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UPS AND DOWNS MARK YEAR IN WEATHER FOR 2000, NOAA SAYS FORECASTERS UPDATE WINTER 2000-01 OUTLOOK
Click here for more graphics. "Generally, while we experienced above-average temperatures in 2000, colder-than-normal temperatures emerged later, especially during November," said NOAA Administrator D. James Baker, adding that November was the second coldest on record. Retired Brig. Gen. Jack Kelly, director of the NOAA's National Weather Service, said 2000 was shaped by variability and extremes, and the trend should continue into the winter. Updating the Winter 2000-01 outlook, Kelly said cold temperatures would continue through the next two weeks in the western and southern United States, the Great Lakes region and New England. "As we progress through the winter, there is a good chance of seeing a couple more major cold outbreaks, and considerable swings in temperature and precipitation across the nation," he said. Kelly also said colder winter
temperatures are expected in the northern Plains, upper Midwest,
Great Lakes, northern Rockies and parts of the Northwest; more
precipitation —including more snow—is expected from
Texas to the Carolinas and New England; the Pacific Northwest
can expect more heavy rain events; states in the Southeast, Southwest
and West will see warmer temperatures and Alaska will experience
near normal precipitation with colder temperatures in the southern
portion of the state. Year 2000 Highlights Drought conditions set the stage for what has been called one of the worst wildfire seasons in 50 years. Nearly 91,000 fires scorched more than 7.2 million acres across the country; The Dallas-Fort Worth area went 84 straight days without measurable precipitation, breaking local records that began in 1898; In August, 36 percent of the United States was in moderate-to-severe drought; For the first time since 1994, the United States escaped a direct hit from a hurricane. During the third straight year with above-average activity, there were 14 named storms in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. Eight became hurricanes, and three reached major hurricane strength; A 168 percent increase in severe thunderstorm activity around major airline hubs in the Northeast and Great Lakes, resulted in a record number of delays, especially during peak summer travel season; After two years of unusually high numbers of tornadoes in the United States, the 2000 tornado season was comparatively calm, with 898 tornado reports. Relevant Web Sites Current
winter storm watches, warnings and temperatures across the United
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