Wacky Weather: Dust Storm and Hurricanes

Whoa didn't think you would hear those two words in the same title did you? A large dust storm just came off the North African coast and looks like it may hinder hurricane formation for the first part of August.

A combination of dry air and dust will both cool the ocean and lower moisture levels over the Atlantic Ocean. Now when I say cool I don't mean the ice age is coming. It will only cool about 1°C but in ocean terms this is very significant. 

As meteorologist enthusiast you must have thought the same thing I did when I first heard this, wouldn't this enhance cloud formation? When I took Atmospheric Physics, it was taught by a cloud physicist, who told me dust and salt particles can be the basis of cloud formation. However after further research about my inquiry, I found that more low-level clouds will cool the sea surface as well, which would not aid hurricane formation.

Photo/Idea From:
WashingtonPost.com
wunderground.com

Wacky Weather: Tornado in Denver

Airplanes weren't the only things to touched down at the Denver International Airport yesterday. An EF-1 tornado made its own flight plan to land at the airport as well. The tornado did directly hit some weather instruments at the airport, and luckily were not damaged. However, the instruments did record a gust of 97mph. No one was injured and no major damaged reported during this event.


Photo From/ Info From:
wunderground.com
7News Denver

Wacky Weather: Flooding in Europe

A blocking high pressure system in Northern Europe has sent low pressure after low pressure to southern Germany and Austria. These low pressures have dropped so much rain over central Europe that the Danube river in Germany has crested over it's banks and has reached a flood level that has not been reach since the 1500's. Talk about your one hundred year floods. Below is a picture of Danube river in Deggendorf, Germany from Friday the 7th.

So you may be thinking to yourself, "I feel like these "one hundred year floods happen all the time!". Well you aren't the only one thinking this, Scientist are calling it the "New Climate".

Picture and Info From:
wunderground.com

Wacky Weather: Slow Start To Tornado Season

My apologizes, I haven't written in a while because I was on vacation, went to Purdue University to watch my little sister graduate and have been quite busy with my job. Anywho, while I was away I noticed that my nice warm temperatures, which I was absolutely in love, with took a vacation as well!

Our quite normal spring, has led to a slow start to the tornado season across much of the country. In fact, there has only been 237 tornadoes confirmed since the first of the year, which is minimal compared to the 659 confirmed tornadoes last year to this date. However, this below normal trend is expected to end this weekend as much of the country is starting to warm up, due to a southeasterly flow.

Notice how I said "normal spring", this is true our temperature throughout most of this spring have been near normal. We just think that it's cooler than usual because of all of the warm springs we have had for the past couple of years.

And Happy Birthday to my Dad!! 

Picture and Info From:
Accuweather.com

Wacky Weather: Tropical Cyclone Zane taking aim for Australia.

As our counter parts in the southern hemisphere gear up for winter, it also means that it is prime time for their tropical cyclones season. In fact, Tropical Cyclone Zane is taking a aim at Australia's northeast coast. The Cape of York in Queensland is bracing for a strong tropical cyclone to hit Wednesday night (local time), with winds expected to be sustained at 100mph. Heavy rain is also expected with this system.

Photo From:
accuweather.com

Wacky Weather: Flooding in the Plain States

A combination of a couple of big rain producing low pressure systems and snow melting has been causing many rivers in the MidWest to rise over there banks. In St. Louis, Missouri the Mississippi river is 10 to 12 feet above flood stage. If you are concerned about flooding in your area check out the Hydrological Prediction Center or you can visit NWS River Forecast site. 



Photo From:
usatoday.com

Wacky Weather: Third Spring/ Winter Storm On It's Way

Man spring is taking its sweet time warming the northern states up. This will be our third week in a row (in APRIL I might add) that we are talking about snow showers. And I am not sure if April snow showers will bring May flowers. However, I do know that "cold temperatures" records and "Snowiest Aprils" records are in jeopardy as we head in to next week. Last weeks storm brought 30" of snow in some areas of the upper MidWest, and this next storm should be just as intense. As far a cold temperatures, Fargo, North Dakota has yet to get above 50 degrees Fahrenheit this year, and doesn't look like Fargo will be getting out of the 40's till at least next week. Brrrr!!  I also found a comparison of what the snow depths are today and what they were a year ago.
 

Also remember spring time storms that bring snow to the north mean storm conditions down south. Look out for a tornado outbreak. 

Photo/ Info From:
wundergound.com

Wacky Weather: Spring Storm to Bring Alll Sorts of Weather

This strong mid-April storm is bring all kinds of weather across the lower 48. Moving slowly across the country, this storm is producing tornadoes to the south and heavy snow to the north. Below is a forecast map from the National Weather Service. And this storm is going to be moving to the east as the week ends.

Wacky Weather: Dust From China Reaches California

Dust from China's Gobi Desert has drifted thousands of miles across the Pacific Ocean to central California. The harsh dust storm that occurred in China on March 10th and created dangerously high pollution levels in Eastern China. You can see the dust storm from the NASA Satellite, note the sweeping light brown color, that is the dust. About ten days later the Air Pollution Control District reported some dust in the Owens Valley, which is just east of the Sierra Nevada mountain range.


Photo and Info From:
nasa.gov
nbcnews.com

Wacky Weather: Earthquake in Mexico

Alright so earthquakes aren't exactly meteorology but they are still an earth science, and to be quite honest it was either talk about an earthquake or complain how it's not anywhere near warm! I thought that I wouldn't be a Debbie Downer and would focus on an Earthquake. In Santiago Pinotepa Nacional, Mexico a 5.5 magnitude earthquake shook most of southern Mexico.


The epicenter was in Santiago Pinotepa Nacional which is about 200 miles from Mexico City, near Acapulco on the map above. There hasn't been any reports of injuries, but people said that buildings in Mexico City were shaking. 

Photo From:
lonelyplanet.com

Wacky Weather: Late Season Snow Storms

Happy First Day of Spring!!! Although, most of us still feeling a winter chill. In meteorology talk, there is a blocking High Pressures system in Canada keeping the Jet Stream south giving the MidWest and East a very active and cool weather pattern. Unfortunately, for you looking for spring, this pattern looks to persist into the first week of April. I found a graphic from AccuWeather that perfectly describes what I am trying to say.

The most recent winter storm hit the northeast yesterday, dropping anywhere from 1 to 6 inches of snow from Philadelphia to New York.  And models are hinting to yet another late snow storm for the MidWest and East next week! Get ready, winter is not over yet! (even though I wish it was)



Photo From:
accuweather.com

Wacky Weather: Comet PanSTARRS

Comet PanSTARRS has been making its way past earth for the past couple of weeks, and just recently has become visible in the Northern Hemisphere. And don't worry it is a good 100 million miles away, but in space that means it close enough to see here on earth. I found a video time lapse of the comet sighting in Arizona.

 

There is a another chance to see Comet PanSTARRS tonight, low in the west after sunset near the moon. I found a photo to help you find the comet, remember make sure that trees and tall buildings are not in your way.

Also if you don't get a chance to see this comet, there is a chance to see another comet later this year!! Get excited!! 

 

Photo/Video From:

earthsky.org
youtube.com

Preparing For Wacky Weather

National Severe Preparedness Week

This week is the National Severe Preparedness Week! In order to get you all ready for the storm season, I thought I would theme this week's blog posts as "Severe Weather". We will be continuing your Severe Preparedness Week with how to be prepared when the severe weather hits!

If you find yourself in the path of a severe storm make sure you are taking precautionary measures to keep yourself and people around you safe.

If you are outdoors and there is a chance for severe weather, make sure you are keeping an eye to the sky. Look for darkening skies, flashes of lightning or increasing winds. If you are indoors try to stay away from windows and do not go out onto your porch. Remember just because you are indoors does not mean you are safe from lightning. 

My biggest take home point would be if you see some get struck by lightning... go help them! You will not get electrocuted by touching a lightning victim, but there sure do need you to call 9-1-1! Basically, this week is to remind you to heed warnings from your meteorologist! If they are telling you to take shelter, it's probably a good idea. I know all of this stuff seems basic but it's good to have a refresher every once and a while.


Photo From:
prepare.ua.edu

Wacky Weather: Blizzards Pummel MidWest

The second winter storm in one week has once again paralyzed the country's midsection. This storm has blanketed a wet 8-17 inches of snow across the heartland. And remember that the areas hardest hit already had an existing foot of snow from the last storm to come through the area, which was less then a week ago. The combination of these two major snow storms has broke Wichita, Kansas, record for being the snowiest month in its history with 21". While MidWest residents are excited to see the precipitation, these two major snow storms won't help busting the extreme drought. However, it will help replenish some of aquifers. 

This most recent storm has claimed three lives, two from a car accident and one from a roof clasping because of the amount and weight of the snow. Below is a picture from Jeff Master's weather blog showing the amount of snow from the most recent snow storm.


Photo/ Info From:
weather.aol.com
wunderground.com

Wacky Weather in Northern California

Yesterday, California experienced everything from snow to rain and even a tornado. A system from the Gulf of Alaska brought some much needed precipitation to to the area. However, in the higher elevations where there was snow falling, caused many travel problems a stretch of Highway 58 had to be closed. This storm even spawned a couple of tornadoes near Red Bull. Luckily this tornado was weak and caused minimal damage, no one was killed. Below is a picture of the tornado.

Some people were enjoying the snowy conditions. This system is expected to move east, and provide the Midwest with some snowy conditions, as well stormy conditions in the south.

Photo/ Info From:
sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com
ctvnews.ca

Wacky Weather: Antarctica Lake Research

Alright, so this isn't exactly wacky weather, but I think that it's pretty cool and thought you would think so too. United States researchers have drilled into a Lake Whillans, which is buried 2625 feet below the surface in Antarctica. The sub glacial lake contains some bacteria. I know this must seem moot, but think about the harsh environment that this bacteria has to live in, in order to survive. The scientist have collected 8 gallons of water from this lake, in which they plan on doing further studies on these organisms.
 

Photo and Info From:
ouramazingplanet.com

Wacky Weather: Record Tornado Outbreak

Last weeks severe weather outbreak, January 29th through the 30th, will be ranked as the third largest tornado outbreak during January since records began in 1950. There were 42 confirmed tornadoes by the National Weather Service from this outbreak. This picture below is from an iWitness weather user fshelton25. She said she was driving on I-75 in Adirsville, Goregia on Wednesday Janurary 30th.

The strongest tornado that occurred during this outbreak was a high end EF-3 tornado in Peachtree City, Georgia. 


Photo/Story From:
wunderground.com

Wacky Weather: Spring like temperatures in January

We don't have to go far for this week Wacky Weather. Most of the country is on a temperature roller coaster ride. While most of us are welcoming this warm air in the middle of winter, spring like temperatures brings spring like severe weather with it. That's right, thunder, lighting, hail, strong wind, and even some tornadoes are being recorded over the country. Below is a picture of storm reports from the past 24hrs from the Storm Prediction Center. 

I also dug up the temperature map from a week ago when most of the country was in a deep freeze and compared it with today's temperature map. Below the two maps on tops are from Jan. 22, 2013 and the two maps on the bottom are from Jan 29th, 2013.


Hope you enjoy the warm weather while you can! The cold weather and snow will be returning very very soon!

Photo From:
http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov

Wacky Weather: Snow Rollers

In light of recent events in Vermont, I thought that I would bring to your attention, mother nature's way of making snowballs. The meteorological term is Snow Rollers, and this rare weather phenomenon is quite cool!

Snow rollers have a pretty specific recipe which is why they are so rare. It occurs when wet snow falls on hard ice covered snow or an icy surface, which means that it doesn't really stick. Then you have high winds, in Vermont's case they had wind gust of 50 miles per hour. The snow is then pushed along by this strong wind and literally rolls along until the wind isn't strong enough to push it anymore. And that is how you get Snow Rollers!

Pretty cool in my book! Hope you enjoy your Wednesday!


Photo From:
minnesota.publicradio.org
wunderground.com

Wacky Weather: Sonic Booms and 131 Records Broken

131 record daily temperatures were broken in the United States last week. There were 81 record high temperatures set and 50 low record temperatures. One example was down in Atlanta where the high temperature was 76 degrees on January 12th, this broke a 123 year old record!


Some Sonic Booms were reported in Utah starting around 9pm. At first the US Air Force denied that they were the cause of the noise. But then later on Wednesday they took responsibility, reporting that it was B-52 bombing runs in the desert. So it totally wasn't aliens!


Photo From:
7reasons.org
11alive.com

Info From:
wunderground.com
11alive.com