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

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Flooding in Austrailia

This is Toowoomba flooding in Australia.  Quite possibly some of the worst flooding pictures I have ever seen.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Help Cincinnati Help Cincinnati

  Cincinnati Arkansas was hit by an EF3 tornado on New Year's Eve day just after 6am in the morning.  The tornado exhibited winds of 140 mph.  It destroyed 14 homes, injured 7 and has taken a total of 4 lives. 





(Pictures From News 5 Fort Smith/Fayetteville)

  Cincinnati Arkansas has a population of about 100.  The destruction is everywhere in this small town including the volunteer fire department. 




"Help Cincinnati Help Cincinnati" is an initiative in Cincinnati Ohio to help those in Cincinnati Arkansas.  As of 7PM Friday, January 7th Cincinnatians have donated $20,019 which will be given directly to the Northwest Arkansas chapter of the American Red Cross to help those in need living in Cincinnati Arkansas.  You can still help by visiting Cincinnatiredcross.org and clicking on the Cincinnati Arkansas Tornado Relief icon.   My sincere thanks to all of you that have donated to "Help Cincinnat Help Cincinnati".