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19 April 2011
New Tornado Outbreak Coming- This one in the Midwest.
The Storm Prediction Center in Norman (They are the ones who issue the tornado and severe thunderstorm watches) has indicated a moderate risk of severe storms on Wednesday afternoon and Evening over much of the Midwest. After last weekends swarm of tornadoes, this is not good news, but it is April and some of our deadliest tornado outbreaks have been in this month. There are already signs in the numerical …
14 April 2011
The Weather 99 & 146 Years ago Tonight
Two dramatic historical events happened on this day, and while neither was attributed to the weather, knowing what the conditions were is historically interesting. I think it adds some understanding of what it must have been like for those who were present at these events, so here is a re-write from last year on this day: Being a history and science buff, I’ve often wondered what the weather and …
26 February 2011
Yes, People are Breathing This-Smog over China
It’s called the ABC. The Asian Brown Cloud. The air pollution from cooking fires, coal fired power plants, and gasoline/diesel engines are the cause. This air pollution is measurable across the Pacific and into the West Coast of the U.S. Air pollution (from different areas of the world) has its own unique signature. A recent study indicated that about 30% of San Francisco’s particulate levels are from China.
14 February 2011
St. Valentine’s Day Massacre- The real weather that day.
Perhaps no single event in the era of gangsters and prohibition is the crime known as the Saint Valentine’s Day massacre. Many movies have been made, and dozens of books written, about the event. Almost all put the blame (where the experts say it belongs) on Al Capone. Most people have seen the movie about the crime and it shows a cold and quite snowy day leading up to the …
2 February 2011
Yasi Pounds Queensland, While Chicago Digs Out
Cyclone Yasi hit Queensland with winds gusting to 285 km/hr (177mph). There may have been brief sustained winds at 300km/hr, and this makes Yasi a strong cat 5 cyclone at landfall. The town of Tully has been hit very hard, with 90% of the buildings heavily damaged, according to ABC News Australia. Late reports indicate heavy damage all along the area near landfall. Meanwhile, the blizzard has left 21 inches …
1 February 2011
Historic Blizzard Pounds Plains/Midwest; Aussies Brace for Yasi
From Oklahoma to Illinois a blizzard is raging this evening. Tulsa broke it’s one day snow record with 13.2 inches and Chicago, at 4 PM CST, was reporting blinding snow and winds near gale force. Winds are likely near 50, in gusts along Michigan Avenue, near the lake front. Here is the official NWS Chicago forecast for tonight: Tonight: Snow and widespread blowing snow. The snow could be heavy at …
31 January 2011
Super Blizzard To Hit Plains and Midwest
It looks like the model guidance is in very good agreement on a major blizzard for the Midwest. It will start in Oklahoma tonight and spread into Missouri and Illinois Tuesday. The guidance is indicating some incredible snow totals, and over a foot is likely in a stripe from Tulsa to near Chicago. The Plains have had a mild winter so far, with little snow, but that is about to …
22 January 2011
Another Deep South Snow and Northeast Blizzard? This time the NAO is innocent!
Here in the Eastern USA this winter will be remembered for many years if not generations. A white Christmas in North Alabama and Georgia is a less than once in a century event. The two East Coast blizzards the past 4 weeks have been amazing. Now, don’t shoot the messenger but another one MIGHT be brewing. We are in a different pattern now than the strongly negative NAO of a …
14 January 2011
Kudos to ABC News for Doing an Accurate Story On Climate
Many network news stories I’ve seen on climate change end with an interview of someone who has never published anything in the field repeating an often heard myth. The myth almost always has long ago been shown to totally wrong, so it gets a new life. ABC News (U.S. not ABC Australia) aired an excellent, and scientifically accurate piece last night on the flooding around the world over the past …
10 January 2011
North Alabama Buried in Snow-Again!
I thought I’d share with you some of the images viewers sent in of the heavy snow event over North Alabama. In Huntsville, this is the third heaviest snowfall on record. Number one is the 17 inches that fell on New Year’s Eve in 1963. January 1988 brought 9.6″ and the total last night was 8.9″ at the Huntsville Airport. This event comes just 3 weeks after a very rare …
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.