TV Meteorologist

How long does it take a new weather reporter to get the hang of pointing to the weather map on screen? I've heard it's really difficult confusing b/c it's actually a blank screen behind them.

Asked by clambakejake almost 12 years ago

It usually clicks in pretty quick but there is a mental hurdle to get past. You are exactly right. We stand in front of a blank wall, usually bright green, sometimes blue. The control room equipment digitally inserts the weather maps in the areas where the camera sees green (you have to be careful about the colors in your neckties) the process is called chroma key. On either side of the wall we look at a monitor that shows us the "mixed" version of the picture, and there is a teleprompter in front of the camera lens showing the same image. That is where the mental hurdle takes a little time because that image is reversed, like looking in a mirror. When giving studio tours I usually ask someone to stand in the middle of the country, looking forward, and ask them to point to Boston. They usually hesitate a moment and then the hand goes up to Seattle and we'll have a good laugh. Great question, thanks!

Do people recognize you on the street and do they ever hassle you about times when your forecast was wrong?

Asked by Steph almost 12 years ago

Yup. Sometimes people will say they recognize the voice first, I think because I'm not always in a suit. Other times you can tell that people are looking from across the room trying to figure it out and be sure. Can't speak for all of us but I always appreciate a connection. Yes, people will give me static about the weather, almost always in good fun. For those who give me trouble I say, "I'm in marketing, God is in manufacturing." that usually gets me off the hook with a smile. Thanks for asking, Steph!

what's with the obsession with naming storms? any practical reason for this, or just a marketing gimmick?

Asked by streetscribe almost 12 years ago

You've asked a really hot question right now. Naming tropical storms began in the early 1950's. Tracking was initially done by latitude and longitude which proved confusing especially when there were multiple storms. This winter season The Weather Channel decided to name winter storms. Their claim is that it helps raise awareness. We had a representative from The Weather Channel on a podcast I co-host, called WeatherBrains, a few months ago. There are a couple of issues. The Weather Channel did not discuss their plan with any other organizations, like the National Weather Service, the American Meteorological Society or the National Weather Association. Since there is a certain amount of competition among media outlets, most have chosen not to adopt the winter storm names. There is also some question about the criteria that is used to give a storm a name as The Weather Channel has not fully shared its method leading to some scientific confusion. Also, there is a question of the historical record. Everyone will remember Sandy but Nemo is only partially recognized. Great question, personally I think there was some good intention on the part of The Weather Channel that was poorly executed as a marketing move.

Not to sound heartless, but just why do TV channels even need weathermen? How much value does a human provide above and beyond just throwing to that 5-day forecast screen?

Asked by R.W. almost 12 years ago

Perfectly valid question. Local TV news is changing rapidly and will see negative growth for some years to come. One of the reasons is the increase in the amount of choices people have to find information. Different viewers/users have different wants and needs. Some prefer to simply find a partly cloudy icon and a high of 72 on their smartphone, others like having someone explain a bit of the science behind the forecast. There is a great book called The Long Tail that I highly recommend that talks about serving users in the digital age. On a practical community side, local weather folks speak to schools about science and civic groups about public safety and emcee events. Probably most important, during times of severe weather the local meteorologist, if doing his/her job properly, looks in the camera and hopefully brings a sense of importance or urgency that a simple text forecast might not. There is a great deal of social science research going on right now in this area and the results are surprising. Public reaction, and action, in a dangerous weather situation varies widely and most of us are hoping to look out for folks in our markets. Some people just like to take ownership of a "local celebrity". I had a woman call me one day and chew me out for having my hair too long! I guess I was glad she felt she could. Great question, thanks!

Do most meteorologists believe global warming exists? Or are they just as split on that as any other random group of people would be?

Asked by Bradbury451 almost 12 years ago

Ooooh, you've asked me to walk over hot coals to touch the third rail!! First let me make a distinction between Global Warming and Anthropogenic Global Warming. I think that most people agree that the global climate varies over time and probably goes through cycles. The "hot button" issue is whether or not manmade activities are causing a greater change, that is the "anthropogenic" part. The information that I have seen, and this is largely anecdotal, suggests that a majority of television meteorologists are not in anthropogenic camp. There is a difference between meteorology and climate. TV folks deal largely with the next seven days as opposed to longer periods of time, which is climate, and there has been some complaint that television folks are not properly qualified to comment, but there is concern since we generally have pretty big megaphones in our communities. Hope that answers the question without getting me in trouble!

What are the requirements for becoming a TV weather reporter? Do I need a certain degree, and do I need formal broadcast training? I'm studying environmental sciences currently.

Asked by Chau Belle almost 12 years ago

Actually, there really are no minimum requirements. In general the more meteorological knowledge you have the better. Some stations won't hire without at least a degree, others will hire based on looks and presentation. In my opinion, if you have an interest in the science, go to the local TV stations and make friends then ask for an internship. You'll get on-camera and computer training. If there is a local chapter of the American Meteorological Society or the National Weather Association, those are good places to make contacts. Good luck, please keep me posted.

What were your worst on-screen bloopers?

Asked by canonball!!! almost 12 years ago

Well...being a professional, of course, I've never had any bloopers. That said, there was one time when we were joking around during the commercial break before a cut-in. When the camera light came on the anchor tossed to me and just as he did, the corner of his mouth went up in a knowing smirk. I lost it and started laughing. Then kept on laughing. The cameraman and producer, standing behind the camera, buckled over and hit the floor, which didn't help at all. I couldn't do anything. Couldn't pitch back, couldn't do the weather, couldn't pitch to traffic. It went on for about 40 seconds, which in live TV is an eternity. I finally did the weather and my wife called afterward and said, "At first I was laughing along with you, but then I just started praying, "Oh, Lord, just help him get through it!" Great question, thanks!!

How do I get to do the weather on TV when there are only so many TV channels, and it seems like they've all had the same weather guy for 10+ years? Do I just have to be in the right place at the right time when someone retires?

Asked by Tori almost 12 years ago

Hi, Tori. My best suggestion is to get an internship at a local station. Hang around as much as you can and soak up the environment. You'll learn about the weather computers and should have some time to practice on the green wall and make some recordings. A demo reel will help you apply for jobs at other stations. If you make yourself known and willing to help during the internship you might just find an opening at some point. That is how it happened for me. Good luck!!

As a weather reporter, what kinds of weather events are the most exciting to you? Is a major hurricane like your Super Bowl?

Asked by Tobes almost 12 years ago

Of the big weather events, I would rate tropical systems first, then severe storms, then winter storms. Second favorite thing is an approaching shelf cloud ahead of a line of storms, but the best of all is the passing of a dry cold front. To feel the wind turn around and the cold air hit your face is one of the best things around. How about you?

What got you so interested in weather? Did you grow up in an extreme climate?

Asked by slowcomb86 almost 12 years ago

I've always loved the sky, I think I have as many photos of clouds as of my son. I was a radio DJ at the beginning of my career. One of the local TV meteorologists did weather for our station. He and I became friends and he took me under his wing, got me involved in a meteorology program at Mississippi State, and gave me my first TV job (and one day I'll get him for it!) We remain friends to this day and do a podcast together called WeatherBrains. I grew up up and down the east coast. Your question is right on, many of us have stories of encounters with tornadoes or other weather extremes that set the course into meteorology. Thanks for asking!

Are the weather reporters on TV ALSO responsible for the meteorological science behind the reporting?

Asked by J.B.S. almost 12 years ago

It is different from person to person. Many have degrees in meteorology, others will use the forecast provided by the National Weather Service or a vendor like AccuWeather. Some have a weather producer who helps with the TV graphics. Thanks for the question!

Thanks for answering! Throughout your career, did any station ever pressure you to develop some quirky weatherman 'gimmick'?

Asked by Steph almost 12 years ago

I've never had that happen, but I can imagine it has. Often times station management will see something that happens naturally they like and encourage it. I used to do a lot more live shots out in the field and really enjoyed them so they sent me out often. One time they sent me out for no apparent reason to a local park where nothing was happening. To show my frustration I had the photographer set up a good distance away from me and I sat on a bench with my back to the camera enjoying the sky. Turned out it was one of their favorite shots. :\ Thanks again!

Could a significantly overweight person ever get hired as a weather reporter? Or would the new station claim the person's size would obstruct the weather screen?

Asked by SlamburgerAZ almost 12 years ago

Tough question. Certainly there is a bias toward "telegenic" people on TV. That said, Al Roker was very large for many years before weight loss surgery. Interestingly, I have heard of cases where television broadcast companies could consider hiring the people on the news like "casting a play" which would allow them the latitude to decide they wanted a particular gender or ethnicity for an open position, sometimes to play to the demographics of a particular city. In my circles, often times when a job opening comes up, we will hear, "they want a woman", or some other character type. Interesting question, thanks!

besides being a weatherman or an academic, what else can people do with degrees in meteorology?

Asked by haleygirl almost 12 years ago

All kinds of things, great question. Research is a big area, professional storm chaser, there are lots of private companies that provide weather services and information to power companies or trucking companies, aviation as well. We have a guy that does vacation fill-in for us who works for an environmental impacts firm. Another fellow I work with does weather consulting for legal cases acting as an expert witness that involve things like hail or lightning damage. Thanks!

What's the minimum equipment a meteorologist would need to make weather forecasts? Would he need zillion dollar satellites no matter what, or are there cheaper alternatives?

Asked by ATL Sean almost 12 years ago

Interesting question. We have a pretty integrated system. The numbers I've seen suggest that the return on investment for weather operations, on a percentage basis, is one of the best of all government expenditures. But, to answer your question, you might be right, I wouldn't want to lose the daily weather balloons since that is where the forecast starts, and radar more readily saves lives...so, okay maybe the satellites, if you must take something!

what causes wind?

Asked by j. urbanowicz almost 12 years ago

Wind is the movement of air across the planet. Uneven heating of the earth's surface by the sun heats and cools areas differently. For example, land generally heats more quickly than water. As air over a coastline heats it becomes lighter and rises leaving less air over the land. Since nature is always looking to keep things in balance, air from the adjacent ocean moves in to equalize the imbalance, creating a sea breeze. The larger the air imbalance, or air pressure difference, the faster the air moves, creating a stronger wind. Great question!

What kind of career paths do TV meteorologists pursue other than doing the weather for a news station until they retire?

Asked by Tori almost 12 years ago

I know of a few who have started their own businesses, radar products or data services. Others have worked with the companies that provide graphics systems to television stations. There are more industries than you might think that hire meteorologists or meteorology consulting services. Power companies, trucking companies, aviation. Also weather research and teaching are options. Over the past few years more and more news anchors and reporters are leaving the business for public relations, media representatives and the like. Thanks, Tori!

What's your opinion of storm chasers? Weather-savvy thrill-seekers, or harebrained lunatics? (And have you ever done any storm chasing yourself?)

Asked by Mike c. almost 12 years ago

Excellent question, complicated answer. The short version is the storm chasers run the spectrum. Some are untrained and pose a real threat, others are doing valuable research. I know some local governments in tornado alley have proposed some sort of chaser licensing. Very limited for me, I'm more often tied to the studio during events. That said, I was recently invited by a high profile chaser, it would be fun and interesting! If you are interested, a Google search for storm chasing tours shows some good companies that offer some adventure. Do note there is usually a lot of driving, tiny motels and cheap food! Thanks, Mike.

do you think it's unwise for weather reporters to report on location in the middle of hurricanes etc? seems so dangerous and not at all worth it...

Asked by becca j almost 12 years ago

Excellent question, Becca, there is actually some discussion about that now in the industry. Some have suggested that credentials such as Seals of Approval might be taken away for unsafe behavior. One problem is that no one wants to be the first to do "less" coverage or pull back. It might take someone getting hurt before some action is taken. It is a tough call. I guess my message to people in the industry, especially reporters as opposed to meteorologists, is to try and learn some basics about storm structure and safety so they can be as prepared as possible.

I am job shadowing a meteorologist and I was wondering if there are any questions that I should ask?

Asked by Jackie over 11 years ago

A lot of meteorologists have some story as to why they got into weather, often times some big event sparked their interest.  Many of us are technology geeks so you probably can't go wrong asking about computers and phones and such.  Good luck!

Did you ever give a weather forecast that turned out to be SOOO inaccurate that it still haunts you to this day?

Asked by Bandito_II almost 12 years ago

I think the incident I regret the most was leaving the weather office unstaffed back in the mid 1990's when a tornado formed in our market in Virginia in the early afternoon between shifts. Interesting question, thanks.

When a major storm event is coming, do your TV producers encourage you to sensationalize it? Amp up the hype/severity/fear-factor, that sort of thing?

Asked by Moe-town almost 12 years ago

I haven't personally experienced that but I know of stations where the culture sort of suggests that type of behavior. One of the problems with that type of thing is once you raise the level just a bit there is often a "keeping up with the Joneses" type of competition that kicks in and it escalates over time. Often times reporters in the field will feel the need to raise the level of urgency to make live shots more interesting. Great question, it is a growing problem.

What are questions you are asked most often?

Asked by Jackie over 11 years ago

Is it going to rain?  Will the storms be severe?  What are the best apps for my phone?  What about global warming? Do people ever blame you for bad weather?  I recognize your voice, where do I know you from?  Thanks, Jackie!

I want to study meteorology in college, but it is hard to find a school that is not so far away that offers it as a major. (in the NE) What kind of salary can i expect if I am not a meteorologist on TV, and am working directly for NWS or NOAA?

Asked by matt over 11 years ago

Hi Matt.  I'm actually not familiar with the payscale at the National Weather Service.  You can get a pretty good idea by looking at NWS and NOAA job postings online at http://www.weather.gov/careers.  Most jobs have a salary range attached to them.  You might also have luck contacting your local NWS office.  Click on your region at weather.gov for the closest office.  Good luck!!

do weathermen specialize by climate? like warm vs. cold climates? e.g. could a weatherman in hawaii take the same job in alaska without missing a beat?

Asked by CBass almost 12 years ago

Great question. One of my mentors told me, "You go to school for four years to learn meteorology, and then it takes two more to learn to forecast." So, time spent in a particular area gives you valuable experience in the local climatology. In your example, the weatherman in Hawaii, if he had had a good education, could certainly take a job in Alaska, but it would probably take a few seasons to get comfortable. Thanks!

Do u have to stop yourself from talking weather in social situations b/c other ppl think it's small talk?

Asked by bomb'chelle almost 12 years ago

Never mind that...did you see what the Global Forecast System is doing over the plains at 384 hours!?! :) Usually what happens for me is once I get to the point in a conversation where I have to say, "Mostly cloudy tomorrow", or "Rain by mid-morning" people will giggle and say, "He sounds just like a TV Weatherman!" My favorite kind of interaction is when someone doesn't realize who they are talking with and makes some comment about the weather. Like in a elevator or the checkout line, they will say, "Boy, this is the worst hot spell in 100 years!" I usually play along and walk away wondering what they would think if they knew who they were talking with. :)

is there a particular state, region, city, province, etc that meteorologists generally agree is the "ideal" climate? (san diego comes to mind...)

Asked by runnin rebel almost 12 years ago

I remember a job posting for a San Diego television station many many years ago that said, "Can you say 72 and sunny?" I think most of us prefer locations that have some action. Some like snow, others severe weather, others hurricanes. I guess the ideal job is in a place with the type of weather you are most interested in. Having been to San Diego a number of times I would agree with you, it is pretty nice!

also, what kind of umbrella do you use? :)

Asked by haleygirl almost 12 years ago

Well...they teach us in "TV Weatherman School" how to walk between the raindrops so I really don't need one, but I have a big black golf umbrella in the trunk of my car. :)

if a weather guy predicts a sunny day and a thunderstorm ensues, what can cause such an inaccurate prediction?

Asked by jameson almost 12 years ago

Great question...complicated answer. A weather forecast is made up of many different data points. One of the most important data sets is the twice daily weather balloons that gather data through the height of the atmosphere. One of the weaknesses in the system is that there is an average of only one or two balloon launches in each state, 12 hours apart. The data from those balloons is used in computers that use mathematical equations that predict how the gases and water in the air will behave. Given that the balloon network has so many gaps in it, certain features can be missed. Also, since the data collected at the time of the balloon is not a perfect picture, the forecast 2, 3, 5 or more days out gets more fuzzy. Kind of making a copy of a copy of a copy on a photocopier.

do weather reporters frequently become news reporters and vice versa? or are news reporting and weather reporting two completely different animals?

Asked by billbo jackson almost 12 years ago

Generally not, but there are always exceptions. Probably what happens most is that future news people end up doing weather on the weekends in a smaller city to get started and will then do some news reporting for three days during the work week. I've known of a few weather people who moved to the news side or even sports, and others who move the other way but I would say that is the except rather than the rule. I once had an agent tell me I would be a good anchor, I could tell she was waiting to measure my reaction. I politely told her to keep walking. :)

How much does the average TV weatherman make? And are you paid an annual salary, per episode, or some other kind of arrangement?

Asked by Ken almost 12 years ago

Hi, Ken. Big range of answers. At a base level salaries are reflective of the size of the city (we call them "markets"). A beginning TV meteorologist is likely to start by doing the weekend shift in a small market where they might also do some news reporting a couple days per week. Salary in this situation might be between $20,000 and $30,000. From there it does up well into six figures for many larger markets. Most are paid an annual salary.

TV news folks seem so polished and stiff, both in their appearance and diction. They rarely come off as real "people." Do you agree, and do your foresee any changes to loosen them up a bit?

Asked by DC Harrier almost 12 years ago

I do see changes. Historically news anchors tried to project an air of impartiality so as not to suggest they were on a particular side of an issue. Two currents trends are serving to give news people a little more personality. One is that news programs are including more "entertainment", and, there is some evidence that some viewers prefer to know what side of an issue their news providers are on. That said, "most" of us are "regular" people off the air. :)

i've tried so many weather apps on my phone and they SUCK. inaccurate forecasts, not user friendly, just crappy altogether. what weather app do you think is the best out there?

Asked by joseph almost 12 years ago

Whew...tough one.  I think many of the early popular apps are suffering from design and feature bloat.  On iOS I actually think an app called Wx Alert USA is pretty good since it draws all data directly from the National Weather Service.  A generic radar app that I use often is wxRadar, for current conditions around the region, AeroWeather (a bit more technical) and an excellent technical radar app is RadarScope.  I've looked at several of the Android apps and am not thrilled with any of them.  If you are in a severe weather area I highly recommend WeatherRadio.  I'm working on some ways to improve weather information, stay tuned!  Thanks, Joseph!

Are TV executives a pain in the a** to work with? What about the news reporters and anchors? Nice people or a bunch of divas?

Asked by SlikStyle5000 almost 12 years ago

Hahaha...can we talk about Global Warming instead?

I'll nominate myself for dumbest question but... why is the study of weather called "meteorology?" Unless we're in Russia, meteors don't exactly seem central to weather.

Asked by 2_Green_Thumbs almost 12 years ago

Actually an excellent question. "Meteor" comes from the Greek for "raised from the ground, lofty, hanging", and "logy" is "account, explanation, study". A "hydrometeor" is any water or ice particle in the atmosphere, so "hydrometeorology" is probably a better choice. Hmmm...now I need new business cards...

How accurate can Day 10 of a 10-day forecast possibly be? Put another way, how far out can you forecast weather with relative certainty?

Asked by Bradbury451 almost 12 years ago

Great question. My observation is that once you get past 3 days, what begins to vary the most is timing. Major features will start to shift faster or slower which can, by 5 to 7 days, mean a difference of 12 to 24 hours or sometimes more. At ten days you start to see things appear and disappear or dramatically shift from day to day or run to run of the forecast models. Personally, I'm not fond of the 10 day forecast, but, the things learned by doing it now informs the research that makes them better. Short answer, 10 day forecast...not great.

Is working for the Weather Channel the dream job for TV weather folks?

Asked by KC89 almost 12 years ago

Some yes, others no. Many many years ago I was recruited by The Weather Channel. They have a number of very very smart folks who you never, or rarely, see on camera, and working with them was very appealing. The idea of hurricane briefings from the legendary John Hope was great. Ultimately my choice was against doing more broad national coverage over and over again in favor of a more specific area. There is a saying, "Like politics, all weather is local." Thanks!

As a weather guy, are there business opptys that you can foresee that civilians cannot? To use a silly example, knowing it's gonna be a high precipitation year and investing in an umbrella company...

Asked by Shadow1 almost 12 years ago

Hmmm...what is that umbrella company ticker symbol again? :) Excellent question.  Actually there is a pretty large industry of private weather companies that do forcasting.  Power companies do seasonal outlooks to anticipate demand.  Trucking companies and airlines employ meteorologists for short and long range information.  And, closer to your example, I believe clothing retailers will consider seasonal forecasts to determine inventory types and levels.  Thanks!

All else being equal, who do you think is more likely to get the weatherman job nowadays: the funny male, or the hot female?

Asked by Arlington Drew almost 12 years ago

Hmmm...trick question. I guess my hope is that the one that has the best meteorology chops gets the job. That said, different markets, and more and more these days, different stations, have different requirements. I recently saw an ad for a weather person in which the bulk of the job description asked for someone who was not afraid to give their opinions on the news stories of the day. Thanks, Drew.

ever include inside jokes or subliminal messages during a weather report, where the audience has no clue it's even happening?

Asked by lucky777 almost 12 years ago

Hmmm...can't think of any. But I will say my wife and some of my neighbors do know certain keywords to listen for during severe weather near my home!

I am 55 and have never in my life have witnessed a lightning storm that had absolutely no sound. I have video but the file is too long to prove this. There should have been loud claps and rolling deep thunder. But nothing. Can you explain this?

Asked by Vicki about 11 years ago

Great question, Vicki.  Without knowing the exact circumstances I can tell you that light travels farther than sound.  On average, depending on conditions, the sound of thunder will travel an average of 15 miles.  Thanks!

crazy hypothetical but indulge me. let's say my local weather guy predicts a sunny day, and it turns out to be a hurricane. thinking it was gonna be nice out, i didn't prepare for a hurricane and my house gets damaged. could I sue the news program?

Asked by howard (edenton, NC) almost 12 years ago

Thanks, Howard. Here is my best analysis, and, of course, I'm not a lawyer. Forecasting can be considered as less than an exact science, and in some ways, a bit of an art. Those of us that seriously practice that art, meaning we have a certain amount of study or serious history in the science of meteorology, are given some level of protection. Now, if a given station provided you with a forecast from an unknown or unreliable source, could you attempt to hold that station accountable? You could certainly make that argument and then it would be up to a judge or jury. Obviously no meteorologist or television station would directly cause any damage, you would need prove some sort of negligence in information gathering, which is unlikely given that a "weather presenter" would mostly likely get their information from a source like the National Weather Service, which obviously has credibility. Good question, thanks.

Hi, if I'm interested in storm chasing but know it's not lucrative. What job as a meteorologist would incorporate doing so as part of the job duties? Also thank you for your site and time!

Asked by Littlejohn about 11 years ago

Hi, Littlejohn.  I would say something in the severe weather research area would allow the best opportunity to chase.  A lot of those jobs are based in and around Norman, OK where the University of Oklahoma, several National Weather Service offices (including the Storm Prediction Center), and several private weather companies are located.  Not sure of your age or education status, but I think I would start with the School of Meteorology at OU and see what resources they have available.  som.ou.edu  Good luck, can't wait to see your chase pictures!

I am desperate for information! I am getting married on June 1 this year, in Jaffrey, NH. Trying to find out what the temperature usually is at that time of year in the early evening, for an outdoor reception. Cant find anywhere. Please help! Thanks

Asked by dave almost 12 years ago

In the shadow of Mt. Monadnock...nice!  The average high for Jaffrey for that day is right at 70 degrees, the average low is 50.  At the beginning of June the warmest temperature of a sunny day would be around 4 to 5:00pm, sunset is at 8:20, so if it is a perfectly average day (and few are) I would say it would be falling through the 60's durning the wedding and perhaps in to the upper 50's near the end of the reception.  Good luck and congrats!!

How exactly do you validate an alert so the tornado sirens start blowing? Does the weather man have the final say when the sirens blow? How are the sirens activated? Does someone push a button or is it all computerized? Im doing a report for HighSchl

Asked by Gwyni over 11 years ago

Excellent question, and I wish there were a standard answer.  Warning sirens are controlled by emergency management officials and local governments.  There is no standard procedure.  As a partial answer to your question, local TV meteorologists have no control over the sirens.  I would suggest you contact your local National Weather Service office.  They can give you information on how sirens are handled in your town.  Go to weather.gov and click on your area on the map.  This will take you to your local office page.  Let me know if you have any trouble and we will try another path.  Thanks!

with tech advances and such, how do u see the future of weather reporting changing/improving?

Asked by grant77 almost 12 years ago

Hi, Grant. Huge question. I remember reading something (and I'm paraphrasing and my facts might be off) that said shortly after Henry Ford invented the Model T that at one point there were 128 different companies manufacturing cars. Eventually most of them faded away for one reason or another and a few survived. I think we are in the same "wild west" period right now in weather information. A lot of players will make a lot of different plays, some will catch, others will fade away. That said, my hope is that what gains traction will be the best for the end users as opposed to systems designed by profit motive or convenience for companies. It would be nice to think "the best" will win but if you look at the history of home video, for example, Beta was always recognized to be a better quality format, but we all ended up with VHS machines blinking 12:00 hook to our TVs. Hope that wasn't too generic!

Is there a website i can visit that will tell me what the average temperature is on a certain day of the year, maybe even in a certain part of a state, and what the weather is likely to be like? You must have some really good sources for such things

Asked by dave almost 12 years ago

There are quite a few, Dave.  At the base level you can always go to weather.gov and select a region of the map.  That will take you a local office and the "Climate" link on the sidebar will get you started.  Also, a simple Google search for something like "average temperatures in (city)" will bring up links to Weather Underground, The Weather Channel, etc.  Actually, one that I have found recently makes some nice charts is weatherspark.com.  You can select any city and then averages.  Have fun!

Do you get offended when people call you a weatherman when you're a meteorologist?

Asked by XOXO almost 12 years ago

Personally, no, but I do think some do. I'm just happy anyone notices!

when weatherfols look for gigs, which locales are more desirable: those with nice but monotonous weather (e.g. SoCal), or those with erratic weather (hurricanes, tornadoes and such)? Is there a market that's like the holy grail for weather people?

Asked by Walt Wisc. over 11 years ago

Hi, Walt!  Depends on the person.  If you are really a weather geek you might want a place other than SoCal, that said, even San Diego has some interesting weather.  Broadly the interests break down into severe weather, tropical, and winter (don't understand the winter folks personally).  Every location has some local weather that is unique. For me, the worst thing is being stuck in a boring pattern.  Thanks!

What's considered a good "batting average" for a weather forecaster? Getting it right 80 percent of the time? 90? More? Less?

Asked by Bradbury451 almost 12 years ago

Tough to answer, and different areas of the country have different standards. I suppose 70% would be the bottom acceptable average. That said, "accuracy" is tough to define. Is one degree off okay? Two? Some give three degrees over or under the actual high as "accurate". Precipitation is another challenge. If "popcorn" afternoon thunderstorms cover 30% of the area, but not the official rain gauge (or your backyard) does that count as rain, or not? Guess that is why people get away with that old joke about weathermen still getting paid to be wrong all the time! :)

I need help, please give me a research topic (anything about meteorology), that is easy to conduct.

Asked by knnnnnnnnnn about 11 years ago

Tough to answer without knowing more about the assignment. You could track forecast temperatures and compare them to actual readings for a period of time. Good luck!

Does it snow a lot in Virginia beach area. Also how cold does it get in Virginia becah.

Asked by brian over 10 years ago

Hi, Brian.  Being so close to the coast is doesn't snow in Virginia Beach as much as father inland, but it does happen.  You can find out more about the climatology here: http://www.weather.gov/akq/

Thanks!

What is a tube of wind called? This tube was 100 to 200 yards wide, 2 to 3 miles long and moving at 130 plus miles per hour. I would like to know what it is called!

Asked by James Browne over 11 years ago

What part of the country, James?  There is something that occurs in the mountains called a rotor or mountain wave.  My undertanding is that these can be very dangerous to aircraft.  Best guess without seeing a picture.  Thanks.

Hello Kevin,

I am 37 and I am finding my interest to be a TV Host. Am I too late to start to do this and if not where do I start. Thank you.

Asked by New about 10 years ago

Hi, please forgive the delayed response.  Not knowing what type of "host" you would like to be, I would suggest you look for a job, or even better, an internship, at one of the television stations in your city.  And, no, 37 is not too old!  Good luck!  Keep us posted.

How is weather predicted? And how often are forecasts accurate?

Asked by Kayla Moore about 11 years ago

Well...big answer, Kayla.  The forecast starts with the weather balloons that are launched around the world, at the same time, twice a day with instruments that help us determine temperature, moisture, pressure and wind parameters from the ground to sometimes higher than 80,000 feet.  That information is used in computer formulas that look at the current weather and apply mathmatical formulas that predict how air and moisture will change from the current conditions  The idea is to understand what the atmosphere is doing at the time of the balloons and using certain laws of physics to predict how heating and cooling with change the current state.  Accuracy is sometimes tough to measure but I think most agree the forecast is at least 70-75% accurate.  Thanks!

Do you read your lines off a teleprompter?

Asked by Seb_Krauss almost 12 years ago

No, most weather segments are not scripted. And, I think most weather people agree that this is pretty conclusive evidence that the weather folks are much smarter than the news anchors. :)

I'm going to be rising senior in high school next year which means the college application season is right around the corner. I was curious do I necessarily need to major in meteorology to become a meteorologist. Can I major in Environmental Science?

Asked by Nathan Alvarez over 9 years ago

Good question, Nathan. It would be somewhat dependent on what you think you might like to do. If you are interested in working for the National Weather Service, private industry, or doing research, I would say yes, go for the degree. By contrast there are a number of people in TV who do not have specific degrees in meteorology. Research schools carefully. Places like the University of Oklahoma are very heavy on math and geared toward research. Mississippi State has a TV program. Whatever your goal a degree will help. Good luck!

Hi,
Are the people who report the weather and the ones who decide what should be said the same people? Or is there a meteorologist who writes the script for the reporter? Thanks.

Asked by John almost 11 years ago

Well...yes.  It actually depends on the station and the individual.  I would say that most of us develop a forecast of our own from data provided mainly from NOAA as well as other agencies.  Some will use the forecast generated at the local National Weather Service and a few others may have a forecast provided by a private forecast service.  Thanks

Have you ever seen a flying object in person or on radar that you couldn't identify? Or a weather phenomenon that to this day you can't explain? (cue X-files music)

Asked by Meghan about 10 years ago

There is a really neat effect on radar in several parts of the country, including parts of central Texas. In the evening the bat colonies spread out to begin feeding. You can see them on radar staring as a small point, then an ever increasing fan or arc spreads out as they move. That or ghosts. (insert evil laughter here...)

My friend in Prescott, AZ swears that we in Denver, CO get their weather. If it snows in Prescott, she says we'll get the same because their 'weather' moves this way. But it seems ours comes from the NW. What's the truth of the matter? Thanks

Asked by Jane almost 10 years ago

Looks like you are both right, Jane. In broad terms, storm systems move from west to east across the US, usually with the jet stream. The jet is amplified in wave patterns, kind of like snapping a bed sheet over a bed. Sometimes storms will approach you from the southwest, traveling up the "hill" of the wave, and other times from the northwest, coming down the hill. Great question, thanks!

What is the name of the little gadget weathermen discreetly carry in their hand to change the weather wall display - and how does it work?

Asked by HarryThe Hat almost 10 years ago

I think most of us generically call it "the clicker". It is a simple wireless controller hooked up to the weather computer to advance to the next map. Some have several buttons for higher functions like dropping cutouts on the maps or drawing. Back in the day some stations simply used a garage door opener. Good question. Thanks Harry.

How do sun-showers happen when there's practically not a cloud in the sky? I was walking today when it began to sprinkle lightly, but looking up the sky was COMPLETELY blue -- only clouds were way off at the horizon. How is that possible?

Asked by stak over 10 years ago

When rain falls it creates friction with the air around it, and a downdraft.  Friction creates heat with can evaporate water (cloud droplets) and downdraft is also a warming process.  Sounds to me like the cloud that created the rain evaporated by the time you felt the drops and looked up.  Cool!

Are there any extremely cool facts or information about typhoons that not many people know about? Because we're doing a project based on typhoons and we also need some ideas how to demonstrate it---but we have no cool ideas that can BLAST attention

Asked by Gladelyn and Lesley from Canad about 11 years ago

Hello, Ladies.  Yup, there sure are.  Not knowing the age group of your audience makes it a little diffucult for me to give an answer.  I'd start with an Internet search, and, basic meteorology books, espeically ones geared toward kids are also a good resource.  Goog luck!

What does your weather man say on tv please i need help.

Asked by Morgan Danilowicz about 11 years ago

Not sure I understand your question. Morgan?

Hello, i asked about storm chasing a while ago. I'm 21 and just began at a community college. I'm from OK so OU is my #1 choice. But I'd like to know if there are any magazines i could subscribe to to stay on top of recent information ave topics

Asked by lj about 11 years ago

Hi.  First suggestion would be to look into the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association.  Most of their material is more technical in nature.  For general audience material I would try Weatherwise Magazine.  Good luck!

Why do ALL the east coast weatherpeople stand on the west part of the screen hiding where the weather is coming from when the east part of the screen is ocean where the weather has left the populated land? Why stand in from of the "screen" at all?

Asked by daveb almost 11 years ago

Excellent questions.  Your point about "standing where the weather is coming from" is a good one and they should move to the other side of the screen when referencing approaching weather.  Having made a number of weather graphics in my day, the tendancy is to put your local area in the center of the screen.  On the east coast this would leave a large part of the right hand side of the maps showing ocean, not as visually appealing (this is a bigger issue since the introduction of widescreen digital TVs).

As far as standing on screen at all, it is to be able to directly point at specific features and to be able to make a greater connection with the audience by making "eye contact" with the viewer.  Thanks!

I am an aspiring Meteorologist. Would a Bachelors Degree in Physics along with an Atmospheric Sciences Certificate meet the education requirements? I am unable to attend a college with a Meteorology Major or Atmospheric Science Major.

Asked by Lauren over 10 years ago

Sounds like a great plan, Lauren.  If you are interested in broadcast there is a program at Mississippi State called the Broadcast Meteroology Program, you can take courses remotely, but the plan you outine sound excellent.  Internships are always helpful too.  Nothing like being directly in the "environment".  There should be a National Weather Service Office not too far from you, those folks are always happy to give advice. http://www.srh.noaa.gov/  Good luck, please keep us posted!

Can a tornado and a hurricane combine together?

Asked by Selern about 10 years ago

Hi, Selern. Nope, but thunderstorm cells within a hurricane can produce tornadoes. A tornado is a relatively small scale feature compared to a hurricane, usually less than a mile compared to hundreds of miles across. Thanks!

I have a picture of a rainbow. I think a weather expert could look at it and say fake, or real. Is there a place I could send the picture for your opinion?

Asked by Andy almost 10 years ago

Happy to take a look, Andy. I'm not a rainbow expert but you could post it on a social media page or Flickr and give me the link. Thanks!

I am looking to break into broadcast journalism. What are questions I should ask myself to know if this is the route I should go into or if isn't for me?

Asked by Tori about 10 years ago

Hi, Tori. Without question, do anything you can to get an internship at a local radio or television station. You will be able to decide very quickly if that is the path for you. Good luck!!

How does your performance get evaluated? Like, beyond being professional and comfortable on-camera, what makes for either a good or bad weatherperson?

Asked by Scoopz over 9 years ago

Hi, Scoopz. It can vary from city to city. Some might be more interested in how much you know about meteorology, or snow vs. severe weather vs. hurricanes. Some are give a bigger nod to being telegenic. Also, in some markets research is done on air talent with focus groups. One of more important factors can be involvement in the community, also web and social media skills. Thanks.

Hello. I was wondering specifically the storm Nika. As it entered New York state, was that considered a cold front or a warm front?

Asked by ginnymyers almost 11 years ago

Hi, Ginny.  A little terminology disconnect here, thanks for asking!  A storm has fronts associated with it, so that storm had both.  Typically a storm will have a cold front (the blue line you see on weather maps), the leading edge of colder air, usually moving south, and a warm front (the red line on weather maps), the leading edge of warmer air.  Air flows toward the center of a storm (that big "L" you see on weather maps) and the system rotates counterclockwise.  The winter storm names you have heard the last two years are a creation of The Weather Channel and not used by the rest of the weather community.  There is a great online weather dictionary maintained by The National Weather Serivice at, http://w1.weather.gov/glossary/ if you would like to look up some terms.  Great question, thanks!

Is there such a thing as a 'bubble' or 'dome' in certain areas that seem to avoid the majority of certain weather? I live in Fleming Island, Florida, and as long as I can remember, thunderstorms tend to hit around us, but not on us as often. Why?

Asked by Debi over 9 years ago

Hi, Debi-Not a "dome" really. Patterns can be influenced by the landscape. I would guess your area might be influenced by the sea breeze and the shape of the coastline. Thanks!

Being a science guy, what's your favorite "photon walks into a bar" joke?

Asked by Bill W. almost 10 years ago

Well, Bill. As a "science guy", I know that photons don't drink and would never be caught in a bar. (rimshot)

Has the moon ever turned red like it did this morning?

Asked by john about 10 years ago

Yes! This is caused by a lunar eclipse.  Recently the term "blood moon" has been used on social media giving it some new life.  Thanks!

Don't some meteorologists use touch screen lcd screens instead of the old fashioned green screens?

Asked by Ron almost 10 years ago

Yes, Ron. Not my favorite presentation since it washes out and minimizes the data, but producers and managers get bored easily sometimes.

Can you please tell me why it is always hot
in Miami Florida & most everywhere else it's cold ?

Asked by Patricia almost 10 years ago

Great question, Patricia. Miami is one of the southern most place in the US, making it one of the farthest places from the source region of cold air. Also, it is basically surrounded by water on three sides. With the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico so close there is more moisture in the air and moist air does not cool as much.

My son will go surfing in Costa Rica this august 1st to august 6th. For optimum waves, the wind should come off the land thereby lifting the oncoming waves. Can you narrow down a specific point for me anywhere along the C.R. coastline? Thank you, JG

Asked by fishguy54jk over 10 years ago

Hi, JG. I must admit that is a bit out of my area of expertise. You might try an internet search. I found this: http://www.surfline.com/surf-report/costa-rica_2736/map/
Thanks!

1. Everyday Problems for a meteorologist
2. What all does a tv meteorologist do
3. How do you use radar
4. How is meteorology important
5. What is the best meteorology college
6. What university did you go to
7. How much schooling does it take

Asked by Parker almost 11 years ago

Hi, Parker.  Big bunch of questions, thanks.

1. Number one these days is keeping up with the ever growing distribution platforms, Facebook, Twitter, TV, etc.

2. Looks at raw computer model forecast data and generates a public forecast, creates graphics for TV news shows, maintains digital platforms and does public appearances.

3. To determine precipitation trends and look for specific threats like tornadoes, damaging winds and heavier rain/snow area.

4. I'd like to know your answer to that one!

5. I hesitate to answer for fear of creating an argument.  I think Oklahoma University would be on just about everyone's top five list.

6. I studied through Mississippi State University.

7. A four year degree is standard.

8. Always interested in the sky, and I like looking into the future.

9. Not specifically.  I was a DJ on the radio for many years before weather.

10. Yes, there is a certain consideration given to voice and appearance for TV jobs.

Thanks!

With all the digital tech today, just a head shot would be enough and it could be placed in an uninteresting place on the screen, couldn't it? Pointers could be electronic too.

Asked by daveb almost 11 years ago

With digital anything can happen!

I am a student that needs to know what a meteorologist does, my report is due on Friday, so can you give feedback today 10/28/15 or tomorrow 10/29/15


Thanks!!!

Asked by Need Help about 9 years ago

Hi. Not really a good spot here for me to describe the typical duties without some specific questions. You might try visiting a local TV station of National Weather Service office. Good luck!

Hi, I live in Kentucky. Yesterday after a rain, the entire sky, literally everything turned yellow for about 1/2 hour. Hard to take a picture with because camera fixed it but otherwise to the eye, it was all yellow. Why??

Asked by Vicky over 9 years ago

Sounds cool, Vicki! Best guess is there was a fair amount of moisture lingering in the air after the rain ended which was scattering most of the light except for the yellow spectrum. Bet is was pretty!

I'm studying to become a meteorologist and I am wondering how you start and what advice you may have for someone interested in this field.

Asked by Abby almost 11 years ago

Hi Abby.  I would say get as much education as you can in math and science.  There are a lot of meteorology programs at great schools.  Aside from a formal education I would advise you to do as much "networking" as possible.  Join the local chapters of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) and National Weather Association (NWA).  They love student members and you will meet some great people from a lot of different areas.  Go and make friends with the folks at the closest National Weather Service office.  Storm chasers are great folks who love to share their passion.  You might also try for an internship in the weather office of one of your local television stations.  The more people you meet and know the better.  If you need more information let me know.  kevinselle.com  Good luck!

1st i work with electricity. The other night we had a small electrical storm. In my house I got shocked it hurt. I'm sure it was static there was no close lightning. Is that possible?

Asked by Aquadave over 9 years ago

Hmmmm...tough to say without having been there. I would guess yes.

Is Winchendon Mass having a tornado and thunderstorms?

Asked by Kayden over 9 years ago

I would turn to weather.gov and click on your area of the map for updates from the National Weather Service.

Would you please answer whether there is any uncertainty sensor data in meteorological application?

Asked by Unique Chan almost 10 years ago

Not sure I understand the question...?

Where can I get info to teach me to read doppler radar maps? I just purchased an app called Radarscope and I am lost and I need this since I live in OKC area.
Thanks

Asked by Jerry Tune over 9 years ago

Hi Jerry-

Great choice! RadarScope is the best. I would start here: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jetstream/doppler/doppler_intro.htm

In addition to the products on the Radar Images page I would use the Vertically Integrated Liquid product, it is a good indicator of hail.

Also, here is a short video from the developer:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUKzIeHtjho

Stay safe!

Hello I would like to know your view on climate change? Do you think humans have to do with this?

Asked by Debbie about 9 years ago

Pretty important question. Not really my area of expertise but I know pretty smart people on both sides of the issue. I do think you can only pour something into a system for so long before you have an effect on that system. Not sure if we have gotten there yet or not.

I have a question about global wind patterns. I understand the Coriolis Effect and its effect of turning winds in the northern hemisphere to the left. Why, then, do the Prevailing Westerlies in the northern hemisphere turn to the RIGHT?

Asked by Melinda about 10 years ago

Great question, Melinda.  In addition to the Coriolis Effect there is vertical motion known as a Hadley cells, rising and sinking air, creating something of a "loop". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadley_cell  Hope that helps Thanks!

but it has been in the 90s every day for the last 4 weeks. What happened to that prediction?

Asked by Ricky over 9 years ago

I live in southern Missouri on a south facing ridge and have lived here since 2006. It seems that this year, beginning in February and continuing thru today(4/10/16) the strong winds have been relentless Why is that? Thank you.

Asked by Anne over 8 years ago

The general storm pattern favors that this year, Anne. Air flows clockwise and toward the center of a low pressures area, so storms to your west, which some have been, produce a south wind.

Real, or not?

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10203854998004078&set=o.85397536851&type=1&theater

Asked by Andy almost 10 years ago

I'm going to say "real". Shot with a wide lens and color enhanced in something like Photoshop. Great stuff!

How do you think this winter is going to turn out for the Northeast this season?

Asked by Gabrielle Enos about 10 years ago

Honestly, Gabrielle, I'm not a huge fan of seasonal outlooks. That said, here is a great resource from the good folks at the Climate Prediction Center: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/ Thanks!

There was a video two months or so ago on weather.com that showed temperatures in the southeast would be below normal this summer. Well that video was totally wrong because in NC weather.com says the average temperature in June is 84 degrees but it

Asked by Ricky over 9 years ago

Hi, Ricky. There isn't a great deal of skill on long range forecasts of that nature. That said, summer is still pretty young. Still time to verify and as of this writing, it looks cooler in the east heading into July. Thanks!

Hi, I was wondering what your major was in college. My college offers geology as a major; would that work in order to become a meteorologist? Thank you!

Asked by Courtnee over 10 years ago

Hi, Courtnee!  I first studied Radio-TV-Film at Texas Christian University, then Broadcast Meteorology at Mississippi State.  I think you might have some trouble getting into weather with a geology degree.  You might ask for some advice and a visit from a local television station and/or National Weather Service office (weather.gov).  Good luck!

How do I find out what the season is for getting Vitamin-D from time in the sun? Obviously the summer isn't a problem but when does it become pointless in the Fall due to the angle of the sunlight?

Asked by Jay about 9 years ago

Interesting question, Jay. I'm afraid that is out of my area of expertise. Might be a question for someone in the medical field.

The local TV station often mentions reduced visibility and it might be something like 1/2 mile or 1 mile. What the heck difference does this make? Quite often you can't see that far ahead anyway because of hills or curves in the road.

Asked by old school almost 9 years ago

I guess I would say different people have different uses for the information.

why does weather vary so much from year to year. The earth is in the same orbit and in the same place in the orbit from year to year, yet weather can be so different, what causes the drastic swings in temp, rain, storms etc?

Asked by DW over 9 years ago

Interesting question. The weather (and climate) system is largely driven by uneven heating of the earth and has never really been in balance, so swings in patterns have always gone on and there is no real "normal". Also, things that don't happen regularly will affect the weather pattern, even a volcano eruption can limit incoming solar radiation over large areas.

How do you tell when a hurricane or tornado hits??

Thanks you for using your time!!!

Asked by Danica about 9 years ago

Not sure I understand the question, Danica. Both are characterized by strong wind.

When I grew up I feel like TV weathermen were usually older men, but now I'm seeing a lot of attractive young people (both men and women!) - is that a trend in the industry?

Asked by Eric almost 10 years ago

I would say yes, Eric. Which is a little unnerving since I'm a broken down old man!

How long does it take for the water cycle to happen?

Asked by Ms. Muise's 3rd graders almost 9 years ago

Excellent question...and a very difficult one to answer. If we followed a raindrop from the a cloud to a puddle after a rainstorm and it evaporated right away we could say the cycle was only a few hours. A raindrop that fell in the southern Rocky Mountains might travel underground to the Rio Grande River and then the the Gulf of Mexico and evaporate there could take weeks or more. Very good question...great thinkers in your class! Keep up the good work!

Does the Farmer's Almanac actually have any validity whatsoever? I still don't really understand what it is or how accurate it's supposed to be.

Asked by sox about 10 years ago

Hi. The Farmer's Almanac does not share their forecast methods outside the company. I actually don't know how accurate they are, but they have had a loyal following for many years. Let me know if you find out any secrets! :)

I'm not scientifically knowledgeable, but I've wondered why California and the southwest with the major drought problem couldn't siphon ocean water into Death Valley and the Salton Sea, let it evaporate and come down as rain?

Asked by flcfly@gmail.com about 9 years ago

Creative thinking. Probably a huge cost to transporting that water but even if you could get it there the prevailing atmospheric winds would carry the water vapor to east, away from the areas that need it. Keep thinking!

You wrote that weather segments aren't scripted. So how do you know what to say? Or have you just done this so much now that you can basically speak off the cuff without stumbling?

Asked by KV about 10 years ago

Well.....most of us are highly intelligent. :) We take visual cues from the maps that are behind us. We can see the maps in the teleprompter that the anchors use for their scripts. Since we have prepared the forecast we can pick a couple of things from each graphic to talk about. Actually pretty easy with some practice. Great question, thanks!

Are tornados easily predicted these days with advanced weather radar or do you still rely heavily on spotters on the ground? Is there hope for one day knowing when a tornado is going to strike (any new advancement in tech)?

Asked by Curious weather man over 8 years ago

Pretty easily detected in thunderstorms with Doppler radar. You are correct, we still use spotters heavily. Radar usually sees rotation above ground in the storm. Since the earth is round it curves away from the radar beam which is why the spotters are so critical providing "ground truth". Warning times have increased over the years and will continue, especially with new radar technology coming over the next few years.

Are you chummy with other meteorologists in your market? Is there really all that much difference between the way each of you gives the weather for the same region?

Asked by FB almost 10 years ago

Some cities are more competitive than others but in general I think we are usually friendly with each other. I had lunch with a competitor a few weeks ago. And, to beat that, I married one of the meteorologists from a competing station when we met at a live event! Sometimes managements frown on hanging out with "the enemy". We all draw from the same sources of forecast data. The differences can come from time spent in the market, preference for one computer forecast model over another in a given situation and overall experience. Usually the biggest differences will come during bigger events, like a snow storm or tropical weather, or there is no agreement among the different computer forecasts. Great question, thanks!

I'm a pilot and trying to learn to read the clouds. I often see cumulus clouds in the summer here in Indiana. Sometimes the bottoms are a little gray and the bottoms are often fairly flat, instead of being puffy like they are everywhere else. Why?

Asked by sampsont over 9 years ago

Great question. The bottom of the cloud is the point where the water vapor in the warmer rising air cools to the point where it condenses (kind of like the condensation out the outside of a glass of water with ice) and turns into a visible water droplet. The darker gray is an area of higher moisture and less sunlight gets through. Happy flying!

Could it in theory be possible for a hurricane to travel up the warm waters of the Gulf of California and hit the US along the California/Arizona border?

Asked by Joe over 9 years ago

Possible and does, Joe! http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/?epac

1.) What is the hardest thing about being a meteorologist?
2.) What are personable qualities that you think are important to have to be a meteorologist?
3.) How do you become a meteorologist?
4.) Is there any skills that a meteorologist should have?

Asked by Monkeyangelgirl almost 10 years ago

Great questions. I'll answer as a television meteorologist. A National Weather Service meteorologist or someone in research or private industry would have much different answers.

1. The most difficult thing lately is the increasing number of places to put weather information and the 24 hour nature. TV, website and social media mean there is little "off" time.

2. Good time management, the 5:00 news starts right at 5:00! Able to explain things simply. Enjoy visiting with people.

3. There are a number of good colleges that offer degree programs in Meteorology.

4. Good math and science skills/interest are a big help.

Thanks!

Why will it snow at 27° for hours, and then while it is still 27° change to sleet/snow mix

Asked by Krissy almost 9 years ago

Excellent question, Krissy. Snow occurs when the temperature is below 32 from the surface of the earth to as high as 10,000 feet. Sleet occurs when a warm layer of air develops in between the ground and the formation zone so the snowflake melts and refreezes in the cold layer next to the ground.

If a tsunami hits the west coast of america in winter , would it effect moisture in the air for the entire county and produce another snowstorm like "jonas"?

Asked by Zac almost 9 years ago

Hi, Zac. No you would need to convert that water to vapor to move it across the country.

I like to take gigapan pictures. What weather pattern should I look for to predict extremely clear visibility (i.e. no haze, fog or pollution)?

Asked by Paul almost 9 years ago

Might depend on your location. Broadly I would say look to be behind a cold front. You are looking for an airmass change to one cooler and drier, perhaps with an origin in Canada.

On 10/19/2014 It rained hard at my house. NOAA and Weather Underground History reports show very little rain in my area. Why would that be?

Asked by Andrew over 8 years ago

My guess is that you were under some type of "convective" event like a thunderstorm and the rain gauges that the reports came from were not under that event. With some thunderstorms the distances in between no rain and heavy rain can be quite small. Thanks!

When I see a meteorologist put their hand over the screen and draw a line or a drop down menu comes up and they "click" it are they the ones controlling that or is there somebody behind a computer clicking the buttons.

Asked by Bryce about 8 years ago

Great question, Bryce. There are different ways of doing it with different systems. Most likely it is being controlled by the meteorologist via the weather system and the camera. It knows how to follow a finger and draw a line or move icons around the screen. If they were in front of a television monitor there are different systems that track the finger directly on the screen.

Do TV meteorologists have access to special or advanced equipment that websites like weather.com don't? I'm just wondering whether there's any ways in which getting your weather from a real human being is still legitimately superior?

Asked by THeo over 10 years ago

Most of the data we use is readily available to anyone, but some services require a fee. All computer models have one bias or another.  The enhancement that the humans try to bring is trying to understand the biases and account for them.  In a breaking or severe weather situation the humans add updates that are very short time (minutes).  Hopefully we also add a connection to the audience and a sense of personality, both friendly and serious.  Great question, thanks!

Is it possible that with so many people stuck on the highway trying to evacutat the hurricanes that was enough to change the air temp and so the hurricane's path?

Asked by Natalie about 8 years ago

Interesting thought, Natalie. Hurricanes are driven by atmospheric patterns that cover hundreds of miles. Since even several highways are small in comparison not enough heat would be generated. Fun question. Thanks.

I am going to Cancun about Sept 18th, I have noticed for about 2 weeks now, they have gotten a lot of rain this year. Is there something abnormal going on in the Yucatan to cause this?

Asked by doug over 10 years ago

Nothing out of the ordinary, Doug.  It is tropical weather season and they may have had some tropical downpours lately.  The average peak of hurricane season is Sept 10.  Most likely what you would see is some brief afternoon downpours as opposed to a vacation washout.  Have fun!

For "Average number of days with precipitation" (weatherbase.com), the annual average in Vienna is 43.4 days. Yet "Average number of rainy days" is 193 annually. If precipitation is rain/snow/etc., how can the rainy days be a (much) higher number?

Asked by Duke over 8 years ago

Have to say I'm not familiar with that site. There is a feedback tab on the left, you might check with them.

What I am asking is that, with your experience in meteorology, would it be possible to have 3 days of darkness in the Middle East, like 24 hours of darkness for 3 days

Asked by Kyle almost 9 years ago

Nope. Can't see how that would happen.

How many people typically work in the weather room of tv station? What are there jobs? For example I'm sure they all don't stare at temperature gauges. Is there much of a difference between big city and tiny town stations, other than money--accuracy?

Asked by Curious weather man over 8 years ago

Most stations have a minimum of 3 weather folks to cover the entire week, morning, evening and weekends. The larger the city and the greater number of newscasts allows for more staff. Few stations have more than 6 people. A few large cities have a some off-air positions that are producers who manage the TV graphics and other functions.

What do you do?? On tv how do you know what is going to happen??? Can I have an answer today 10/28/15 or tomorrow 10/29/15???

Thanks!!!!

Asked by Need Help about 9 years ago

Won't have time to answer on your timeframe. You might try some web searches like, "what does a television meteorologist do?". Good luck!

What makes the wind strong

Asked by Sam almost 8 years ago

The pressure gradient between high and low.

Can large amouts of snow create deep holes or ravines where people can fall through?

Asked by Raf over 8 years ago

Not quite sure I understand the question. Certainly the weight of a large amount of snow can cause problems, as can the runoff as the snow melts.

I live in ohio and the winter weather is much warmer because of El Nino but the way they explain it is confusing. Will Ohio have and cold weather and snow for 2015- 16

Asked by Patrick caraway about 9 years ago

Yup, it is confusing. Less likely that you would have a cold snowy winter. You might look at this website, it offers continuously updated seasonal forecasts. Thanks! http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov

1Why is air important for all living things?




2.How did you become interested in the weather?




3.How can we help bring back the ozone layer?




4. How long have you been a meteorologist?




5. How does a weather radar work?




6. What cause

Asked by Kendall over 8 years ago

Wow, lots of questions. 1. For animals, air has oxygen, which we need to breathe. 2. Have always been fascinated by the sky and clouds. 3. Not an expert here but I believe that the ozone layer needs to self-heal. 4. About 25 years. 5. Radar shoots a pulse of microwave energy then listens for some of the energy to be reflected back by precipitation. Thanks!

Hi! I have a screenshot of the weather and my question is why does the dewpoint follow the air temperature, both up and down? (email me at ilupariello@ccsuvt.org for the picture) This will get me extra credit so your help is greatly appreciated!

Asked by Izzy about 9 years ago

Hi Izzy-Happy to look at the picture of you post it someplace. The dewpoint doesn't really follow the temperature. It is a measure of the amount of moisture (water vapor) in the air. The colder the air gets the drier it so the dewpoint goes down. Warmer air can hold more water vapor so the dewpoint can rise. Great question, thanks.

I have a question that I have been dying to ask a Meteorologist for some months.

My question is, what city in the Midwest with a population of 100,000 or more has an EXACT replica of Florida summers?

Asked by Jeffrey over 9 years ago

Hmmm...is this trivia or research? If trivia, don't know, which city?

hello I am working on heat transfer question as I am in University for Mechanical Engineering. How would I solve for the wind chill if all I am given is a temperature of outside, and the speed of wind. We can assume anything ex: Area of skin.
Thanks

Asked by anthony over 9 years ago

Those are the two data points you need, Anthony. You can find the formula here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_chill

When I was a kid I'm almost certain I seen lightning tumble on ground like a tumbleweed. Internet says this is a myth and lie. But I'm certain what I saw. Is this possible? Is there any turth to it and is there even any real studies about it?

Asked by Curious weather man over 8 years ago

I would say you are NOT crazy! Best guess on what you saw is "ball lightning". Here is some material for you: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_lightning

I was wondering if you could tell me the best course of action to take during a tornado if I live on the 3rd floor of my apartment building. I don't know any neighbors and there is no storm shelter for this complex.where do I go? :(

Asked by Emily over 9 years ago

Might be an opportunity to meet a neighbor, Emily. If you must stay in your apartment the best place is a small space toward the center of the unit, bathroom, hallway, closet. The idea is to have as many walls between you and outside an smaller spaces have better structural integrity. Something to cover your head, like couch cushion or bike helmet. Great question, thanks.

Where in Canada has the least varied barometric pressure .

Asked by fendog59 over 8 years ago

Interesting question. You might try here: https://weather.gc.ca

Planning a winter golf trip. Worried about El Nino rain. Thoughts on Orlando vs. El Paso, San Antonio and Tuscon? All are usually dry, but where would el Nino possibly have the biggest impact? thanks.

Asked by Frank about 9 years ago

Hi, Frank. The general idea during an El Nino winter is that much of the southern half of the country would be wetter than average, and that is the forecast for this winter. All of the cities you mention are in that zone. You might spend some time at the Climate Prediction Center website, http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/

Good luck, hit 'em straight!

I have a serious question and this is the only site I found that I could ask somebody, anyways, did yall find anything in the sky or by the moon about 3:30am central April 13 2 days before blood moon? I have a picture of it, I need someone to look

Asked by Michael almost 10 years ago

Not aware of anything off the top of my head, Michael. Can you post the picture somewhere with a link, maybe Twitter or Flickr and I'd be happy to take a look. Provide as much information as you can, like where you were, what direction you were looking, time of day, etc. You might have some luck checking with a local science museum or astronomy club, or the nearest National Weather Service office. www.weather.gov

If average barometric pressure at 10,000 feet is about 20.6 inches, why Is reported pressure today in Breckenridge CO 30.4 inches?

Asked by Bill over 8 years ago

I would question that average as an error or typo. Standard pressure is 29.92.

I live in Tanzania in East Africa. I was driving through Sumbawanga in the west of the country and I think I saw a double tornado. We have dust devils, but I've never heard of tornados. Please let me know if I can send you the photos to confirm?

Asked by Hally about 10 years ago

Hi, Hally. Multiple tornadoes can occur within one thunderstorm complex. I would do a Google search for some pictures.

I have a picture that I took today (02-26-16) at 7:34 am.
It was a cloud that look like a funnel cloud.

Asked by randy lapan almost 9 years ago

Cool, love to see it. Do you have a link?

What is the range of temperature when an average temperature is given? eg. a stated average low of 40 degrees, what is the average range of actual low temperature 10 degrees? etc...

Asked by johnemmerich about 9 years ago

Interesting question. There is no range of temperatures. The average low for a given day is figured using the temperature on a given date using the historical record, usually between 20 and 100 years depending on the availability of the data.

Do you think that mankind will eventually be able to CHANGE the weather? I've heard about experiments where scientists have been able to create rainclouds in a lab setting. Or is manually controlling the weather just a Sci-Fi pipedream?

Asked by Rob Ford over 10 years ago

Hi, Rob.  I think, one day, most certainly, yes.  Many would argue that we already have via global warming/climate change.  I haven't picked a side on that issue, but we will certainly contine to do things to try and affect the weather.  Experiments have been proposed to stop tornadoes in their path, and reduce the strength of hurricanes before landfall.  We will need to be careful, weather is part of a planetary system and fooling around with that system could have unintended consequences. Great question, thanks!

I go for bike rides alot. I noticed though that December/January is always cloudy/rainy, like 5 of 7 days, it get's really old, there's no sun! Why is this?

Asked by exposcandal almost 8 years ago

The weather is dictated by large shifting atmospheric waves that move around the planet. Your area is in a spot that favors storm development right now. Bundle up!

What is it about San Antonio that causes beautiful weather (rain producing systems) to approach the west side of the city, break apart producing little to no rain, and then come together on the East, producing large amounts of rain?

Asked by Kittykeim almost 9 years ago

Well...interesting question. I'm going to say mostly perception since any number of folks have said the same thing about their town. I suppose you would have to go back and plot historical rainfall data to see if there really was a "hole" in coverage over the city. Cool question, thanks!

I recently saw two videos of tornadoes standing still for multiple minutes before moving and stopping again. I want to know how this happens? What makes a tornado stop in its tracks?

Asked by Emily Mildred Morris over 8 years ago

Great question, Emily. Tornadoes are a part of the parent thunderstorm that moves and develops with the environmental winds and available moisture. The ones you saw were likely in an area of weak steering currents. Thanks

If you live in a mobile home and have not evacuated when a tornado watch was issued and you are caught in a tornado, where is a safe place to seek shelter? (also you don't have a tornado shelter)

Asked by elise about 9 years ago

Ideally you would find a safe place ahead of the storm arriving. If not, you would want to me in the smallest part of the home nearest the center of the structure, with no windows. The smallest part would offer better structural integrity and hopefully protection from objects hitting the outer walls.

why did you wanted to become a meteorologist

Asked by sidy badiane over 6 years ago

Thanks for asking. Was always interested in clouds and the sky and when I began to study and learn how much was going on up there I just kept going. Take care!

I have a question about Snowfall in Cincinnati Ohio next week, I was wondering approx. how many inches of Snow/Sleet will the Tri-State/ County receive.

Asked by Darrien about 8 years ago

Hi, Darrien. I'm in Texas and don't really follow specific forecasts in Ohio. You might try one of your local television station websites or weather.gov.

When you call for snow in the forecast, how do you know whether it's going to be the type that accumulates, or the type that falls and just kind of melts? Is it just a temperature thing?

Asked by whistlepotting almost 10 years ago

Yup, all temperature, but the trick is knowing the temperature as you go up through the atmosphere from the ground. The temperature can, and does, vary a great deal as you go higher, and can actually go up with height. The precipitation type is determined by this temperature profile. Below freezing all the way up, snow. If there is a warm layer above the ground there can be some melting and re-freezing on the way down, this is what creates sleet. Or warm aloft and a very cold, but thin, layer at the ground creates freezing rain. This is why we use weather balloons, to measure the temperature aloft. Great question, thanks!

How do scientist know that climate change is largely caused by human activities?

Asked by art rodriguez over 9 years ago

"Climate" is much different than "weather". Not really my area.

Is it possible to go a whole summer without a serve thunderstorm? I'm not talking about in a desert but a normal city or town that has lots of rain though out the year.

Asked by Curious weather man over 8 years ago

Certainly possible but less likely in some regions of the country. Severe weather is more likely through the southern and central plains and the southeast. A storm is considered severe if it produces hail to one inch and/or 58 mph winds.

I love photographing lightning. It's my big Hobby. This storm was insane. Lightning never stopped, & never made a sound. Here's a link to my YouTube video of it. Can you explain to me why this was? https://youtu.be/rZRjRolyxLg

Asked by Victoria over 8 years ago

Great video, very active storm. Thunder travels only about 15 miles on average so these storms were too far away to hear anything. Great stuff!

hi in doibg a science experiment on tornadoes so I'm wondering if the warmer the water temperature is the larger the tornadoe will be?? How are they formed? Thank you!!!

Asked by drew over 9 years ago

Hi, Drew. Usually a warmer water discussion is relevant for hurricanes. I would use these resources. Good luck! http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ http://www.spc.noaa.gov/

Does your job get repetitive, and what do you do to make relaying the short-term weather forecast interesting?

Asked by Jackson almost 10 years ago

Not too bad. There are always subtle differences in the day to day forecast if you care to go looking for them that don't show up on TV. Also, most TV folks do public appearances so we go different places. Good question, never had that one. Thanks!

If you were to move to a new city, what weather-related datapoints would matter to you?

Asked by Steven over 8 years ago

Hi Steven-If I understand the question you might try weather.gov. Click on the map for the region you are interested in. Each NWS office will have a link to local climate on the left nav bar. Weather Underground has good information for cities, or do a Google search for (city) climatology. Thanks!

Can you tell me what state has the least amount of severe weather and has a mild to warm climate?

Asked by Heather Ford-Chatterton over 9 years ago

Usually the warmer the climate, the more prone the area is to thunderstorms. If you don't mind extreme heat you might try Arizona or New Mexico. If you don't mind it a little cooler you might like Washington or Oregon. Thanks, Heather.

What causes a severe thunderstorm to roar like a jet plane hovering overhead... even after the worst of it has passed through.

Asked by ShannyM over 8 years ago

Great question. Lightning creates thunder and the sound will travel, sometimes about 15 miles. So you will hear the rumble as the storm continues away from your location. A single bolt can travel a long way so your are hearing the thunder as it reaches you from each point along the bolt.

In a powerful thunderstorm the hell that comes from the clouds how can it hold Hale in the sky the size of softballs without following

Asked by Bruce Jacobs over 8 years ago

Thunderstorms are made largely of rising air and the upward speed of the wind can reach over 70 mph, lifting the hailstones.

I live in a country town called Yea in Victoria, Australia. It's a saying in town that if Lake Eildon's water is lower more fog will set over town. Eildon is huge lake about 50 km away which flows into river tributaries near us. Is this explainable?

Asked by Elizabeth over 7 years ago

Very interesting question, Elizabeth. Since I'm not familiar with the area I'll take a guess after looking at the lake on Wikipedia. Fog is created when water vapor cools, so the lake as a moisture source is likely a factor, but difficult to say that the lake level had an effect. I did notice at the end of the Wikipedia article that the area had suffered drought conditions in much of the 2000s which would obviously lower the lake. Also noticed from the picture that it looks like a hilly area. Cool air is heavier and therefore sinks into valley where fog often will form. So my best guess would be that you were in a longer-term dry weather pattern that meant the lake was lower, and might have even been a little cooler. Sure looks pretty! Thanks!

How did you become a weather man?

Asked by Ms. Muise's 3rd graders almost 9 years ago

I started my career as a disc jockey on the radio. The weatherman at a local TV station and I became friends and he got me involved in a correspondence course in meteorology at Mississippi State University. I interned with him while taking the course and practiced being on TV. After completing that course I became the weekend meteorologist at my friend's station and have been doing it at several stations for about 25 years now. Thanks for asking!

How do I get my answer

Asked by Kandy over 8 years ago

I would check with your local TV station or National Weather Service office.

I have a burning question which is really bothering me. In Rhode Island, sunset times are usually earlier than in Fort Myers, Florida because of the rotation of the earth and the light from the sun. But, sunset times are showing almost the same. Why?

Asked by Guido over 8 years ago

Hmmm...not really my area of expertise. I'd say distance into the time zone and latitude/curvature of the earth must. Thx

why was 2016 such a hot year and what are the possible effects from the heat? Will we experience temperature increases in2017 also? Are there future issues we need to be worried about due to these spikes in temperatures in the South East?

Asked by Jenna almost 8 years ago

Hi Jenna. Great question and one with a big answer. Probably a little too big for the scope of this website. May I recommend NOAA's Climate Prediction Center. There is a ton of good information there. http://www.cpc.noaa.gov/

I'm in an argument with a person who claims to have been a meteorologist for the navy but has no knowledge of physics or algebra. I would think you would need to know a little physics and a lot of algebra. Could you confirm or deny this please?

Asked by Cyntari almost 9 years ago

Yes, math is a big part of weather forecasting. Can't confirm or deny your friend's story, but our armed forces have trained many excellent weather observers and forecasters over the years. Good forecasts are a critical part of military activity. Thank them for their service!

i sit at my window and i watches the sun slowly set. as the sun goes slowly down, where does it goes? how far down? i always wanted to know this-just curious!

Asked by monica about 9 years ago

The earth is spinning, so it goes under your feet and shows up again behind you at sunrise. Same way it goes across the sky during the day!

Why do only certain areas in larger area experience stronger winds than other areas in the same large area? In layman terms, without all the bit about different air pressure masses and all. Why is it windy in a small area of a neighborhood?

Asked by Marty over 6 years ago

Tough to answer without more information. Buildings can funnel air sometimes, making the air move faster.

Hello Kevin, im a in 4th grade ans i have to interview a meteorologist. can i email you the questions?

Asked by iroha warren about 7 years ago

You bet. kselle@kfdx.com

Hi,
my name is Wyatt in i was just wondering if you could get a meteorology job with any thing below a bachelor's degree like a certificate in college?

Asked by wyatt almost 8 years ago

Hi, Wyatt. It is possible if you can demonstrate a good knowledge of the subject but competition is pretty stiff for jobs so every bit of education helps. Good luck!

Why is it critical that all levels bliw in the same direction to form a tropical storm? Nd what happens when u have lowwe winds blowing a different than upper winds

Asked by Patricia almost 9 years ago

If the wind changes direction with height it creates more friction, drag and chaos that impedes the development of the storm. Great question!

Hey Kevin! A selfish question here, but getting married in Wilmington NC on September 17th. Think we'll see any more tropical storm/hurricane activity within the next 10-12 days on the Atlantic?

Asked by Missy over 8 years ago

Hi Missy-

Congratulations! A little too early to say at this point but odds seem in your favor. Keep track here: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

It has just hailed but there is no storm in sight. It isn't even raining. How is this possible?

Asked by Irisj over 8 years ago

I'd need a little bit more information, including location and time. That said, if you think it was not hail there is something called "graupel". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graupel

Hello I would like to move to Florida when I retire but I am concerned about hurricanes, my question, is their a city in florida that would less likely to get hit by a hurricane? I have been told to choose somewere that's located away from the coast,

Asked by Louie almost 6 years ago

Great question, Louie. If you do a Google Image search for landfalling Florida hurricanes you'll let a lot of information. Here is a Wikipedia page that has great information. Just know that the speed and angle of approach makes a difference. For example a hurricane hitting Miami moving from east to west is a different outcome than one moving south to north. You might also poke around on the website for the National Hurricane Center. Happy retirement! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Florida_hurricanes and https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

I have a personal selfish weather question?!? My husband and I have plans to fly out from the US this Sunday am on 9/3/17 to the island of Grenada for the week and would like your opinion on the impact of Hurricane Irma there? Should we cancel???

Asked by Shannon over 7 years ago

Looks like you should have no problem getting in on Sunday. The current forecast model guidance suggests the storm will be far enough north early next week so as not to have a large impact on Grenada. A website you can check a few times a day shows you many of the models track information. Basically the closer the lines are together the more confidence in the track. Also check with the National Hurricane Center. Good luck!https://www.sfwmd.gov/weather-radar/hurricane-model-plots http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

Hey Kevin! Another q for you. How do you read the Climate Predictior Cntr Global Tropics Hazards and Benefits Outlook Chart? Does each week showcase the full tropical storm path? IE Is the Sept 14-20 show whats occuring in a 6 day period? TY!

Asked by Missy over 8 years ago

Have to admit, I've not seen this product! Thanks. Yes, it looks like that would cover the movement through that period and is good news for you!

When snow is forecast, how is it determined what the accumulation will be?

Asked by Richard Ferstandig almost 7 years ago

Different computer forecast models will give guidance on the amount of liquid. Snow totals are variable based largely on the temperature profile of the atmosphere above the ground. A general rule is about 9-10 inches of snow per inch of liquid, variable based on several factors, including forecaster experience in the area. Great question.

Me and my co worker are in disagreement about what time is the hottest time of the day. I say between 2 and 3 and he says 4 and 5. What's the correct answer.

Asked by Mikael over 7 years ago

Both! Earlier in the winter and later in the summer since daylight is longer. What do I win?

Will hurricane michael hit auburndale florida

Asked by Tabby kelley about 6 years ago

I'll send you to the website for the National Hurricane Center for the latest information. https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

What technology are helping to eliminate global warming?

Asked by sidy badiane over 6 years ago

Thanks for the note. That really is a "climatology" issue as opposed to "meteorology" which is really my area. A climatologist would be better equipped to answer your questions. Thanks.

Would it be possible to have 3 complete days of darkness in the Middle East? Unlike the very mortgage be very south areas where you can have full brightness 24 hours

Asked by Kyle almost 9 years ago

Not sure I understand the question, Kyle.

When is the next snow going to hit Missouri?

Asked by LYfluflhclhclhclhclhc about 5 years ago

I'm in Texas and would refer you to the National Weather Service. weather.gov

How does cloud seeding work and what is the process for it

Asked by Juliana R over 6 years ago

Great question. All cloud drops form on a speck of something called a condensation nuclei, dust, smoke, sea salt, etc. The idea with seeding is to introduce these particles, often silver iodide, to encourage the water vapor in the air to condense into a cloud droplet and then merge with other drops to form rain. A lot of question as to if it works but there is enough evidence that people keep trying. Thanks!

What equipment is used to detect natural disasters and or phenomenon?

Asked by Lynn about 8 years ago

For weather the primary tools are satellites, radar and computer forecast models that use weather balloon data and many types of other sensors.

Here in Lake County, Illinois (Zion) we have had nothing that resembles winter. No snow. No slick roads. No dangerous windchill conditions. Most daytime temperatures are above freezing. Next to nothing for rain. What is going on here?

Asked by Clarence almost 8 years ago

I usually answer this questions like this. I really don't like the use of the word "normal" in weather. "Average" is better. Over simplified, if the "normal temperature for this date is 75 degrees and we look a the records for the last 100 years. In theory half of those years the temperature could have been 50 degrees and half 100 degrees. The "normal" is 75 but it was never 75. So, there are swings in the global weather patterns constantly you're at one end of the swing! Hope that makes sense.

I live in the SF Bay area on the peninsula, where I have a lot of trouble with migraine headaches caused by changes in air pressure, especially in the fall. I'm moving inland to Sacramento. Any chance the barometer will be kinder to me there?

Asked by Judith over 7 years ago

Great question, Judith. I must say I'm not really familiar with SF climatology. In general air pressure changes with the movement of weather systems so a short move might not have a big effect. But local topography could come into play. I'll suggest your local National Weather Service office would find your question interesting. Good luck! Contact info at the bottom. http://www.weather.gov/mtr/

why is hurricane Irma going to make a right turn towards Florida ? why not just continue north west between cubs and Florida ?

Asked by lloyd over 7 years ago

Good question, Boyd. When we talk about a high pressure ridge and low pressure trough you can think about those like a hill and valley in the atmosphere. Irma is moving around the edge of the mountain (high) since it can't climb it and the computer forecast models are showing a valley (low) to the north of Florida so it will move to flow toward the valley (downhill). Still some very limited chance for changes, stay tuned.

Hello why does thunderstorms happen when the forecast doesn't say thunderstorms.?

Asked by Kim over 7 years ago

Hello, Kim. The forecast starts with weather balloons taking measurements of the atmosphere, but only a small portion, and only twice a day. Since the network of balloons is small there are usually things that go unseen and some of those things can help develop storms

Why does a low pressure system take only a day or so to cross the Atlantic only to stall north west of Scotland. Why does the coralis affect not keep it going?

Asked by Jim over 7 years ago

Hi, Jim Storm systems at that latitude are driven by what is usually called the jet stream, which is a river of faster moving air and a series of large scale waves in the atmosphere. It does not flow at a constant speed or wavelength and is changing all the time. Storms will approach Scotland at different intervals and can move faster/slower or stall based on many influences. The Coriolis Effect accounts for the influence the spinning earth has on motion, and while part of the system, less directly affects the speed of the systems. I think the more direct answers to your question is that the speed of the storms is affected by a number of factors, not just Coriolis. Thanks!

Can an 81 story building, that is surrounded by 40 story buildings, and less, draw clouds and therefore more rain than other areas? I live in an area described above and there seems to always be rain clouds and rain surrounding this area.

Asked by Marty over 6 years ago

Thanks, Marty. Not really as you've described. I do know there is some evidence, and research, that shows that the heat island effect of cities can affect local weather. I remember one study showing the increased heat radiation from Atlanta on a hot summer day has been shown to create small thunderstorms just downstream. Buildings can certainly affect wind flow and some coastal buildings have been seen to create some small cloud or fog formation as air moves past them. Good question.

Noticed a big difference in humidity and dew points between Michigan and Iceland when it is raining. Is it because of their winds? Thank you

Asked by Pamela about 6 years ago

You could make that argument, Pamela. The amount of moisture in the air can be a function of the direction of the wind and a moisture source. Where I live, in Texas, for example, a southeast wind will bring moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and make it feel more humid. Thanks!

How can they predict a foot of snow when the temperature is going to be above freezing?

Asked by Richard Ferstandig almost 7 years ago

Great question, Richard! Each storm and location is a little different. Much of the precipitation type is determined above the surface of the earth. The snowflakes form thousands of feet above the ground and stay frozen as they fall. A very shallow layer of air at the surface could be above freezing but not deep enough to melt the snow.

We tried measuring the amount of rain using many different sized containers. We brought our containers inside and measured the rain using a measuring cup and everyone collected a different amount of rain! Any tips for an accurate way to measure rain?

Asked by Mrs. Dumond's Class about 8 years ago

I think I would do a search for rain gauge and buy one. It needs to be calibrated for the opening and bucket size. Have fun!

We were having trouble deciding if todays clouds were stratus or cirrus in Ore City, Texas. We have pictures if you can help.

Asked by 4thgrade almost 8 years ago

Tough to say without seeing the pictures. If you would like to post them somewhere with a link I'd be happy to look. You could also do a Google search for "cloud classification" and see if something looks familiar.

We recently had a PVC waterline that “exploded” 3 feet underground during a bad thunderstorm. A tree near the line was struck then our water was lost. The pipe was found to have ruptured in 3 separate spots. Can lightning travel like this?

Asked by KCR over 6 years ago

So sorry about that! Yes, lightning can travel many feet away from the strike point as the energy dissipates. The explosion could have been a pressure build-up from the water boiling rapidly and increasing the pressure, the bolt can reach 50,000 degrees. https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning-science-ground-currents

I heard somewhere about it but maybe I heard wrong. IDK but I guess it was a thing in the past but I have never heard of it recently. Like Tornado Alert. Sorry that I did not provide very much information on the last question.

Asked by Carlene almost 6 years ago

No problem. Thanks for the information. It could be that a local weather source is using that term. “Officially” the term used by the National Weather Service is a tornado warning, and in some extreme situations a tornado emergency. Thanks again!

what does a person have to do to become a meteorologist?

Asked by randall over 7 years ago

Hi, Randall. There are a number of colleges that offer degrees in meteorology. It would be helpful to know what you are more interested in since schools lean differently. Research, operational forecasting, broadcasting and private consulting are all options. I highly recommend internships so you can get a feel for each area. Good luck!

What is the process you go through in order to keep individuals updated on the weather?

Asked by Lynn about 8 years ago

We use the weather forecast models and the other tools mentioned in your other question to generate a forecast and then use television, radio and social media to share information.

On the East Coast, specifically the Allegheny mountains, are the prevailing winds necessarily from the west? Which is to ask: Is the leeward size of those mountains generally on the east, or rather on the west, as the Atlantic ocean is so close?

Asked by Mrs. Mills almost 6 years ago

Hello, Mrs. Mills. Broadly speaking the leeward side of the Allegheny Mountains would be the eastern side, closer to the coast. At any given moment the windward side of anything is that facing the wind. In general terms the broad atmospheric flow is west to east across the United States. Here is a good definition on Wikipedia. Thanks. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windward_and_leeward

Hi I’m from Sheppard middle school i’ m in 6th grade and I’m doing essay and I’d like to get information about layers of the atmosphere if you know anything about it and how this helps us stay safe .

Asked by Kassy over 6 years ago

Hi, Kassy. I would start here: https://scied.ucar.edu/atmosphere-layers

Those folks are experts and you can also do a web search for "layers of the atmosphere". Good luck!

Is Hurricane Irma only considered a hurricane at the eye, or center, of the storm and beyond that only a tropical storm? So, for example, hurricane Harvey didn't hit Houston, a tropical storm did?

Asked by Kim Harris over 7 years ago

Hi, Kim. Nope. The maximum sustained winds of any part of the storm (mostly likely near the eye) determine the designation of the entire storm. Harvey hit peak strength at Category 4 as it came ashore near Rockport, TX and the center never did cross Houston.

Have you ever had a situation similar or the same as rain in your back yard and none in the front?

Asked by If almost 6 years ago

Yup! Not too crazy. The rain has to start and stop someplace, why not over your house?! Thanks!

I've read meteorologists use *a lot* of math in their studies. How about the geometry? Would you say meteorologists use more Euclidean or more Non-Euclidean geometry, specifically when studying tornadoes? Thank you!

Asked by Courtney about 7 years ago

Hi, Courtney. I’ll have to pitch that one to meteorologists in the research and numerical modeling fields. I certainly use their products but building them is out of my area. Thanks.

Hello. My boss has asked me to find out the amount of snowfall in a 5 day span in January 2016. Any idea on how can I get this info?

Asked by Erin almost 7 years ago

Hi, Erin. I’d go to weather.gov (not .com). Click on your area of the map and it will take you to the local National Weather Service office and you’ll see phone and email on the bottom. Good luck.

About two weeks ago I witnessed what I believe to be a waterspout on a relatively small lake near my home in sw Wisconsin. It appeared out of ominous clouds that were bringing in a pretty severe storm. Do waterspouts happen on inland lakes?

Asked by Jeff Lawver over 7 years ago

Yup! Any body of water. Glad you got to see one! https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterspout

which population is mostly affected by natural disaster?

Asked by sidy badiane over 6 years ago

Interesting, and pretty broad question. Probably little out of my area. Maybe look to some US government resources like FEMA? Thanks.

Should the lacrosse fields be cleared of kids if you hear thunder and see lightening? Our couches seem to be relying on apps on their phone to decide. I always heard if you see lightening get off the field.

Asked by Stacey Marshall over 7 years ago

Absolutely, yes. The field should be cleared. Not doing so is irresponsible. If you can hear thunder you can be struck and lightning can travel many miles from a storm. Also wait at least 15 minutes after the last thunder before returning to play.

At what altitude does the weathermen on tv report the wind speeds. Example..5m or 500m?

Asked by Reyna over 7 years ago

Hi, Reyna. Standard anemometer height is 10 meters.

How many weather models does a forecaster have to work with and where is the data for the weather models coming from?

Asked by Richard Ferstandig almost 7 years ago

Complicated answer, Richard, but a good question. There are quite a few and I really can't give a number off the top of my head. Easily more than a dozen It is complicated because different models offer different solutions. Some are short range, some are longer range. Some are US based, others European and Canada and Japan. To further complicate the issue some models are run as "ensembles" meaning they are run from the basic initial data but small variations are introduced to give different solutions. The basic input data is collected twice a day from about 900 upper air sites, or weather balloons, launched twice a day, noon and midnight Greenwich mean time. The idea is to take a snapshot of the entire planet atmosphere at the same time. Also, more and more data, from satellites and radar for example, is now ingested into the models to varying degrees. A shorter answer is, on a regular day I'll look at three or four.

Do you ever get hate for wrong forecasts? (i.e emails, calls, texts, social media messages, letters, etc)

Asked by Afjafjeklafefj0923487323423423423423423423423432423 almost 6 years ago

There is a lot of that out there these days, especially on social media. I’m pretty lucky, doesn’t happen too often. Busted snow forecasts seem to be the worst. I’m in Texas so not as big a problem. Thanks!

can the temp. drop if its raining

Asked by darrell8675309 almost 7 years ago

Yup. Sure can. Cold air moving into an area, cold air advection, can drop the temperature. And something called evaporative cooling can happen when it is raining. The friction with the air caused by falling raindrops can transfer heat to the water vapor and cool the air as well. Great question!

Once a Tornado warring expires due to weakening or the threat has moved is that extra five or ten minutes them looking at the storm trying to see if it was accurate scans and re development and/or something behind it?
Should I remain in shelter?

Asked by Daniel almost 6 years ago

Great question. National Weather Service folks take the tornado expirations very seriously and would most likely issue an extension for any risk. That said, rotation could certainly increase again. An extra five of ten minutes would be a reasonable course of action. I highly recommend a radar app called RadarScope for your phone. It allows you to locate yourself on the map and animate radar so you can see if a storm is moving toward or away from your location. Thank, Daniel.

It seems to me that cold outbreaks can be predicted well in advance and are almost always accurate (sadly). This is in contrast to rain and snow. What is it that makes their prediction so reliable?

Asked by docjmcg2 almost 6 years ago

Great question. A cold air event, like the current one, is a good bit less complicated than rain or snow. With a precipitation forecast there are more factors at play. In general a forecast gets fuzzier the further out it time you go. Broadly speaking the forecast starts with data gathered from weather balloons launched twice a day from about 900 sites around the world. That sounds like a big number but when you consider the size of the earth, and how much of it is covered by water, which is hard to launch a balloon from, that data is pretty sparse. The goal of the balloons is to take a snapshot of the atmosphere at a given moment. It is a fuzzy picture. Think of putting that fuzzy picture on a copy machine. The copy is fuzzier, then make a copy of a copy and so on. So the further out in time the more errors or changes that enter the forecast. Stay warm!

Winds seem to flow along an isobar, but pressure changes between them. Why don't the winds flow in the direction of changing pressure rather than along lines of constant pressure?

Asked by Hal over 6 years ago

Hi, Hal. Uneven heating of the atmosphere helps create air pressure differences. Mother Nature tries to equalize the imbalance and air moves from high to low. Since the earth rotates the air is subject to Coriolis force and the air is deflected from moving perpendicular to the isobars. Thanks! https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coriolis_force

Is it true that if someone cusses on live TV they can be sued?

Asked by Human being almost 6 years ago

Hmmm...don't think so. Might be a question for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). I think they can levy fines.

hey is this a real person

Asked by Mike over 7 years ago

Yes. But some would disagree.

I have looked online for 2 days I pulled up storm tracks on a radar. Each storm track is designated by a letter then a number. It seems that the numbers are sequential. Do the letters have any meaning?

Asked by Kevin C over 6 years ago

Hi, Kevin. I'm thinking you mean the Storm Attributes Table, IDs assigned to radar products. Take a look here and see if this is helpful. Thanks. https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/data-access/radar-data/nexrad-products

I wanted to know what the winter outlook of 2018-2019 will be like for the United States?

Asked by Jeremiah Ostrow over 6 years ago

Hi, Jeremiah. Here is a great site. http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/

Hello! So I read an article about the Amazon being in fire. I was wondering if there was a way to take the numbers from how much Co2 is increasing & oxygen being take away & measure the effects elsewhere from wind patterns, temperature changes, etc.

Asked by Desmond over 5 years ago

Interesting question. A little out of my area as a local meteorologist. You might have some luck looking around the website for National Center for Atmospheric Research. https://ncar.ucar.edu/

Why did the siren sound change form a long wail to shorter wails?

Asked by sdafdf over 5 years ago

Siren choice is up to each municipality. You might check with your local county emergency management office. Thanks!

What do you think if you did not work as a broadcast meteorologist what do you think you would be? Lets say the job did not exist,

Asked by Jane almost 6 years ago

Hmmmm.....teacher and/or real estate developer. And I do look forward to the day when I can simply enjoy the weather as opposed to working it. Thanks, Jane!

why is there more precipitation in Northern California than in Southern California?

Asked by girlstarsccr almost 6 years ago

Tricky question because there is a difference between weather, day-to-day, and climate, long-term. California weather is driven in large part by the jet stream atmospheric currents at mid-latitudes which is affected by many things like El Niño, even sunspot cycles. That changes daily, weekly, monthly and so on. Local features like terrain can affect rainfall for a particular site too. So reasons for more precipitation in a given year can be different than over a longer period of time. Broadly speaking, latitude has a lot to do with it. Thanks!

Hi! My name is Gina. How far away does a lightning strike have to be in order to damage household appliances and hvac units?

Asked by Gina over 5 years ago

Hi, Gina. Interesting question. Might be a little outside my area, perhaps an electrician or power company could weigh in. From personal experience, the house behind us was directly hit some years ago. Did damage their entire system but nothing to the houses on either side (in Texas they are often as close as 15ft. There are lightning protection systems (lightning rods) available for homes. If you are looking for help with a specific case there are “forensic meteorologists” who help with court and insurance cases.

Hi
Would U pls explain why or what stops a gulf of Mexico hurricane from going west? Or why cant a hurricane come up from Tx and go into New Mexico? Why doesn't that happen? Would it ever be possible? Thx

Jim

Proemed44@yahoo.com

Asked by Proemed about 6 years ago

Great question, Jim. An Atlantic hurricane can come to Texas, and in a rare case New Mexico. The storms are guided by the upper atmospheric pattern of ridges and troughs. Imagine hills and valleys. The atmosphere is always in motion and a storm will take the easiest path, harder to climb a hill, easier to go through the valley. The general pattern during hurricane season has a hill over the Atlantic and storms will travel around the edge of the hill toward the valley in the eastern US, but remember the hills and valleys can change. Also, this year hurricanes from the Pacific have brought rain to NM and TX.

Just curious ...it makes me so frustrated when I hear our meteorologist especially channel 2 news... whenever a snowfall occurs they call it a storm! How could a trace to an inch or two of snow be considered a storm!

Asked by Anthony almost 6 years ago

Sounds like this is a matter of degree, Anthony (not temperature). Any system that causes snow or other inclement weather can generically be called a storm, not just a "big" one. I wouldn't let it get to you.

If a hurricane makes landfall in an area already high in humidity will it weaken slower?

Asked by Steve over 7 years ago

Good question, Steve. A number of factors will influence the storm after landfall. The greatest are friction with land and loss of primary energy source, the warm ocean water. Hurricanes have been known to take in drier air from over land and weaken more quickly. I suppose you could argue your point but I think amount would not be great. Certainly a higher humidity environment would increase rainfall, particularly away from the center of the storm.

Why doesn't rain come down all at once? Like dumping a bucket of water?

Asked by Cherry over 6 years ago

Interesting question. It really doesn't form that way. Starts as very small cloud droplets and as they get heavier they'll start to fall. Friction with the air would also break up any large areas of water. Thanks, Cherry!

Will there be rain in Houston January 18 & 19, 2019?

Asked by eric_atd about 6 years ago

Hi, Eric. A bit too far out to tell. Generally forecasts are pretty accurate 3-5 days out. By 5-7 days many of the main weather features are well forecast but the timing often changes a bit. Thanks!

when my thermostat is set to 68 degrees in both winter and summer, why does it seem more cold inside during the winter and more hot inside during the summer at the same temperature? does the weather outside have an impact on the way 68 degrees feels?

Asked by pixie242 over 6 years ago

Your perception is probably based on the dewpoint which measures the amount of moisture in the air. Cold air is drier, warner is often more moist. That affects how your body evaporates sweat and evaporation creates a cooling feeling. Great question, thanks.

I live in Florida. My weather station reported 99% humidity at 7:30 AM this morning. Shortly after observing the reading it started pouring outside and the humidity quickly dropped to 96%. Is this only a phenomenon for areas like Florida?

Asked by Dan over 6 years ago

The humidity is a troublesome reading, Dan. It is not a direct measurement but the product of a formula that considers temperature and dewpoint. Dewpoint is a direct measurement of the amount of moisture in the air. In the morning, for example, the temperature and dewpoint may be the same, 100% humidity. By midday the temperature may have gone up but the dewpoint could stay the same but the humidity reading would go down even though the moisture content didn’t change. Hope that makes sense. I always look at the dewpoint.

Why is it that when the clouds obscure the sun wind starts blowing, and then when the sun comes out again the wind dies down?

Asked by Stephanie about 6 years ago

Thanks, Stephanie. Not always directly related. The wind is caused by differences in air pressure. Mother Nature likes things to be in balance so she moves air from high pressure toward low pressure. The pressure differences are caused by uneven heating of the earth by the sun and the ground heats unevenly as the clouds come and go. Hope that helps.

After a severe thunderstorm yesterday I noticed that a bunch of mature trees in the road median had their bark removed on one side. There had been constant lightening and very high wind. What could have caused this tree damage? It looks bad.

Asked by Wendie over 5 years ago

Lightning could certainly have been the cause. When it strikes it heats the sap and air extremely high and fast. That boils the sap and expands the air and can blow off the bark. Best guess without seeing pictures!

What is a monsoon regime? What are the causes of monsoon regime?

Asked by Boom Step Panot almost 8 years ago

A seasonal weather pattern across the area Indian Ocean area caused by the changing of the seasons.

On a scale from 0-10 how much do you love your job? From a scale from 0-10 how much do you hate it?

Asked by BOB about 5 years ago

Guess it depends on the day, BOB. The way weather works is always interesting so that is closer to 10. Severe weather can certainly cause hardship so that is zero. Waiting for things to happen is frustrating and the changing business model of local news is uncertain so those are 5s. Thanks!

what does a meteorologist do? what kind of person do you have to be to become one?

Asked by Will over 6 years ago

Well...we are all very nice people. An interest in science and math is helpful. Forecasters look at computer model data as well as satellite and radar data on a daily basis. Research meteorologists create computer models and sensing tools like radar, satellites and weather stations. Many meteorologists work for private companies like airlines, delivery services and power companies. For more information you can search for the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Service. Good luck, Will!

I have observed many times lightning which is intracloud or intercloud that does not have thunder following the lightning. What is the explanation for the Silence?

Asked by gemeni over 6 years ago

Great question. The outer edge of the distance the sound of thunder will travel is about 15 miles. So you’re seeing lightning that is father away. Thanks!

Hi, weather teacher here. My students ask me this question, and I've tried researching to no avail. When naming clouds, how come sometimes the root comes before the name and sometimes after (example: nimostratus vs. cumulonimbus)

Asked by Melinda about 6 years ago

Excellent question, and honestly I don’t have an answer, but I know who does. Check out the Cloud Appreciation Society. They will know, and if they don’t they will like the question enough to find out. Let me know! https://cloudappreciationsociety.org/

Cozad Nebraska has generally been logged as the "meridian city" or near the 100th meridian where the dry arid air meets the eastern humid air. I understand over years this point has moved to the east because of clinate change. Where is that point now

Asked by Njk over 6 years ago

I'll admit to not being familiar with that term. I'll ask the other members of the podcast I co-host called WeatherBrains. Thanks!

Hello. I would like to know the cause of all of the abnormal January 2019 rain and freezing temperatures in Yuma Az. and the area this year. Neither is normal for this area even during the dead of winter. What is the cause of this?

Msully

Asked by Msully53 almost 6 years ago

Hi. Thanks for the question. "Abnormal" or "normal" is a tricky question sometimes. I usually prefer to use "average" since that is a closer description of what is used in the climate data. Specific to your question, this year is one where the overall patter is favoring storm systems, developed and driven across the country by the jet stream, moving in to the desert southwest from the Pacific, and the cooler weather is caused by that same pattern favoring cooler air toward Yuma.

Has there ever been a hurricane named Connor

Asked by Connor over 5 years ago

Hi, Conner. Here is a link to information about hurricane names, including a link to retired names. If a storm has a high impact the World Meteorological Organization will remove a name from a list. https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutnames.shtml

How do you become a tv meteorologist?

Asked by Leon over 6 years ago

There are a number of great schools that offer degrees in meteorology. Once there an internship is a must. Calling a local station to ask for advice is a great idea. Thanks, Leon.

Is this your dream job or something that you never saw yourself doing unitll you did it?

Asked by Caleb about 5 years ago

Was very interested in the sky as a kid but never really thought it was a career until I was in my 20s. Always loved broadcasting and started in radio. Became friends with another television meteorologist who got me started in a college meteorology program and the more I learned the more I liked. So, broadcasting yes. Meteorology came later. Thank for asking, Caleb. Hope you're doing (or will do) something you love!

Is there a name for the period of silence between the lightning strike and the thunder clap?

Asked by Shane Chuvalas over 5 years ago

Great question! Not that I know of. The delay in hearing thunder is because light travels faster than sound. The lightning causes the air to heat and expand rapidly and that shockwave is the thunder. The visible flash gets to you faster. If you were standing right next to the bolt (not recommended) you would see and hear at the same time. Thanks!

Good evening,,if there was lightning at the very top of a hurricane,say a photo was taken from the i.s.s.,would the lightning travel downward or would it spiral with the winds on top

Asked by Keith Lemieux over 5 years ago

Hi, Keith. Lightning is looking to relieve the difference between a positive and negative charge in the atmosphere. In order to do that it looks for the path of least resistance and often looks for several paths to do it in a given strike, that is why it often looks forked. The first path that makes the connection between positive and negative wins and that part of the channel is usually brightest. Specific to your question, could the spinning air have some effect on the channel? Maybe a small bit. If you are suggesting something you might see in a Marvel movie...I's say no. :) Thanks.

What exactly is fog?

Asked by Dylan C about 6 years ago

Hi, Dylan. Water can be seen in the atmosphere in three states. Solid, liquid and gas. When water vapor (the gas) cools, visible liquid drops form by condensation. Think of putting ice in glass of water. Liquid water drops form on the outside because the air around the glass cools. Fog is drops of liquid water (there can be freezing fog too) that form on small particles in the air called condensation nuclei. An easier way to think about fog is a cloud in contact with the ground.

I ive in Michigan and we have winds up to 60 miles per hour today And they have been blowing for about 5 hours but no storms the sky is clear blue with a few clouds. so where are the winds come from

Asked by Debra over 6 years ago

There is a strong low pressure area to your east. Mother Nature likes for things to be in balance. Think of low pressure as a valley, high pressure as a hill. She is moving air from the hill to fill the valley. The bigger the hill, the deeper the valley, the faster the air moves to fix the imbalance and the stronger the wind blows. Great question, thanks.

I live in SW Mo why when they call for 12” of snow we get a trace or nothing but when they call for a trace we get 12”?

Asked by Tommy almost 6 years ago

Hi, Tommy. Winter weather forecasting is pretty difficult. I'm guessing your question might be at least a little exaggerated. The foundation of any forecast is the weather balloons that are launched twice a day around the world. That, and other data, are fed into computer programs that model the behavior of the atmosphere. Since weather balloon launch sites are pretty far apart unseen effects can creep in and affect the forecast. In some cases a storm track shift of just a few miles can change snowfall amounts in a given spot pretty dramatically.

Does having a weak El Nino weather pattern this year mean there will be a similar pattern next year? In other words, do El Nino commonly repeat themselves for several years or is it completely random from year to year?

Asked by Planner almost 6 years ago

El Nino does seem to run in cycles but specific to your question, it is difficult to predict a given year based on the previous year. If you'd like to study more here is a page from the National Weather Service, you can also search El Nino Southern Oscillation. https://www.weather.gov/mhx/ensowhat

Why don’t we see more tornadoes in big cities like this current Dallas event? They always seem to be seen over rural locales.

Asked by Billie about 5 years ago

I think that is mostly perception, Billie. Great question. Tornadoes that hit cities will drive more news coverage and attention. Also, relative to a region, for example, a city is relatively small. I regularly drive the highways of Oklahoma and Texas and there is a lot of empty space in between cities. Region of the country matters as well. New York City is a relatively large area in a region that has fewer tornadoes. Dallas/Fort Worth is a large area in an area that sees more tornadoes, the odds of the city are higher because of the greater frequency of tornadoes in that part of the country. There really isn't any research I know of that points to cities being more or less likely to be hit relative to the atmosphere. If you really want to dive into some data you can visit this website. Thanks! https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/climate-information/extreme-events/us-tornado-climatology

What is the farthest in current conditions a hurricane could go on land? I mean the most extreme situation that could happen in 1,000 years. I guess anything can happen but what do you think?

Asked by Saksjdkfe almost 6 years ago

A hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico can easily make to the central plains of the United States. Usually it would have been downgraded from a hurricane before leaving Texas but the remnants can stay well organized and touch much the eastern half of the country.

My son and I are wondering if the amount of oxygen in the air we breathe changes when it rains. For example, his principal believes that oxygen levels increase when it rains. Some people think it decreases. We are not so sure it changes at all.

Asked by Serenisticks about 8 years ago

Interesting question. I must admit atmospheric composition beyond the basics is a little out of my area. There is some evidence to suggest that lightning increases nitrogen. Thanks!

I live in AZ . My question is, does 91 degrees in Phoenix AZ feel the same as 91 degrees in that same state but at a higher elevation? For example Prescott or Flagstaff?

Asked by AZ over 5 years ago

Probably does feel different. Several things can affect how it feels. The amount moisture (water vapor) in the air is one of the biggest influences on how it feels. The best measure is the dewpoint temperature. In the 70s is very moist, humid air. Not common in AZ. 60s less humid, 50s less and so on. The type of ground and ground cover can have an effect. High moisture and light wind can decrease the amount you sweat and how easily the sweat evaporates. When sweat evaporates it creates evaporative cooling which helps take heat away from the body. Elevation plays a roll in the amount of moisture too. Hope that helps.

Can the NWS issue watches or is that only something the storm prediction center can do?

Asked by Donovin almost 6 years ago

Great question. A tornado or severe thunderstorm watch will come from the Storm Prediction Center, often in consultation with local offices. A hurricane watch will come from the National Hurricane Center and winter weather and flood watches will come from local offices. Thanks, Donovin!

I have developed a new theory on hurricanes and tornadoes (different than meteorologists) and want to have the theories tested. Where do I go?

Asked by EarthFutureAnalyst about 6 years ago

Hi. Hmmm...guess I would try here: http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/ Good luck!

What all is the Bomb Cyclone I know a lot of people talk about it.

Asked by My name is not Harry Potter over 5 years ago

Great question. A bomb cyclone is a rapidly strengthening low pressure area. In general it is defined by a central pressure drop of at least 24 millibars in 24 hours. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Explosive_cyclogenesis

Can there be a 101% or higher percent of precip? Can you have a -1% or lower?

Asked by DSDL:fj almost 6 years ago

Interesting question. Nope. The "probability of precipitation" or POP can be considered the odds of precipitation. A 10% chance means that in similar situations to the predicted ones it rained 1 in 10 times. 90% means it rained 9 times out of 10 in similar situations. Thanks!

Have you ever almost slipped up and said something like a cuss word on set?

Asked by Alex about 5 years ago

Nope. But one time when I was using a stage name I slipped and a used my real name. Other than that is has been about 35 years of zero mistakes!

Thank you great answer! I have one more for you do you think people should remain in shelter the WHOLE duration of the warring or do you think it is safe sometime after the rotation has passed?

Asked by Daniel almost 6 years ago

Small differences from storm to storm can have a big impact. Would it be safe after a lone supercell passed? Probably. Would your location relative to a squall line of multiple storm cells be important? Absolutely. Extra caution rarely hurts. Thanks.

Is there a "line" deviding the US by winter activity? I.E. snow: likely in KY, unlikely in TN.
If so, what is it called?

Hopefully you understand what I'm even talking about.

Asked by Cheshire over 6 years ago

I think I do, and none that I’ve ever heard of. Interesting question. Thanks.

As a teacher, I looked up from the playground to a cloudy sky. straight above were to clouds counter rotating. I called the weather service and they said it was a common benign occurrence but had no name for the phenomenon. Is there a name for it?

Asked by Robert Zachary over 5 years ago

I'll side with the National Weather Service on this one, having not seen a picture. They would have been more aware of the conditions at the time you called. My guess would be you might have seen some sort of wind maximum that created a vortex one either side. A loose example would be the wave of a boat. Thanks!

Do you overreact when there is a low risk tornado watch and act like its the end of the world?

Asked by A man named Sue over 5 years ago

Well...I sure try not to do that. Most of us try to create awareness rather than anxiety over severe weather.

Purely out of curiosity do you read other people’s q&as or even ask questions?

Asked by Ozark was about 5 years ago

Very interesting question. From time to time I do look at the most recent few posts and look at a few answers. Oddly don’t think I’ve ever posted a question! Probably should change that. Thanks, Ozark!

Instagram, lemieuxkeith,,I posted 2 original pics of the objects and I have some I did in black and white also

Asked by Keith over 5 years ago

Looks like a couple of thunderstorm cells within the hurricane that have risen above the central dense overcast of the storm. Thunderstorms are made of volumes of rising air as long as they are warming than the surrounding air. These have risen above the others. The bright spots are caused by the sunlight hitting the storm towers, along with darker shadows on the other side.

he following questions pertaining to climate change policy. Should there be an effort at the federal and/or state level to limit greenhouse gas emissions and the effects of climate change? If not, should there be an effort made by public and private industry? Why or why not?

Asked by Mary over 5 years ago

Pretty highly charged issue, Mary. You'll likely have a more substantive answer from your state climatologist. Pretty sure each state has one and there are plenty of private organizations doing climate research.

Also have you ever been featured in a blooper?

Asked by 56 about 5 years ago

I think only at the Christmas party. It was so long ago I can’t remember the blooper. Merry Christmas!

What’s the difference between a hurricane and a superstorm?

Asked by Hope about 5 years ago

Good question, Hope. Superstorm isn’t a scientifically recognized meteorological term, most likely a media creation at some point. Hurricane has a definition in the American Meteorological Society Glossary: A tropical cyclone with 1-min average surface (10 m) winds in excess of 32 m s-1 (64 knots) in the Western Hemisphere (North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and in the eastern and central North Pacific east of the date line). Thanks!

The name is derived from "huracan," a Taino and Carib god, or "hunraken," the Mayan storm god. For a more complete discussion, see tropical cyclone.

Is it hard to follow a tornado or a sever storm live on air?

Asked by Daniel almost 6 years ago

Generally not, Daniel. Radar information from the network of government radars is updated at least every five to six minutes and in as little as two. Newer radars coming online down the road will update in less than a minute. Great question.

What do you think would be something that if you or someone else who does the same job do that would get them instantly fired?

Asked by asdklfj almost 6 years ago

Pretty broad and complicated question. Not one that I can really answer. Termination criteria I’m sure varies from company to company.

We are vacationing in Cancun starting October 29th to November 3rd we would like to know how the weather will be. If there will be any hurricanes, rain or approximate weather. Thank You

Asked by Oney P about 5 years ago

Hello. I'm in Texas and generally don't forecast for Cancun. You might try weatherbug.com. Have a great trip!

With all due respect I heard that newer people who go into certain stations are not as qualified as some of the older guys. Is this true, false, unknown ,or can you even comment?

Asked by The man over 5 years ago

No offense taken! I would say this is true in any job or industry. More years usually means more experience!

What was your worst day on the job?

Asked by Sam almost 6 years ago

Hmmm...any day with tornadoes is interesting. Severe weather is always fascinating to watch but the idea of loss of life always lingers in the back of your mind. Thanks for the question, Sam.

Why have some scientists argued that the current rise in global temperature is causing an increase in magnitude, frequency, and duration of hurricanes

Asked by girlstarsccr almost 6 years ago

Complicated question. The fuel for tropical systems is warm surface water in the ocean. Since the ocean and the atmosphere are connected a warmer atmosphere will create warmer oceans which adds up to more fuel. Hope that helps. Thanks!

So that kind of made me think of another one for you if you don’t mind. Why is spring usually more active then fall? When their both transition and unstable seasons why does spring have it in?

Asked by Jamie about 5 years ago

Thunderstorm instability is created by warmer air at the surface and colder air aloft, which makes air parcels rise, like a hot air balloon. Coming out of winter the air is colder aloft as the surface is warming with longer days and more direct sunlight.

Does the ‘feel like’ temperature below 32F when the temperature is above 32F cause slippery conditions on sidewalks or garage ramps or should I turn on the ramp heaters then those temperatures exist?

Asked by Jack about 6 years ago

Hi, Jack. Nope, the feels like temperatures is a calculated number. Go with the actual temperature.

How can a blind person determine the distance of a thunderstorm if they cannot see lightning strike?

Asked by Azonah almost 7 years ago

Interesting question. If you do a web search for "lightning detector" you will find some options. Kind of the same principle as hearing a static pop on AM radio. In an active storm it might me difficult to separate specific lightning flashes from thunder. These are commonly used at sporting events and golf courses etc.

Is "Tornado Alert" still a thing?

Asked by Carlene almost 6 years ago

Hi, Carlene. Need a little more context, please.

What do you think happened. So we drove back from the store and when we got into our neighbourhood it started getting windy, heavy rain, and hail. There was crap blowing across the road. When we drove down our street. Nothing instantly stopped.

Asked by Dan over 5 years ago

Sounds like you may have been right on the edge of a thunderstorm. They can have a pretty tight gradient especially has they approach. Thanks, Dan.

What is the difference between a none , limited ,elevated, significant, and exstreem and a none, GT, marginal, slight, mordant, and high scaling systems? Is it different names for the same thing or is one more percent and one more of the severity

Asked by Max over 5 years ago

Looks like you might be combining more than one system. If you're asking about severe thunderstorms this link might help! https://www.spc.noaa.gov/misc/about.html

Why even if your only calling for a trace or even sometimes flurries even a 10% chance do people flood the stores?

Asked by 24 hotdogs almost 6 years ago

Very interesting question. There is a great deal of effort and study going on over the last couple of years by social scientists to understand how and why people react to various weather situations. Individual past experience has a lot to do with future action. Certainly the tone of the message can have a lot to do with reactions. Social media has also shown that is can magnify a message, often in unhelpful ways. As that research continues my short answer is.....people are complicated. Thanks!

what do you know about the gulf stream nozzle and its affect by global warming

Asked by pwinkler over 7 years ago

Global warming issues is not something I generally comment on. Climate is more of a long-term subject as opposed to weather which is more day-to-day and short-term. Thanks!

Can hail really fall in the shape of hearts?

Asked by Rar almost 6 years ago

Sure. Any odd shaped stone is likely an amalgamation of a bunch of smaller stones that have partially melted in the storm and then frozen together again. So I guess in theory you could get just about any shape! Thanks.

If you could broadcast weather anywhere in the world for just one day, and I mean anywhere, where would you go?

Asked by ash about 5 years ago

There is a small town in Italy called Riva del Garda. Has nothing to do with weather, just want to stand and look out at the lake. Or from the eye of any hurricane. Thanks, Ash.

Do people ever get upset when your interrupt a broadcast for a severe weather or something like a police chase. Infomercials now you can play that weather all night man, lol.

Asked by Dannny over 5 years ago

All the time, Danny. Most folks seem to appreciate that we are trying to keep them informed and in many cases safe. But some people do get pretty grumpy when we interrupt their TV shows. Thanks.

Are you allowed to eat or drink something while live? Sometimes they go live for a long time but don’t drink anything. They must get thirsty at one point?

Asked by Tj about 5 years ago

Yup! Not always easy. I know there have been more than a few times while on the air in continuous coverage when I see someone out of the corner of my eye holding a cup of water. I try not to hug them but the motivation is there. Thanks, TJ!

Why does a river overflow when it should be emptying into the sea?

Asked by Glen over 5 years ago

You might get a better answer from a hydrologist, Glen. Water does continue to empty into the ocean, or a lake. The overflow occurs when the water running into the river is greater than what is flowing out. The incoming water can come from creeks and streams and heavy rain. Thanks!

Kevin, have you got the videos I sent in. I have tried twice but am not sure what is going on. Thanks! Tell me if I need to send them in again. It was of a guy giving commentary on the weatherman who went off on people complaining.

Asked by Nsnsndndnsnsnddj about 5 years ago

I did see that some months ago when it happened. Tough situation. Can’t say I have a comment.

I have observed (usually when hoping the temperature will not drop futher so roads will not freeze) more than a few times that during the winter when the temps fall to around 32F, they tend to sort of "stay" (right) at 32F. Anything going on here?

Asked by Mark Finckle over 5 years ago

Tough call for me not knowing specific examples and a location, Mark. I will say that the temperature can only fall to the dewpoint, so if the moisture content of the air, dewpoint, stays around 32 that could account for what you are seeing. You can find the current dewpoint by looking for your city on weather.gov. Hope that helps.

Do you think Meteorologists sometimes over react when sever weather or something is coming?

Asked by asdklj almost 6 years ago

Yup. Some do. ;)

Please explain why temps in inland and valley areas are lower than coastal areas in winter, but much hotter during summer.
Thank you!

Asked by Marv almost 7 years ago

Great question, Marv! The exact location would have a lot to do with it but, in general, cold air is heavier than warm air. In the winter, especially at night, the cold air sinks into the valleys and pools up. At the beach, when the sun is out, the land warms faster than the water and the air above the land rises. Since the air needs to be replaced the cooler air moves in from over the water on the sea breeze. Hope that helps. Thanks!

Okay on this wind report I was looking at it said “possible TDS”. I found no matches on the NWS glossary. Do you know what that means?

Asked by Cray over 5 years ago

Tornado debris signature. Radar can tell the difference between rain and hail and other “targets”. When a tornado starts lifting things in the air the radar can show that, often called a debris ball. It is helpful because farther away from the radar dish, as the earth curves away from the beam, what we see are radar targets above the surface as opposed the the actual tornado. The TDS gives more confidence that the rotation is actually on the ground. Thanks! https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tornado_debris_signature

Which takes longer to warm up or cool down during the day

Asked by tommy wilson about 5 years ago

Not sure I have a clear answer to that one. Outside of any of the many influences of things like wind, clouds, warm and cold fronts, the heating process begins as soon as the sun rises and cooling begins once it sets and starts again each day. Many factors such as the amount of moisture in the air, even dust or smog, even temperature, affect the heating and cooling rate. There are math formulas that address ideal situations but college meteorology class was a long time ago!

Should you take shelter during a sever thunderstorm warring.

Asked by Ryan over 5 years ago

Great question. The answer is somewhat personal choice. A severe thunderstorm is defined by 1 inch hail and/or winds of 58 mph or greater. Those things can certainly break windows and cause damage. Absolutely be inside. We try our best to provide substantive warnings and information but if you ever feel threatened by the weather by all means don’t wait for us and take cover!

Are you in a safe place when there is a tornado warring for your area and your broadcasting. I think it ßets a bad example when say a weather man is not in a safe shelter broadcasting. You can still talk and tel the weather like radio stations do.

Asked by Dinosaur about 5 years ago

Yes, the center of our building is concrete reinforced. Different stations have different setups but most of us know where we will go it the station is under threat. A few colleagues have had close calls. At home we have an underground shelter. Hope you have a plan in place. Thanks!

Why is it that the hours of 2 or 3 p.m. the hottest times of our day

Asked by t417 about 5 years ago

For the most part the sun doesn't directly heat the air. It heats the ground which then reradiates that energy in the form of longer wave radiation which heats the air. The strongest heating occurs midday when the sun is highest in the sky. At that point the sunlight is traveling through the least amount of atmosphere as opposed to earlier or later in the day. So there is a short lag between maximum sun angle and the time is takes the air to heat up. Thanks, Tommy. Hope that makes sense.

If there was a Blizzard warring and there was thunder snow with high winds. Would they post a severe thunderstorm warring? Could they and would it even be needed?

Asked by DJ about 5 years ago

Likely not. A severe thunderstorm warning is triggered by one inch hail and/or 58 mph winds. Different process. A thunderstorm is more of a local convective event and strong winds in a blizzard are a larger scale pressure gradient event. Great question!

I live in CO, but I have also spent a lot of time in California (Livermore), and Kansas City.
In the summer, night-time temps always seems to drop nicely (into the 60's) in CO and CA, but they stay unpleasantly high in the MidWest.
Please explain.

Asked by nofe2o3 over 5 years ago

Interesting question with a possible complicated answer. The easiest data point to look at is probably dewpoint, which is the amount of water vapor in the air. Obviously it is cooler at night because there is no incoming sunlight. Overnight the heat from the day radiates out to space and the air cools. The temperature will never fall below the dewpoint and when that number is reached the air is considered saturated. So the dewpoints are likely higher in Kansas as opposed to Colorado. Moisture travels northward from the Gulf easier across the plains as opposed to the higher elevations in the mountains. So check the dewpoint. Thanks!

Have you seen the video of the Ohio weather man who gets mad at viewers for complaining that he interrupted his show? What do you think?

Asked by Manning over 5 years ago

Hi, Manning. Yup, saw it. Feel bad for him since that video will be attached to him for a long time. Often times it is a hard choice to break into programming. We all understand the interruption. Severe weather can be a high stress environment. It is particularly frustrating when someone makes a ridiculous comment like, “you just want to hear yourself talk.” Happens to me just about every event. Gotta take a deep breath and move forward. For every snotty response I usually get “thanks for keeping us informed,” tenfold. Thanks!

Did you wanted to be a meteorologist as a kid? Were you drawn by seeing the weatherman on TV or did you dream about chasing storms and tornadoes?

Asked by Ladyoasis about 5 years ago

My interest in the sky didn’t really develop until I was in my 20s. Don’t think I really knew that meteorology was a possible career when I was a kid. A lesson for parents and those around kids to watch for interests and feed them. Thanks for asking.

Okay the NWS and the SPC and other independent networks keep getting stuff wrong here in SW MO! Yesterday there was a slight risk of sever storms and today it is GT and from 40% down to 20%! Something similar happend last week. What the hell?!

Asked by DJ over 5 years ago

Often times changes like that come because the outlook on a given day is highly dependent on what happens during the day or days before. A small variation in the specific way storms develop and behave can mean a big change in the development hours later or the next day. Another explanation includes the somewhat large distance between twice daily weather balloons. A lot of things can go undetected between them. Thanks, DJ!

How do you know whether a weather siren that is blaring is just being tested in the area or if it is an actual weather emergency warning

Asked by Bonnie Faires almost 6 years ago

Tests are only done on fair weather days. Usually one day each month, like the first Monday of something like that, and at a regular repeating time. Your local county emergency management office can tell you when the tests are for your area. If it is a stormy day and the siren goes off it is likely a warning. Great question!

Have you ever seen a red tornado?

Asked by Dave over 5 years ago

In pictures, yes. A few that have traveled over an open area of red dirt that the tornado picked turned it red. Thanks, Dave!

Hey, thank you so much for answering my question! Just one more, can say for example a local office wanted to put out a tornado watch and the SPC did not. Could they if they really wanted to?

Asked by Donovin almost 6 years ago

Nope. Watch must come from SPC. They stay in close contact with the local offices. Thanks.

What do you think is your favorite part of being a meteorologist? What was your first day on the job like?

Asked by Jamie Johnson over 5 years ago

Thanks for asking, Jamie! Honestly, an evening when I'm off with non-severe thunderstorms and I get a chance to go out and photograph lightning. First day on the job was a little nervous, not too bad. I had been a DJ on the radio for some years and studied meteorology and interned at a local TV station for some time. Do remember one of the anchors staring at me with a look asking, "Who is this kid coming on my newscast." We became good friends. Thanks!

I had a meteorologist say a term in a deposition and I am having trouble finding the term. He was talking about a dry pocket of air, or dry socket, or a dry "pron." I heard "pron," but I cannot find the term. Can you please help?

Asked by Ginger about 5 years ago

Hi, Ginger. I’m unfamiliar with “pron”. We’re taught to think of air in parcels sometimes because it helps to visualize the atmosphere and how it will react to influences. Like a hot air balloon will rise as long as the inside air is warmer than the surrounding air. So a parcel of dry air can have specific effects, as can a parcel of moist air. If you’re still curious you could contact your local NWS office and weather.gov. The person you listened to was likely a forensic meteorologist, you could do a web search. Thanks!

As it rains over the ocean, does the rain cause the ocean to become more violent, or does the rain system just fade out?

Asked by Ron Tucker about 5 years ago

Rain on its own doesn’t cause choppy seas, Ron. The wind creates the chop and the speed of the wind is determined by the difference in pressure between the low pressure storm and surrounding high pressure. The atmosphere doesn’t like to be out of balance so the greater the difference in pressure the faster the air moves to find balance. Thanks.

What’s with all the bad weather today? There is sever storms and tons of snow all around.

Asked by Jamie about 5 years ago

Fall is a season of transition so the atmosphere is trying to figure it out!

When will we see more settled, drier weather in the West of Scotland in particular?

Asked by Craig Gillon over 5 years ago

Hi, Craig. Europe weather and climate is pretty far out of my area of expertise. You might have better luck with the UK Met Office. Good luck. https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/

I captured some kind of extremely bright tubular looking objects on top of hurricane Dorian, two photos taken seconds apart and it's either the same object or there was 2,,,so I guess I'm asking is there anything weather related this could be

Asked by Keith over 5 years ago

Hi, Keith. Tough to say without a picture. Nothing immediately comes to mind. Happy to take look if you can post somewhere. Thanks.

I have several questions for a school project? Would you be willing to answer all fourteen of them? Or is there anyway I can email privately?

Asked by Kat over 5 years ago

I can certainly try and help, Kat. kselle@kfdx.com

Why does cold ocean water dissipate hurricanes?

Asked by mary over 5 years ago

Great question, Mary. Thunderstorms, the primary component of hurricanes, run on warmth. Warm water is the fuel, warming the air above it, and releasing stored heat as it changes between liquid and gas (water vapor). Warm water equals fuel, cooler water equals less fuel.

What are the 6 elements of the atmosphere?

Asked by Darinesha White over 5 years ago

Hi, Darinesha. Not sure exactly what you are asking. If you mean the gases that make up the atmosphere you might do a web search. The two highest concentrations are nitrogen and oxygen and a list of other things including water vapor. Thanks!

What do you think about climate change and global warming?

Asked by Jefferson about 5 years ago

I generally stick to short-term forecasting as opposed to climatology, Jefferson. Thanks.

Why do some meteorologists get so excited especially newbies when storms hit even if they are not that bad?

Asked by Montie almost 6 years ago

We're all pretty fascinated by the atmosphere and how complicated it is, and we've studied to understand it. Since we can't just see storms in action any time we want, like studying rocks, or animals or something we can't find whenever we want, it is pretty exciting when a storm pops up. I will admit that some folks might temporarily forget the serious nature of a strong storm but that all goes back to being fascinated. Thanks!

Do you get much winter weather in Texas???

Asked by Fraser about 5 years ago

Yup! Depending on location. In places like Amarillo in the northwest it is fairly common, less so as you move south. About 15 years ago it snowed 5 inches along the Gulf coast in Corpus Christi on Christmas Eve. That is pretty rare. Thanks, Fraser!

This is really weird they just tested the EAS at almost 11:00 PM on a night with Tornado warnings. I thought they only tested them when there is no severe weather I think even as much as a thunderstorm. It is also late at night. What do you think?

Asked by Dillard over 5 years ago

You’re right, Dillard. They usually don’t test during weather events and may not have been a test. Last night in my area one small town did hit the sirens because of a lowering cloud base. It was on the leading edge of a thunderstorm and could have been the beginning of something called a QLCS tornado. You can certainly check with your local county EMA folks. Thanks!

Are seasonal outlooks like fall and winter out looks very accurate? What about Farmers Almanac?

Asked by Dino the Rino over 5 years ago

It depends on where they come from. The Climate Prediction Center has a verification webpage. https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/verification/summary/ Sometimes perception comes into play as well. It a dry spell is forecast but there is one large event that can skew what people think. The Farmer's Almanac does claim to be very accurate but those folks don't share their method so it is tougher to evaluate. Good question, thanks.

What do you honestly think about HAARP?

Asked by Jake almost 6 years ago

Really haven't researched much so no opinion.

Hello have you ever worn green on set before?

Asked by 56 about 5 years ago

I haven’t but I know each Halloween someone somewhere around the country usually puts on a green body suit and attaches a skeleton. Pretty clever.

Yea the weird thing was that it said test on it instead of flood, storm, or tornado. It was also for one county. Could have been a accident

Asked by Dillard over 5 years ago

If you’re curious I’d contact your local county emergency management folks. Good luck!

Have you ever butchered a forecast? Do you make your own forecasts or just mainly go off of the National Weather Service. Does it depend on the station?

Asked by Lake Stockton about 5 years ago

I’ve certainly missed a forecast or two. Generally biggest busts, as we call them, come from the inability to continuously monitor many parameters of the atmosphere. Weather balloons, the foundation of the forecast, are sent up twice a day on a relatively sparse network so things slip through and change. Forecast models increasingly use satellite and radar to make forecasts. I create my own forecast and I would say most television stations have trained meteorologists. The National Weather Service does maintain an online chat service for core partners where we can communicate and share information if needed. Thanks!

Sitting on my back porch when one of my students called excitedly asking me to look a a cloud formation over the Sandia Mt. A white cloud was literally popping out like popcorn, bulges pushing out all around the growing cloud.
Does it have a name?

Asked by Robert Zachary over 5 years ago

Difficult to say with out a picture, Robert. The bulges are likely rising air or convection which was probably a cumulus cloud, perhaps some distance behind the mountain. Thanks.

BroWhat is the weather going to In space? That’s the question that’s all rest of

Asked by Bro about 5 years ago

Here ya go, Bro. https://www.spaceweather.com/

Can you explain why sometimes there is 2 directions listed on a wind path?

Asked by Allison almost 6 years ago

Hi, Allison. Not sure exactly what you mean. I know if the wind will change direction during the day I will put something like S-N 10-20 on my graphics, for example, if a cold front is coming through during the day. Hope that helps.

What is the worst weather even you have ever covered?

Asked by Boeing 747 about 5 years ago

Probably the Fort Worth, TX of 1999. It was in a downtown area and we knew it was doing damage. And there were radar and technical issues that day which made coverage harder. Probably the biggest but most fun was the blizzard of 1993 in Birmingham, AL. Thirteen inches of snow in a town that didn’t own a plow. Thanks for asking!

Is your job hard, easy, or center of the road?

Asked by Dale about 5 years ago

Guess it depends on the day. Middle of July in Texas is on the easy side. Severe weather days can be pretty stressful. So a mix of both, like most things. Thanks, Dale!

Is the coriolis affect a real thing and do hurricanes always spin In 1 direction in the NH and the opposite direction in the SH?

Asked by David about 5 years ago

Yup. Real thing, David. I suppose you could make the argument that coriolis force is based on perception. I’ll let you decide. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coriolis_force

Thanks for anwsring me question. One more for you what angers people more do you think when it snows more then expected or less? I can only guess when snow is called for snow and its ice what kind of letters you must get from that.

Asked by Earl about 5 years ago

Hard to say, Earl. Ten different people, 10 different opinions. I think the measure of frustration is probably driven by the amount of effort people put into preparation. If they put in little effort and it snows more, then that is frustrating. If they put in a lot of effort and it snows less then, wasted effort. I always remind folks that I'm in marketing and Mother Nature is in manufacturing, that usually helps me out! Thanks!

Siliguri in West Bengal, India is far away from the Ocean, can it still be affected by the fani storm?

Asked by Curious George over 5 years ago

I’ll give you this referral, George. https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutrsmc.shtml

Can meteorologists look a month ahead? They just don't post it becuase there would be a lot of inaccuracy. But can you see somewhat a month or more out?

Asked by 345345 over 5 years ago

There are some firms that do that. Some claim to have proprietary methods. They tend to be based on climatology. Great question.

Is it cloudy with a chance of meatballs?!

Asked by Dennie boy james about 5 years ago

Yes.

What do you think was a time when someone was the angriest about messing up a forecast. Like calling for something that did not happen, something uncalled for happened, or something simple as a temperature change. Do people ever get mad over their own misunderstanding of a forecast?

Asked by Earl about 5 years ago

Happens often, Earl. Quite frequently over snow forecasts, exact totals are often hard and vary over a small area. Also in winter, precipitation type can very tricky, the lines between rain, freezing, rain, sleet and snow are a challenge and people get wound up with school and work closings. High risk severe weather days cause a lot of anxiety so those days often generate a lot of comment. Probably the toughest is when someone calls the newsroom and says, "I heard (weatherman) say it was going to snow (for example)," and we didn't say that. So you roll it around for a minute and finally realize they have watched one station and called another. Happens more than you would guess. :) Thanks!

What do the letters ('D', 'S') mean in the hurricane cone of uncertainty? Depression? Storm? What other letters may appear here?

Asked by Travis over 5 years ago

Yup! Tropical Depression, Tropical Storm. H is Hurricane and M is for Major Hurricane, category 3 and higher. The National Hurricane Center website has excellent information resources. Thanks, Travis! https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/