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☆ The Sahara Desert is greening as unusual storms hit parts of Africa
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-13 | by ( Mary Gilbert | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Satellites recently captured plant life blooming in parts of the typically arid southern Sahara after storms moved there when they shouldn’t. NASARainfall north of the equator in Africa typically increases from July through September as the West African Monsoon kicks into gear. “The Intertropical Convergence Zone, which is the reason for (Africa’s) greening, moves farther north the warmer the world gets,” Haustein explained. NOAA's Climate Prediction CenterTake the northern portion of Chad, which is part of the Sahara Desert. Only up to an inch of rain typically falls here from about mid-July to early September.

Persons: Karsten Haustein, Niño, Haustein, El Niño, ” Haustein, “, g9HrAAzrxC — Evan Fisher, Audu Marte, Haustien, ” Organizations: CNN, NASA NASA, Central African, NASA, West, Satellite, Leipzig University, United, Getty Locations: Africa, Niger, Chad, Central African Republic, Sudan, Libya, Germany, West, Central Africa, Parts, Nigeria, Cameroon, Egypt, United Nations, Maiduguri, AFP, Messawi, Meroe, Sudan's Northern State

☆ A historically hot summer is on a killing spree and it shows no signs of stopping
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Mary Gilbert | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —A historically hot summer in the United States is on a July killing spree and the toll will only grow with the hottest days yet to come. It’s been the hottest summer on record to date for around 100 US cities from Maine to California. Nine were over the age of 65, the county medical examiner told CNN. At least 10 suspected heat deaths are being reported in Oregon. The region is still typically quite hot in July even without heat reaching record levels daily.

Persons: It’s, Hurricane Beryl, –, Nebraska –, Etienne Laurent, ” David S, Jones, ” Jones, Rachel Ramirez, Sara Smart, Jillian Sykes, Sarah Dewberry, Raja Razek, Chris Boyette, Jamiel Lynch, Cheri Mossburg, Amanda Musa Organizations: CNN, Phoenix Police Department, Phoenix, Getty, National Park Service, Harvard University, Center Locations: United States, Maine, California, Santa Clara County , California, Santa Clara, Southeast Texas, Arizona, Georgia, Texas, Nebraska, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Oregon, Portland’s Multnomah County . Portland, Valley, Mesquite, Death, Furnace, Southern California, West

☆ Live Updates: Hurricane Beryl Passes Cayman Islands on Way to Mexico
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-04 | by ( The New York Times | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

According to major forecasts, it looks like it’s going to be an above-average hurricane season. An average Atlantic hurricane season has 14 named storms, including seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes. In 2020, the May forecast was for 13 to 19 named storms, but an updated forecast for August was even higher, with 19 to 25 named storms. This region, from West Africa to Central America, is hotter this year than it was before the start of last year’s hurricane season, which produced 20 named storms. The possibility of a La Niña, combined with record sea surface temperatures this hurricane season, is expected to create a robust environment this year for storms to form and intensify.

Persons: Judson Jones, Rick Spinrad, Idalia, Zack Wittman, Alberto, William, Damon Winter, Brian McNoldy, ”, Phil Klotzbach, Benjamin Kirtman, Waters, Niño, El, Michelle L’Heureux Organizations: The New York Times, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, Hurricane Idalia, National Weather Service, New York Times NOAA, University of Miami, Colorado State University, El Locations: Florida’s Big Bend, America, Fort Myers Beach, Fla, West Africa, Central America, El

☆ Live Updates: Hurricane Beryl, a Category 4 Storm, Speeds Toward Jamaica
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-03 | by ( Judson Jones | The New York Times | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

According to major forecasts, it looks like it’s going to be an above-average hurricane season. Those could include four to seven major hurricanes — Category 3 or higher — with winds of at least 111 m.p.h. An average Atlantic hurricane season has 14 named storms, including seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes. In 2020, the May forecast was for 13 to 19 named storms, but an updated forecast for August was even higher, with 19 to 25 named storms. This region, from West Africa to Central America, is hotter this year than it was before the start of last year’s hurricane season, which produced 20 named storms.

☆ El Niño is dead. Here’s what to expect in the coming months
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-13 | by ( Mary Gilbert | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —El Niño has officially come to an end and the ripples from its demise will shake up weather around the globe. With El Niño out of the spotlight, its opposite is preparing to take center stage later this summer: La Niña. For now, neither La Niña nor El Niño are present and a so-called neutral phase has begun, according to NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. Here’s what a summer without El Niño and a budding La Niña could have in store. Luis Tato/AFP/Getty ImagesCalifornia and the western US also typically pick up more rain during El Niño, especially over the winter months.

Persons: CNN — El Niño, Niño, El Niño, Marcio Jose Sanchez, Luis Tato, Laura Paddison Organizations: CNN, El, Getty Images Locations: West, El, Beverly Crest, Los Angeles, California, South America, Africa, Africa’s, Kenya, Garissa, AFP, Getty Images California, US, West Coast

☆ Philippine dam: A 300-year-old settlement resurfaces as severe drought dries up a reservoir
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Emily Blumenthal | Monica Garrett | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —A nearly 300-year-old settlement once submerged beneath a major dam in the Philippines has reemerged as sweltering heat and drought dry up the reservoir. Ezra Acayan/Getty ImagesSome visitors brave the extreme heat to see the dam, where parts of damaged structures still stand. But a drought currently affecting about half of the country’s provinces has pushed the dam’s water levels down, according to AFP. The town of Muñoz near the dam has seen heat index over 41 degrees (106 degrees Fahrenheit) the last five days. On Sunday the temperature felt like 47 degrees (117 degrees Fahrenheit) because of other contributing factors.

Persons: Marlon Paladin, Ezra Acayan, Paladin, climatologist Maximiliano Herrera, ” Organizations: CNN, National Irrigation Administration, PAGASA, AFP, Prediction Locations: Philippines, Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija, Philippine, Southeast Asia, Muñoz, Luzon, El

☆ Exceptionally warm weather on the way for central, eastern US due to pattern change
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Mary Gilbert | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The core of the unseasonable warmth spreads east on Tuesday to encompass much of the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley. A storm forecast to develop near the Great Lakes late Tuesday could unload rain and thunderstorms on much of the East into Thursday. Across the Midwest and Great Lakes, snowfall is a few feet below what’s normal by this point. Ice is also almost nowhere to be found on the Great Lakes. Close to 40% of the Great Lakes are typically covered in ice by late February, but total ice coverage was near a record-low 6% Thursday.

Persons: Louis, Dallas, Paul Organizations: CNN, CNN Weather Omaha, Triple, ., Ohio Locations: Dallas, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Gulf of Mexico, St, Chicago, CNN Weather Omaha , Nebraska, Texas, Mexico, Lakes, Ohio, Cleveland, Coast, . Philadelphia, New York City, Gulf, Midwest, Northeast, Great, Syracuse , New York, Erie , Pennsylvania

☆ Hurricane season 2024: Unprecedented ocean heat and La Niña could combine with dangerous effect
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-18 | by ( Mary Gilbert | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Hurricane season is months away, but the waters where hurricanes roam haven’t received the memo. North Atlantic temperatures typically only go up from here, climbing in spring and reaching a maximum in early fall when hurricane season also peaks. The earlier La Niña arrives, the sooner it would influence hurricane season. “If you don’t want an active hurricane season, you would need La Niña to wait as long as possible to begin,” McNoldy said. Forecasters with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center believe La Niña could arrive as soon as summer, but more likely by fall.

Persons: haven’t, ” Brian McNoldy, “ We’ll, hasn’t, McNoldy, ” McNoldy, “, ”, Phil Klotzbach, Niña, Klotzbach, Rita, Irene, ” Klotzbach, El, Patrick T, Fallon, It’s, don’t Organizations: CNN, Hurricane, University of Miami, Central America, Colorado State University ., Getty Locations: West Africa, Central, Pacific, percolate, Hurricane, LaPlace, Louisiana, AFP

☆ ‘Super El Niño’ is here, but will it last? What’s in store for the coming months
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Mary Gilbert | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The current El Niño is now one of the strongest on record, new data shows, catapulting it into rare “super El Niño” territory. It means a very strong El Niño is ongoing. El Niño influences weather around the globe, so its strength and demise will continue to have an impact on the weather we experience in the coming months. Average conditions during an El Niño winter across the continental US. El Niño has been known to enhance atmospheric river events on the West Coast.

Persons: El, El Niño, Niño, Michelle L’Heureux, ” L’Heureux, L’Heureux, El Niños, Javier Torres, There’s, CNN’s Rachel Ramirez, Brandon Miller Organizations: CNN, El, AFP, Getty Locations: El, California, West Coast, Americas, Chile, Valparaiso, South America, Africa, Australia, Asia

☆ Groundhog Day: Punxsutawney Phil predictions are in. More winter, or early spring?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Mary Gilbert | Monica Garrett | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Punxsutawney Phil – the famous groundhog weather watcher – woke up and did not see his shadow Friday morning, calling for an early spring. Each February 2, on Groundhog Day, the members of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club make the pilgrimage to Gobbler’s Knob – Phil’s official home. Phil and his friends in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, have been predicting the seasons since 1887, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil, the weather prognosticating groundhog, during the 138th celebration of Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, Pa., on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. Given that, will Phil’s prediction of an early spring come true?

Persons: Phil –, –, Phil, Nature, Groundhog, A.J, Dereume, Barry Reeger, Phil’s prognostications Organizations: CNN, National Centers for Environmental Locations: Punxsutawney , Pennsylvania, Punxsutawney, Pa

☆ A winter weather pattern change is about to bring a wild swing in temperatures to the US
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Mary Gilbert | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Mark Zaleski/The Tennessean/USA Today Network Snow falls on parked cars in Concord, New Hampshire, on January 16. Monday's caucuses were the coldest ever , with high temperatures below zero across much of the state. Dan Powers/USA Today Network Firefighters rescue a man after his car was stuck in a flooded area in Charlotte, North Carolina, on January 9. Gregg Pachkowski/USA Today Network Snow covers the trees around the Holy Hill Basilica and National Shrine of Mary in Hubertus, Wisconsin, on January 9. Tariq Zehawi/NorthJersey.com/USA Today Network Flooding is seen at an intersection in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on January 9.

Persons: Nature, Nikki Haley, Deb Cram, Andrew Kelly, Mark Zaleski, Snow, Will Lanzoni, Rogelio V . Solis, Amanda Andrade, Rhoades, Reuters Isaac Hammond, Geoff Stellfox, Brandon Bell, Christian Monterrosa, Daniel Cole, Dan Busey, Crews, RJ Sangosti, Jeffrey T, Barnes, Chip Somodevilla, Barbara J, Al Drago, Gary Hershorn, Brendan McDermid, Joseph Prezioso, Jim Vondruska, Andrew Harnik, Eric Seals, Rebecca Zimmerman, Antonio Perez, Zuma Snow, Erin Hooley, Drake, Sam Wolfe, Bryan Woolston, Kelly, Jo St, Aubin, Dan Powers, Peter Zay, Floyd Bennett Field, Spencer Platt, Scott Olson, County Sheriff Tommy Ford, Jaide Garcia, CNN Linda Cox, Gregg Pachkowski, of Mary, Mike De Sisti, Joe Raedle, Michael Gordon, Michael Gordon Workers Brian Henderson, Phil Murphy, Tariq Zehawi, Alex Hicks Jr Organizations: CNN, Omni Mount Washington, USA, Reuters, Mississippi State Capitol, Reuters Isaac Hammond braves, Austin, Bergstrom International Airport, Iowa State Capitol, Getty, Denver International Airport, MediaNews, Denver Post, NFL, Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, AP, Columbus Dispatch, Bloomberg, Corbis, Reuters Storm, AP Vehicles, Chicago Tribune, TNS, Storm Bros, Network Firefighters, County Sheriff, National, of, Milwaukee Journal, People, Michael, Michael Gordon Workers, New, New Jersey Gov, Spartanburg Herald, Chicago, Minneapolis Locations: Bretton Woods , New Hampshire, New, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Nashville , Tennessee, Concord , New Hampshire, Jackson, Wheeling , Illinois, Washington ,, Malcolm , Iowa, Austin , Texas, Des Moines, AFP, Florence , Alabama, Orchard Park , New York, Williamsburg , Iowa, Worthington , Ohio, Atlantic , Iowa, Hudson, Jersey City , New Jersey, Winthrop , Massachusetts, Ankeny , Iowa, Iowa, Northwestern, Farmington Hills , Michigan, Oak Park , Illinois, Chicago, Bamberg , South Carolina, Annapolis , Maryland, Kaukauna , Wisconsin, Charlotte , North Carolina, Anadolu, Brooklyn , New York, Iowa City , Iowa, Panama City Beach , Florida, Florida's Bay County, County, Myrtle Grove , Florida, Hubertus , Wisconsin, Bay County , Florida, Florida , Alabama, Georgia, Totowa , New Jersey, New Jersey, Spartanburg , South Carolina, Canada, Midwest, Des Moines , Iowa, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Cleveland, New York City

☆ 2023 El Niño winter: New maps reveal who could see more snowfall
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Mary Gilbert | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

NOAA Climate.govThe map above depicts how much snow differs from average across all El Niño winters, regardless of El Niño’s strength. Snowfall during all stronger El Niño winters (January-March) compared to the 1991-2020 average (after the long-term trend has been removed). The number of years with below-average snowfall during the 13 moderate-to-strong El Niño winters (January-March average) since 1959. Red shows locations where more than half the years had below-average snowfall; gray shows locations where below-average snowfall happened in less than half the years studied. On the map above, darker reds indicate areas that have experienced more years of below-average snowfall during moderate-to-strong El Niño winters.

Persons: Niño, There’s, “ El Niño, ” Michelle L’Heureux, Jon Gottschalck, Snow, El Niño Organizations: CNN, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, El, Northeast Locations: El, California, Texas, Southwest, Washington, Baltimore, Northwest, Midwest, Northeast

☆ How El Niño will affect the weather this winter
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Vehicles drive on the flooded Freeway 5 after an El Niño-strengthened storm brought rain to Los Angeles on Jan. 6, 2016. Lucy Nicholson | ReutersThe El Niño weather pattern is still active heading into the winter this year and it will mean the northern and far west portions of the U.S. will have a warmer-than-usual winter. El Niño, meaning "little boy" in Spanish, and La Niña, meaning "little girl" in Spanish, are opposite weather patterns driven by a change in the trade winds in the Pacific Ocean. This is the first time in four years that El Niño has been active as winter begins, according to the NOAA. While El Niño rains will alleviate ongoing droughts in some regions, it may also drive the development of drought conditions in the Pacific Northwest.

Persons: El, Lucy Nicholson, El Niño, Jon Gottschalck, Brad Pugh, Pugh Organizations: National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, Rockies Locations: Los Angeles, El, U.S, Alaska, Pacific Northwest, New England, Gulf, Mississippi, Great Lakes, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana

Parts of the East Coast, particularly the Mid-Atlantic, may get more snow than normal because of that, he said. That means more rain in the South and extra storminess in the late winter, Gottschalk said. El Nino often means “unusual severe weather across the state of Florida because of a strong subtropical jet stream,” he said. He pointed to Washington’s paralyzing 2010 Snowmageddon storm that dumped more than 2 feet on the capital region during an El Nino. The Siberian snow cover, El Nino and other factors “indicate an overall mild winter,” he told The Associated Press.

Persons: there’s, Jon Gottschalk, ” Gottschalk, El, Gottschalk, El Nino, it's, ”, Judah Cohen, Cohen, ___ Read, Seth Borenstein Organizations: El Nino, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, Environmental Research, Associated Press, Twitter, AP Locations: United, America, East Coast, Tennessee , Missouri , Nebraska, Nevada, California, U.S, Alaska, Pacific Northwest, New England, Massachusetts, East, Tennessee, Texas , Kansas , Colorado , Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Lake Erie, Washington, United States, Florida, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, Boston, Siberia, Boston , New York City, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Salt Lake City, Philadelphia, Denver, New Mexico , Arizona , Texas , Oklahoma , Arkansas , Mississippi, Alabama

☆ US fall weather: Temperatures are about to come crashing down with a dramatic pattern change
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Mary Gilbert | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —A dramatic change is on the way as a robust cold front delivers the first hefty dose of fall weather by the weekend, sending temperatures tumbling by as much as 35 degrees. Temperatures 10 to 15 degrees above normal October levels will be common through Thursday across the Great Lakes and Northeast. Overnight low temperatures will also plummet behind these fronts. Low temperatures in the upper 30s to low 50s are likely across the north-central US and Midwest by Saturday morning, and in the Northeast by Sunday morning. Rain and storms to accompany frontsThe dramatic cooldown won’t be the only noticeable weather change this week.

Persons: haven’t Organizations: CNN, Cleveland, Midwest, Sunday, US Drought Monitor Locations: Gulf Coast . States, Louisiana, Midwest, Minnesota, Michigan, Lakes, New York, Minneapolis, Detroit, Philadelphia, New York City, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Gulf, Texas, Oklahoma

Funds continued to purchase NYMEX and ICE WTI (+16 million barrels), reflecting the intensifying squeeze on crude inventories around the delivery point at Cushing in Oklahoma. WTI purchases have totalled 152 million barrels over the five most recent weeks and taken the net position to 286 million barrels (60th percentile for all weeks since 2013). But funds were net sellers of Brent in the most recent week (-22 million barrels) after buying in the three previous weeks (+63 million). Chartbook: Oil and gas positionsOn the product side, fund managers were significant sellers of U.S. gasoline (-13 million barrels) and European gas oil (-7 million), which was only partially offset by some small buying of U.S. diesel (+2 million). U.S. NATURAL GASInvestors became increasingly bearish on the outlook for U.S. gas prices despite progressive elimination of the large inventory surplus inherited from 2022.

Persons: Nick Oxford, Brent, Cushing, John Kemp, Jan Harvey Organizations: REUTERS, ICE Futures, U.S . Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Funds, ICE, U.S ., U.S, Investors, Henry Hub, Climate, Nino, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Cushing , Oklahoma, Cushing, Oklahoma, Brent, Louisiana, U.S, Pacific, Saudi

☆ Mississippi River forecast: Grim outlook for rain and water levels
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Mary Gilbert | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Water levels on the Mississippi River are nearing historic lows for the second consecutive year, triggering a drinking water emergency in Louisiana as ocean water flows upstream, unimpeded by the river’s uncharacteristically weak flow. Lower Mississippi River water levels are forecast to continue to drop through at least mid-to-late October, according to Dedeaux. A confluence of extremesWater levels on the Mississippi River began to plummet in early September, well ahead of the October drop last year. This outlook from the Climate Prediction Center shows how drought is expected to improve in many areas along the Mississippi River which desperately need rain. Sixty percent of the water that flows into the lower Mississippi River comes from the Ohio River, while the other 40 percent comes from the upper Mississippi River, Dedeaux told CNN.

Persons: Katie Dedeaux, “ We’re, Dedeaux, It’s, Cullen Jones, Gerald Herbert, Alexis Highman Organizations: CNN, NOAA, Geological Survey, National Weather Service, Army Corps, New, Louisiana, US Drought Monitor, Forecast Center, Center Locations: Mississippi, Louisiana, Ohio, Jackson , Mississippi, Memphis, Missouri, Lower Mississippi, New Orleans, Mississippi , Minnesota , Wisconsin , Nebraska , Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota , Wisconsin , Iowa , Mississippi, El, Midwest

☆ An El Niño winter is coming: What could that mean for the US?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Mary Gilbert | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

El Niño is one of three phases of the El Niño Southern Oscillation, which tracks water temperature changes in the equatorial Pacific Ocean that can have rippling effects on weather patterns around the globe. A wetter southern tier and a drier northern tier in an outlook for this winter from the Climate Prediction Center have all the fingerprints of an El Niño winter. El Niño winter patterns are less regular in California, the Southwest and the Northeast. The Northeast doesn’t have a well-defined set of expectations during an El Niño winter. A very strong El Niño during the 2015-2016 winter contributed to the warmest winter on record for the US mainland, according to NOAA.

Persons: it’s, Niño, El Niño, Niña, Harry Lynch Organizations: CNN, El, West, NOAA, Rockies, snowpack, ., Raleigh News, Observer, Tribune, Service, Carolinas Locations: El, Southern, Texas , Louisiana, Mississippi, South, Pacific Northwest, Plains, Midwest, Pacific, California, Raleigh , North Carolina, Texas, East Coast

☆ Over 95% chance of El Nino conditions from January to March 2024, US forecaster says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Adnan Abidi/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 13 (Reuters) - There is a more than 95% chance that the El Niño weather pattern will continue through the Northern Hemisphere winter from January - March 2024, a U.S. government forecaster said on Thursday, bringing more extreme conditions. "In August, sea surface temperatures were above average across the equatorial Pacific ocean, with strengthening in the central and east-central Pacific," the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) said. El Nino is a warming of ocean surface temperatures in the eastern and central Pacific, and can provoke extreme weather phenomena from wildfires to tropical cyclones and prolonged droughts. On Tuesday, Australia's weather bureau said that El Nino indicators had strengthened and the weather event would likely develop between September and November, bringing hotter and drier conditions to Australia. "Despite nearly the same ensemble mean amplitude as last month, the shorter forecast horizon means that the odds of at least a 'strong' El Niño have increased to 71%," CPC said.

Persons: Adnan Abidi, El Nino, Chris Hyde, Brijesh Patel, Seher Dareen, Rahul Paswan, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, Prediction Center, El, El Nino, CPC, World Meteorological Organization, India, Thomson Locations: Ballia District, Uttar Pradesh, India, U.S, Pacific, South Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia, Brazil, Asia, Africa, Bengaluru

☆ Column: US wind power generation breaks out of summer doldrums
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Gavin Maguire | Thomson Reuters | Gavin Maguire Is The Global Energy Transition Columnist. He Was Previously Asia Commodities | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

REUTERS/Nick Oxford/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLITTLETON, Colorado, Sept 8 (Reuters) - After months of low wind speeds in several key wind farm areas, U.S. wind power generation hit its highest levels in nearly five months in early September as wind speeds picked up. The remaining states recorded an average wind generation drop of 7.1%, which contributed to a 3.1% decline in total national wind generation in the January to May period. The shortfalls in wind power have been evident in the output data of major U.S. power pool markets. Reuters Image Acquire Licensing RightsAs these markets cover over 30 U.S. states as well as the areas with the largest concentrations in wind power generation in the United States, the declines in wind power in these power pools had a direct impact on national level wind output, with knock-on effects for power generation mixes across the country. Similarly, any sustained recoveries in wind power generation totals from these key areas will lead to a commensurate rebound in U.S. power generation totals, and may allow for utilities to pare back use of natural gas and other sources of power to make way for more non-emitting wind power supplies.

Persons: Nick Oxford, Ember, El Nino, Gavin Maguire, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: REUTERS, LSEG, Reuters, Reliability, of Texas, El, Climate Impact, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, U.S, Thomson Locations: Big Spring , Texas, U.S, LITTLETON , Colorado, Texas, Texas , Iowa , Oklahoma , Kansas , Illinois, North Dakota, United States, pare, El Nino

LONDON, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Crude oil prices have stalled as the wave of hedge fund buying that helped lift them throughout July and the first part of August has been replaced by gentle selling. Hedge funds and other money managers sold the equivalent of 30 million barrels in the six most important petroleum futures and options contracts over the seven days ending on Aug. 22. Nearly all the sales were in crude (-29 million barrels) with sales of NYMEX and ICE WTI (-16 million barrels) and Brent (-13 million barrels), according to position records filed with regulators and exchanges. There was a mix of profit-taking after the previous rally by liquidating existing bullish long positions (-18 million barrels) and speculative short sales (+11 million barrels) in anticipation of future price falls. There are also increasing indications the United States is relaxing sanctions on crude exports from Iran and Venezuela in exchange for diplomatic objectives and to keep a lid on oil prices.

Persons: Brent, John Kemp, Barbara Lewis Organizations: ICE, Henry, U.S . National Oceanic, Prediction Center, CPC, U.S, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Saudi Arabia, Russia, COVID, States, Iran, Venezuela, NYMEX, United States, Pacific, North America

☆ Take Five: Farewell to a bruising August
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., April 14, 2023. Other data such as consumer confidence, the state of manufacturing, and inflation, with the latest personal consumption expenditures index is also due. Line chart with data from Refinitiv Datstreamn shows U.S. unemployment rate and federal funds target rate from January 2021 to July 2023. Yet Thursday's flash euro area August inflation number, which follows releases from some member states, could be the decider. The world's most populous country is already concerned about the threat to production of several basic commodities, including rice and sugar.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Lewis Krauskopf, Kevin Buckland, Nigel Hunt, Dhara, payrolls, Bundesbank, buybacks, Xi Jinping, Karin Strohecker, Sharon Singleton Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Treasury, Federal Reserve, ECB, Reuters, Nino, Climate, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, China, Lewis, New York, Tokyo, Amsterdam, London, Jackson Hole , Wyoming, Indonesia, Thailand

Chartbook: Texas electricity consumptionBut the primary driver of record consumption has been the rapid growth in the state’s resident population and economy rather than the weather. Power consumption increased at a compound annual rate of 1.7% between 2003 and 2022 – broadly in line with the compound population increase of 1.6%. Rising population explains almost all the structural increase in power consumption over the last two decades, based on data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Given underlying load growth, consumption will continue hitting new records each summer unless temperatures are well below average. Related column:- Don’t blame the weather for Texas power shortages (July 14, 2022)John Kemp is a Reuters market analyst.

Persons: Callaghan, John Kemp, Emelia Sithole Organizations: REUTERS, Electric, of Texas, Climate Prediction, U.S . Energy Information Administration, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Houston , Texas, U.S, Texas, Chartbook

☆ Earth just had its hottest July 'by a long shot,' NASA and NOAA say
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Denise Chow | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

NASA and NOAA together found that last month's average global surface temperature was 2.02 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th-century average. Last month was also the fourth consecutive month that global ocean surface temperatures hit a record high, the scientists said. This trend in ocean warming carries far-reaching consequences, he said. Changes in ocean temperatures can also have enormous impacts on marine species and their broader ecosystems, he said. This phenomenon is characterized by warm ocean surface temperatures in parts of the Pacific Ocean and tends to boost global temperatures and influence weather conditions around the world.

Persons: Sarah Kapnick, Carlos Del Castillo, Del Castillo, El, Gavin Schmidt, El Niño, Kapnick Organizations: NASA, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, Ecology Laboratory, NASA Goddard Space Flight, Northern, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, 533rd, El Locations: Greenbelt , Maryland, New York, El

☆ U.S. forecasters raise 2023 hurricane forecast
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Erwin Seba | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Marco Bello/File PhotoHOUSTON, Aug 10 (Reuters) - U.S. government forecasters on Thursday said they expect a more dangerous Atlantic storm season than previously projected, raising their Atlantic hurricane outlook due to high sea surface temperatures. In May, NOAA had predicted 12-17 named storms, 5-8 hurricanes and one to four major hurricanes. An average Atlantic season has 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes. NOAA's forecast was raised "to account for record warm sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic," said meteorologist Matthew Rosencrans with the agency’s Climate Prediction Center. "We normally have our 4th named storm on August 14th and first hurricane on August 11th, and we are at 4 named storms and one hurricane."

Persons: Hurricane Ida, Marco Bello, Matthew Rosencrans, El, El Nino, Jim Foerster, Chris Hewitt, Erwin Seba, Gloria Dickie, John Stonestreet Organizations: REUTERS, U.S . National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, Colorado State University, El Nino, El, World Meteorological Organization, Thomson Locations: Louisiana, Montegut , Louisiana, U.S, Pacific, United States, Hawaii, El Nino, Gulf, Mexico, Coast, Texas , Louisiana, Mississippi, London

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