11 June 2018
Ridiculously Wet Weather Across the Eastern U.S. Is Not Really A Surprise
Posted by Dan Satterfield
The entire Mid-Atlantic has had a very wet last 30 days. Look at the map below and note that some areas of had 400% of normal rainfall in the last month!
Click image for a much larger version.
Now look at the Southeast U.S. and Florida:
We’ve seen some incredible downpours in the last 30 days from Ellicott City and Ocean City here in Maryland to Philadelphia last night! This is already causing alarm for farmers as soggy fields refuse to dry out as we go into prime growing season, and the science says this may just be the beginning of many more years like this, or worse. Look at the data below and note how these extreme rain events are increasing. this is not really a surprise since as the air warms it can hold more water vapor and this is just one of many predicted changes in our climate that are being seen now.
The physics says a degree rise in temp. will lead to an increase of up to 7% in atmospheric water vapor, but new research by Kevin Trenberth at NCAR shows that is even higher, up to 30% because that extra water vapor makes storms stronger and larger.
Dan Satterfield has worked as an on air meteorologist for 32 years in Oklahoma, Florida and Alabama. Forecasting weather is Dan's job, but all of Earth Science is his passion. This journal is where Dan writes about things he has too little time for on air. Dan blogs about peer-reviewed Earth science for Junior High level audiences and up.
Sure, I’ll grant that higher temperature air holds more water vapor than cooler air, but that is stretching the comparison a lot. Hotter temperatures usually mean drier conditions also, so the wetness in the Eastern US might be a product of the prolonged, cold, snowy Winter/Spring that occurred as well.
Except it was NOT a cold and snowy winter in this region. Also, hotter conditions do NOT always mean drier. Your entire comment is actually non-sensical. If you want to show what I said was wrong, find data that shows it is incorrect. Subjective feelings are not science and usually turn out to be wrong.
It’s not warmer what the heck are they talking about . Last winter I cut my lawn in NC almost every week I haven’t cut it this year in over a month even with all this rain.So it’s getting colder not warmer
Anecdotes are often wrong. Especially so if you think what you see in your backyard is the same for the planet. North Carolinas has been warming steadily by the way and I say that based on thermometers across the state and not how often you mow your backyard.