A rapidly intensifying storm will send temperatures plummeting by more than 40°F across the western and Central Plains on Wednesday, spawning an April blizzard that could dump more than 2 feet of snow in some areas.
Why it matters: This storm will paralyze a huge area of real estate and potentially set up beleaguered states such as Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin, among others, for more flooding in coming days. It could also set records for snowfall — with the potential for as much as 30 or more inches in parts of the Midwest — and for the lowest atmospheric pressure reading observed during the month of April in particular states.
The air pressure reading is significant because the lower the air pressure, the stronger the storm. Remarkably, this bomb cyclone, so named because of its rapid rate of intensification, is following on the heels of another such storm that struck the same general region last month.
That event led to a multibillion dollar damage bill, mainly due to widespread flooding that even overran a major U.S. Air Force Base outside of Omaha.
CORNING, Mo. — The widespread, severe flooding in the Midwest over the last month has exposed the vulnerabilities in a levee system that is now so full of holes that many here ruefully describe it as “Swiss cheese.”
With dozens of costly breaks across Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and nearby states, the surging waters have left large areas without even cursory flood protection.
“Breaches everywhere: multiple, multiple breaches,” said Tom Bullock, the top elected official in Holt County, Mo., where crews were rushing last week to patch a leaking levee that, if it failed completely, would flood the small town of Fortescue.
And with the fear of more floods in the coming years — and perhaps even the coming weeks — many people said living and farming near the water might not be viable much longer without major changes.
The impact on the nation’s rail system is not getting as much attention — but it should.
Freightwaves Nick Austin reported March 18
Midwest flooding grinds rail service to a halt. The pictures with the article give an idea of just how bad it is.
Historic, catastrophic flooding continues in the Midwest after major snow melt and heavy rain last week. Some of the worst conditions are in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa, including Omaha. People and animals have been trapped by high water; bridges, roads and rails have been washed away. With neighborhoods practically underwater; homes, farms and ranches ruined; and lives at risk, the National Guard has come to the rescue. As recovery continues, transportation and freight movement – especially by rail – are suffering major disruptions.
Got food? Wondering where all that stuff coming from the West Coast is being held up? Austin’s report on the upcoming April storm is not encouraging.
People in the Great Plains just can’t catch a break. After a “bomb cyclone” in mid-March slammed parts of Colorado, the Dakotas and Nebraska with heavy snow and destructive record-breaking winds – knocking out electricity to hundreds of thousands of customers – another storm is on the way this week. For an April storm, it may become historic for some places.
And BTW, the USAF HQ for SAC got hit pretty hard in March by that flooding. The Pentagon is seriously concerned about Climate Change — even if, according to TIME, the Commander in Chief is still in denial. (Time Magazine’s link to the DOD Climate Change Report does not work — has it been ‘disappeared’?) The Center for Climate and Security has a link to it here: Report on Effects of a Changing Climate to the Department of Defense. Their article about the report finds some curious omissions:
...However, there’s a lot missing. Among the requirements in the law, the report is supposed to include a list of the ten military bases per military service that are most vulnerable to climate change. By identifying the installations most vulnerable to climate change, both DoD and Congress would be able to prioritize resources and focus effort where it is needed most.
Unfortunately, the report doesn’t do that. Instead, it provides a list of military bases it characterizes as mission assurance priority bases that somehow omits the Marine Corps entirely. It also omits both Tyndall Air Force Base and Camp Lejeune, each of which were devastated by extreme weather events in the last year and are facing multi-billion dollar recovery bills. Without question, these omissions should be addressed.
Military Times has a list of the bases at risk here.
Bottom Line
Climate Change is here, it’s happening, and it is already costing us billions of dollars. Even if we do nothing to cut the greenhouse gas emissions that are driving it, we will still be spending huge amounts of money. Arguments about the cost of the Green New Deal are irrelevant — one way or another there’s a huge bill coming due. We might as well spend the money on things that address the root cause of the problem while we attempt to cope with the consequences of our previous inaction.
In the meantime, here’s thoughts and prayers for everyone in the midwest — and real help in the years of recovery that lie ahead. Stay safe everyone.
(And as long as I’m here, can I please ask everyone to check out Solutionary Rail again? It could be a critical element in efforts to address Climate Change effectively. It looks like we have to rebuild the railroads in the Midwest, so let’s do it right. Watch the Video and Download the eBook for free with the coupon code 4WRD2GTHR at checkout.)