Extreme Weather - The New Normal?

We have more indications that extreme weather in recent weeks may be another harbinger of global climate change, and force us to alter what we consider to be "normal":

-- Heavy rains caused flooding in southern Russia, where some regions got 2 to 5 months worth of rain in 24 hours, and claimed at least 150 lives.

-- Monsoon flooding in India has claimed more than 120 lives and devastated over a half million acres of crop land.

-- In Colorado and many other Western states, fires blazing in the dry, hot conditions have resulted in death and extensive property damage.

-- Across the eastern two-thirds of America, record heat is entering its 11th day, with 30 weather-related deaths in states from Illinois and Tennessee to Maryland and Pennsylvania. The heat follows recurrent, violent storms across the upper Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions.

(Photo: Krymsky in southern Russia)

One Hellacious Storm

Record heat continues to move eastward from the midwest. Yesterday's record-setting heat in the mid-Atlantic states (104 in DC, heat index 110) was followed by extreme thunderstorms packing 70+ mile-per-hour winds, which knocked out power to some 1.2 million people. We watched the strobe-like lightening and intense rain/wind for 45 minutes from inside darkened homes last night. There are reports of 2 fatalities locally, but that will likely increase as the day progresses. Bethesda's Congressional Country Club, which is hosting the AT&T National, lost power last night and suspended public access this morning.

And today? More of the same sweltering heat and late day storms.