Severe weather for 2016
The year has been active with severe weather ranging from major spring thunderstorms throughout the U.S. Midwest to extreme cold temperatures in the U.S. Northeast. Tropical weather throughout the Pacific Ocean impacting U.S. territories is currently being monitored.
Winter weather continues to plague the beginning of 2014.
The year began with a blizzard impacting the Northeast. In early October, Tropical Storm Karen formed and has the ability to potentially impact Florida and the greater Gulf Coast. December brought a major winter storm stretching from Texas to New York.
Events in 2012 include the Derecho, impacting the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic, Hurricane Isaac, impacting Florida and the Gulf Coast, and Hurricane Sandy, impacting the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
Ohio Valley & Mid-Atlantic Summer Storm
The year began with a major winter storm in early February and spring flooding down the Mississippi River. The spring also brought storms to the Mid-Atlantic and Southern regions. In late August, Hurricane Irene impcated Puerto Rico and the East Coast from North Carolina up to Maine.
U.S. Midcontinent to East Coast Major Winter Storm
The explosion of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig on April 20 was the most significant disaster of the year. The explosion and months long effort to stop the flow of oil resulted in a new federal policies which temporarily halted deepwater drilling and new drilling leases in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, and now require enhanced safety plans and procedures be in place before drilling will be approved. No major hurricanes made landfall in the U.S. in 2010.
The 2009 season ended with only nine named storms, including three hurricanes, two of which were major. It was the quietest season in number of storms since 1997, due in part to El Nino, which suppressed Atlantic hurricanes.
The 2008 hurricane season has ended with 16 named storms and eight hurricanes, five of which were major. Six consecutive storms made landfall on the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Ike stood out as the second deadliest in U.S. history and the costliest in Texas history.
DOE has completed a new study comparing the impacts of the 2005 & 2008 hurricanes on energy infrastructure (PDF 1.9 MB).
The 2007 hurricane season in the Atlantic ended with 14 named storms and six hurricanes, two of which were major. Only one hurricane and one tropical storm made landfall on U.S. shores. Wildfires, storms and floods had more significant impacts on U.S. energy infrastructure this year.
The 2006 hurricane season in the Atlantic was about normal with nine named storms and five hurricanes, none of which made landfall on the U.S. Atlantic coast. While the Atlantic storm season remained tame, a powerful storm with wind gusts nearing 100 mph hit the Pacific Northwest in mid-December.
The 2005 hurricane season started early and broke several records
Gulf of Mexico natural gas productions was particularly hard hit (PDF 30 KB). DOE's response to the 2005 hurricanes: (PDF 542 KB).
Gulf Coast Hurricanes (includes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma as of 10/24/05)
During most of August and September 2004, ISER helped state and federal agencies prepare for and respond to the hurricanes and the massive power outages they caused in the Southeast. DOE's response is summarized (PDF 1.3 MB).
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