EXTREME WEATHER ANOMALIES: Baked Alaska - The City Of Anchorage Breaks Heat Record, In Unusually Warm Summer?!

August 01, 2013 - ALASKA - Anchorage has set a record for the most consecutive days over 70 degrees during this unusually warm summer, while Fairbanks has tied its own seasonal heat record.

Kan Kil floats face-first in the cool waters of Campbell Creek, near Lake Otis Parkway, while beating the
heat on Tuesday, July 30, 2013. Anchorage broke a record on Tuesday for hitting 70 degrees or more
for the 14th straight day. (AP Photo/Anchorage Daily News, Bill Roth)

The National Weather Service said Alaska's largest city topped out at 70 degrees at 4 p.m. Tuesday, making it the 14th straight day the thermometer read 70 or higher.

That breaks a record of 13 straight days set in 2004. The record streak was extended to 15 days on Wednesday with a high of 72 degrees.

In Fairbanks, temperatures Wednesday reached 80 or higher for the 30th day this summer. This ties 2004 for the most 80-degree days in a year.

To put it in perspective, Fairbanks has an average of 11 days a summer when temperatures reach the 80-degree mark.

In this photo taken Monday, June 17, 2013, people swim and sunbathe at Goose Lake in Anchorage, Alaska.
Alaska's largest city and other parts of the state are experiencing a long stretch of higher than
normal temperatures. (AP Photo/Rachel D'Oro)

Alaska's second-largest city usually has three days a summer of 85 degrees or hotter. This year it's been 85 degrees or warmer on 12 days, breaking the record of 10 days that was set in 1987 and tied in 1990.

Temperatures are projected to cool off a bit this weekend into next week, but there's still no rain in the forecast. - TWC.

EXTREME WEATHER ANOMALIES: Baked Alaska - Unusual Heat Wave Hits 49th State; Highest Temperatures In NEARLY A CENTURY!

June 19, 2013 - ALASKA - A heat wave hitting Alaska may not rival the blazing heat of Phoenix or Las Vegas, but to residents of the 49th state, the days of hot weather feel like a stifling oven - or a tropical paradise.

With temperatures topping 80 degrees in Anchorage, and higher in other parts of the state, people have been sweltering in a place where few homes have air conditioning.

This photo taken Monday, June 17, 2013, shows people sunning at Goose Lake in Anchorage, Alaska. Parts of Alaska are setting high temperature records as a heat wave continues across Alaska. Temperatures are nothing like what Phoenix or Las Vegas gets, but temperatures in the 80s and 90s are hot for Alaska, where few buildings have air conditioning. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

They're sunbathing and swimming at local lakes, hosing down their dogs and cleaning out supplies of fans in at least one local hardware store. Mid-June normally brings high temperatures in the 60s in Anchorage, and just a month ago, it was still snowing.

The weather feels like anywhere but Alaska to 18-year-old Jordan Rollison, who was sunbathing with three friends and several hundred others lolling at the beach of Anchorage's Goose Lake.

"I love it, I love it," Rollison said. "I've never seen a summer like this, ever."

State health officials even took the unusual step of posting a Facebook message reminding people to slather on the sunscreen.

Some people aren't so thrilled, complaining that it's just too hot.

"It's almost unbearable to me," said Lorraine Roehl, who has lived in Anchorage for two years after moving here from the community of Sand Point in Alaska's Aleutian Islands. "I don't like being hot. I'm used to cool ocean breeze."

Liz Gobeski soaks up the sun on the beach at Point Woronzof as a Polar Air Cargo jet comes in for a landing at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport as the temperature reached into the 80's in Anchorage, AK on Tuesday, June 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Anchorage Daily News, Bob Hallinen)

On Tuesday, the official afternoon high in Anchorage was 81 degrees, breaking the city's record of 80 set in 1926 for that date.

Other smaller communities throughout a wide swath of the state are seeing even higher temperatures.

All-time highs were recorded elsewhere, including 96 degrees on Monday 80 miles to the north in the small community of Talkeetna, purported to be the inspiration for the town in the TV series, "Northern Exposure" and the last stop for climbers heading to Mount McKinley, North America's tallest mountain. One unofficial reading taken at a lodge near Talkeetna even measured 98 degrees, which would tie the highest undisputed temperature recorded in Alaska.

That record was set in 1969, according to Jeff Masters, meteorology director of the online forecasting service Weather Underground.

"This is the hottest heat wave in Alaska since '69," he said. "You're way, way from normal."

It's also been really hot for a while. The city had six days over 70 degrees, then hit a high of 68 last Thursday, followed by five more days of 70-plus.

The city's record of consecutive days with temperatures of 70 or above was 13 days recorded in 1953, said Eddie Zingone, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service who has lived in the Anchorage area for 17 years.

The heat wave also comes after a few cooler summers - the last time it officially hit the 80 mark in Anchorage was 2009. Plus, Tuesday marked exactly one month that the city's last snow of the season fell, said Zingone, who has lived in Anchorage for 18 years.

In this photo taken Monday, June 17, 2013, people swim and sunbathe at Goose Lake in Anchorage, Alaska. Alaska's largest city and other parts of the state are experiencing a long stretch of higher than normal temperatures. (AP Photo/Rachel D'Oro)

"Within a month you have that big of a change, it definitely seems very, very hot," he said. "It was a very quick warm-up."

With the heat comes an invasion of mosquitoes many are calling the worst they've ever seen. At the True Value Hardware store, people have grabbed up five times the usual amount of mosquito warfare supplies, said store owner Tim Craig. The store shelves also are bare of fans, which is unusual, he said.

"Those are two hot items, so to speak," he said.

WATCH: Unusual Heat Wave in Alaska.

Greg Wilkinson, a spokesman with the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, said it's gotten up to 84 degrees at his home in the Anchorage suburb of Eagle River, where a tall glass front lets the sunlight filter through.

"And that's with all the windows open and a fan going," he said. "We're just not used to it. Our homes aren't built for it."

Love or hate the unusual heat, it'll all be over soon.

Weather forecasters say a high pressure system that has locked the region in clear skies and baking temperatures has shifted and Wednesday should be the start of a cooling trend, although slightly lower temperatures in the 70s are still expected to loiter into the weekend. - AP.

MASS FISH DIE-OFF: Several Hundred Fish Found Dead On The Banks Of De Queen Lake In Arkansas - Fish Biologists Say Spawning Stress Created By "Crazy Weather" Is The Cause?!

May 27, 2013 - UNITED STATES - Fish biologists say spawning stress created by "crazy weather" is the cause of the deaths of several hundred crappie in De Queen Lake in southwestern Arkansas.

File Photo.

A fish kill was reported to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission on April 21, when crappie were dying on the banks of the lake, Southwest Region District 7 Supervisor Eric Brinkman told the Texarkana Gazette (http://bit.ly/14T6ORW ) for a story published Sunday.

"It was spawning stress. They were spawning during the crazy weather pattern where it was hot and then a period of cold. It was uncommon only crappie were dying this early in spring. It was spawning stress and a secondary infection," Brinkman said.

"Fish kills are not uncommon for crappie. This was unusual for being early in the spring," Brinkman said.

Brinkman said a fish pathologist needed to analyze crappie in the process of dying — not dead ones — so it caused a delay in finding out why the fish died.

"We finally found enough crappie dying so we could examine them," he said.

What they found, Brinkman said, was an infection: "It was a fungal infection on the gills leading to the deaths. It was such a severe infection, and they were not able to breathe while spawning."

Brinkman estimated the number of dead crappie, a popular fish among anglers, to be several hundred. He said there is no concern about the safety for human consumption of those that are being caught from the lake.
Fishermen who notice a fish kill should contact the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission at the Hope office, (870) 777-5580, or the state headquarters in Little Rock at (800) 364-4263. - The Republic.

EXTREME WEATHER: Deadly and Intense Heat Wave Spreads Across India - Unofficial Reports of 41 Deaths?!

A heat wave across parts of India, most notably the northeast, has turned deadly.

Unofficial reports have indicated that as many as 41 people have passed away from heat-related illness during the heat wave; however, the Indian government has only confirmed two deaths at this point.  The worst of the heat wave has been felt across Odisha, while Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh have also felt the effects of this latest heat wave, which include power shortages.  The high temperature averaged 45 C across Odisha on Friday, marking the highest average of the year to this point. The high temperature reached 46.5 C in Titilagarah. 

The heat continued on Saturday with many locations once again averaging 44 to 46 C during the hottest time of the day.  A building ridge of high pressure is the culprit behind the heat wave and unfortunately it is not expected to weaken anytime soon. No storm systems approaching the region will allow the ridge to continue to build and bring unrelenting heat to northeast India through at least the middle of next week. - Accu Weather.

EXTREME WEATHER: "The Critical Decade" - Heat Waves, Bushfires Predicted to Hammer New South Wales, Australia!

The Climate Commission has released a report predicting record heatwaves, bushfires and rising sea levels in New South Wales because of climate change.  The report says the temperature in Sydney tops 35 degrees on just three days a year, but based on climate modelling, it will be 14 days per year by the end of the century.  Federal Climate Commissioner Professor Lesley Hughes says western Sydney is getting disproportionally hotter and drier than the rest of Sydney.

Image from a wildfire at Ourimbah on the New South Wales central coast in 2010, that killed eight people.

"If we compare western Sydney with the rest of Sydney, the number of hot days in western Sydney used to be three times as many as eastern Sydney, and now it's four times," she said.  "So what we are seeing is not only rising temperatures but some parts of the country are getting disproportionally hotter."  The report, part of the Commission's series titled "The Critical Decade", predicts by century's end that sea-levels will rise by 1.1 metres, putting more than 40,000 New South Wales homes and 250 kilometres of highway at risk.  Particularly vulnerable areas include Lake Macquarie and Wollongong.  Professor Hughes says there will also be more bushfires.  "The number of very high fire danger days could increase by over 20 per cent by 2020, by up to 70 per cent by 2070," she said.  Chief climate commissioner Tim Flannery says some of the negative impacts of warmer weather in Sydney's west are not immediately obvious.  "What happens when we get these very, very hot days is that elderly people and the very young particularly are vulnerable and people get a little bit confused because they're heat stressed," he said.  "People get angry as well, particularly if you're sitting in a traffic jam and it's stinking hot outside." 

But Professor Hughes does say New South Wales is well-placed to capitalise on the trend towards clean energy, citing the state's uptake of solar panels.  A climate scientist with the University of Newcastle, Stewart Franks, has questioned the tone of the report, saying it tends towards scare mongering.  "The whole thrust of the report is what the climate's going to be, going into the future," he said.  "Now unfortunately, we know that the climate models that are used to actually do that job actually don't represent key modes of climate which are very important.  "I'm thinking specifically things like El Nino and La Nina."  Professor Tim Flannery says the report is not political.  "The job is to provide the best quality information we can from a scientific perspective," he said.  Greens Senator Christine Milne says the climate science is clear.  "Every report that comes out anywhere in the world has shown that climate change is accelerating," she says.  "It is time for those people who deny the science of climate change to just get out of the way."  Federal Opposition climate change spokesman Greg Hunt says he respects the science.  "There's a significant issue here, although many of the claims attributed to it have not always been entirely accurate," he said. "The dams were predicted to be empty rather than full by now, so everybody needs a little bit of humility." - 7 News.

EXTREME WEATHER: The US, China, and India Risk Severe Water Shortages!

Research by the risk analysts Maplecroft has found that three global superpowers have vast regions that are at risk of drought as an unsustainable rate of water use is outstripping supply. The US, China, and India risk negative impacts on businesses and agriculture which could undermine economic growth.

“Of the 168 countries covered by the newly released Water Stress Index, India, China and the US rank 34, 50 and 61 respectively in the list, while Middle-Eastern and North African nations make up the top 10.” Businessgreen.com. The lack of water could heavily affect agriculture, industry, and the domestic sector in a manner that could cause global inflation of supply chains and food prices. The US already has large areas that are suffering from low levels ground water supplies. States such as Arizona, California, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Texas are considered to be at ‘high’ or ‘extreme’ risk of water shortages.

The Ogallala Aquifer supplies the majority of these high risk states, supporting about 15 percent of national corn and wheat production, and 25 percent of the cotton production, and is currently being depleted faster than it can be refilled, leaving some to fear that fresh water could run out in the region in the not too distant future. India also face a similar problem, where vast regions of the country, some of the most important agricultural land, are facing ‘extreme’ water shortages, causing dry wells and land subsidence. Alyson Warhurst, chief executive of Maplecroft, warns that businesses must come up with a plan to deal with water shortages across their operations or face potential losses. - Oil Price.

EXTREME WEATHER: Britain's Environmental Agency - Devastating Drought in England Could Last Beyond Christmas!

A drought affecting parts of England could last until after Christmas, Britain's environment agency warned on Monday, as rain over the spring and summer is unlikely to replenish low water levels.

A warning sign is seen a distance from the water's edge at Bewl Reservoir near
Lamberhurst in south-east England April 5, 2012.

In a country more usually associated with damp and drizzle, drought has been declared in seventeen counties in England's southeast and central regions, after two dry winters left rivers and ground waters depleted.  Although public water supplies in these areas are unlikely to be affected, the lack of rain is taking its toll on the environment and farmers, causing problems for wildlife, wetlands and crop production, the agency said in a statement.  "A longer term drought, lasting until Christmas and perhaps beyond, now looks more likely and we are working with businesses, farmers and water companies to plan ahead to meet the challenges of a continued drought," said Trevor Bishop, head of water resources at the Environment Agency.  Bishop urged the British public to conserve water supplies.  Images of umbrella-touting spectators at the often sodden summer tennis championship Wimbledon have reinforced Britain's image as a rainy country. 

In fact, Germany, Italy, Slovenia and other European countries have higher average annual rainfall than Britain.  The impact of climate change on rainfall patterns is hard to predict - but it could mean more intense bursts of rain in summer and longer wet periods in winter.  Hotter summers are also more likely, however, leading to droughts. Dry and compacted ground due to drought also means that there is a greater risk of flash flooding if there is heavy rainfall. Due to these extremes, the government is preparing a national adaptation plan which should be published next year.  UK-government funded research showed in January that flooding was the biggest climate risk facing the UK in the future.  Experts are now hoping for a steady rainy winter in 2012 and 2013 to replenish Britain's rivers and ground waters, but the Environment Agency is working with the water industry to put plans in place now to deal with the prospect of a third dry winter.  Water companies are looking at where they may be able to get more water, options to share water and how they can reduce leakage further, the agency said.  The agency said it was working to help farmers top up their storage reservoirs and has introduced a process for the agricultural sector to take additional water when river flows are high. - Reuters.

EXTREME WEATHER: Record-Breaking Drought Grips the United Kingdom - Over 20 Million Affected; Draconian Water Restrictions Implemented!

Twenty million people in the South and East of England awoke to the first day of a hosepipe ban this morning, as emergency drought measures imposed by seven water companies came into effect. From midnight, people in the South and East risk fines of up to £1,000 for using a hose for all but a few exempted activities. Two consecutive dry winters have taken their toll on the South's reservoirs and groundwater levels, leading to severe drought conditions that are expected to last all of spring and summer. It may be many months before gardeners can turn the sprinklers back on.

Although rain is now falling across much of the South-east – and other parts of the country have even seen heavy snow – the Environment Agency has warned that it is now unlikely that groundwater levels can be replenished in time to avoid a long-lasting drought that will impact on both people and the environment.  For two years in some parts of the country, reservoirs and the underground water sources that supply the country's water have not been replenishing fast enough to keep up with demand. In Bewl in Kent and Ardingly in West Sussex reservoirs have had to be refilled from already-depleted rivers. Water levels are below normal at most of the UK's reservoirs and some are reported to be at half-capacity.  Thames Water, Anglian Water, South East Water, Veolia Water Central and South East – which service London and much of the South-east – and Sutton and East Surrey Water, are all imposing "temporary-use" bans on hosepipes. The ban applies only to domestic activity, meaning that hoses used for farming, commercial cleaning and watering sports grounds for national and international events will not be subject to restrictions.  Water companies insist that the ban will be "self-policing", but penalties can still be enforced under law and neighbours will be able to report violations to their water company.  In some areas, "yellow-card" letters will be sent out to people known to be defying the ban, followed by a visit from officials before a prosecution will be sought. A third of people responding to a survey on HosepipeBan.org.uk, a web forum, said they would report a neighbour using a hose. In another survey on the site, another third of people said they would defy the ban altogether.


Richard Aylard, Thames Water's sustainability director, said that a ban now would limit the likelihood of further restrictions in the future and urged customers to co-operate. "After two such dry years we have to prioritise the most important uses of water. That means keeping everyone's kitchen and bathroom taps supplied has to take precedence over manicured lawns," he said.  Gardeners are already investing in equipment to help them through what may be a long dry summer. B and Q reported that sales of water butts were up 196 per cent compared with this time last year. Garden centres are expecting increased interest in drought-resistant plants such as lavender and bergenia.  The ban could be adopted by other water areas if the drought continues. This week, drought conditions spread to parts of Yorkshire, and Wales, the South-west and the Midlands are also under threat. The last time a widespread hosepipe ban came into force, in 2006, it lasted until January of the following year in some areas. It has been this dry only four times in the past 101 years. This year's drought has been exacerbated by the sunniest March since 1929, but it is still unclear how bad this year will be.  While the impact on domestic water supplies is likely to be limited to the hosepipe ban, the impact on the agriculture and the environment could be much more severe. Fruit, vegetable and salad crops in the South of England could be severely affected if drought restrictions on irrigation are enforced.  In rivers, ponds and lakes, levels are becoming so low that a number of wetland species may die or be unable to breed, while many water sources may have dried up before aquatic insects, a key part of wetland ecosystems, have fully formed. - Independent.

WATCH: Record-breaking drought in the UK.

MONUMENTAL EARTH CHANGES: Extreme Drought in the United Kingdom - Rivers Run Dry Across the Country; Worst Drought in 30 Years; Public Restricted to 4 Minutes in the Shower!

The south east of England is now officially in a state of drought, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said today. Some rivers and groundwater levels are lower than during the drought of 1976. People are being urged to cut down on the amount of water they use, from taking four-minute showers which they can clock using egg-timers being posted to households and turning off the tap while brushing teeth.

In the South East, Ardingly reservoir in West Sussex and Bewl in Kent are around two-fifths of their normal levels, according to the Environment Agency. Southern Water has applied for a drought permit to help refill Bewl reservoir, while late last year South East Water was granted a drought order to help refill Ardingly. Anglian Water has also been issued with two drought permits to refill two of its reservoirs. Speaking after today’s drought meeting at Defra, Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said: 'Ensuring we have enough water this summer is vitally important, and that is why I called the summit today. 'Drought is already an issue this year with the South East, Anglia and other parts of the UK now officially in drought, and more areas are likely to be affected as we continue to experience a prolonged period of very low rainfall. 'It is not just the responsibility of Government, water companies and businesses to act against drought. 'We are asking for the help of everyone by urging them to use less water and to start now.' Thames Water said hosepipe bans were ‘likely’ in the next few months and has urged its 8.8million customers to spend less time in the shower and to turn off the tap while brushing their teeth. They urged them to use water-saving gadgets and Anglian Water and South East Water have been handing out free shower timers giving people just four minutes under the water. The company's sustainability director Richard Aylard said: 'None of us know how much rain we’re going to get this year, so to plan for the worst and hope for the best is a very sensible move. 'Much of south-east England already has got a drought situation.

'The worrying thing is we’ve had such little rain the groundwater stores that we rely on to keep the rivers flowing are very low. 'Things are going to get worse unless we have significant rainfall over the next couple of months.' A recent survey of Thames Water customers revealed that almost half (45 per cent) thought it was unlikely or very unlikely the region would face a drought this year - but that two-thirds accepted they could save water if there were shortages. Mr Aylard urged people to think about how much water they use. He added: 'There is a high chance we will need restrictions at some stage this summer unless either we get a lot of rain or fantastic co-operation from customers using less water.' Thames Water says people can save water with simple measures, such as turning off the tap while cleaning their teeth or taking shorter showers, fixing leaks and only washing full loads of laundry. The dry winter follows a balmy autumn in 2010, which was the second warmest on record. Resources could be stretched further this year if the dry spell continues into spring, especially in the South East, where the Environment Agency says the risk of drought is now the highest in the country. Meyrick Gough, Water Strategy Manager for Southern Water, said the application is a precautionary measure, which would conserve water in the reservoir and help to secure supplies. ‘We have applied for this permit now because taking water in winter is less likely to have any impact on the environment,’ he said. - Daily Mail.

EXTREME WEATHER: Rivers in England to be Linked to Ease Drought - Officials Bracing For One of the Worst Droughts on Record!

Surplus water from rivers and underground sources in the Midlands, Cotswolds and even Wales could be pumped through pipelines or into canals to carry vital supplies to areas facing water shortages, according to the plans. Among the most ambitious schemes being considered is a connection between the River Severn and the River Thames, which would carry up to 65 million gallons of water per day to top up supplies to 14 million households in the region.

The River Severn in Gloucestershire.

Higher rainfall levels on the west of the country – and a lower population making use of the water – means the River Severn usually has three times the flow of the Thames. Engineering consultants for Thames Water are currently assessing a number of options to link the two rivers. Among the favoured options would be a £250 million upgrade for a system of canals to carry the water 36 miles past Stroud and Cirencester into the Thames. A pipeline running from the River Severn through Cheltenham and past Oxford is a second option, while supplies could be further bolstered by connecting the River Wye and the Craig Goch reservoir in Wales to the scheme. Severn Trent Water has also begun work on plans to transfer 6.5 million gallons of water a day from boreholes in Birmingham to Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, 80 miles away. The company says the scheme could provide enough water for 100,000 homes and can be in place by the summer to help relieve the drought crisis. It has also proposed building interconnects to link its water pipe network with neighbouring regions.

Both Thames Water and Anglian Water are among seven water companies in southern and eastern England that have announced bans after dry winter weather over the past two years have left reservoirs, aquifers and rivers well below normal levels. Last week parts of Yorkshire were officially declared to be in drought and river levels in many parts of the country are now at their lowest level since 1976. There were also warnings that the West Midlands and south-west England could also slip into drought without substantial rainfall. Officials at the Environment Agency said the water industry was now bracing itself for one of the worst droughts on record. Trevor Bishop, head of water resources at the Environment Agency, said: "Water companies are starting to plan to see if there are any prudent actions that can be taken, which include further transfers of water between companies and even from river basin to river basin. "Water takes a lot of energy to transfer, so it won't be something that happens every day, but it can be very useful for meeting drought demands. There are risks, however, such as transferring invasive species and changing river chemistry, so we have to weigh this up." The scheme to transfer water from the Severn to the Thames is currently being examined by engineers, who hope it will secure water supplies for one of the most densely populated parts of the country. - Telegraph.

EXTREME WEATHER: England Grapples With the Worst Drought in 30 Years!

Dry times in southeastern England are seasoned with the favorite flavors of leaders in the arid American West: drought declarations, water restrictions, a desalination plant, and talk of piping “surplus” water to the south. Because of two consecutive dry winters, the driest six months on record in the eastern region, and the arrival of warmer weather, much of England should remain mired in a severe drought for the spring and summer, according to a forecast released on March 13 by the United Kingdom’s Environment Agency.

The cumulative effect of nearly 18 months of low precipitation in the south and east of England has prompted water utilities to restrict outdoor water use and has already caused a few streams to dry up this winter, when flows are usually highest. If the spring is drier than normal, as the agency predicts, water restrictions for agriculture will affect food production, and fodder for livestock will become scarce and expensive. Taken together, these circumstances are a harbinger. In February, Caroline Spelman, the environment minister, told the National Union of Farmers that a drier climate for England “may be the new norm,” according to the Guardian. Earlier that month, Spelman had convened a drought “summit,” where policymakers, environmental groups, water utilities, and farmers discussed what actions to take during England’s worst drought in more than 30 years. The minister’s assertions about new climate norms are backed up by government climate models. For the east and south of England, the Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs predicts an increase in winter precipitation, but a corresponding decrease in summer rainfall, when water demand is greatest. These findings were used recently in a study released earlier this year from ratings agency Standard and Poor’s.

The study — done in collaboration with TruCost, a group that analyzes environmental risk, and the Global Sustainability Institute at Anglia Ruskin University — found that, because of climate change and population growth, water shortages are likely in eastern England in the next two decades. The heart of the S and P report looked at how these changes will affect water and power companies. Electric utilities, most notably, will see costs rise because of scarcer processing water, higher maintenance costs, and operations curtailed by low water levels in rivers. Companies could also face political risks from changes to water withdrawal permits. The extent of these cost increases depends on future water availability and on the water-intensity of power generation. Neither EDF Energy nor RWE npower — two electric utilities in the east — have had operations affected by the drought, according to their media relations staff. Yet skimpy river flows, and myriad other environmental changes, are already apparent. Most of the rivers in drought-affected areas are “notably or exceptionally low” for this time of year, the Environment Agency noted in its report. The agency used the same language to classify groundwater levels for most of England. Soils are extremely dry as well, and many wetlands are at risk of desiccation, putting wildlife that depends on the boggy areas at risk. With the rainy season ending, there is little chance for these systems to be recharged in the coming months. - COB.

EXTREME WEATHER: Blazing Hot Britain - Soaring Temperatures and "Tinder Box-Dry" Conditions Spark Wildfires Across Countryside as Drought Spreads!

A fireman marches through the still smouldering trees and darkly scorched earth in a scene reminiscent of the aftermath of an Australian bush fire. Elsewhere, flames and billowing smoke rise from what looks like a battlefield and paint the night sky. These extraordinary pictures tell the story of a nation in the grip of drought yesterday – Britain’s hottest day of the year so far – when the tinder-dry conditions suddenly erupted in a series of wildfires.

The devastation comes as the Environment Agency today declared more areas as being officially in drought, following another dry month which has hit rivers and groundwater supplies. In Newport, South Wales, flames raged across 15 acres of scrubland, coming just yards from homes. Terrified residents were forced to use garden  hose pipes to keep away the blaze, which at times licked their properties. Firemen battled for more than five hours to control the fire, which is believed to have been started by arsonists near a children’s park. Another blaze raged yesterday over 17 acres of the 500-acre Brookwood Cemetery near Woking, Surrey, where more than 235,000 people have been buried since 1854. More than 40 firefighters tackled the flames as fire chiefs warned that the lack of rain and tinder box dry conditions in the South East were the 'perfect recipe' for wildfires. A Surrey Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said today that no properties were affected by the blaze, which was brought under control by around 4pm, two hours after it started. He could not comment on the amount of damage caused to the cemetery - the largest in Britain - and the cause of the fire is unknown. Six fire engines, a water tanker and specialist off-road vehicles were drafted in to attack the flames from different areas, the fire service said.

Fire service area manager Alan Clark said wildfires were notoriously difficult to control, adding: 'These fires cause devastation to the countryside, wildlife and property. 'They pose a risk to life, both to the public and the firefighters tackling these blazes.' Each year, there are around 79,000 wildfires in the UK - an average of 216 per day. Brookwood Cemetery was consecrated by the Bishop of Winchester on November 7, 1854, and opened to the public six days later. At the time, it was believed to be the largest burial ground in the world. Surrey County Council leader David Hodge said: 'These blazes can start for all sorts of reasons. A moment of carelessness could result in devastation to the countryside and lives being put at risk.' As temperatures hit 23c (73f) yesterday, a third fire broke out at St Mary’s Loch in the Scottish borders, destroying more than 100 acres. Crews battled for more than 12 hours to put it out. Meanwhile, firefighters were returning to the hills above Harrogate, North Yorkshire, today after they spent yesterday afternoon tackling a large moor fire. Crews from as far away as Tadcaster and neighbouring West Yorkshire were brought in to tackle the blaze on Hanging Moor, above the village of Thruscross, shortly before 2pm. - Daily Mail.

The drought which has hit rivers and groundwater supplies is spreading throughout England, the Environment Agency has said.  Swathes of east and south Yorkshire from Chesterfield up to Scarborough are officially suffering from drought, with areas around Sheffield, Doncaster, Hull and Driffield affected.  The areas join the South East and eastern England in drought, most of which has been affected since earlier this year, although parts of East Anglia have been suffering since last summer.  Earlier this month seven water companies across eastern and southern England announced hosepipe bans would come into force before Easter in a bid to conserve water supplies in the face of two unusually dry winters. - SKY News.

Rescue teams have been forced to step in to save thousands of fish languishing in a rapidly shrinking stretch of water.  Under the ambitious plan, the fish are being removed from the six-mile Maxey Cut, which runs between Peterborough and Market Deeping, in Lincolnshire.  Low rainfall and two dry winters in a row have resulted in ‘exceptionally low’ river flows in the area, the Environment Agency said.  As Britain faces its worst drought for 30 years, the fish – which include chub, pike and sea trout – are at risk of being the latest victims of the dwindling water levels taking their toll on wildlife. - Daily Mail.

MONUMENTAL EARTH CHANGES: UN's Weather Agency - 2001-2010 Was the Warmest Decade on Record!

Climate change has accelerated in the past decade, the U.N. weather agency said Friday, releasing data showing that 2001 to 2010 was the warmest decade on record.

The 10-year period was also marked by extreme levels of rain or snowfall, leading to significant flooding on all continents, while droughts affected parts of East Africa and North America. “The decade 2001-2010 was the warmest since records began in 1850, with global land and sea surface temperatures estimated at 0.46 degrees Celsius above the long term average of 14.0 degrees Celsius (57.2 degrees Fahrenheit),” said the World Meteorological Organization. Nine of the 10 years also counted among the 10 warmest on record, it added, noting that “climate change accelerated” during the first decade of the 21st century. The trend continued in 2011, which was the warmest year on record despite La Nina—a weather pattern which has a cooling effect. The average temperature in 2011 was 0.40 degrees Celsius above the long term average, said the WMO.

“This 2011 annual assessment confirms the findings of the previous WMO annual statements that climate change is happening now and is not some distant future threat,” said WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud. “The world is warming because of human activities and this is resulting in far-reaching and potentially irreversible impacts on our Earth, atmosphere and oceans,” he added. The U.N. weather agency noted that during the decade, “numerous weather and climate extremes affected almost every part of the globe with flooding, droughts, cyclones, heat waves and cold waves.” Historical floods hit Eastern Europe in 2001 and 2005, Africa in 2008, Asia and Australia in 2010.Global precipitation—including rain or snow—reached the second highest average since 1901. The highest average was recorded for the decade 1951-1960. Meanwhile for the North Atlantic basin, the 10 years marked the highest level of tropical cyclone activity, including Hurricane Katrina which struck the United States in 2005 and Cyclone Nargis which hit Myanmar in 2008. - Japan Today.

WEATHER ANOMALIES: Manitoba Heat Melts More Weather Records - The Warmest Temperature In Several Areas Since 1959!

A spring-like heat wave is melting what remains of winter across southern Manitoba, breaking even more weather records on Sunday.

It was 20 C in Winnipeg as of 1 p.m. CT on Sunday, well above Environment Canada's previous record high for this day - 8.8 C - that was set in 2000. In Brandon, the previous record for warmest temperature on this day was 8.9 C, set in 1959. It was 15 C in the Wheat City early Sunday afternoon, according to Environment Canada. A similar record was broken in Portage la Prairie, Man., where the previous record high was 10.2 C in 1991. It was 15 C on Sunday afternoon, with the mercury expected to reach 23 C.

It was a little cooler in Dauphin, Man., at 8 C as of 1 p.m., but it's still above the previous record high of -6.9 C that was set last year. Environment Canada is forecasting a daytime high in Dauphin of 16 C on Sunday. RCMP issued a warning on Sunday to avoid going on the Red and Assiniboine rivers due to "unsafe ice conditions." Police say ice fishing on the rivers, especially in the Lockport area, is not advised. Even with the current record-busting temperatures, it's officially still winter - the first day of spring is on Tuesday. - Yahoo.

WEATHER ANOMALIES: Record-Breaking Warm Weather Advances Beginning of Growing Season!

Recent abnormally warm weather has resulted in a very early start to the growing season across the Great Lakes Region and much of the central and eastern USA. The trend towards warmer than normal conditions is not new, with above normal mean temperatures observed across Michigan during much of the period back to the middle of last November. The winter of 2011-2012 (December through February) was the fourth mildest on record.

Projected weather conditions at approximately 5,000 feet above sea level, 8 p.m. on Monday March 19, 2012.
Color contours depict temperature (°C) while winds are expressed in arrow/vector form on grid points in white
(direction of arrow indicates direction, length of arrow depicts velocity). Solid white lines depict general
pressure pattern and air flow.

The prolonged warm spell is the result of a very persistent jet stream configuration across North America that generally prevented cold, arctic-origin air masses from moving out of their high-latitude source regions southward into the central and eastern USA. This left the area under the influence of relatively mild Pacific-origin air masses. The current jet stream pattern, with deep troughing across the western USA and ridging across the east has accentuated the pattern. The result is record-breaking warmth brought northward from the Gulf States on southerly winds.

Looking like a record-breaking March

Characterizing the current warm spell as highly unusual is an understatement, both due to the magnitude of the warmth (recent high temperatures have exceeded 70ºF over many areas of the state) and due to its length. For climatological comparison, normal high temperatures during the third week of March range from the mid-30s far north to the middle to upper 40s south with lows from the mid-teens north to the upper 20s south. Thus, recent temperatures have been running in the range of 20 to 30°F or more above normal. Short- and medium-range forecast guidance strongly suggests a general continuation of the current pattern with warmer and possibly wetter than normal weather likely through the end of the month. A map depicting forecast conditions across North America early next week is given in Figure 1. The upper air trough over western sections of the country, ridging across the Midwest and east, and strong southerly flow all suggest maximum temperatures into the 60s and 70s statewide through at least the middle of next week. Use of the latest forecast information suggests at least the potential for mean temperatures this March to exceed the existing record (1945 in most locations) for warmest on record in the state.

Base 50ºF growing degree accumulations during the ten warmest Marches on record at Benton Harbor, Mich., plus the current month are shown in Figure 2. A projection of accumulations through the end of March 2012 data was obtained with temperature forecasts from latest short- and medium-range National Weather Service forecast guidance, including the assumption that mean temperatures during the last week of the month averaged 10ºF above normal. With these assumptions, the GDD total by the end of the month exceeds 200 units as well as the old historical record of 146 set in 1945 and the normal value of 45. The abnormal warmth already has or will shortly bring most perennial crops and vegetation out of their protective dormant states. Given that this is taking place at least two full weeks or more ahead of normal, and that the relative susceptibility of plant tissue to frost and cold damage generally increases with increasing growth stage, there is an overall elevated risk of cold injury this spring season. - Cattle Network.

EXTREME WEATHER: The Australian Weather Anomalies Continue - Perth Swelters Through Record Heatwaves as an Emergency Warning Has Been Issued for WA Bushfire!

Perth is sweltering through the eighth heatwave of the summer and autumn seasons, the first time such an event has happened since records started being kept in 1897.

The Bureau of Meteorology defines a heatwave as three consecutive days at or above 35 degrees Celsius. In the summer and autumn of 1977/78, Perth sweltered through seven heatwaves. It is also only the second time in recorded history there have been two heatwaves in Perth in March. The last time was in 1988. Another hot day is forecast for tomorrow with a maximum of 37 degrees. It is expected to cool down to the low 30s for the remainder of the week. - Yahoo.

Meanwhile, a fierce bushfire is threatening lives and homes in Western Australia's southwest, with authorities warning residents that they need to "act immediately to survive".

The Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) has issued an emergency warning for people northwest of Ellis Creek plantation in the area north, east, south and west of the Nannup-Balingup Rd from Wrights Bridge, east of Cundinup Rd, south of the Cundinup-Kirup Rd and north of Agg Rd in the Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup. "You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. There is a threat to lives and homes," the FESA statement said. Residents have been warned to leave now for a safer place if the way is clear, or be ready to defend their homes. - Herald Sun.

EXTREME WEATHER: Above-Normal Temperatures - Portland, Maine, Hits Record-Breaking 60 Degrees!

The calendar still says winter, but Maine is experiencing spring-like weather.

The National Weather Service says the temperature climbed to 60 degrees Thursday afternoon in Portland. The high for the date was 56, set two years ago.

Meteorologist Tom Hawley says the forecast calls for above-normal temperatures for the next two weeks, meaning winter weather is effectively over for the season.

Portland stands at 49.8 inches of snow for the season. That's about 6 inches below normal, and it would've been lower without the early Halloween storm.

But winter weather remains a possibility after the balmy stretch. Portland saw 10 inches of snow during an April Fool's storm last year. - Fosters.

YO-YO WEATHER: Above-Normal Temperatures - Record-Breaking High 11.7 C in Ottawa!

Think of it as yo-yo weather. After Wednesday’s record-breaking 11.7 degrees C, it’s back to more normal seasonal temperatures later Thursday as a mass of cold Arctic air descends on the region.

To be sure, you can be forgiven for thinking — hoping? — spring had arrived with Wednesday’s record-breaker, which topped the previous record of 11.1 C in 1974. Indeed, after the -19.7 C temperature on Tuesday morning, it was hard not to think spring had sprung. But keep the scarf and toque handy, and even an umbrella. The predicted high Thursday is 7 C, but when the colder air arrives in the afternoon, temperatures will start to fall back to the 3 C range and then continue to drop overnight into the sub-zero zone on Friday. There’s also a 40-per-cent chance of showers throughout the day, which will end later in the evening. Environment Canada meteorologists are predicting a high for Friday of 0 C, with mostly sunshine. Overnight, though, the temperature will fall to -8 C. But then it will bounce back to 5 C on Saturday, only to plummet once again to -13 C over overnight. A mix of sun and cloud is expected for both days.

“What you’re getting is traditional March weather,” said Environment Canada meteorologists Geoff Coulson. “You’re seeing a struggle between two competing air masses — cold air coming down from the Arctic and warmer moist air coming up from the American Deep South. When these (air masses) collide you have to be prepared for extreme variations in temperature.” So it seems. The normal highs and lows for this time of year are in the range of 1 C and -10 C. However, next week — just in time for March break — the meteorologists forecast a bounty of that warm southern air will likely push temperatures to above average highs of 11 C, 8 C, and 8 C respectively on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. In other words, it’ll be spring time in Ottawa. Or, as Peter Kimball, another Environment Canada meteorologist, puts it: “Given that our seasonal forecast is indicating above-average temperatures, there is a good chance that we may have an early spring.” - Ottawa Citizen.

MONUMENTAL EARTH CHANGES: The Biggest Single Day March Temperature Surge in 36 Years in Chicago - Tuesday Temperatures Reach 68 Degrees, a Reading More Typical of May?!

Tuesday's surging temperatures in Chicago, which roared 31-degrees past Monday's 37-degree high, produced warming equivalent to the change of temperature which takes place in normal highs here from Feb. 19 to May 8!  It was like changing from winter to spring in a day---and it was welcomed by Chicagoans with open arms, despite the 50 mph wind gusts which accompanied it.

A comparable one day March temperature increase hadn't occurred in Chicago  since temperatures jumped from 35 to 68-degrees 36 years ago from March 17-18, 1976. On only 12 previous occasions since weather records began here 142 years ago in 1870 have March temperatures increased by that margin in such a limited period of time.  Rare early March warmth to spill with high winds into a second day; a 70-degree high not out of the question. Wind-driven warmth is to repeat a second day Wednesday. If at least filtered sun manages to peek through the clouds as expected, it's not out of the realm of possibility the official high could flirt with 70-degrees Wednesday afternoon. Southerly winds will continue to howl, gusting above 45 mph---and possibly 50 mph---at times.  But these winds are to tug Gulf moisture north. This is expected to produce clouds and growing shower prospects Wednesday night.  Tuesday's peak area wind gusts top 50 mph; 66 mph gust clocked offshore at the crib. Tuesday's powerhouse winds gusted as high as 56 mph at the WeatherBug wind sensor at Saint Matthias School in Chicago, to 55 mph at the British School here in the city and to 53 mph at Oak Lawn and Lowell, IN.  Peak gusts hit 49 mph at O'Hare and 45 mph at Midway. The strongest gust of all was clocked at the Harrison-Dever Crib, three miles off Chicago's shoreline. There, a speed of 66 mph was recorded.  Chicago's Oct. 1 to March 6 average temperature the warmest since observations began in 1959 at O'Hare

Chicago area's entered its sixth consecutive month of above normal temperatures. The average reading of 39.5-degrees since Oct. 1 at O'Hare is the highest recorded for the period in the 52 years since observations first began at the northwest side site.  Daytime highs Tuesday reach levels in the warmest 10 percent of all March 6 highs in scores of cities across 20 mid-U.S. states. The coverage of the warm air across the nation's mid-section Tuesday was quite remarkable. Scores of weather stations across a swath of terrain spanning 20 states from New Mexico to upstate New York recorded 60+ and 70+ degree temperatures which ranked in the warmest 10 percent of the readings on record in these cities for May 7.  Model forecasts out to two weeks continue much above normal temperatures. While brief temperature pullbacks may occur over the coming 2 weeks, a suite of medium range (2 week) computer model projections keeps much milder than normal air in place over many of the coming 15 days. Estimates of the temperatures surpluses come out to 7.4-degrees for the first 5 days; 11.7-degrees for days 6 through 10 and 17.6-degrees for the 11 to 15 day period. - Chicago Weather Center.

EXTREME WEATHER: Blistering and Life-Threatening Heat Wave in Argentina - Record High Temperatures in the Northern and Central Regions, Spreading Rapidly to the Rest of South America!

Blistering heat with temperatures near all-time highs baked a wide area of northern and central Argentina on Wednesday.

The life-threatening heat, having temperatures to at least 115 degrees, spread over some key growing areas in which crops have already been stressed by recent heat and low rainfall. While relief was in store, borne of a sluggish north-bound cold front triggering thunderstorms, it was not before at least one more excessively hot day in many areas on Thursday. At San Miguel de Tucuman, Wednesday's high of 43.7 degrees C (110.7 F) exceeded the standing all-time maximum of 42.1 degrees C (107.8 F), according to data accessed on the Argentina's National Weather Service website. La Rioja, which hit 46.0 degrees C (114.8 F), as well as the city of Cordoba, whose airport reached 42.4 degrees C (108.3 F) also rivaled all-time highs.

Other hot spots were Chamical and Santiago del Estero, at 112 degrees. Stifling heat also spread eastward and northward, covering much of Uruguay, Paraguay and neighboring southern Brazil. Highs of 100 to 105 degrees were the rule with hot spots reaching about 110 degrees. Summer crops, such as corn and soybeans, in Argentina's fertile breadbasket have been stressed by low December rainfall in tandem with recent heat, according to AccuWeather.com commodities forecaster Dale Mohler. Northern parts of the bread basket, taking in a swath of Cordoba, Santa Fe and northern Buenos Aires provinces, withstood severe heat on Wednesday. An overnight cold front then brought the heat wave to an end, although welcome thundershowers afforded only localized drought relief. - Accu Weather.