geoeasy

May 2024 brought significant shifts in global climate patterns, with notable temperature and precipitation anomalies observed across different regions. These deviations provide critical insights into the evolving climate systems, offering a glimpse into the potential impacts of larger phenomena like La Niña and extreme weather events. In this blog, we’ll explore the key highlights from May 2024, including cooler Pacific conditions, unusually warm temperatures in the tropical Atlantic, and devastating weather events in regions ranging from Afghanistan to the United States.

Algal blooms have become a familiar sight on Lake Erie, as common during the summer as island-hopping, scenic cruises, and roller coasters. In 2024, the earliest bloom of blue-green algae recorded by NOAA began forming in the lake’s western basin on June 24. This marked the earliest detection since NOAA started monitoring these events in 2002. By early September, the bloom was still present, and bloom season can extend into October, depending on how frequently winds mix the lake's waters in the fall.

After wreaking havoc on Puerto Rico, Hurricane Ernesto gained strength as it moved across the western Atlantic Ocean toward Bermuda. The Category 2 hurricane was set to pass near or over the island on August 17, 2024, bringing massive waves to the U.S. and Canadian Atlantic coasts.

A wind rose plot is an essential tool used to visualize the distribution of wind direction and speed at a specific location over a set period. This type of plot is commonly employed in meteorology, climatology, and various environmental and industrial applications where wind analysis is crucial.