Weather of 2020

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The following is a list of weather events that occurred on Earth in the year 2020.

Global conditions[]

Three tropical cyclones present in the western Pacific Ocean simultaneously on October 28. From left to right: Molave, Goni, and a low-pressure area which later became Atsani (at bottom-right).

As 2020 began, sea surface temperatures were above normal in the eastern Pacific Ocean near the equator, which had the potential to develop into El Niño conditions. On January 9, a group of climate scientists writing for ENSO Blog published their forecast for atmospheric conditions. They believed that there was a 60% chance that the environment would remain in neutral conditions related to the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO); this was based on the expectation that the above normal water temperatures would return to normal.[1] By March, there was little evidence of increased rainfall near the equator. Trade winds were enhanced in the central and tropical Pacific Ocean, and water temperatures remained above normal. On April 9, ENSO Blog reaffirmed their belief that environmental conditions would remain neutral.[2] However, the sea surface temperatures near the equatorial pacific began to cool well below average, indicating a developing La Niña. As a result, the ENSO Blog issued La Niña watch, stating a 50–55% chance of a strong La Niña.[3] In September, NOAA confirmed that the environment shifted to a La Niña pattern, based on lower than normal water temperatures in the eastern Pacific Ocean near the equator. The ENSO Blog estimated a 75% chance that La Niña conditions would persist through the end of the year, in part due to a strengthening Walker circulation.[4]

Monthly summary[]

January 2020 had an average global surface land and water temperature of 55.65 °F (13.14 °C), which was 2.05 °F (−16.64 °C) above the 20th century average. This made January 2020 the warmest January on record, surpassing 2016 by 0.04 °F (−17.76 °C). The month's departure from the average was the fourth highest of any month ever recorded. January 2020 was also the warmest January on record in the Northern Hemisphere.[5]

February 2020 had an average global surface land and water temperature of 55.91 °F (13.28 °C), which was 2.11 °F (−16.61 °C) above the 20th century average. It was the second warmest February on record, behind only 2016.[6]

March 2020 had an average global surface land and water temperature of 56.99 °F (13.88 °C), which was 2.09 °F (−16.62 °C) above the 20th century average. The month was the warmest March on record for South America.[7]

April 2020 had an average global surface land and water temperature of 58.61 °F (14.78 °C), which was 1.91 °F (−16.72 °C) above the 20th century average. The month was the warmest April on record for the Caribbean, with reliable records for the area beginning in 1910. The global ocean temperature during the month was 62.39 °F (16.88 °C), which was the highest April temperature since global records began in 1880.[8]

May 2020 had an average global surface land and water temperature of 60.31 °F (15.73 °C), tying 2016 for the warmest May on record. The temperature was 1.71 °F (−16.83 °C) above the 20th century average. It was the hottest ever recorded May in the Northern Hemisphere, and for all of Asia.[9]

June 2020 had an average global surface land and water temperature of 61.56 °F (16.42 °C), which was 1.66 °F (−16.86 °C) above the 20th century average.[10]

July 2020 had an average global surface land and water temperature of 62.06 °F (16.70 °C), tying 2016 for the second warmest July on record, and just shy of June 2019's record warmth. The temperature was 1.66 °F (−16.86 °C) above the 20th century average. The Arctic sea ice extent was 23.1% below the average from 1981 to 2020, which was the smallest sea ice extent on record.[11]

September 2020 had an average global surface land and water temperature of 59.0 °F (15.0 °C) which was the highest global surface land and water temperature in 141 year record by 1.75 °F (−16.81 °C) surpassing the record of 2015 and 2016 by 0.04 °F (−17.76 °C).[12]

Summary by weather type[]

Winter storms and cold waves[]

North America[]

Main article: 2020–21 North American winter
Satellite imagery of a major winter storm that affected most of United States, Northern Mexico and Eastern Canada

The winter season in North America, was harsh and the most significant weather events to affect North America in several years. It was the costliest on record with a damage total of at least $197 billion (2021 USD). This season included six storms with reaching Category 3 on Regional Snowfall Index scale. These damages were mostly contributed by a crippling cold wave occurred in mid-February. Along with that, several other major events occur such as an early-season severe ice storm in the South, a powerful nor'easter in mid-December, another major nor'easter on Groundhog Day, two widespread major blizzards in mid-February that affected the South and the Midwest, a major blizzard in March that affected the Rockies, and a late-season nor'easter that affected most of New England. It was also the deadliest winter season in over a decade, causing at least 235 fatalities. A La Niña weather pattern influenced most of the winter in North America during the season.

Floods[]

In 2020, eighteen flood events occurred, of which twelve occurred in Asia, two occurred in Europe, two occurred in Africa, one occurred in North America and one occurred in South America.

In January, a subtropical storm named Kurumĺ caused heavy rainfall in southeast region of Brazil. The highest rainfall occurred in the state Minas Gerais's capital Belo Horizonte. The flash flooding also caused mudslides in the region. In Europe, UK suffered a severe winter flooding. It initially started in November last year, but the flood continued in isolated regions during December and January. It got worsen after Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis affected in February and caused flash flooding, becoming the wettest month since records began in 1766. England and Wales had on average of 169.9 mm (6.69 in) rainfall in this month beating the record from 1833. Meanwhile Spain and France had recorded flash flooding thanks due to Storm Gloria.

In February, the southeast region of Kentucky experienced heavy rainfall and affected the counties of Bell, Clay, Harlan, Knox, Leslie, Letcher, Perry and Whitley counties. The governor of Kentucky declared state of emergency in these counties.

In March, a series of flood events affected the countries of Rwanda, Kenya, Somalia, Burundi, Ethiopia, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti and Tanzania affecting at least 700,000 people. It began with heavy downpour which led to massive landslides and flooding.

Droughts, heat waves, and wildfires[]

Main article: 2020 wildfire season

From May 16–19, a heatwave affected southeastern Europe, with temperatures reaching 104 °F (40 °C).[9]

In June, large wildfires spread across the Alaskan tundra. The Bush Fire burned across Arizona for several days, becoming the fifth largest ever recorded in the state.[10]

Tornadoes[]

Main article: Tornadoes of 2020

There were 689 tornadoes in the United States, as well as dozens of other tornadoes around the world. Worldwide, tornadoes have killed 87 people, including 75 in the United States. Tornadoes have caused US$4.4 billion in damage.

On April 12–13, an outbreak of 140 confirmed tornadoes affected the southeastern United States. The outbreak left $3 billion in damage and killed 32 people, making it the deadliest tornado outbreak since 2014.[13][14]

As Hurricane Isaias moved quickly north along the East Coast of the United States, it spawned an outbreak of 38 tornadoes that left two fatalities, both of which related to an EF3 tornado near Windsor, North Carolina. It was the strongest tornado spawned by a tropical cyclone in the United States since 2005.

Tropical cyclones[]

Satellite image of Typhoon Goni in October in the West Pacific Ocean, the strongest storm of the year
Main article: Tropical cyclones in 2020

Throughout the year, 72 tropical cyclones have formed throughout the world in bodies of water known as tropical cyclone basins. Of these, 48 have been named, including a subtropical cyclone in the South Atlantic Ocean, by various weather agencies when they attained maximum sustained winds of 35 knots (65 km/h, 40 mph). The strongest storms of the year so far are Cyclone Harold in the South Pacific Ocean and Cyclone Amphan in the North Indian Ocean. The deadliest and costliest storm of the year was also Cyclone Amphan, causing over 100 fatalities in India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Tropical cyclones have caused US$20.6 billion in damage and killed 255 people.

The Atlantic hurricane season was the most active on record, with a record 30 named storms, surpassing 2005. There was a record 11 tropical cyclones that struck the United States, with the strongest – Hurricane Laura – leaving $19 billion in damage when it struck Louisiana. In November, powerful hurricanes Eta and Iota struck Central America within a two week period, resulting in significant damage and loss of life.[15] The Pacific hurricane season had a record early start in late April,[16] although it did not feature a hurricane until July 23, one of the latest dates on record.[17]

The Pacific typhoon season was fairly inactive for the first half of the year, with its first storm, Vongfong, forming in late May and moving across the Philippines; the typhoon caused around ₱1.57 billion (US$31.1 million) in damage, and killed 5 people.[18][19] For the first July on record, the month did not include a single typhoon.[20]

The North Indian Ocean tropical cyclone was slightly above average with nine tropical cyclones, five cyclonic storms, four severe cyclonic storms, three very severe cyclonic storms, and one super cyclonic storm. The first storm, in the Bay of Bengal, formed on May 16 from a low-pressure area. It went on to strengthen into a super cyclonic storm, being designated Super Cyclonic Storm Amphan, and make landfall in India three days later, becoming the costliest storm ever recorded in the basin. Amphan simultaneously dissipated. In June, Severe Cyclonic Storm Nisarga became the first storm in the new thirteen-list naming system. After Nisarga dissipated, there was no activity between June 4 and October 11 – one of the longest gaps in inactivity on record. Then, on October 11, after the inactivity gap came to a close, Deep Depression BOB 02 formed. It made landfall in Andhra Pradesh and caused extensive damage. Two more depressions formed in October, and none were named – one of only a few occurrences on record. Gati formed on November 21, causing one of the longest naming gaps in history. Gati later became a Category 3 tropical cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, and made landfall in the Horn of Africa near Ras Hafun which became later the strongest cyclone to make a landfall Somalia since reliable records began in 1891. Two more storms formed in the Bay of Bengal – Nivar and Burevi, both impacting South India. Nivar was in late November and affected South India at Tamil Nadu. Burevi formed on November 30, and made a landfall in North Sri Lanka, but it stalled near Comorin and dissipated.

Events in meteorology[]

See also: Timeline of meteorology § 21st century

Timeline[]

This is a timeline of weather events during 2020. Please note that entries might cross between months, however, all entries are listed by the month they started.

January[]

  • January 10–11 – A tornado outbreak in the South Central and Southeastern United States results in 12 fatalities (7 tornadic and 5 non-tornadic) and 19 injuries from 80 tornadoes that caused $1.1 billion (2020 USD) in damage as well as 318,000 power outages. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued a moderate risk of severe weather for much of the Southern United States, including a 15% hatched risk of tornadoes for this outbreak.
  • January 11 - An EF2 tornado in Louisiana during the Tornado outbreak of January 10-11, 2020 causes 3 deaths and $1.325 million in damage.
  • January 11–20 – Cyclone Tino kills two people and caused $5.83 million (2020 USD) in damage across the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Wallis and Futuna, Samoan Islands, Tuvalu, and Tonga.
  • January 17–25 – European Windstorm Gloria kills 14 people with three missing and caused at least $200 million (2020 USD) in damage as well as over 337,000 power outages across Spain, Portugal, France, Morocco, and Gibraltar.
  • January 22–26 – Tropical Storm Diane kills 31 people and causes damage across Madagascar.
  • January 23–25 – Subtropical Storm Kurumí becomes a factor of the 2020 Brazilian floods and mudslides which kills 70 people and caused widespread damage across Brazil.

February[]

  • February 2–(Unknown) – A series of wildfires across the Paraná Delta burned 220,000 acres and caused $137,934 (2020 USD) in damage.
  • February 5–7 – A tornado outbreak in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States results in one tornadic fatality and seven injuries from 37 tornadoes that caused over $925 million (2020 USD) in damage.
  • February 6 – Meteorologists report a record high temperature of 18.3 °C (64.9 °F) on the northern tip of Antarctica.[25]
  • February 6 – A record-breaking 18.3 °C (64.9 °F) temperature is recorded at an Argentine weather base on the northern tip of Antarctica, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The previous record was 17.5 °C (63.5 °F) in March 2015.[25]
  • February 9 – Another Antarctic weather research station, located on Seymour Island, registered a temperature of 20.75 Celsius, considered to be a "likely record" and requiring some open questions to be answered before being confirmed.[26]

March[]

  • March 2–3 – A tornado outbreak in Tennessee, Alabama, Southern Kentucky, and Southeastern Missouri results in 26 fatalities (25 tornadic and 1 non-tornadic) and 309 injuries from 15 tornadoes that caused $1.606 billion (2020 USD) in damage.
  • March 3–4 – A tornado outbreak in Vietnam kills five people (1 tornadic and 4 non-tornadic) and destroyed 350 homes and damaged 6,800 others.[27]
  • March 12–15 – Severe Storms in the Middle East kills 21 people and caused damage across Egypt, State of palestine, Jordan, Israel, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
  • March 12–20 – Cyclone Herold kills five people and causes an unknown amount of damage across Madagascar, Tromelin Island, Mauritius, and Rodrigues.

April[]

  • April 1–11 – Cyclone Harold kills 31 people with 22 missing and caused $123.5 million (2020 USD) in damage across the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, and Tonga.
  • April 4–14 – The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone wildfires burn 116,139 acres.
  • April 12–13 – The 2020 Easter tornado outbreak results in 38 fatalities (32 tornadic and 6 non-tornadic) and 257 injuries from 140 tornadoes across ten states that caused $3 billion (2020 USD) in damage and caused over 4.3 million power outages. The outbreak caused multiple tornado emergencies to be issued by the National Weather Service.
    • April 12 – An EF4 tornado, in Mississippi, during the 2020 Easter tornado outbreak, kills eight people and injured 95 others. The tornado was estimated to be 2.25 miles wide, causing it to be the widest tornado in Mississippi state history and the third largest in US history.
    • April 12 – An EF2 tornado in Georgia caused 8 deaths and injured 24 others. The tornado is notable for not having a tornado warning issued until it was already on the ground for 8 minutes.
  • April 19–20 – A tornado outbreak in the Southern United States results in two fatalities from 22 tornadoes.
  • April 22–23 – A tornado outbreak in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia results in 7 fatalities (6 tornadic and 1 non-tornadic) and 64 injuries from 45 tornadoes that caused $1.1 billion (2020 USD) in damage.
  • April 22 - An EF3 tornado in Texas during the Tornado outbreak of April 22-23, 2020 causes 3 deaths, 33 injuries and $5 million in damage.

May[]

  • May 8–18 – Typhoon Vongfong kills five people and caused $50 million (2020 USD) in damage across Palau, the Philippines, and Taiwan.
  • May 8 – A long track EF2 tornado hits Apodaca, Nuevo León, Mexico, which resulted in two fatalities.
  • May 16–21 – Cyclone Amphan kills 128 and caused $13.7 billion (2020 USD) in damage across India (West Bengal, Odisha, Andaman Islands), Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan. Cyclone Amphan became the costliest cyclone ever recorded in the North Indian Ocean and the first super cyclonic storm to have formed in the Bay of Bengal since the 1999 Odisha cyclone.
  • May 20 – A tornado in Indonesia killed two people.
  • May 24–(Unknown) – Wildfires in Uttarakhand, India kills two people.

June[]

  • June 1–4 – Cyclone Nisarga kills six people and caused $803 million (2020 USD) in damage across India. Nisarga became the strongest storm to strike the state in the month of June since 1891.
  • June 5–July 23 – The Bighorn Fire in Arizona injured seven people and burned 119,987 acres.
  • June 10 – A strong tornado in Vietnam killed three people and injured 18 others.
  • June 20 – Verkhoyansk, Russia, located about 10 km (6 mi) north of the Arctic Circle, recorded a temperature of +38.0 °C (100.4 °F), its highest ever temperature on record, and potentially the highest ever recorded temperature in the arctic.[28]

July[]

August[]

September[]

  • September 1–4 – Hurricane Nana caused $20 million (2020 USD) in damage across the Windward Islands, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico.
  • September 7–8 – The 2020 Utah windstorm kills one person and caused 200,000 power outages across Utah.
  • September 7–28 – Hurricane Paulette kills one person and caused $50 million (2020 USD) in damage across Cape Verde, Bermuda, the East Coast of the United States, Azores, and Madeira.
  • September 11–18 – Hurricane Sally kills nine people and caused $7.3 billion (2020 USD) in damage across The Bahamas, Cuba, the U.S. Gulf Coast, and the Southeastern United States.
  • September 12–24 – Hurricane Teddy kills three people and caused $35 million (2020 USD) in damage across the Lesser Antilles, Bermuda, the East Coast of the United States, Atlantic Canada, and Southern Greenland.
  • September 14–17 – Tropical Storm Vicky kills one person and caused damage across Cape Verde.
  • September 14–21 – Cyclone Ianos, also known as Medicane Ianos, kills four people with one missing and caused at least $100 million (2020 USD) in damage across Libya, Italy, Malta, Greece, Crete, and Cyrenaica.
  • September 15–18 – Tropical Storm Noul kills 18 people and caused $175.2 million (2020 USD) in damage across Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, Philippines, Vietnam, and Cambodia.
  • September 17–19 – Subtropical Storm Alpha kills one person and caused $24.2 million (2020 USD) in damage across Portugal and Spain. Subtropical Storm Alpha was also the first subtropical cyclone or tropical cyclone observed to ever make landfall in mainland Portugal.
  • September 17–25 – Tropical Storm Beta kills one person and caused $225 million (2020 USD) in damage across Mexico, the Gulf Coast of the United States, and the Southeastern United States.

October[]

November[]

  • November 8–15 – Typhoon Vamco, also known as Typhoon Ulysses, kills 102 people with 10 missing and caused $437.4 million (2020 USD) in damage across the Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand.
  • November 13–18 – Hurricane Iota kills 84 people with 41 missing and caused $1.4 billion (2020 USD) in damage across the ABC Islands, Colombia, Jamaica, Central America (particularly Honduras and Nicaragua).
  • November 21–24 – Cyclone Gati kills nine people with 30 missing and caused millions in damage across Somalia and Yemen. Cyclone Gati was the strongest tropical cyclone on record to make landfall in Somalia and the first hurricane-force cyclone to make landfall in Somalia.
  • November 23–27 – Cyclone Nivar kills 14 people and caused $600 million (2020 USD) in damage across Sri Lanka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry.
  • November 30–December 5 – Cyclone Burevi kills 11 people with five missing and causes damage across Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.

December[]

  • December 10 – A tornado in South Africa kills one person and injures another.
  • December 11–24 – Cyclone Yasa kills four people with one missing and caused $246.7 million (2020 USD) in damage across Vanuatu, Fiji, and Tonga.
  • December 18–25 – Tropical Storm Krovanh, also known as Tropical Depression Vicky, kills nine people with one missing and caused $4.48 million (2020 USD) in damage across the Philippines, Malaysia, and Thailand.
  • December 19, 2020 – January 3, 2021 – Tropical Storm Chalane kills seven people and caused damage across Madagascar, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia.
  • December 30, 2020 – January 3, 2021 – The New Year's North American winter storm kills one person and caused 119,000 power outages. The storm caused $35 million (2021 USD) in damage across the United States and Canada.

See also[]

Weather year articles (2020–present)
2019, 2020, 2021

References[]

  1. ^ Emily Becker (January 9, 2020). "January 2020 ENSO update: new year, new you". Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  2. ^ Michelle L'Heureux (April 9, 2020). "April 2020 ENSO Update: Alternative Communication". Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  3. ^ "July 2020 ENSO update: La Niña Watch! | NOAA Climate.gov". www.climate.gov. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  4. ^ Becker, Emily (10 September 2021). "September 2020 ENSO update: La Niña is here!". Climate.gov. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Assessing the Global Climate in January 2020". National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). 2020-02-12. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  6. ^ "Assessing the Global Climate in February 2020". 6 March 2020.
  7. ^ "Assessing the Global Climate in March 2020". 10 April 2020.
  8. ^ "Assessing the Global Climate in April 2020". 11 May 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Assessing the Global Climate in May 2020". 9 June 2020.
  10. ^ a b "Assessing the Global Climate in June 2020". 10 July 2020.
  11. ^ "Assessing the Global Climate in July 2020". 12 August 2020.
  12. ^ "Assessing the Global Climate in September 2020". 13 October 2020.
  13. ^ "At Least 41 People Have Died After a Tornado Outbreak Ravaged the South". TIME USA. Archived from the original on April 14, 2020. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  14. ^ "Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters: Events". National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  15. ^ "Summary". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  16. ^ David Zelinsky (April 25, 2020). "Tropical Depression ONE-E". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  17. ^ "Hurricane DOUGLAS Forecast Discussion Number 9". National Hurricane Center.
  18. ^ "Sitrep No.15 re Preparedness Measures and Effects for Typhoon "AMBO" (I.N. "VONGFONG")" (PDF). NDRRMC. May 27, 2020.
  19. ^ "5 dead, P80 million lost in Typhoon 'Ambo' wake". Manila Standard. May 18, 2020.
  20. ^ "A typhoon-free July in Japan would be first since records began in 1951". 27 July 2020.
  21. ^ Press release (24 March 2020). "Drop in aircraft observations could have impact on weather forecasts". European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. Archived from the original on 26 March 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  22. ^ "WMO certifies Megaflash lightning extremes". World Meteorological Organization. 24 June 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  23. ^ Cappucci, Matthew (25 June 2020). "World record lightning 'megaflash' in South America — 440 miles long — confirmed by scientists". Washington Post. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  24. ^ "700-km Brazil 'megaflash' sets lightning record: UN". phys.org. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  25. ^ a b "An Antarctic base recorded a temperature of 64.9 degrees F. If confirmed, it's a record high". NBC News. 7 February 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  26. ^ Freedman, Andrew (14 February 2020). "Temperature in Antarctica soars to near 70 degrees, appearing to topple continental record set days earlier". Washington Post. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  27. ^ "Severe storms rip through northern Vietnam, leaving 5 people dead, over 350 homes destroyed and 6 800 damaged". The Watchers – Daily news service | Watchers.NEWS. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  28. ^ "100-Degree Fahrenheit Temperature Confirmed in Siberia; 90s Measured at Russian Arctic Coast". The Weather Channel.
  29. ^ "Death Valley's brutal 130 degrees may be record if verified". abcnews.go.com.
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