Bob Henson

Which U.S. county was "hurricane-coned" the most in 2023? How much damage did hurricanes wreak versus severe weather? The answers to these and other "what the ???" questions may surprise you.

yaleclimateconnections.org

Ten ‘you must be kidding’ weather and climate facts of 2023 » Yale Climate Connections

The year was packed with bizarre weather events and unmistakable signs of climate change.

09:20 AM - Dec 26, 2023

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Yet another shocking/not-shocking global monthly temp record in Nov, as stored ocean heat released by El Niño spikes atop long-term warming. Expect more monthly records into early 2024, after which odds of a new La Niña event start to go up.

yaleclimateconnections.org

Last month was by far the world’s hottest November on record » Yale Climate Connections

For the third month in row, the planet broke an all-time monthly heat record by a remarkable margin.

12:26 PM - Dec 14, 2023

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During a recent strong El Niño event (2009-10), the mid-Atlantic got buried under 2-3 feet of snow. Too soon to know if a sequel is in store, but other North American calling cards of El Niño—including a surge of holiday warmth—could arrive soon.

yaleclimateconnections.org

How will El Niño affect the U.S. this winter? » Yale Climate Connections

Strong El Niño events like this one have classic calling cards, but surprises still happen — especially on a warming planet.

11:16 AM - Dec 12, 2023

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Nobody expected #COP28 to abolish fossil fuels. But if it can't fully envision & articulate a phaseout—or even a general phasedown—then the mammoth lever for int'l peer pressure that is the #ParisAgreement goes to waste.

https://www.latimes.com/op...

08:48 PM - Dec 11, 2023

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Could be record-warm for much of North America in the last few days of 2023, as long-term warming gets a nudge from El Niño. The last strong El Niño brought record-melting E Coast holiday warmth in 2015 (e.g., NYC was 72F on 12/24 and 66F on 12/25).

04:16 PM - Dec 09, 2023

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3 of the last 4 hurricane seasons have either exhausted their lists of Atlantic storm names or come close. Maybe it's time to consider returning to the 26-name lists – including Q, U, X, Y, and Z – used in the 1950s.

yaleclimateconnections.org

Queeny, Undine, Xrae, and more: Abandoned hurricane names of the 1950s » Yale Climate Connections

The National Hurricane Center once used all 26 letters of the alphabet for storm names. With tropical activity increasing, should they try it again?

11:26 AM - Dec 05, 2023

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The annual UN climate conferences can seem overwhelming. Here's a quick guide to what's happening in Dubai this week and next.

https://yaleclimateconnect...

yaleclimateconnections.org

What to watch for at the COP28 U.N. climate meeting in Dubai » Yale Climate Connections

The meeting is a key step in bolstering national pledges to cut heat-trapping pollution.

10:16 AM - Nov 28, 2023

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It's not a named storm, and it may not get named at all, but Potential Tropical Cyclone 22 is still one of the most threatening systems of the entire 2023 Atlantic season thus far.

yaleclimateconnections.org

Potential Tropical Cyclone 22 bringing dangerous heavy rains to the Caribbean » Yale Climate Connections

The system is potentially one of the deadliest tropical weather threats of the entire 2023 Atlantic hurricane season.

12:11 PM - Nov 17, 2023

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If you're getting what seem like mixed signals on whether Earth has already warmed 1.5°C, here's one reason: the answers—and the implications—vary for different time frames.

https://yaleclimateconnect...

yaleclimateconnections.org

Can we still avoid 1.5 degrees C of global warming? » Yale Climate Connections

Global temperatures are approaching a crucial threshold.

12:01 PM - Nov 09, 2023

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Here's my writeup with Dr. Jeff Masters on disastrous category 5 Hurricane Otis, whose blistering rate of intensification took many by surprise—including forecasters.

https://yaleclimateconnect...

yaleclimateconnections.org

Nightmare scenario: Category 5 Hurricane Otis devastates Acapulco » Yale Climate Connections

The storm rapidly intensified, boosted by abnormally warm ocean temperatures.

02:44 PM - Oct 25, 2023

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Cat 4 #Otis poses a sudden, dire, and unusual threat to the Acapulco area. No major hurricane landfall has been recorded within 50 miles of the city, as is now predicted for #Otis early Wed.

https://yaleclimateconnect...

yaleclimateconnections.org

Otis gains strength as it approaches the southern Mexican coast » Yale Climate Connections

It's a busy week in the tropics, with landfalling tropical cyclones occurring or expected to occur in Bangladesh, Yemen, Vanuatu, Nicaragua, and Mexico.

05:20 PM - Oct 24, 2023

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Never mind March Madness: we've got an October Onslaught of tropical cyclones now duking it out across the world's record-warm oceans.

https://yaleclimateconnect...

yaleclimateconnections.org

Tropical cyclones we're watching: Tammy, Norma, Otis, Tej, 95L, 06B, and Lola » Yale Climate Connections

Record-warm global oceans are keeping the tropics humming into late October.

01:03 PM - Oct 23, 2023

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Big shout-out to the faculty and students at Plymouth State Univ, West Los Angeles College, and Vanderbilt Univ who brought me up to speed on their wildly diverse & burgeoning programs.

https://yaleclimateconnect...

yaleclimateconnections.org

College campuses launch new ‘climate studies’ majors » Yale Climate Connections

These interdisciplinary degree programs prepare students for careers in the public, nonprofit, and private sectors protecting the Earth.

01:48 AM - Oct 19, 2023

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Hurricane season isn't over yet! The next few days may bring tropical threats to the northern Leeward Islands and Mexico's Pacific coast, and eventually to the North Indian Ocean.

https://yaleclimateconnect...

yaleclimateconnections.org

New named storms possible this week in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific » Yale Climate Connections

As the 2023 season continues to bubble, the Northern Leeward Islands and Mexico’s Pacific coast will need to keep an eye out.

12:51 PM - Oct 16, 2023

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While extreme rains swamp the NYC area, two tropical storms are interacting in odd ways and frustrating forecasters.

https://yaleclimateconnect...

yaleclimateconnections.org

Tropical Storms Philippe and Rina do the Fujiwhara tango » Yale Climate Connections

The two storms are exceptionally close to each other, resulting in a very difficult forecast situation.

01:22 PM - Sep 29, 2023

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Many folks could be startled by the punch that newborn Tropical Storm Ophelia will pack. Multiple hazards this weekend from North Carolina to New Jersey.
https://yaleclimateconnect...

02:48 PM - Sep 22, 2023

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#PTC16 will likely be a fast-forming tropical storm by late Friday, with heavy rains up to New England, storm surge from SC to MD, and 40-60 mph winds possible.

https://yaleclimateconnect...

yaleclimateconnections.org

Tropical Storm Warnings flying as Potential Tropical Cyclone 16 heads for North Carolina » Yale Climate Connections

And in the far eastern Atlantic, a tropical wave that is expected to develop into a tropical depression by next week could be a long-range threat to the Caribbean.

12:17 PM - Sep 21, 2023

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Now akin to a large, high-end tropical storm, post-tropical #Lee pushing into Canada. Biggest impacts on trees and power lines: > 1/4 million customers w/out power in Maine, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick.
https://yaleclimateconnect...

02:17 PM - Sep 16, 2023

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So glad I was able to pitch in as an interviewee on this podcast. Pictured is Lola Hall, who inspired me to learn about weather when she issued a tornado warning on Oklahoma City TV when I was seven. Thank you, Lola! 1/2

https://twitter.com/Slate/...

07:36 PM - Sep 14, 2023

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Dr. Jeff Masters and I put together this summary of the meteorological, structural, and climate-change factors that fed into the horrific Libya floods.

https://yaleclimateconnect...

yaleclimateconnections.org

The Libya floods: a climate and infrastructure catastrophe » Yale Climate Connections

The disaster is Africa's deadliest storm on record; 7 of Africa's top 30 deadliest weather disasters since 1900 have occurred in the past 2 years.

12:33 AM - Sep 14, 2023

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Still days to come before Hurricane #Lee approaches Atlantic Canada/New England. The most likely landfall spot is Nova Scotia, but a leftward angle could bring it to Maine.

https://yaleclimateconnect...

yaleclimateconnections.org

Hurricane Lee slows and reorganizes » Yale Climate Connections

Rip currents and beach erosion from Lee may affect large stretches of the U.S. East Coast.

03:20 PM - Sep 11, 2023

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NOAA's August wrap-up report confirms what folks from AZ to FL experienced first hand. Many Sun Belt locations had their hottest month and hottest summer in more than a century of recordkeeping.

https://yaleclimateconnect...

yaleclimateconnections.org

Summer 2023 broke dozens of daily and monthly heat records » Yale Climate Connections

Not all of the U.S. suffered – but where it was bad, it was off-the-charts bad.

12:15 PM - Sep 11, 2023

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Lee rocketed to fearsome Cat 5 strength, then weakened sharply, and is now rebounding. It's still roughly a week away from a potential landfall in Atlantic Canada (and New England can't yet be ruled out).

https://yaleclimateconnect...

yaleclimateconnections.org

A modest rebound expected for Hurricane Lee » Yale Climate Connections

After a dramatic surge in strength to category 5, followed by an startling dip, Lee is intensifying once more.

01:14 PM - Sep 10, 2023

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Apologies for the radio silence! Here is my latest w/Jeff Masters on Hurricane Lee, which needs to be watched by folks in Atlantic Canada and New England. Still about a week or more from any landfall threat.

https://yaleclimateconnect...

yaleclimateconnections.org

A weakened Hurricane Lee battling wind shear » Yale Climate Connections

Down to Cat 3 strength on Saturday, Lee could still threaten U.S. or Canadian shores in about a week.

02:32 PM - Sep 09, 2023

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TD 10 has formed and will likely be Tropical Storm Idalia by Sunday. Landfall expected on the FL Gulf Coast in Tues-Wed time frame. Biggest Qs: where and how strong? High-end potential is high indeed.

https://yaleclimateconnect...

yaleclimateconnections.org

Yucatan disturbance sets its sights on Florida » Yale Climate Connections

The system is expected to make landfall by midweek as a tropical storm or hurricane.

06:07 PM - Aug 26, 2023

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After triggering flash floods today in the Dominican Republic, TS Franklin may intensify as it moves away and become yet another Atlantic hurricane north of the deep tropics.

https://yaleclimateconnect...

yaleclimateconnections.org

Franklin dumps heavy rain on Hispaniola, Puerto Rico » Yale Climate Connections

There may be two Atlantic hurricanes this weekend – both outside the tropics.

02:16 PM - Aug 23, 2023

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Crunch time: #Hilary about to bring huge rains to the U.S. West, & in the Atlantic we have a new tropical storm (#Emily) + four other systems of interest, w/two landfalls possible by midweek.
https://yaleclimateconnect...

yaleclimateconnections.org

Hilary races toward western U.S. as a potentially epic rainmaker » Yale Climate Connections

The tropical storm's vast shield of rich moisture could dump all-time record rains from California to Idaho.

04:01 PM - Aug 20, 2023

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Much of the #Hilary attention is on SoCal, but Las Vegas could get its wettest storm ever observed. The 3-day record is 2.59" on Aug 20-22, 1957. NWS: "Concrete washes throughout the Las Vegas Valley will be incredibly dangerous and potentially deadly."
https://www.weather.gov/ve...

11:15 PM - Aug 18, 2023

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