2017 climate report shows warmer and wetter conditions

Earlier this morning, the 2017 yearly global climate report was released, and it is showing warmer temperatures and more humidity.

First, this is a map of our average temperature anomalies, or difference from the climatic average. The red hues over our area mean our average temperature was trending slightly higher than normal, anywhere between 0.5 to 1.5 degrees.

Also on the rise was humidity levels. Take a look at this graph from 1992 to 2017 . . . This is our levels of specific humidity globally, or the amount of water vapor in the air. Notice the positive trend here!

To this date, we have had 7 nights with lows at or above 70 degrees. We are just slightly below the average of 8 for this point in the summer. If the global trend continues, we can expect this number to climb above average.

We have definitely seen larger rainfall amounts over the last few years, from hurricane Harvey dumping over twenty-five inches in some Texas cities last year, to the historic flooding we saw this year back in February. The number of two, three, four, and five inch rainfall events have been growing.

To see the full report, head to the American Meteorological Society's State of the Climate page - https://www.ametsoc.org/ams/index.cfm/publications/bulletin-of-the-american-meteorological-society-bams/state-of-the-climate/.