2011 in weather, by the numbers, a bit early

It's only a little over a month to the end of this year and there will be a long list of "weather events" this year--this "2011 in weather and by the numbers." It will also be done time and again because the weather statistics shattered so many records, in so many different ways and categories: rain, heat, floos, fires, temperatures, you name it. Herewith, a beginning: Record Heat of 2011: (http://www.weather.com/outlook/weather-news/news/articles/2011-heat-superlatives_2011-07-15); Deadliest Tornado Year since 1936 (http://www.weather.com/outlook/weather-news/news/articles/deadly-year-tornadoes-perspective_2011-05-23); August 2011: Record-shattering Month (http://www.weather.com/outlook/weather-news/news/articles/records-august-2011-heat-rain-flood_2011-08-31); NOAA Makes It Official: 2011 Among Most Extreme Weather Years in History (http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=noaa-makes-2011-most-extreme-weather-year); Winter of 2010–2011 in Great Britain and Ireland (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_of_2010%E2%80%932011_in_Great_Britain_and_Ireland); Heat wave 2011: humidity the stunning hallmark (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/heat-wave-2011-stunning-national-statistics/2011/07/24/gIQAJ1FcYI_blog.html); Statistical Assessment of Extreme Weather Phenomena under Climate Change (http://www.asp.ucar.edu/colloquium/2011/index.php); Taking it to the Extreme: 2011’s Off the Charts Weather and Climate Stats (http://www.climatecentral.org/blogs/startling-climate-statistics-of-2011/); Monthly Weather Averages and Records for Paris, France (http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/vacationplanner/vacationclimatology/monthly/FRXX0076); Statistical Assessment of Extreme Weather Phenomena under Climate Change (http://www.asp.ucar.edu/colloquium/2011/index.php); Extreme Texas drought and wildfires sharpen contrast between Texas Congressional delegation's climate views and conditions at home; (http://www.climatesciencewatch.org/2011/04/10/extreme-texas-drought-wildfires-sharpen-contrast-exas-congressional-delegations-climate-views-and-conditions-at-home/); DFW Weather: 20 Straight Days of 100 Degree Temperatures (http://dallas.about.com/b/2011/07/22/dfw-weather-20-straight-days-of-100-degree-temperatures.htm); Texas Drought 2011: State Endures Driest 7-Month Span On Record (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/10/texas-drought-2011-record_n_859902.html); Mega-drought threat to US Southwest; (http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110223/full/news.2011.120.html); Fall forecast offers no relief from Southwest drought (http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/08/18/3300027/fall-forecast-offers-no-relief.html); Southwest headed for permanent drought (http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-01-southwest-permanent-drought.html); Drought of 2011 one of most depressing to cover (http://westernfarmpress.com/blog/drought-2011-one-most-depressing-cover); Scientists Find Evidence of Ancient Megadrought in Southwestern U.S. (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111106151505.htm); Winter 2011-2012: Drought-Stricken Texas, Southwest Stay Parched (http://www.accuweather.com/blogs/news/story/55836/winter-20112012-texas-southwes.asp); Drought Spreads Pain From Florida to Arizona (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/12/us/12drought.html?pagewanted=all); Russian forests burn for second successive year (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/09/russia-forest-fires-burn-again). There's more--much more--but I'll let it go. For now. Think happy thoughts.