Weather Quiz

 

True or False.  More of DC’s 10 largest snowstorms have occurred in February than any other month.

Biden Administration Begins the Hard Work of Restoring Trust in Government

 

Extreme Drought Conditions Continue for Much of Western U.S.

The most trusted sources of information historically have been the scientific community and medical professionals. Survey data show that the U.S. public ranks only the military as more trustworthy than these groups, while expressing lower trust in the Federal government.  A new poll released by Axios-Ipsos indicates that since the Inauguration, more people now trust the government to provide them with accurate information about Covid-19.

Overall, 50% of Americans now say they have a “great” or “fair” amount of trust in the government, compared to only 40% trust in the final weeks of the Trump Administration. The rising numbers are “indicative of the switch in government; this is almost entirely based on trust in Biden,” according to pollster Chris Jackson of Ipsos Public Affairs.  A super-majority of Democrats (72%) trust the information now, up from 42%; as do 48% of independents, up from 44%.  Republicans, however, are not on board: just 30% trust the information, down from 34%.

The fact there is a partisan angle to those numbers heightens the need for the Biden Administration to employ a fact-based approach for all Americans.  That’s where the utilization of experts that everyone – regardless of political persuasion – can have faith in is essential.  The White House’s new Covid-19 Response Office will work in conjunction with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and venerable medical institutions such as the Johns Hopkins University to inform and assuage any concerns the public might have. 

Besides the ongoing pandemic, there is another critically important issue that Americans need to trust their government about: sustainability and climate change.  A post-election survey released by Yale and George Mason University reveals that 66% of Americans think developing sources of clean energy should be a “high” or “very high” priority.  Unfortunately, here again there is a partisan split among those numbers with 43% of Republicans holding that opinion, compared to 87% of Democrats.

To address this disparity, the Biden Administration has launched a multi-pronged strategy.  For example, the President’s Council of Advisers on Science and Technology was just re-established by Executive Order, with Biden elevating to Cabinet rank the position of Director of the Office of Science and Technology.   The serious problems facing the United States require decisions be guided by the best available science and data, a process enhanced by the decisions taken thus far by the new Administration.  Advances in taming the pandemic, along with enabling more equitable economic growth and achieving environmental sustainability are high on the list of challenges requiring science and fact-based decision-making.

For too long, some have falsely argued that actions to develop clean, more sustainable energy sources would be net job-killers. But we know that new jobs created by ambitious green economy initiatives will offset jobs lost in the fossil fuel industry.  Many well-paying union jobs could be created in a variety of domestic industries, such as developing electric vehicles and building charging stations.  Developing cleaner sources of energy, including wind and solar power, is key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  My electric bill shows that renewable energy sources make up less than 6% of the total source of energy for power plants in southern Maryland! Surely that will change as the cost of alternative energy systems declines and the public health need for environmental controls increases.

President Biden announced another Executive Order committed to hosting a Leaders’ Climate Summit on Earth Day, April 22, 2021.  On the agenda with world leaders will be reviewing possible cooperation around building more sustainable energy sources.   In an effort to restore public confidence in the Federal government, the Biden Administration has taken these steps in conjunction with a pledge to be transparent on matters that affect Americans’ well-being.  Clearly, this is an important part in the process of building back trust in the government’s ability to credibly address these existential problems. 

And, in a welcome display of symbolism, President Biden prominently hung in the Oval Office a portrait of Benjamin Franklin, one of the country’s most science-friendly, early leaders, signaling Biden’s intention to rely on science and facts in his decision making. Franklin’s respect for and leadership on the science issues of the early Republic went beyond his well-known fascination with lightening and electricity.  He co-founded the first hospital in the American colonies, and also supported inoculation to combat the smallpox epidemic then devastating the continent. 

Restoring trust in government will take time after a steady assault on science and fact-based, transparent decision-making over the course of the last four years, but President Biden is off to a strong start. 

DC’s Snowiest Month Gets Underway

 

Avery's first major winter storm

It’s fitting that Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow as he usually does on Groundhog Day.  This symbolizes six more weeks of winter.  And today has become the third – and final – consecutive day with light snow across the DC Metro Area.

DC residents saw the first 1” of snow on Sunday in nearly two years.  However, last month as a whole finished as a warmer and drier than average month.  January 2021’s monthly average temperature – combining daily high/low temperatures – was 38.6° (2.6° above average).  That’s despite seven of the final nine days that were colder than average.

February is the third and final month of meteorological winter that began on December 1.  Average daily high/low temperatures in the Nation’s Capital range from 44°/29° on February 1 to 51°/33° on February 28.  While seven of the last 10 February’s have been warmer than average, DC residents have still experienced some frigid February weather in recent years.  For example, February 2015 was DC’s coldest since 1979 and was its third consecutive colder than average February.  That was the first such occurrence in the Nation’s Capital since the mid-1990s.

DC’s warmest February temperature on record is 84° from February 25, 1930.  Also, February 21, 2018 set record high of 82° for that date, which was also a new record for DC’s earliest 80° temperature of the year.  Meanwhile, DC’s coldest February temperature remains -15° on February 11, 1899.  More recently, Washingtonians experienced a record low of 5° on February 20, 2015.  Record cold has become increasingly rare in the DC Metro Area in recent decades.

The Nation’s Capital averages 2.62” of rain in February, along with 5.7” of snow.  Eight of the last 20 February’s have been wetter than average, including four of the last five.  At the same time, only six of the last 20 February’s have been snowier than average in DC.  Six of DC’s 10 largest snowfalls have occurred in February.  DC’s 2003 Presidents Day snowstorm remains tied for 8^th largest with 16.4”.  February 2010’s “Snowmageddon” is tied for DC’s fourth largest snowstorm with 17.8” officially at National Airport. 

By comparison, DC residents haven’t had a snowier than average February since 2015.  The right ingredients only have to come together once, however, to produce enough snow to make it a snowier than average month.  Although the outlook from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is for a colder than average first half of February, they expect this month to finish with near average temperatures in the DC Metro Area and above average precipitation.

Snow Makes a Comback

 

Photo Credit: Mallory Hughes

Yesterday the Nation’s Capital had its most significant snowfall in nearly two years.  That’s not saying much since the 2019-2020 winter season was DC’s third least snowy on record with only 0.6”, while this winter hasn’t produced much snow either.  Nevertheless, Washington, D.C. saw its first inch of snow since February 20, 2019, as measured as Reagan National Airport. 

Here are some selected DC-Area snow totals for January 31 – February 1.  If you have another snow measurement you’d like to add, please do so as a comment.

Washington, D.C.

National Zoo: 2.5”
National Arboretum: 2.0”
U.S. Capital: 1.5”


Maryland

Oakland: 12.0”
Thurmont: 6.7”
Frostburg: 6.1”
Hagerstown: 5.5”
Laytonsville: 4.2”
BWI Airport: 3.8:
Olney: 3.0”
Mount Airy: 3.0”
Bethesda: 2.8”
Annapolis: 2.8”
Greenbelt: 2.8”
Lexington Park: 2.5”


Virginia

Midland: 5.0”
Leesburg: 5.0”
Berryville: 4.0”
Dulles Airport: 3.0”
Oakton: 2.5”
Manassas: 2.5”
National Airport: 2.3”
McLean: 2.0”