Pam Knox

  • A new study released by NOAA last week shows that in El Nino years, the number of tornadoes and hail storms decreases compared to non-El Nino years.  As you might expect, in La Nina years, the opposite of El Nino, severe weather increases in the Southeast. Note the split between the Florida peninsula and more…

    Posted in: ,
  • NOAA released their monthly climate summary for May 2015 this morning.  It showed the for the contiguous lower 48 states, May was the wettest month ever, with an average of 4.36 inches, 1.39 inches above the long-term average.  This in spite of the continuing drought in the West and dry conditions in the East.  You…

    Posted in: ,
  • Impacts of flooding on livestock

    While we’ve been dry here in the Southeast for the last month, areas farther to the west have seen massive rain and flooding.  This has caused a number of problems for livestock producers across the area.  This article from AgWeb describes problems in Arkansas with diminished hay and increased disease, including an increase in “hardware…

    Posted in: ,
  • In this series of postings I have introduced you to a number of people and groups working on providing climate data and information to Extension agents, agricultural producers and others who need access to trustworthy weather and climate information.  Today I am pleased to profile the USDA’s Southeast Regional Climate Hub, located in Raleigh, NC. …

    Posted in:
  • Since today is D-Day, you may be interested in the importance of weather forecasting to the success of the mission.  The History Channel has an excellent write-up of why the forecasters were so crucial to picking the best date for the massive invasion here.  Another short article on the forecasts is at https://www.alabamawx.com/?p=61139. I camped…

    Posted in: , ,
  • Farming on salty soil

    Salty soil can be caused by a number of problems, including drought and a lack of rainfall to flush salts out of the soil, salt water intrusion and rising sea levels near the coast, and irrigation from salty aquifers.  Over time, the salts build up and make it difficult to grow many types of crops. …

    Posted in: , , ,
  • This weekend should be mostly warm and dry across the Southeast.  By Tuesday, chances for scattered light showers return and continue through the rest of the week.  Temperatures for the next few days should be seasonal to slightly warmer than usual.  The areas that do not receive rain from the scattered showers may experience some…

    Posted in: