Hazardous Weather Outlook Unexplained trend maybe due to warming, natural cycles, expert says. To date, there have been 38 days with peak wind gusts greater than or equal to 30 mph, whereas there have been 10 days with peak wind gusts greater than or equal to 40 mph! I'm on the Florida gulf coast and my friend and I were talking about this exact same thing last evening. A radiosonde analysis from Singapore also shows the wind direction above the tropics. Bats and agaves make tequila possibleand theyre both at risk, The new year once started in Marchhere's why, Jimmy Carter on the greatest challenges of the 21st century, This ancient Greek warship ruled the Mediterranean, 3 ways Jimmy Carter changed the world for the better, The meaning of the cross of ashes on Ash Wednesday, This disease often goes under-diagnosedunless youre white, The groundbreaking promise of cellular housekeeping. And usually not in a good way. But it is nicely seen how it can change with the Solar Cycle. We have marked a few areas of interest, that really stand out. The image below shows the temperature anomaly in the ENSO 3.4 region and reveals a stronger cooling since early October due to stronger trade winds. You can see the winter solstice on the image below when the northern regions receive the lowest amount of solar energy, compared to regions further to the south. LUBBOCK The Texas High Plains is a vast swath of oil-rich soil and farm and ranch land as far as the eye can see only the peaks of Caprock Canyon break up the endless miles of plains in . But what exactly is changing this year, and what weather patterns resulted from such changes in the past? The closer to the surface we get, the more deformed the polar vortex becomes. The calmest month of the year in Edmonton is August, with an average hourly wind speed of 8.1 miles per hour. As we can see below on the pressure pattern forecast, the strong high-pressure system in the North Pacific is still present. It shows the La Nina reaching peak cooling in January. Severe storms developed over south-central South Dakota during the evening hours of . Fort Campbell Based on data from 1960 forward, eastern Nebraska is averaging its second-windiest year to date and second-windiest spring to date, said Taylor Nicolaisen, meteorologist with the National Weather Service. From Jan. 1 through April 13, Omaha experienced only one other year, 2014, with a higher average wind speed. Later in the season . Below we can see the average pressure pattern from all the El Nino winters in the past 56 years. Peak anomalies were reached in late October, with another drop-off in December and now in January. We've had maybe three wet days and actual springlike weather with hot days and cool nights and lots of breezes (damn near lost a cocktail on a patio the other day because the delicate little glass it was in was no match for the wind), which would be nice only it's weird as hell. The southern United States is forecast to have normal to drier conditions, expected for a La Nina season. Questions? On the image below you can see the vertical wave propagation example. It is interesting to see, that in a La Nina spring season, there is a substantially higher frequency of hailstorms and especially tornadoes in the southern and southeastern parts of the United States. The low humidity, the cooler temperature, and the breeze/wind reminded us of October weather. Notice how the recent solar cycles are generally weaker compared to the earlier ones. That is reflected in the global airmass temperatures, as we see a strong cold pool in western Canada. This means that the north pole starts to cool down. It now shows warm anomalies emerging across the equatorial Pacific Ocean (black box). I compiled this information for the past several days: April 29: Highest wind speed . Want to learn more about the Weather? The reason for the persistent and at times strong wind is a result of a big area of high pressure parked over the Carolinas. That trend has spilled into May, with 25-mph-plus gusts on six of the first nine days. NWS But why? Each individual warming event is different and does not automatically mean a strong winter pattern by itself. That said, this month's average wind speed (9.7 mph) has been nearly 10 percent faster than normal (8.9 mph), according to Berger. If the wind speed is strong greater than 17 mph and highly variable, the weather report will include the wind gust, which is the maximum observed wind speed. That is called a Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW) event. Rush said winds have been a problem throughout the central and northern Plains. After watching the video you should be able to answer the following questions: -Is the polar jet north or south of us. About 62% of Nebraska was in severe to extreme drought as of last week, down from 76% the week before. It's not yet clear whether the windier trend is due to global warming, or if it's part of a cyclical pattern, said Young, whose research appeared Friday in the journal Science. The most recent ECMWF extended seasonal forecast actually shows the developing warm phase (El Nino), starting in late Summer 2022. But what do they mean? So far this year, our average wind speed for March and April has been about 13.7 mph. The cold anomalies have returned last Summer and also peaked in mid-October. We now know what this La Nina is, and how it usually impacts the weather. This also causes a pressure difference as a large low-pressure (cyclonic) circulation starts to develop across the Northern Hemisphere from the surface layers, far up into the stratosphere. Its been windy in the boot as well, I'm unsure as to why, its been that way for months now, I don't remember Louisiana being this windy all the time. Because of that flat west and northwest flow (the jet stream moves from west to east in the Northern Hemisphere), the Front Range's recent winds have been mostly so-called chinook winds. From pioneering the use of solar energy to helping to eradicating disease, here are just a few ways the 39th U.S. president has made the world a better place. The outcoming jet stream can then merge with the systems in the North Atlantic, helping to create a whole new weather pattern for Europe. After the jet stream passes over Canada and the United States, it moves into the North Atlantic, There it can take many different paths towards Europe. This is an expected response after major warming events, as the colder air has an easier path towards the south and into these regions, provided that enough moisture is available. It is basically like a very large low-pressure system, covering the whole north pole, down to the mid-latitudes. The collapsed polar vortex sends the energy back down, changing the surface weather patterns by altering the jet stream location. For an official warm phase to be declared, warm anomalies have to exceed +0.5 degrees in the Nino 3.4 region. A specific phase (cold/warm) usually develops between late summer and fall and typically lasts into next Spring. Research shows climate change is likely to strengthen some seasonal patterns already at play in the central U.S.: stronger winds in the winter and spring and quieter winds in the summer. Spot Request Below we have the ocean temperature forecast for the early 2022 Summer season, from the ECMWF. The jet stream is an important atmospheric feature that shapes our weather. SKYWARN. CoCoRaHS In fact, the windiest day so far this year happened on April 12, when D-FW averaged 24.4 mph. Higher pressure pushes down from the stratosphere into the Polar Circle, weakening the circulation. But instead of the temperatures, we are now dealing with wind, or rather its direction. But, as the temperature begins to drop over the polar regions, so does the pressure. It is also another major difference with 2021, which featured an east (negative) QBO in its cold season, that is still ongoing. They drive the wind-driven ocean surface cooling. We reached a final minimum of the solar cycle 24 in 2020, and we began a new solar cycle 25 at that point. Colder air is expected to also spread frequently from the northwestern United States and the Midwest into central and eastern parts of the country. But as we have seen above, it is linked to the QBO, and the QBO is linked with the stratosphere and the polar vortex, so there is a linkage to the weather in some way. Though the focus will be on tropical meteorology, it will also be a place for people to stay in touch before, during, and after tropical weather events. At . Temperature and precipitation data for Omaha dates to 1871, but wind data goes back only to 1948, said Brian Barjenbruch, meteorologist with the weather service. When the wind blows against a wind turbine, it turns its blades. Past Derby/Oaks/Thunder Weather Wind can be your friend or your enemy. * Average star voting: 3 ( 97746 reviews) Summary: It may not be a surprise, but April is one of the windier months of the year. It is known for its strong influence down from the stratosphere, in either direction, for a cold or warm winter. May 2007 was extremely dry and we hardly got any tropical cyclones in Florida that year. A strong low pressure is to our northwest, while a strong high pressure is to our southeast. The last time we had an April with 10 days of 40 mph winds was all the way back in 2011. High winds wrapped a tarp around a light pole on Thursday. Records go back to 1899. A grand minimum means an unusually long phase of low solar activity, and global weather changes as a result like it happened during the Maunder Minimum. A Dalton minimum was not as low and long-lasting as a Maunder Minimum but also had a global weather response, particularly in a global temperature drop. Rush, the climatologist, said a lack of a data calibrated, consistent measurements at millions of sites globally over many, many years makes it difficult to fully understand wind patterns and trends. 3/ Try peppermint oil. Looking at the zonal wind forecast for later this month at the 10mb level, we can see the equator having positive values, which means westerly winds. Explore a billion-year-old volcanic mystery on Lake Superior, A journey of the senses through Abu Dhabi, These Lake Superior islands are no place for amateurs. That is due to the unique weather pattern it helps to set up, which can deflect a lot of energy upwards. We are currently focusing mostly on the Stratospheric Polar Vortex, as it plays a very important role in the weather development throughout the season. That can push the colder air out of the polar regions, into the United States and/or Europe. Embattled Rockwall-Heath football coach resigns after multiple students diagnosed with rhabdo, officials say, Coppell girls' basketball to make its UIL state tournament debut, Severe storms likely in DFW Thursday: Timeline, risks and everything you need to know. The short answer is yes. Meanwhile, aEuropean study is attempting to find accurate historical records of wind speeds. A National Geographic team has made the first ascent of the remote Mount Michael, looking for a lava lake in the volcanos crater. This squirrel stopped to nibble on flowers outside Andrews Hall on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln earlier this month. It was followed by a positive QBO phase during last winter. One would have to go back to 1973 to find a windier spring in Omaha, as defined as average wind speed, from March 1 to April 13. Keep in mind that this is an average of sustained winds. A pedestrian finds a moment in the sun while walking underneath Interstate 480 in downtown Omaha this week. We can see an example of a full solar cycle on the image below, as the sun goes from a minimum to maximum activity, and back to a minimum. Text Products Hourly Observations After watching the video you should be able to answer the following questions:-Is the polar jet north or south of us in the winter months?-What are isobars?-If isobars are tightly packed, what type of wind does that produce?-What other season is known as being breezy too? But, being over the Equator, the QBO is directly connected to the higher levels of the atmosphere, and the solar activity. LMK Warning Area It reveals the easterly winds around the 15-50mb level, confirming the east QBO phase is currently active. Lubbock recorded a gust of 77 mph around 7:30 p.m., and Amarillo recorded a gust of 75 mph. Below is the forecast for the QBO, showing global zonal winds over the equator. Seems like the wind is always howling outside my window these days. Science and Technology In the past 20 years, winds have picked up around 5 percent on average. It can be found from the ground up into the high levels of the stratosphere. Among the impacts: Dakotas: Blizzard conditions raged for three days last week, piling up snow drifts 7 feet high. Over the North Atlantic and Europe, the pattern is not as strong as the ENSO influence is mitigated by local pressure patterns. Colder air and moisture also mean snowfall, especially for parts of the northern and eastern United States. Wind is the movement of air caused by the uneven heating of Earth by the sun. This shift from west to east winds is so regular, that it gave QBO the nickname heartbeat of the atmosphere. The State Patrol sent out several troopers to help, and they found about 70 trucks and cars parked on both sides of the Interstate. Why is it so windy in the UK? It's Too Windy or Not Windy Enough. Low pressure systems are bringing storms to our shores, causing gusts of up to 90mph this week. Millard West won the game 16-0 in five innings. We can see the average pressure anomalies below 0-30 days after an SSW event. As we reach Summer, we are fully in a west (positive) QBO phase and a new negative starting above for 2023. We will likely add more before the end of the month. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. In North Texas, April's average wind speed is 12.2 mph and March's average wind speed is 12.1 mph. Please select one of the following: Experimental Graphical Hazardous Weather Outlook, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This directly translates into the global circulation, affecting the jet stream on both Hemispheres over time. ButRuiz-Columbi said climate change could generate contradictory forces: While some changing atmospheric dynamics could lead to a lessening of winds,others could lead to an increase (this is similar to how contradictory atmospheric forces could affect tornadoes, leading to possible "droughts" in occurrence punctuated by intense outbreaks). Regional Weather Map Our journey will end with the final key piece of 2022, which is the Polar Vortex, which reigns in the cold season. Station History By comparison, average daily wind speeds drop markedly to 11.2 mph in May, 10.6 mph in June, 9.8 mph in July and 9.6 mph in August. There we have a wind anomaly, so perfectly periodic, that it is often called the heartbeat of the atmosphere. March was just barely windier than normal at three tenths of a mph stronger. Increasing wind gusts have caused dust storms and fueled fires in the midwest. Definitely need some rain. KY Mesonet, Latest Forecasts These westerlies higher up at 10mb are just an early indicator of what is to come. But that can change quickly, and as you will now see, it will happen over the Spring season of 2022. These animals can sniff it out. I wouldn't read too much into it. Here are the average sustained winds (below) from the last 30 years compared to this year for the 2021-2022 winter. We produced an image from the latest seasonal weather forecast data. Please try another search. It is also partially responsible for the winter-time tornado outbreaks across the United States. A plastic bag gets stuck on a Lime electric scooter during high winds on Thursday. The wind turns the blades of a turbine around a rotor that spins a generator either directly or through a shaft and a series of gears that speed up the rotation from the blades and allows for a smaller generator to be used. Typically, the main problem is that the final outcome is far more unpredictable in this zone than over North America, which feels a much more direct and predictable influence. he windiest times of the year in D-FW are winter and spring. This often locks the colder air into the Polar regions, creating milder winter for most of the United States and Europe. Other scientists say more years of future data are needed to understand changing wind patterns. Multiple locations were found. Other aspects of the climate, however, haven't gotten as much attention. "Not only has the average wind speed been higher, but we've also had more gusty days." In an average Minnesota winter, Blumenfeld said there are three to four days when the winds gust above 40 mph . But besides the ocean temperatures, one of the more important differences is also in the pressure pattern. During the spring, the jet stream sits. Local Climate Pages The Union For Contemporary Art announced that they are going to turn the F.J. Carey Block building into the Shirley Tyree Theater. The study, the first to look at wind speeds across such a large swath of the planet, bolsters some earlier findings, according to study leader Ian Young, of the Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia. The 56 major cities included in the weather rankings here . And as the name suggests, it is a sudden rise in temperatures in the stratosphere. share. NBC10 Boston. One of the reasons the winds have been a point of conversation for Nebraskans all spring, is what has resulted because of the wind. ", "Extreme Storms and Floods Concretely Linked to Climate Change? Early in the season, the high-pressure air in the Great Basin starts out warmer, so the addition of compressional heating can make for winds that feel hot like a hair dryer. Incoming Storm Dudley will be followed by Storm Eunice in a double whammy of windy weather set to pummel the country. With some delay, these changes directly affect the circulation over the rest of the world. It nicely shows the main outlines of the central and eastern parts of the Tornado Alley. Why is Kansas seeing so much high winds in 2022? (Also see "Extreme Storms and Floods Concretely Linked to Climate Change?"). So we are going to focus on its evolution over the warm season, and see what the most recent forecasts show for its 2022 development. It is a sudden rise of temperatures in the polar stratosphere during the cold season, as the name suggests. Central U.S. That period was better known as the little ice age, as global temperatures dropped in response. Continuous winds year to date. Once these clippers pass, they have northerly winds, so the dominant wind direction has been from the north." The average wind speed at 33 feet above sea level in South Dakota is 12.8 mph. We decided to take a deeper dive into the numbers. That is the typical signature of the cold ENSO phase. Everything comes together in winter when the Polar Vortex returns and nicely connects all these factors together. Weather reports include observations of wind speed and direction measured at the height of 10 meters (33 feet) above the surface. The high-resolution video animation below shows the ocean temperature anomalies from Summer to late Fall. This is creating a tight pressure gradient, a sharp change in pressure over a relatively short distance, creating strong, easterly winds in Florida. Pressure tends to drop over Europe and the western Atlantic. You can cancel at any time. A key reason: the need for reliable energy as the world shifts away from fossil fuels. 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