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April 2014 Newsletter   


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Dear Florida Climate Center Friends,
We'd like to present you with the April 2014 edition of our newsletter. In this newsletter, you'll find our monthly climate summary, a list of special events that our staff attended, some pictures, and more. If you have any questions, please email us at climate@coaps.fsu.edu.

 

Thanks,

The Staff of the Florida Climate Center

Zierden PhotoO'Brien PhotoGriffin Photo
David Zierden
State Climatologist
James O'Brien
Professor Emeritus
Melissa Griffin
Asst. State Climatologist
March Climate Summary for Florida

The Florida Climate Center's March 2014 Florida Climate Summary is now available.  The summary provides an analysis of temperature and precipitation trends across the state, along with data on hazardous weather, drought, the impacts of the weather and any records tied or broken for the month. During March, average temperatures and rainfall totals varied across Florida. ENSO-neutral conditions are continuing in the equatorial Pacific. The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) predicts above normal temperatures and normal precipitation for the state through June. Past summaries are archived here.

March average temperatures and departures from normal (°F) for select cities.
Temperature Table 
March precipitation totals and departures from normal (inches) for select cities.
Precipitation Table 
A graphical depiction of the monthly rainfall departure from normal (inches) for March (courtesy of NOAA, NWS).
Rainfall graphic 

Spring 2014 Climate Outlook

The Florida Climate Center has put together a climate outlook for the Southeast for the spring of 2014. Outlook summary: 

  • Early spring should bring variable weather patterns, as we have experienced this winter. There is no tendency towards wetter and cooler or warmer and drier with neutral conditions in the Pacific. 
  • Summer may bring normal to above normal rainfall, but seasonal predictions for the summer are difficult and have low confidence. 
  • There is a greater than 50% chance the Pacific Ocean transitions to El Niņo during the summer. 
  • A developing El Niņo would mean a less active Atlantic hurricane season. 
  • A very wet summer followed by near normal winter rainfall and recharge has surface water, groundwater, and soil moisture in good shape going into spring and summer. 

Florida wildfire season has been relatively quite thus far. As long as summer rains begin on time, an active season is not anticipated. For more detailed outlook information, please visit: http://climatecenter.fsu.edu/products-services/outlooks/secc-spring-climate-outlook-2014 

State Climatologist Teaches Minority Farmers About Climate Variability

Florida A&M University Extension is hosting a month-long training session for their Master Farmer Program. The participants were mostly minority farmers from all around north Florida. As part of this program, State Climatologist David Zierden met with the group and introduced them to the concept of climate variability and the El Niņo/La Niņa cycle. There was a lively discussion about the unusual weather patterns of this past summer and winter and how the impacted the growers. David Zierden then presented on basics of the El Niņo/La Niņa cycle and how it affects weather and climate patterns in North Florida and the Southeast. He closed by showing the current state of the Pacific Ocean and how we might be watching the development of El Niņo this summer, and how that could impact climate patterns in the upcoming fall and winter.

Additional Collaborations with Department of Health

Assistant State Climatologist Melissa Griffin continues to work with members of the Florida Department of Health on various projects related to weather and human health impacts. As part of the BRACE project, Ms. Griffin will be working with an FSU meteorology student to create a database of 'keystone' examples of extreme weather events, which will be used in communications with the public and stakeholders to provide contexts for future climate and health scenarios being developed by the BRACE program. Some of the hazards identified by the BRACE project that will be used for the database are: hurricanes, extreme temperature, wildfires, and drought.

Upcoming Events 

 

April 1-3, 2014:

Southeast Regional Climate Center Technical Advisory Committee Meeting in Raleigh, NC 

 

April 15, 2014:

Florida Department of Health BRACE Technical Advisory Committee Meeting in Orlando, FL

 

May 6, 2014:

USDA/NIFA Program Planning Meeting in Tallahassee, FL

 

May 7-9, 2014:

Southeast Climate Consortium Spring Meeting in Tallahassee, FL

 

May 19-22, 2013:

Managing and Utilizing Precipitation Observations from Volunteer Networks in Estes Park, CO

 

June 8-11, 2014:

21st AMS Conference on Applied Climatology in Westminster, CO

 

July 9-12, 2014:

Annual Meeting of the American Association of State Climatologist in Stevenson, WA

Sample Data Request

Last month, the Florida Climate Center was contacted by a professor of Biology at the University of Mississippi, who was inquiring about rainfall data from coastal stations in Florida. The professor was interested in correlating rainfall with the annual fisheries landings in Florida for the past two decades. He was focused on monthly rainfall that showed above and below normal, which would be indicative o potential drought and extremely wet years. He was also interested in how the El Niņo Southern Oscillation impacts rainfall distributions during the winter and spring in the Southeastern United States. The center was able to pinpoint and provide data from high quality stations and will continue to work with him as he conducts his research.

About Us 

The Florida Climate Center is part of a three-tiered system of national, regional, and state climate offices, including NOAA's National Climatic Data Center and the Southeast Regional Climate Center. The Florida State Climatologist and other staff at the Florida Climate Center provide the following information and services to the people of Florida:

 

· Climate Data:

Historical weather observations for weather stations throughout the state of Florida. We are able to provide data for most stations from 1948-present.

 

· Climate Information:

Long-term historical averages for various stations, climate divisions, and the entire state.

 

· Extreme Event Records:

Information and analyses on extreme events such as freezes, droughts, floods and hurricanes.

 

· Special Analysis:

With their vast knowledge of El Niņo, La Niņa and climate variability, the State Climatologist and staff can offer expert insight into Florida's climate trends.

 

· Outreach:

Activities, presentations, and workshops that inform and educate the people of Florida about current and emerging climate issues. We also coordinate volunteers for the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network (CoCoRaHS).

 

More About Us