DC-AMS NEWSLETTER
W ASHINGTON , DC C HAPTER OF THE A MERICAN M ETEOROLOGICAL S OCIETY
WWW . DC - AMS . ORG
C HAIR ’ S C ORNER
by Jason Samenow
It seems like yesterday when June's
tremendous banquet drew to a close and
how, already, a new Chapter year is upon
us. I'm excited about the coming year as
the Officers and I plan to focus it on
improving the "membership experience."
What does this mean?
M AKING MEMBERSHIP EASY .
You can register, renew and pay for
your membership online (in addition to
through conventional mail). Just go to our
website, click on "Join Us" -- fill out a
couple of quick forms
(secure transactions are ensured for using
your credit card), and you're done. Also,
we will send an email in the next couple
weeks that reminds you to renew your
memebership if it has expired. In addition
to membership services, you'll also be able
to pay for meetings online beginning in
October.
M AKING MEMBERSHIP FUN .
We'd like to enhance the social/
networking opportunities provided by the
Chapter. I have several ideas for starters:
First, I'd like to convene a "Chapter night"
in October --
SEPTEMBER 2006
where we give current members an
opportunity to give short (5-10 minute)
presentations about weather/climate
related projects they're involved in --
either professionally or as a hobby.
Second, I'd like to organize a young
professionals happy hour to bring
together members juststarting their
careers as well as area graduate
students. Third, we'd like to organize a
chapter picnic in the Spring. If you
have ideas for a venue,let me know.
Other social/networking ideas are
welcome.
M AKING MEMBERSHIP BIG.
In terms of the size of our
Chapter, I believe the more the merrier.
We've been pushing hard on the
recruiting front -- sending letters to
1000+ national AMS members in the
Region. Encourage your friends/
colleagues to join. The more members,
the richer and more diverse the
community we all can interact with.
I look forward to seeing many of
you at meetings throughout the year and
strongly encourage you to pass along
meeting and venue ideas. Also, think
about volunteering for the Chapter -- it's
not to early to consider becoming an
Officer for the 2007-2008 Chapter year.
Cheers,
Jason
 DC- AMS Treasure’s Report
July - August 2006
CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER
THREE MONTH OUTLOOK
July 2006 Beginning Balance: $ 7,217.83

Income:

July Sales (1) Cup + (1) T-shirt $19.00

Total Income: $19.00

Expenses:

July Monthly Bank Services for cancelled

checks $5.00

August Monthly Bank Services for

cancelled checks $5.00

Washington Academy of Sciences Meeting

SEPTEMBER-NOVEMBER, TEMPERATURE
Fee (March) $50.00

Microsoft Publisher software & shipping

$94.48

August Officer’s Meeting (Food & Soda)

$39.75

Total Expenses: $194.23

Income – Expenses (June): $175.23

Ending Balance (06/30/06): $7,042.60

SEPTEMBER-NOVEMER, PRECIPITATION
 District of Columbia Chapter
of the
American Meteorological Society (DC AMS)

Proudly Presents

Dennis McCarthy
Director of the Office of Climate, Water, and Weather Services for
NOAA/National Weather Service (NWS)

The evolution of operational meteorology over the past 30 years and the accompanying
evolution in partnerships among NWS, the private sector, emergency officials, and
academia.

When: September 25, 2006

5:30-6:30 Arrival/Dinner
6:30-6:45 DC-AMS Business Meeting
6:45-8:00 Dennis McCarthy’s Presentation and Q&A

Where: National Weather Service Headquarters

1325 East-West Highway, SSMC3

Silver Spring, MD 20910

Rm. 4527 in SSMC3

RSVP: By Friday, September 22, 2006, to DC-AMS,

dc.ams.chapter@gmail.com, (or call Jason Samenow at 202-343-9327)

Deli sandwiches, sides, cookies and drinks will be provided.

Cost: $7 members, $10 non-members

DC-AMS Information
For more information about the chapter activities, check out our web site at:

http://www.dc-ams.org
 WHERE WERE THE T HUNDERSTORMS
W ASHINGTON D.C. S TORM C HASING 2006
by Kevin Ambros e

For a storm chaser in the D.C. area,
this summer was a real sleeper. At
National Airport, there were only 6
days with thunder in July and 2 days
with thunder in August. A noteable
exception was the severe
thunderstorm that occurred during
the afternoon of July 4, but overall, it
was a very slow summer. Ironically,
we had a fairly active winter and early
spring for thunderstorms.
During the summer, most of my
storm photos were taken from
passenger jets flying around
thunderstorms while on my various
business trips. My only summer
D.C. lightning photos were taken
during storms on June 22 and July
2. Of my lightning photos this year,
my best shots were taken during a
spring thunderstorm on April 8,
while the cherry blossoms were still
in bloom around the Tidal Basin.
Below are some of the storm photos
from this past year.

Lightning photos taken April 8, 2006 at the Tidal Basin.

 Lightning display over Fairfax,
Virginia, July 2, 2006.

Thunderstorm near Reston, Virginia,

August 3, 2006. Photo taken from a
passenger jet.

Thunderstorm near Charlottesville,

Virginia, August 3, 2006. Photo taken
from a passenger jet.
 From the NOAA Magazine
U.S. HAS SECOND WARMEST SUMMER ON RECORD
Nation Experienced Warmest January - August Period On Record

Sept. 14, 2006 — Summer 2006 was the second warmest June-to-August period in
the continental U.S. since records began in 1895, according to scientists at the NOAA
National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C. Additionally, the 2006 January-to-
August period was the warmest on record for the continental U.S. Above-average
rainfall last month in the central and southwestern U.S. improved drought conditions
in some areas, but moderate-to-extreme drought continued to affect 40 percent of
the country. (Click NOAA image for larger view of June-August 2006 statewide
temperature rankings. Please credit “NOAA.”)
U.S. Temperature Highlights
The average June-August 2006 temperature for the contiguous United States (based
on preliminary data) was 2.4 degrees F (1.3 degrees C) above the 20th century
average of 72.1 degrees F (22.3 degrees C). This was the second warmest summer
on record, slightly cooler than the record of 74.7 degrees F set in 1936 during the
Dust Bowl era. This summer’s average was 74.5 degrees F. Eight of the past ten
summers have been warmer than the U.S. average for the same period.

The persistence of the anomalous warmth in 2006 made this January-August period
the warmest on record for the continental U.S., eclipsing the previous record of 1934.
A blistering heat wave in July impacted most of the nation, breaking more than 2,300 daily
records and more than 50 all-time high temperature records. Additional high temperature
records were broken during the first part of August.

The Residential Energy Demand Temperature Index (REDTI) ranked this summer as the sixth
highest index in the 112-year record. Using this index, NOAA scientists determined that the
nation’s residential energy demand was approximately 10 percent higher than what would
have occurred under average climate conditions for the season. Last month was the 11th
warmest August on record in the contiguous U.S.

U.S. Precipitation Highlights

The summer’s record and near-record heat, combined with below-average precipitation, wors-
ened drought conditions throughout much of the summer for large parts of the country. But
above-average rainfall in August helped ease drought conditions in some of the most severely
affected states.