Comparing the meteorological and astronomical seasons

 

Fall officially gets underway in September

What’s the difference between astronomical fall that gets underway this weekend and meteorological fall that began on September 1 ?  Check out this story I wrote for the WUSA9 website for details.

Tornado threat from landfalling hurricanes

 

Ida's September 2021 severe weather in the Mid-Atlantic Region (Source: NOAA)

In addition to storm surge-related flooding at the coast and inland flooding from heavy rainfall, hurricanes often spawn tornadoes.  Tornadoes caused by tropical systems aren’t usually very strong, but a heightened danger surrounds them because they are often obscured by heavy rain.  Some tropical systems have produced more tornadoes than others, as described below. 

2021: Hurricane Ida was a Category 4 hurricane that made landfall in Louisiana following Hurricane Laura a year earlier.  Ida was even more destructive and ranks as the sixth costliest hurricane in U.S. history with $82.4 billion in damages (2023 dollars), according to NOAA.  It spawned dozens of tornadoes from the U.S. Gulf Coast north to Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  That included an EF-2 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.  It had peak winds of 125 mph and was on the ground for more than 11 miles. 

2018:  The majority of the damage caused by Hurricane Florence resulted from widespread flooding in the Carolinas and parts of Virginia.  The National Weather Service office in Wakefield, Virginia also confirmed that 10 tornadoes occurred in the Richmond, Virginia area on September 17, which were spawned by the remnants of Florence.  The strongest was an EF-2 tornado with wind speeds of 115-125 mph.  These tornadoes occurred three days after the storm initially made landfall in North Carolina.  Florence did $29.0 billion worth of damage (2023 dollars).

2004:  Hurricane Ivan was a long-lasting Cape Verde hurricane and a Category 5 storm at peak intensity with sustained winds of 165 mph.  It made landfall along the U.S. Gulf Coast on September 16 as a Category 3 hurricane.  Ivan had far-reaching impacts, including in the Mid-Atlantic region where its remnants sparked a tornado outbreak on September 17, 2004.  According to NOAA, Ivan was the top tornado-producing hurricane on record with a total of 127 tornadoes in the United States.  It also did $33.0 billion worth of damage (2023).

2004:  Hurricane Frances made landfall on Florida’s East Coast as a Category 2 hurricane less than two weeks before Ivan’s landfall.  Like Ivan, Frances created a large and far-reaching tornado outbreak over several days.  Over 100 tornadoes were spawned by Frances and its remnants between September 4 and September 8.  Of these, roughly two dozen occurred in the Mid-Atlantic region.  Hurricane Frances remains in third place for the total number of U.S. tornadoes it caused (103).  Frances also did $15.8 billion worth of damage (2023).

Saving money through energy efficiency

 

Lake Needwood, Derwood, Maryland

There have already been a record-setting 23 billion-dollar weather disasters so far this year in the United States, according to NOAA. That doesn’t rule out additional such disasters over the remaining 3+ months of 2023. Hurricane season, for example, runs through November 30.

The state of Maryland has seen its fair share of weather disasters during the month of September, such as the 2001 severe weather outbreak that included the deadly College Park tornado and the widespread flooding and power outages that occurred during Hurricane Isabel in 2003. Such destructive weather events present an opportunity to rebuild using energy efficient construction techniques. 

Both Maryland and the District of Columbia are implementing updated building codes with a variety of incentives to help with just that. For example, the Maryland Energy Administration is in the process of updating its rebates and tax credits that are available to residents who implement sustainable technologies as part of their new home construction or repairs. Some of these can include the purchase of Energy Star certified appliances or the installation of solar panels.

In addition, Maryland’s “Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022” mandated a new set of energy standards for commercial construction known as “Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS).” The primary goals of this new law are a 20% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, and n​et-zero emissions by January 1, 2040. These goals are primarily designed for new construction with exemptions for things such as historic buildings and schools.

The District of Columbia also has its own green initiative that was passed last year. The “Clean Energy DC Building Code Amendment Act of 2022” requires “…all new construction or substantial improvements of covered buildings to be constructed to a net-zero-energy standard” by the end of 2026.

Finally, the state of Maryland is also offering tax rebates that “…will be based on the estimated energy savings from retrofits and will be available for both single family and multi-family homes.” These incentives were made available through Federal grants under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. 

Eligible home improvements include adding a heat pump for heating and cooling your home, as well as adding insulation to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature. To apply, residents should fill out the appropriate form on the Federal Government’s Energy Star website when filing their annual tax returns.

How does Hurricane Lee compare to other Category 5 storms ?

 

Hurricane Lee and Tropical Storm Margot, September 11, 2023 (Source: NOAA)

Hurricane Lee has been the longest lived hurricane in the Atlantic so far this season.  It was also the first Category 5 hurricane of the 2023 season.  Check out this story I wrote for the WUSA9 website for some historical context.