Weather

11/3/2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. (NNS) -- The Navy Research Laboratory's Special Sensor Ultraviolet Limb Imager (SSULI)was launched Oct. 18, 2009, offering a first of its kind technique for remote sensing of the ionosphere and thermosphere from space.

The SSULI was developed by NRL's Space Science Division and Spacecraft Engineering Department
and launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., aboard an United Launch Alliance Atlas V launch vehicle.    » read more »

Actions Defend Levees and Roads During Unprecedented Rainfall

10/13/2009 -- California Governor Schwarzenegger today directed his departments and agencies to take actions to prepare and respond to the needs of Californians during an unusually strong storm that will result in many parts of the state experiencing triple the amount of a typical October rain in one day. The storm is likely to reach its peak intensity in Northern California this afternoon and move towards Southern California tonight.    » read more »

October 12, 2009 -- Saint Paul – With our first taste of winter arriving earlier than expected, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty is reminding families who are having trouble paying their heating bills to contact their local utility company right away.

Minnesota’s Cold Weather Rule, which takes effect this Thursday, October 15, protects residential utility customers from having their heat shut off through April 15, provided they contact their utility to set up a payment plan.    » read more »

October 8, 2009 -- The September 2009 average temperature for the contiguous United States was above the long-term average, according to NOAA’s monthly State of the Climate report issued today. Based on records going back to 1895, the monthly National Climatic Data Center analysis is part of the suite of climate services NOAA provides.

The average September temperature of 66.4 degrees F was 1.0 degree F above the 20th Century average. Precipitation across the contiguous United States in September averaged 2.48 inches, exactly the 1901-2000 average.

U.S. Temperature Highlights    » read more »

Implications for Public Health and Social Justice Outlined in New Report

September, 2009 -- Global warming is making hot days hotter, rainfall and flooding heavier, storms stronger, and droughts more severe. As the Senate prepares to take up clean energy legislation, the National Wildlife Federation, Harvard Medical School, the NAACP, and the Apollo Alliance hosted a Congressional briefing today to emphasize the public health and social justice issues that any legislation must address.    » read more »

August 31, 2009 -- Persistent winds and a weakened current in the Mid-Atlantic contributed to higher than normal sea levels along the Eastern Seaboard in June and July, according to a new NOAA technical report.

After observing water levels six inches to two feet higher than originally predicted, NOAA scientists began analyzing data from select tide stations and buoys from Maine to Florida and found that a weakening of the Florida Current Transport—an oceanic current that feeds into the Gulf Stream—in addition to steady and persistent Northeast winds, contributed to this anomaly.    » read more »

June 22, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein (both D-CA) wrote to President Obama to request a federal disaster declaration for Fresno County to assist the drought-stricken region in obtaining emergency food, job training, crisis counseling, legal services and unemployment assistance.

The federal assistance would help thousands of Fresno County residents who have lost their jobs and are struggling to feed their families because of severe drought conditions. A disaster declaration would also help ensure the long-term vitality of one of the nation’s leading agricultural areas.

The text of the letter follows:

June 22, 2009

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500    » read more »

Washington, DC (June 16, 2009) - The U.S. Global Change Research Program released a long-awaited, comprehensive scientific assessment of climate change impacts in the United States. It presents the first region-by-region analysis of our vulnerability to climate change since 2001 and represents the best available climate science in the United States.

The report outlines choices based on various global emissions scenarios including one that transitions the U.S. to a clean energy future versus business as usual reliance on fossil fuels.

Larry Schweiger, President and CEO of National Wildlife Federation, said:    » read more »

Climate change impacts on the southwestern U.S. are projected to include decreased rainfall and runoff, more drought and wildfire, and more days hotter than 100°F, according to a major report released by the multi-agency U.S. Global Change Research Program.

June 16, 2009 -- Berkeley, CA—Two researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), Evan Mills and Michael Wehner, contributed to the analysis of the effects of climate change on all regions of the United States, described in a major report released today by the multi-agency U.S. Global Change Research Program.    » read more »

Take Time To Focus On Personal Emergency Preparedness

June 1, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As Hurricane Season 2009 began yesterday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continues to work with our state, local, and federal partners to increase preparedness and coordinate response and recovery in the case of a hurricane or disaster. FEMA also urges Americans to use the annual start of hurricane season as a reminder to assess your personal readiness to respond to emergencies.    » read more »

06/01/2009 -- WASHINGTON -- United States Senator Mary Landrieu, D-La., chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery, commented on the start of the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season, which begins today. In May, federal forecasters predicted that there could be nine to 14 named tropical storms this season, including four to seven hurricanes and one to three major hurricanes.

Sen. Landrieu said:    » read more »

June 1, 2009 -- TALLAHASSEE – Florida Governor Charlie Crist today urged Floridians to finalize their family disaster preparedness plans and ensure that family members, homes and businesses are ready for the possibility of a hurricane or other disaster. During a visit to a Home Depot in Tallahassee on the first day of the Atlantic hurricane season, Governor Crist encouraged all Floridians to have a disaster plan and supply kit that includes at least a three-day supply of drinking water and non-perishable food for the entire family – including pets.

Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp also promoted the importance of preparedness during a visit to the Collier County Emergency Services Center.    » read more »

June 1, 2009 -- “Today we begin the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season, and I encourage all Floridians to have a plan and be prepared. Florida is a great place to live, work and play, but our paradise comes with the responsibility to make sure our families, friends and communities will be safe.

“As we have experienced during the recent flooding and last year during Tropical Storm Fay, a storm doesn’t have to be a hurricane to be destructive or deadly.

“We pray that the season remains quiet, but there is a very real possibility of a storm or other natural disaster. The National Hurricane Center is ready, and so are Florida’s emergency management teams. Every Floridian must also be ready.    » read more »

May 28, 2009 -- JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Missouri Governor Jay Nixon today sent President Barack Obama a request for additional federal assistance for infrastructure damage in 46 counties impacted by the severe weather and storms from May 8 to May 16. This is in addition to Gov. Nixon's previous request for a disaster declaration from the federal government.

Damages to public property and infrastructure exceeded $48.7 million in the 46 counties canvassed by the federal/state/local joint damage assessment teams. This amount also includes damages to the public utilities and electric cooperatives, estimated at more than $37 million. Power was finally restored to all citizens over Memorial Day weekend, Gov. Nixon said.    » read more »

NWS TPC/National Hurricane Center Miami FL Al012009 -- 1100 AM EDT Thu May 28 2009 -- Tropical depression forms off the mid-Atlantic coast

Satellite imagery indicates that the area of low pressure that passed to the east of Cape Hatteras yesterday has become a tropical depression--the first of the Atlantic hurricane season.

At 1100 am Edt--1500 Utc--the center of tropical depression one was located near latitude 37.3 north--longitude 71.0 west or about 310 miles--500 km--south of Providence Rhode Island and about 635 miles--1020 km--southwest of Halifax Nova Scotia.

The depression is moving toward the northeast near 17 mph--and this general motion is expected to continue over the next 24-48 hours. The depression is not expected to threaten any land areas.    » read more »