Thunderstorm Safety

The area was hit with severe yesterday as the first thunderstorm of the season which brought thunder, lightning and heavy rain in a short time span. One of my classmates informed me that in his area they also received hail.
I have always found thunderstorms interesting. The dynamic of how they form and are able to produce such phenomenon like tornadoes and lightning is what got me into meteorology. I would watch the storms from the porch of my home in South Jersey, with my father as my mother would stay inside the house and think that we were both crazy. Learning the structure of the storms now and the intensity that most can produce, I must say that we were a little crazy watching the storm from the porch as the lightning would strike a couple of yards away from us. Thunderstorms are serious and should not be taken lightly, especially in the case of lightning or hail. According to Mike Utley, a lightning strike survivor and founder of Struckbylighting.org, 70% of lightning strike incidents occur before and after a storm. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Utley in the Spring of 2008, when he came to speak at my school. He told his amazing story about how he was struck by lighting while playing golf and after the strike he spent 38 days in the intensive care unit and 2 months of rehabilitation. He created the website to educate the public about the dangers of thunderstorms and lightning and offer tips on how to stay safe. Below are a few other facts on lightning:

• Lightning is the only weather-related thing that goes from Earth into outer Space (blue jets).
• Lightning travels up an down and DOES strike MORE THAN ONCE (up to a 100 times a second), it is a “straw” through the air, it’s not a constant charge though it is a negative to positive charge.
• The average lightning bolt is 6 to 10 miles long and the record is 106 miles ( so just because you see lightning in the distance, it does not mean that it can not “reach out and touch you.”)
• A car is safe from lightning because of the metal frame, NOT BECAUSE of the rubber tires.
• Lightning is 5 times hotter than the sun.
• Lightning strikes tall, objects and that “NOTHING ATTRACTS LIGHTNING.”
• When lightning strikes something with moisture on the outside (i.e. sweat, rain) it is more likely to travel on the outside, also know as a flashover (reducing the risk for extreme damage) , when lightning strikes something the is dry, it is more likely to travel through the object (lets just say scientists tested this on a dry piece of wood and the wood exploded).

Water Update!!!! The rain from yesterday’s storm as well as the precipitation we received the day before, has greatly helped with the water deficit situation. Though we are still below the average for this time of the year, yesterday’s storm alone brought 0.42 inches of rain to our area.

Area Forecast (valid March 31st to April 5)

We can expect sunny skies and temperatures in the lower 60s tomorrow as high pressure builds over the area throughout Tuesday, which will be moving offshore by the evening where we can expect temperatures in the lower 40s with mostly cloudy skies. A cold front will move across the region as we can expect temperatures to reach into the mid 50s for Wednesday and Thursday as well as a chance of rain for both days. Another frontal system is projected to pass through on Friday when we can expect a high temperature around 58 and chance of showers. For the weekend high pressure is expected to settle in with milder temperatures for the region.

Rain in the forecast?

I’m definitely looking forward to tomorrow for the possibly of precipitation in our area. Even with the slight precipitation we got on the first day of Spring, we still are below the average for this time of year. This is according to the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, NJ. The average for this time of the year is 3.9 inches and in viewing data recorded from over a span of the last 30 days ( February 22, 2009 to March 23, 2009) we have only received 0.08 inches of rain in Union, NJ. We need those spring showers!

Currently a low developing in the south will be moving in to our area tomorrow possibly bringing new precipitation amounts between a tenth to a quarter of inch. Our next chance for precipitation won’t be until the weekend when another low, this time from over the great lakes, moves into our region possible bringing new rainfall amounts. I’ll keep you updated on the current conditions with the precipitation situation. We are currently not in a drought but with prolonged periods without rain we may be headed that way.

For more information about the current outlook on the average annual precipitation for New Jersey, check out:

http://www.erh.noaa.gov/marfc/Maps/NJ_counties_mtd_color.htm

Welcome Spring

It’s the first day of Spring and for some parts of the area there was a surprise this morning…snow! You just gotta love March! The month came in like a lion and in the seasonal transition, winter just seems like it can’t let go. Last night temperatures were in the lower 40s and as a cold front moved through the region later in the morning temperatures dropped to 33 degrees. 32 degrees is not always necessary for the phenomenon of snow and the there have been cases in which it snowed with temperatures in the mid to upper thirties. The snow fell for a good portion of the morning we collected some precipitation from this event.

From the National Weather Service:

Snowfall Totals (March 20, 2009)

NEW JERSEY

…BURLINGTON COUNTY…

SOUTHAMPTON 0.6 820 AM 3/20 ON GRASS

MOUNT LAUREL 0.4 642 AM 3/20 ON SNOWBOARD

…CAMDEN COUNTY…

LINDENWOLD 0.2 830 AM 3/20 ON GRASS AND CARS

…MERCER COUNTY…

HOPEWELL 1.4 730 AM 3/20 ON GRASS

PENNINGTON 1.0 700 AM 3/20 COCORAHS – ON GRASS

EWING 0.8 1013 AM 3/20 ON GRASS

…MIDDLESEX COUNTY…

SOUTH BRUNSWICK 2.0 700 AM 3/20 COCORAHS – ON GRASS

EDISON 1.0 845 AM 3/20 ON GRASS

…MORRIS COUNTY…

LANDING 0.3 612 AM 3/20 ON GRASS

…SOMERSET COUNTY…

HILLSBOROUGH 0.7 700 AM 3/20 ON GRASS

PENNSYLVANIA

…BUCKS COUNTY…

NEWTOWN 0.3 700 AM 3/20 COCORAHS – ON GRASS

FURLONG 0.2 920 AM 3/20 ON GRASS

This is information taken from the weather station in Mt. Holly, NJ. In Moorestown the accumulation was 0.02 inches early today and currently the temperature in Moorestown, NJ is 42 degrees with overcast skies, which is also the high for today. It is below the average of 50 degrees for this time in March and can you believe but just this past year, a record was set today for the record high of 60 degrees. Now that’s Spring! We can expect a low of 27 with partly cloudy skies tonight, as the high which is now over the great lakes, moves into the region by Sunday. We can expect temperatures in the lower 50s for Saturday and near 59 degrees for Sunday as a cold front will move through the area Sunday night, leaving slightly below average temperatures towards the beginning of next week.

Welcome Spring I’m looking forward to some interesting stories.

Earth Hour 2009

Wherever you are on the planet, on Saturday, March 28, 2009, participate in a worldwide event: Earth Hour 2009. All you have to do is turn off non-essential lights and electrical appliances for one hour (8:30 pm local time). Earth Hour was created by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and has become a growing tradition since it originally began in 2007 in Sydney, Australia, in which 2.2 million businesses and homes turned off their lights for one hour. In the following year, the message had spread globally, resulting in 50 million people turning of their lights in 2008. Homes and businesses are not only participates. Landmarks including the Sydney Opera House, the Coca Cola Billboard in Times Square, NY and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, CA turn off their lights as well.
So why turn off the lights? Turning off non-essential lights and electrical appliances helps to concern energy as well as raise awareness towards the need to take action on climate change. The international event will be taking steps towards a new level this year.
From the Earthhour.org website, “In 2009, Earth Hour is being taken to the next level, with the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote. Unlike any election in history, it is not about what country you’re from, but instead, what planet you’re from. VOTE EARTH is a global call to action for every individual, every business, and every community. A call to stand up and take control over the future of our planet. Over 74 countries and territories have pledged their support to VOTE EARTH during Earth Hour 2009, and this number is growing everyday. “
As of now, 1,500 cities and 80 countries, will be turning off their non-essential lights on March 28, 2009, which is a major increase from the confirmed number of 35 participating countries for Earth Hour 2008. Join in on the chance to make a difference, turn off those lights on March 28, 2009!

Current Conditions

I’m at home in Moorestown, NJ (South Jersey) now for Spring Break. Many of my forecasts will be for the Union, NJ (North Jersey) because that’s where attend college.

Right now in Moorestown, the temperature is 46 with a light rain/mist mixture. We can expect mostly cloudy skies and a low around 36 for tonight with a slight possibly for showers before 10 pm.

In Union, the temperature is 44 with overcast skies. For tonight expect a low around 33 with mostly cloudy skies and a chance of showers before 11 pm.

Spring is Almost Here!

The first official day of the vernal equinox a.k.a. Spring is March 20th at exactly 7:44 am EST!

Mark it on your calendars and let’s hope for some warmer temperatures and sunnier skies like we had today.

Fact:

From time and date.com, “The word “equinox” derives from the Latin words meaning “equal night” and refers to the time when the sun crosses the equator. At such times, day and night are everywhere of nearly equal length everywhere in the world.

It is important to note that while the March equinox marks the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere, it is the start of autumn in many parts of the southern hemisphere.”

St. Patrick's Day Forecast

St. Patrick’s Day Forecast

North Jersey (Union, NJ area)

Expect mostly cloudy skies in the morning which will become clearer for the afternoon. We can expect milder temperatures with a high around 53 degrees and calm winds out of the north at 7 to 9 mph, that will switch to the east by the end of the day. For the night we can expect mostly clear skies with lows in the mid-thirties.

South Jersey (Moorestown, NJ area)

Expect cloudy conditions in the earlier parts of the day as the coverage will decrease for the remainder of the day. Temperatures will be in the mid fifties with northeast winds at 5 to 8 mph. For the night expect partly cloudy skies, with light winds and a low around 35.

Happy celebrating!!!!

Area Forecast

This forecast is valid March 10th to March 15th 2009

Currently over the region we have high pressure which will move northward by this evening as a frontal system will pass thorough the area until Wednesday afternoon. We can expect showers later tonight and into Wednesday afternoon as a tenth to a quarter inch of precipitation accumulation is possible. As this frontal system moves in, a warm front will approach slowly from the south and Wednesday we can expect high temperatures in the lower 60s. By Wednesday night a cold front will move through the region from Canada being lows around 28 degrees. This cold front will be followed by a strong high pressure system which will build for the remainder of the week. We can expect temperatures in the mid to upper 40s for Thursday into Saturday and mostly sunny skies. Our next chance for rain is Sunday night into Monday morning when a low pressure system from the south moves into area.
Currently in Union, NJ the temperature is 45 with mostly cloudy sky conditions and southeastern winds at 8 mph.

Stay tuned for updates and information on other weather occurrences.

Brief Warm-Up

For those who were tired of the cold and wanted some warmth your wishes have been answered, this weekend looks to be pleasant, temperature wise that is. Currently the temperature in Union is 44 degrees with overcast sky conditions. The high is expected to reach in the lower 50s for today however. Don’t forget those umbrellas tomorrow, as we can expect temperatures around 60 degrees, with a slight chance of showers in the afternoon and by Sunday, another chance for rain is in the forecast with a high near 59.
Don’t forget Daylight Saving (not savings ;-)) Time is this Sunday, March 8th at 2:00 am! “Spring ahead” those clocks one hour, and though we may be losing an hour of sleep we are gaining an extra of daylight and conserving energy!

• Fact: Both Arizona and Hawaii (and three U.S. territories: American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) do not observe daylight saving time. In 2006, Indiana adopted DST .

Countdown to Spring

So the official start of Spring may not be until March 20th this year, and I don’t know about you but I’m definitely ready for the warmer temperatures, budding trees and flowers and no more snow! The storm earlier this week pummeled the Northeast with snowfall totals with over a foot of snow in some area, mostly along the coast and the air over the region this morning set a records like the one set in Atlantic City, NJ their morning low was only 3 degrees! Looking at the models though it seems like we’ll be close to average temperatures into the following week but like February, March can be a very unpredictable month. I’ll keep you updated, in the meantime, here’s a poem I wrote back when I was in high school, about the wonders of Spring.

One Spring

When the flowers blossomed

And their fragrant scent filled the air,

When the birds played tag in the sky

And sweet sounds echoed aimlessly,

When the gray clouds dumped cool rain

Over an already damp ground,

That was went I met you

Eyes as green as the prominent grass,

Skin as dark as the sun had toasted it,

Personality as unique as a four-leaf clover,

Yet soon the flowers withered

And the birds flew their own ways,

The gray clouds sprinkled cold snow and the ground was white,

Leaving me waiting for that one Spring,

When we’ll meet again and the world will stop.

Some Winter Weather Terminology

Winter Weather Warning

A hazardous winter storm posing a threat to life and property is imminent, occurring, or likely to occur.

Winter Weather Watch

Provides 12 to 36 hours notice for the possibility of severe winter weather occurance. A major winter weather event such as heavy sleet, snow or freezing rain is likely to occur but not impending for the specific watch area.

Winter Weather Advisory

Issued when a significant winter weather happening is impending, occurring or is an inconvenience.

Blizzard Warning

Issued when winds are at least 35 mph or greater and blowing snow is reducing visibility to that will frequently to 1/4 mile or less for at least three hours. Also when hazardous wind chills are predicted for the area involved.

Wind Chill Index

From Weather.com, “The calculation of temperature that takes into consideration the effects of wind and temperature on the human body. This is not the actual air temperature, but what it feels like to the average person. This wind chill chart shows the difference between actual air temperature and perceived temperature, and the amount of time until frostbite occurs.”

Index of the wind chill

The Beauty of a Snow Storm

The beauty of a snowstorm

Can never fully be described,

As the flakes dance and shimmy to the ground

Leaving a winter wonderland behind,

Born from the clouds

These white specks of dust,

Twinkling so peacefully

So swift, yet so steady

Careful as to not make a sound;

Rest where my grandmother lay

So quiet is this day,

Whose scenery takes my breath away.

A video of the Nor'easter, taken from my dorm room at Kean University on March 2, 2009, 11:06 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYNsCAM3px8

Snowfall Totals!

What a snow storm it was today as March rolled in like a lion!

According to the National Weather Service snowfall totals for the surrounding area are listed below:

North Jersey

Newark 6.8 inches

Hoboken 7.1 inches

West Milford 11.1 inches

Ridgewood 4.2 inches

South Jersey

Atlantic City 6.8 inches

Mount Holly 9.0 inches

Lindenwold 5.0 inches

Cape May 7.7 inches

New York

Brooklyn 9.0 inches

Plainview 12.1 inches

Westtown 3.0 inches

Extended Forecast For Union, NJ

Currently the temperature is 20 degrees, as we can expect breezy conditions and snow drifts for tonight. New snow accumulation is predicted to be less than an inch. We received 5.30 inches of snow which broke the record of 4.30 inches back in 1996!

The associated low pressure system which brought the precipation to the area will be moving towards Maine into the night as a high pressure system from Canada settles in our region bringing sunny skies and colder temperatures for Tuesday. Expect a high of 27 with slightly breezy conditions tomorrow and for tomorrow night, clear skies and a chilly low of 17 are predicted. The high remains in the region for Wednesday as we can expect afternoon temperatures slightly warmer in the mid-thirties, and sunny conditions. For the night we can expect mostly cloudy skies with temps in the lower twenties as the high moves south of the region by Thursday allowing a frontal system to approach from the west, bringing temperatures near normal by Thursday. Expect highs near 46 degrees and partly sunny conditions and for Thursday night expect partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the lower thirties. By Friday another low moves into the region, possibly bringing rain or snow showers. Expect a high of 45 degrees and mostly cloudy skies with a low around 31 for Friday night.

Don't Forget About Your Car This Season!

As the temperatures drop and strong winds produce the wind chill, we lose body heat which can make it feel bitterly cold outside, possibly leading to frostbite or hypothermia. We grab our coats and gloves to protect us from the cold and as ice forms on the highways and streets, and the potential for accidents becomes greater as the risk for hidden dangers is heightened. According to Weather.com, any temperature below 20° Fahrenheit or above 90° Fahrenheit, can pose hazardous driving conditions due to weather. As we protect ourselves from the cold we need not forget about our cars as the colder environment can take a toll on the car too. Here are some tips on protecting your car from winter’s icy grip:

1. Check your windshield wipers. One of the worse things that could possibly happen is that during a snow/ sleet mix, slush from the street is kicked onto your front windshield and completely blinds your view. Good windshield wipers clean it off and make sure it is spotless by checking the status of the windshield wiper fluid.
2. Tires, tires, tires. Have you ever considered snow tires? They can improve traction if you just have them on for the winter season months, rather than the tires that wear down during any season because they are left on. Not looking for snow tires, check the tread depth, a tread depth of 2/32″ is safe according to National Highway Transportation Safety Board. Also check the tire pressure; tires lose pressure (one pound per square inch) whenever the temperature drops by 10°.
3. Fill up on that antifreeze! Leaking anti-freeze is not a good thing and like a coat to protect us from the cold, antifreeze helps to protect your car from the wintry environment. Make sure the mix is 50% antifreeze and 50% water.
4. Routine maintenance. Don’t prolong your oil-change. When the environment is colder the oil can become thicker and the goal is to keep your car’s engine lubricated. A quick reference for the right kind of oil to use in different temperatures and weather conditions can be found in the owner’s manual. Test your battery and check your belts as well.
5. Have an emergency kit. Emergencies can happen at any time and The Red Cross urges being prepared as part of their three steps towards preparedness. Include an ice scraper and snow brush, first aid kit, flashlight, jumper cables, bag of salt or cat litter and non-perishable foods as part of your kit!

These are just a few tips to start winterizing your car. For more information on preparing your car for the winter and what to do if you become stranded check out: http://www.weather.com/activities/driving/drivingsafety/drivingsafetytips/winterize.html. For more information on preparing for emergencies and The Red Cross, check out: http://www.redcross.org/. Happy driving!