The realm of normal fluctuations in climate: 60% of US in drought.

[NNadir]

Last year's hurricanes have not come back yet and those of us who argued they could be caused by climate change have not proved our case.

Last year, 2005, besides featuring a record number of hurricanes and a record number of major hurricanes, also was the second hottest year ever recorded, not beating out 1998.

The 2003 heat crisis in Europe that killed tens of thousands is also a normal fluctuation.

Speaking of normal fluctuations, our agricultural heartland is dying. Here is a report from the good fellows and fine gals at Yahoo:

More than 60 percent of U.S. in drought By JAMES MacPHERSON, Associated Press Writer
59 minutes ago

STEELE, N.D. - More than 60 percent of the United States now has abnormally dry or drought conditions, stretching from Georgia to Arizona and across the north through the Dakotas, Minnesota, Montana and Wisconsin, said Mark Svoboda, a climatologist for the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

An area stretching from south central North Dakota to central South Dakota is the most drought-stricken region in the nation, Svoboda said.

"It's the epicenter," he said. "It's just like a wasteland in north central South Dakota..."

...These 100-degree days for weeks steady have been burning everything up," said Steele Mayor Walter Johnson, who added that he'd prefer 2 feet of snow over this weather.

Farm ponds and other small bodies of water have dried out from the heat, leaving the residual alkali dust to be whipped up by the wind. The blowing, dirt-and-salt mixture is a phenomenon that hasn't been seen in south central North Dakota since the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, Johnson said...



Brad Rippey, a federal Agriculture Department meteorologist in Washington, said this year's drought is continuing one that started in the late 1990s. "The 1999 to 2006 drought ranks only behind the 1930s and the 1950s. It's the third-worst drought on record — period," Rippey said...

...There will be somewhat higher grain prices, no doubt about it," Leistritz said. "With livestock, the short-term effect may mean depressed meat prices, with a larger number of animals being sent to slaughter. But in the longer run it may prolong the period of relatively high meat prices."

Eventually, more than farmers could suffer.

"Agriculture is not only the biggest industry in the state, it's just about the only industry," Leistritz said. "Communities live or die with the fortunes of agriculture."

Susie White, who runs the Lone Steer motel and restaurant in Steele, along Interstate 94, said even out-of-state travelers notice the drought.

"Even I never paid attention to the crops around here. But I notice them now because they're not there," she said.

"We're all wondering how we're going to stay alive this winter if the farmers don't make any money this summer," she said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060730/ap_on_re_us/northern_plains_drought

Remember people it's just a normal fluctuation.