Category Archives: Climate

Climate, Weather

Rapid intensification in hurricanes

Rapid intensification in hurricanes refers to a process where a tropical cyclone undergoes a significant increase in strength in a short period of time. Specifically, it is defined by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) as an increase in the maximum sustained winds of a tropical cyclone of at least 35 miles per hour (30 knots) within a 24-hour period.

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Several factors contribute to rapid intensification, including:

  1. Warm Sea Surface Temperatures: Warmer ocean waters provide more energy to the storm, fueling its development.
  2. Low Vertical Wind Shear: Wind shear refers to the change in wind speed and direction with height. Low vertical wind shear allows a storm to maintain its structure and intensify more rapidly.
  3. High Moisture Content: Ample moisture in the mid to upper levels of the atmosphere supports the development and intensification of the storm.
  4. Pre-existing Weather Disturbances: Existing weather systems or disturbances can provide the initial conditions necessary for rapid intensification.

Is Rapid Intensification Happening More Often?

Recent studies and observations suggest that rapid intensification of hurricanes is becoming more frequent and severe. There are several reasons for this trend:

  1. Climate Change: The warming of the global climate is leading to higher sea surface temperatures, which in turn provides more energy for tropical cyclones to intensify.
  2. Increased Ocean Heat Content: Not only are sea surface temperatures rising, but the heat content in the upper layers of the ocean is increasing. This deep layer of warm water can sustain a hurricane’s intensification over a longer period.
  3. Improved Observation and Detection: Advances in technology, such as better satellite imagery and more sophisticated modeling, have improved our ability to detect and predict rapid intensification events.

Research indicates a notable increase in the frequency of rapid intensification events. For instance, studies have shown that the proportion of Atlantic hurricanes undergoing rapid intensification has increased significantly over recent decades.

In summary, rapid intensification is a critical aspect of hurricane development that is influenced by various environmental factors. The trend towards more frequent and intense rapid intensification is likely linked to the broader impacts of climate change, which is causing warmer ocean temperatures and altering atmospheric conditions in ways that favor more powerful storms.

Climate, Weather

Temperature records set in N.B. during heatwave

The heat warnings have ended across the province, but not without leaving behind broken temperature records.

 Greater Moncton’s high temperature was shattered on Thursday as it hit 34.2 degrees at the airport.  The old record of 30.6 was set in 1923.

Saint John also hit highs of 34.5 degrees breaking a record set in 1953 of 30 degrees.

In St. Stephen, it was even warmer with a top temp of 35.8 degrees yesterday.  That breaks the old record of 34.1 degrees set in 2020.

Saint John NB – Highest Temperature for Each Year

 
 

Here’s where you’ll find answers to questions about the highest temperatures and hottest days in Saint John, New Brunswick Canada. How hot did it get in 2019? When was the last time thermometers in Saint John rose above 32 °C? What was the highest temperature in Saint John a century ago? Answers to those questions and much more can be found quickly and easily in the list below of record high temperatures.

 

This page gives the highest temperature for each year in Saint John and the date that it happened. A date with a plus sign means it was that hot on at least one other day earlier that year.

These records go back to 1872, with a few years missing data. The highest temperature measured during that time was 34.4 degrees Celsius (93.9 Fahrenheit) on August 22, 1976.

Since 1952 the temperature extremes were observed at the Saint John Airport. Before then, the weather station was near the city centre.

Highest Saint John temperatures in recent years
Max °F Date Max °C
83 July 13, 2023   28
85 August 06, 2022 29
89 August 25, 2021 32
86 July 25, 2020 30
91 July 20, 2019 33
89 July 04, 2018  32
86 June 13, 2017 30
87 July 12, 2016 31
84 September 03, 2015 29
87 June 29, 2014 31
92 July 05, 2013 34
84 August 04, 2012 29
83 October 09, 2011 28
92 August 31, 2010 33
 
Highest temperature recorded at Saint John each year
Max °F Date Max °C
86 June 09, 2008 30
88 July 27, 2007 31
88 August 02, 2006 31
89 July 20, 2005 32
84 June 09, 2004 29
85 July 06, 2003 29
88 July 03, 2002 31
87 August 03, 2001 31
82 June 26, 2000 28
88 September 03, 1999 31
86 August 08, 1998 30
87 June 30, 1997 31
88 August 06, 1996 31
88 August 09, 1995 31
85 July 20, 1994 29
– 1993 –
– 1992 –
86 July 19, 1991 30
88 August 26, 1990 31
83 July 22, 1989 28
85 August 05, 1988 29
83 July 25, 1987 28
79 July 24, 1986 + 26
83 August 15, 1985 28
86 August 05, 1984 30
90 June 22, 1983 32
83 July 16, 1982 28
83 August 01, 1981 28
85 August 24, 1980 29
86 June 16, 1979 30
86 July 21, 1978 30
87 July 21, 1977 31
94 August 22, 1976 34
92 August 02, 1975 33
87 June 09, 1974 31
90 July 09, 1973 32
79 July 23, 1972 + 26
81 August 10, 1971 + 27
89 July 25, 1970 + 32
86 July 18, 1969 30
90 July 16, 1968 32
82 July 10, 1967 28
81 June 28, 1966 27
82 June 23, 1965 28
81 July 17, 1964 27
91 July 26, 1963 33
81 June 16, 1962 27
83 August 10, 1961 28
86 August 19, 1960 30
87 July 28, 1959 31
81 July 02, 1958 27
86 July 20, 1957 30
82 June 16, 1956 28
85 August 20, 1955 29
83 June 26, 1954 28
88 July 17, 1953 31
86 July 15, 1952 30
82 July 27, 1951 + 28
80 July 27, 1950 + 27
87 August 06, 1949 31
87 August 26, 1948 31
82 September 10, 1947 28
83 June 29, 1946 + 28
93 September 08, 1945 34
85 August 15, 1944 29
88 June 25, 1943 31
85 July 25, 1942 29
88 June 22, 1941 31
86 July 27, 1940 30
84 August 11, 1939 29
84 August 20, 1938 29
87 August 28, 1937 + 31
85 August 02, 1936 29
90 August 17, 1935 32
80 July 31, 1934 27
80 June 10, 1933 27
81 July 25, 1932 + 27
84 June 20, 1931 29
87 June 04, 1930 31
84 June 17, 1929 29
85 August 14, 1928 29
79 July 01, 1927 26
83 August 04, 1926 28
89 June 04, 1925 32
83 July 07, 1924 28
85 July 21, 1923 29
78 August 03, 1922 26
87 September 03, 1921 31
83 July 09, 1920 28
84 June 04, 1919 29
83 July 28, 1918 28
86 July 31, 1917 30
80 September 14, 1916 + 27
80 July 13, 1915 27
81 June 11, 1914 27
80 July 30, 1913 27
78 July 02, 1912 26
82 July 10, 1911 28
78 August 15, 1910 26
82 August 16, 1909 + 28
85 July 06, 1908 29
77 July 04, 1907 25
82 August 07, 1906 + 28
80 July 10, 1905 27
81 July 09, 1904 27
83 September 14, 1903 28
78 July 29, 1902 26
84 July 15, 1901 29
89 August 27, 1900 32
80 June 09, 1899 27
81 September 06, 1898 27
84 September 06, 1897 29
85 May 10, 1896 29
86 June 02, 1895 30
82 June 18, 1894 28
88 July 21, 1893 31
87 June 14, 1892 31
81 August 13, 1891 27
80 August 01, 1890 27
87 June 30, 1889 31
82 July 23, 1888 28
89 July 03, 1887 32
86 July 02, 1886 30
81 July 26, 1885 + 27
85 September 05, 1884 + 29
82 August 22, 1883 28
82 August 03, 1882 28
80 September 01, 1881 + 27
82 August 01, 1880 28
81 July 03, 1879 27
78 July 04, 1878 26
– 1877 –
83 July 16, 1876 28
84 August 29, 1875 29
80 September 10, 1874 27
82 July 31, 1873 28
80 August 23, 1872 27