Red State Blues: In 2012 Nebraska Saw Its Hottest, Driest Year On Record — And The Republican River Ran Dry!

Republican River at zero flow (via US Geological Survey)

Irony can be so ironic.

Last week, Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman (R) approved a revised route for the Keystone XL pipeline through his state. The math is simple: “Keystone XL Pipeline = Tar Sands Expansion = Accelerated Climate Change.” And that equals a hotter and drier Great Plains, especially in the summer and fall.

So if Obama were to actually defy my prediction and approve the pipeline, then Nebraska would be giving new meaning to the phrase “red state” — since its current brutal drought would be on track to become its normal climate in the coming decades:

On January 3, 2012, none of the state was in extreme or exceptional drought (and less than 1% was in moderate or severe drought).  By January 2013, over 96% of the state was experiencing extreme or exceptional drought – and most of that (over 77%) was exceptional drought.

What happened? Just the hottest and driest year in Nebraska’s recorded history.

link to article