15
$1 Billion-Plus Disasters
2016 was the second-warmest year on record
in the U.S., according to NOAA’s latest annual national weather and
climate report. The average nationwide temperature came in at 54.9 degrees
Fahrenheit – 2.9 degrees warmer than the long-term average.
It also was the 20th consecutive year of above-average annual
temperature. Long-term average temperatures were higher than the norm in all 50
states, with Alaska warming
more than any other, NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information
(NCEI) highlights.
Losses resulting from 15 each totaled more than $1
billion while claiming 138 lives.
The U.S. suffered through the following weather/climate-related
disasters in 2016, according to NOAA:
- 1 drought (affected multiple areas);
- 1 wildfire (affected multiple areas);
- 4 inland floods;
- 8 severe storms; and
- 1 hurricane (Matthew).
Offering a longer term perspective, NOAA notes that the U.S. has
experienced more than 200 weather and climate disasters since 1980, the overall
damages from which exceed $1.1 trillion.
More in the way of weather extremes was evident in terms of
precipitation. Nationwide, precipitation totaled 31.70 inches, making 2016 the
24th wettest year on record. Rainfall and other forms of precipitation varied
widely across the U.S., however.
The number of inland flooding events, for example, was more than
double the annual record-high. The national drought footprint widened from
about 18 percent in January to about 23 percent by the end of the year.
Overall, the average area of drought came in just below 19
percent, however; the smallest since 2010, according to a NOAA news release.
NOAA’s 2016 climate research report was released as President-elect
Donald Trump prepares for his inauguration.
The science-based results are
unambiguous and should only serve to strengthen doubts regarding the wisdom
of Trump’s promises to
wipe all federal climate research funding from federal budgets.
Further information from NOAA’s 2016 national weather/climate
report is available online on the NCEI website.
*Images credit: NOAA