American Meteorological Society

Looking to attend AMS specialty meetings but impacted by federal government cuts or restrictions? AMS offers a financial support program for discounted registration fees (in-person and virtual). Limited funding is available, apply here: https://bit.ly/41P6sAe

In a new statement, the Board of Directors of the Meteorological Society of Japan (MSJ) expresses deep concern over recent and ongoing rapid reductions in scientific research and academic capabilities in the U.S., particularly in meteorology and the atmospheric sciences. Read the full statement: https://bit.ly/4hRP6an

Are you a rising senior undergraduate student pursuing a degree in atmospheric, oceanic, or hydrologic sciences? Don’t miss the chance to apply for the AMS Senior Named Scholarship from $2,000 to $10,000 in recognition of your academic excellence! Check to see if you're eligible and apply by 18 April: https://bit.ly/3F4J1dc

WORD OF THE WEEK ?? Khamsin — (Also spelled camsin, chamsin, kamsin, khamasseen, khemsin.) A dry, dusty, and generally hot desert wind in Egypt and over the Red Sea. It is generally southerly or southeasterly, occurring in front of depressions moving eastward across North Africa or the southeastern Mediterranean. The deep khamsins occur in spring with depressions traveling east-northeast across the northern Sahara. They are preceded by a heat wave lasting about three days and are followed by a duststorm. The passage of the depression is marked by a cold front bringing Mediterranean air and a sudden drop in temperature. Photo credit ??: NASA

Atmospheric rivers (ARs) have already become “more frequent, larger, and moister” during 1980-2023 according to a study by Lexi Henny & Kyu-Myong Kim in #AMSJCli. Extreme ARs are becoming more intense at an even faster rate. Read more: https://bit.ly/4c9JqHR Photo credit ??: NASA

#WomensHistoryMonth Spotlight: Deborah Martorell is the Chief Meteorologist and Science Journalist at Teleonce in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She has been a broadcast meteorologist for 30 years. Deborah is passionate about covering topics in science, the environment, and space. Her work has earned the AMS Award of Excellence in Science Reporting by a Broadcast Meteorologist both in 2020 and 2025.

What is the value of precipitation forecasts ??? in anticipating local flood events, like the 2021 floods in Northwestern Europe? In our new paper featured in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, we show that precipitation warnings from ECMWF are often highly effective to reduce impacts of pluvial (rainfall-induced) flood events. While the Extreme Forecast Index (EFI) is most widely known and used, the Shift of Tails (SOT) often provides more detailed, skillful and useful predictions. We show how decision-makers can derive optimal thresholds to trigger warnings and corresponding early actions, based on many different factors (season, location, forecast skill, and the costs and prevented damages of actions). This allows decision-makers to incorporate objective and tailored thresholds for triggering early actions. The SOT forecasts gave clear warnings a couple of days ahead of the severe 2021 floods in Northwestern Europe. With a 1-day lead time, the indicator accurately pointed to the Ahr catchment, providing strong indications of the disaster that unfolded there. This study emphasizes the high value of the EFI and SOT forecasts, as produced by the ECMWF. We encourage operational forecasters to continue using these indicators to trigger preparedness actions. National Meteorological and Hydrological Services can use this framework to develop concrete warning thresholds that serve as a baseline for anticipating extreme rainfall events and flooding. Many thanks to co-authors Bart van den Hurk, Jeroen Aerts and Hans de Moel. Link to the article: https://lnkd.in/dCNzDxdp Scripts used for this research are open source: https://lnkd.in/dJcUiXYy European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts - ECMWF American Meteorological Society World Meteorological Organization Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam IVM Institute for Environmental Studies

Today in history ?? 27 March 1994: An F4 tornado tracked 50 miles through St. Clair, Calhoun, and Cherokee counties in Alabama, killing 22 people and injuring 150. Twenty people were killed when the tornado destroyed the Goshen United Methodist Church in Cherokee County. Photo credit ??: NOAA

The abstract submission deadline for the 41st International Conference on Radar Meteorology is next week? This year’s theme, "Weather Knows No Boundaries," invites you to showcase your radar meteorology research, including airborne and spaceborne radar, QPE and hydrology, and more. ?? Don't miss this chance to present your work at #AMS41Radar. Submit by 3 April: https://bit.ly/4itVPIN

Climate change is driving increases in electricity demand and cost in Texas’ ERCOT energy market, partly due to the need for cooling during extreme heat, suggests a paper in the AMS journal “Weather, Climate, and Society.” ERCOT power demand in 2023 was 1.9 GW (3.9%) more than the 1950–1980 average, with 47% of that increase due to climate change. Read the paper here: https://bit.ly/4j9JA4d