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THE STATE CLIMATOLOGIST 2007 Annual Summary Volume 26, Issue 1 The State Climatologist is a publication of the American Association of State Climatologists Paul Knight, President, Pennsylvania State Climatologist Hope Mizzell, Secretary/Treasurer David Robinson, ARSCO Deborah Bathke & Melissa Griffin, South Carolina State Climatologist Coordinator Editors, The State Climatologist New Jersey State Climatologist New Mexico & Florida Climate Centers Marjorie McGuirk, Ex-Officio Robert Leffler, Ex-Officio Member Jan Curtis, Ex-Officio Member Member National Weather Service – Climate NRCS –National Water and Climate National Climatic Data Center Services Division Center Editor’s Note The State Climatologist is an annual report of the activities of the members of the American Association of State Climatologists. It has been a pleasure to be the editors of this year’s edition, spanning the period of January – December 2007. We would like to express appreciation to all of the state climate offices, regional climate centers, AASC partners and others who contributed to this year’s edition. Deborah Bathke New Mexico Climate Center New Mexico State University Melissa L. Griffin Florida Climate Center Florida State University July 7, 2008 1 Table of Contents About the American Association of State Climatologists.................................................4 ARSCO...........................................................................................................................4 Letter From The AASC President....................................................................................5 2007 SUMMARY OF THE UNITED STATES CLIMATE ............................................6 NOAA/National Weather Service Climate Services Division ........................................ 15 NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center (NCDC).......................................................... 18 Natural Resources Conservation Service ....................................................................... 19 Midwestern Regional Climate Center............................................................................ 21 Southeast Regional Climate Center ............................................................................... 24 Western Regional Climate Center ................................................................................. 25 Alabama Office of the State Climatologist (AOSC)....................................................... 27 Alaska Climate Research Center ................................................................................... 29 Office of the Arizona State Climatologist...................................................................... 31 Office of the California State Climatologist................................................................... 35 Colorado Climate Center............................................................................................... 37 Connecticut State Climate Center.................................................................................. 40 Office of the Delaware State Climatologist.................................................................... 41 Florida Climate Center.................................................................................................. 44 Georgia State Climatology Office ................................................................................. 46 Hawaii State Climate Office (HSCO)............................................................................ 47 Idaho State Climate Services......................................................................................... 48 Illinois State Water Survey............................................................................................ 50 Iowa State Climatologist Office .................................................................................... 52 Kentucky Climate Center .............................................................................................. 54 Louisiana Office of the State Climatologist ................................................................... 56 Maryland State Climatologist Office ............................................................................. 58 Minnesota State Climatology Office.............................................................................. 59 Office of the Mississippi State Climatologist................................................................. 61 Missouri Climate Center ............................................................................................... 65 Nevada State Climate Office ......................................................................................... 69 Office of the New Jersey State Climatologist ................................................................ 71 2 New Mexico Climate Center ......................................................................................... 74 State Climate Office of North Carolina.......................................................................... 76 North Dakota State Climate Office................................................................................ 78 Oklahoma Climatological Survey.................................................................................. 83 Oregon Climate Service ................................................................................................ 86 Pennsylvania State Climate Office ................................................................................ 88 South Carolina Office of Climatology ........................................................................... 90 South Dakota Office of Climate and Weather................................................................ 93 Office of the Texas State Climatologist ......................................................................... 96 Utah Climate Center...................................................................................................... 99 Vermont State Climate Office ..................................................................................... 102 University of Virginia Climatology Office .................................................................. 104 Office of Washington State Climatologist ................................................................... 107 Wisconsin State Climatology Office............................................................................ 109 Wyoming State Climate Office.................................................................................... 111 AASC 2007 Annual Meeting Minutes......................................................................... 113 3 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 climatologist of a particular state. State Climatologists currently exist in 44 states and Puerto Rico. They are typically either employees of state agencies or are staff members of state-supported universities. Associate members may be assistant state climatologists or other climatologists under the employ of the state climatologist, representatives of federal climate agencies, retired state climatologists, or others interested in climate services. The total membership of the Association is approximately 150. For more info, see http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/stateclimatologists.html. ARSCO A state climate office may gain status as the AASC-Recognized State Climate Office (ARSCO) by providing: 1. A document detailing current and planned activities meeting ARSCO requirements; 2. A letter of support from the state’s Regional Climate Center Director; 3. A letter of support from at least one National Weather Service Forecast Office serving the state. Candidate offices must demonstrate the following capabilities: • Communication capabilities – the office must be able to communicate with its clientele via multiple media, including telephone, Internet, mail, E- mail, and fax; • Information services – the office must be capable of providing a range of data and information; • Research – the office must conduct research on climate and human activities; • Outreach – the office should design products and services for education, climate information, awareness, and the media; • Monitoring and assessments – monitoring climate conditions, evaluating future impacts, and providing historical context to events are activities conducted by ARSCOs. Upon receipt of the materials and approval of the AASC Executive Board, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the National Climatic Data Center shall be issued. Currently, 37 states have received ARSCO status. 4 Letter From The AASC President Summer, 2008 Dear Fellow Climatologists, Partners and Friends of the AASC, It is my pleasure to present to you this annual report summarizing the work of both AASC Recognized State Climate Offices (ARSCO), Regional Climate Centers, fledgling State Climate Offices and our valuable federal partners. The summaries within represent quite a diverse group ranging from the nearly volunteer