Why are heavy rains on the rise?
Heavy rains are on the rise around the world. Here's why. New study shows torrential downpours are increasingly common — and experts say the trend might intensify. Floodwaters surround a farm in Craig, Missouri, on March 22, 2019.
Why is the Gulf Coast so cold and rainy?
The Gulf Coast generally sees cooler and wetter conditions, not because of numerous arctic outbreaks, but because of the stronger influence of the subtropical jet stream. Storm tracks are farther south on average, producing more clouds, rain, and severe weather. Figure 1.
Why is it snowing so little on the east coast?
Lots of snow has fallen on the nation's northern tier, but snowfall has been lackluster for much of the East Coast and South because of a persistent storm track. Blame the jet stream.
Which countries have had the most heavy rain in recent years?
North America, Europe and Asia led the pack in heavier rain, with about 8.5 percent more downpours during those years than expected. The heavy rainfalls show no signs of abating even as climate change brings droughts to some parts of the world — and experts say they may intensify.
Why is the Southeast U.S. getting so much rain?
The main features that influence the Southeast's climate are latitude, the presence of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, and regional topography. For example, the Florida peninsula has a distinct summer rainy season, while other inland areas receive uniform precipitation throughout the year.
What does La Niña mean for the Southeast?
Winter La Niña events bring a greater chance for warm and dry conditions for most of the Southern Region, especially in the southern part of the region. The lack of precipitation could cause abnormally dry and/or drought conditions to worsen and spread throughout the region.
What is causing all the rain in Florida?
Torrential rain in Florida primarily results from the passing of low pressure systems through or close to it. The most well known low pressure system is the tropical hurricane, which is capable of producing truly enormous amounts of precipitation over a short period of time.
Does El Niño cause more rain?
The Short Answer: El Niño is a weather pattern that occurs in the Pacific Ocean. During this time, unusual winds cause warm surface water from the equator to move east, toward Central and South America. El Niño can cause more rain than usual in South and Central America and in the United States.
Is this an El Niño year 2021?
La Niña continues as the Northern Hemisphere heads into winter, and forecasters are confident that it will hang around through the rest of the winter. This La Niña, the second in two years, will likely transition to ENSO-neutral sometime in the spring.
Why is the Gulf Coast getting so much rain?
The Gulf Coast generally sees cooler and wetter conditions, not because of numerous arctic outbreaks, but because of the stronger influence of the subtropical jet stream. Storm tracks are farther south on average, producing more clouds, rain, and severe weather. Figure 1.
Why is it raining everyday?
Thanks to the Earth's water cycle, it is always raining in some part of the world every day. Rain is a form of precipitation, much like snow. As the precipitation falls from the atmosphere, the Earth collects it in soil, plants and bodies of water.
What month is the rainiest in Florida?
The rainy season usually has three phases: Late May through June is the period when severe storms are most likely. Hail, damaging winds, and waterspouts are common, in addition to heavy rainfall and frequent lightning. July through early September is when the rainy season peaks.
What part of Florida gets the most rain?
Fort Myers, Florida, has the most thunderstorms in the United States with an average of 89 annually.
How long is La Niña 2021?
"Normally, La Niñas dissolve at the end of summer or early autumn," Dr Ridder said. "This one is dissolving very slowly. The forecast at the moment is that it will be May or June before it will be back to neutral conditions.
Does La Niña mean more rain?
La Niña is related to increases in the likelihood of above- and below-average precipitation over many regions of the globe (Fig. 2). These changes in precipitation likelihoods occur during certain times of the year.
Is 2022 an El Niño year?
The current La Niña event started in September 2020 and continued through mid-May 2022 across the tropical Pacific. There was a temporary weakening of the oceanic components of La Niña during January and February 2022, but it has strengthened since March 2022.
Why is the Gulf Coast cooler?
The Gulf Coast generally sees cooler and wetter conditions, not because of numerous arctic outbreaks, but because of the stronger influence of the subtropical jet stream. Storm tracks are farther south on average, producing more clouds, rain, and severe weather. Figure 1. El Niño impacts for the Southeast United States.
Is Ohio Valley above normal?
However, the Ohio Valley is below normal, and the southern tier of States from Califor nia to Florida is above normal with some spots averaging as much as 5 inches above normal. Storms making landfall in California and storms developing in the Gulf of Mexico are the culprits. Figure 3.
Is there rain in Southwestern USA?
Southwestern US is in need of a lot of rain (KSLA News 12) Drought conditions around California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico are exceptionally bad. It is only the beginning of summer, and yet they are in desperate need for some rain. As the summer wears on, the chances of showers and storms become less likely.
Is it possible to bring the drought to moderate?
This will help the drought situation. It’s not expected to rain a tremendous amount, so it should not bring the drought conditions to “moderate” or “slight”. However, it may help lower them out of “exceptional”. This will also be a good start to overcoming fire conditions that we usually see in late summer.
When was the rainiest year in the US?
And the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) just announced that the year between May 2018 and May 2019 was the rainiest 12-month period on record in the U.S. Based on his research and on the link between heavy downpours and rising temperatures, the rainy trend is likely to continue, according to Papalexiou.
Why are torrential downpours on the rise?
As the climate warms, the atmosphere can hold and release more moisture, meaning torrential downpours are on the rise around the planet. “There is a crystal-clear analysis that shows, decade by decade, we have more of these extremes,” said Simon Papalexiou, a professor of civil, geological and environmental engineering at the University ...
How many weather stations were there in the world between 1964 and 2013?
For the new research, Papalexiou and University of Bologna hydrology professor Alberto Montanari analyzed data collected at 8,730 weather stations around the world between 1964 and 2013.
How much damage did Hurricane Harvey cause?
In 2017, Hurricane Harvey dumped more than 60 inches of rain on parts of Texas — the most ever recorded for a storm in the United States — and led to more than 100 deaths and an estimated $125 billion in property damage.
Is rain a part of the weather?
Rain is an essential part of the world’s weather system, of course. But heavy downpours can devastate communities, disrupt agriculture and contribute to road accidents and other problems.
Is heavy rain on the rise?
Heavy rains are on the rise around the world. Here's why. Heavy rains are on the rise around the world. Here's why. New study shows torrential downpours are increasingly common — and experts say the trend might intensify. Floodwaters surround a farm in Craig, Missouri, on March 22, 2019. Scott Olson / Getty Images file.
Where does the heaviest snow fall?
Typically, the heaviest snow from a winter storm falls on the northern and western sides of the center of low pressure. Given this season's persistent storm track, the heaviest snow has been confined to the nation's northern tier, rather than farther south into parts of the mid-Atlantic or South.
Why is snow lackluster?
Lots of snow has fallen on the nation's northern tier, but snowfall has been lackluster for much of the East Coast and South because of a persistent storm track. Blame the jet stream. Most of the winter has lacked a persistent southward-dipping jet stream east of the Mississippi River, which has not only kept temperatures warmer ...
