Catastrophic Flooding in Central Tennessee, and Why it Will Happen AGAIN and AGAIN, ANYWHERE: 1 of 2

Welcome to the Climate Casino.

A few days ago a region just west of Nashville, Tennessee in the grand ole’ USA ran out of luck in the climate casino. Over 17 inches (432.3 mm) of torrential rainfall within one day created a wall of water almost like a tidal wave, sweeping away people’s cars, homes, and businesses; worst hit was in town of Waverly (population 4,100). The Piney River rose from a nominal height of 4.3 feet (1.3 m) to a historic crest of 31.8 feet (9.69 m) six hours later; most of this rise occurred in 3 to 4 hours, as measured by a river gauge. Much of the community was cut off from elsewhere by impassible roads even after the water retreated.

The problem is that this level of rainfall in a very short period of time can occur almost anywhere in our climate casino. A few months ago, in July, the exact same thing happened in Europe, flooding out many riverside towns that have been standing for centuries. Several hundred people died; many homes and cars were completely swept away.

The Arctic is warming way faster than lower latitudes, so the temperature contrast between the Arctic and lower latitudes is getting smaller. Thus, the jet streams are getting much slower and wavier and even getting stuck into ridges (under which there are heat waves and droughts) or troughs (above which there are many storms and torrential rains). Slower jet streams mean storms move across the Earth surface more slowly, so have longer time to dump rain in any given storm.

On our warmer planet, there is more evaporation from lakes, rivers, and oceans; leading, in fact to 7% more water vapour in the atmosphere. This water vapour rises and condenses into clouds, releasing huge amounts of stored energy (latent heat), fuelling ever more intense storms with torrential rains.

Just wait until there is no Arctic Sea Ice left in a few years; there will be a skyrocketing of Arctic Temperatures and even more chaotic jet streams. Without jet streams to guide storms, our weather patterns will become much more monsoonal.

[PaulHBeckwith]

Welcome to the Climate Casino.

A few days ago a region just west of Nashville, Tennessee in the grand ole’ USA ran out of luck in the climate casino. Over 17 inches (432.3 mm) of torrential rainfall within one day created a wall of water almost like a tidal wave, sweeping away people’s cars, homes, and businesses; worst hit was in town of Waverly (population 4, 100). The Piney River rose from a nominal height of 4.3 feet (1.3 m) to a historic crest of 31.8 feet (9.69 m) six hours later; most of this rise occurred in 3 to 4 hours, as measured by a river gauge. Much of the community was cut off from elsewhere by impassible roads even after the water retreated.

The problem is that this level of rainfall in a very short period of time can occur almost anywhere in our climate casino. A few months ago, in July, the exact same thing happened in Europe, flooding out many riverside towns that have been standing for centuries. Several hundred people died; many homes and cars were completely swept away.

The Arctic is warming way faster than lower latitudes, so the temperature contrast between the Arctic and lower latitudes is getting smaller. Thus, the jet streams are getting much slower and wavier and even getting stuck into ridges (under which there are heat waves and droughts) or troughs (above which there are many storms and torrential rains). Slower jet streams mean storms move across the Earth surface more slowly, so have longer time to dump rain in any given storm.

On our warmer planet, there is more evaporation from lakes, rivers, and oceans; leading, in fact to 7% more water vapour in the atmosphere. This water vapour rises and condenses into clouds, releasing huge amounts of stored energy (latent heat), fuelling ever more intense storms with torrential rains.

Just wait until there is no Arctic Sea Ice left in a few years; there will be a skyrocketing of Arctic Temperatures and even more chaotic jet streams. Without jet streams to guide storms, our weather patterns will become much more monsoonal.

[UtopiaForMore]

Great information Paul. Thanks for your explanations. It’s quick overview but it sums it up petty well to me.

[minnesconsinprepping]

The absolute amazing thing is, this was NOWHERE on the main stream media....

[waynethiessen]

Thank you Paul. Thank you for really breaking these weather catastrophes down in an honest, understandable, informative and terrifying.

[lazenbytim]

Currently only _7.5C in the centre of Greenland. Thats still freezing but it should be like -25

[John]

I just saw this on another channel. A bunch of cars in rivers. New York got severe rains from Henry. Need to investigate damage. God bless

[lawrencetaylor]

Thanks Paul. My fight against the Swiss administration about their lack of action on the climate is progressing. I was in front of a judge in late May and told her that the Arctic was losing sea ice and that we would have weather wierding withing 4 to 8 weeks. It turned out to be 4 weeks. She has decided in my favor last week. I'll see for my next step this week. Since this has really been a strain on me financially, I can't help you out for all that you've done for me. It's because of you that I have become an amateur climate nerd.

[jimmyrichardson]

My White Beam tree in my garden has started loosing its leaves 3 weeks early, which is earlier again than it was last year. That means 2 years on the trot it’s early. What will it be next year?
Scarborough (where the fayre is) east coast uk

[TheDoomWizard]

In my next what's happening in the world news update I'm going to give a quick shout to you and this video.

[ShurahanaYume]

Good work Paul. I cry for us. Om shanti

[indricotherium]

For about one month and a half here in south-west central France we've been stuck under more or less continuous heavy cloud cover. It hasn't rained much. It has been comfortably warm. But the sun hardly appears for more than an hour or two. Worryingly atypical for this area this time of year.

[sctrippin-wes]

Thanks for the coverage of Waverly, my hometown.

[richardconnelly]

i guess the ark in kentucky isnt available as they also had flood damage and insurance hasnt settled the claim, guess they didnt follow noas blueprints in construction, go figure

[herenow]

Is it possible that the jet streams that are becoming wavy, could break into Vortices ? If that happened, what would happen on the ground ?

[jazfarm]

OMG, that rainfall in a day is more than our average for a whole year!
I wonder if folks have rain barrels. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[climatedeceptionnetwork]

It's good to see you back in the chair with your cat.

[obsoleteoptics]

Mom's gonna fix it all soon. Mom's coming 'round to put it back the way it ought to be.

[tkerr]

I got when a hurricane starts to it's the mixer of elixir

[jageo]

Thanks for this and all the others, Paul. Here in NS, the valley has seen the wettest summer that many have ever experienced. Both the Weather Network and Env CA have been unable to accurately predict rainfall amounts. They claim <5 ml. The rain gauge says >30, and that's the way it's been all summer long.

[rubyvolt]

que the repeat of The path goes all over TN. What a mess this is going to make and on Monday or Tuesday. Stay tuned for further details....