DC Storms

It is said that global warming leads to more hurricanes, but it doesn't take a hurricane to cause damage. The recent storms in Virginia, Maryland, DC, and Pennsylvania show that massive flooding from torrential rains can occur without a hurricane. All that is needed is a flow of moisture. Right now the Bermuda High is sitting out in the middle of the Atlantic, with its dome of influence extending to just off the coast, providing a channel where storms and hurricanes can move up the coast. Hot, humid conditions cause moisture to evaporate into the air, and when disturbances come through the channel, they pick up this moisture and explode into storms with heavy rainfall. One system off the coast of Florida did show some signs of a tropical depression, but its main effect now will be to pile moisture and rains into the Carolinas tomorrow (2006 June 27).

The storms will clear away later this week, but they seem to show that the Bermuda High is farther off the coast this year. This could steer hurricanes to the East Coast, and so I will watch this carefully. Regardless, the increased number of hurricanes and now storms like the DC storm seem to be the effect of global warming on us. It will get worse, with only one thing even worse yet stopping it - peak oil.