Snowtober signals Climate Change

The wrap-up from this weekend's freakish storm in the Northeast pretty much says it all: Climate Change is not a fantasy dreamed up by environmentalists with nothing better to do. It is very real and has a sizeable impact. This year alone, we have seen more damaging weather from horrendous storms causing massive power outages to year-long droughts in Texas. The handwriting is on the wall, people.

The excerpt below from The Washington Post puts it in perspective. The rumbling "thundersnow"--frankly, two words not often put together like "balanced" and "budget"--in New York City. The hundreds of damaged trees. The fact that many residents still have no power and will continue to be without power for several more days. School has been cancelled. And for some towns, so was Halloween.

Read more below.

Historic October Northeast storm: Epic. Incredible. Downright ridiculous.
Posted at 11:02 AM ET, 10/31/2011
By Andrew Freedman

"Coming in the midst of what is already one of the most extreme years in American weather history, the Snowtober event had a greater impact in some states than August’s much-hyped Tropical Storm Irene. It was the snowstorm, not Irene, which caused the largest power outage in Connecticut history, for example.

To put the storm into its proper meteorological context, consider these snowy facts.

The storm brought thundersnow to New York City shortly past lunchtime on Saturday, October 29, before the city had even recorded its first freeze. Central Park received 2.9 inches of snow, with up to six inches falling in the Bronx. This was the only time in recorded history that an inch or more of snow has fallen in Central Park during the month of October. The combination of the heavy, wet snow and high winds damaged or destroyed hundreds of trees in the city. The New York Times reported that up to a thousand trees in Central Park could be lost due to storm-related damage.

The storm also pushed New York City closer to breaking the record for its all-time wettest year, moving 2011 into third place, with 65.75 inches of precipitation, which is more than two feet above normal for the year to date. The wettest year on record in New York was 1983, with 80.56 inches.

Jaffrey, New Hampshire, located in hilly terrain, recorded a whopping 31.4 inches from this snowstorm, an amount that would be considered impressive even in February, but is simply unheard of for October. There were reports that this was eclipsed by readings in Peru, Mass., where 32 inches fell...

October snowfall records were smashed in Hartford, Connecticut, which received 12.3 inches; Worcester, Mass., where 14.6 inches fell; and Newark, NJ, where 5.2 inches piled up. According to the National Weather Service, this was only the second time that measurable snowfall occurred in Newark during the month of October. The last time any snow piled up was in 1952, when just 0.3 inches fell. Much heavier snows, with greater damage, occurred in northwestern New Jersey, including 19 inches in West Milford.

As of this morning (Halloween), 86% of the Northeast had snow cover, averaging more than 4” deep according to NOAA."

To read more, click here. Image courtesy of NOAA via The Washington Post.

Comments

[Joahne]

In the Philippines, the climate change has been very obvious. We used to enjoy the cool air during the month of December but this year (2011), the Christmas breeze seem to have wandered away.

[where is singapore]

In asia, we can feel now the climate change, supposed to be at this season start to be sunny, but unfortunately everyday is raining and place that never hit by the flood, now became flooded.

[Healthy Options]

Due to climate change we must be ready notonly for our shelter but ofcourse our body must be ready physically because due to climate change, rain, sunny or vice versa, it is very easy to get sick.

[Travel to UK]

Nowadays climate change is very unpredictable, that's wht to all those living in low lying areas must alert all the time.

[municipal vehicle hire]

Predictions on global greenhouse gas emissions have turned out to be wrong. The real emissions are higher than the worst case predictions. Models of warming, however, have been confirmed as accurate.