February 26, 2021 By Frank McCormack
The teeth-rattling cold weather that blew through the South almost two weeks ago was highly unusual, and it showed, particularly in its effects on the power grid. Texas, in particular, made news for its rolling and lengthy blackouts, even as temperatures dipped near zero in places.
And it wasn’t just homes and businesses that were without power in the cold. On the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, both the Colorado River Locks and the Brazos River Floodgates were without grid power for close to three days, starting on Monday, February 15. While backup generators came on at Brazos, the cold weather rendered the generators at the Colorado River Locks inoperable for several days.
December 22, 2020 By Frank McCormack
November 30 brought the official end to a record-setting Atlantic hurricane season.
In all, the 2020 hurricane season ended with a record 30 named storms, topping the previous record of 28 set in 2005. Of the 30 named storms this year, 13 reached hurricane strength of at least 74 mph. sustained winds. That’s good for second all-time behind 2005. This year saw six storms become major hurricanes with sustained winds of at least 111 mph. That’s tied for second behind the seven major hurricanes in 2005.
The 2020 hurricane season got an early start, with the first named storm of the year, Arthur, forming in May, well before the official beginning of hurricane season June 1. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the nine named storms between May and July is also a new record.