While media attention has been drawn to Minot, North Dakota's flood the unfolding drought in Texas is a far more significant story. This month has been one of intense heat and drought across the state of Texas and, for this portion of the world, the worst on record. Although temperatures cooled off June 21-22 the heat ramped up again June 23-26. On June 26th Amarillo recorded its highest temperature on record (since 1892) with 111°. Dodge City, Kansas tied its all-time record with 110° (last seen on June 29, 1998). Dodge City has temperature records back to 1874. Yes, I said 1874 by the Signal Service. So this is one of the oldest records to be broken or tied in United States history. Some beneficial rain has fallen in the eastern part of Texas, but a drought of epic proportions continues in most other parts of Texas (and the east portion as well where precipitation remains around 25-30% of normal YTD) and adjoining regions of New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arizona and Mexico.
weatherhistorian, • 1:46 AM GMT on June 25, 2011
The Wallow Fire in Arizona and New Mexico has now become the largest in history for the southwestern United States with over 788 square miles (504,409 acres) charred so far, far surpassing the Rodeo-Chediski fire of 2002. It is now probably in the top ten largest single wild fires in U.S history (as of June 18th). I thought this an opportune time to look back and compare the magnitude of the fire with those in the past in both the United States and around the world.
weatherhistorian, • 5:15 AM GMT on June 17, 2011
Extreme weather highlights for this past May include the continuation of the unbelievable deadly and destructive tornado season in the U.S., record flooding along the lower Mississippi River, and flooding in other areas of the U.S. and Canada including Lake Champlain in the Northeast. Super Typhoon Songda made glancing blows in the Philippines and Japan. A rare powerful tornado killed two in Auckland, New Zealand.
weatherhistorian, • 4:01 AM GMT on June 09, 2011
With the Mississippi River now slowly receding from its record crest at the end of May a new major flood risk is developing along the Missouri River from Montana to Nebraska and snowmelt is likely to create significant flooding in many river valleys and lakes throughout the Rocky Mountain region.
weatherhistorian, • 9:16 PM GMT on June 02, 2011