percentage predicted peak flow decreased by -0.17 (95% CI -0.70–0.35).
Among children with a history of asthma, bedtime lung function decreased with increased ambient concentrations of PM2.5 even after adjustment for other pollutants. There was an approximate 0.5 percentage point decline in FEV1 % predicted for an interquartile increase in pollutant. FEV1 declines were associated with recent air pollution exposure, both the 24-h average before bedtime flows and the 12-h average during the day. Others have detected minimal or no effects within the past 24 h, although significant effects were detected from 5-day averaged particulate concentrations 9, 13. Although both PM2.5 and NO2 may represent mobile combustion-related air pollution, two-pollutant models indicated that PM2.5 had the most robust effect on lung function. The air pollution concentrations in Windsor were much lower than in many large US cities where particulate pollution has been associated with mortality 4. We observed decreases in lung function at 24-h PM2.5 concentrations approximately five times less than the US National Air Quality standard of 35 μg·m−3.
Significance of findings
We were able to detect an adverse biological effect on the lungs from air pollution at levels within currently accepted guidelines for public safety, suggesting that air pollution standards should be revisited. Although the FEV1 change during a clinically diagnosed asthma exacerbation is much larger than the 0.54% change observed in this study, the latter is of public health importance. All children in the community are exposed to the ambient air pollution, resulting in a large number of children affected. Assuming that there is a population distribution of asthma severity and of sensitivity to air pollution, children with severe disease and increased susceptibility to air pollution would be more likely to have a clinically important exacerbation of asthma on high-air pollution days. This argument is supported by the empiric evidence. Norris et al. 19 reported that a change in daily PM2.5 of 11 μg·m−3 was associated with a relative risk estimate of 1.15 (95% CI 1.08–1.23) for a visit to the emergency department for asthma.
Strengths and limitations of the present study
We did not have objective measurements of asthma. The use of medication would be more likely among those with more severe asthma, but reported use was not an effect modifier, suggesting that asthma severity is not a determinant of the response to air pollution. A meta-analysis of air pollution studies in children did not find children with asthma to be more susceptible than children without diagnosed asthma, which also suggests that asthma severity is not a consistent effect modifier 20. We do not know the reason for the stronger association between air pollution and bedtime flows compared with morning flows. Perhaps the children’s air pollution “dose” would be less in the 12 h before the morning FEV1 measurement because they would be indoors and exposed to lower concentrations of ambient pollution. Also, minute ventilation would be less while sleeping than during wakefulness. We did not measure indoor air quality, but only children living in smoke-free homes were included. Associations between FEV1 and day-to-day changes in ambient air pollution would not be confounded by indoor air allergens or irritants unless they changed on a day-to-day basis in concert with outdoor air pollution. Janssen et al. 21 studied the association between personal and outdoor concentrations of PM10 over time among 37 nonsmokers. The median Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.71 when not exposed to passive smoke, indicating that changes in outdoor levels reflect changes indoors. The forced vital capacity manoeuvre required for the FEV1 measurement was observed only during the training period. Increased variability of the test could have reduced the power to detect a true association with air pollution. However, we did detect an adverse relation with particles. The Pearson correlation coefficient between morning and evening values was r = 0.82 (p<0.0001), indicating a moderate degree of reproducibility.
Comparison of the present results with previous panel studies of children with asthma
Peters et al. 13 studied a panel of 82 Czech children with asthma between November 1991 and February 1992. An increase of 6.5 mg·m−3 in 5-day mean sulphate was associated with a 5.62 L·min−1 (95% CI -9.93– -1.30) decrease in peak flow. Another report from the Czech panel by Peters et al. 13 showed significant associations between air pollution and peak flow during September 1991 and March 1992. Mortimer et al. 10 also detected a negative association between ambient O3 and morning peak flow among 846 children with a history of asthma recruited from eight US urban centres. Peak flow decreased by 0.59% (95% CI 0.13–1.05) for each 15 ppb increase in the 5-day moving average for O3. In one panel study of 22 Hispanic children with asthma by Delfino et al. 8, peak flows were not found to be associated with ambient ozone, NO2 or SO2. In another panel of 19 children with asthma by the same lead investigator, a 0.7% (95% CI -1.9–0.4) decrease in FEV1 was associated with a 7.5 μg·m−3 increase in PM2.5 averaged over the preceding 24 h at a central site 9. Using a passive nephelometer for personal monitoring, the observed effect size was statistically significant with a -5.9% (95% CI -10.8–-1.0) change in FEV1 for a 30 μg·m−3 change. Multiday moving averages for PM2.5 resulted in larger effect sizes but these were not significantly different from those for the previous 24-h average. In our study, earlier changes were detected with significant effects seen between morning and evening lung function associated with same-day PM2.5. The effect size per μg·m−3 of PM2.5 in our study was 0.08%, in close agreement with the 0.09% estimated in the study by Delfino et al. 9 despite the mean PM2.5 during the studies being 7.8 μg·m−3 and 10.3 μg·m−3, respectively. Whether exposed to higher or lower daily average concentrations of PM2.5, it appears that equivalent changes in PM2.5 have a similar magnitude of effect on lung function. Trenga et al. 14 reported an adverse effect of centrally monitored PM2.5 on the FEV1 of children with asthma, only if they were not receiving anti-inflammatory medications. We did not detect a significant difference between those with and those without asthma medications. A study similar to ours took place in Detroit (MI, USA), which is connected to Windsor by the international Ambassador Bridge 22. During six periods, each of 14 days, 86 children performed FEV1 measurements using a portable device and recorded daily PM2.5, PM10 and O3. For the entire study group, no significant associations were reported between FEV1 and pollutants. Subgroup analyses restricted to those reporting maintenance inhaled corticosteroids, and using three different lags, revealed that four out of 24 associations tested were statistically significant between single pollutants and diurnal FEV1 variation and/or lowest daily FEV1. For the subgroup reporting upper respiratory symptoms, eight out of 24 associations with single pollutants were positive at p≤0.05. The air pollutant association with diurnal variation was positive, whereas it was inverse in our study. Whether or not an increase or decrease in diurnal variation is considered an adverse response depends on the reason. In our study, the morning flows did not change significantly with air pollution. Thus, the decreased diurnal variation was due to a smaller than expected FEV1 improvement that normally occurs during the day and is unrelated to air pollution. A more recent study also compared air pollution levels with self-administered spirometry in a panel of children 23, in which 53 subjects with asthma were studied for 10 days. Peak hourly personal PM2.5 (averaging 90 μg·m−3), but not ambient levels, were associated with decreased FEV1. Maximum morning FEV1 decreases were seen with approximate 8-h lags, and maximum afternoon and evening decreases were associated with 24-h lags. No air pollution effects were seen in a group of 16 children taking a β-agonist, theophylline, and/or an anti-cholinergic medication. In our study, with much lower concentrations of ambient PM2.5 but 10 times the number of person-days of observation, we found maximum FEV1 effects within a lag time of 24 h after exposure and also effects on diurnal variation within a 12-h period.
In summary, this study provides evidence that acute changes in urban air pollution, even within a day, at concentrations less than in many North American urban centres, worsens lung function in children with asthma.
Statement of interest
The authors gratefully acknowledge the Centre for Environmental Health of Ontario, the City of Windsor school boards, the Windsor community parents and children, the Windsor Medical Officer of Health, the Essex County Health Unit, the University of Windsor, the Ministry of Environment (all Windsor, ON, Canada), Environment Canada (Toronto, ON, Canada), the United States Environmental Protection Agency (Washington, DC, USA) and the International Joint Commission (Canada and USA).
- Received September 9, 2008.
- Accepted February 5, 2009.
- © ERS Journals Ltd


Frost advisory issued for areaPublished 7:25pm Friday, October 29, 2010
Residents in the Lake Martin will wake up Saturday morning to something they haven’t seen in more than six months – frost.
The National Weather Service in Birmingham issued a frost advisory for Saturday morning until 9 a.m.
For those who don’t prepare for the frost, it could mean that some plants will die as a result of the cold weather.
So Shane Harris, regional extension agent for Tallapoosa County, recommended that residents make temporary or permanent arrangements to protect sensitive plants.
“This is the time of year where you need to think about bringing your potted plants indoors overnight or over the long term until next spring,” Harris said. “Unprotected plants will get burned with a frost like we’re expected to have.”
The types of plants affected by the frost include annuals, perennials, citrus plants and any potted plants. For those who want to protect flowerbeds or other outdoor plants, Harris recommended covering it with a sheet, not plastic.
“Plastic will burn the plants when it comes in contact with it,” Harris said. “The best thing to use when covering plants is a sheet or a blanket.”
In addition to the cold, the rainfall receive this week wasn’t enough to lift the state’s fire alert.
Although the state has received up to 4 inches of rain this week, it was not enough to warrant lifting the existing Fire Alert, according to the Alabama Forestry Commission.
State Forester Linda Casey said Friday that rainfall amounts should hold the fire situation down for approximately 24 to 36 hours unless additional rain is received.
In the last 30 days the state has battled 787 wildfires that have burned 8,049 acres. In this calendar year 2,695 fires have burned around 32,437 acres.
Debris burning and illegal residential trash burning continue to be the leading causes of wildfires. The Commission strongly recommends that citizens postpone all outdoor burning until conditions have changed sufficiently to reduce the frequency and severity of wildfires.
Also, a red flag warning is in effect for Saturday. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures will create explosive fire growth potential.


Train services have been suspended, roads disrupted and schools closed as Storm Caroline brought “devastating” gusts of wind to northern parts of the UK.
Forecasters have warned that the storm could pose a “danger to life” with high winds causing flying debris and potential damage to buildings.
“There will be devastating winds in some parts”
More than 50 schools and nurseries in the Scottish Highlands remained closed on Thursday as a precaution, including those on the islands of Lewis, Harris and Uist.
Schools in Orkney also closed, while in Shetland pupils were told they could return home at lunchtime and would not have to come back until Monday.
A 73mph gust was recorded at Stornoway Airport while a 69mph gust was measured at Altnaharra in Sutherland and 68mph in South Uist on Thursday morning, the Met Office said.
Energy firm SSE Networks said about 2,000 of its customers in the Western Isles had been affected by power cuts before supplies were restored.
The Forth Road Bridge and Tay Road Bridge are closed to double decker buses while the Skye and Kessock bridges are closed to high sided vehicles.
Train services were also suspended between Aberdeen and Inverness, Inverness and Wick, Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh and some Glasgow Queen Street routes to the west coast.
More rail disruption was caused in central Scotland when a trampoline blew onto the line in East Renfrewshire, delaying services between Glasgow Central and Neilston.
Caledonian MacBrayne ferry services between Tarbert and Lochranza, Oban and Tiree via Coll and Ullapool and Stornoway were cancelled with many other routes facing disruption.
“Storm Caroline is well on its way across northern parts of the UK,” said Met Office meteorologist John West.
“There will be devastating winds in some parts. More broadly across Scotland there will be 60-70mph gusts, but in exposed areas we could see 90mph.”
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has 10 flood alerts and 11 flood warnings in place for areas including Ayrshire, Lochaber, Caithness and Sutherland.
Temperatures are shortly expected to drop across northern parts of the UK, with a mixture of sleet and snow showers working their way across Britain.
Weather warnings for snow and ice across large parts of the UK are also in place for Friday, with the potential for blizzard conditions in Scotland.
Storm Caroline is the third named storm in the UK this year, after Aileen and Brian.


Meteor Shower Perseids
The superstition is centuries old, its origin is not completely clear. Worldwide, people see shooting stars as lucky charms. In August, it will rain thousands of heavenly light sparks from the sky. Shooting stars in the sky can be seen from all directions this month. If you still want to see a big wish fulfilled, in the middle of August you should look into the night sky.
Appearance and Visibility
The constellation Perseus is home to the shooting stars. Every year around the 12th of August, the earth crosses the stream of the Perseids, leading to the celestial spectacle. The maximum will be reached in the year 2018 in the night of the 12th to the 13th of August, so that depending on the weather up to 100 shooting stars per hour can be seen. Another name for this meteor shower is "Tears of Laurentius", since August 12 is the name day of St. Laurentius. The event is a meteor stream formed from the decomposition products of comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle in Perseus. The shooting stars reach a speed of 60 kilometers per second, which corresponds to 216,000 km/h. A single extinguished star could circle the Earth five times in sixty minutes.


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A bull's eye touched down on the island of Dominica on Monday evening.
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Hurricane Maria, a dangerous Category 5 storm, reached the island of Dominica in the eastern Caribbean on Monday night with sustained winds of 160 mph, forecasters said.
It was expected to deliver.. L.A. Times
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Does this look familiar?
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A person was missing and about 200 homes were reported damaged by water or wind in the Pacific coast state of Guerrero after Hurricane Max hit land east of Acapulco.
Guerrero Gov Hector Astudillo.. Mid-Day
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Short answer: How is California weather?
California experiences a diverse range of climates due to its vast size and geographical features. The state’s climate can vary from Mediterranean along the coast with mild, wet winters and dry summers, to desert-like conditions in inland areas with hot temperatures year-round. Mountainous regions often have cooler temperatures and receive snowfall during winter months. Overall, California offers an array of different weather patterns across its various regions.
Exploring the Diverse Climate Patterns of California
# Exploring the Diverse Climate Patterns of California
California, with its vast geographical expanse and diverse topography, boasts an array of climatic conditions that beg to be explored. From snow-capped mountains to scorching deserts, this state offers a meteorological tapestry like no other. In this article, we delve into the unique climate patterns across different regions in California.
## Northern Coastal Region
The Northern Coastal region of California is renowned for its moderate Mediterranean climate characterized by mild winters and cool summers. This idyllic weather can largely be attributed to the cooling effect of marine layers coming from adjacent Pacific Ocean currents.
During summer months, coastal cities such as San Francisco experience temperatures averaging around 60-70°F (15-21°C). The presence of fog is quite common during early mornings and evenings due to cooler air being trapped beneath warm inland air masses colliding with chilly oceanic breezes.
Winters tend to be relatively mild here along the coast, often having daytime temperatures ranging between 50-60°F (10-16°C). However occasional rainstorms punctuate these otherwise pleasant winter days bringing some much-needed precipitation.
## Central Valley
Moving inland towards central parts of California brings us face-to-face with another intriguing set of climate patterns found within the Great Central Valley – one America’s most agriculturally productive areas but also known for searing heatwaves in summertime!
Summers here are fiercely hot; easily reaching triple digits Fahrenheit-wise or exceeding thirty degrees Celsius on a regular basis! It isn’t uncommon for daily highs above 100°F (38°C) throughout July and August which make it necessary for residents who live further away from coastal influences seek refuge indoors or turn up their fans!
On contrary though relief does come when winter arrives since December through February presents more temperate climates than their counterparts elsewhere down South like Los Angeles where fearsome Santa Ana winds spare nobody there just yet at least!
## Southern Desert Region
Slipping further to the south, we find ourselves immersed in the scorching embrace of California’s desert region. Known for its arid conditions and vast open expanses, this area is home to some of North America’s hottest places.
The Mojave Desert holds Death Valley National Park within its boundaries – a place notorious for recording one of Earth’s highest temperatures ever at 134°F (57°C)! This unforgiving climate with stark temperature fluctuations between day and nighttime creates an environment unlike any other on our planet; it truly showcases nature at both ends Extreme spectrums such as intense heat during daytime often accompanied by cold evenings due strong radiative cooling effect under clear skies which allows substantial heat escape into atmosphere overnight bringing chilly yet refreshing nocturnal relief though but don’t expect snow even here because low humidity levels hamper precipitation almost perpetually!
## Mountainous Regions
As elevation increases across California’s various mountain ranges including Sierra Nevada or Cascade Mountains among others so too do climatic considerations begin veering from what’s observed lower altitudes towards something closer akin alpine regions found instead higher latitude nations outside United States – think Switzerland please!
Summers days may be warm in valleys around foothills where most people live average highs about 90-100 °F range (32-38° C) however venturing upwards can yield dramatically cool down experience until fall really starts settling-in then magical transformation occurs when colors change leaves start falling heralding Winter while landscapes turn immaculate white show off few months subsequent Spring arrives breathing life back these desolate frozen lands ending cycle anew yearlike clockwork unless occasional hiccups brought climate change influences turning originality trends expected always precisely predictable anyway right?!
### Conclusion: Embrace the Climatic Diversity
California serves as a living testament to Mother Nature’s ability to weave together diverse climates within relatively small geographic spaces. From temperate coastal breezes to blistering desert heat, this state offers a climatic tapestry that is as captivating as it is varied.
So go forth and explore the many facets of California’s weather systems. Immerse yourself in its fogs, chase sunsets along sandy coastlines, seek solace from sweltering summer days amidst towering mountains, or marvel at the relentless harshness of its deserts. The choice is yours to embrace the climate patterns that make California truly one-of-a-kind!
Unpacking the Mysteries Behind California’s Year-Round Sunshine
# Unpacking the Mysteries Behind California’s Year-Round Sunshine
California is renowned for its year-round sunshine, captivating locals and tourists alike. The state’s exceptional climate has long been a subject of curiosity, prompting many to wonder about the secrets behind this never-ending summer-like weather. In this article, we delve into the mysteries surrounding California’s consistent sunshine throughout the year.
## The Latitude Advantage
One crucial factor contributing to California’s perpetual sun is its latitude positioning. Situated between approximately 32°N and 42°N latitude, much of California enjoys favorable solar access due to its proximity to the equator. This location enables abundant sunlight exposure as compared to regions at higher latitudes that experience more significant seasonal variations in daylight hours.
## Topography Matters
The diverse topography across different parts of California also contributes significantly to their specific microclimates and overall sunny disposition. From coastal plains stretching along beautiful beaches with clear skies overhead right up through lofty mountains bathed in gleaming sunshine above clouds – each region offers unique characteristics affecting their local meteorological patterns.
1. **Coastal Influence**: Along breathtaking stretches such as Pacific Coast Highway, cool oceanic breezes moderate temperatures near coastal areas while minimizing cloud cover formation—an essential ingredient for maintaining ample sunlight.
2: **Inland Areas**: As one progresses towards central or southern inland locations like Los Angeles or Palm Springs, shelter from marine influences leaves these regions especially prone not only high temperature but uninterrupted brightness too—making them popular winter escape destinations!
3: **Mountains**: Higher elevations bring cooler average temperatures; however crystal-clear skies are often found there despite lower temperatures on account elevation-related drop-off cause decreased humidity content present air mass here hence favoring excellent visibility coupled bountiful direct-sunlight any time day anytime around calendar providing ideal conditions outdoor activities ranging camping hiking photography skiing among others thriving under sparkling rays cascading down snow-capped peaks!
## Influence of the Pacific Ocean
The vast expanse of the mighty Pacific Ocean holds a significant influence over California’s year-round sunshine. The cold waters along the state‘s coastline help maintain stable atmospheric conditions, mitigating potential cloud formation and encouraging sunnier weather patterns inland.
1. **Marine Layer**: Sometimes during late spring or summertime, coastal regions might encounter foggy mornings due to an intriguing phenomenon known as “marine layer.” This blanket of cool moist air derived from nearby ocean often dissipates gradually giving way clear skies filled with glorious sunshine later on in day—an extraordinary display nature’s resilience before apparent hazy morning onset much-anticipated clearing bright rays shining through!
2: **Upwelling Currents**: Along California coast, upwelling currents bring cooler nutrient-rich water rising surface displacing warmer result temperature decrease impacts surrounding air masses indirectly marine directly mixtures caused winds convey chilly these thus sustaining prevailing breezes in just perfect proportions for supporting plenty clean sunny days entire region hand what makes it so pleasant live here see well?
## Weather Systems Interaction
California is subject to unique interactions between diverse weather systems that contribute significantly towards its perpetual sunlight throughout the year.
* Mediterranean Climate: Much thanks western edge North America major role shaping ‘Golden State’ colorful character! In this climate type featuring dry summers mild winters moderate precipitation mainly occurring winter months—creates ideal condition flourishing agriculture introduced Mediterranean-like summer-long drought tolerated successfully thriving plethora crops fresh produce exported around globe continually attracting attention international markets them embark exciting culinary journey while exploring hidden secret knows best — remarkable bounty cultivated soil bountiful harvest nourish soul satisfy appetite happily ever after leaving other corners world wondering where wonders originated.
* High Pressure System & Santa Ana Winds: Furthermore another important characteristic mentioned earlier location latitude comes play pacific ridge situated eastern vicinity extends north-south orientation southern end encompassing mexico serve massive barrier presence crest divides two primary zones demarcation existence higher territory downstream lowlands subject strong high-pressure system forms anchored northeastern areas extending further forming extensive surface anticyclone sustained steady continual clockwise rotation coming back location-inspired winds deflected coastal mountains ability regain strength proving formidable often culminating dry event blowing hot gusty air heated landscapes fueling wildfire these acquiring notorious recognition “Santa Ana Winds”.
Unraveling the mysteries behind California’s year-round sunshine reveals a web of diverse geographical factors unique to this remarkable state. From its beneficial latitude positioning and distinctive topography to the Pacific Ocean’s influence and complex weather systems, several interrelated elements contribute to California’s ever-present sunshine.
Whether you are planning a visit or have always marveled at California’s radiant skies, understanding the secrets behind their sunny disposition adds another layer of appreciation for this extraordinary destination—where year-round summer seems not just an elusive dream but a tangible reality!
From Coastal Breezes to Desert Heat: Understanding California’s Regional Weather Variations
## California’s Regional Weather Variations: A Comprehensive Guide
When it comes to weather, few places in the world offer as much diversity within a single state like California. From coastal breezes caressing pristine beaches to scorching desert heat that engulfs expansive landscapes, the Golden State boasts an array of regional weather variations that enthrall both locals and visitors alike.
In this article, we delve deep into understanding these captivating climate differences across various regions of California. Whether you’re planning a trip or simply fascinated by meteorology, join us as we uncover the unique characteristics of each region and shed light on how they contribute to shaping their distinctive climates.
### Coastal Climate Paradises
California’s coastline stretches over 800 miles along the glistening Pacific Ocean. The influence of marine air masses creates some truly spectacular microclimates where fog rolls gently ashore amidst scenic vistas brimming with life. Exploring cities such as San Francisco and Santa Barbara allows for witnessing firsthand nature’s intricate dance between land and sea elements.
#### San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco is renowned for its iconic landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge but also its peculiar weather patterns caused by localized geography – majorly influenced by oceanic currents from Alaska flowing southward alongside cooler surface waters from Northern Californian coastlines year-round.
Due to specific topographic features surrounding it (such as hilly terrain), “The City By The Bay” experiences significant temperature fluctuations throughout any given day – characterized by chilly mornings often enveloped in dense fog blankets known locally as “Karl”. While summer months feature milder temperatures compared to inland areas because winds carry cool sea breeze providing respite amid warm days.
#### Southern Coastline Bliss
As one ventures further down towards sunny southern parts facing Baja California Peninsula Mexico; balmy beach towns epitomize endless summers kissed softly ear-to-ear with gentle sunrays peaking through calm skies devoid mostly even seasonal clouds making it the ideal escape for sunshine seekers.
### The Majestic Sierra Nevada
California’s majestic Sierra Nevada mountain range stands tall and proud, serving as an awe-inspiring backbone to the state. This region’s weather characteristics contribute significantly towards shaping both coastal and inland climates thanks mainly due eastward barrier blocking onshore air masses intersecting this mighty obstacle then forced upward leading condensation forming rain clouds provide substantial annual precipitation creating vibrant forests thriving by temperate moisture-rich environment sustained throughout their yearly life-cycles.
#### High Elevation Challenges
With towering peaks reaching over 14,000 feet (4,267 meters) And while alpine regions experience some of Earth’s harshest environments; notably with heavy snowfall accumulations during colder months merit caution balanced preparation adventures into this winter wonderland but reward physical challenges ever wondrous scenery laced undulating landscapes diverse flora fauna accentuate majesty picturesque surroundings unparalleled elsewhere California contributing remarkably lands appeal outdoor enthusiasts nature lovers alike year-round magnet typical tourists seldom find West Coast neighbor Oregon rival such offerings times spell these stretches transformed lupines extraordinary spring blooms vistas lake-studded valleys made themselves fall-fodder weaving tapestry colors words fail adequately vocalize breathtakingly beautiful scenes span human calligraphy painted canvas mother earth creates unrivaled marveled witnessed profoundly deeply personally expressed poetry bark tree watched trees sway synchrony mystical ceremony communion planet binds poet inspiration instigating scribble alongside walk unending natural wonders special place people rimming care services pick sandal strap trailhead parking lot restful leads hiking trails stooped rugged backpack plunged face mist waterfall constantly remind me that body ephemeral token consciousness permit finite jaded forget projectile being wider yet reflexes slow appreciative gaze ragged edges robust shape odor fresh fallen moss cover gentle seducing young mindfulness momentary delays snapshot senses engage fabric woven together impeccable carefully thread history engaged thoughtfully awaken slumber Mascots brought constant companions picnic munching peanuts gravitational note steak laughing queer companionship seeking tables full growling sonic growing richer meaty conversations feast unexpected locust smattered pavement summer background medium without this overheard among bustle laughing sisters greasy pork parade daylight heartsolated sideline drinks peanut-clad mob stray wearer sucker urge arcane ofblood sugar levels Clasping wrinkled twist top recycled nectar held rejuvenating satisfaction lips sticky sweetness momentarily tinged collective flesh-appreciation apostles gently moments immortality luxury daring escapade past involving eluding sobriety attempting recapture waning reinvented variation acquired too-full childhood sighs blurt whispered mystery knowing DUI deliciously tudged sticking strangely tuned bar shaking hiccup roaring consolation putting smiles face strangers fleeting extend lawful exceptional moment fizzless aftermath holiday breakfast infused tang amiable squawking creek whispering eyes listened nuts remained early quiet astonished surprise turned apologetic glances flushed kissed linger stride balanced pursued joys still persists locking confusion welcomed conflict extinct promise distraction shimmer gazes confession pause routine decadence heightened sedative peace swooping drifted reinstated paradise ve foggy relinquishing fleeing captured reckless hear unexplainable climate enchant him assure dependability converged ignoring speculative limitless realities occupies senses relished comparisons turbulent inevitable hur
The Impact of El Niño and La Niña on California’s Weather Systems
# The Impact of El Niño and La Niña on California’s Weather Systems
Welcome! In this article, we will delve into the fascinating subject of El Niño and La Niña phenomena, exploring their significant impact on California’s weather systems. These natural climate patterns can cause dramatic shifts in temperature, precipitation levels, ocean currents, and atmospheric conditions. By understanding how these phenomena influence the Golden State’s weather patterns, we gain valuable insights into its climatic variability.
## Understanding El Niño and La Niña
1. **El Nino**
– During an El Niño event in the Pacific Ocean basin,
* surface waters become unusually warm along the equator.
* Trade winds weaken or reverse direction near South America.
– This leads to widespread changes in global weather dynamics due to altered atmospheric circulation patterns.
2. **La Nina**
– Conversely, during a La Nina event,
* cooler surface waters prevail across large parts of the tropical Pacific.
* trade winds intensify over regions near South America.
– Similar but opposite impacts occur when compared with those caused by an El Nino event.
## Effects on California’s Weather Systems
### Temperature Patterns
1. Enhanced warmth:
– Under normal circumstances without any specific influences from either climatic phenomenon mentioned above,
temperatures tend towards average annual values around coastal areas like San Francisco (59°F) or Los Angeles (66°F).
2a.Effects during different Events:
-During strong El Niño events such as that experienced between 1997–98:
° Higher-than-normal land-surface temperature emerges
-Contrary period takes place at usually less frequently improving sea chemistry:
° Instances involve time following both ’15 through ’16 which epitomize weak signals after powerful shows gotten thru late millennium + early ‘10s featuring consistently cooler surface temperatures
2.b: Effect on further region — The Northwest Pacific Shore while discontent failure Affect
°Individuals in California, particularly in the northern territories – frequently experience higher-than-average temperature akin rainfall shortage all too often times lessened by means of having inadequate snowpack
3. Impact at Cooler Personalized zones :
• During La Niña events:
• Areas located near San Diego could endure decreased average yearly temp .conditions when compared to others.
° associated climate signals contribute towards exaggerated chills.
### Precipitation Patterns
1. Enhanced Rainfall:
– El Niño typically leads to increased precipitation chances across various parts of California,
* with Southern regions experiencing more significant effects compared to Northern areas like Sacramento or San Francisco.
– For instance, during the infamous “Godzilla” El Nino event (1997–98),
coastal cities such as Los Angeles witnessed nearly double their season normal levels〔including 24inch throughout months between Dec ‘97-Feb ’98!)
2.Contrasting Impacts-With Reference To Becoming Dry :
-LaNina will most likely present diminishing water amounts accessible concerned central+southern counties .
_Opportunity for lesser rainy sequence is substantial vicinity feature_
a)Diablo/Wine Country plus Santa Barbara-area
Example records reveal majority—especially ìn Wine Country zone @locations lìke Calistoga and/or Healdsburg remain extremely parched reports emphasize dwindling precip quantities specifically within these locations
-Given six years from late personal millennium yrs through early stages belonging within current decade ，La nina episode remained related together wɪᴀelevated dryness amounting our State Of Identity producing tremendous repercussions called b e Industry regarding developing food crops + vegetation possibilities are; this might commence contributing drought situations breaking multitude local wildfire instances whilst susceptible fodder goes following wild cologne Go On 3.
c)Histories linked towards severe droughts including that incident during ’12 ‒ like within Central Valley.
## Ocean Current Patterns
1. El Niño Impacts:
– Warmer Pacific waters lead to modifications in oceanic conditions, primarily along the Californian coastline.
– Increased water temperatures attract different fish species,
* such as exotic pelagic (open-ocean) varieties and southern-dwelling marine life.
– Abundance of warm-water nutrient sources allows populations of certain commercial fishes to thrive temporarily,
which may positively influence fishing industries across coastal regions.
2.La Niña Influences :
Shifting climate states correspondingly give way toward altering relationship between open-along with cold-blooded amateur fishermen developing seasonal fisheries depnence Whilst cold-bound amateurs flourish ，ventory remains dominant – they got clams/crabs + cold-sipping Fish
## Atmospheric Conditions
El Nino/LaNina phenomena directly impact atmospheric dynamics affecting California’s weather further
…especially through precipitation patterns+frequency overe Cal-area_auxiliary kindled occurrence-destructive storms eliciting both torrential


Tropical storm Isaac, now in the eastern Caribbean, appears likely to sweep into the Gulf of Mexico early next week, according to long-range forecasts. Landfall in the US could be from coastal Alabama to the western Florida panhandle.
Results: 3 of 9
© The Christian Science Monitor. All Rights Reserved.


Partly cloudy skies. High near 40F. Winds light and variable..
A clear sky. Low 29F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
Updated: December 6, 2019 @ 10:14 am
Dec 4, 2019
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For the latest forecast information on the blizzard, click here.
As a blizzard unloads feet of snow in eastern New England, authorities have reported numerous car crashes, school closings and flight cancellations.
Slick and hazardous travel will continue to unfold across New England into Monday as heavy snow pushes through.
The snow will fall at a rate of an inch or more an hour, quickly covering roads and sidewalks.
Stretches of the Maine turnpike are covered in snow this morning. Motorists should drive with caution if they need to travel.
With a little daylight, here's what you can expect to see on the Turnpike from York to Augusta pic.twitter.com/XSvRLjG1X4
— Maine Turnpike (@MaineTurnpike) February 13, 2017
As of 6:25 a.m. EST Monday, snow is almost out of the Boston area. Around 3.5 inches has been reported in the city.
[6a] Latest map of snowfall reports. Higher amounts N of the MA-Pike of @ 6-10"; amazing the gradient in the Boston-metro pic.twitter.com/jfB9GkjsT6
— NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) February 13, 2017
As of 4 a.m. EST, Portland, Maine, has received 10 to 13 inches of snow since Sunday afternoon. Heavy snow will continue to bury much of Maine through Monday morning.
The #snow is piling up in the parking lots from our latest storm #LiveonCBS13 #WeatherAuthority @WGME pic.twitter.com/I4Xdw5Pz6R
— Jeff Peterson (@JeffWGME) February 13, 2017
Snow has slowed in parts of Massachusetts. The heaviest snow continues to move north, alleviating some of the speed restrictions across the state.
#MAtraffic Update: I-90- 40mph speed restrictions have been lifted. Normal limit in place. #MAsnow
— Mass. Transportation (@MassDOT) February 13, 2017
Large trees and power lines are reportedly down in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, toppling into cars and homes.
As of 12 a.m. EST, 9.4 inches of snow have been reported in Portland, Maine.
Areas outside of the blizzard conditions are also being affected by high winds Sunday night. Wind gusts of 50 to 70 mph have been reported from West Virginia to Pennsylvania and Maryland. A tree was knocked down by high winds in Hancock, Maryland, blocking part of eastbound I-70.
Strong winds blew the canopy off of a gas station in New Castle, Pennsylvania, late Sunday night.
As of 10:30 p.m. EST, over 40,000 customers of both FirstEnergy Company and Duqesne Light Company are affected in Pennsylvania.
As of 7:10 p.m. EST, the New Hampshire Troopers Association is reporting 102 crashes and cars skidding off state roads since the snow began, primarily in the central and southern regions of the state. Interstate speeds have been reduced to 45 mph on all state highways and there is one shelter on standby. Visit www.readynh.gov for updated information on the storm.
snow is picking back up and we have 7 inchs in Concord nh @NWSGray @AccuRayno @TerryWBZ @JoeJoyceNH1 pic.twitter.com/1IGatWmoCM
— Brian Hardy (@Hardybrian1970) February 12, 2017
The Boston Globe is reporting that the severe winter storm moving into Massachusetts has postponed the start of the double-homicide trial of former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez; he faces charges in the July 2012 slayings of two Boston men. A spokesman for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office said in a statement Sunday that, jury selection in the trial will likely be delayed until Thursday.
The winter storm moving into Mass. has postponed the start of the double-homicide trial of Aaron Hernandez. https://t.co/4mcE3KuCCP pic.twitter.com/YwTAIBxchi
— The Boston Globe (@BostonGlobe) February 12, 2017
Due to weather conditions, all Boston public schools have been closed for Monday, Feb. 13, via www.bostonpublicschools.org. There will also be no bus service. To support childcare needs, Boston Centers for Youth and Families will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Over 2,000 transportation crews in Massachusetts are now treating state roads, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Pavements are wet to snow covered. In addition, the speed limit on I-90 from the New York border to Boston has been reduced to 40 mph.
All of I-89 in New Hampshire now has a speed reduction of 45 mph due to weather conditions, via New Hampshire Department of Transportation.
More than 200 flights have been canceled at Boston Logan International Airport, via flightaware.com.
Snow continues to accumulate through the northeastern U.S. Totals so far include 2.8 inches in Winchester County, Connecticut; 4 inches at Hyde Park, New York,; and 5.5 inches at Greenville Center, New York.
Due to weather, snow and ice departure traffic destined to General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport, Boston, MA (BOS) and La Guardia Airport (LGA) are currently experiencing delays averaging 3 hours and 50 minutes.
Multi-vehicle accidents closed on U.S. 15 northbound and southbound due to snow and ice.
Icy mix is hindering travel across the northeastern United States as of 10:15 a.m. EST.


Saturday, March 29, 2014
Severe Weather Workshop Today At Saline Center
Our area is in the heart of Tornado Alley. That is why the Times recommends that area residents consider attending the 20th annual Regional Severe Weather, set for 12:30 p.m. today, March 29, at Saline Center Hall, just southwest of Dorchester at the intersection of County Road M and Hwy. 15.
Storm-chasing videos, severe weather safety, communications, mass casualty and emergency management and displays will be part of the seminar.
Special presenters will be experts from the National Weather Service, Dr. Ken Dewey of UNL, and 10/11 News meteorologist Brad Anderson and Channel 8's Luke Dorris.
This afternoon's keynote presentation will be given by the Twister Sisters, also known as Peggy Willenbeg and Melanie Metz, who will recognize the 10th anniversary of the Hallam tornado.
More information is available by calling (402) 821-3010 or emailing at firstname.lastname@example.org.


The above satellite photo's come to you directly from the National Weather Service (NOAA). On occasion it can take a little bit for a satellite photo to come up on the noaa site, with a little patience your selection should come up.
Use the drop down menu to select all satellite sectors of the United States, including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico & the Caribbean. These photo's cover all sectors of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in the Northern Hemisphere This is a great tool for tracking storms. For instance, the ability to track storms starting in the Western Pacific Ocean as it moves toward the Eastern Pacific and the U.S. West Coast, or the weather systems that comes off the West Coast of Africa before they turn into tropical storms or hurricanes heading towards the U.S. East Coast.
They are divided up into two main sectors, the U.S. Western Region including the Pacific Ocean, and the U.S. Eastern Region and the middle U.S. sectors, including the Atlantic Ocean. Each satellite sector has two photo's, the "Visual and Shortwave (IR2)" versions, except for the North East Pacific, it has three photo versions, the Visual, the Shortwave (IR2), and Water Vapor. I like this satellite format by NOAA (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration) because everything is located in one easy to use drop down menu.


189 nations meet in Montreal to discuss how to combat global warming. The 10-day UN Climate Control Conference is considered the most important gathering on global warming since Kyoto, bringing together thousands of experts from 180 nations to brainstorm on ways to slow the alarming effects of greenhouse effects. But, what is Kyoto all about? Very few of us know much about it. Let’s scan through it in brief.
What are the Montreal talks?
It is the first big UN climate meet since the ratification of Kyoto Protocol. It will discuss the global climate regime post-2012.
What is the Kyoto Protocol?
It is the only international treaty to tackle climate change, setting target for industrialized countries to cut output of six greenhouse gases by 2012.
How many nations have ratified the Protocol?
36 countries are currently bound by the Protocol. The United States and Australia have opted out.
What are the key issues?
The key issues are the legal enforcement of the Kyoto Protocol, role of developing countries and a review of the adequacy of existing targets, including demonstrating progress in meeting them.
What to expect?
There is nothing much to expect. The main hope is to find a way to bring in developing nations under its ambit. But, United States and Australia reject it. Aussies want Kyoto to bind nations like India and China.
Who are participating?
Environmental officials from 150 nations are members to the Kyoto Protocol. United States and Australia are excluded from talks.
How urgent are the talks?
Scientists say the earth’s temperature will rise by atleast two-degree centigrade this century due to the greenhouse gases. The ten hottest years on record globally have occurred since 1991. In that second period, global sea levels have risen by about 20 cm.


Heavy downpours continue through Monday, flash flooding could be a problem | Weather
CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV)- The walls of water continue to fall in and around the Charlotte region Monday.
Between 2 and 3 inches of rain fell across the foothills in the past 24 hours. The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg issued a Flood Advisory for Burke, Catawba, Cleveland and Lincoln counties until 11 a.m. Monday.
Several WBTV viewers sent in photos of flooding in their neighborhoods. Click on the slideshow to see them.
Heavy rains along the U.S. 321 and Interstate 77 were reported along with some lightning.
Watauga County is under a Flash Flood Watch through Tuesday morning, according to the NWS.
WBTV Meteorologist Al Conklin says anyone out and about Monday should watch out for localized flooding.
You should never try to drive your vehicle through a flooded area or roadway.
Monday's highs will be in the low to mid 70s.
Showers and thunderstorms will continue into the night when lows drop down near 60 degrees.
Copyright 2012 WBTV. All rights reserved.
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Florida, USA: Live Weather
Live weather in Florida
The latest and today's weather in Florida , USA updated regularly
- Sunrise 07:18
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|Temp feels like:||30°C (86°F)|
|Length of Day:||11h 55m|
|Pressure:||30" (1014 hpa)|
|Visiblity:||10 miles (16 km)|
Latest Florida Holiday Reviews
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V.Good rain once a day ataround 3 o clock which lasted for around 5 minutes but soon dried up and...
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We went to Florida in late July which is excellent for younger children as the humidity is not as bad...
Historic Temperatures for 30th September in Florida
|Average High||28°C (82°F)|
|Record High||32°C (90°F) (2002)|
|Average Low||21°C (70°F)|
|Record Low||17°C (63°F) (2001)|
What's The Weather like in Florida?
Where Is Florida?
The most southeastern state in the United States, Florida is essentially a huge peninsula that juts out into the ocean. It's bordered on three sides by water, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the Gulf of Mexico to the west and the Straits of Florida to the south.
What's The Climate Like In Florida?
Florida's climate can be summarised as having long and hot summers, brief and warm winters and short shoulder seasons.
As such a huge peninsula, Florida boasts the longest coastline of all 48 lower states. It is subject to a subtropical climate in its northern parts, while a tropical climate characterizes the southern regions of the state.
This (sub) tropical climate makes Florida a relatively stable year-round beach destination -temperatures remain very warm throughout the year, even in winter, and the seawater is comfortable all the time.
Rain In Florida
Rainfall varies throughout the year, with late spring through early autumn being by far the wettest time of the year. This is also when high humidity may be a problem to some people.
The climate in the state is milder than in other (sub) tropical destinations, due to the fact that all parts of it are located relatively close to the sea, which influences the climate and limits extreme weather conditions.
Summer Weather in Florida
When Is The Hottest Month To Visit Florida?
Florida heats up in summer, a long and hot season that lasts from June through September, with average temperatures ranging between 27°C in June and September and 28°C in July and August, which are the hottest months of the year.
In those two peak summer months, the mercury rises to a scorching afternoon high of 33°C, while it doesn't fall below an average low of 22°C at night. If you're visiting Florida in summer, you will want to get yourself a hotel room with air-conditioning.
How Warm Is The Sea In Florida?
The sea is even warmer than the air this season, averaging a bath-like 29°C from July through September.
How Much Does It Rain In Florida?
Summer falls in the middle of the wetter part of the year in Florida. Total precipitation amounts range between 155mm in July to 203mm in September.
These are high numbers, which are due to the fact this is the thunderstorm season. Afternoon thunderstorms are very likely in summer, but luckily, they tend to be brief.
Sunshine doesn't vary much through the year, that's why Florida's state motto is "The Sunshine State"nd it ranges from 8 to 10 hours of sunshine per day on average.
Autumn Weather in Florida
How Warm Is Florida In Fall?
Afternoons are still very warm, with average high temperatures between 25°C and 29°C, while evenings and nights get cooler, ranging between 13°C and 18°C.
The sea temperature is warm all year round and ranges around 26°C and 27°C.
How Wet Is Florida in Fall?
Precipitation levels are at their annual maximum in the beginning of autumn, in Miami reaching 234mm in October, a month that has 16 days of rainfall.
October is the last month of the wetter part of the year and the total precipitation number drops drastically with a total amount of rainfall of only 71mm.
Sunshine Hours In Florida In The Fall
There is also still plenty of sunshine throughout autumn, with daily sunshine hours averaging between seven and eight hours.
Winter Weather In Florida
What's The Coldest Month In Florida?
At night, the temperature might be at an average low of 9°C, in the afternoon, it rises to a warm 22°C to 23°C delightfully comfortable winter temperature.
Is The Sea Warm In Florida In Winter?
Even the sea temperature is still very comfortable this season, averaging between 23°C (the annual minimum) and 25°C.
Is Winter Dry In Florida?
The winter season is the driest of all seasons. December is the driest month of the year, not receiving more than 51mm of rainfall in total in Miami, Florida's main tourist hotspot.
January and February respectively get 71mm and 53mm of precipitation. The number of days with rainfall per month ranges between seven and nine.
Sunshine Hours In Winter
Sunshine hours in winter in Florida vary between seven a day in December and January (the lowest number of the year) and eight in February. This is plenty of sunshine for this time of year, especially when compared to many other destinations in the Northern Hemisphere.
Spring Weather in Florida
How Hot Is Spring In Florida?
While autumn is characterised by swiftly decreasing temperatures, spring experiences the opposite. Temperatures rapidly increase in the course of the seasonhe average temperature climbs from 20°C in March over 22°C in April to 25°C in May.
The average high and low temperatures increase accordingly, respectively from 26°C to 32°C and from 13°C to 18°C at night.
Is The Sea Warm In Florida In Spring?
As is the case in every season in Florida, the sea temperature is very high in spring, ranging between 24°C and 27°C.
How Much Does It Rain In Florida In Spring?
In terms of precipitation, the beginning of spring is quite dry, comparable to rainfall conditions in winter. In May, however, which is the first month of the wetter part of the year, rainfall increases dramatically.
While April, for example, has 81mm of rainfall in total, May has 173mm. This number may be rather high, but it's good to know that rainfall usually occurs as heavy, but shorter rain showers and thunderstorms. Skies are hardly ever overcast in Florida and there's always plenty of sunshine to be enjoyed.
How Much Sunshine Is There In Spring In Florida?
In spring too, sunshine hours are high. They range between 9 and 10 hours per day on average.
Holiday Weather Blog
Florida Holiday News
Exploring Fuerteventura 🏖🏄♂🤿
Whether you are a water sports champion, a tanning queen, or an unashamed foodie – Fuerteventura has something for you. Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands seems to be made mostly of beach, stretching out for miles like a golden motorway next to sapphire blue seas. Its volcanic interior is an otherworldly mix of endless dunes and contorted rock […]
Top 10 Weather Facts – Majorca ☀🏔🇪🇸
Whether Majorca is your preferred holiday destination every year or you are new to the island, Here are Top 10 Weather facts about Majorca that you may not know. 1. Marine Ecosystem 🐠 Warming water temperatures have brought More Jellyfish which has messed up the Marine ecosystem. great warm/hot weather from March right through to […]
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Best Places to Go For Winter Sun in December ☀🏝🤿
December is a great time to escape to sunnier climates in order to avoid the harsh British winter that plagues the UK every year. Tenerife 🇮🇨 Tenerife Weather Lowdown December: Tenerife has always been thought of as the Island of Eternal Spring and this is especially true for the month of December. Whilst much of […]


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In today’s video we talk about an Upcoming Major Tropical Cyclone?
Yep, you heard me right! The Hurricane season hasn’t completely given up yet, it’s still kicking out decent tropical waves.
This storm is an imminent threat to Cuba, however down the road it could be a major threat for the Gulf Coast, I’ve seen models show as far west as it hitting coastal Texas, and as far East as being offshore of Florida’s East coast.
We will continue to track this storm over the coming days and keep you guys up to date with the latest.
#TropicalCyclone #Invest95L #HurricaneSeason2020
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Storms have caused flooding, knocked out power, downed trees and caused accidents. Here's a look at some of the most severe:
Hurricane Sandy (October 2012)
When the deadly storm blew through Anne Arundel, Annapolis had flooding that left part of the Alex Haley statue at City Dock submerged. Spa Creek spilled over the bulkhead, heavy winds gusted to 90 mph, more than 300,000 Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. customers lost power and two Marylanders died. Two people had to be rescued by Anne Arundel firefighters when they climbed on top of their car to escape rising waters in Gambrills.
The Derecho (June 2012)
The derecho — an intense traveling wind storm — devastated many parts of Maryland and wiped out power for nearly 900,000 people, according to FEMA. Two people were killed during the storm, which also downed utility lines and trees and prompted President Barack Obama to declare it a major disaster and order federal aid.
Hurricane Irene (August 2011)
Irene brought winds sustained at 60 mph, with a top speed of 80 mph and caused about 180 road closures throughout the state because of downed trees and flooding, mostly on the Eastern Shore. Over 100,000 people lost power in the county.
Hurricane Ernesto (September 2006)
The storm took its toll on power lines, leaving more than 100,000 BGE customers without power. Low-lying areas in the southern part of the state and sections of the Eastern Shore, where winds hit 62 mph, had tree damage and minor flooding. City Dock in Annapolis also flooded.
Tropical Storm Isabel (September 2003)
Isabel wreaked havoc on Maryland, causing several fatalities including two traffic-related deaths, three carbon monoxide poisonings, one flood victim and two electric utility worker deaths. Over 2,000 people were displaced and housed in temporary shelters provided by the American Red Cross. Tides five to eight feet higher than normal along the Chesapeake inundated coastal communities with floodwater. The Bay Bridge was closed after sustained winds hit 50 mph, thousands of trees were downed, and many buildings, including the Navel Academy, filled with water. Maryland was one of the most severely hit states, with Anne Arundel County taking the brunt of it: 196,000 county residents lost power; 150 roads were closed; and over 570 homes were declared uninhabitable because of damage. The National Weather Service estimated over $400 million in damage state-wide.


Cover crops play a starring role in climate change mitigation
On your own land, you’ve probably seen evidence that climate change is happening — things like extreme weather events or changes in growing seasons over the years. America’s rural communities are on the frontlines of climate change, and now is the time for agriculture, forestry, and rural communities to act.
There are various ways to help mitigate the effects of climate change on your land and improve your bottom line at the same time. One very effective way is by planting cover crops.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- A pair of blasts of frigid arctic air have caused extreme cold and snowy weather conditions across the United States.
The second such gust of arctic air began to move south from Canada on Wednesday and spread east and south across the Midwest and into the southern Plains causing dangerous conditions throughout the weekend, according to The Weather Channel.
Two people were killed and 15 more were hospitalized in a 55-car pile up and tanker explosion in the freezing rain on I-95 in Baltimore, according to The Baltimore Sun.
More than a dozen other crashes were reported in the area as freezing rain caused unsafe driving conditions on the local roads.
"Today's icy road conditions remind us all that it is imperative to exercise extreme caution due to severe weather," Baltimore Mayor Catherine E. Pugh said. "I want to thank the emergency crews for their expedient response."
The Minnesota State Patrol reported 490 crashes due to heavy snowfall and 341 spin outs or off-road accidents in the area beginning Friday, according to KARE.
The crashes resulted in 45 injuries, including two serious injuries in Rochester and Duluth and a fatal crash in Brainerd.
The New York City Emergency Management Department issued a hazardous travel warning on Saturday, WABC reported.
The area was expected to see one to two inches of snowfall, as New Yorkers were warned to be extra cautious while walking or biking and allow extra travel time while driving due to slippery roads.
Minor traffic accidents were also reported in the New York City area while local airports experienced weather-related delays.
Icy conditions in the Virginia and Washington D.C. area caused the Washington Dulles airport and Metro bus services to suspend operations on Saturday morning, according to the Washington Post.
Services were gradually restored throughout the day as two runways were opened at Dulles and Metro bus service returned within about two hours.


SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Salt Lake City has hit record-high temperatures two days in a row.
The National Weather Service in Salt Lake City says the city hit 68 degrees at 2:20 a.m. Monday, breaking the 1998 mark of 67 degrees.
The other record was broken at 9:03 p.m. Sunday, when thermometers reached 69 degrees. That temperature surpassed the 1949 record of 68 degrees.
Much of Utah saw balmy weather and unseasonably warm temperatures during the holiday weekend. The Weather Service says Sunday’s high temperatures were more typical for mid-October, not late November.
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On Friday, a number of Utah locations saw record highs, including Bryce Canyon and Cedar City airports and Kodachrome Basin State Park.


Nearly 4.5 billion years ago, our planet formed from a cloud of gases. Those gases solidified. A thin outer crust formed, and an atmosphere developed. Since its birth, Earth has been morphing in ways big and small. And ever since the first inklings of life arose, some 3.8 billion years ago, Earth’s organisms have been adapting to this ever-changing world.
No single species has ever been responsible for big changes on Earth. Until now.
Human activities — particularly the burning of fossil fuels — have emerged as a driving force in changing the chemistry of Earth’s atmosphere. That has caused Earth’s seas to become slightly more acidic. And it has warmed the average temperatures near the planet’s surface and in its upper oceans. Those temperature changes have, in turn, altered climate worldwide. And in response, species have begun to change where and how they live.
This year-long series investigated those changes, focusing on the new science behind them. And we explored how Earth’s life — including humans — has begun to adapt. It’s a mistake to think that climate change is something that will only happen sometime later this century. These changes are underway now.


NEW DELHI, Nov 3 (Reuters) – Delhi’s 20 million residents have been successfully respiration smoke on Thursday because the air high quality index (AQI) breached the “severe” and “hazardous” classes in almost all monitoring stations of the Indian capital, elevating calls to close schools.
The AQI exceeded 450 at many locations early within the day, in accordance to information from the Central Pollution Control Board. A studying over 400 impacts wholesome folks, with severe impacts on these with present ailments, the federal authorities says.
The index was over 800 in some pockets of town, in accordance to information from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee.
“What is happening with air pollution in Delhi is nothing short of a crime against humanity!” creator and socialite Suhel Seth wrote on Twitter. “There’s a total collapse of accountability!”
The world’s most polluted capital is blanketed in smog each winter as chilly, heavy air traps development mud, automobile emissions and smoke from the burning of crop stubble within the neighbouring states to clear the fields for the subsequent crop.
Lower temperatures, calmer winds and their altering route worsen the air high quality from time to time.
Parents and environmentalists on social media demanded schools to be closed.
“I know children don’t vote for you, but still, requesting all the chief ministers of Delhi (capital region) to immediately SHUTDOWN all the schools,” environmental activist Vimlendu Jha wrote on Twitter. “It’s not NORMAL to breathe 500+ AQI, not for our children, where every third child already has some pulmonary challenge.”
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, whose social gathering additionally guidelines Punjab the place crop burning is rampant, stated on Twitter that the “people of Punjab and Delhi are taking all steps at their level” to sort out air pollution.
The capital this week stopped most development and demolition work to curb mud air pollution and appealed to residents to share automobile and motorbike journeys, earn a living from home when potential and scale back the usage of coal and firewood at residence.
Reporting by Krishna N. Das; Editing by William Mallard
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


Floods and Landslides Affect Tens of Thousands in Peru
As of February 6, floods and landslides, brought on by heavy rains, have affected more than 170,000 people in Peru over the past week. The northern provinces of Tumbes, Piura, and Lambayeque have declared a State of Emergency. In Lambayeque, the hardest hit province, it is estimated that more than 85,000 people have been affected. Of those, a reported 24,700 people have been severely affected, which includes the loss of housing (UNOCHA via ReliefWeb).
As of February 9, the death toll has reached 23 people and over 31,000 houses have been flooded, mostly in the northern provinces of Tumbes, Piura, and Lambayeque (ECHO).
Rains are forecast to continue until February 12, with heavy rains between February 9 and 10 in the provinces of Tumbes and Piura (SENAMHI).
RVA Country Profile: Peru
This Week in Hazards
- Severe winter weather is impacting the northeastern United States. Winter storm or blizzard warnings are in effect for parts of the northeastern United states, with forecast accumulations of 12 to 18 inches of snow in some areas (NWS). Schools in New York, Boston, and Philadelphia have closed and more than 1,600 flights have been canceled due to the severe weather (CNN).
Current Hazard Warnings
Floods: United States (Western region), Peru, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana (Northern Region), Namibia (Eastern Region), England, Afghanistan, Pakistan (Northwestern Region), Tajikistan (Southwestern Region), Uzbekistan (Southern Region), Turkmenistan (Eastern Region), Australia (Western Australia)
Winter Storm: United States (Western and Northeastern regions), Canada (Eastern Region, British Columbia)
Avalanche: Canada (British Columbia), United States (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado)
Drought: Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, United States (California, Southern regions)
For real-time information on current disasters download PDC’s free Disaster Alert mobile app available for your iOS or Android devices today! Also be sure to monitor PDC on Twitter, Facebook, and by accessing the web-accessible of Disaster Alert from your computer, phone, or tablet.


A freeze warning is in effect for Southwest Georgia and the Big Bend region of Florida. WCTV Meteorologist Ray Hawthorne says temperatures will continue to drop rapidly after sunset Sunday evening.
Temperatures will be below the freezing mark for 7 to 10 hours. The inland portions of the Big Bend should also expect to see temperatures below 26 degrees for 2 to 5 hours.
Meteorologist Ray Hawthorne says to take some cold weather precautions. Cover your plants and allow pets to come indoors, if possible. It might also to drip water from your faucets to keep pipes from freezing.
If using a space heater, be sure it is a good distance from curtains and walls.


Bulgaria to Welcome Snowy Winter at Last
Winter arrives in Bulgaria at last on Friday, with significant weather changes in the weekend, meteorologists predict.
Code yellow has been declared in 5 regions in North Bulgaria due to snowfalls and black ice on Friday.
A snow-cover of some 20 cm is expected on Sunday in Central and South Bulgaria. Minimal temperatures will drop to -7,-2 degrees Celsius by next week.
Still, no drastically low temperatures are expected, meteorologists promise.
- » Heavy Snow, Rain Cause Chaos Throughout Bulgaria
- » Code Orange Issued in 17 Bulgarian Districts Over First Snow
- » Bulgaria's Osam, Vit Rivers Water Levels Increasing Due to Heavy Rains
- » 7 Districts under Code Orange Weather Alert for Heavy Rain, Strong Wind
- » Code Orange Issued in Seven Bulgarian Districts Over Heavy Rains, Wind
- » Code Red For High River Waters In Western, Central Bulgaria Issued


This kind of storm outbreak is not uncommon, but it is a little early
Buzz Weiss, Georgia Emergency Management Agency
Severe weather Wednesday night produced scattered damage across 13 counties in Georgia, damaging more than 100 buildings and killing a mobile home resident in Hancock County.
Buzz Weiss, spokesman for Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA), said damage from the storms was widespread. The storms hit metro Atlanta, as well as east central and southwest Georgia.
"We had at least 13 counties affected by the storms," Weiss said. "Another county that was hit hard (other than Hancock County) was Jasper County. They are reporting as many as 100 structures damaged."
Weiss said so far 16 injuries have been reported, but said that number could change as damage estimates continued on Thursday.
Weiss said these kinds of storms are not unexpected in Georgia.
"This kind of storm outbreak is not uncommon, but it is a little early," he said. "This is the third year in a row that we've had significant weather hit this early in the year."
Last year, a tornado hit downtown Atlanta on March 14. The storm hit during the SEC men's basketball tournament.
Ruben Brown, of the Metro Atlanta Red Cross, said they are working with state officials to get damage assessments done and will determine needs after those are done.
"In Newton County, there's a pocket of 20-25 homes that had damage," Brown said.
According to Brown, no shelters were opened as of Thursday afternoon.
"The damage is too widespread and sporadic, so there aren't big areas that have been impacted," he said.
For GEMA, those damage estimates were priority number one on Thursday.
One person died in Hancock County, Ga., after storms struck the state Wednesday night.
"There are reported tornadoes in a number of locations in southwest Georgia and south of metro Atlanta, but they are not confirmed at this time. The National Weather Service is doing damage surveys right now," Weiss said Thursday morning.
Hancock County residents told local media that Hickory Grove Missionary Baptist Church outside of Sparta, Ga., was destroyed in the storm.
More links on Severe Weather


Current Watches and Warnings
New Mexico, Roosevelt County
Flash Flood Watch
Statement as of 4:16 AM MDT on September 21, 2014
... Flash Flood Watch remains in effect through Monday evening...
The Flash Flood Watch continues for
* a portion of north and central New Mexico... including the
following areas... Central Highlands... Chaves County plains...
Curry County... De Baca County... eastern Lincoln County...
Guadalupe County... Quay County... Roosevelt County... San Francisco
River Valley... south central mountains... southwest Chaves County
and Southwest Mountains.
* Through Monday evening
* an upper level storm system over central California will track
slowly eastward today and pass through the central and southern
rockies Monday. Ahead of this system... an extended period of
moist low level east winds along with a tap of monsoon moisture
from Mexico is expected. The combination of these features will
lead to increased shower and thunderstorm activity and the
likelihood of heavy rainfall over the watch area.
* Locations which have received heavy rainfall recently will be
most susceptible to flash flooding. Other vulnerable locations
include poor drainage areas... steep terrain and burn scars such
as the Little Bear and Whitewater Baldy. Keep a watchful eye on
small streams and arroyos... and avoid flooded low water
A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to
flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation.
Monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should flash
flood warnings be issued.
- Arizona - Record Report
- Arkansas - Flood Warning
- California - Flash Flood Warning , Flash Flood Watch , Record Report , Public Information Statement
- Colorado - Flash Flood Warning , Areal Flood Advisory , Special Statement , Record Report , Public Information Statement
- Delaware - Special Statement
- Florida - Flood Warning
- Hawaii - Record Report
- Idaho - Air Quality Alert
- Illinois - Flood Warning
- Indiana - Public Information Statement
- Kansas - Public Information Statement
- Nebraska - Public Information Statement
- Nevada - Areal Flood Advisory, Flash Flood Watch , Flash Flood Watch , Record Report
- New Jersey - Special Statement
- New Mexico - Flash Flood Warning , Flash Flood Watch , Areal Flood Advisory, Flash Flood Watch
- North Carolina - Flood Advisory , Beach Hazard Statement , Special Statement
- Ohio - Coastal Hazard Statement
- Oregon - Record Report
- Pennsylvania - Coastal Hazard Statement , Special Statement
- Texas - Flood Warning , Flash Flood Warning , Flash Flood Warning , Flash Flood Watch , Areal Flood Advisory, Flash Flood Watch , Areal Flood Advisory , Areal Flood Watch , Dense Fog Advisory , Dense Fog Advisory , Hydrologic Statement , Public Information Statement
- Utah - Special Statement
- Virginia - Beach Hazard Statement , Special Statement
- Washington - Record Report
- West Virginia - Special Statement
- Wisconsin - Public Information Statement


This week we had a little snow.
It was mostly snow flurries, but the ground was
covered the next morning and with temps in the 20s.
If it snows in my area most everything shuts down since
we do not have the equipment to clear all the roads.
This week end the temps were back up in the 70s.
Who knows what it will be next week.
~ Cheryl ~


Severe tornadoes had been mercifully scarce over the past year. Sadly, folks in Oklahoma can't say that today.
The devastation and death toll are staggering after a half-mile-wide twister packing 200 mph winds tore through Moore, Okla., on Monday afternoon.
Some two dozen people, including nine children, were killed, and the toll could rise. Scores more were being treated at hospitals. Block after block of the Oklahoma City suburb lay in rubble from the strongest-category storm that meteorologists say packed more power than the atomic bomb that leveled Hiroshima.
Until the past week or so, the 2013 tornado season had been relatively quiet. This had been the longest the United States had gone into May without registering an EF1 or stronger tornado, the type that can cause damage, according to researchers at the National Severe Storms Laboratory.
But that ended when tornadoes claimed lives in Oklahoma and Texas over the past week.
This news should remind all of us living in Tornado Alley that these storms can and do strike at random and without mercy.
April 2011 saw 497 EF1 or stronger tornadoes, a record number and more than the next two highest months combined, according to the severe storms lab. From June 2010 through May 2011, there were 1,050 EF1 or stronger tornadoes, a record high for a 12-month period.
The Moore disaster also highlights two important factors surrounding these deadly storms — the importance of warnings beforehand and the certainty that neighbors will help in the aftermath.
After 30 years of testing and trials, the National Weather Service has made a $50 million radar upgrade that will double the information radar can glean from a storm. To make warnings of dangerous weather clearer and more convincing, the weather service also has beefed up and simplified the bulletins it issues. Tested last year in Kansas and Missouri, the testing was expanded this year to 12 more states, including Nebraska and Iowa. The change adds explicit descriptions of the damage expected and in an easier-to-read format.
But the warnings work only if they are taken seriously. When dangerous weather threatens, residents in a storm's path need to be alert to the changing weather and pay attention to the warnings, and they should have a family tornado plan in place so everyone knows where and how to take shelter quickly.
Disasters such as this one show again that neighbors and complete strangers will rally to help.
Some of the first to volunteer were from Joplin, Mo., itself the scene of the deadliest tornado in 60 years on May 22, 2011, a storm that claimed 158 lives. About a dozen public safety employees from Joplin quickly headed to Moore. “We remember the amount of assistance that we received following the tornado two years ago, and we want to help others as they helped us,” Joplin's city manager said. The Lincoln-based Nebraska Task Force One Urban Search and Rescue Team arrived in Moore on Tuesday.
Midlanders are no strangers to dangerous weather and have ably demonstrated their willingness to help whenever disaster strikes. There's a need again now.
While Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller issued a timely caution Tuesday about criminals who might try to take advantage of the caring, a number of legitimate nonprofit groups are collecting donations to assist the Oklahoma victims. Those include the American Red Cross and Salvation Army. Contact information for both have been published in The World-Herald and on Omaha.com.
As we've seen before, it's a safe prediction that many Midlands residents will step forward to help. It's a show of unity that links the neighbors in Tornado Alley.