Another One :-)

There always seems to be a since of quiet after a storm, and yesterday after heavy rain and numerous flashes of lightning we got another one…A beautiful rainbow. I saw this rainbow during the Phillies game with my friend Brian, yesterday afternoon. There was a severe warning posted for Philadelphia and the surrounding areas around 5:10 that evening and the thunderstorm passed through before the game, so that it was not canceled. The forecast advised residents of of torrential downpours, penny-sized hail, and lightning strikes, but that didn’t stop the tailgaters before the game. Brian and I, drove into the storm from Moorestown which is roughly 30 minutes away from Philadelphia. The best place in our situation was to be in a car, though the visibility on the highway had diminished greatly because of the heavy rain. The rain reduced to a drizzle shortly afterward and did not completely stop until around 7:45 that evening. The sun behind our seats at Citizen’s Bank Park peaked out from the clouds and not long after that, a gorgeous rainbow appeared right in front of us and over the stadium. For a few moments, the some of the spectators took their eyes off the game and gazed at the beautiful weather phenomenon, and of course I snapped a few pictures. Though the rainbow was faint, the full arc of the rainbow could be seen over the stadium. The phenomenon remained until the sun set around 8:20 that evening, and the Phillies won against the Washington Nationals, 5 to 4!

As I study to become a meteorologist in college, and I learn more about the dynamics of how these weather events are created, the display of the atmosphere never ceases to amaze me. It is the causes and effects of the atmosphere that got me into this field. The thunderstorm which was caused by a cold front passing through the region of warmer air and this motion lead to instability of the atmosphere. As a result the thunderstorm created various effects. The phenomenon created dangerous effects such lightning and hail, but also created the pleasant effect such as that of a rainbow. It’s amusing because for the longest time it seemed that I would keep missing the chance to see a natural rainbow, but twice now in the past two months I have been able to witness this weather phenomenon. The broad range of products, which in many situations can change by a very slight adjustment, and that are displayed throughout the atmosphere, can be truly amazing. I love this field!!!!!

Below are the pictures that I took during the Phillies game. Look towards the sky, as the rainbow appears to be very faint in the pictures:

Side of the arc, from my view it appeared to be on the right side

Another view of the "right" side of the rainbow

The "left" side of the rainbow

The "left" side as the sun begin to peak out from behind the clouds

Meteorology and the National Spelling Bee?

I was watching the 2009 Scripps National Spelling Bee, this afternoon on ESPN 2 and although I used to be an English major, many of the words that they used during the spelling bee for the young students, I was not familiar with. Many of the words used were interesting but one word in particular caught my attention- AUSTAUSCH. The language of origin is German and as the announcer described the definition of the word, I was surprised that the word was related to meteorology. I’ll be entering my senior year of college next Fall and so far I have not encountered this word, however it will definitely be a word that I’ll add to my ever-growing vocabulary.

From the Encyclopedia Britannia website:

Austaush coefficient

physics also called exchange coefficient, eddy coefficient, or eddy diffusivity

in fluid dynamics, particularly in its applications to meteorology and oceanography, the proportionality between the rate of transport of a component of a turbulent fluid and the rate of change of density of the component. In this context, the term component signifies not only material constituents of the fluid, such as dissolved or suspended substances, but also constituents of its energy, such as heat and momentum.

source

Rainy Week Ahead

Moorestown, NJ Area Forecast Valid (May 25 to May 31)

You may have to put that BBQ on hold, if you planning on having one later on in the week. Today, memorial day looks to be your best bet. We expect partly cloudy skies and a temperatures in the lower 80s as we’ll be seeing a dip by later on tonight into tomorrow. This is because a frontal boundary will be moving into the region later on tonight into Tuesday and forecasted are predicting that this front with stall as unsettled weather will develop for the the remainder of the week. For Tuesday we can expect a milder temperature of 61 degrees and a chance of showers in the afternoon. New rainfall amounts of around a quarter to a half an inch are possible. For Wednesday we can expect a chance of showers and thunderstorms and cloudy sky conditions. A high around 76 is predicted with a low around 60 for the night. For Thursday and Friday we’ll be warming up back to our average for this time of year, with temperatures in the lower 80s for both days and a chance for thunderstorms both days. The front will then move northward, while a strong cold front will move through the region Friday night. The weekend looks to be dry as and cooler, with temperatures in the mid-70s and mostly sunny sky conditions both days.
Don’t forget those umbrellas!
P.S. I’m back home, school is out for the summer!
source: NOAA

Historic Flooding in Florida

The disturbance that developed over the Atlantic Ocean a few days ago, has brought historic flooding to certian areas of Florida. Parts of northern and central Florida were hardest hit and counties such as Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Orange, Seminole, and Volusia, were declared a state of emergency by governor Charlie Crist. The water has been slowly receding but many homes and businesses still remain submerged. Source
Flooding is a common occurrence that can happen around the world, and is the number one natural disaster in the United States. On average, floods kill about 140 people each year and cause $6 billion in property damage. Not every flood is the same, and some floods may take several days to develop. Others can develop quickly as flash floods and move objects such as rocks and debris in a rushing flow. Everyone is at risk for a flood and it is essential to know your if your home is located floodplain area. It is also know know specific flood terms such as flood watch, flash flood watch, and flash flood warning, neither should be ignored. When a flood watch is issued, it means that flooding is possible and to tune in to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information. When a flash flood watch is issued it means that a flash flooding is possible and to be prepared to move to higher ground. Listening to a commercial radio, or television for information is essential as well. When a flood warning is issued, flooding is occurring or will occur soon and if advised to evacuate, do so immediately and if a flash flood warning is issued, a flash flood is occurring and seek higher ground on foot immediately.
Below are a few important safety tips to help keep you and your home:

• Constructing barriers such as levees, beams, floodwalls, can help to stop floodwater from entering the building in a way to ensure your home’s safety before a flood. Installing “check valves” in sewer traps to prevent flood water from backing up into the drains of your home can help as well.
• If a flood is occurring, secure your home. If you have time, bring in outdoor furniture and move essential items to an upper floor. Turn off utilities at the main switches or valves as well, if instructed to do so. Disconnect electrical appliances and DO NOT touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water. If you are to evacuate, DO NOT walk through moving water. Six inches of moving water is enough to make you fall. If you have to walk in water, walk where the water is not moving. DO NOT drive into flooded areas, in fact a foot of water is enough to float a car and six inches of water can cause possible stalling. If floodwaters rise around your car, abandon the car and move to higher ground if you can do so safely, you and the vehicle can be quickly carried away.
• After the flood, listen for news reports to learn whether the community’s water supply is safe to drink. Also avoid floodwaters as the water may be contaminated by oil, gasoline, or raw sewage. Water may also be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines. Avoid moving water. Also be aware of areas where floodwaters have receded. Roads may have weakened and could collapse under the weight of a car and clean and disinfect everything that got wet. Mud left from floodwater can contain sewage and chemicals.

For more information about flood safety visit: FEMA: Are You Ready?- Floods, found at this link.

Possible Early Start

With hurricane season just around the corner, new developments in the gulf of Mexico have forecasters closely watching to see if this disturbance could be an early development of the tropical systems that have yet to come. The official start of the hurricane season is June 1st which is less than 2 weeks away. Forecasters predicted last year that the 2009 Atlantic Hurricane season could be above average with a possible 14 storms to hit the United States this year, and half of those storms becoming actual hurricanes. According to an article posted on CNN on December 10th of last year, “three of the season’s seven hurricanes will develop into intense or major storms, meaning Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Category 3 storms have sustained winds of at least 111 mph. There is a 63 percent chance that at least one major hurricane will make landfall on the United States.”
Last year’s Atlantic Hurricane season was recorded as the fourth busiest year since 1944 and the only year on record in which a major hurricane existed in every month from July through November in the North Atlantic. In total 16 named storms brewed from the Atlantic Ocean, in which 8 of those storms developed into hurricanes and out of those 8 hurricanes, 5 where classified as major. The season also featured a few other record breakers, including Tropical Storm fay which became the first storm ever in recorded history to make landfall onto Florida four times, and Hurricane Bertha which became the longest lived July cyclone on record for the Atlantic basin. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in a typical Atlantic Hurricane Season the basin will see 11 named storms, 6 hurricanes in which 2 of them are major.
Below is capture of what the GFS model is displaying for tomorrow (Thursday, May 21, 2009):

Tropical storms do not acquire names until they are designated tropical storms with sustained maximum winds of at least 39 mph and this disturbance at the moment looks to be bringing rain to Florida region and will head north, towards Louisiana by Sunday. Let’s keep a watchful eye!

April: A Transitional Month

Below is an article that I wrote, with the help of my professor, Dr. Croft, which was published in a newspaper at my school. It mainly focuses on the extremes that the month of April can bring, this is because April is a transitional month, which is later described in the article. I would have posted this earlier but the last week of finals consumed my life. I’m out for the summer now, with one more year to go! Enjoy!
The spring season is in full swing. Flowers and plants have begun to bloom, trees have started to bud, and the birds and other wildlife have become more active. While many think of spring weather as sunny and pleasant days with temperatures in the 70s, the atmospheric reality is quite different. Spring is a time of transition from winter to summer and “pop-up” showers or thunderstorms are often an indication of the instability that can result from two very different types of weather conditions doing battle—cold, dry air from the north and warm, moist air from the south. This battle often leaves us scrambling as to what to wear and whether we will need a sweater, umbrella, or shorts from day-to- day.
April is a prime example of spring’s variable nature as temperatures in New Jersey have soared into the 90s, sunk into the teens, and the atmosphere has produced strong winds and hail. While “April Showers” is a familiar phrase to most people during April, the thought of snow is not often mentioned. Although getting several inches of snow is relatively rare in New Jersey in April, it has occurred, and Newark averages just less than one inch (0.8”) of snow in April. It is this variation that sometimes makes spring a ‘difficult’ season for some, as Kean University student Danielle Fadeski points out “April can be disappointing” given the chaotic variation of weather conditions from day-to-day. So far this month the temperature at nearby Newark Airport has ranged from as high as 93 to as low as 33 degrees. Nearly two-and-one-half inches of rain have fallen, some with severe thunderstorms and hail, and a trace of snow has been observed.
In some sections of the state up to an inch of snow has been observed. Other days have been downright dreary with overcast skies, rain, and strong winds. Yet these are reflective of past April’s in New Jersey and not ‘records’ by any means. What will the remainder of the month bring? While difficult to know precisely, it is clear that large variations are to be expected during a spring transition month.

Spring Showers

It’s been a wet start to May as the region has been suited with unsettled weather. I must say that the rain has brought some relief to my seasonal allergies. On Tuesday, April 28th it felt like summer with sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 80s, but there was so much pollen! My blue car had turned green from the significant layer of pollen which had collected onto my car. The rain on the following day was extremely refreshing and seems in the forecast there will be much more precipitation.

Union, NJ Area Forecast (May 4- May 10)

Today we can expect temperatures in the upper 50s and periods of rain as a low pressure system along a stationary bountary moves southward into Tuesday. Fo Tuesday, expect a chance of showers, and slightly below average temperatures, with a high near 57. We’ll be seeing a slight break on Wednesday as a weak high pressure system passes to our north, bringing mostly cloudy skies and a 20-degree bump in the high temperature. Expert a chance for some thunderstorms and temperatures for the night to be in the mid fifties. Another low pressure system moves through the region bringing the possiblity of showers throughout the rest of the week. Temperatures will remain in the lower 70s for both days. For the weekend expect, drier conditions with mostly cloudy skies in the forecast and a slight dip in the temperature on Sunday.

Don’t forget those unbrellas!