USA: 2012 warmest & second most extreme year on record

2012 marked the warmest year on record for the United States and was also the second most extreme ever, the US government agency charged with monitoring weather events says.

The hot weather contributed to a record drought which, at its peak, parched 61% of the nation, destroyed crops worth billions and slowed shipping on the mighty Mississippi River as water levels reached historic lows.

Those dry conditions helped spark massive wildfires that charred 9.2 million acres, the third highest annual figure on record, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said.

The nation suffered through 11 weather disasters that each caused $1 billion in damage or more, including hurricanes Sandy and Isaac and deadly tornado outbreaks in the Great Plains, Texas and the Ohio Valley.

Scientists have warned that such conditions are just a taste of what is to come as a result of climate change and advocates urged swift action to limit the impacts.

“This disturbing news puts the heat on President (Barack) Obama to take immediate action against carbon pollution,” said Shaye Wolf, climate science director with the Center for Biological Diversity.

“Science tells us that our rapidly warming planet will endure more heat waves, droughts and extreme weather. The president needs to start making full use of the Clean Air Act to fight greenhouse gas emissions, before it’s too late.”  Sandy proved the most destructive disaster of 2012 after it made landfall near New York, killing 131 people, knocking out power to eight million people and destroying tens of thousands of homes and businesses.

Obama signed a bill Sunday approving $9.7 billion in emergency disaster aid for victims of the superstorm, which is just a small wedge of the comprehensive $60.4 billion package sought by the White House.

2012 was the third year in a row with 19 named tropical storms, 10 of which packed hurricane strength. One was a major hurricane.

Some relief came from one of the slowest tornado seasons in decades with just 878 confirmed twisters and 58 reports still pending review.

However, it was still a deadly and destructive year: three tornado outbreaks caused at least $1 billion in damage and there were 68 tornado-related fatalities.

Every one of the 48 states in the continental United States had an above-average annual temperature in 2012 and 19 of those broke records.

The average temperature for 2012 was 55.3 F (12.9 C), which is 3.2 F above the 20th century average, and 1.0 F above 1998, the previous warmest year.

The warm temperatures meant that the winter season “was nearly non-existent for much of the eastern half of the nation,” NOAA said.

The December 2011 to February 2012 period was marked by near-record warmth across the US-Canadian border, the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and the Northeast.

Many locations had near-record low snowfall totals for the winter, which left soil parched and contributed to the drought.

“Early spring brought much of the same, when the contiguous US had its warmest March on record, with a monthly temperature 8.6°F above average,” NOAA said.

July also broke records with an average temperature of 76.9 F (24.9 C), which was 3.6 F above average and the hottest month ever observed for the contiguous United States.

A sweltering June and August contributed to a summer average temperature of 73.8 F (23.2 C), which made 2012 the second hottest summer on record by only hundredths of a degree.

Almost 100 million people — nearly a third of the nation — sweated through 10 or more days of summer temperatures greater than 100°F (37.8 C)

The nationally-averaged precipitation total of 26.57 inches (67.5 centimetres) was 2.57 inches (6.5 centimetres) below average and the 15th driest year since record-keeping began in 1895.

Yet Florida had its wettest summer on record, thanks to the tropical storms, and Minnesota had record flooding after a summer storm dumped eight inches (20 centimetres) of rain on Duluth in a 24-hour period.

This was also the driest year for the nation since 1988, when 25.25 inches (64.1 centimetres) of precipitation were observed.

The US Climate Extremes Index — which evaluates extremes in temperature and precipitation along with tropical storms that make landfall — was nearly twice the average value and second only to 1998.

Source: Times Live

The causes of climate change are often disputed but whether man-induced or ‘natural’, climate change is producing extreme, unpredictable weather in many parts of the world. Governments are often slow to adapt to changes such as what the planet is experiencing now.  Do not rely too heavily on municipal services as they do not cope well with environmental disasters either.  One of the first services to be affected by disasters is water supply.  Every household and business should have a reserve supply of water stored in water tanks.  One step further is to install rainwater harvesting systems with rain water tanks or rain barrels.  Rainwater tanks can store rain water for unforeseen water supply cuts, even if only a minor water supply disruption lasting a day or two.  While neighbours will be queuing with buckets and containers at the nearest emergency water tanker supply, those with rainwater tanks will barely notice the service disruption.  Click on the links below to find your ideal jojo water tank, jojo rainwater tank, jojo tank stand, jojo septic tank or other high quality JoJo Tanks product- proudly made in South Africa to withstand harsh African conditions.

JoJo Tanks South Africa offer a wide range of plastic water tanks and chemical tanks to suit every household, business or agricultural need, including silo tanks and silo tank stands.  See JoJo Tanks VERTICAL TANKS, HORIZONTAL TANKS (transporter tanks), STEEL TANK STANDS and OTHER JOJO PRODUCTS. Also see JoJo Tanks’ NEW 6000 LITRE UNDERGROUND TANKS. Also see our FAQ and WATER TANK PRICES.

JoJo’s superior polyethylene plastic water tanks and steel water tank stands make JoJo Tanks the leaders in plastic water tank technology and the quality, affordability and guarantee on these water tanks make JoJo products the best choice in South Africa.  JoJo’s water tanks and chemical tanks come standard with a number of features that are often lacking on cheaper/inferior plastic tanks made by other companies in South Africa.

We are authorised JoJo Tanks dealers in South Africa and dispatch orders directly from JoJo Tank depots to save on transport costs. Full range of JoJo Tanks products and JoJo water tanks for sale.  CONTACT US for a quote on the right JoJo water tank or other JoJo product for you.  Special discounts are available on multiple orders of chemical tanks and water tanks and to our commercial and government customers.

SPECIAL ON MULTIPLE ORDERS OF 10000 LITRE JOJO WATER TANKS…CONTACT US FOR A FREE QUOTE!

(15000 litre and 20000 litre JoJo vertical water tanks also available on order)

Live in the USA and need rainwater harvesting equipment?  Click HERE!