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THE STATE CLIMATOLOGIST 2014/15 Annual Summary Volume 33, Issue 1

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THE STATE CLIMATOLOGIST 2014/15 Annual Summary Volume 33, Issue 1 The State Climatologist is a publication of the American Association of State Climatologists Compiled by Olivia Kellner, Visiting Climatologist, Midwestern Regional Climate Center i Table of Contents PRESIDENT’S LETTER ............................................................................................................ iv ABOUT THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF STATE CLIMATOLOGISTS ..................... v 2014 SUMMARY OF THE UNITED STATES CLIMATE ...................................................... 1 Seasonal Analysis ........................................................................................................................ 5 Alaska Annual Summary .............................................................................................................. 12 Very Warm/Cold and Wet/Dry Percentages ................................................................................ 14 Climate Extremes Index ............................................................................................................... 15 Drought ........................................................................................................................................ 17 Wildfires ....................................................................................................................................... 29 Hurricanes & Tropical Storms .................................................................................................... 30 National Snow & Ice .................................................................................................................... 34 Tornadoes .................................................................................................................................... 36 REGIONAL AND NATIONAL CENTER SUMMARIES .............................................................. 38 HIGH PLAINS REGIONAL CLIMATE CENTER (HPRCC) ................................................... 39 MIDWESTERN REGIONAL CLIMATE CENTER (MRCC) ................................................... 42 NATIONAL CLIMATIC DATA CENTER ................................................................................ 45 STATE CLIMATE OFFICE SUMMARIES .................................................................................. 47 ALABAMA OFFICE OF THE STATE CLIMATOLOGIST (AOSC) ...................................... 48 ALASKA CLIMATE RESEARCH CENTER (ACRC) ............................................................. 51 OFFICE OF THE ARIZONA STATE CLIMATOLOGIST (ASCO) ........................................ 55 OFFICE OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE CLIMATOLOGIST ................................................ 58 COLORADO CLIMATE CENTER (CCC) ................................................................................ 60 CONNECTICUT STATE CLIMATE CENTER ........................................................................ 67 OFFICE OF THE DELAWARE STATE CLIMATOLOGIST (ODSC) .................................... 69 FLORIDA CLIMATE CENTER ................................................................................................. 73 GEORGIA OFFICE OF THE STATE CLIMATOLOGIST ....................................................... 77 HAWAII STATE CLIMATE OFFICE (HSCO) ......................................................................... 80 IDAHO STATE CLIMATE SERVICES (ISCS) ....................................................................... 83 ILLINOIS STATE CLIMATOLOGIST OFFICE ....................................................................... 87 INDIANA STATE CLIMATE OFFICE (ICLIMATE) .............................................................. 89 IOWA STATE CLIMATOLOGIST OFFICE ............................................................................. 92 KANSAS STATE CLIMATE OFFICE ...................................................................................... 95 KENTUCKY CLIMATE CENTER (KCC) ................................................................................ 97 LOUISIANA OFFICE OF STATE CLIMATOLOGY ............................................................... 99 MICHIGAN STATE CLIMATOLOGICAL RESOURCES PROGRAM (MCRP) ................... 102 MINNESOTA STATE CLIMATOLOGY OFFICE (MN_SCO) ............................................... 104 OFFICE OF THE MISSISSIPPI STATE CLIMATOLOGIST .................................................. 106 MISSOURI CLIMATE CENTER (MCC) .................................................................................. 108 NEVADA STATE CLIMATE OFFICE (NSCO) ....................................................................... 111 NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE CLIMATE OFFICE (NHSCO) .................................................... 115 OFFICE OF THE NEW JERSEY STATE CLIMATOLOGIST (ONJSC) ................................ 118 NEW MEXICO CLIMATE CENTER (NMCC) ......................................................................... 121 NORTH CAROLINA CLIMATE OFFICE ................................................................................ 123 NORTH DAKOTA STATE CLIMATE OFFICE (NDSCO) ..................................................... 127 ii OKLAHOMA CLIMATOLOGICAL SURVEY (OCS) ............................................................. 130 OREGON CLIMATE SERVICE (OCS) ..................................................................................... 135 PENNSYLVANIA STATE CLIMATE OFFICE ....................................................................... 138 SOUTH CAROLINA OFFICE OF CLIMATOLOGY ............................................................... 141 SOUTH DAKOTA OFFICE OF CLIMATE AND WEATHER (SDOCW) .............................. 145 OFFICE OF THE TEXAS STATE CLIMATOLOGIST ............................................................ 151 UTAH CLIMATE CENTER (UCC) ........................................................................................... 154 VERMONT STATE CLIMATE OFFICE (VTSCO) .................................................................. 160 UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA CLIMATOLOGY OFFICE ....................................................... 163 OFFICE OF WASHINGTON STATE CLIMATOLOGIST (OWSC) ....................................... 167 WEST VIRGINIA STATE CLIMATE OFFICE (WVSCO) ...................................................... 170 WISCONSIN STATE CLIMATOLOGY OFFICE .................................................................... 174 WYOMING STATE CLIMATE OFFICE .................................................................................. 177 AASC CURRENT STATE CLIMATOLOGISTS/OFFICE DIRECTORS ................................ 180 iii May, 2015 Dear AASC Members, Partners, and Friends: The variability of the earth’s climate system continues to impact society and garner increasing attention from the general public and decision makers alike. As the awareness of the influence of climate grows, the work of the members of the American Association of State Climatologists (AASC) becomes increasingly important and relevant within our society. With these facts in mind, it is a pleasure to share with you the 2015 edition of “The State Climatologist”, a summary of the accomplishments of members of the AASC during the past year. This publication highlights the work of state climate offices, regional climate centers, and our federal partners in providing reliable climate data, services and expertise to the citizens of the United States. The AASC continues to advance in numerous areas. Many of our membership have taken advantage of our new institutional membership structure becoming either “Institutional Leader” or “Institutional Associate” members of our Association. The increased revenue stream has allowed us to move forward in choosing Asheville, NC as the location of our national office, and to proceed toward the hiring of our first full-time Executive Director. In addition, the Association has recently launched a new web site that details the rich diversity of state offices and offers a location for members to share climate tools, data and research and to conduct the business of the Association. A full-time Director, a permanent national office presence and new web site will enhance our efforts to effectively serve the membership of the AASC as we move through a time of change and opportunity in the fields of climate services and climate research. All of the advances we have made in the last year have been a result of the tireless efforts of AASC members who have volunteered time and talents to move the Association forward. Thanks to all of you that have worked so diligently to make plans and proposals a reality. A personal thanks to all that have offered advice and wisdom during my first year as President. It is truly an honor to serve such an outstanding group of individuals and such a wonderful Association. Sincerely, Daniel J. Leathers President of the American Association of State Climatologists Delaware State Climatologist iv About the American Association of State Climatologists The American Association of State Climatologists (AASC) is a professional scientific organization composed of state climatologists (one per state), directors of the six Regional Climate Centers and associate members who are persons interested in the goals and activities of the Association. State Climatologists are individuals who have been identified by a state entity as the state's climatologist and who are also recognized by the Director of the National Climatic Data Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as the state
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