Chad Merrill’s Post

Research ➡️ action. This is a great conversation between Nick Bassill and JoDee Kenney on how the New York State Weather Risk Communication Center at the University at Albany is translating New York State Mesonet data into actionable weather intelligence for emergency managers in New York. This is especially relevant right now as parts of New York continue to contend with severe drought conditions and wildfires. #SUNYResearch

In the latest Texas+Water, #MC4Water ED Robert E. Mace reports Texas remains in the grip of drought, with 23% of the state facing dry conditions. The outlook isn't promising as we brace for potential dry La Niña conditions this summer. While eastern Texas has seen some relief with rain, the west continues to struggle. Full scoop on current and future conditions for drought and rainfall in Texas 👉 https://bit.ly/4a4S3Ba

8 Kansas lakes impacted by drought conditions as water levels drop https://lnkd.in/eU5CXfB9 As much of the US is in drought, as it depletes its freshwater reserves like there's no tomorrow, the data centers google up every gallon of water they can grab

Dry conditions in the Northeast are worsening, creating a scenario for fire danger in the region to persist, an updated map from the U.S. Drought Monitor shows. https://lnkd.in/epmKtfC4

Given the long-term dry pattern for western Maryland and current soggy scenario unfolding from Helene's low pressure system, I provided my newspaper partner with an update on the early week forecast and how it will impact the drought severity: https://lnkd.in/gMPsr7_k

In honor of National Swap Ideas Day, check out the August 2024 U.S. Climate Report. Share the new data with your colleagues, family or friends—and get their hot take on it. . 🌡️ The average temperature of the contiguous U.S. in August was 74.0°F, 1.9°F above average; the month tied with August 1998 as the 15th-warmest August in the 130-year record. . 💧 August precipitation was 2.46 inches, 0.16 inch below average, ranking in the driest third of the historical record. . 🏜️ According to the September 3 U.S. Drought Monitor report, about 30% of the contiguous U.S. was in drought, up a little over 10% from the end of July. . 🔥 Significant wildland fire potential for September is above normal across portions of the West, Ohio Valley, Lower Mississippi Valley and Hawaii. . 🌀 Debby made landfall as a Category 1 Hurricane on August 5 near Steinhatchee, Florida and a second landfall as a tropical storm near Bulls Bay, South Carolina on August 8. The storm brought heavy rains, flooding and strong winds to the Southeast. . 🧠 Learn more at the link in our bio.

GIVING THANKS: DAY 4 of 5 In the United States, this is the week we celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. To express our gratitude, we’re highlighting five things we’re thankful for – one for each weekday. In light of the increasing severity of natural hazards, we’re expressing our gratitude for growing awareness and increasing efforts to proactively mitigate the impact of natural hazards before they ever occur. We are now seeing communities developing detailed hydrological models to proactively assess and manage flood risks and forecast flood behaviors. And, land managers are increasingly recognizing the beneficial uses of prescribed fire and other thinning methods to proactively reduce the chances of wildland fires rapidly spinning out of control to become megafires.

River Report - New historic minimum flows (July 18, 2024) There is now a lot of red on the U.S. Drought Monitor map, with 43% of the watershed in Extreme Drought (red) and 28% in Severe Drought (dark orange). River flows in some areas of the watershed are reaching new record lows. The river flow at the USGS gages at Shenandoah River at Millville, WV, and South Branch Potomac River near Springfield, WV, both hit a century-old recorded historical low this week. Closer to the DC Metro area, the adjusted flow at Little Falls is hovering around the 10th percentile. Some jurisdictions across the western part of the Potomac River watershed are asking residents to conserve water, while some communities are making cutbacks mandatory. Low river flows, lack of scouring pulses from rain, and record-breaking temperatures are leading to a series of algal blooms throughout the basin. Health officials recommend you (and your dog!) avoid contact with algal mats, especially if the water is discolored, murky, or smelly. ICPRB continues daily drought monitoring. Check out #droughtmonitoring on social media to see our daily report on river flow, water demands, and weather forecasts. Stay up to date on news, events, and information with our weekly River Report >>> https://lnkd.in/d2rfqRCb

I know what you've been thinking - "It's been raining. The drought must be over!" No such luck. Because our soils are dry, it takes more than our summertime passing rain events to end a drought. In fact, much of our region experienced below-average rainfall over the last 15 days. So, continue to protect our water supply by conserving water. Our future selves will thank you. And - here's a new data source for you water wonks out there (read: everyone!). The ACF Dashboard was created to showcase a comprehensive range of water data across the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint basin. The graphic highlighted in this post shows how our 15-day rainfall compares to the average. Hint: brown is not good. https://lnkd.in/exdDV7Yq Shout out to the NOAA National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) and ACF Stakeholders for pulling this information into one useful location. #WaterWonk #Conservation #Efficiency #Drought #MetroATL

If you have been to Philadelphia but have not been North to Washington’s Crossing, your perception of what it must have been like in 1776 is probably close to the famous painting by Emanual Luetze. The crossing was no doubt difficult in the cold of winter but the choice to cross where they did, just North of Trenton, was deliberate and the distance far more navigable than it would have been approaching Trenton from the South. Both the Benjamin Franklin and the Walt Whitman Bridges of the modern era are huge spans compared to the narrow two-lane bridge that connects Pennsylvania to New Jersey at Washington’s Crossing at a much shorter distance. I can’t help but wonder what the impact would have been in 1776 had a drought reduced the river’s volume and water level to prevent the passage of boats. Even by today’s standards the boats required to move 5000 troops, weapons and provisions would have been prohibitive. Fording the river in the dead of winter would be treacherous at best and should not be taken lightly even in favorable weather conditions. Water is a finite resource on a global scale. Let’s see how Mother Nature evolves between now and December 25th. Check out the video here: https://lnkd.in/eDAXE2Qm #Drought #ClimateChange #DelawareRiver #HistoricalSites #NatureEvolution