Hurricane Bill was the most powerful hurricane of the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season but it never struck the United States. (NASA)
Yesterday marked the end of the 2009 hurricane season and with it comes to a close one of the quietest seasons in recent history. The season featured nine named storms, the fewest since 1997, and for the first time since 2006 no hurricanes made landfall in the United States.
Only two named the storms – Tropical Storm Claudette and Tropical Storm Ida – made landfall in the nation. Those two storms both struck along the central Gulf Coast and brought heavy rain and some flooding but no widespread destruction.
Of the nine named storms, three became hurricanes. Two of those became major hurricanes of Category 3 strength of higher – Hurricane Bill and Hurricane Fred. Bill flirted with the United States East Coast as its waves claimed two lives but turned to the northeast and made landfall in Newfoundland after having weakened considerably. Hurricane Fred rapidly intensified off the west coast of Africa but quickly fell victim to wind shear.
Of the nine named storms, three became hurricanes. Two of those became major hurricanes of Category 3 strength of higher – Hurricane Bill and Hurricane Fred. Bill flirted with the United States East Coast as its waves claimed two lives but turned to the northeast and made landfall in Newfoundland after having weakened considerably. Hurricane Fred rapidly intensified off the west coast of Africa but quickly fell victim to wind shear.
A washed out bridge is shown Monday, Sept. 21, 2009 in Douglasville, Ga. Heavy rain caused flooding in and around the Atlanta area. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
The governor of Georgia issued a state of emergency on Tuesday morning as the death toll from flooding in the area continued to climb. Some areas near Atlanta reported up to 20 inches of rain in recent days as creeks and rivers ran over their banks flooding entire communities and even sending the Six Flags Over Georgia amusement park under water (see slideshow on Examiner.com).
Adding to the tally of lives lost was a 15-year-old boy whose body was found in the Chattooga River Tuesday morning. In a heart wrenching story, in Carroll County, Georgia a 2-year-old boy perished when he was ripped from his father’s arms as the father struggled against floodwaters.
Highlighting the cooler summer, thousands of record low temperatures were experienced in July 2009. (NCDC)
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced this week that the summer of 2009 was the 34th coolest since 1895. Covering the months from June to August for the contiguous United States, the average temperature was 0.4 degrees below the 20th century average.
Emphasizing the lower temperatures experienced in the United States over the summer, a closer look at the statistics provides some telling information.
Over the three month period, stations reporting to the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) showed 2,254 daily record low temperatures and 1,296 low temperature records were tied according to preliminary data. Similarly, 4,051 daily record low maximums were recorded and 1,501 records were tied across the nation during the summer.
July in particular was notably cooler than normal and the single month by itself counted for roughly half of the records set across the three month summer. For the month, 2,212 record low maximum temperatures were recorded and 737 were tied. 1,225 new record low temperatures were recorded and 657 records were tied.
The view of the Rocky Mountains from Denver is obscured by haze caused by smoke from wildfires burning across the western United States.
Update, 5:30pm – The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has issued a smoke health advisory for northwest and north-central Colorado. The department warns that residents may wish to limit outside activity, particularly those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very young, and the elderly.
Read the advisory in its entirety at the bottom of this story.
The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) reported 17 fires burning in states from Colorado west. Seven fires in California, three in Utah and two in Colorado are the primary ones causing smoke over the Mile High City.
The largest of the blazes, the Station Fire in the foothills near Los Angeles, exploded to more than 120,000 acres in recent days. In Utah, the Mill Flats Fire burning in the Dixie National Forest grew to more than 10,000 acres.
Colorado reports two wildfires, the largest of which has been dubbed the Tabaguache Creek Fire in the Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. That blaze is six miles north of Nucla and has scorched 1,260 acres.
Altogether, the fires that are actively burning have burned more than 150,000 acres of land. For the entire fire season which runs during the calendar year, 65,140 wildfires have been reported and an estimated 5,303,691 acres – more than 8,000 square miles – have been burned.
Tuesday the smoke has eased some over the Front Range and it should dissipate this evening.
From the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment:
COLORADO SMOKE ADVISORY & OUTLOOK:
Significant smoke from fires in Canada, Utah, Colorado, California and other western states will cause widespread haze in Colorado on Tuesday and from time-to-time this week. Fine Particulate levels are in the Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups category in Garfield County and are probably in the Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups range in other areas across Northwest and North-central Colorado due to the smoke from the forest fires. The highest concentrations are expected to occur in Northwest and North-central Colorado, generally north of I-70, possibly as far east as the Front Range. Much of the rest of Colorado will see concentrations in the Moderate range. IF VISIBILITY IS LESS THAN 5 MILES IN SMOKE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, SMOKE HAS REACHED LEVELS THAT ARE UNHEALTHY. If smoke is thick or becomes thick in your neighborhood you may want to remain indoors. This is especially true for those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very young, and the elderly. Consider limiting outdoor activity when moderate to heavy smoke is present. Consider relocating temporarily if smoke is present indoors and is making you ill. Smoke should gradually diminish later this evening in most areas.
Moderate to heavy smoke is also possible in the vicinity of a fire 6 miles north of Nucla, especially in areas down-valley of the fire during the nighttime and morning hours.
FRONT RANGE AIR QUALITY FORECAST:
Ozone is expected to be in the Moderate to Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups range Tuesday afternoon and evening (with the highest readings in the Denver metro area) and in the Moderate category on Wednesday. Active children, active adults, and people with respiratory illnesses should limit prolonged outdoor exertion from 2 PM until midnight tonight.
Visibility is expected to remain in the Poor Category on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Carbon monoxide levels are expected to remain in the Good category along the Front Range on Tuesday.
Fine particulate matter levels are expected to be in the Moderate category along the Front Range on Tuesday and Wednesday
Tropical Storms Ana and Bill formed Saturday. The National Hurricane Center expects a tropical depression off of the coast of Florida to become Tropical Storm Claudette on Sunday.
Following on the first two named storms of the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season forming Saturday, a third may form off the coast of Florida today. Tropical Storm Ana, the first of the season, formed early Saturday. This was followed by Bill later in the day. Today the National Hurricane Center is forecasting that a tropical depression near Florida will reach tropical storm strength by the end of the day and if so, will be assigned the name Claudette.
Tropical Depression Four is currently 90 miles west-southwest of Tampa, Florida and moving to the north-northwest at 16 mph. With maximum sustained winds of 35 mph, the storm is just below the 39 mph threshold to become a tropical storm.
Strengthening is expected and the NHC predicts the system will become a tropical storm before it hits the coast. In anticipation of this, a tropical storm warning has been issued from the Alabama / Florida border east to the Suwannee River in Florida. Rainfall accumulations from 3 to 5 inches are expected with coastal storm surge of 3 to 5 feet.
Tropical Storm Ana has formed in the Atlantic and become the first named storm in that basin of the 2009 season.
The 2009 hurricane season began on June 1st but it wasn’t until this week that the Atlantic basin finally started to really show signs of life. Tropical Storm Ana has formed over the eastern Atlantic becoming that ocean basin’s first named storm of the 2009 season. By contrast, the Pacific basin has had nine storms with Hurricane Guillermo currently being the latest.
The National Hurricane Center says that Tropical Storm Ana is currently 1,010 miles east of the Leeward Islands where a Tropical Storm Watch may be issued later today. The storm is moving west at 16 mph with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph. The NHC says that Ana is expected to strengthen and pick up speed over the next 48 hours.
A tornado tears through Adair County Wednesday evening. This photograph was taken by Dr. Curtis Roof from Highway 6, facing west. The tornado traveled on a northeastern path, damaging several homes along the way. (Dr. Curtis Roof/Kirksville Daily Express)
The quiet rural area of Kirksville, Missouri was ripped apart Wednesday evening by four tornadoes that destroyed and damaged homes and claimed the lives of three people. The first of the series of tornadoes was reported at 5:49pm local time near this town 120 miles northeast of Kansas City.
Adair County bore the brunt of the line of severe storms as they moved northeast across the nation’s midsection. Two twisters were reported near Novinger, one near Troy Mills and the most damaging one in Kirksville. The Kirksville tornado destroyed at least one house and damaged 30 – 40 others as well as a car dealership.
Two victims were killed in Adair County according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. No details on the circumstances or their names have been released other than to say they were tornado related. One woman was killed in neighboring Sullivan County when a tornado struck her mobile home.
In the United States, the winter is generally considered ‘flu season’ and is when we see it most widespread. With the threat of a potential swine flu epidemic, analysts are trying to determine if the weather will play any factor in the spread of the virus.
The flu is spread through contact with an infected person or pig, typically through coughing or sneezing. In the winter, when most people in temperate regions like the United States are spending time indoors in closed environments and in close quarters with those that are infected, it is thought that the flu can be transmitted easier. The water droplets containing the virus are slower to evaporate in cooler weather thus remaining airborne for longer periods of time and increasing chances of others becoming infected.
Outbreaks can and do occur in the tropics however research indicates they occur with less frequency in places that do not have the seasonality that other areas do. Limited laboratory and health data from regions like Africa and Latin America have made it more difficult to track the spread of viruses and thus learn from it.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Monday that it hoped drier and warmer weather would help stifle the effects of the swine flu. The organization is asking health authorities to work with weather services to assess the role of weather and the climate in the outbreak as this is an aspect that is not fully known. WMO spokeswoman Gaelle Sevenier said , “The transmission patterns of this particular influenza and its possible seasonality are as yet not adequately understood and are the subject of ongoing investigations.”
Thus far the 2009 tornado season has been quiet compared to years past.
The severe weather season has started in earnest now and last week’s deaths of five people from tornadoes highlight the danger this time of year brings. Thus far however, 2009 is below the three year average not only in the total number of tornadoes reported but also in the number of tornado related deaths.
In terms of the number of tornado reports, through yesterday there have been 303 preliminary reports in 2009. Over the last three years the United States has averaged 391 per year through April 13th. That means that 2009 is thus far 23% below average.
Tornado Reports by Year Through April 13th
2009
2008
2007
2006
3yr Avg
303
494
286
392
391
It is important to note that all of those counts are based on preliminary tornado reports. The actual number of tornadoes that occurred typically is reduced by about 15 percent as duplicate reports are eliminated. Nevertheless, this does show 2009 is running well below average.
In terms of fatalities caused by twisters, there have been 14 thus far this year. This too is below the three year average of 54 per year through April 13th. That is a large 75% reduction which is notable and something certainly to be thankful for.
Tornado Fatalities by Year Through April 13th
2009
2008
2007
2006
3yr Avg
14
70
52
50
57
It is important to note that while this year shows promise for being a less deadly and less destructive tornado season, the season is far from over. May and June are typically the most active months of the season and one large outbreak could radically change these numbers.
A tornado rips through Murfreesboro, TN where a mother and child lost their lives in the twister.
The end of the week saw severe weather claim the lives of seven people across the nation on Thursday and Friday.
Mena, Arkansas Tornado Claims Three Lives
Daylight Friday in the western Arkansas town of Mena brought a devastating sight after a tornado tore through the town killing three people and injuring at least 24. Reports are that hundreds of homes and businesses have been destroyed in the town of 5,000.
Tornado sirens blared yesterday evening in the town warning of the coming danger. At about 8:30pm local time the twister struck. Two women and one man lost their lives in the storm. One victim died in a collapsed house, another in a front yard and the third in a Masonic Lodge.
Wildfires in Texas and Oklahoma Wildfires Claim Two Lives, Injure Dozens
Wind-driven wildfires in Texas And Oklahoma proved deadly Thursday afternoon as a Texas couple was killed in the blazes and dozens more injured. The fires in western and central Oklahoma injured at least 34 people and burned over 100 homes. In Texas, a former television reporter and his wife were killed.
High winds, low humidity and an abundance of dry fuels sparked the wildfires and made for prime conditions for them to quickly burn out of control. In Oklahoma the fires started along I-35 and forced its closure for a time although it is now open. Entire towns were evacuated including Healdton, Sparks, Velma, Wellston and Midwest City.
Mother and child killed by tornado in Murfreesboro, Tennessee
A mother and her three month old baby were killed in Murfreesboro, Tennessee today when a tornado went through the central part of the state Friday. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency reports that 30 were also injured by the twister as a line of storms stretching from Alabama, across Tennessee and into Kentucky wreaked havoc. The deadly twister comes on the heels of one that killed three people in Arkansas Thursday.
The mother and child whose lives were lost were taken to Middle Tennessee Medical center but were dead when they arrived. The city of 105,000 saw roofs ripped from homes and trees downed as the twister struck the northern and western parts of the city.
For much more on this story including the tracks of the storms and amazing satellite imagery, please visit the Natural Disasters Examiner.
