ForWarn detected a decline in vegetation greenness in September 2015 in Wisconsin. There are several possible causes for the departure. Flooding causing stress in wetlands of Green Bay as well as previous season's drought could cause defoliation of trees. Insects such as spruce budworm or larch beetle infestations could be defoliating the trees in the Green Bay area as well.
ForWarn identified vegetation greenness departure along the Red River in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana. In July 2015, flooding of the river in these areas caused die back from waterlogging plants. Additionally, the grasslands of Oklahoma were affected by a hail streak, damaging foliage.
ForWarn detected a disturbance in the croplands of east Texas. Excess precipitation in the previous months on bare soil croplands caused waterlogging and flooding. The wet spring caused severe decline especially along the riverine flood plains of eastern Texas including portions of Trinity and Brazo Rivers.
ForWarn discovered a reoccurring anomaly in the bottomland wetlands of South Carolina. Similar anomalies were seen in 2010, 2014, and 2015 in the area of concern. Starting in January, the winter anomaly excludes association with insect defoliation. The decline in vegetation greenness can be attributed to an unusually cold winter or flooding.
Coastal forests and shrublands can be vulnerable to climate-associated disturbances such as the strong winds and storm surges associated with hurricanes. Because of its extension into the Atlantic, eastern North Carolina is especially vulnerable to such storms, having been hit by several hurricanes during the MODIS period of record (i.e., since 2000). In 2014, Hurricane Arthur struck causing relatively minor damage to forests compared to two earlier events, namely 2003's Hurricane Isabel and 2011's Hurricane Irene.
In early September of 2013, unusually heavy rain resulted in catastrophic flooding across Colorado’s Front Range and downstream along the South Platte River. Rainfall exceeded 20 inches northwest of Denver, which is close to the average rainfall for that area during an entire year. Flash floods led to massive evacuations, a severe loss of public and private property, and loss of human life. Oil and gas lines and tanks were damaged, causing the release of thousands of gallons of pollutants into the South Platte River.
