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Weather – Winter Precipitation

A snowflake begins to form when an extremely cold water droplet freezes onto a pollen or dust particle in the sky. This creates an ice crystal. As the ice crystal falls to the ground, water vapor freezes onto the crystal, building new crystals – the six arms of a snowflake. There are other types of winter precipitation besides snow, such as sleet and freezing rain. Do you know the difference? Sleet occurs when snowflakes only partially melt as they fall through a shallow layer of warm air. These slushy drops refreeze as they next fall through a deep layer of freezing air above the surface and eventually reach the ground as frozen raindrops that bounce on impact. Depending on the intensity and duration, sleet can accumulate on the ground much like snow. Freezing rain occurs when snowflakes descend into a warmer layer of air and melt completely. When these liquid water drops fall through another thin layer of freezing air just above the surface, they don’t have enough time to refreeze before reaching the ground. Because they are “supercooled,” they instantly refreeze upon contact with anything that is at or below freezing (32 degrees F), creating a glaze of ice on the ground, trees, power lines or other objects. Even light accumulations can cause dangerous travel, while heavier amounts can cause damage to trees and power lines. A significant accumulation of freezing rain lasting several hours or more is called an ice storm. No matter what type of winter precipitation is falling from the sky, it is best to be prepared. The National Weather Service has some great winter preparedness and safety materials that will help you and your family prepare for the upcoming winter season.

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Weather

Staying Safe In Winter Weather

Winter can be a magical time of year. Some people like to play outside in the snow with their friends. Others might prefer to sit inside and drink hot chocolate by the re. But no matter how you like to spend time in the winter, it’s always important to think about winter safety. Your local National Weather Service will issue Winter Storm Warnings, Winter Storm Watches and Winter Weather Advisories depending on the type of wintery weather forecast. Know what these mean so that you can be prepared. A Winter Storm Warning is the most severe — it means take action immediately because dangerous winter conditions are expected. It is not a good idea to be playing outside during this time. A Winter Storm Watch means be prepared because a winter storm is possible. A Winter Weather Advisory means be aware — a winter storm is possible, but with less dangerous conditions. A er a winter storm has passed, if you’d like to play outside, dress appropriately to stay warm. Wear at least two layers of clothing, a warm hat, gloves and waterproof boots. Cover exposed skin and limit your time outside. is will help you avoid getting frostbite or hypothermia. Frostbite can happen if skin is exposed to cold temperatures and freezes. It is most common place to get frostbite is on the ngers, toes, ears, nose, chin and cheeks. Frostbite is most likely to occur when it is very cold and windy. For instance, if the temperature is 0 °F with a 15-mile-per-hour wind, frostbite can occur within about 30 minutes. Frostbite starts by making your skin very cold and then numb. If this happens, take shelter inside immediately. Hypothermia is when your body’s internal temperature drops below 95 °F, and it is very dangerous. Signs that you’re experiencing hypothermia include confusion, shivering, di culty speaking, sleepiness and sti muscles. It’s even possible to experience hypothermia inside if the temperature is cold enough. To stay safe, make sure the thermostat is set to 68 °F or higher. Be extra careful around frozen ponds and lakes. It might seem like a fun idea to go ice skating, but it can be dangerous. If the ice is less than two inches thick or has any cracks, holes or breaks, make sure to stay o it. Also, check to see if there’s any owing water around the edges, just below the surface, or over the top of the ice — this indicates danger. If you don’t see any warning signs, and if the ice is at least four inches thick, it’s safe to go skating. Always check with your responsible grown up, first. If you have pets, it’s important to make sure they stay warm as well! If it’s too cold outside for you, it’s too cold for your pets. Make sure they have a warm, dry place with plenty of food and water. Winter weather can dangerous. Make sure to remember these tips in order to enjoy the winter and stay safe.

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Weather

Weather In Outer Space

We’re all familiar with the di erent kinds of weather that day and night to watch for solar storms using sensors on blackout in Canada, leaving millions without power for that we experience here on Earth. But did you know that satellites and on the ground. If a solar storm is detected, up to nine hours. Today, power companies are working to we experience here on Earth. But did you know that there satellites and on the ground. If a solar storm is detected, up to 9 hours. Today, power companies are working to there is also weather in outer space? the Space Weather Prediction Center can issue watches, put systems in place to help prevent this from happening, is also weather in outer space? the Space Weather Prediction Center can issue watches, put systems in place to help prevent this from happening, Space weather is the term used to describe the various warnings and alerts, similar to other hazardous weather and are given advance warning from the SWPC. Space weather is the term used to describe the various warnings, and alerts, similar to other hazardous weather and are given advance warning from the Space Weather conditions that occur near or in Earth’s upper atmosphere forecasts including ooding and hurricanes. e most powerful geomagnetic storm in history conditions that occur near or in Earth’s upper atmosphere forecasts including ooding and hurricanes. Prediction Center. as a result of changing conditions from the sun. Energetic Most space weather is harmless, as the earth’s occurred in 1859 and is known as the Carrington Event. It as a result of changing conditions from the sun. Energetic Most space weather is harmless, as the Earth’s e most powerful geomagnetic storm in history activity from the sun can sometimes cause explosive atmosphere and magnetic eld usually protects us is named a er Richard Carrington, the astronomer who activity from the sun can sometimes cause explosive events atmosphere and magnetic eld usually protects us from the occurred in 1859, and is known as the Carrington Event, events that may cause geomagnetic storms that a ect the from the e ects. However, strong solar storms can observed it. Back then, humans communicated using the that may cause geomagnetic storms a ecting the earth’s e ects. However, strong solar storms can sometimes cause named a er Richard Carrington, the astronomer who earth’s atmosphere. Just like weather forecasters observe sometimes cause serious problems with technology. telegraph, which relied on wires to send messages over atmosphere. Just like weather forecasters observe and serious problems with technology. When this happens, it observed it. Back then, humans communicated with the and analyze the atmosphere and weather conditions on When this happens, it can a ect GPS systems, radio long distances. e geomagnetic storm caused massive analyze the atmosphere and weather conditions on Earth can a ect GPS systems, radio communications, satellites, telegraph which relied on long wires to send messages over Earth to forecast if it may be windy, stormy or a nice day, communications, satellites and even the power grid. disruption with the telegraph system. to forecast if it may be windy, stormy, or a nice day; space and even the power grid. long distances. e geomagnetic storm caused massive space weather forecasters monitor and assess the sun to Radio blackouts are the most common space weather If such a storm happened today, it would surely cause weather forecasters monitor and assess the sun to predict if Radio blackouts are the most common space weather disruption with the telegraph system. predict if space weather is expected to be quiet or stormy. e ect. ese occur about 2,000 times every solar cycle, a lot of problems with our current systems. Luckily, space weather is expected to be quiet or stormy. e ect. ese occur about 2,000 times every solar cycle, If such a storm happened today, it would surely cause While you are well protected by Earth’s atmosphere which is 11 years. Most radio blackouts only last for a few scientists currently estimate that geomagnetic storms the While you are well protected by Earth’s atmosphere which is 11 years. Most radio blackouts only last for a few a lot of problems with our current systems. Luckily, from stormy space weather, sometimes the e ects of space minutes, but occasionally they will last for a few hours. size of the Carrington Event happen only once every 100 from stormy space weather, sometimes the e ects of space minutes, but occasionally they will last for a few hours. scientists currently estimate that geomagnetic storms the weather can be seen here on Earth! e aurora, also called e most powerful type of solar storms are called years or more. weather can be seen here on Earth! e aurora (also called e most powerful type of solar storms are called size of the Carrington Event happen only once every 100 the Northern and Southern lights, is a glowing display of coronal mass ejections. CMEs are massive solar eruptions To learn more about space weather, visit the National the Northern and Southern lights), is a glowing display coronal mass ejections (CME). CMEs are massive solar years or more. lights that dance around the sky and are caused by atomic of plasma, that carry a magnetic eld. ey zoom away Weather Service’s space weather safety page at http:// of lights that dance around the sky, and are caused by eruptions of plasma, which carries a magnetic eld, and To learn more about space weather, visit the National particles colliding with our atmosphere. Aurora are from the sun at speeds that can exceed ve million miles www.nws.noaa.gov/om/space/ atomic particles colliding with our atmosphere. Aurora these zoom away from the sun at speeds that can exceed 5 Weather Service’s space weather safety page at http://www. nws.noaa.gov/om/space/ usually green, but the color can change depending on the per hour! are usually green in color, but their color can change million miles per hour! types of particles involved. If a CME crosses the…

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Weather

Working With Weather

Weather is fascinating, and learning about it can be a lot of fun! If you enjoy tracking storms and watching the weather, then one day you might like to have a job working with weather. There are many different kinds of jobs related to the weather. Some people are physical scientists such as meteorologists (they study the atmosphere and forecast the weather) and hydrologists (they study Earth’s water cycle). Others work to support these scientists in many different ways. The Faces of the National Weather Service (weather.gov/careers/) highlights many different types of jobs and career paths available to those interested in meteorology, hydrology, and other similar sciences. There’s a lot of information about many different jobs available in the NWS, and you can even read about many of the people that work for the NWS and the various different paths each of them took in their careers. One person you can read about is Jamie Rhome, a Storm Surge Specialist. Storm surge is the rise in sea level caused by powerful storms, which can cause flooding. This phenomenon is exactly what we recently saw with Hurricane Matthew on the east coast. Jamie works to forecast these storm surges and also helps with response and recovery efforts after the storms. When he was a kid, Jamie loved winter weather. As he got older, this led to a desire to forecast the weather. Jamie’s first job after college was working with the Environment Protection Agency studying air pollution. After that, he joined the National Hurricane Center at the NWS, where he works today. If you want to be a weather scientist like Jamie one day, it’s important to study math and science. Physics, chemistry, mathematics and computer science are all important subjects when studying meteorology, but English and communications is also important. These skills help meteorologists communicate the science and hazards associated with impending weather. Studying and working hard in these classes throughout your schooling will help you get a good understanding of how things work by the time you go to college. In college, there are various degree options for those interested in studying the atmosphere. For instance, a meteorologist would pursue a bachelor’s degree in meteorology or atmospheric science. Both degrees teach you about weather and climatology (historical weather patterns). While getting your bachelor’s degree, you can apply for research internships and be a part of the group of scientists that could change the understanding of our world. A lot of weather scientists continue with their education and get a master’s degree or a doctorate (Ph.D). These years of school are harder, but students get to do more research and become more involved in their field. Getting another degree teaches you a lot more about weather and introduces you to a lot more people you may be working with one day all over the world. You can start your training now by learning all that you can and observing the weather every day. You can get a weather station in your backyard to help the NWS by collecting more data they can use in their forecasts. The NWS is always looking for volunteers too. Contact your local forecasting office to see what experience you can get.

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Weather

Weather Forecasting on the Marine Highway

To get to a place on land, you use a road or highway. But did you know that there are highways for the sea, too? One of them is the Alaska Marine Highway System, which ships use to transport people and vehicles to coastal communities on a year-round basis. It covers about 3,500 miles from Bellingham, Washington, to Dutch Harbor, Alaska. How long is that? Well, from Miami to Seattle is a little more than 3,000 miles. To complete this route safely, ship captains rely on accurate weather predictions from the National Weather Service. Marine forecasters focus on wind (both speed and direction) and waves, as well as hazardous weather and reductions to visibility, since these are most dangerous to ships. Forecasters use data collected by floating weather sensors together with satellite imagery and computer models to produce a forecast. Ship captains receive these vital forecasts instantly by satellite, helping to keep them out of danger. And if they have questions about a forecast, they can call the National Weather Service office that issued the forecast, to get additional information to keep them safe. The job of marine forecasters is to “protect life and property” from the ravages of the sea. Captains appreciate being able to call a forecaster because powerful storms can develop over waters like the Gulf of Alaska at any time of year. Imagine trying to stay afloat in hurricane force winds with waves 20 feet high. Caught in a storm without a name, you’re helpless as your ship plunges into troughs and is threatened by towering black waves. And if your ship capsizes, you won’t survive long in the freezing waters. With storms this dangerous, you’d want all the weather information that you could get, which is why the job of marine forecasters is so vital. They help keep safe travelers on the Alaska Marine Highway System and other waters. Weather on the open ocean can be unforgiving and capable of sinking any ship. Next time you’re on a highway, be thankful that it’s made of land and not water!

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Weather

The Life of a Thunderstorm

A thunderstorm is a rain shower during which you see lightning and/or hear thunder. Since thunder comes from lightning, all thunderstorms have lightning. Thunderstorms are most likely in the spring and summer months and during the afternoon and evening hours when it’s warm, but they can occur any time of the day and any time of the year. Thunderstorms are a lot like us. They have three stages in their lives: the Development Stage, the Mature Stage and the Dissipating Stage. And it takes three things to create a thunderstorm: moisture, instability and lift in the atmosphere. Look for a big, white, pillowy cloud that is being pushed upward by a rising column of air to identify a thunderstorm being born. The cloud will look like a tower (called towering cumulus) as warm air rises into the stratosphere. During the Development Stage, there is no rain or lightning — yet! When it begins to rain, then you know that the thunderstorm has reached the Mature Stage. The updraft continues to feed the storm with warm air, but precipitation begins to fall out of the storm, creating a downdraft (a column of air pushing downward). When the downdraft and rain-cooled air spreads out along the ground it forms a gust front, or a line of gusty winds. This is when you’ll want to find shelter because mature thunderstorms can cause hail, heavy rain, frequent lightning, strong winds and tornadoes. Eventually, the thunderstorm runs out of energy and enters the Dissipating Stage. Rain decreases but lightning is still a danger. The thunderstorm fades away and blue skies return. While our storm may have dissipated, there are many others. As you’re reading this, there are roughly 2,000 thunderstorms in progress around the world. In the United States, we get 100,000 thunderstorms each year. Storms live and die every day. So, keep your eyes on the sky and watch for thunderstorms being born. Here’s a trick to figure out how far storms are from you. 1. After you see a flash of lightning, count the number of seconds until you hear the thunder. (Use a stopwatch or count “One-Mississippi, Two-Mississippi, Three-Mississippi,” etc.) 2. For every 5 seconds the storm is one mile away. Divide the number of seconds you count by 5 to get the number of miles. Make sure you do this from a safe shelter. Remember to cease all outdoor activities and go indoors when thunder roars. Thunderstorms are dangerous in every stage of life!

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Weather

September 2016 – Letter From Truman

Hi, Kids! We are in the middle of hurricane season, which seems like a good time to learn more about these impressive storms. Did you know that hurricanes can only form under specific circumstances? Northern Africa is where hurricanes commonly form. Another hurricane fact – there is an organization in charge of naming hurricanes. Learn more about hurricanes in the “Connections” section. Hurricanes can really stir up the waters in the ocean and bring a lot of debris to the shore. It is common to find driftwood, among other things, on the beach after a hurricane or rain storm. Some people consider driftwood a nuisance. Other people see it as a way to express their creativity. The “Cultural Connections” section explores driftwood art. Northern Africa is not only a source of hurricanes, it is home to the Sahara Desert, too. One of the creatures found in the Sahara is the deathstalker scorpion. These scorpions have a powerful sting. They live in burrows under the sand. You can read more about them in the “Wildville” section. I Hope your school year is off to a great start!

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Weather

Hurricanes

Mother Nature can do some pretty crazy things sometimes. Think about it. Tornadoes. Floods. Lightning. Thunder. Droughts. Hurricanes. These weather-related events can be unnerving and even deadly. Since we are in the middle of the Atlantic hurricane season, which lasts from June through November, let’s take a closer look and find out more about hurricanes. There are several things that need to happen at the same time and place for a hurricane to form: Temperature. The ocean surface temperature needs to be 80 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer. Wind. Weak vertical wind shear is important in hurricane formation, which means changing wind speed and direction. Moisture. A moist and unstable atmosphere helps set the stage for a hurricane. Location. The earth’s rotation helps start the spinning that forms hurricanes, which means hurricanes usually form near the equator. Once all of these conditions are in place, add some big tropical waves like the kind found near North Africa, and the conditions are ripe for a hurricane! Here are some interesting facts about hurricanes: A tropical wave (also known as a tropical disturbance) is an unorganized mass of thunderstorms with very little, if any, organized wind circulation. These are vital in hurricane formation. Once a tropical disturbance becomes more organized, it is called a tropical depression. When the wind speed in a tropical depression reaches 39 miles per hour, it is classified as a tropical storm. In the early 1950s, tropical storms were tracked by year and the order in which they occurred, but in 1953, the U.S. started naming storms. Storms were given female names until 1978, when male names were added to the list of storm names. The World Meteorological Organization is responsible for naming storms. For Atlantic storms, there is a list of names that are rotated on a six-year basis. Sometimes, if a storm causes a lot of damage, the name is retired to prevent confusion in the future. If there are more than 21 named storms in a year, the rest of the storms will be named after letters in the Greek alphabet. When a storm has winds of more than 74 miles per hour, it becomes a hurricane or cyclone. There are five categories of hurricanes. Category One has winds of 74-95 miles per hour, category two has winds of 96-110 miles per hour, category three has winds of 111-130 miles per hour, category four has winds of 131-155 miles per hour and category five has winds of 155 miles per hour or more. Hurricanes are nature’s deadliest storms and can cause real damage. However, there are some things grown-ups can do to get prepared for a hurricane. Here is a link with tips and information about hurricanes and hurricane readiness: https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes.

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Weather

Unbelievable World Weather Records

The weather is wilder than any video game. It contains more twists and turns than the most suspenseful mystery novel. It’s more unbelievable than the latest Hollywood blockbuster. The truth about hurricanes, lightning and other kinds of weather is incredible. You can’t make it up. So we didn’t! When was the longest drought? The largest flood? The coldest cold? Find out! Drought – The world record for longest recorded drought is 173 months (more than 14 years!), from October 1903 to January 1918 in Arica, Chile. The worst drought in the United States was the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. Floods – The largest flood in U.S. history was the Great Flood of 1927. Across Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana, some 16 million acres of land (26,000 square miles) were inundated with water from the mighty Mississippi. At least two months passed before the flood water completely subsided. Fog – In 1985, Seattle was hit with an “epic fog storm” of 13 straight days with dense fog — a record! Heat – North America’s highest temperature ever recorded is 134 degrees Fahrenheit which occurred at Death Valley, California, on July 10, 1913. Cold – The lowest temperature ever recorded in the United States was -80 degrees Fahrenheit on January 23, 1971 at Prospect Creek Camp, located near the Arctic Circle. Hurricanes – The strongest hurricane on record is Tropical Cyclone Olivia which struck Australia in 1996. The winds were measured at 253 miles per hour. Lightning – Lightning strikes the United States about 25 million times a year. Lightning can heat its path through the air to five times hotter than the surface of the sun. Hail – The largest hailstone in terms of diameter and weight ever recorded in the United States fell on July 23, 2010 in Vivian, South Dakota. It measured 7.9 inches in diameter and 18.62 inches in circumference, weighing in at 1.94 pounds. Space Weather – The strongest geomagnetic storm caused by the sun on record occurred in September 1859, known as the Carrington Event, named after the British astronomer Richard Carrington. During this storm, excess currents were produced on telegraph lines, shocking technicians and in some cases, setting their telegraph equipment on fire! The weather changes all the time. These records could change, too. Keep your eyes on the skies and the ever-changing world of weather! Maybe one day you’ll discover a new weather world record.

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Kids

Where Do Tornadoes Come From?

A tornado is a violently rotating column of air extending from the base of a thunderstorm down to the ground. Tornadoes are capable of completely destroying schools, uprooting trees and hurling objects through the air like deadly missiles. Tornadoes can occur at any time of day or night and at any time of the year. Although tornadoes are most common in the Central Plains and southeastern United States, they have been reported in all 50 states. About 1,200 tornadoes are reported in the United States yearly. Tornadoes come from the energy released in a thunderstorm. The most destructive and deadly tornadoes occur from super cells, which are rotating thunderstorms with a well-defined radar circulation called a mesocyclone. Tornado formation is believed to be dictated mainly by things which happen in and around the mesocyclone — but we still have a lot to learn about how tornadoes form. As powerful as they are, tornadoes account for only a tiny fraction of the energy in a thunderstorm. What makes them dangerous is that their energy is concentrated in a small area, perhaps only a hundred yards across. Not all tornadoes are the same, of course, and science does not yet completely understand how part of a thunderstorm’s energy sometimes gets focused into something as small as a tornado. There’s a lot that we don’t understand about tornadoes! For example, we’re not really sure what the highest wind speed might be inside a tornado since strong and violent tornadoes destroy weather instruments. We really only have measurements of the winds inside weaker tornadoes. Mobile Doppler radars can measure wind speeds in a tornado above ground level; the strongest was 318 mph measured on May 3, 1999, near Bridge Creek/Moore, Oklahoma. How fast does a tornado move? We’re not sure about that either, but a typical tornado travels at around 10-20 miles per hour. So don’t try to outrun it! The National Weather Service issues watches and warnings for severe weather and tornadoes. A tornado warning means that a tornado has been spotted, or that Doppler radar shows a thunderstorm circulation that can spawn a tornado. When a tornado warning is issued for your area, seek safe shelter immediately. The safest place to be is below ground, such as in a basement or storm shelter. If you can’t get underground, then find an interior room in your house, with no windows, such as a bathroom or closet. 

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