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Jake N. – “Today, weather camp was great because we learned about thunderstorms and how they are made. [In an experiment where we created thunderstorms and demonstrated convective heat transfer processes] we used buttermilk, water, food coloring, a loaf pan to hold the water and buttermilk, and [sterno as] fuel.
Read DetailsGarrett H. – “I liked taking [observations of] my shadow for four hours [and predicting its movement]. I also liked looking at satellites, hurricanes, and NOAA’s warnings, watches, and advisories. I really enjoyed making a cloud. I didn’t enjoy making a weather balloon because I do not like to do
Read DetailsTake a look at the enhanced (false-colored) infrared satellite image in Fig. 1. See that huge red blob across Kansas? That feature is what meteorologists call an MCS or “Meso-scale Convective System.” By official National Weather Service definition, “An MCS is, “a complex of thunderstorms which becomes organized on a
Read DetailsDateline: Vail, CO During the months of May and June, in many parts of the Nation, you might start hearing talk about the soon-to-arrive, “monsoon.” But, do you really know what the monsoon is? The North American Monsoon provides summer thunderstorms from California to Colorado and from Mexico to Montana.
Read DetailsDateline: Vail, CO This article, which addresses the effects of altitude and latitude on temperature, could be for most anyplace(s) in the 50 states. But the western U.S. (including Alaska and Hawaii), with incredibly wild swings of altitude across relatively small distances, offers some of the best settings. Since I
Read DetailsTypically seen in high wind shear environments, “fair weather” funnels are awesome things to encounter. They usually form through vortex stretching, are always short-lived, and shouldn’t ever touch the ground. They also form during “benign” weather scenarios. Yesterday, I caught one, totally by accident (as is usually the case). I
Read DetailsEarly on Jun.14, 2016, I headed out to read my rain gauge (located on the 16th fairway of my community golf course). Looking up and to the west, I was treated to a spectacular cloud display (Fig. 1). One small cumulus cloud had managed to grow vertically thanks to a
Read DetailsFor more than a week, computer models have suggested a developing rainy period for south Florida during the first part of June. Now, a tropical weather system may enter the equation. Computer models and National Hurricane Center guidance suggest that a potential tropical low will develop off the Yucatan Peninsula
Read DetailsTwo key weather agencies – NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the parent agency of the National Weather Service – NWS) and U. S. Air Force are bringing their hurricane hunter aircraft to Naples, FL, today, Fri., May 20, 2016, as part of a week-long Gulf Coast Hurricane Awareness Tour
Read DetailsFollowing in the footsteps of Earth Day, this week offers earthlings an opportunity to look up and celebrate and appreciate the meteorological sky overhead. Coined National Sky Awareness Week (SAW – which is what the week is all about, seeing), the event has been featured in Chase’s Calendar of Events
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