Climate Victory In Montana – National Weather Outlook For August 15, 2023

by | Aug 15, 2023 | Weather

National Weather Forecast

Excessive heat concerns continue for another day in the Northwestern and Southern United States on Tuesday. Otherwise, a frontal boundary from the Gulf Coast to the Northeast will produce showers and thunderstorms. Monsoonal storms will also be possible in the Southwest.

Several areas from the Mississippi River eastward could see at least 1-4” of rain from Monday through the middle of the week. In some of these areas, this rain could fall heavily at one time and cause flash flooding.

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Judge rules in favor of young Montana plaintiffs in landmark climate trial

More from CNN: “A Montana judge handed a significant victory on Monday to more than a dozen young plaintiffs in the nation’s first constitutional climate trial, as extreme weather becomes more deadly and scientists warn the climate crisis is eroding our environment and natural resources. In a case that could have legal reverberations for other climate litigation, District Court Judge Kathy Seeley ruled that Montana’s continued development of fossil fuels violates a clause in its state constitution that guarantees its citizens the right to a “clean and healthful environment.” Montana is one of several states that have explicit guarantees written into their state constitutions. While Seeley’s ruling won’t prevent mining or burning fossil fuels in the state, it will reverse a recently passed state law that prohibits state agencies from considering planet-warming pollution when permitting fossil fuel projects.”

Hawaii utility faces scrutiny for not cutting power to reduce fire risks

More from the Washington Post: “Four days before fast-moving brush fires engulfed parts of Maui, weather forecasters warned authorities that powerful wind gusts would trigger dangerous fire conditions across much of the island and Hawaii. The state’s electric utility responded with some preemptive steps but did not use what is widely regarded as the most aggressive but effective safety measure: shutting down the power. Hawaiian Electric, the utility that oversees Maui Electric and provides service to 95 percent of the state’s residents, did not deploy what’s known as a “public power shutoff plan,” which involves intentionally cutting off electricity to areas where big wind events could spark fires. A number of states, including California, have increasingly adopted this safety strategy after what were then the nation’s most destructive and deadliest modern fires, in 2017 and 2018.”

Record shattering: Earth had its hottest July in 174 years

More from NOAA: “Earth just roasted under its hottest July on record, according to scientists from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). For the fourth-consecutive month, the global ocean surface temperature also hit a record high. … The average global surface temperature in July was 2.02 degrees F (1.12 degrees C) above average, ranking it as the warmest July in NOAA’s 174-year record. Because July is the globe’s warmest month of the year from a climatological perspective, July 2023 was also likely Earth’s warmest month on record. July 2023 was the first time an average July temperature exceeded 1.8 degrees F (1.0 degree C) above the long-term average. Also of note, last month was 0.36 of a degree F (0.20 of a degree C) warmer than the previous July record from 2021. July 2023 marked the 47th-consecutive July and the 533rd-consecutive month with temperatures above the 20th-century average.”

Record hot ocean temps could turbocharge the hurricane season, says NOAA

More from CNBC: “Record hot ocean temperatures could turbocharge this hurricane season, according to scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA scientists increased the chance that this year will be an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season to 60% on Thursday. In May, NOAA predicted a “near-normal” hurricane season with 30% likelihood of an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season. The forecast revision decreased the likelihood of near-normal activity to 25% from 40% chance announced in May. The revised outlook covers the remainder of the six-month hurricane season, which begins on June 1 and ends on Nov. 30, and forecasts a season total of 14 to 21 named storms with winds of 39 mph or greater. Of those, six to 11 could become hurricanes with winds of 74 mph or greater, and between two and five could become major hurricanes with winds of 111 mph or greater. The revised estimates published Thursday include the five named storms and one hurricane that have already happened, according to NOAA.”

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– D.J. Kayser