ay 2024: A Global Climate Snapshot of Surface Air Temperatures and Precipitation Extremes
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.
In May, cooler and drier anomalies dominated the eastern Pacific Ocean, signaling a stronger transition towards La Niña conditions. Along the coasts of Peru and Ecuador, daily cold temperature anomalies progressed throughout the month, creating a sharp contrast with the warmer conditions seen in April. This cooling was accompanied by negative precipitation anomalies, indicating suppressed convection spreading towards the central equatorial Pacific—another strong sign of La Niña's development.
This cooling in the Pacific coincided with an unusually warm tropical Atlantic. Off the coast of Brazil, a massive record-breaking occurrence of the top 10% of hottest days was observed, raising concerns about the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season. The combination of these anomalies poses a growing threat, with experts already warning about the potential for more severe storms during the peak of hurricane activity.
Unusually cold conditions stretched across large swaths of Russia, extending as far south as Iran, Afghanistan, and even India. This unusual weather pattern was driven by an unstable polar jet stream that pushed cold air masses southward. The interaction between these cold air masses, topography, and warm, humid air from the Arabian Sea triggered strong convection and intense precipitation.
The result was devastating floods in Afghanistan, affecting tens of thousands of people and claiming hundreds of lives. The deadly weather demonstrated how global climate systems, such as the interaction between the polar jet stream and regional topography, can produce severe, life-threatening conditions.
Brazil experienced excessive rainfall both in its northern Amazon region and in the south, particularly in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The Amazon’s moisture source was traced back to the unusually warm tropical Atlantic, with excess humidity circulating through a low-level jet around Brazil’s central, drier regions.
While the Amazon is sparsely populated, the extreme rainfall in southern Brazil had devastating effects on local communities. Precipitation records, unseen in over two decades, were shattered. On anomaly maps, areas of dark blue represented regions that experienced some of the most extreme rainfall on record, highlighting the severity of the event.
Cyclone Remal, an early-season storm, formed in the Bay of Bengal in late May. Favorable sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and an active Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) contributed to the storm's development. Wet anomalies were observed along India’s eastern coast, extending up to the Himalayas, consistent with Remal's path.
The cyclone produced over five times the climatological norm for precipitation in its landfall area, ultimately reaching severe cyclone status just hours before striking. The extent of rainfall and its impact underscored the potential for early-season storms to develop rapidly under the right conditions.
May 2024 also saw a series of severe weather events in the southern United States. Tornadoes, hailstorms, and flood-related incidents were reported across the region. These storms were fueled by moisture-rich airflows from the Gulf of Mexico, providing the necessary energy for mid-latitude systems to intensify.
Precipitation data showed that some areas reached the 90th percentile for rainfall, meaning the amount of rain exceeded most previous records for this time of year. The frequent storms and their intensity have become a concerning trend for the region, highlighting the vulnerability of the southern U.S. to extreme weather conditions.
May 2024 provided a window into the complex and interconnected nature of our global climate system. From the developing La Niña in the Pacific to devastating floods in Afghanistan and Brazil, these events underscore the growing influence of climate change on weather patterns. With the Atlantic hurricane season looming and new tools like satellite imagery aiding in forecasting, the need for preparedness and adaptation becomes increasingly clear.
The world’s weather is becoming more unpredictable, and May 2024 serves as a reminder of the profound changes underway.
Reference: https://disc.gsfc.nasa.gov/information/news?title=May%2F2024%20global%20surface%20air%20temperatures%20and%20precipitation
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