Al Roker's Blog

Need a job?

No, I’m not offering mine.

But I do know of another weather-related position that’s in need this winter: snow shoveler.

I heard that after the Valentine’s Day storm New York City was paying ten dollars an hour if you were willing to get rid of snow and ice from city sidewalks and curbs. Not too bad if you’re looking for some extra spending cash…and buff arms.

Or if you didn’t want to work for the “man” you could even turn it into a little winter business and set your own price. You know there will always be someone who doesn’t want to shovel his or her own driveway.

Now I’m not saying I’m a snow removal expert, but I can offer you some tips if you plan to start shoveling. Here are a few:

• Size Matters: A smaller blade means you'll pick up less snow -- which will mean less strain on your body.

• Watch Your Back: Remember, lift from the legs -- not the back.

• Take a Stand: Stand with your feet about hip width apart for balance. Keep the shovel close to your body. Bend from the knees as you lift the snow, and tighten your stomach muscles for added strength.

• Don’t Do the Twist: Avoid twisting movements. If you have to move the snow from one side to another, move your feet to reposition your body rather than twisting from the waist.

If you want some more snow shoveling tips check out this link.

And, if you end up with a successful snow-shoveling career…remember where you got your start!

Posted by Al Roker at 04:53 PM | Permalink

By February, the bloom is off the leftover roses from Valentine's Day. Winter's charms are either in abundance by February (ice storms aren't so pretty when you're still waiting for the electricity to come back from the last one) or have barely made an appearance. Either way, most people are ready for a change. Ask anybody who lives in Oswego County, NY.

But spring is (technically, at least) just around the corner. And sometimes the best defense for the winter blues is a good offense. In other words: get yourself off the couch and into the cold.

Hey -- I'm not suggesting you just stand in the wind, shivering for nothing! Get your blood flowing with a good workout. Skiing and sledding won't work if you're not around snow. Ice skating is great if you're graceful, but not everyone is an Elvis Stojko.

So I'm going to stick my neck out and suggest something so pedestrian you may have overlooked it: walking. Walking increases your energy level, can be done just about anywhere and it improves your mood. And it gets you from one place to another.

You probably know the drill on outdoor workouts in cold air, but let's go over important as you prepare to head out for a cold weather hike:

• Make sure you're in the clear for a cold air workout. Get your doctor's okay before doing any kind of cold air exercise.
  
• Dress in layers. Start with a thin layer of manmade material that draws sweat away from your body. A few thin layers on top will trap the heat between layers and help you stay nice and warm.
  
• Head into the wind. Once you start walking off extra energy, you'll want a nice push on the way home.
  
• Water, water, water! Somehow it doesn't seem as necessary to bring a bottle of water (or two) with you for cold air workouts. Guess what? It's just as important to hydrate in the winter as in the summer.
  
• Too cool for school. On days when the wind chill is so low that schools are cancelled, don't be that person who ignores the elements and keeps on exercising. Take a day off.
  
• Treat yourself. Have some hot chocolate when you're done. Made with skim milk, it's a nice cold weather treat to reward yourself for a job well done.
  

Posted by Al Roker at 04:13 PM | Permalink

Hello, my weather friends.

Can you feel it? Wait … yes … there it is.

Love is in the air.

How can I tell, you ask?

Sure, I am an incredible forecaster. Yes, I am totally in-tune with the environment. Of course I am omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent.

Also, advertisers tell me so. Ready or not, Valentine’s Day is here. The “holiday” comes every year on the 14th of February. (Except during leap years. In that case it still happens on the 14th … you just have an extra day at the end of the month to make up for forgetting to buy a gift.)

Anyway, as romantic as the day is expected to be, it also comes in the dead of winter. That means the trees are bare and brown. The grass has died and dried up. There are no new flowers blooming. Save for a fresh dusting of snow, it’s not the most visually stimulating season.

Of course, that’s just an opinion. What does the weather have to do with romance anyway? Take a poll around your office. Ask people what they think is the most romantic weather. I bet you’ll find a variety of answers.

Yes, the winter is drab. But on a cold and snowy day you might agree there’s nothing better than snuggling up to a warm fire with the one you love. Romantic? You bet.

But then there’s spring. Ahhhhh, spring. The flowers are blooming. The sun is shining. You can almost hear the birds singing. It’s a season of rebirth and renewal. Who wouldn’t want to fall in love among the fresh blooms?

Or, maybe summer is more your speed. You can’t deny the excited buzz when summer comes around. There’s a childhood innocence that may just have you searching for a main squeeze.

Finally, there’s fall. (For my money, no better time in New York City.) There’s a crisp chill in the air. Summertime memories are fresh in you mind as colorful leaves paint a beautiful backdrop for love.

Take your pick. You could probably make any weather event romantic.

And if you’re still not convinced love is in the air, click here. I’ve got your forecast for Romance!

Posted by Al Roker at 01:18 PM | Permalink

Well, it's that time of year again for some serious dancing. And no, I’m not referring to the televised celebrity dance competitions! I mean the light shows in the northern winter sky where the sky appears to dance with color. That's right, the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights.

An Aurora is a beautiful natural phenomenon that often occurs in the polar regions of Earth. It appears as colorful clouds and rays of green and red (and sometimes blue) light that dance across the sky. The Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis (Latin for "northern" and "southern" dawn, respectively) occur in symmetric ovals centered on the northern and southern magnetic poles of Earth. Weatherplus.com has a great blog entry on how Auroras are formed, along with a slideshow of Northern Lights photos.

Those of us who live too far south to catch the Northern Lights from the comfort of home have to travel north to see them. Sure, you could head south in summer to catch the Aurora Australis -- but by south, I mean all the way to Antarctica. Most Americans find it easier and less expensive to catch the Northern Lights.

Though the further north you travel, the better your chance of seeing the Aurora Borealis, nothing is guaranteed when it comes to nature. So here are some tips to improve your odds if you're planning a Northern Lights trip.

1. Sunspots Are Good. Auroral activity correlates with the activity of the sun, which changes according to an 11-year solar cycle. In general, the more active the sun, the greater the number of auroras. (Keep in mind that bright and active auroras can be observed at any time during the solar cycle.) For a chart showing the solar cycle and sunspot activity, click here.

2. Clean And Clear. Even if you're far from city lights, air pollution can affect the sky's clarity. The further away you are from big cities, the better your chances of seeing the Northern Lights.

3. Dark Of The Moon. The light of the silvery moon can be beautiful, but it can also ruin the intensity of an aurora. Plan your trip for when the moon is new or waning. Click here for a calendar of the moon's phases in 2007.

4. The 27-Day Rule. If your vacation schedule is flexible, find out when the last auroral display was for your intended Northern Lights get-away. It takes the sun 27 days to rotate one time around its axis, so 27 days after an aurora display, the active region on the sun that caused the aurora will face Earth again. Although solar activity in that region on the sun might have decreased in the mean time, there is still a greater chance of aurora 27 days after the last period of increased auroral activity.

Not much for planning trips to freezing far-away locales? Keep an eye on the solar cycle -- when it's active, you can sometimes see the Northern Lights in parts of the United States!

Posted by Al Roker at 12:38 PM | Permalink