I was talking to some co-workers today about the rainy weather. Even though we have only had a period of 36 hours with off-and-on rain, they were already complaining. I know that sunny weather is easier to live with than rainy weather but in 2010 we still need rainy days in order to live and eat. We even need rainy periods of weather for everything to be good and green once Spring rolls around. I was actually quite happy yesterday in the rain even though I was ill-prepared and had to carry some stuff to my vehicle and got wet. I was still in a good mood. I was hoping it would rain all day.

No Change in WI Drought

Of course, a few more days of rainy weather and even I will be hoping for some sunshine. The same storm system that brought the rain Tuesday night and Wednesday will produce a good chance of rain later this afternoon and tonight. Rain amounts could be a quarter to half inch. Scattered light showers will be in the area on Friday and Saturday with another tenth of an inch or so possible. If you are hoping for a nice sunny day you might have to wait until Monday. You would think the rain would help the drought situation in Wisconsin (see the latest US Drought Monitor), but this is not the case. Most of the rain from this storm system will fall in the southern half of the state, while the persistent drought is in the northwoods.

Energy News:

I new report by a Kuwaiti research team indicates Peak Oil will occur around 2014. This is interesting on several levels. First of all, the date for Peak Oil has been adjusted several times. It was supposed to occur around the late 1990s, then 2005, then 2007, 2008, and now 2014. Of course this is only one forecast. During my interview with Dr. Hirsch, he said we have already seen the peak and we are now in a plateau. By the numbers he is correct. The maximum amount of world oil production occurred around the 2006-2007 time frame at 85 million barrels per day. The Great Recession put a dent in oil demand, production fell, and it has not recovered to the peak. This of course also has ramifications for anthropogenic global warming predictions since the climate model inputs assume large increases in oil production over the next couple of decades instead of declines.

Worried about Peak Oil? Me too. I don’t worry as much as many people though because I follow the new energy developments everyday like this: A new report says the U.S. could produce up to 10% of its electricity from solar by the year 2030 (I happen to think it will be a lot more).

Have a good Thursday! Meteorologist Justin Loew.

Posted under Alternative Energy, Drought, Peak Oil