Extreme Weather

The Ocean & Extreme Weather Events

Innovating Research to Improve Extreme Weather Forecasts 

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Who We Are

Scientists at AOML are working to extend forecasts for extreme weather events such as heat waves, tornadoes, and hurricanes by improving predictions on the subseasonal (2 weeks to 3 months) to seasonal (3 months to 2 years) timescale. We accomplish this by using a combination of ocean and atmospheric observations and model simulations. Improved forecasts serve to provide emergency managers, government officials, businesses, and the public with better advanced warning to minimize catastrophic loss of life and damage to critical infrastructure. This effort is crucial for informing public health security and impact mitigation strategies.

Our Objective

To advance our understanding of the physical links between ocean variability and extreme weather events at the subseasonal to centennial timescale.

AOML has formed collaborative partnerships with the Climate Prediction Center (NOAA/CPC), the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (NOAA/GFDL), the Physical Science Laboratory (NOAA/PSL), the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NOAA/NSSL), the Storm Prediction Center (SPC), and the Environmental Modeling Center (EMC). Our goal is to advance the understanding of severe weather events affecting the US by improving and extending predictions to better serve our country. We would like to acknowledge our collaborators at these offices for their work: Arun Kumar (CPC); Andrew Wittenberg (GFDL); Mike Alexander (PSL); and Avichal Mehra (EMC). We would also like to acknowledge our international partner Sang-Wook Yeh with Hanyang University in South Korea.

Gregory Foltz, Ph.D

Sang-Ki Lee, Ph.D

Breanna Zavadoff, Ph.D

Marlos Goes, Ph.D

Matthieu LeHenaff, Ph.D

Heesook Kang, Ph.D

Hosmay Lopez, Ph.D

Dongmin Kim, Ph.D

Rick Lumpkin, Ph.D

Hyun-Sook Kim, Ph.D

Robert West, Ph.D

Top News

Study reveals acceleration in Pacific upper-ocean circulation over past 30 years, impacting global weather patterns

An official press release can be seen on the University of Miami Rosenstiel School’s newsroom website. A critical ocean layer for El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) dynamics. A study published October 31, 2024, in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans has revealed significant acceleration in the upper-ocean circulation of the equatorial Pacific over the past 30 years. This […]

West-east near-surface current trend between 1993-2022. The blue colors show increased westward currents; red colors show increased eastward currents. The largest trends are observed in the central tropical Pacific Ocean (black box). Current velocity data from three equatorial moored buoys (yellow diamonds) provide a subsurface view on long-term upper-ocean current velocity trends.

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State of the Climate in 2023 Released
Tornadoes are among the deadliest and costliest natural disasters in the United States and are one of the hardest to predict. In December 2021, the most destructive winter tornado outbreak, known as the Quad-State Tornado Outbreak, caused 89 fatalities, 672 injuries, and at least $3.9 billion in property damages. Scientists at the University of Miami’s Cooperative Institute of Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS) and NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) investigated this outbreak and found that it occurred under an exceptionally strong and prolonged negative Pacific-North American (PNA) pattern, which created favorable conditions for tornado outbreaks.
El Nino Satellite Image. Image Credit: NOAA National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS)
A bright yellow sun sits above trees in a orange sky.

Ocean Observations are Critical to Improve Extreme Weather Forecasts

Economic Benefit for the Community

Extreme weather events are responsible for a large number of mortalities and vast economic impacts in the US, with a yearly average of 569 fatalities and $19.9 billion in damages. Forewarning these events with longer lead-times will aid decision makers in mitigating their impact.

Extending Extreme Event Forecasts

This project includes the development of a hybrid forecast system constructed from dynamical and statistical models with the goal of extending the forecast window of extreme events from the typical weather timescale (~7 days) to the subseasonal to seasonal timescale.

Early Warning for Heat Waves

With regard to the potential for longer-term predictability, scientists at AOML have demonstrated a link between the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (MOC) and variations in the global monsoon, with impacts on heat wave occurrence in the US on the subseasonal to multidecadal timescale.

Early Warning for Tornado Outbreaks

Scientists at AOML have found that the subseasonal variation of tornado activity is closely related to northeastern Pacific convection associated with the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO). The science team at AOML and other OAR labs are exploring ways to apply this mechanism to subseasonal US tornado forecasts to provide advanced warning for tornado outbreaks.

The Ocean and Extreme Weather

The link between the ocean and extreme weather events is complex and needs to be better understood to improve and extend forecasts for such events. Heat wave occurrence in the US has been found to be linked to the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation and variations in the global monsoon on the subseasonal to multidecadal timescales.

Our scientists have also found that subseasonal variations of tornado activity are closely related to northeastern Pacific convection associated with the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO). Supported by a newly funded NOAA project, Subseasonal to Seasonal Severe Weather Prediction, the AOML science team and colleagues at other NOAA Research labs are currently exploring ways to apply this mechanism to develop a subseasonal US tornado outlook.

The Ocean and Extreme Weather Events presentation title slide

To learn more, watch this lightning presentation entitled “The Ocean and Extreme Weather Events” by AOML scientist Hosmay Lopez.

Extreme Weather Events

Extreme Rainfall

Our scientists are conducting research using observational datasets and numerical modeling with the goal of improving rainfall forecasts for the US. Understanding the physical mechanisms controlling summer rainfall over the US is of great importance because precipitation influences variations in extreme weather events, including drought, flooding, and heat waves.

Heat Waves

Scientists at AOML have demonstrated a link between the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (MOC) and variations in the global monsoon, with impacts on heat wave occurrence in the US on subseasonal to multidecadal timescales.

Tornadoes

Scientists at AOML are developing a seasonal forecast model for tornado activity for the contiguous US with the goal to improve prediction and risk assessment. During the course of this work, they identified certain ocean conditions which may lead to a skillful prediction of severe US  tornado outbreaks 1-3 months in advance.

Hurricanes

Our scientists are actively working to improve intensity forecasts of tropical cyclones by employing novel observational platforms (e.g., gliders, airborne drifters, and floats) and modeling techniques (e.g., Observing System Experiments). These platforms and techniques enable them to assess the impact of existing and new observing systems for improving the ocean analyses used to initialize coupled tropical cyclone forecast models.

Supporting the needs of NOAA and Line Offices.

The Weather Act.

The Weather Act was signed into law in April 2017, with goals to improve NOAA’s weather research through investments in observational, computing, and modeling capabilities, to support improvement in weather forecasting and prediction of high impact weather events, and expand commercial opportunities for the provision of weather data. 

Our research advances the prediction of high impact weather events by improving severe weather forecasts beyond the 7-10 day timescale to subseasonal and seasonal timescales. 

Learn more about the Weather Act at NOAA’s Weather Program Office.

Heat Waves

Heat waves are the leading weather-related cause of death in the US. These events are unusual and largely unpredictable beyond the 7-10 day timescale, indicating the need to identify the physical processes that modulate heat waves and, consequently, lead to improved prediction. Scientists at AOML are working to understand the driving forces behind heat wave occurrence, which is crucial for informing public health security and extreme heat mitigation strategies, and for developing effective heat wave forecasts to better prepare vulnerable communities. Click through the slides below to learn more about how the East Asian Monsoon is a modulator for heat waves across the US Great Plains.

View the full presentation on youtube.

Heat Waves and Climate Change

An analysis of heat wave patterns appearing in Nature Climate Change focuses on four regions of the United States where human-caused climate change will ultimately overtake natural variability as the main driver of heat waves. Climate change will drive more frequent and extreme summer heat waves in the western United States by the late 2020s, the Great Lakes region by the mid 2030s, and in the northern and southern Plains by the 2050s and 2070s, respectively. With growing populations in these regions, this study provides important information that can help inform adaptation and mitigation strategies to protect human health.

Find out more on our blog.

Map of the US showing when climate change will be the dominant cause of heat waves. Image credit: NOAA

Tornadoes

The Madden-Julian Oscillation

During the spring months of March, April, and May, the central US east of the Rocky Mountains is most prone to severe thunderstorms that often spawn series of violent tornadoes, causing casualties and property losses.

The Madden-Julian Oscillation is a patch of tropical thunderstorms that forms across the Indian Ocean. These storms move slowly eastward across the Pacific Ocean over a period of 30 to 90 days. Several studies have found a correlation between US tornado activity and how the Madden-Julian Oscillation passes across certain longitude bands in the tropical Pacific.

Read our news story to find out more.

A GIF of the Madden Julian Oscillation cloud and wind patterns.

El Niño-Southern Oscillation and Sea Surface Temperature in the North Atlantic

The temperature variations associated with El Niño and La Niña have far reaching impacts on global weather, including the likelihood of tornado outbreaks in the US.

Our scientists investigated the probability patterns of US regional tornado outbreaks during 1950–2014. They found that the four dominant springtime El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phases (persistent versus early-terminating El Niño and resurgent versus transitioning La Niña) and the North Atlantic sea surface temperature tripole variability were linked to distinct and significant US regional patterns of outbreak probability.

Watch this video to learn more.

Extreme Rainfall and Droughts

Understanding the physical mechanisms that control late summer to early fall (August to October) rainfall over the US is of great importance.  Precipitation influences the variation of extreme weather events, including drought, flooding, and heat waves, and also has direct economic impacts on factors such as crop yield.

There is currently little knowledge about the physical factors controlling US rainfall in the late summer to early fall thus limiting our ability to forewarn extreme rainfall events beyond a few days. Motivated by such problems, scientists at AOML are using observational datasets and numerical modeling experiments to improve rainfall forecasts for the US.

Their research has found that the contrast in surface temperatures between the tropical Pacific and Atlantic oceans in the late summer to early fall is one of the main drivers for modulating US precipitation over the southern US region and Great Plains on various timescales (subseasonal to multidecadal). AOML scientists have also found that the decadal southeast U.S. drought is influenced by nonlinear inter-ocean interactions between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. 

Extreme weather: rainfall diagram
Warm STT in the Equatorial Pacific (rising air) + Cold STT in the Caribbean Sea (sinking air) --> Suppressing tropical rainfall over Caribbean Sea --> Redirecting Heat & Moisture Fluxes into the U.S. --> Increasing U.S. Rainfall

Hurricanes

The global ocean drives our weather and climate systems. Scientists at AOML use different observing technologies and instruments to measure and observe the global oceans. Research conducted at AOML using data and numerical models that assimilate ocean observations has shown that ocean observations are key to improving the representation of the upper ocean’s conditions within coupled hurricane-ocean models used in the forecasts. The assimilation of ocean observations contributes to improved ocean representation in the models and, consequently, to improved hurricane forecasts.

Satellite altimetry allows ocean features to be easily identified, Argo floats allow for correcting model temperature and salinity large scale biases, and glider data provide continuous temperature and salinity profiles in areas of intense mesoscale activity. Additionally, drifters are deployed ahead of some Atlantic hurricanes to measure pressure, wind, and temperature as the storm passes above. These ocean observations and data are used to improve hurricane intensity forecasts, and are a way of determining if forecast models are accurately representing the interaction between the atmosphere and the ocean.

Featured Publication

First page of the "Modulation of North American Heat Waves by the Tropical Atlantic Warm Pool" publication.

Lopez, H., Kim, D., West, R., & Kirtman, B. (2022). Modulation of North American Heat Waves by the Tropical Atlantic Warm Pool. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, e2022JD037705.

Plain Language Summary: Extreme heat is responsible for the most weather-related deaths in the United States (US). Using observations and numerical model experiments, this study investigates the potential predictability of heat waves determined by the state of the tropical Atlantic sea surface temperature (SST). During boreal summer (June-July-August), a larger than normal area of warm SST produces an atmospheric response over the US Great Plains, leading to increased clear-sky conditions, rainfall deficits, surface temperature, and heat wave events. The results of this study suggest a potential seasonal predictability of high-impact extreme heat events, owing to the longer prediction skill of SST.

Download Full Paper.

Modulation of North American Heat Waves by the Tropical Atlantic Warm Pool

Lopez, H., Kim, D., West, R., & Kirtman, B. (2022). Modulation of North American Heat Waves by the Tropical Atlantic Warm Pool. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, e2022JD037705.

Plain Language Summary: Extreme heat is responsible for the most weather-related deaths in the United States (US). Using observations and numerical model experiments, this study investigates the potential predictability of heat waves determined by the state of the tropical Atlantic sea surface temperature (SST). During boreal summer (June-July-August), a larger than normal area of warm SST produces an atmospheric response over the US Great Plains, leading to increased clear-sky conditions, rainfall deficits, surface temperature, and heat wave events. The results of this study suggest a potential seasonal predictability of high-impact extreme heat events, owing to the longer prediction skill of SST.

Download Full Paper.

First page of the "Modulation of North American Heat Waves by the Tropical Atlantic Warm Pool" publication.

Publications & References

Looking for Literature? Search our Publication Database.

Partners

Sharing Resources Delivers Results.

Expanding Reach Through Partnerships.

Since 2016, AOML’s seasonal hybrid forecast model has been used as one of the forecast tools for Climate Prediction Center (CPC)’s experimental severe weather outlook.

In collaboration with forecasters and scientists from Climate Prediction Center (CPC), Storm Prediction Center (SPC), National Severe Storm Laboratory (NSSL) and universities, AOML scientists are responsible for preparing and finalizing the annual severe weather outlook report.

Climate Prediction Center
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National Severe Storms Laboratory
NOAA's Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory logo
Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory
National Centers for Environmental Prediction logo.
Environmental Modeling Center
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Physical Sciences Laboratory
Storm Prediction Center