Friday, December 16, 2011

Kelvin Helmholtz Clouds in Birmingham, Alabama


December 16th, 2011
These "wave-like" clouds were seen in Birmingham, Alabama today.
The clouds are called Kelvin Helmholtz clouds and are named after
Lord Kelvin and Hermann Von Helmholtz.  The formation indicates
extreme turbulence in the atmosphere associated with vertical wind shear,
or winds changing in speed with height.  The higher winds above the surface
scoop the top of the cloud layer into wave-like rolling structures.  As in the
ocean, the wave crests are pushed ahead of the troughs.


Below I have posted a picture form downtown Birmingham and
and a video taken from the same area.





Thursday, July 7, 2011

Cincinnati Climate Data 1996-2011

Click on Data of Interest



Climate Data January 1996             Climate Data January 1997
Climate Data February 1996           Climate Data February 1997
Climate Data March 1996               Climate Data March 1997
Climate Data April 1996                  Climate Data April 1997
Climate Data May 1996                  Climate Data May 1997
Climate Data June 1996                  Climate Data June 1997
Climate Data July 1996                   Climate Data July 1997
Climate Data August 1996              Climate Data August 1997
Climate Data September 1996        Climate Data September 1997
Climate Data October 1996            Climate Data October 1997
Climate Data November 1996        Climate Data November 1997
Climate Data December 1996         Climate Data December 1997


Climate Data January 1998             Climate Data January 1999
Climate Data February 1998           Climate Data February 1999
Climate Data March 1998               Climate Data March 1999
Climate Data April 1998                  Climate Data April 1999
Climate Data May 1998                  Climate Data May 1999
Climate Data June 1998                  Climate Data June 1999
Climate Data July 1998                   Climate Data July 1999
Climate Data August 1998              Climate Data August 1999
Climate Data September 1998        Climate Data September 1999
Climate Data October 1998            Climate Data October 1999
Climate Data November 1998        Climate Data November 1999
Climate Data December 1998         Climate Data December 1999


Climate Data January 2000             Climate Data January 2001
Climate Data February 2000           Climate Data February 2001
Climate Data March 2000               Climate Data March 2001
Climate Data April 2000                  Climate Data April 2001
Climate Data May 2000                  Climate Data May 2001
Climate Data June 2000                  Climate Data June 2001
Climate Data July 2000                   Climate Data July 2001
Climate Data August 2000              Climate Data August 2001
Climate Data September 2000        Climate Data September 2001
Climate Data October 2000            Climate Data October 2001
Climate Data November 2000        Climate Data November 2001
Climate Data December 2000         Climate Data December 2001


Climate Data January 2002             Climate Data January 2003
Climate Data February 2002           Climate Data February 2003
Climate Data March 2002               Climate Data March 2003
Climate Data April 2002                  Climate Data April 2003
Climate Data May 2002                  Climate Data May 2003
Climate Data June 2002                  Climate Data June 2003
Climate Data July 2002                   Climate Data July 2003
Climate Data August 2002              Climate Data August 2003
Climate Data September 2002        Climate Data September 2003
Climate Data October 2002            Climate Data October 2003
Climate Data November 2002        Climate Data November 2003
Climate Data December 2002         Climate Data December 2003


Climate Data January 2004             Climate Data January 2005
Climate Data February 2004           Climate Data February 2005
Climate Data March 2004               Climate Data March 2005
Climate Data April 2004                  Climate Data April 2005
Climate Data May 2004                  Climate Data May 2005
Climate Data June 2004                  Climate Data June 2005
Climate Data July 2004                   Climate Data July 2005
Climate Data August 2004              Climate Data August 2005
Climate Data September 2004        Climate Data September 2005
Climate Data October 2004            Climate Data October 2005
Climate Data November 2004        Climate Data November 2005
Climate Data December 2004         Climate Data December 2005


Climate Data January 2006             Climate Data January 2007
Climate Data February 2006           Climate Data February 2007
Climate Data March 2006               Climate Data March 2007
Climate Data April 2006                  Climate Data April 2007
Climate Data May 2006                  Climate Data May 2007
Climate Data June 2006                  Climate Data June 2007
Climate Data July 2006                   Climate Data July 2007
Climate Data August 2006              Climate Data August 2007
Climate Data September 2006        Climate Data September 2007
Climate Data October 2006            Climate Data October 2007
Climate Data November 2006        Climate Data November 2007
Climate Data December 2006         Climate Data December 2007


Climate Data January 2008             Climate Data January 2009
Climate Data February 2008           Climate Data February 2009
Climate Data March 2008               Climate Data March 2009
Climate Data April 2008                  Climate Data April 2009
Climate Data May 2008                  Climate Data May 2009
Climate Data June 2008                  Climate Data June 2009
Climate Data July 2008                   Climate Data July 2009
Climate Data August 2008              Climate Data August 2009
Climate Data September 2008        Climate Data September 2009
Climate Data October 2008            Climate Data October 2009
Climate Data November 2008        Climate Data November 2009
Climate Data December 2008         Climate Data December 2009


Climate Data January 2010             Climate Data January 2011
Climate Data February 2010           Climate Data February 2011
Climate Data March 2010               Climate Data March 2011
Climate Data April 2010                  Climate Data April 2011
Climate Data May 2010                  Climate Data May 2011
Climate Data June 2010                  Climate Data June 2011
Climate Data July 2010                   Climate Data July 2011
Climate Data August 2010              Climate Data August 2011
Climate Data September 2010        Climate Data September 2011
Climate Data October 2010            Climate Data October 2011
Climate Data November 2010        Climate Data November 2011
Climate Data December 2010         Climate Data December 2011 

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Haboob Hits Phoenix!

Haboobs are rolling dust and sand clouds formed by collapsing thunderstorms.  When thunderstorms collapse winds rush to the surface and spread out along the ground.  The strongest winds spread in the direction that the thunderstorm is moving.  The southwest has been very dry lately so this collapsing thunderstorm had alot of loose dust and sand to work with as it formed a dust and sand cloud some 5000 feet high and up to 100 miles long.  The haboob was moving at some 50mph and created visibilities near zero.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Doppler Tim's Science Spectacular

                                                                    Have Fun!

Doppler Tim's Science Lab #2 Tuesday, February 22nd 2011

Try making a vortex cannon and shoot some smokin' O's across the room!

Firecracker!

320,000 firecrackers were linked together to honor a friend as his last request.   It is a mountain of firecracker!

Monday, February 21, 2011

Doppler Tim's Science Lab Monday, February 21 2011

Finally a better "Cloud in the Bottle" experiment!  This works well for teachers, students, home schoolers, and magicians.  Have Fun...

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

This Makes My Head Hurt!

You may have fun figuring this out...or this may drive you just a bit nuts!

Friday, February 11, 2011

The Pictures are Clear...

I am anything but a scholar on Egypt.  I can say that while the future is still very uncertain for the Egyptians, the pictures are quite clear.


Bye Bye Mubarak from Ramy Rizkallah on Vimeo.











More Pictures at

Monday, February 7, 2011

Chicago Blizzard Timelapse

WGN has posted a woderful timelapse of the 2011 blizzard.  The video starts at about noon on Tuesday, February 1st and ends near 6am on Wednesday, February 3rd.  The video was shot right on Michigan Ave. in Chicago.  Enjoy!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Midwest Blizzard of 2011

A huge snowstorm hit the Midwest and Great Lakes regions from January 31st to February 2nd.  Cities from Oklahoma to New York received tremendous amounts of snow and wind.  Central Indiana and Central Ohio were hard hit with sleet and freezing rain.  The following blog entry has a little bit for everyone.  There are synoptic charts and a synoptic animation for  practicing meteorologists.  I have collected snowfall total maps from National Weather Service offices across the country and video clips have been posted from hard hit areas.  

Synoptic analysis/Radar of Midwest Blizzard February 1-2 2011
Click to Play Movie & Enlarge

Synoptic analysis of Midwest Blizzard January 31st 7pm
Click to Enlarge


Synoptic analysis of Midwest Blizzard February 1 7am
Click to Enlarge

Synoptic analysis of Midwest Blizzard February 1 7pm
Click to Enlarge


Synoptic analysis of Midwest Blizzard February 2 7am
Click to Enlarge

Low Pressure over the Ohio Valley
Tight Gradient Backside of Storm
Click to Enlarge
National Snowfall Totals
Click to Enlarge



Oklahoma Snowfall Totals
Click to Enlarge




Central Missouri Snowfall Totals
Click to Enlarge



Eastern Iowa Snowfall Totals
Click to Enlarge



Chicagoland Snowfall Totals
Click to Enlarge




Milwaukee Area Snowfall Totals
Click to Enlarge




Northern Indiana/Northwest Ohio Snowfall Totals
Click to Enlarge




Western and Northern New York Snowfall Totals
Click to Enlarge




Wednesday, January 26, 2011

There is Nothing Like it....THUNDERSNOW!

  While attending Iowa State University I witnessed one of the greatest thundersnows of all times.  The snowstorm hit one night, the snow was wet, the skies filled with lightning and thunder for a couple of hours.  The snow fell at an incredible pace.  It was, to say the least, phenomenal!  The snow was wet, the visibility was near zero, I will never forget that THUNDERSNOW!   

   Usually thunder and lightning occur with spring and summertime storms.  It takes special circumstances for snow and thunder to coexist.  Much of the eastern seaboard saw this phenomenon today.  The air at the surface must be relatively warm and very moist but still cold enough to support snow as it falls to the surface.  The layers of air above must be substantially colder leading it great vertical instability.  Cooling the middle levels of the atmosphere play an important role, A strong lifting mechanism, like a strong low pressure system adds to the convective nature of the storm and increases the threat of thunder and lightning occurring with snow and sometimes sleet.  Snowfall rates are usually quite high when thundersnow is in the area.  Thundersnow rates are usually in the 1"-4" of snow an hour.  


Philadelphia, PA 1/26/2011



Cantore (Weather Channel) December 7th, 1996 Worcester MA




Baltimore MD February 6th 2010




Madison WI  February 24th, 2007


Monday, January 17, 2011

That's Cold!

Last year in Yellowknife, Canada the temperature was -30 celsius. Hot water thrown into the cold air turns into tiny ice needles instantly!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Boston Blizzard of January 2010

Snowfall measurements continue to climb in the northeast.  The wet snow and wind caused widespread power outages through the region.  A wind of 80mph was recorded on Cape Cod.  The following pictures are from WBZ-TV in Boston.  After the pictures you will find snowfall totals from the National Weather Service in Boston.

NOAA SATELLITE PICTURE



********************STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL********************

LOCATION          STORM TOTAL     TIME/DATE   COMMENTS
                     SNOWFALL           OF
                     /INCHES/   MEASUREMENT

CONNECTICUT

...HARTFORD COUNTY...
   MANCHESTER            27.0   554 PM  1/12  HAM RADIO
   GLASTONBURY           25.5   540 PM  1/12  HAM RADIO
   NEW BRITAIN           24.3   545 PM  1/12  HAM RADIO
   ELLINGTON             24.0   236 PM  1/12  HAM RADIO
   SOUTH WINDSOR         22.1   420 PM  1/12  NWS EMPLOYEE
   WEST HARTFORD         22.0   244 PM  1/12  HAM RADIO
   WETHERSFIELD          22.0   240 PM  1/12  HAM RADIO
   SUFFIELD              21.0   551 PM  1/12  HAM RADIO
   ENFIELD               19.7   238 PM  1/12  HAM RADIO

...TOLLAND COUNTY...
   STAFFORDVILLE         26.0   321 PM  1/12  NWS COOP
   TOLLAND               25.0   543 PM  1/12
   ELLINGTON             24.0   539 PM  1/12  HAM RADIO
   VERNON                23.0   538 PM  1/12  HAM RADIO
   STAFFORD SPRINGS      22.6   435 PM  1/12
   SOMERS                21.0   200 PM  1/12
   UNION                 19.0   300 PM  1/12
   STORRS                17.5   425 PM  1/12  SPOTTER

...WINDHAM COUNTY...
   EAST KILLINGLY        20.6   447 PM  1/12
   ASHFORD               19.0   328 PM  1/12
   MOOSUP                18.5   300 PM  1/12  GENERAL PUBLIC
   PUTNAM                17.0   300 PM  1/12
   SCOTLAND              13.5   352 PM  1/12

MASSACHUSETTS

...BARNSTABLE COUNTY...
   SANDWICH               5.8   455 PM  1/12
   BOURNE                 5.0   607 PM  1/12  NWS EMPLOYEE

...BRISTOL COUNTY...
   ATTLEBORO             12.5   319 PM  1/12  NWS EMPLOYEE
   REHOBOTH              10.3   235 PM  1/12
   WESTPORT               9.5   245 PM  1/12  HAM RADIO
   ACUSHNET               9.0   229 PM  1/12
   NEW BEDFORD            8.5   311 PM  1/12  HAM RADIO

...ESSEX COUNTY...
   TOPSFIELD             19.5   521 PM  1/12
   METHUEN               19.0   450 PM  1/12  SPOTTER
   MARLBORO              18.5   500 PM  1/12  SPOTTER
   SALEM                 17.0   517 PM  1/12  HAM RADIO
   BYFIELD               13.0   520 PM  1/12  GENERAL PUBLIC

...FRANKLIN COUNTY...
   GREENFIELD            17.0   220 PM  1/12
   COLRAIN               14.0   541 PM  1/12
   EAST CHARLEMONT       11.0   615 PM  1/12  600 ELEVATION

...HAMPDEN COUNTY...
   HAMPDEN               22.0   400 PM  1/12  GENERAL PUBLIC
   WILBRAHAM             18.5   329 PM  1/12  HAM RADIO
   LUDLOW                18.5   427 PM  1/12
   SOUTHWICK             16.6   539 PM  1/12
   NORTHAMPTON           16.0   330 PM  1/12  HAM RADIO
   AGAWAM                15.0   328 PM  1/12  HAM RADIO
   WESTFIELD             14.0   436 PM  1/12  MEDIA

...HAMPSHIRE COUNTY...
   CHESTERFIELD          26.3   331 PM  1/12  HAM RADIO
   CHESTER               22.0   327 PM  1/12  HAM RADIO
   WARE                  16.5   301 PM  1/12  HAM RADIO
   AMHERST COLLEGE       15.0   210 PM  1/12  GENERAL PUBLIC
   NORTHAMPTON           12.0   602 PM  1/12

...MIDDLESEX COUNTY...
   WILMINGTON            24.0   237 PM  1/12  HAM RADIO
   WINCHESTER            23.0   236 PM  1/12  HAM RADIO
   CHELMSFORD            20.0   514 PM  1/12  GENERAL PUBLIC
   SUDBURY               20.0   534 PM  1/12  HAM RADIO
   WAKEFIELD             19.0   441 PM  1/12
   FRAMINGHAM            19.0   450 PM  1/12  HAM RADIO
   LITTLETON             18.0   529 PM  1/12
   HOLLISTON             18.0   358 PM  1/12  GENERAL PUBLIC
   SOMERVILLE            16.5   504 PM  1/12  HAM RADIO
   EAST NATICK           16.1   533 PM  1/12
   LINCOLN               16.0   603 PM  1/12  HAM RADIO
   MELROSE               16.0   546 PM  1/12
   WESTON                15.9   415 PM  1/12
   PEPPERELL             15.2   524 PM  1/12
   AYER                  14.3   524 PM  1/12
   EVERETT               13.0   210 PM  1/12

...NORFOLK COUNTY...
   MEDFIELD              18.5   529 PM  1/12  GENERAL PUBLIC
   MILLIS                18.0   340 PM  1/12  SPOTTER
   NORWOOD               16.5   200 PM  1/12  NWS EMPLOYEE
   FOXBORO               16.5   233 PM  1/12
   MEDWAY                15.5   505 PM  1/12  HAM RADIO

...PLYMOUTH COUNTY...
   HINGHAM                8.2   425 PM  1/12

...SUFFOLK COUNTY...
   ROSLINDALE            18.3   338 PM  1/12  HAM RADIO
   WES ROXBURY           14.6   412 PM  1/12  GENERAL PUBLIC

...WORCESTER COUNTY...
   STURBRIDGE            23.0   452 PM  1/12  GENERAL PUBLIC
   MILLBURY              22.5   349 PM  1/12  GENERAL PUBLIC
   SHREWSBURY            21.0   555 PM  1/12  HAM RADIO
   NORTHBORO             20.0   315 PM  1/12  HAM RADIO
   MILFORD               19.3   501 PM  1/12
   SOUTHBRIDGE           19.0   404 PM  1/12
   OXFORD                19.0   456 PM  1/12
   PHILLIPSTON           17.5   445 PM  1/12  SPOTTER
   CLINTON               17.0   306 PM  1/12  GENERAL PUBLIC
   SPENCER               16.5   421 PM  1/12  GENERAL PUBLIC
   BOYLSTON              15.4   221 PM  1/12
   AUBURN                13.5   602 PM  1/12
   ASHBURNHAM            13.2   500 PM  1/12  1.10 LIQUID

NEW HAMPSHIRE

...CHESHIRE COUNTY...
   EAST ALSTEAD          20.0   545 PM  1/12
   WALPOLE               17.5   238 PM  1/12
   NELSON                15.0   501 PM  1/12
   WINCHESTER            13.0   300 PM  1/12  SPOTTER

...HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY...
   GOFFSTOWN             19.7   401 PM  1/12
   HUDSON                18.7   530 PM  1/12
   BEDFORD               17.1   333 PM  1/12  HAM RADIO
   SOUTH HUDSON          17.0   356 PM  1/12
   AMHERST               16.5   415 PM  1/12  HAM RADIO
   WEST PETERBOROUGH     16.0   425 PM  1/12  SPOTTER
   NASHUA                14.0   230 PM  1/12  NWS EMPLOYEE
   PETERBOROUGH          14.0   405 PM  1/12

RHODE ISLAND

...KENT COUNTY...
   WEST WARWICK          14.0   305 PM  1/12
   WEST GREENWICH        14.0   213 PM  1/12
   WARWICK               13.0   541 PM  1/12

...NEWPORT COUNTY...
   LITTLE COMPTON         9.0   545 PM  1/12
   MIDDLETOWN             7.5   456 PM  1/12

...PROVIDENCE COUNTY...
   WEST GLOCESTER        21.2   347 PM  1/12
   WOONSOCKET            17.5   541 PM  1/12  GENERAL PUBLIC
   MANVILLE              14.4   300 PM  1/12  TOTAL NEW SNOW THUSFAR
   1 ESE WOONSOCKET      13.6   300 PM  1/12  TOTAL NEW SNOW THUSFAR
   CRANSTON              13.5   251 PM  1/12  GENERAL PUBLIC
   PROVIDENCE/NORTH PRO  12.0   332 PM  1/12  GENERAL PUBLIC
   PROVIDENCE             9.5   334 PM  1/12  GENERAL PUBLIC

...WASHINGTON COUNTY...
   NORTH KINGSTOWN       11.0   345 PM  1/12  GENERAL PUBLIC