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28 April 2009
The Future of Severe Weather Warnings
It amazes me that in the 21st century that people are still clamoring for more tornado sirens in their communities. These sirens are outrageously expensive, and perhaps the least effective way to warn people of severe weather. Yet, after every severe weather event, I will get several emails from folks complaining that they have no siren in their neighborhood. Just to be clear, the reasons these sirens are and should …
20 April 2009
The Mobile Home Problem- It's Getting Worse
There have been 16 deaths from tornadoes in the USA this year. 9 of them in mobile homes. 2 more outdoors. One in a vehicle, and 4 in homes and buildings. Think about that for a second. Mobile homes make up only a small portion of the housing in this country, but in most years, at least half of the tornado deaths are in them. An EF2 tornado will destroy …
12 April 2009
Twisters and Ice From The Sky
Good Friday 2009 will long be remembered in Alabama and Tennessee. Huge hailstones, and violent tornadoes pounded the region. Only two deaths, and some 50 injuries, but a lot of destruction. It certainly could have been worse, and to families that lost loved ones and homes, it is a tragedy that will be remembered for a life time. Many times, when severe storms hit, the only view of hail or …
14 January 2009
The Misunderstood Wind Chill
Every time we get a big blast of cold in the Tennessee Valley, I get several requests for a wind chill chart. If I have reminded you of such a forgotten need, not to worry! I am including one in this post. However, if you think that the wind chill is “How cold it feels” then let me persuade you otherwise. It really is not. What wind chill IS, is …
11 March 2008
NOAA Radio Bill Stuck in Senate
You may recall the editorial we aired after the February tornadoes about NOAA weather radio’s. I wrote that editorial because I felt strongly that the money being spent on weather sirens by governments could be much better spent in getting NOAA radios in all homes. We called for Congress to pass legislation that would make it mandatory for all manufactured homes sold to be equipped with a working weather radio. …
10 February 2008
A Severe Weather Forecaster’s Worst Nightmare
When the thunderstorms moving into NW Alabama rapidly intensified early Wednesday morning, I knew trouble was coming. It was after 2 AM and most people were asleep. Tornadic thunderstorms in the middle of the night are truly a forecaster’s worst nightmare. Most people still do not have NOAA weather radios and even in areas with sirens, the residents are unlikely to hear them in their homes. Every Meteorologist I know …
Dan Satterfield has worked as an on air meteorologist for 32 years in Oklahoma, Florida and Alabama. Forecasting weather is Dan's job, but all of Earth Science is his passion. This journal is where Dan writes about things he has too little time for on air. Dan blogs about peer-reviewed Earth science for Junior High level audiences and up.