Hotter days: does our planet have a fever?

Solar flare composite image by NASA / JAXA

The world did not end in 2012. There was no magnetic pole reversal or solar flare catastrophe. But for one country at least, 2012 was a marked year of solar intensity and extreme weather. The United States (excluding Hawaii and Alaska) experienced its warmest year, by far, in 2012 since records began 118 years ago says the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA). NOAA scientists also say the new record significantly sets itself apart from the rest of the data, breaking the last record set in 1998 by a full degree versus the much more typical fractions of a degree. Higher temperatures translate to extreme weather as both record years are also tagged as the United States’ two most extreme weather years.

It’s beginning to look a lot like winter and summer too

…at the same time in the same country, when it is actually the beginning of spring.

A late severe winter storm buried northern Arizona up to 3 feet in snow the day before the start of spring, while most of the eastern U.S.basks in summer temperatures. This unusual weather reminds me of…well last week’s unusual weather that brought deluge in Louisiana and unseasonably warm temperatures to Chicago. Whatever the arguments surrounding climate change are it certainly looks and feels like a changing climate.

Severe floods in Louisana, record warm temps in Chicago

It’s a little late in the season for winter floods and a little early in the season for spring/summer temperatures. And yet, here we are in mid-March of 2012 experiencing both. Chicago is at sunny, near record-high temperatures in the upper 70s, while parts of Louisiana is dealing with the aftermath of a 15 to 20 inch deluge of rain.

(c) Louisiana State Police

Together, the occurrences speak of a new balance, albeit a more disruptive one. Like the more disruptive highs and lows of mood swings, this unusual weather is hard to live with. And it signifies that something is amiss.

Climate change or armageddon?

Or maybe both. It is written that we will sense the coming end of ages the same way we can see the subtle signs of summer.

Photo courtesy of Dennis Fujimoto, Garden Island Newspaper

This past week was full of freaky weather in paradise. Starting with Sunday and continuing through Tuesday, record-breaking rainfall battered Kauai and Oahu causing flooding, collapsed roads, landslides, and a declaration of disaster by the Governor of Hawaii (not to mention nightmarish traffic).

Photo courtesy Cameron Brooks

Thunder and lightning added to the awesomeness of it all.

On Wednesday, the storm passed over the islands heading out to open ocean, only to re-energize and reverse course for round two, back across the islands!