I interviewed Gerald Meehl of NCAR by Skype for the most recent Yale Video (check that out if you haven’t yet).
We discussed the ongoing drought, extremes in precipitation, and expectations for the future.
Here’s the extended interview, from July 18.
Rain events become more extreme:
http://www.environmentamerica.org/reports/ame/when-it-rains-it-pours
” Extreme downpours are now happening 30 percent more often nationwide than in 1948. In other words, large rain or snowstorms that happened once every 12 months, on average, in the middle of the 20th century now happen every nine months. Moreover, the largest annual storms now produce 10 percent more precipitation, on average.”
Drought sends tornado chasers to Canada:
http://www.climatecentral.org/news/us-loses-to-canada-in-july-tornado-competition/
“The New Normal Is There is No Normal” Dept.: Joplin, MO suffered a devastating tornado in 2011. In July, 2012, they had 0.00 inches of precipitation.