As 26 American states record driest October on record, South Africa hit by early season heatwave with temperatures reaching 41CAcross the US, a combination of weeks of dry conditions and record-breaking temperatures has led to the emergence of “flash droughts.” A persistent area of high pressure over North America has limited rainfall across much of the country, with 100 weather stations across 26 states recording their driest October on record, despite high rainfall totals from Hurricanes Helene and Milton across southeastern states in late September and early October. In the southern Appalachians, where Helene dropped nearly 800 mm of rain, some weather stations have since reported no measurable precipitation. As of 28 October, data indicates that an eighth of the US experienced zero rainfall that month, affecting major cities such as New York, Houston, and San Francisco.Compounding these dry conditions, high temperatures across the US have further stressed already parched landscapes. For example, in the High Plains and the south, temperatures soared 6 to 7C above normal during the last week of October. As a result, according to the National Drought Center, 77.8% of the US population were experiencing “abnormally dry” or “drought” conditions by the end of the month. Continue reading…
Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/04/us-weather-tracker-zero-rain-unseasonable-heat-flash-droughts
Author : Brendan Wood and Dan Harris
Publish date : 2024-11-04 08:49:50
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Weather tracker: Zero rain and unseasonable heat cause ‘flash droughts’ across US
