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Articles by Richard Heim
High pressure brought the heat to the Plains
A strong ridge of high pressure maintained its grip across the central part of the contiguous United States during this U.S. Drought Monitor week of Aug. 21 to 27. It was responsible for warmer-than-normal temperatures that stretched across the Plains and into the Upper Midwest. Upper-level troughs of low pressure dominated the West and East Coasts, keeping weekly temperatures cooler than normal on both ends of the country.
Hit-or-miss rains hit the Plains
A high-pressure ridge continued across the southern Plains during this U.S. Drought Monitor Aug. 14 to 20 brought dry and very hot weather, especially to Texas. Pacific weather systems moving in the jet-stream flow brought above-normal precipitation to parts of the West Coast, the northern to central Rockies, and parts of the central to northern Plains, the Midwest, and Northeast.
Dry weather, warm temps continue on the Plains
Several weather systems moved across the contiguous United States during the U.S. Drought Monitor week of Feb. 21 to 27. Their fronts and surface lows spread rain and snow across parts of the West at the beginning and end of the week, and over the Tennessee to Ohio Valleys and Appalachians at mid-week. These systems were associated with an upper-level circulation pattern that consisted of low-pressure troughs just off the west coast and east coast.
Dry weather pattern hits the Plains
An atmospheric river of Pacific storm systems slammed parts of the West Coast with heavy precipitation the week of Feb. 14 to 20. However, the weather systems dried out as they crossed the western mountains, then produced anemic precipitation amounts east of the Rockies. Parts of the Midwest and Northeast received limited precipitation amounts from passing cold fronts, and heavier rain fell along the Texas coast and across Florida from another frontal system.
A Review of User Perceptions of Drought Indices and Indicators Used in the Diverse Climates of North America
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Heat remains fixture in Plains
Ag News, Beef, Corn, Cotton, Cow Calf, Crops, Forage Crops, Grain Sorghum, Livestock, Livestock News, Soybeans, Stocker, Sunflowers, Wheat The upper-level circulation over the contiguous United States, known as CONUS, during this U.S. Drought Monitor week of Sept. 20 to 26 consisted of an upper-level ridge of high pressure. It extended from the southern Plains to Hudson Bay, and a low-pressure trough over the eastern Pacific.
Beneficial rain intermingled with drought
Several Pacific weather systems moved through the jet-stream flow during this U.S. Drought Monitor week of Sept. 13 to 19. The upper-level circulation still consisted of an upper-level ridge over the western contiguous United States but it was weakened by the traversing Pacific weather systems. The ridge kept most of the western U.S. dry with warmer-than-normal temperatures from northern California to Montana.
Progress made in High Plains’ drought
The upper-level circulation over the contiguous United States during this U.S. Drought Monitor for May 24 to 30 was dominated by three features: a trough over the West, a ridge that extended from the southern Plains to the Great Lakes, and a cutoff low over the Southeast. This pattern resulted in targeted areas of precipitation, some of it heavy, while large parts of the contiguous U.S. received little to no precipitation.
Arctic air blasts much of the US
A powerful low-pressure trough developed in the upper levels of the atmosphere over the eastern contiguous U.S. during this U.S. Drought Monitor week (Dec. 21-27). At the surface, the trough was associated with a strong cold front that poured frigid arctic air into the U.S. east of the Rockies. Daytime maximum temperatures in the northern Plains were well below zero degrees Fahrenheit, with minimum temperatures colder than 20 below zero, at the peak of the cold wave.
Weather systems dance across the US
Two upper-level weather systems danced across the contiguous U.S. during this U.S. Drought Monitor week (Sept. 21 to 27). One partner of the pair was an upper-level low pressure trough that twirled from the West Coast to the northern Plains then migrated to the Northeast. The other partner was a high pressure ridge. The ridge swung from the southern Plains to the western CONUS.
Showers and thunderstorms move across the Central Plains and Midwest while dry air mass covers Southern Plains
An upper-level ridge dominated the central contiguous U.S. during this U.S. Drought Monitor week (Sept. 14 to 20). It was bracketed by an upper-level trough that moved out of the Northeast early in the week, and a Pacific upper-level trough that moved into the West as the week progressed. Pacific weather systems moved across the northern states between the troughs. This pattern resulted in above-normal precipitation across much of the West and parts of the Northeast.
Southern Plains areas receive heavy rain
A strong upper-level trough moved across the contiguous U.S. during this U.S. Drought Monitor week (May 18 to 24). Surface low pressure systems and cold fronts were associated with this complex trough. They tapped Gulf of Mexico moisture to spread above-normal precipitation across parts of the Plains, Midwest, Southeast, and Mid-Atlantic Coast, and locally heavy snow across parts of Colorado.
Extreme to exceptional drought expands in Kansas
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Dry, warm weather conditions continue across much of the US
Several Pacific weather systems moved across the contiguous U.S. during this U.S. Drought Monitor week. An upper-level ridge over the western CONUS directed the systems across the northern states, while a cutoff low trekked across Texas then into the Gulf of Mexico. The Pacific systems dragged cold fronts with them that stretched the width of the CONUS, from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico coast.
Drought expands in Colorado and Kansas
A couple Pacific weather systems moved across the contiguous U.S. during this U.S. Drought Monitor week. The storm track kept to the northern states, but the systems dragged cold fronts with them that stretched the width of the CONUS, from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico coast. The systems spread rain and snow to the coastal Pacific Northwest and parts of the northern Rockies, but they weakened as they moved through a western ridge.
Series of Pacific weather systems move across the US
A series of strong Pacific weather systems moved across the contiguous U.S. during this U.S. Drought Monitor week. The first system early in the week spread precipitation across Wyoming to the Upper Mississippi Valley, then left scattered showers over the Northeast before moving off into the Atlantic. The second brought precipitation to northern California and the Pacific Northwest.
Grappling with the Data Big Bang
By Richard Heim Updated November 8, 2021 Over the past twenty years, companies, leaders and the public have realized the importance and significance of data. What still eludes many businesses is how to leverage the value of data properly. One term that comes up often in these discussions is “data governance,” but like many data terms (e.g. “big data”), its meaning is a bit nebulous.
Drought, abnormal dryness intensifies in parts of the West, Midwest and Plains
Several upper-level troughs and closed lows moved in the westerly jet stream flow across the contiguous U.S. during this U.S. Drought Monitor week. They dragged surface fronts and low pressure systems along with them. The weather systems moved across the West then generally followed two storm tracks after crossing the Rockies—one track was along the Canadian border, while the other track was along the Gulf Coast states.
Cooler temps, snow spread across Plains; dust storms reported in North Dakota and Montana
The upper-level circulation over the contiguous U.S. during this U.S. Drought Monitor week consisted of a ridge over the West Coast and trough over the north central states. Strong closed lows rotated within this upper-level flow, bounding from the Southwest to the Northeast in their trek across the country. The ridge blocked Pacific moisture from entering the country and kept the West Coast warmer than normal for the week. The trough funneled cold and dry Canadian air into the Plains.
Drought Monitor Weekly: Generally Widespread Precipitation
Summary A couple Pacific weather systems, in the form of shortwave troughs or closed lows, moved in the jet stream flow across the contiguous U.S. (CONUS) during this U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) week. The weather systems brought rain or snow to the coastal Pacific Northwest, dried out as they traversed an upper-level ridge over the West, then picked up Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic moisture as they moved across the southern Plains to East Coast.
Extreme drought expands slightly in southwest Kansas
A couple Pacific weather systems, in the form of shortwave troughs or closed lows, moved in the jet stream flow across the contiguous U.S. during this U.S. Drought Monitor week. The weather systems brought rain or snow to the coastal Pacific Northwest, dried out as they traversed an upper-level ridge over the West, then picked up Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic moisture as they moved across the southern Plains to East Coast.
Moderate to extreme drought in most of Colorado, Wyoming
High pressure dominated the southern half of the contiguous U.S. again during this U.S. Drought Monitor week. Upper-level weather systems tracked across the U.S.-Canadian border, dragging surface lows and fronts along with them. The High brought hot temperatures to much of the South, East, and West, with daily maximum temperatures exceeding 90 degrees F every day.
Rains widespread across Kansas and parts of Nebraska
High pressure dominated the southern half of the contiguous U.S. during this U.S. Drought Monitor week. Upper-level weather systems tracked across the U.S.-Canadian border, dragging surface lows and fronts along with them. The frontal systems tapped Gulf of Mexico moisture to drop locally heavy rain across parts of the Plains to Midwest, while convective thunderstorms peppered coastal areas of the Gulf.
Drought Monitor Weekly: Generally Warm with Variable Rains
Summary A series of Pacific weather systems continued to move across the contiguous U.S. (CONUS) in a fairly westerly jet stream flow during this U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) week. The systems dropped copious amounts of precipitation along the Coastal and Cascade mountain ranges of Northern California and the Pacific Northwest, with above-normal precipitation continuing across most of the Pacific Northwest to the Rockies.
Drought Monitor Weekly: Southwest, High Plains Remain Dry
Summary This U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) week began with a low pressure and frontal system draped across the Gulf and East Coasts. Tropical Storm Nestor and its remnants moved across the Southeast then up the East Coast at mid-week. Another front moved across the South and approached the East Coast as the week ended. AgFax Weed Solutions This combination of synoptic systems dropped several inches of rain across the drought areas of eastern Texas and from the Mississippi River to the East Coast.
Drought Monitor Weekly: Southeast Dry, Hot; More Rains for Plains, Midwest
Summary During this U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) week, a strong high pressure ridge was anchored over the southeastern contiguous U.S. (CONUS) while an upper-level trough dominated the West. This pattern set up a southwesterly flow across the central part of the country, which funneled moist and unstable air from the Gulf of Mexico into the Plains.
Contiguous US free of Severe to Exceptional Drought for first time in USDM history; Plains gets flooding rains
A series of Pacific upper-level weather systems, and their associated surface lows and fronts, moved across the contiguous U.S. during this U.S. Drought Monitor week, according to the USDM for May 21 released May 23. These systems dropped half an inch or more of precipitation across much of the West, Plains, and Midwest, as well as parts of the Northeast. The systems triggered severe weather in the Plains, with training thunderstorms dropping flooding rains.
Drought Monitor Weekly: Lowest Drought Area in U.S. in 20 Years
Summary A series of storm systems moved quickly across the lower 48 States until reaching the East Coast as a strong ridge of high pressure over the western Atlantic Ocean blocked their eastward progression. Due in part to this slowdown, severe weather and heavy rainfall occurred in portions of the southern Great Plains, lower Mississippi Valley, Southeast, and mid-Atlantic during April 17-19.
Monitoring and Understanding Changes in Heat Waves, Cold Waves, Floods, and Droughts in the United States: State of Knowledge
Some of the long-term changes in weather and climate extremes have occurred as expected in the warming climate, but trends are not all uniform across the United States nor easily detected amidst multiyear and decadal variations. The Global Change Research Act of 1990 requires the U.S. government to prepare a report that integrates, evaluates, and interprets scientific analyses of effects of global climate change on both human and natural systems in the United States.
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