Latest news with #MidwestRegionalClimateCenter
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Farmers sound the alarm after months of weird weather throws crops off track: 'We'll just keep our fingers crossed'
Wisconsin farmers are concerned about how a lack of winter snow will impact their harvests this year. A drop in snowfall for the season is something they may have to get used to in the future, however. Eagle River in northern Wisconsin is known as the "Snowmobile Capital of the World" because of its hundreds of miles of trails. The town, like much of Wisconsin this past winter, came up short on snowfall compared to average. Eagle River ended up with nearly 10 inches of snow less than average during the winter of 2024-2025. That represents a reduction of around 20% of the average for a winter there. The Badger State had its 34th-warmest and 18th-driest winter on record. That led to a drop in snowfall compared to the average for most of the state. Southern Wisconsin was hit the hardest, with most of that portion of the state seeing between 25% to 75% of average seasonal snowfall. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor Report revealed that just over 50% of the state was in a moderate drought. Winter snowfall is particularly important for strawberry farmers. They count on snow to cover their crops, protecting the burgeoning sweet fruit from extreme weather. "It's been a really unusual year. I can't point to a year that I can remember where it was just like this," Kerry Bruntz, farmer and owner of SunnyHill Farm in Green Bay, told Spectrum News 1. "The snow acts as insulation for a crop like strawberries, that needs to lay dormant over the winter and then come back to life. Without that insulation, the crop could potentially be harmed by severe cold weather. We're hoping. But again, we'll have to wait and see if there was anything, any harm. We'll just keep our fingers crossed." The Midwest Regional Climate Center uses its Accumulated Winter Season Severity Index to track the severity of winters across the country. All nine of the locations it monitors in Wisconsin experienced a "mild" winter, the least extreme of the five categories the index considers. A Climate Central analysis of snowfall trends for over 2,000 locations in the United States found that nearly two-thirds (64%) now get less snow than in the early 1970s. Snow plays a crucial role in keeping our planet cooler. The lack of the white stuff also has implications for water supplies in our country because it accounts for over 50% of the runoff that refills reservoirs and replenishes groundwater in the western U.S. In addition to having impacts on farmers, Wisconsin's economy takes a hit when snow comes up short. The outdoor recreation industry, including winter sports, boosts the state's economy by $11.2 billion annually. Wisconsin isn't the only place in the Upper Midwest that faced a snowfall shortage. As of the first week of March, Fargo, North Dakota, had received just under 20 inches of snow so far this snow season, about half of the normal number through that time of the year. What is the biggest reason you don't grow food at home? Not enough time Not enough space It seems too hard I have a garden already Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. A shift in snowpack levels in the Sierra Nevada this winter is disconcerting because the region's snowpack supplies nearly 30% of the state's water needs. To cool our planet, we must drastically reduce the amount of heat-trapping gases released into the atmosphere by the burning of dirty fuels. To this end, we can help by becoming informed about critical climate issues, talking to family and friends about what is happening, and advocating for change and a shift to renewable energy sources. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
On This Date: The Great Ohio River Flood Of 1913
Several historic floods of the early 20th century gave rise to flood control and disaster programs we have today. On March 26, 1913, 112 years ago today, the Ohio Valley was suffering through one of the nation's deadliest floods. Over just five days, 6 to 11 inches of rain along a stationary front soaked an area from northwestern Pennsylvania to southern Illinois. That volume of water lead to massive flooding over much of the Ohio Valley, including along the Miami, Scioto, Wabash and White Rivers, among others. The flooding claimed 467 lives and at least 40,000 homes in Ohio, alone, the state's deadliest weather disaster. At least 10 feet of water flowed through Columbus, Dayton and Hamilton, while 20-foot water inundated downtown Zanesville, Ohio. In Indiana, a bridge over the White River collapsed and a levee failure sent floodwater pouring into the west side of Indianapolis, flooding thousands of homes. In some cases, the rapidly rising waters forced residents to cling to trees or flee to rooftops to await rescue. While the exact total death toll from this Ohio Valley flood remains unknown, it's believed to be the nation's second deadliest behind only the 1889 Johnstown, Pennsylvania, flood (2,209 killed). This and other deadly, destructive floods spurred government action. Two years after the flood, the Miami Conservancy District was formed that eventually built five reservoirs to protect Dayton, Ohio, from massive future floods, according to the Midwest Regional Climate Center. The Flood Control Act of 1917 laid the groundwork for what would eventually become the National Flood Insurance Program and the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the 1960s and 1970s. Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at and has been covering national and international weather since 1996. Extreme and bizarre weather are his favorite topics. Reach out to him on Bluesky, X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
US Winter 'Misery Index' Looks Upside Down, But That Could Change
If winter's cold and snow seems a little upside down so far this season, it's not your imagination. More harsh than usual: According to the Accumulated Winter Season Severity Index (AWSSI) from the Midwest Regional Climate Center (MRCC), a strip of the central U.S. from eastern Kansas through the Appalachians of West Virginia, as well as parts of the Deep South from the northern Gulf Coast to the coastal Carolinas have had a severe or extreme winter, so far, through Feb. 19. These are shown by either blue or purple dots in the map below, respectively. Among those cities included Charleston, South Carolina; Louisville, Kentucky; Mobile, Alabama; Pensacola, Florida; and Topeka, Kansas. A mild winter: In contrast, a swath of the nation's West, upper Midwest and northern New England have had a much milder than usual winter, so far. These are shown by red dots in the map above, including Caribou, Maine; Flagstaff, Arizona; and Madison, Wisconsin. What this index means: Also known as the "winter misery index", the AWSSI takes into account three factors: the intensity and persistence of cold weather, the frequency and amount of snowfall and the amount and persistence of snow on the ground. Wind and mixed precipitation, such as freezing rain, are not a part of the index. The index uses five categories – mild, moderate, average, severe and extreme – to rate the severity of winter weather in cities across the U.S. over an entire cold season. The higher the index, the more persistent snow and/or cold you've experienced. So, the map above looks flipped. The northern winter has been more "meh", while the South's winter has been rough, relatively speaking. (For even more granular weather data tracking in your area, view your 15-minute details forecast in our Premium Pro experience.) Why upside down? A parade of 10 winter storms since early January largely hammered the central and southern U.S. while only providing some glancing blows of snow to the northern tier of states. That included a trio of southern storms, Cora in the second week of January, then historic Enzo along the Gulf and Southeast coasts in late January, then Kingston over the past few days. After the last of these storms, America's snow cover was the most expansive it had been all winter, blanketing 57% of the Lower 48. In addition, blasts of cold air in January and mid-February surged into the Deep South, smashing hundreds of record lows, contributing to the higher misery indices, there. One strange record mild winter, so far: Salt Lake City, usually known for its snowy, cold winters, is having its mildest winter on record so far, as measured by this misery index. That's from a combination of warmth and lack of snow. It's been the Salt Lake Valley's 10th warmest winter to date, and their seasonal snowfall is only 9.2 inches, 30 inches below their average pace. Only 2014-15 (6.8 inches) was less snowy through Feb. 19. (Don't worry if you're looking to hit Utah's ski resorts, by the way. They have normal snowpack right now.)This probably won't stay upside down much longer: Don't expect the relatively snowless north to remain so into spring. That's because the storm track shifts northward in spring. So instead of shivering in bitter cold outbreaks with relatively little snow, the northern tier can warm up a bit, but still be cold enough for snow as low pressure systems tap deeper moisture track closer. As the map below shows, March is typically one of the two snowiest months of the year in parts of the High Plains and Rockies. The upper Midwest and Northeast certainly can get their fair share of winter storms in March, even April. (MORE: Which Month Is Usually Your Snowiest?) If your winter has been relatively boring, don't let your guard down. And if you're winter-weary in the South, there may still be some stubborn chill into March, but don't expect the parade of snowstorms we saw in January and February. Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at and has been covering national and international weather since 1996. Extreme and bizarre weather are his favorite topics. Reach out to him on X (formerly Twitter), Threads, Facebook and Bluesky.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Iditarod forced to move again due to lack of Alaska snow
In this March 3, 2018, file photo, Eagle River, Alaska musher Tom Schonberger's lead dogs trot along Fourth Avenue during the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Anchorage, Alaska. (AP Photo) Alaska's famous Iditarod sled dog race's starting point has been moved northward to Fairbanks for the 2025 event. The 1,000-mile trek goes westward across the state to Nome. The move came after mushers expressed concern about the Nikolai area, 200 miles northwest of Anchorage. No snow has fallen there since late January. Dogs can become injured by stepping in mud or holes on the trails if there is no permafrost. This is the fourth time the start of the Iditarod has been moved to Fairbanks. It most recently happened in 2017. In 2008, the starting point was permanently moved from Anchorage to Willow, 40 miles north, after warm conditions and a lack of snow made the trek difficult. Average temperature ranking for weather stations in Alaska for December 1, 2024 to February 17, 2025. (SERCC) It has been an extremely mild winter in Alaska. In mid-January, temperatures in the state were more like the northeastern U.S., and after a Gulf Coast snowstorm, parts of Florida had Anchorage beat for snow accumulation this winter. At an average temperature of 14.7 degrees Fahrenheit, the state ranked the second warmest January to December period in the 100-year record, NOAA says, which is not quite as warm as 2000-2001 with an average of 15.1 F. Nearly 500 daily record high temperatures were set or tied in Alaska in January. Every climate station in Alaska has seen a winter season in the top eight warmest. Nome, Deadhorse and Cold Bay have experienced their second-warmest winter on record. Homer and St. Paul Island are at number one. The Midwest Regional Climate Center (MRCC)'s winter severity index, which is based on temperature and snowfall, places Bettles in the mildest category so far this season. As of Feb. 17, Anchorage was 26 inches behind the historical average in snowfall. It had only had 4.3 inches of snow since Dec. 1, and the ground was almost bare.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Here's How Much Snow, Cold Is Typically Left After Groundhog Day – No Matter What Punxsutawney Phil Says
Punxsutawney Phil's verdict on Groundhog Day can feel like a turning point toward spring, but no matter what he says, there's typically plenty more snow and cold to come for many cities across the United States. The big picture on how much snow, on average, is still to come after Groundhog Day: Most cities in the northern and western U.S. average 10 or more inches of snow from Feb. 3 through spring, as shown in the map below from the Midwest Regional Climate Center, which is based on NOAA's 30-year average from 1991 through 2020. We dug even deeper into the data to lay out the specifics below on how much snow and cold is left for several cities across the U.S. About 25% to 55% of the average season's snow falls after Groundhog Day in the Northeast, Midwest, West and Alaska: Seventeen of the 25 cities we examined still picked up another foot or more of snow after Feb. 2, including Chicago, Detroit, New York City, Pittsburgh and Salt Lake City. Some cities average another 2 or more feet of snow after Groundhog Day: Anchorage, Billings, Buffalo and Cleveland are some of the cities in this club that usually have much more shoveling to come. Incredibly, in both Marquette, Michigan, and Tahoe City, in California's Sierra Nevada, another 82 to 90 inches of snow is typical after Feb. 2. Four of the seven cities with the highest percentage of seasonal snow after Groundhog Day are along the Northeast Interstate 95 corridor: Boston, New York City and Philadelphia each typically pick up about half of their season's snow after Feb. 2. This is mainly due to the propensity for major Northeast snowstorms in February and March. The last couple of winters didn't deliver such a storm, so it's not a guarantee. Even if the snow finally shuts off for the season, spring cold snaps can still be frustrating: Only four of the cities we examined typically see their last freeze of the season in March. Otherwise, most cities outside the Mountain West or not near the U.S.-Canadian border have to go into April to see their last freeze. This translates to about four weeks' worth of days after Groundhog Day of morning lows at least dipping to the freezing mark in New York, Philadelphia and St. Louis; at least 45 such freezing mornings in Chicago and Pittsburgh; 50 such days in Detroit and Spokane; and at least 60 freezing mornings after Feb. 2 in Denver, Fargo and Flagstaff. In some parts of the far northern U.S. or Mountain West, a freeze is possible much of the spring. So, even a pessimistic "six more weeks of winter" forecast from your local groundhog doesn't typically capture the propensity for winter weather to lag into spring. Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at and has been covering national and international weather since 1996. Extreme and bizarre weather are his favorite topics. Reach out to him on Bluesky, X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook.
