Monday, September 28, 2015
Typhoon Dujuan nears Taiwan
http://www.westernpacificweather.com/2015/09/27/powerful-dujuan-nears-taiwan-residents-make-final-preps/
Typhoon Dujuan is nearing Taiwan. It is close to super typhoon status. It may hit land at Ishigaki Jima. The winds should be around 252 mph. Luckily the structures on this Island are built to withstand winds like this and have withstood typhoons like this before. Northeast Taiwan will get the worst of the storm with the high winds flooding and landslides.
I wondered what the main difference was between a hurricane and a typhoon is and the difference is what side of the international dateline it is on http://thevane.gawker.com/what-is-the-difference-between-a-cyclone-typhoon-and-1617803648
Typhoon Dujuan is nearing Taiwan. It is close to super typhoon status. It may hit land at Ishigaki Jima. The winds should be around 252 mph. Luckily the structures on this Island are built to withstand winds like this and have withstood typhoons like this before. Northeast Taiwan will get the worst of the storm with the high winds flooding and landslides.
I wondered what the main difference was between a hurricane and a typhoon is and the difference is what side of the international dateline it is on http://thevane.gawker.com/what-is-the-difference-between-a-cyclone-typhoon-and-1617803648
Tropical Storm Marty
Tropical Storm Marty is set to cause some dangerous conditions for the southwest Mexican coast this week. While not forecast to make landfall, Marty will still affect the area with serious downpours, rough seas, and rip currents. Most areas will see 1-3 inches of rainfall, with some receiving as much as 6 inches, making the possibility of severe floods and mudslides a real threat. Marty is due to reach maximum strength late on Monday and possibly could reach hurricane status, but wind shear should weaken the storm by Tuesday night. As Marty makes its way up the coast, moisture will be delivered to the drought-ridden southwest United States, hopefully helping their situation.
Tropical Depression 11
Tropical Depression 11 formed in the Atlantic Sunday evening. While this is not suppose to make any impact on land, and will not strengthen significantly, this depression will cause more rain to move in with the cold front along the east coast. Also, it is predicted to be absorbed by the cold front. Honestly, I don't know enough about the fronts still to understand thoroughly what that means. The depression may end up reaching tropical storm status. (If it does, it will be named Joaquin.) However, I do know that Bermuda will be getting some extra rain. Seems like they get a lot of rain during the warm months from all the systems that go by. Also, I know that as the storms strengthen, the pressure will begin to drop. So, this is something to keep an eye on, to see what impact it will have.
A Tsunami in Connecticut?!?
On Thursday, September 24, 2015, the National Weather Service issued a tsunami alert for the coast of Connecticut. The alert was sent out to radio and emergency alert systems, and several television broadcasts also ran the alert.
Some of you may be wondering why you didn't hear about the tsunami. After some panic and confusion, the National Weather Service admitted that the tsunami alert was sent out by mistake during a routine monthly test. No records indicate that a tsunami has ever hit Connecticut, and the probability of a tsunami occurring in the future is very close to zero.
Some of you may be wondering why you didn't hear about the tsunami. After some panic and confusion, the National Weather Service admitted that the tsunami alert was sent out by mistake during a routine monthly test. No records indicate that a tsunami has ever hit Connecticut, and the probability of a tsunami occurring in the future is very close to zero.
Typhoon Dujuan
Typhoon Dujuan hit northern Taiwan Monday morning U.S. time. It was equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane. Winds higher than 150 mph and nearly 30 inches of rain have already been reported. Dujuan is headed towards eastern China. More information and details about the typhoon can be found on the following website:
http://www.weather.com/storms/typhoon/news/tropical-storm-typhoon-dujuan-taiwan-ryukyu-japan-china
http://www.weather.com/storms/typhoon/news/tropical-storm-typhoon-dujuan-taiwan-ryukyu-japan-china
Sunday, September 27, 2015
Super Moon Eclipse A Bad Omen?
While we've been out enjoying warm weather (albeit with some rain), so has other countries around the world. Places like England are set for a couple more weeks of that wonderful warm weather. However, is tonight's eclipse a bad omen?
People over in Britain have been hitting the beaches, enjoying the warm temperatures and the heat and of the sun. As the eclipse hits tonight though, ancient civilizations believed this super moon and lunar eclipse combination to be a bad omen. In this case it seems likely they would have believed it indicative of a rough winter ahead.
Of course, ancient superstitions are nothing to lay stock in scientifically, but as the leaves change and fall, it wouldn't be surprising if the snow shovels start coming out sooner then expected. Not only for European countries, but for the U.S. As well.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3250816/Don-t-t-shirts-away-just-Britain-set-two-week-Indian-Summer-rare-Blood-Moon-grim-omen-bad-winter-ahead.html
People over in Britain have been hitting the beaches, enjoying the warm temperatures and the heat and of the sun. As the eclipse hits tonight though, ancient civilizations believed this super moon and lunar eclipse combination to be a bad omen. In this case it seems likely they would have believed it indicative of a rough winter ahead.
Of course, ancient superstitions are nothing to lay stock in scientifically, but as the leaves change and fall, it wouldn't be surprising if the snow shovels start coming out sooner then expected. Not only for European countries, but for the U.S. As well.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3250816/Don-t-t-shirts-away-just-Britain-set-two-week-Indian-Summer-rare-Blood-Moon-grim-omen-bad-winter-ahead.html
Weather in France
Whenever we do our weather terms in French I, the students are always curious about the weather in France. We look up the daily weather report for that day and often the weather in Paris is about the same as ours. We do the weather terms in December. France is a strange country weather wise. In the north, you have the English Channel, in the south, the Mediterranean. There are mountains along the borders and valleys below. Their varied landscape and climate attribute to their many varieties of the best wines! This link will show you the average temperatures in October for the different regions.
http://www.currentresults.com/Weather/France/temperature-october.php#c
Not all states are experiencing a warm start to fall.
With the arrival of the Fall season the temperatures have been cooler at night yet surprisingly comfortable during the day here in West Virginia. Warm temperatures similar to what we are experiencing in The Mountain State, seems to be the trend throughout the lower 48. But the 49th State, Alaska, is experiencing the opposite when it comes to both temperature and precipitation.
On Friday, September 25, 2015 only a few days into fall, the first measurable snowof the season fell in Fairbanks, Alaska. As a matter of fact it is the heaviest September snow that's fallen on Fairbanks in 23 years. The 6.7 inch snowfall is the third largest September snow in history, preceded only by snowfalls measured at 7.8 inches in 1992 and 7 inches in 1972.
Not only has snow begun to fall in Alaska, but earlier in the week a weather station in Toolik, Alaska recorded a temperature of 0 degrees Fahrenheit. The polar jet stream seems to have dipped southward over Alaska, bringing cold and wet weather patterns to the 49th state. Will the jet stream bring similar weather patterns our way later in the year?
University of Alaska, Fairbanks 9/25/2015 via weather.com
On Friday, September 25, 2015 only a few days into fall, the first measurable snowof the season fell in Fairbanks, Alaska. As a matter of fact it is the heaviest September snow that's fallen on Fairbanks in 23 years. The 6.7 inch snowfall is the third largest September snow in history, preceded only by snowfalls measured at 7.8 inches in 1992 and 7 inches in 1972.
Not only has snow begun to fall in Alaska, but earlier in the week a weather station in Toolik, Alaska recorded a temperature of 0 degrees Fahrenheit. The polar jet stream seems to have dipped southward over Alaska, bringing cold and wet weather patterns to the 49th state. Will the jet stream bring similar weather patterns our way later in the year?
| Polar Jet Stream mid-late September via weather.com |
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Week 4 Blog Post-
There are moments in time that you know exactly where you were and you
doing. One event
that you may remember where you were and what you were doing is when the challenger
exploded on national television. I have
always learned the challenger exploded due to a malfunction on the ship. The
o-ring, which is on the shuttles right side rocket booster and it never lifted off and caused
the whole shuttle to break down. Hydrogen was coming from the tank and liquid
oxygen from the fuel tank. Thus causing the shuttle to break apart and appear
to explode.
What does this have to do with weather? It was a cold day in
Florida at 50 degrees. The cold temperatures caused the o-ring to fail and the
process to begin. NASA released a statement saying they should have not
launched in such cold temperatures.
Monday, September 21, 2015
Weather Caster
I found the WeatherCaster App. It is fairly easy to use. I looked at several others but fond it to be the easiest.
A non weather app that I have found and use often is called Zip Grade. It works just like a scan tron but the data analysis is much easier. It grades your multiple choice or true false questions. Worth a look.
A non weather app that I have found and use often is called Zip Grade. It works just like a scan tron but the data analysis is much easier. It grades your multiple choice or true false questions. Worth a look.
Apps
I found a few interesting Apps, some more functional than others. Wind Alert shows wind directions and is very relevant to our discussion on air masses last week. I also like Aviation WX, which also shows pressure fronts as well as radar. Lastly, Yr is an app that is a little bit of everything, with wind speed and directing, and s good forecast that provides more information than your standard weather map. On the fun side, I found Effing Weather and Weather Whiskers.
Weather Apps
After exploring a number of weather apps I found it challenging to select only two. Some apps provided a large amount of detailed weather data, but often seem to exclude features that allow the user to view that data on weather maps. While the opposite is true for applications that focused heavily on weather maps, often only mapping data such as precipitation or max/min temperature data over short periods of time...
Eventually, I decided to choose MeteoEarthHD because of its ability to display conditions in a mapped format. MeteoEarthHD users can even layer weather conditions on maps, allowing users to see how one element of the forecast directly impacts another.
The second app that I chose was Wolfram Alpha, it isn't a weather specific app but I found it to be a very valuable source for various weather data. A simple search of Huntington WV weather history returned data from as far back as 1950. This could be very useful for any student or individual who hopes to model weather patterns over long periods of time. Wolfram Alpha may not be weather specific, but it is full capable of being used as if it were a weather app!
APPS I found
I thought Normal or Not was an interesting app because it gives a comparison between now and recorded records of weather. It would be good if you were looking to see how this month compares to the coldest September on record. My big problem with it is it is in Celsius and that is not the units I like to use. I have not found a way to change it.
Another app I liked is the WunderMap. I like the variety of maps. I also like the webcams to see what the weather is like in different places. It also shows my location as Huntington which is nice. I think this is a fun app because of the different maps and the graph.
Another app I liked is the WunderMap. I like the variety of maps. I also like the webcams to see what the weather is like in different places. It also shows my location as Huntington which is nice. I think this is a fun app because of the different maps and the graph.
Weather Apps
I found a few weather related apps that I think would be helpful with students of all ages:
WunderStation for iPad
Requirements: Compatible with iPad. Requires iOS 7.0 or later.
WunderStation for iPad allows you to view, analyze, share and compare data from any of the 100,000+ personal weather stations in our network, with elegant, customizable graphs, infographics, animations, and more! Whether you own a personal weather station or you just like to dive into the data, WunderStation is the app for you!
Kid Weather
This app was designed by a 6-year-old boy and his meteorologist dad to teach young children some basic weather elements. One activity allows kids to change the weather conditions to determine how they should dress. Kids can also calculate Fahrenheit and Celsius and learn weather-related trivia and safety tips related to various topics: clouds, lightning, seasons, weather symbols, and more. A charting feature allows your child to choose the day of the week and describe the weather so he can refer to it and remember weather terms like foggy, mild, and warm. (Ages 4 and up; $1.99; iPhone, Android) https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kid-weather/id576008071?mt=8
WunderStation for iPad
Requirements: Compatible with iPad. Requires iOS 7.0 or later.
WunderStation for iPad allows you to view, analyze, share and compare data from any of the 100,000+ personal weather stations in our network, with elegant, customizable graphs, infographics, animations, and more! Whether you own a personal weather station or you just like to dive into the data, WunderStation is the app for you!
My Radar
My Radar is an app I've been using for several years now, originally in order to track winter snow storms to predict snow days. It isn't a flashy app, but its radar is accurate and up to date, which is all that mattered to me. The app is a little clunky when navigating the menus, but it has been getting better with each update. I have only been using the free version, but for small fees you can add features such as ad removal, NWS warnings and a hurricane tracker. Interestingly enough, global earthquake reports are included in the free version, which alerted me of the earthquake last week in Chile before I'd heard about it on the news.
Sunday, September 20, 2015
MeteoEarth
While looking through weather apps, I found one I like called MeteoEarth. It's a neat little app that allows you to view weather on both a global and local scale. With 2D and 3D versions you can view current weather, precipitation, temperatures, wind, and tropical storm information. It allows you to view weather from past days as well as its predictions for the next day or so. If you take all the weather filters of off and view the earth at night, it shows you sources of light. You can easily pinpoint major cities this way.
Unfortunate things about this app: though it is great in its function, it does like to show a lot of adds. A subscription to premium removes ads and gives extra features, which would be a good option for anyone looking to use in the classroom. It also can be slow to show movement in cloud coverage and precipitation once the play function is selected.
Unfortunate things about this app: though it is great in its function, it does like to show a lot of adds. A subscription to premium removes ads and gives extra features, which would be a good option for anyone looking to use in the classroom. It also can be slow to show movement in cloud coverage and precipitation once the play function is selected.
WeatherBug app
One of my favorite weather apps is the WeatherBug app. This app features real-time, neighborhood-level weather forecasts. Since my school, Huntington East Middle School, has a WeatherBug station, most of the local weather forecast is being tracked from that area. I also like how the app features live weather cams, so you can see the local weather in real time. This app has a website, which I have projected onto my Smart Board when the iPads weren't available.
http://weather.weatherbug.com/WV/Huntington-weather.html?zcode=z6286
http://weather.weatherbug.com/WV/Huntington-weather.html?zcode=z6286
Likeable Weather Apps
As I stated in my comments to Natosha's post, I really like the Wunder apps. The WunderStation is super cool. You can see local personal weather stations. Students will be able to compare our stations when we get them to the other ones around us. I will definitely be using this app in class.
The other app that I like is accuweather. It is pretty basic, so the kids can easily use it. It gives the cloud cover percentage, which is important in Globe. Also gives a 15 day forecast (I usually only see 10), so the students can compare this to the actual weather. Might be cool to throw in the Farmer's Almanac as well for that comparison.
The other app that I like is accuweather. It is pretty basic, so the kids can easily use it. It gives the cloud cover percentage, which is important in Globe. Also gives a 15 day forecast (I usually only see 10), so the students can compare this to the actual weather. Might be cool to throw in the Farmer's Almanac as well for that comparison.
Weather Apps: Storm and WeatherCaster
Both of these apps seem pretty neat. They allow for easy tracking of storms as well as local weather forecasts.
Storm
Keep your eye on the sky with Storm by Weather Underground. High definition radar, advanced storm cell tracking, severe weather outlooks and real-time severe weather alerts make this the best app to have by your side when weather is closing in. View current conditions, daily or hourly forecasts at a glance and in a more detailed view. Now available free for iPhone and iPad!
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/storm-radar-storm-tracking/id955957721?mt=8
WeatherCaster
When severe weather threatens, be the first to know with weather alerts, live Doppler radar maps, and an interactive hurricane tracker.
Keep dry using our live, down-to-the-minute, forecast of when it will rain at your exact location.
Plan your day or week, using the hourly and 7-day forecasts for anywhere in the US.
Share the forecast with your friends or post your favorite weather photos.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/weathercaster/id537308269?ls=1&mt=8
Storm
Keep your eye on the sky with Storm by Weather Underground. High definition radar, advanced storm cell tracking, severe weather outlooks and real-time severe weather alerts make this the best app to have by your side when weather is closing in. View current conditions, daily or hourly forecasts at a glance and in a more detailed view. Now available free for iPhone and iPad!
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/storm-radar-storm-tracking/id955957721?mt=8
WeatherCaster
When severe weather threatens, be the first to know with weather alerts, live Doppler radar maps, and an interactive hurricane tracker.
Keep dry using our live, down-to-the-minute, forecast of when it will rain at your exact location.
Plan your day or week, using the hourly and 7-day forecasts for anywhere in the US.
Share the forecast with your friends or post your favorite weather photos.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/weathercaster/id537308269?ls=1&mt=8
App trials
I downloaded Weathercaster because you can look at and add weather photos from your location. The photos were a big let down. They were random, not current, and some weren't even weather related. The rest of the app was just the usual stuff; I was not impressed.
I downloaded NOAA Radar because I thought it might be pretty official. It basically just shows you a map of the U.S. and you can choose different radar layers. It's fine.
Finally, I downloaded Clear Day and it has all the usual stuff plus a 3D like world image that lets you watch different radar maps move over it. It was visually appealing.
But so far, it seems some previous posters have found some real gems and I'm going to look into their findings without further recommending mine.
Severe Tornadoes
There have been several sever storms lately in the Midwest, some of which are causing an increase in tornadoes. Just this past Friday, a single storm dropped around 6 tornadoes in a town in Kansas. As someone who lived in Kansas for a while, I remember that, while we certainly had tornado drills in school, the number of sirens I heard were few. With the changing climate, I can only imagine what it must be like now during tornado season.
http://www.weather.com/news/news/midwest-tornadoes-impacts
http://www.weather.com/news/news/midwest-tornadoes-impacts
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Weather Apps: Weathercube and Swackett
Weathercube is an easy to use app with the current day’s forecast and a list of the daily events from your calendar. With a simple swipe, you can flip the cube between days and even times of the day. It provides the current forecast in addition to the forecast for the morning, afternoon, and evening. Temperature, wind speed, rainfall, percent of cloud coverage, and humidity are included.
Swackett is a fun app that not only shows you the forecast, but it also shows you a “peep” wearing an outfit that’s appropriate for the day’s weather. It includes additional features such as UV index and daily trivia questions. This would be a great app for kids to use in the morning to know whether or not they should take a jacket or umbrella with them to school.
Meteo Earth
I downloaded many weather apps that may have varied in a few different features. Then while working on lesson plans for this class I stumbled across Meteo Earth. Meteo Earth is very similar to the large earth program that was shown to us right before we left class the other night. It is a free app that shows the globe. You can zoom in and out on the globe. The globe gives the weather forecast for the next four days. You can also add layers that will add different concepts to the globe.
1. Temperature
2. Precipitation
3. Cloud Cover
4. Wind
5. Tropical Cyclone
There are other features as well. It gives a climate view over 12 months showing min/max temperatures, surface temperatures, and once again precipitation. Also there is a 3d view that gives a different perspective.
Also, on the desktop version of the app is shows pressures.
This app gets a definitely two thumbs up and I will be using this in the classroom!
I downloaded many weather apps that may have varied in a few different features. Then while working on lesson plans for this class I stumbled across Meteo Earth. Meteo Earth is very similar to the large earth program that was shown to us right before we left class the other night. It is a free app that shows the globe. You can zoom in and out on the globe. The globe gives the weather forecast for the next four days. You can also add layers that will add different concepts to the globe.
1. Temperature
2. Precipitation
3. Cloud Cover
4. Wind
5. Tropical Cyclone
There are other features as well. It gives a climate view over 12 months showing min/max temperatures, surface temperatures, and once again precipitation. Also there is a 3d view that gives a different perspective.
Also, on the desktop version of the app is shows pressures.
This app gets a definitely two thumbs up and I will be using this in the classroom!
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Weather Apps
As suggested, I downloaded several apps and played with them to see what they have to offer. Here are my thoughts.
NOAA WEATHER RADAR
This one didn't have a lot to play with. It has all of the basic weather information and a radar image that loops to show what has been happening, which I am sure would be more exciting to look at if the weather was actually doing anything.
WEATHER +
It has pretty backgrounds and you can unlock more by watching very short advertisements. Other than the pretty backgrounds, I don't have anything positive to say. It said the temperature in Barboursville was 0 degrees while I was playing with it.
THE WEATHER CHANNEL
This is an app that I have on my phone but I don't think I knew how much it has to offer. There are the normal forecast features but also weather stories, videos, and even a health section that shows allergy and flu statistics and data.
WUNDERMAP
This is my favorite by far. I can see it being very useful when I teach this unit. It has about a dozen overlays you can apply to the map. I recommend checking this one out!
WUNDERSTATION
As you can see in the name, this one is from the same makers as the previous app I mentioned. It has local weather station data. I pulled up the three closest to me and there is a wealth of data collected to look at. Once again, I definitely recommend this one. Once we have our own weather stations at each school, the data could be added, I would think.
NOAA WEATHER RADAR
This one didn't have a lot to play with. It has all of the basic weather information and a radar image that loops to show what has been happening, which I am sure would be more exciting to look at if the weather was actually doing anything.
WEATHER +
It has pretty backgrounds and you can unlock more by watching very short advertisements. Other than the pretty backgrounds, I don't have anything positive to say. It said the temperature in Barboursville was 0 degrees while I was playing with it.
THE WEATHER CHANNEL
This is an app that I have on my phone but I don't think I knew how much it has to offer. There are the normal forecast features but also weather stories, videos, and even a health section that shows allergy and flu statistics and data.
WUNDERMAP
This is my favorite by far. I can see it being very useful when I teach this unit. It has about a dozen overlays you can apply to the map. I recommend checking this one out!
WUNDERSTATION
As you can see in the name, this one is from the same makers as the previous app I mentioned. It has local weather station data. I pulled up the three closest to me and there is a wealth of data collected to look at. Once again, I definitely recommend this one. Once we have our own weather stations at each school, the data could be added, I would think.
Monday, September 14, 2015
El Nino 2015
Since the new meteorological season just started, I wanted to look up what was being said about what to expect. Everyone’s talking about El Nino. It’s predicted to be the strongest ever. For us, it may not be such a bad thing. It should lead to a pretty mild fall and winter. It should lead to the end of the drought on the west coast. However, it could cause droughts and worse for other countries. An El Nino happens when the waters of the Pacific Ocean become unusually warm. This warming throws off the patterns of weather for everyone. It will last through till spring.
Direction of Weather
Several years ago while coaching football at Huntington High, we noticed a large storm heading our way. We could see the rain coming down over the interstate. The kids started to get a little concerned. So I asked Coach Holbrook, which way our weather come from, he coached baseball at the time and football since the school had opened. He said there would be nothing to worry about the weather comes from directly over the hill or in bad cases over the football stadium. Never from over the interstate. He was correct that day we never got any rain. I haven't ever seen our weather come from that direction, I believe from the north. I have seen some of our worse storms come from the east however.
Climate Change and Alaskan Coastal Villages
In Alaska, there are some villages that are being encroached upon by the rising sea and melting permafrost. Some of the villages, such as Newtok, pictured above, have already made plans to move their village a few miles away where it will be on bedrock, instead of permafrost. The average winter temperature in Alaska has risen 6.8 degrees in the past 50 years, which doesn't sound like much, but if you think of the difference between 30 degrees and 36 degrees, you get rain instead of snow or chocolate milk instead of ice cream.
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/08/alaska-village-climate-change/402604/
California Drought
California is entering the fourth year of a record-breaking drought creating an extremely parched landscape. Governor Brown declared a drought State of Emergency in January and directed state officials to take all necessary actions to prepare for water shortages. The state has continued to lead the way to make sure California is able to cope with an unprecedented drought.
Is this drought natural or man-made?
http://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2014/12/08/california-drought-cause-noaa/20095869/
In this before-and-after composite image, (Top) The Enterprise Bridge passes over full water levels at a section of Lake Oroville in Oroville, California, July 20, 2011.
The severe drought has impacted rivers, lakes and snow packs.
What a Difference a Week Can Make!
On Sunday, September 6, Marshall University hosted Purdue University in the football season opening game. The weather was reminiscent of summer with a high of 90 degrees, although the metal bleachers, AstroTurf, and asphalt made it much hotter. The temperatures were so high that several people were taken out of the game with heat poisoning and a triage was set up on the outside of the stadium with a steady flow of people receiving care from water to IV's. The sun and heat were so oppressive that I had to leave the game early and did not feel well the rest of the day. The next game, on September 12, was a completely different story. The recorded high was 64 degrees, which was the same as the recorded low the Sunday prior. It was rainy, chilly, and very much fall weather. The wind on 9/6 predominately came from the south east while on 9/12, the wind direction was north west. The barometric pressure also dropped from 30.2 inHg to 29.8 inHg.
http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KHTS/2015/9/6/WeeklyHistory.html?req_city=Huntington&req_state=WV&req_statename=West%20Virginia&reqdb.zip=25705&reqdb.magic=1&reqdb.wmo=99999
http://www.herdzone.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/090615aae.html#
Amazing Weather Picture
While I was searching for a weather related article for class this week, I stumbled upon this jewel. This picture won the 2015 Weather Channel "It's Amazing Out There" photo contest. This picture was taken by Matt Clark. I think that this picture show just how amazing weather forces can be.
Mr. Clark's Response:
In the spring of 2013, just months after Hurricane Sandy devastated much of the East Coast, he stopped at the Jersey Shore to take some photos of the soon-to-be-torn-down Jet Star roller coaster. “It was an intense time for so many people who had their lives changed in such an incredible way,” he told weather.com. “I really wanted to capture this moment in history that wouldn’t be there in the future. I knew that there was only a little bit of time left.”
Though not from the area, that beach has a special place in his heart since he had been right in front of the roller coaster on multiple occasions to photograph surfers. When he went to the shore, police were set up to keep anyone from getting too close. That didn’t stop Clark from trying to get the perfect photo. He talked to the cops and managed to gain special access and clearance to photograph it.
Local Pollen count rising
I welcomed the rain over the weekend to knock some of the pollen out of the air but according to the national weather service the pollen level will increase to very high levels by Wednesday. After suffering for several weeks with sinus drainage, I was looking forward to the fall without a sore throat and stuffy nose. I guess we will have the pollen levels around for a while.
Record Weather for Huntington
Monthly Averages & Records - °F | °C
| Date | Average Low | Average High | Record Low | Record High | Average Precipitation | Average Snow |
| January | 24° | 41° | -19° (1994) | 78° (1999) | 3.31" | NA |
| February | 25° | 46° | -9° (1996) | 80° (2002) | 2.9" | NA |
| March | 33° | 56° | -2° (1980) | 88° (1986) | 3.7" | NA |
| April | 41° | 67° | 22° (1985) | 104° (2002) | 3.3" | NA |
| May | 52° | 76° | 31° (1977) | 95° (1987) | 4.46" | NA |
| June | 61° | 83° | 38° (1972) | 98° (2007) | 3.91" | NA |
| July | 66° | 87° | 47° (1988) | 102° (1988) | 4.38" | NA |
| August | 64° | 86° | 44° (1986) | 103° (2007) | 3.77" | NA |
| September | 56° | 79° | 35° (1991) | 99° (1998) | 2.72" | NA |
| October | 44° | 69° | 22° (1976) | 93° (2007) | 2.85" | NA |
| November | 35° | 57° | 11° (1976) | 88° (1987) | 3.19" | NA |
| December | 28° | 46° | 1° (1989) | 80° (1982) | 3.25" | NA |
| (From WSAZ.com) | I thought that this was pretty interesting. All of the record lows and highs were in a span of 3 decades: 70's, 80's, and 90's for the lows, 80's, 90's, and 00's for the highs. I would have thought with all the cold temperatures these past 2 winters that one of the lows would have been from them. This pattern of extremes in such a short span does show that there is definitely change happening. I also don't remember 104 in April of 2002 or -19 ever. Anyone else? |
Samuel P. Langley. When I give this name I don’t believe it
would ring a bell with anyone. But if I say the Wright Brothers everyone would
be able to quickly spat off these are the ones who successfully flew the first
heavy aircraft. This reputation was supposed to be that of Sam Langley, but
because of the weather he missed his moment in history.
Langley, a highly educated Harvard grad, has an impressive
background with astrology. His research led to him developing a love for the
sun has he revealed much of the knowledge we have today about it. Because of
Langley’s interest in the astrology and the sun led him to be passionate about
flying. Langley was the director of the Smithsonian in 1887; giving him tools
to further his research of the flying and even made a flying machine. This
machine simulated flight and carried a human being.
After several failed attempts Langley learned many valuable
lessons about aerodynamics. He learned that weather played a heavy role in his
flights. If the wind blew one way or another it would derail his flying
attempts. President McKinley became interested in Langley’s project and even
granted him $50,000 in his flying pursuits. Thus enabling Langley to further
research his ideas on a large scale.
In 1903, after years of work and $70,000 Langley was ready
to launch his aerodrome (his version of a plane). On December 8, 1903 he exemplified
his plane from a houseboat in the Pacific. Reporters were lined up along the beach to
witness the event. The pins were
released from the plane, which was to catapult it into the air. Simultaneously,
there was a massive gust of wind that swept across the Potomac. The rear wings
of the plane collapsed and the plane took a swift nosedive into the river.
About a week later, the Wright Brothers claimed the fame of
first in aviation in Kitty Hawk, NC. The
Brothers used the dunes of the beaches for take off on a clear day in North
Carolina.
Although, I understand the race to be the first in flight I
don’t understand the logistics of Langley’s flight. December wasn’t probably
the best month to choose to win the aviation race. However, I understand timing
was sensitive to win the race so December was probably an unavoidable month for
the race. However, I don’t understand why Langley choose the location that he
did. My research shows that the boat the plane was on was on the Potomac River.
The Potomac River in the month of December doesn’t seem to be the best though
out spot to launch such a mission where weather can have such a grave effect on
the outcome. I would think he would choose an area of the US that would be more
favorable to launch the plane.
Also, launching from a house doesn’t seem to be the best
decision. Because the wind on the sea in inevitable and unpredictable,
especially in the early 1900’s. Langley
was a highly educated man with an invention that changed the world. However,
because of his mistake on his launch and the strong winds he lost all of his
fame. In lue of his failure the Wright Brothers gained fame and history was
rewrote.
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Wildfires in California
Wildfires in California continue to destroy tens of thousands of acres. Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for some communities, and a state of emergency has been declared for Lake and Napa counties. Hot, dry weather will be replaced by a drop in temperatures in the next few days and will bring a chance of rain showers.
http://www.weather.com/news/news/california-wildfires-valley-fire-butte-fire
http://www.weather.com/news/news/california-wildfires-valley-fire-butte-fire
Friday Night Lightning creates delays
Lightning caused games to be delayed across the tri-state. At Huntington High School we had lightning but no rain and it was delayed at halftime. There must be a half hour without lightning before they can restart. our fans were ordered off the bleachers and immediately stood under the highest set of lights. Not the best decision. after waiting about an hour I went to my car to wait out the lightning.when we saw the Spring Valley busses leave we figured they had called the game and left. It was just the band. We found out later that the game was finished and the Highlanders won.
http://wvmetronews.com/2015/09/08/friday-night-lights-7/
http://wvmetronews.com/2015/09/08/friday-night-lights-7/
Below-Average 2015 Atlantic Hurricane Season Likely, Forecasters Say
Below-Average 2015 Atlantic Hurricane Season Likely, Forecasters Say
I was happy to read that hurricane season will probably have fewer hurricanes forming this year. I like many people have relatives in Florida and worry each year about hurricane season. luckily my dad researched where hurricanes hit and bought a house in an area that has not been hit the 20 years they have lived there.
The article states that just because fewer form that does not guarantee that fewer cause damage on land because this only predicts the amount of tropical storms and hurricanes. Crawford says. "We often see enhanced low-level easterly flow and upper-level westerly flow across the Atlantic (in El Nino events), which increases vertical wind shear." Vertical wind shear makes it hard for cyclones to start and makes it hard for hurricanes to form. Another big factor in keeping these storms from forming is El Nino pushing dry air down in the region where hurricanes form. El Nino pushing dry air down which makes it harder to form hurricanes.
This sounds like good news as long as the storms that do form do not hit land with more frequency and strength.
http://www.weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/hurricane-season-forecast-atlantic-2015-noaa-weather-channel-csu
I was happy to read that hurricane season will probably have fewer hurricanes forming this year. I like many people have relatives in Florida and worry each year about hurricane season. luckily my dad researched where hurricanes hit and bought a house in an area that has not been hit the 20 years they have lived there.
The article states that just because fewer form that does not guarantee that fewer cause damage on land because this only predicts the amount of tropical storms and hurricanes. Crawford says. "We often see enhanced low-level easterly flow and upper-level westerly flow across the Atlantic (in El Nino events), which increases vertical wind shear." Vertical wind shear makes it hard for cyclones to start and makes it hard for hurricanes to form. Another big factor in keeping these storms from forming is El Nino pushing dry air down in the region where hurricanes form. El Nino pushing dry air down which makes it harder to form hurricanes.
This sounds like good news as long as the storms that do form do not hit land with more frequency and strength.
http://www.weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/hurricane-season-forecast-atlantic-2015-noaa-weather-channel-csu
Big Weather Changes This Week Due to the Jet Stream
North America will be noticing big weather changes this week due to the jet stream pattern rearranging itself. Our area has been experiencing fall temperatures lately, but portions of the Midwest, Plains, and East will be experiencing above-average temperatures. The West Coast, which has had record heat and dangerous wildfires, will have some relief with temperatures more than 30 degrees cooler than recent days. This latest weather pattern is all due to change in the jet stream, which is a ribbon of strong winds that play a role in weather conditions near the surface of the earth.
http://www.weather.com/forecast/national/news/big-weather-changes-cooler-wetter-west-warmer-drier-east
http://www.weather.com/forecast/national/news/big-weather-changes-cooler-wetter-west-warmer-drier-east
High Likelihood for El Niño For 2015-2016 Winter
Experts are predicting a strong El Niño for the Northern hemisphere for this upcoming winter. During an El Niño, Pacific Ocean water temperatures are abnormally high, which impacts weather patterns across the globe. This could spell good news for California, which is suffering from its fourth year of drought conditions. With almost the entire state in dire need of water, El Niño should bring much needed precipitation to the West coast. The rest of the country should experience warmer than average temperatures, which should help to prevent school closures due to snowfall and frigid temperatures. This could also mean an increased likelihood for Nor'Easters in the Northeast, though due to higher temperatures, snow should be reduced.
http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.html
Increase in severe weather
It's certainly been nice to get some rain in Huntington these past few days. I think the greenery has really needed it; I know mine were happier for it. That being said, however, several areas of the world seems to be seeing a lot more rain than they should. This BBC Weather report talks about severe storms that are hitting southeast Asia and Europe. It also presented a forecast of the next week and it doesn't look pretty.. It always astounds me how different an area's weather can be from what is happening globally.
http://www.bbc.com/weather/features/34239320
http://www.bbc.com/weather/features/34239320
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Algae Still in Ohio River
Even though the algae warning is currently still in effect for the Ohio River, there has been no drinking water advisory issued for Cabell County. Officials have been advising people and pets to stay out of the water due to the toxins released by the algae. This has primarily been due to the little rainfall and high temperatures of the summer.
According to Stan Mills from the Cabell-Huntington Health Department, "Right now, in this area, we do have the toxins, but it's at low enough levels we're just advising people, unless you just have to, just don't get in it. Don't let your dogs in it. When the levels get high enough, it's a skin irritant. It can cause you to break out and cause your skin to be red. Secondly, once it gets really high, we're not there yet, we're pretty low. But if you ingest it, it can do a whole variety of things, including up to liver failure."
Today's cooler temperatures and rainfall will hopefully begin to dissipate the algae.
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