Earth ChangesS


Blackbox

North America Jet Stream, Recent Pattern is Unusual

June 2009 North America jet stream
© AccuWeather

The weather across large portions of the United States and Canada has been rather strange recently with extremes on both ends of the spectrum.

The main reason for the unusual weather has been the position of the jet stream. The jet stream has been pushed farther to the south than normal due to high pressure blocking in the far northern latitudes. These blocks have forced unseasonably chilly air into the Northern states and parts of the West, while unseasonably warm and dry weather has persisted from parts of Alaska through British Columbia and Washington state.

Cloud Lightning

Recent Upswing in Lightning

Have thunderstorms been more electrified this year?

So far, 2009 has been a deadly year for lightning strikes. Two people were killed on Wednesday, bringing the total number of lightning-related deaths to six, with 50 injuries reported total. A Southwest Airlines plane was struck by lightning in California earlier this week. Is this trend of lightning strikes on people and airplanes abnormal this year?

On average, 60 people are killed and over 350 people are injured by lightning each year, with June, July and August the most common months for deaths. In 2008, 27 people were killed by lightning and 303 injured.

As for aircraft, 66 have reported lightning strikes so far this year. Last year, 55 reported lightning strikes to airplanes occurred through May.

The number of deaths and the number of airplanes hit does not seem out of the ordinary this year. Actually, the number of lightning flashes is considerably less than what was reported this time last year. As of June 3, 2009, there have been 5,589,686 flashes, with 6,517,381 reported by June 3, 2008.

One of the reasons for this could be colder-than-normal weather across the northern tier of the country that has suppressed the number of thunderstorms and has significantly reduced the number of tornadoes this year. The number of reported tornadoes so far this year is 685, just over half of the average annual amount, which is 1,297.

Snowman

Dickinson North Dakota June snowfall first since 1951

Meanwhile, snow falls across areas of southwestern North Dakota, and did we mention it's June.

It's the first time since 1951that Dickinson residents have seen snow in June and it is the latest snowfall on record for the city.

Here's the white stuff in Richardton this afternoon.

According to the National Weather Service... there were unofficial reports of a couple of inches of snow in several southwestern towns...

Snowman

Alberta, Saskatchewan get snow in June

snow june 2009 Calgary
© Christina Ryan, Calgary Herald Seamen Keith Scott, Bill Buchanan and Gordon Rowan are caught hiding from the hail during the Military Museums Royal Tea Party for 600 Veterans and supporters on the 65th anniversary of D-Day

Ah June, when the long sunny days bring thoughts of swimming holes, tents and - toboggans?

Yes, snow has fallen in southern Alberta and Saskatchewan this weekend.

Bundled in a long coat and mittens to ward of the cold, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's wife, Laureen, led an annual parade in Diamond Valley, Alta., on Saturday, undeterred by the snowfall around her.

"It's lovely to be home," said Harper, who grew up in the area.

"I love it, no matter what the weather is."

In Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, which straddles the border between Alberta and Saskatchewan, forecasters reported a heavy snowfall.

"We had a report from the park there was 15 centimetres on the ground and still snowing heavily," said Dan Fulton with Environment Canada.

"We will be expecting total snow there of about 20 or maybe even 25 centimetres (Saturday) in the park."

Wolf

US: Isn't this June? Snow sticking around on Pikes Peak

No, Colorado Springs residents, your calendar isn't deceiving you. It is in fact June.

A glance to the west, in the rare moments this week when the sky has been clear, may suggest otherwise.

Pikes Peak is ensconced in snow, whiter than it was in January and February. A series of snowstorms since Memorial Day weekend has dropped 6 to 12 inches each, said Jack Glavan, manager of the Pikes Peak Highway. Another foot fell above treeline Tuesday, and snow drifts are 7 feet high in places, he said.

While not unheard of, since it can snow all year at 14,115 feet, so much snow is definitely unusual.

"This time of year, yeah, it sure is," said Pat Collrin, who provides visitor information in Colorado Springs for the U.S. Forest Service. "We're getting our winter in spring."

Better Earth

US: Rain, snow and a rescue from cold

Unseasonably wet and cold weather Friday resulted in fender benders, heavy snow and a rescue effort for schoolchildren who got cold on a Tuolumne County hike.

Medics treated four children after they suffered hypothermic symptoms while on a camping trip with their Napa Valley charter school in the Pinecrest Reservoir area, according to the Tuolumne County Sheriff's Department.

Sheriff's spokesman deputy Ken Diaz said the children were in triage at a fire station Friday afternoon.

He said 21 other children from Stone Bridge School were camping at Cleo's Bath near the reservoir. The other children were not sick and remained with their chaperones at the campsite.

Diaz said the children, along with school officials and two hiking guides, were out hiking Friday morning when the students began showing symptoms of hypothermia.

Igloo

It's June...so it must be snowing: Great British summer goes from sweltering to shivering in just a week

snow june 2009
© unknownTwins Elizabeth (left) and Jeanette McGregor play in the snow in Aviemore

Five days ago we were flocking to the beach, queueing for ice-creams and slathering on the sunscreen.

Yesterday, we were shivering in summer's first dusting of snow. Yes, snow.

After the hottest spell of the year so far, sleet and snow swept in across northern parts of Britain while the rest of the country also cooled down considerably.

The Cairngorms in Scotland were the chilliest, with temperatures falling to zero while the Pennines and Cumbrian fells managed a mere 3c (37f).

Even by British summer standards, that is a remarkable weather turnaround.

In the Cairngorms, two inches of snow meant visitors were able to build a rather surprised- looking summer snowman.

Cloud Lightning

Five tornadoes slam Colorado; 1 damages mall

Aurora - The National Weather Service says at least five tornadoes hit Colorado, and one damaged a mall in Aurora on Sunday.

There were no immediate reports of serious injuries.

The Weather Service says the tornado that damaged Southlands Mall touched down south of Buckley Air Force Base at 1:49 p.m. and may have been on the ground for about 30 minutes, going on an 8- to 10-mile path across southeast Aurora.

Bizarro Earth

Earthquake Magnitude 5.0 - Southeastern Alaska

Image
© US Geological Survey
Date-Time:
Sunday, June 07, 2009 at 23:24:39 UTC
Sunday, June 07, 2009 at 03:24:39 PM at epicenter

Location:
58.967°N, 136.719°W

Depth:
37.3 km (23.2 miles)

Region:
SOUTHEASTERN ALASKA

Distances:
60 km (37 miles) SSW (212°) from Mosquito Lake, AK

60 km (38 miles) SW (218°) from Covenant Life, AK

67 km (42 miles) SW (225°) from Klukwan, AK

763 km (474 miles) ESE (103°) from Anchorage, AK

Bizarro Earth

Earthquake Magnitude 5.3 - Chiapas, Mexico

Image
© US Geological Survey
Date-Time:
Sunday, June 07, 2009 at 21:26:47 UTC

Sunday, June 07, 2009 at 04:26:47 PM at epicenter

Location:
16.229°N, 92.779°W

Depth:
147.3 km (91.5 miles)

Region:
Chiapas Mexico

Distances:
60 km (35 miles) SSW of San Cristobal d/l Casas, Chiapas, Mexico

70 km (40 miles) SSE of Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, Mexico

300 km (185 miles) NW of GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala

765 km (475 miles) ESE of MEXICO CITY, D.F., Mexico