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2018 Was A Wet Year
Recent news reports noted that 2018 was the fourth hottest year on record. But the changing climate is not just about temperature. 2018 was also the third-wettest year since 1895, when steady record-keeping began.
Overall, the U.S. recorded 4.68 inches more precipitation in 2018 than the 20th century average. But all that rain and snow was nothing like evenly distributed. The eastern half of the country – especially in places like North Carolina and Virginia – saw record amounts of precipitation, while most of the West remained stuck in drought.
The warming climate leads to precipitation extremes at both ends,
meaning that wet places are likely to get wetter and dry places drier. There has been a marked upward trend in
short-duration extreme events. For
example, Cyclone Mekunu dumped almost 13 inches of rain on Salalah, Oman in 36
hours, more than double its annual average rainfall.
In the southeast and eastern U.S., the trend toward stronger storm
events is mostly driven by strong warming of the oceans that fringe their shores. Warm oceans evaporate more water into the air
and warm air holds more water than cooler air.
Warmer, moisture-laden air acts like a blanket over the land, keeping
heat trapped near the ground. Many of
the states that had their wettest-ever years also set records for high minimum
temperatures – their coldest temperatures were less cold than in the past.
Air temperatures are projected to warm up even further in the coming
years and, as a result, many scientists are anticipating that extreme precipitation
events will only get more extreme. The
pattern of drought in the west and wetness in the east is likely to stay.
**********
Web Links
2018 was the U.S.’s third-wettest year on record—here’s why
Photo, posted August 18, 2018, courtesy of Jim Lukach via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
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By Randy Simon
4.7
1515 ratings
Recent news reports noted that 2018 was the fourth hottest year on record. But the changing climate is not just about temperature. 2018 was also the third-wettest year since 1895, when steady record-keeping began.
Overall, the U.S. recorded 4.68 inches more precipitation in 2018 than the 20th century average. But all that rain and snow was nothing like evenly distributed. The eastern half of the country – especially in places like North Carolina and Virginia – saw record amounts of precipitation, while most of the West remained stuck in drought.
The warming climate leads to precipitation extremes at both ends,
meaning that wet places are likely to get wetter and dry places drier. There has been a marked upward trend in
short-duration extreme events. For
example, Cyclone Mekunu dumped almost 13 inches of rain on Salalah, Oman in 36
hours, more than double its annual average rainfall.
In the southeast and eastern U.S., the trend toward stronger storm
events is mostly driven by strong warming of the oceans that fringe their shores. Warm oceans evaporate more water into the air
and warm air holds more water than cooler air.
Warmer, moisture-laden air acts like a blanket over the land, keeping
heat trapped near the ground. Many of
the states that had their wettest-ever years also set records for high minimum
temperatures – their coldest temperatures were less cold than in the past.
Air temperatures are projected to warm up even further in the coming
years and, as a result, many scientists are anticipating that extreme precipitation
events will only get more extreme. The
pattern of drought in the west and wetness in the east is likely to stay.
**********
Web Links
2018 was the U.S.’s third-wettest year on record—here’s why
Photo, posted August 18, 2018, courtesy of Jim Lukach via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
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