Just released: November 2015 Condition Monitoring Newsletter

We hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving last week! This month's newsletter, which was released today, has a link in the introduction that you can use to see what previous Thanksgiving conditions looked like in your state.  The November newsletter focuses on citizen science, including an article about how Rebecca Cumbie-Ward at the State Climate Office of North Carolina uses condition monitoring reports and another piece on the White House Initiatives on citizen science and crowdsourcing. We also interview Pat Momich, who is our condition monitoring observer of the month, to hear what motivates her to be a CoCoRaHS observer and tips for successful monitoring.

Check out the newsletter here. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at cisa@sc.edu.

Recap from October CoCoRaHS observer call

On October 29, 2015, we had a observer conference call with 7 CoCoRaHS condition monitoring volunteers, and detailed observer call notes can be found here. During the first part of the call, we discussed local impacts caused by heavy precipitation and flooding as well as non-weather sources, such as a local timber operation. Many of the observers shared that they do include impacts from heavy precipitation and flooding events in their reports, if observed. Some observers also had questions about how to report how logging operations and other human activities that alter local conditions. In response, CISA team members suggested to include this type of information in condition monitoring reports even though CoCoRaHS does not have a section to note human-caused land-use change, especially since this type of impact information would provide additional context to how weather conditions affects local areas.

During the second part of the conference call, CISA team member David Eckhardt asked observers for feedback on incorporating a scale bar into the CoCoRaHS reporting form. In addition to providing positive feedback about the prototype scale bar and guidance information that David created, observers also provided useful suggestions on how to improve the overall CoCoRaHS drought impact reporting form. For example, many observers agreed that having comment boxes next to each category would be useful in addition to the general comment box.

For those of you who were not able to make the call, but are interested in sharing your thoughts on a few proposed changes to the condition monitoring report form, please take a moment to complete this very brief survey to let us know what you think about the idea.

Additionally, anyone who is interested in participating in a usability study to test out the scale bar before it goes live, please enter your contact information in the space available on the survey OR e-mail cisa@sc.edu.

Check out the October newsletter!

Throughout the Carolinas, especially in South Carolina, we received a lot of precipitation this month, which has obliterated almost any sign of drought! This month's newsletter focuses why these wet conditions occurred and the impacts they have on local areas. We feature an article on why the recent historic rainfall event occurred in South Carolina and another piece on how extreme rainfall can impact availability of crops, such pumpkins. Our Condition Monitoring Star of the Month, Carl Cole of Charleston County, does a great job reporting about wet conditions in his weekly reports, and we explain how decision makers still find this information useful. You can access the newsletter here or send us an email at cisa@sc.edu if you would like to be added to our email list.

We would love to hear more from you the impacts from these heavy precipitation events in your area and how you report about wet conditions during our next observer conference call on October 29, 2015 from 10 am to 11 am. We would also like to hear your feedback about our second phase of the Condition Monitoring project discussed in last month's newsletter. To join the conversation the conversation next week, call 605-477-2200 and enter the access code 736549 (note: this is not
a toll-free number).

We need your help to document impacts from Hurricane Joaquin this weekend!

Coastal areas in the Carolinas might experience major flooding this weekend, partly thanks to Hurricane Joaquin, which the National Hurricane Center forecasts to travel along the Eastern Seaboard. According to a blog post by Dr. Hal Needham, a "complex interaction between Hurricane Joaquin, a pre-existing cold-front, and a building dome of high pressure" will result in a widespread storm surge event along the East Coast.

We need your help to document local conditions and impacts in your area this weekend that might result from Hurricane Joaquin! If you experience severe weather, please submit reports through the Significant Weather Report on CoCoRaHS website. Additionally, you can also include any impacts from Hurricane Joaquin in your reports. Photos can be sent to cisa@sc.edu. As usual, please let us know if you have any questions.

Cone forecast for Hurricane Joaquin from the National Hurricane Center

Drought disaster declarations in South Carolina provide aid to farmers

Although many parts of the Carolinas received rain the past couple of days, this doesn't erase the crop damages and losses that farmers in South Carolina incurred from drought during the summer growing season. In early September, The State newspaper reports that 35 South Carolina counties have been declared as natural disaster areas by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) due to drought, making these areas eligible for disaster relief funds. Many farmers have crop insurance that they purchase for protection for unanticipated losses and damages from disasters, but the drought disaster declaration also makes them eligible to apply for low-interest loans from the USDA Farm Service Agency if they need more assistance. Additionally, counties next to those where drought disaster declarations have been made also qualify for assistance, making counties in North Carolina and Georgia also eligible for aid. According to a Clemson University media release, crops that experienced damage include corn, cotton, sorghum, soybeans, and peanuts, which mostly occurred due to the extremely high temperatures and isolated rainfall events this summer. Clemson extension specialists also warn that despite forecasts of more rainfall during the winter and spring due to El Niño, which will potentially alleviate the drought, farmers might now be at risk of additional losses due to the excessive rainfall.

The USDA provides relief to farmers, but many of us also have backyard gardens where we grow our own produce and plants that suffered as well. Some of our observers report plant stress by describing how much they irrigate their plants or whether the plants have been wilting or producing fruit later in their condition monitoring reports. As the weather changes this fall, please continue to describe the condition of your plants in your observations, which helps decision makers, such as the state drought management committees, monitor whether plants have been recovering or remain stressed from dry conditions.
 

Devastated corn crops in South Carolina.  

Source: Clemson University Media Release. 

Image Credit: David DeWitt / Clemson University

Have you read the September 2015 newsletter?

If you haven't received a copy of the September 2015 Newsletter, check it out here. This month's newsletter provides an update on Phase 2 of the CoCoRaHS Condition Monitoring Project, and we are looking for your feedback as we consider how to improve the reporting process and ways to display your reports through an interactive web map. Additionally, this month's newsletter includes an article on flash drought and a drought update for the Carolinas based on the U.S. Drought Monitor for last week. We also highlight Richard Figlar as our Condition Monitoring Star of the Month and share some of his reports from August.

Feel free to send us any comments or questions that you might have, or if you would like to be added to the newsletter email list.

Help document upcoming King Tides in South Carolina!

Do you live on the South Carolina Coast or are planning a trip during August 28 - September 2? If yes, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC) needs your help to capture photos for the South Carolina King Tides initiative!

Every year, coastal areas of South Carolina experience “King Tides,” which refers to a seasonally high tide that occurs when the moon is close to the earth during its orbit. According to SC DHEC, King Tides may cause noticeable impacts such as flooding in low-lying areas and coastal erosion, especially if a heavy precipitation event occurs during the King Tide. The South Carolina King Tides Initiative helps SC DHEC document and better understand the types of impacts these extreme tides have on the state. The initiative also raises public awareness of the impacts of coastal hazards.

Based on the tide charts, the next King Tide event in South Carolina will occur from August 28^th through September 2. If you would like to participate and submit photos documenting King Tides, visit MyCoast: SouthCarolina to download the MyCoast: South Carolina app for your smartphone or tablet to upload photos. For more information, please visit SC DHEC’s information page.

Above: Example of a MyCoast submission from a King Tide event last year