NRDC released 2011 Extreme Weather Map: Thousands of weather records broken in the US!
Records for extreme heat and extreme cold were broken in all 50 U.S. states in 2011, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, an international nonprofit environmental organization. The extremes at time have been disastrous, costing Americans an estimated overall $53 billion. NRDC released a web-based extreme-weather mapping tool showing exactly how areas have been hit, including state-by-state analyses on weather extremes, record breakers, rainfall and snowfall. In 2011, there were at least 2,941 monthly weather records broken by extreme events that struck communities in the US. The frequency and intensity of some extreme events is likely to worsen with climate change.
NRDC reports that 2011 has been a year of unparalleled extremes: 14 disastrous weather events in the US so far this year have resulted in over a billion dollars in property damage – an all-time record breaking number – and their estimated $53 billion price tag doesn’t include health costs. As shown recently, in a first-of-its-kind study published in the journal Health Affairs, when health-related costs of extreme events are calculated, the total tally increases substantially and will likely continue to climb due to climate change. 7 of the 2011 extreme events – a record-high number – are the type expected to worsen due to climate change.
Climate scientists are saying that these events may be part of a troubling trend influenced by climate change. This trend has also been identified by the international reinsurance company MunichRe as they concluded that from 1980 through 2011, the frequency of extreme events in the U.S. is rising. A Special Report on Extreme Events from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has already concluded that the effects of climate change will intensify extreme heat, heavy precipitation, and maximum wind speeds of tropical storms.
Climate change is one of the most serious public health threats facing the nation, but few people are aware of how it can affect them. Children, the elderly, and communities living in poverty are among the most vulnerable.
Methods for Developing NRDC’s “Extreme Weather Map 2011”
Multistate extreme events
Click here to get some info about large events of 2011:
- Extreme Snowstorms (Jan)
- Extreme Storm: Groundhog Day Blizzard (Jan 31 – Feb 3)*
- Extreme Snowstorm: Western Nebraska (Apr 14-16)
- Extreme Floods (Apr – May)*
- Heat, Drought & Wildfires (Apr – Jul)*
- Extreme Floods (May – Jul)*
- Extreme Drought (Jul – Sep)
- Hurricane Irene (Aug 20-29)*
- Tropical Storm Lee (Sep 3-8)*
- Extreme Storm: Early Snow (Oct 29)*
- Extreme Wildfires (2011)
- * Greater than $1 billion in damages
- ** There were also another 7 extreme tornado events in 2011 with greater than $1 billion in damages each not shown on the map. We don’t know yet whether climate change will worsen tornadoes – additional studies are needed.
State summaries
Alaska has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 5 counties and a total of 9 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 6 counties and a total of 15 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 8 counties and a total of 11 broken snowfall records
Alabama has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 14 counties and a total of 23 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 14 counties and a total of 19 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 2 counties and a total of 3 broken snowfall records
Arkansas has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 32 counties and a total of 80 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 17 counties and a total of 21 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 11 counties and a total of 13 broken snowfall records
- Multi-million dollar losses from extreme flooding
- Historic drought and wildfires
Arizona has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 7 counties and a total of 19 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 5 counties and a total of 11 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 2 counties and a total of 4 broken snowfall records
- Historic drought and wildfires
California has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 10 counties and a total of 14 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 25 counties and a total of 57 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 6 counties and a total of 19 broken snowfall records
Colorado has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 8 counties and a total of 10 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 11 counties and a total of 18 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 3 counties and a total of 4 broken snowfall records
Connecticut has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 5 counties and a total of 13 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 3 counties and a total of 8 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 6 counties and a total of 12 broken snowfall records
- Multi-million dollar losses from extreme flooding and hurricane damage
- 3 billion dollars in damage from October snowstorm
- Snowiest January on record
Delaware has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 1 county and a total of 1 broken heat record
- Record-breaking rainfall in 2 counties and a total of 2 broken rainfall records
Florida has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 20 counties and a total of 33 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 19 counties and a total of 23 broken rainfall records
- Historic drought
Georgia has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 11 counties and a total of 17 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 10 counties and a total of 14 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 6 counties and a total of 7 broken snowfall records
Hawaii has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 1 county and a total of 1 broken heat record
- Record-breaking rainfall in 4 counties and a total of 23 broken rainfall records
Iowa has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 9 counties and a total of 11 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 12 counties and a total of 17 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 11 counties and a total of 14 broken snowfall records
- Multi-million dollar losses from extreme flooding
Idaho has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 7 counties and a total of 7 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 9 counties and a total of 11 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 5 counties and a total of 6 broken snowfall records
Illinois has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 16 counties and a total of 26 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 17 counties and a total of 23 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 30 counties and a total of 39 broken snowfall records
Indiana has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 7 counties and a total of 12 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 19 counties and a total of 28 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 3 counties and a total of 7 broken snowfall records
Kansas has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 29 counties and a total of 73 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 19 counties and a total of 32 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 25 counties and a total of 29 broken snowfall records
- Historic drought and wildfires
- Multi-million dollar losses from extreme flooding
Kentucky has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 6 counties and a total of 16 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 16 counties and a total of 30 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 2 counties and a total of 3 broken snowfall records
Louisiana has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 14 counties and a total of 28 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 6 counties and a total of 7 broken rainfall records
- Multi-million dollar losses from extreme flooding
- Historic drought and wildfires
Massachusetts has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 8 counties and a total of 29 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 9 counties and a total of 22 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 7 counties and a total of 22 broken snowfall records
- Multi-million dollar losses from extreme flooding and hurricane damage
Maryland has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 8 counties and a total of 17 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 7 counties and a total of 13 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 2 counties and a total of 4 broken snowfall records
Maine has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 7 counties and a total of 12 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 6 counties and a total of 13 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 6 counties and a total of 9 broken snowfall records
Michigan has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 12 counties and a total of 17 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 24 counties and a total of 47 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 13 counties and a total of 16 broken snowfall records
Minnesota has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 13 counties and a total of 16 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 19 counties and a total of 31 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 16 counties and a total of 21 broken snowfall records
Missouri has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 26 counties and a total of 51 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 21 counties and a total of 29 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 39 counties and a total of 53 broken snowfall records
- Multi-million dollar losses from extreme flooding
Mississippi has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 12 counties and a total of 17 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 24 counties and a total of 32 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 6 counties and a total of 9 broken snowfall records
- Multi-million dollar losses from extreme flooding
Montana has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 16 counties and a total of 22 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 18 counties and a total of 27 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 10 counties and a total of 13 broken snowfall records
- Multi-million dollar losses from extreme flooding
North Carolina has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 28 counties and a total of 54 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 14 counties and a total of 17 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 4 counties and a total of 4 broken snowfall records
- Multi-million dollar losses from extreme flooding and hurricane damage
North Dakota has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 15 counties and a total of 18 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 12 counties and a total of 18 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 9 counties and a total of 12 broken snowfall records
- Multi-million dollar losses from extreme flooding
Nebraska has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 4 counties and a total of 4 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 16 counties and a total of 32 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 4 counties and a total of 4 broken snowfall records
- Multi-million dollar losses from extreme flooding
New Hampshire has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 5 counties and a total of 12 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 6 counties and a total of 26 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 8 counties and a total of 17 broken snowfall records
New Jersey has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 6 counties and a total of 13 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 10 counties and a total of 15 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 6 counties and a total of 7 broken snowfall records
- Multi-million dollar losses from extreme flooding and hurricane damage
- Snowiest January on record
New Mexico has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 10 counties and a total of 21 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 5 counties and a total of 7 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 2 counties and a total of 2 broken snowfall records
- Historic drought and wildfires
Nevada has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 4 counties and a total of 4 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 6 counties and a total of 7 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 3 counties and a total of 3 broken snowfall records
New York has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 15 counties and a total of 19 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 35 counties and a total of 60 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 14 counties and a total of 19 broken snowfall records
- Multi-million dollar losses from extreme flooding and hurricane damage
- Snowiest January on record
Ohio has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 6 counties and a total of 7 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 19 counties and a total of 34 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 1 counties and a total of 1 broken snowfall records
Oklahoma has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 21 counties and a total of 50 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 8 counties and a total of 11 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 18 counties and a total of 21 broken snowfall records
- Historic drought and wildfires
Oregon has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 4 counties and a total of 5 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 12 counties and a total of 20 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 3 counties and a total of 3 broken snowfall records
Pennsylvania has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 19 counties and a total of 44 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 28 counties and a total of 55 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 29 counties and a total of 49 broken snowfall records
- Flooding and damage from the wettest September on record
Rhode Island has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking snow in 1 county and a total of 1 broken snowfall record
- Extreme flooding and hurricane damage
South Carolina has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 14 counties and a total of 20 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 5 counties and a total of 5 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 1 county and a total of 1 broken snowfall record
South Dakota has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 13 counties and a total of 19 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 9 counties and a total of 9 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 12 counties and a total of 14 broken snowfall records
- Multi-million dollar losses from extreme flooding
Tennessee has experienced so far in 2011:
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- Record-breaking heat in 15 counties and a total of 24 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 20 counties and a total of 25 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 3 counties and a total of 3 broken snowfall records
- Multi-million dollar losses from extreme flooding
Texas has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 123 counties and a total of 323 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 26 counties and a total of 30 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 9 counties and a total of 12 broken snowfall records
- Historic drought and wildfires
Utah has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 7 counties and a total of 9 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 9 counties and a total of 13 broken rainfall records
Virginia has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 13 counties and a total of 27 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 19 counties and a total of 32 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 5 counties and a total of 5 broken snowfall records
- Multi-million dollar losses from extreme flooding and hurricane damage
Vermont has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 1 county and a total of 1 broken heat record
- Record-breaking rainfall in 9 counties and a total of 27 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 7 counties and a total of 9 broken snowfall records
- Multi-million dollar losses from extreme flooding and hurricane damage
Washington has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 3 counties and a total of 6 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 12 counties and a total of 22 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 5 counties and a total of 8 broken snowfall records
Wisconsin has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 10 counties and a total of 17 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 15 counties and a total of 19 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 23 counties and a total of 32 broken snowfall records
West Virginia has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 12 counties and a total of 12 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 6 counties and a total of 8 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 3 counties and a total of 3 broken snowfall records
Wyoming has experienced so far in 2011:
- Record-breaking heat in 12 counties and a total of 19 broken heat records
- Record-breaking rainfall in 12 counties and a total of 25 broken rainfall records
- Record-breaking snow in 1 county and a total of 1 broken snowfall record
[…] Records for extreme heat and extreme cold were broken in all 50 U.S. states in 2011, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, an international nonprofit environmental organization. The extremes at time have been disastrous, costing Americans an estimated overall $53 billion. NRDC released a web-based extreme-weather mapping tool showing exactly how areas have been hit, including state-by-state analyses on weather extremes, record breakers, rainfall and snowfall. In 2011, there were at least 2,941 monthly weather records broken by extreme events that struck communities in the US. The frequency and intensity of some extreme events is likely to worsen with climate change. https://watchers.news/2011/12/11/nrdc-released-2011-extreme-weathe… […]