New Zealand Snowstorm Believed To Be Heaviest In 30 Years (VIDEO)

New Zealanders were witnesses to what some forecasters are describing as a once-in-a-lifetime event Monday as the nation was hit with its heaviest snowstorm in 30 years.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/15/new-zealand-snowstorm_n_927454.html?ir=Green

Twilight of the Glaciers

the namesake glaciers, which, I had recently learned, might be around for only another decade or so. Given that a century and a half ago there were 150 and now there are 25, the trip makes me an enlistee in the practice known by a somewhat prickly term: last-chance tourism.

http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/07/31/travel/glacier-national-park-montana-fading-glaciers.html

It's official: Record June runoff to swollen Missouri River

Close to home, record spring snowfall led to raging rivers and flood advisories. Boulder Creek, which in mid-July flowed at nearly 1,000 cubic feet per second, spilled out over the adjacent bike path. Fort Collins shut down city access to the Cache La Poudre River, and restrictions were in place on other rivers across the state.

http://www2.ucar.edu/staffnotes/news/4978/when-waters-rise

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers answers FAQs about 2011 flood

Flooding commenced with unseasonable heavy snows across the Great Plains. This was followed by three to six times the normal rainfall in May in eastern Montana, northern Wyoming, and the western Dakotas. Then the snow pack melt came perhaps two weeks later than usual with an accumulation that was around 23 to 40 percent greater than normal.

http://www.cass-news.com/articles/2011/07/25/news/local/doc4e2da4d018f56257550923.txt

East Coast sees slight relief from dangerous heat wave

At its peak, the heat wave put some 132 million people under a heat alert and was blamed for as many as 34 deaths, according to the National Weather Service.

"The huge area of high pressure at most levels of the atmosphere responsible for the dangerous, record-setting heat in multiple states is backing out of the northeastern U.S. and neighboring Canada," AccuWeather.com's senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/25/us-weather-heatwave-idUSTRE76O39O20110725

Heat Wave Shows No Sign Of Breaking

WACO (July 25, 2011)—The National Weather Service has again extended the heat advisory for much of Central Texas and temperatures continue to soar to near record levels.

The entire state continues to suffer an extreme drought.

http://www.kwtx.com/weather/headlines/Heat_Wave_Shows_No_Sign_Of_Breaking_126122868.html

Comverge's Swift Response Prevents Record Breaking East Coast Heat Wave From Affecting Grid Stability

"Over the last month the weather in many eastern states has been brutally hot with daily and overnight temperatures breaking numerous records," said Steve Moffitt, Chief Operating officer, Comverge.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/comverges-swift-response-prevents-record-breaking-east-coast-heat-wave-from-affecting-grid-stability-2011-07-26-141930?reflink=MW_news_stmp

Arizona Wildfire Essentially Contained, but Concerns Shift to Flooding

With the largest wildfire in Arizona history all but contained, specialized units pulled out of eastern Arizona on Tuesday leaving authorities at the heavily-scorched sites of blazes around the state to shift their focus to a new vulnerability -- water.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/07/05/arizona-wildfire-essentially-contained-but-concerns-shift-to-flooding/#ixzz1RLp8AAOH

Photos of July 5 Phoenix Dust Storm

http://tucsoncitizen.com/arizona-news/2011/07/06/photos-of-july-5-phoenix-dust-storm/

The Arizona Republic-12 News Breaking News Team

More storms are forecast for Wednesday evening, following a massive dust storm that swept across the Phoenix area Tuesday night, leaving a path of dust, debris and damage in nearly every part of the Valley.

Arizona wildfire swallows over 600 square miles

Increased wildfires due to climate change was predicted in models in the early 90's that the worldwatch institute reported.

The monster blaze, ranking as Arizona's second-largest wildfire on record, has chased up to 2,000 people from homes in and around two communities in immediate danger, Eager and Springerville, since Tuesday, fire officials reported.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/08/us-wildfire-arizona-idUSTRE7542JD20110608

Some aerial fireworks banned in dry Texas

HOUSTON (AP) — Fourth of July celebrations in drought-stricken parts of Texas will be a bit muted this year, as many local governments are banning the use of bottle rockets and some other aerial fireworks because of the risk of sparking wildfires.

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Some-aerial-fireworks-banned-in-dry-Texas-1414838.php

No more burning

Governor Robert Bentley signed an emergency drought condition declaration Tuesday in an effort to stave off potential out-of-control fires due to Alabama’s extremely dry conditions.

The dry conditions throughout the state have created an atmosphere where the “probability of catastrophic wildfire activity” is extremely high.

The Alabama Forestry Commission reports that since January, 1,808 wildfires have burned over 41,000 acres in Alabama.

“The lack of rain and unseasonably high temperatures have left much of the state extremely dry, creating high risk potential for devastating wildfires,” Bentley said

http://www.troymessenger.com/2011/06/08/no-more-burning/

Drought in southwest Kansas wheat fields is worst since Dust Bowl

“This time of year … the wheat fields should be green and lush and growing and they’re not,” said Aaron Harries, director of marketing for Kansas Wheat. “The fields are scattered with spots of green, most of the crop has withered up and died. It looks like a desert.”

Harries said the rainfall deficits in those areas are the most severe since the 1930s Dust Bowl days.


http://www.kansascity.com/2011/06/07/2934854/drought-hits-wheat-farmers-in.html

Drought in southwest Kansas wheat fields is worst since Dust Bowl

“This time of year … the wheat fields should be green and lush and growing and they’re not,” said Aaron Harries, director of marketing for Kansas Wheat. “The fields are scattered with spots of green, most of the crop has withered up and died. It looks like a desert.”

Harries said the rainfall deficits in those areas are the most severe since the 1930s Dust Bowl days.

http://www.kansascity.com/2011/06/07/2934854/drought-hits-wheat-farmers-in.html

Metro Detroit heat wave melts record

After breaking the heat record Tuesday, metro Detroit is in for more sweltering high temperatures today.

Officials are urging residents to find ways to beat the heat and to keep an eye on vulnerable people, including senior citizens and children. Animal advocates caution against walking dogs or leaving pets inside cars or in the direct sun.

http://www.freep.com/article/20110608/NEWS05/106080390/Metro-Detroit-heat-wave-melts-record?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|s

Maryland braces for second heat wave

Last week's heat wave also sent temperatures at BWI-Marshall Airport to record readings in the upper 90s and contributed to the deaths of two Marylanders, the first heat-related fatalities of the year, according to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-06-07/news/bs-md-hot-forecast-20110607_1_heat-wave-maryland-braces-heat-advisories

Heat Wave Spreads to New York, Boosting Power Consumption, Health Risk

In New York, a heat advisory means the heat and humidity will make it feel like 95 degrees for two consecutive days “or 100 degrees for any length of time,” according to the weather service.

An excessive heat warning, issued for Philadelphia, means the combination of heat and humidity will “create dangerous conditions in highly urbanized areas.”

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-08/heat-wave-spreading-to-new-york-boosts-power-consumption-risks-to-health.html

Arizona Wildfire Rages On: The Dramatic Photos

Along Arizona's eastern border, a mammoth forest fire is raging uncontained as high winds and low humidity triggered a declaration of emergency to coordinate the entire state's response.

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/159412/20110608/wallow-fire-update-arizona-fire-wildfire-2011-fire-state-of-emergency-albuquerque-new-mexico-springe.htm