Lessons from the unusual impacts of an abnormal winter in the USA

Economic impacts from the near record warm and snow-free winter of 2001–2 in the United States were assessed to ascertain their dimensions and relevance to issues like climate prediction and climate change. Unusual impacts resulted and embraced numerous sectors (heating/energy use, construction, tourism, insurance, government, and retail sales). Many outcomes were gains/benefits totalling $19.6 billion, with losses of$8.2 billion. Some economists identified the sizable positive impacts as a factor in the nation’s recovery from an on-going recession stemming from the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001. Understanding the impacts of such a winter reveals how climate predictions of such conditions could have great utility in minimising the losses and maximising the gains. The results also have relevance to the global warming issue since most climate models project future average winter temperature and snowfall conditions in the United States to be similar to those experienced in 2001–2

Climatological Assessment of Urban Effects on Precipitation: Final Report Part I

published or submitted for publicationis peer reviewedOpe

Radar Operations and Data Collection in Support of Meteorological Research in Northeastern Illinois

published or submitted for publicationis peer reviewedOpe

Annual report to National Science Foundation for Hail Evaluation Techniques Project

National Science Foundation GA-482Ope

Temporal and Spatial Characteristics of Snowstorms in the Contiguous United States

A climatological analysis of snowstorms across the contiguous United States, based on data from 1222 weather stations with data during 1901–2001, defined the spatial and temporal features. The average annual incidence of events creating 15.2 cm or more in 1 or 2 days, which are termed as snowstorms, exhibits great spatial variability. The pattern is latitudinal across most of the eastern half of the United States, averaging 0.1 storm (1 storm per 10 years) in the Deep South, increasing to 2 storms along the Canadian border. This pattern is interrupted by higher averages downwind of the Great Lakes and in the Appalachian Mountains. In the western third of the United States where snow falls, lower-elevation sites average 0.1–2 storms per year, but averages are much higher in the Cascade Range and Rocky Mountains, where 5–30 storms occur per year. Most areas of the United States have had years without snowstorms, but the annual minima are 1 or more storms in high-elevation areas of the West and Northeast. The pattern of annual maxima of storms is similar to the average pattern. The temporal distribution of snowstorms exhibited wide fluctuations during 1901–2000, with downward 100-yr trends in the lower Midwest, South, and West Coast. Upward trends occurred in the upper Midwest, East, and Northeast, and the national trend for 1901–2000 was upward, corresponding to trends in strong cyclonic activity. The peak periods of storm activity in the United States occurred during 1911–20 and 1971–80, and the lowest frequency was in 1931–40. Snowstorms first occur in September in the Rockies, in October in the high plains, in November across most of the United States, and in December in the Deep South. The month with the season’s last storms is December in the South and then shifts northward, with April the last month of snowstorms across most of the United States. Storms occur as late as May and June in the Rockies and Cascades. Snowstorms are most frequent in December downwind of the Great Lakes, with the peak of activity in January for most other areas of the United States

Insurance-related Hail Research in Illinois during 1968

published or submitted for publicationis peer reviewedOpe

Prediction of Corn and Soybean Yields Using Weather Data

published or submitted for publicationis peer reviewedOpe

Summary of 1965 Hail Research in Illinois: Research Report

published or submitted for publicationis peer reviewedOpe

Record Winter Storms in Illinois, 1977-1978

The Midwest, including Illinois, experienced in 1977-1978 its most severe winter since weather records began in the early Nineteenth Century. Illinois had a record-breaking number of 18 severe winter storms; 4 such storms is normal. The record winter began with 3 snowstorms in late November and ended with an extremely damaging ice storm in late March. Unusual snow patterns occurred with several storms and they lasted much longer than usual. Weather conditions (low pressure centers) producing many of the storms were more often of Canadian origin than usual, and these lows had lower pressure and moved slower than normal, resulting in higher surface winds and longer lasting and hence more severe storms. Cold temperatures along with frequent snows resulted in record long lasting snow cover with up to 120 days with ≥1 inch cover in northern Illinois and 90 days in southern Illinois. The storms led to 62 deaths and more than 2000 injuries. Utilities, communication systems, and transportation suffered great losses, though railroads benefited with increased use and helicopters and snowmobiles proved valuable in rescue service. Local, state, and federal institutions were beset with enormous and costly problems including care of roads and lost taxable income due to absenteeism.publishedpeer reviewedOpe