Weather Pulse Blog

Tomorrow is the first day of March, and we're seeing the new month's labor pains tonight as severe weather moves across the country's midsection.

Thursday looks to be an extremely active weather day around the country, with the northern middle states expecting several inches of snow and the Southeast in for severe storms.

Right now, it's Kansas and Missouri who are in the bull's-eye of the severe weather. I just went to the Weather Plus set to confer with meteorologist Kristen Cornett on the latest storm news. Kristen was looking at Digital Doppler Plus Radar and suddenly she started practically jumping up and down in amazement.

"This," she told me, pointing to a red dot with a swirl coming out of the lower left corner, "is a classic tornado vortex signature."

Kristen explained to me that the Tornado Vortex Signature (TVS) shows where a tornado is forming. The little swirl in the lower corner shows that the supercell storm is moving in a counter-clockwise direction and is bringing rain into the cell.

These Tornado Vortex Signatures, by the way, are what stormchasers use to know where to point their cars. And it's what allows meteorologists and forecasters to indicate when and where a tornado could hit.

The TVS I've posted here (with the blue circle drawn around it) correlates to this information from the National Weather Service:

Wed. Feb. 28, 7:41 p.m. CST -- Rural Linn County, Kansas:

At 7:38 p.m. CST, National Weather Service Doppler Radar indicated a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado. This storm appears to have cycled and looks to be restrengthening. Additional tornadoes appear likely in the next several minutes. This dangerous storm was located 6 miles north of Blue Mound (Missouri), or 8 miles west of Mound City, moving east at 35 mph.

This dangerous storm will be near 2 miles north of Mound City by 7:50 p.m. CST.

As the saying goes, you learn something new every day. But though I can now spot a Tornado Vortex Signature on Doppler radar, I'll leave the forecasting to the meteorologists.

Posted by Mara Sonnenschein at 09:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I’m thinking Spring-time thoughts already, even though I know that we are a few weeks away from the vernal Equinox (March 20th/21st) in the Northern Hemisphere and September 23rd in the Southern Hemisphere. Thoughts of green grass, trees coming alive… birds chirping… the dawn of new love… alas I am a romantic at heart!

It’s the weather that has to be taken very seriously to be sure. Once spring does roll around for sure, some major changes to our planet take place. Case in point: the axial tilt of the Earth is toward the sun (similar to the summer season). More sunshine, thermal energy and daylight hours means that the rivers and streams start to flow with the runoff from the snow-melt, the birds begin their return and fixate on the new budding blossoms that awaken from their winter slumber, and the gentle morning dew and the songbird’s lyrical notes are overhead in joyous praise of the season’s return. Springtime thoughts, for me at least, seem to evoke the poet in me.

I pinch myself. Wake up. This is the month of February – not May. And March can be so temperamental, sometimes seemingly tame and inviting and then other times volatile, unforgiving, raging. Her persona remains to be unveiled to us all.

But I dream of her - and dream good thoughts I do, sweet, gentle lady Spring.

Posted by Gary Archibald at 11:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Last week, many southern states held Severe Weather Awareness week, just in time for the first widespread Spring-like storm of the season. Now you might be thinking, “Isn’t it unusual to have severe weather outbreaks in February?” Not really. Last week’s storm is a reminder that February can sometimes produce big severe outbreaks, especially in the latter half of the month. The reason is that the atmosphere is beginning the transition from Winter into Spring, which is the most volatile time of the year for weather.

You may not know, but one of the worst tornado outbreaks in U.S. history actually occurred in February 1884 that affected much of the Dixie states. Weather historians dubbed it the “Enigma Outbreak” due to its exceptional severity and uncertain death toll in the mostly rural South (scary to think what a similar outbreak would do today!) The National Weather Service ranks it as the second worst outbreak ever in the United States.

The vernal equinox, when Spring officially starts, is about March 20th, but meteorologists often refer to March 1st as the beginning of “meteorological spring.” This is because in many parts of the country it is already “feeling like Spring” (not to mention the many university students that typically celebrate “Spring Break” before the official start). You may have heard the saying, “If March comes in like a lion it goes out like a lamb and if March comes in like a lamb, it goes out like a lion.” This refers to volatility and unpredictability of the month. Blizzards, windstorms, floods, tornado outbreaks, almost anything are fair game in March!

My early inspiration to become a weather forecaster came in the early 90’s watching Al Roker on WNBC covering the “Storm of the Century” that pounded New York City with heavy snow, ice, rain and hurricane force winds. That same storm brought record snow throughout much of the East from the Gulf Coast to Maine.

Speaking of coming in like a lion -- it looks like March will be doing just that with a big storm that will feature much of the weather I just mentioned. Stay tuned to Weatherplus.com for all the latest updates!

Posted by Anthony J. Franzese at 04:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Yesterday I did a little happy dance when I saw that New York City had been placed under a heavy snow warning. If you knew what wild weather meant for us here at WeatherPlus, you would understand why it might be natural to pray for sunny skies everyday.

See, while I am fascinated by what Mother Nature can do, her fury means long days, little sleep and downright deliriousness. You may have seen Gary's blog on Saturday about what full-on storm mode is like here at WeatherPlus.

I like to say that I have the weather "gene" if you will. Ever since I was little, I've been fascinated by Mother Nature's fury. I suppose that sounds a bit morbid. Obviously the destruction that results is a terrible thing, but it's hard not to be in awe of things like tornadoes, hurricanes, lightning, hail, high winds and blizzards. Or maybe it's just me?

So the question is why oh why was I doing this happy dance? No matter how long the hours or how little the sleep, Mother Nature continues to fascinate...it never gets old for me. The only thing is...I'm still awaiting my first big New York City snow. Oh well, maybe next time.

Posted by at 04:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Red Carpet weather is more important than you might think. Fortunately, the weather cooperated in Los Angeles for the 79th Annual Academy Awards with low sixties temperatures keeping things on the red carpet calm, relatively cool and collected.

Think of the hair - then after you've put some serious thought into how long Anne Hathaway's updo took or how easy it would be for Reese's bone straight locks to curl with any humidity - only then should you think of the strapless dresses and what could happen should Santa Ana winds decide to swirl around Kodak Theatre. The Oscars are the most watched film awards ceremony in the world and it is therefore imperative that dresses stay up and on, updos stay intact and straight hair stays straight!

The relationship between weather and the Oscars is one that overall tends to benefit the film industry. Not only is Los Angeles a fairly safe bet in February and March in terms of the weather, but think of the great films that owe their success to weather phenomena! Sure, we've all heard of "Twister" and "A Perfect Storm", but the history of weather related film dates back much further.

In 1943, Andrew L. Stone directed "Stormy Weather" starring Cab Calloway and Lena Home. Although the film didn't have that much to do with the weather, you can't deny that the title comes from the weather world - and as an aside, they were up against some tough competition that year with Casablanca cleaning up at the awards!

I looked up the word "Storm" on IMDB.com and found 12 films with the title "Storm"!

In fact, meteorological terminology is often used metaphorically and in a poetic sense in the arts. The 1958 film "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof" starring Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman (based on the play by Tennessee Williams) had a sexy title - just based on the words cat and hot in the title. Why is a cat on a hot tin roof sexy? Well, if the cat is meant to be a woman - with bare feet - a heat transfer would take place from the tin roof to the feet and the woman would then be jumping or prancing on the roof much like a cat..similar to cloud to ground lightning. Was Tennessee Williams really fascinated by conductors and heat transfers? Probably not - but he did choose the title for a reason.

Posted by Jackie Meretsky at 11:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

OK…I am Canadian, so I can talk intelligently about a few things pertaining to winter like hockey, skiing, snowshoes, making snow forts, ice wine, winter fashion, and…driving in the snow. I’ve written a blog about driving in winter (Check out the blog titled “Winter Driving: It's Already Hard Enough In Normal Conditions"…from the February archive)

But now we are talking about winter driving with a twist – it’s in NEW YORK CITY DURING RUSH HOUR! It’s a nightmare in the making unfortunately for commuters from around the Tri-State area, in particular those who travel from the other side of the Hudson in Jersey and Long Islanders from New York, of course. We’ve been forecasting heavy snow for Monday early morning through the daytime, and only tapering off in the late afternoon. Now, I know what driving in NYC is like, specifically in Manhattan during the best of times in terms of weather – bright sunshine, calm winds, etc.

One still has to deal with the cab drivers doing their thing – weaving in and out of traffic without signaling. Getting cutoff by the occasional overly assertive and dangerous driver is also a consideration. Let’s face it, in general are great people but very impatient on the road. That’s just the plain old truth. When you add bad weather into the mix, it just going to exacerbate the situation; I can picture the potential mess of fender benders, horns blaring, people gesturing in…in certain manners that are left to the imagination. Be honest, you can picture it too. But this scene isn’t particular, entirely to NYC and New Yorkers.

Anywhere there is snow and slippery conditions with travel reduced to a snail’s pace, you expect a similar reaction… so play it as safe as possible… breather… patience is a virtue…save your energy…”SERENITY NOW”… and take the day off if you can! Record and re-watch the Oscars if you can…or an NCAA basketball or NHL hockey game from Saturday or Sunday night… of course surf the web and visit us here at www.nbcweatherplus.com Tell us your winter travel stories in words or photos (pix@weatherplus.com)

Take care,

Gary

Posted by Gary Archibald at 07:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last night (Friday eve), we knew here at Weather Plus that the potential for a massive storm outbreak – including severe thunderstorms (potentially producing tornadoes – which it did!), drenching rains, hail, strong winds, in addition to heavy snowfall, blizzard-like conditions. It’s a mess, certainly from a commuter’s point of view. It’s also a dynamic mechanized weather making-machine, the expanse of which encompasses most of the central region of the country from top to bottom (from North Dakota all the way down to Texas…wow…).

PICS: Team At Work

Behind the scenes, it’s a 12-hour day for most of us here at the studio. All of us are dedicated to getting the information out to our viewers in a timely fashion, attempting to get the latest to you first. It does take a toll. When severe weather is happening, the studio is a buzzing with activity; producers lining up the show segments and producing the graphics which tell the important visual story, on-camera personal and meteorologists working on analysis of weather data as it comes in, directors orchestrating the whole operation on a second by second basis. WE GO LIVE for breaking news at any moment, especially when active, severe weather, is happening – tornados certainly get top billing!

Overnight Friday through Saturday afternoon, things got all fired up with a squall line of thunderstorms driving through Texas, then Arkansas and Louisiana… The snow starting falling heavily in Utah on Friday…Saturday, to the north of the area of low pressure producing rain and thunderstorms (and tornados), the cold air supported the production of heavy snow hitting the upper Midwest hard… we’re talking 3-12 inches likely by Sunday with a foot or more landing in southern Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa. With this kind of activity, we are on our feet for the long, long, haul. We’re eating on the fly… No breaks.

The story is front and center.

But that’s Ok because it’s our job – the job of communicating to the public, our valued viewers the story that will affect their lives – weather-wise.

Back to work I go. Hang tight with us. We’ll get through this crazy weather together. No problem.

Cheers!

Posted by Gary Archibald at 03:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Believe me when I say I’m not complaining, but I think I’m S.A.D…aka: down about the weather. It’s never happened to me before.

So far, everything about this New York winter has been exciting and new. Loved the snow! Ice was an interesting experience. I’ve even been into the bitter cold temps.

However this week the snow turned black…and so did my heart.

Why don’t you play the shrink for a second and I’ll explain what I think is going on. Here are the facts:

Back in Sac I had a home. The home had multiple rooms. I also had a car.

Here in New York I have a home. It has one room. No car.

I think it’s easy to see the problem. I now have considerably less space to feel trapped indoors for a season. Now that Mr. Winter and I are out of our “honeymoon” period I am getting irritated looking at the same four walls every night. Really I guess my beef is not so much with the weather, but with the city. I wonder if I lived in a house here if I would still feel so antsy?

OK, I’m being a little bit of a downer. Sorry. Don't want my “Seasonal Affective Disorder” to rub off on you. I think the best prescription is more snow. If anything can cheer me up it is seeing drivers’ futile efforts to dig out their cars. I can say that because, as I stated above, I have no car. Let me have my fun … I’ll be digging someday.

Posted by Talia Bluth at 01:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

You don’t have to be an astrophysicist, astronaut, or meteorologist to appreciate the weather - in space.

“Space Weather” is the conceptual science of changing environmental conditions in the vastness of space. It’s a profound area of study in fact and no, you don’t have to hold a Ph. D in order to meaningfully pursue this venture. In fact, simply searching the web, doing some reading at the local library, and perhaps if you are so inclined – investing in a decent telescope, can open the door to examining the heavens from a weather-point-of-view.

Unlike weather that we experience here on earth, weather in space is distinct because it deals with changes and interactions of heat, radiation, light, and matter - outside of the influence of an atmosphere, although occurring within interplanetary and interstellar space, as we know it.

From the National Academy of Science – “space weather is defined specifically as conditions in space that affect Earth and its technological systems; it is a consequence of the behavior of the sun, the nature of the Earth’s magnetic field and location in our solar system.”

This is fascinating stuff! Elements like solar wind – its velocity and density, the interplanetary magnetic field, and the influence of geomagnetic storms are active space weather components amongst many, many others. It’s their collaboration that makes things happen in space – similar to weather here on Earth requiring certain ingredients for a thunderstorm, a tornado, strong winds, the formation of hail, snow, rain…

The beauty about active weather, both on Earth and in space is that it can be observed. Amateur, hobbyist, and expert astronomers alike have viewed celestial weather phenomenon vista via telescopes, an immensely powerful tool. You may ask however - what space weather can bee seen with the naked eye? How about the aurora borealis? (Mind you, one must be situated in the Northern hemisphere, looking at the north sky…ah to be so lucky…) Moreover, the Earth is constantly immersed in solar wind (there’s a space weather catch phrase for sure!), a rarefied flow of hot plasma (gas of free electrons and positive ions) emitted by the sun in all directions, a result of the million-degree heat of the sun's outermost layer, the solar corona.

The Earth’s magnetosphere is the space region dominated by its magnetic field. It forms an obstacle in the path of the solar wind, causing it to be diverted around it, at a distance of about 70,000 km. When the solar wind is unstable or in flux, it easily transfers energy and material into the magnetosphere. The electrons and ions in the magnetosphere that are thus energized move along the magnetic field lines to the polar regions of the atmosphere and cause the aurora – hence one of nature’s most beautiful and awe-provoking phenomena is unleashed in all of it’s glory, for all of us to enjoy. That’s active space weather at its best in my book!

One thing ties both space weather and our weather here on Earth together – the sun. It’s immense thermal and radiation-creating power drives the engine of both mechanisms. Think of the sun as the ultimate generator of power in our solar system. Measuring its surface and core temperature, along with collecting data regarding its energy conduction and emissions – the physical dynamics of which occurring over time, is an involved menagerie of the sciences. But, as stated before, knowing that it’s a primary source of the weather, on all fronts, is the foundation upon which the enlightenment, the investigation can take form, both here on Earth and in the heavens beyond…

If you are interested check out this site for starters:

A Cool Solar Mystery

Enjoy!

Posted by Gary Archibald at 02:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Cold temperatures have a hand in producing fine wine…

Canada, I am proud to say, has produced some world-class exports – and I’m not just talking about hockey players. No. I’m talking about ice wine.

You are not alone if you have not had the pleasure of sampling it, or if you haven’t heard of it before. But Canada is considered to produce some of the finest ice wine in the world, the production of which owes a great deal to the weather, specifically ice cold temperatures.

In contrast to most other wine-producing regions, Canada, and particularly Niagara, has very consistent freezes in winter and has become the largest ice wine producer in the world. Although Niagara-on-the-Lake's Inniskillin is considered the first and one of the largest volume producers, numerous smaller New World wineries in the Niagara Region have made their presence known with extremely high quality product that have won awards around the world.

Natural ice wines require a hard freeze (by law in Canada a minimum of −8 °C or 17 °F and in Germany a minimum of −7 °C or 19 °F) to occur sometime after the grapes are ripe. This means that the grapes may hang on the vine for several months following the normal harvest. If a freeze does not come quickly enough, the grapes may rot and the crop will be lost. If the freeze is too severe, no juice can be extracted. Vineland Winery in Ontario once broke their pneumatic press in the 1990s while pressing the frozen grapes because they were too hard (the temperature was close to −20 °C).

The longer the harvest is delayed, the more fruit will be lost to wild animals and dropped fruit. Since the fruit must be pressed while it is still frozen, pickers often must work at night or very early in the morning, harvesting the grapes within a few hours, while cellar workers must work in unheated spaces. In Austria, Germany and Canada, the grapes must freeze naturally to be called ice wine. Some winemakers use mechanical freezing to simulate the effect of a frost and typically do not leave the grapes to hang for extended periods as is done with a natural ice wine. These non-traditional ice wines are sometimes referred to as "icebox wines."

So there you have it - ice wine, a fine and refined Canadian export. By the way, as you probably can imagine, the best of the best of Canadian ice wine can cost several hundred dollars! Japanese tourists are big fans of Canadian ice wine. I have been to Niagara Region ice wineries where by the bus load Japanese tourists come to buy in large quantities! I like it very much myself! ideally, it is best served alongside a decadent dessert. It’s sooooo good!

Have any of you ever tried ice wine? If so, let me know what you think. Cheers!

Posted by Gary Archibald at 11:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Are you a neat freak? Do you always try to make time to clean up after yourself even if you’re running late?

This is me sometime. I realized my small neat obsession is heading out of my apartment and onto the streets of New York City lately.

As I was walking to get to the car this morning I could barely get to the vehicle as the ice patches from a storm last week remain firm and slippery. Days of cold weather in the teens have left huge ugly obstacles on my street and around the city. What is particularly annoying for this neat freak is the dirty ice chunks that are also collecting garbage.

If I had a plow of some sort, I would do a good once over of my street. With the forecast heading upward today, it looks like I will get some help. Let's just say I'm well connected in the world of weather *-)

Housecleaning help for my neighborhood will come in the form of upper 40s this afternoon. Partial melting should at least start and continue tomorrow with more 40s. I can't wait for a tree lined late spring day in the 70s. I am so ready!

Now it's your turn. Who is with me? Against me? Does anyone want spring like I do? Do you still have large ice chunks collecting dirt from the road and want them gone???

Posted by Jeff Ranieri at 01:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I was born in Toronto, Ontario Canada – a proud Canadian no doubt – one who grew up playing winter sports such as the great game of ice hockey…I love to downhill ski. I will always participate in a snowball fight with enthusiasm to be sure, and I like building snow forts with my little cousins…I’m a little too old for the making snow angels though.

Yes, winter is in my blood and I love it.

However, that doesn’t mean that I don’t long for warm, bright, sunny days in the midst of the coldest season of the year. Who doesn’t?

I do have a sunny, warm disposition in relation to my ancestry being West Indian – my mother is from the beautiful island nation of Antigua and my father from the equally lovely St.Kitts and Nevis. If you haven’t been to either island on vacation, you are really missing out on a treat. St.Kitts is a volcanic island, lush, mountainous and majestic; Antigua, has some of the most beautiful white sand beaches in the world. In addition, the food, the people, the history, the scenic beauty, the culture in general of both Caribbean isles leaves visitors often wanting more. How can you go wrong with an average of 82 degrees at this time of the year in Antigua. St.Kitts and its sister island Nevis are usually hovering at 84 degrees. By the way, over 80 percent of the year, for both destinations, the sun is shining… wow… 4 out of every 5 days is a sunny day…not bad at all.

SLIDESHOW: Hot Islands

And while it’s true that you won’t encounter a blizzard, 10 foot snow drifts, freezing fog, or wind chill values into the minuses in the Caribbean, there are some climate drawbacks. Antigua can experience periods of drought; hurricane season can be relentless and potentially devastating to all Caribbean islands during the season… Most of us probably would bear it though to live in paradise…

So…yes, this good ole Canadian-West Indian guy has his roots in both the attributes of cold and warm climates…I see it as the best of both worlds.

Posted by Gary Archibald at 09:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

My floor is crunchy. Really. Every time I make a move in my desk chair it sounds like I am rolling around on sand.

Very annoying, but I suppose it’s really my fault. Who knew there’d be such a big learning curve with this whole “winter” thing? I didn’t consider the salt on the bottom of my snow boots. Now I know to take them off before I sit down at my desk.

Lesson learned.

There have been a lot of lessons learned this week…what with the Nor’easter and all. I spent Monday and Tuesday literally in fear of this storm. Would it be horrible? Would I be buried by snow? Would I be able to find my legwarmers before the storm hits?

Nope (for NYC). Nope. And nope, still looking.

Nevertheless, I have truly enjoyed the last couple of days. Did you know they plow snow into parked cars? That’s hysterical, but horrible for the drivers. I’ve also heard a rumor that they dump snow in the ocean. Interesting. I guess it’s got to go somewhere, but I fear for what’s being dumped along with it.

However after what happened (again!) this week at JFK, what I really fear is flying during a storm. Because I tell you what, I’m sure as heck not going to be amused by 10 hours on a plane…unless I end up on a beach in Greece.

Posted by Talia Bluth at 09:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

For some business and commuter travelers, by air is the only way to go to make that important conference on the other inside of the globe or to make in time for fiesta on beach in a warm sunny climate. I’ll take the latter any day of the year, mind you… However, when the weather plays a monumental part in altering or destroying travel plans abroad – it’s a big deal.

The Valentines’ Day Nor’Easter of 2007 (a large mid-winter storm that usually deliver a broad swath of heavy snow, strong winds, blizzard conditions in part, in addition to a wintry mix to the Northeast USA – hence its name) has done just that. It’s made a mess of air traffic scene across the Atlantic seaboard and for airports outside of the storm-ravaged region.

You can be enjoying sunny skies at an airport in southern California, however if you were planning to fly to New York City (JFK or LaGuardia for example) this morning – good luck. There were delays and flight cancellations up and down the board. Flying in to or out of an active weather mess as such is just not going to work. You have no choice but to wait it out.

All it takes to delay or cancel a flight is a little active weather – no matter what the season. A low ceiling (cloud cover), fog, sleet, blowing snow, freezing rain, freezing fog, drastic temperature changes (almost always ones that make the mercury fall, that is), a blizzard, high winds, an approaching thunderstorm, tornado, hurricane, hail, torrential rains – all can contribute to travel woes for fliers. There are more… We’d like to hear about your travel nightmares due to the weather. Tell us your story!

Posted by Gary Archibald at 08:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Any mention of ice on Valentine's Day SHOULD be about diamonds.

That's the kind of ice that women want on February 14th, not the stuff that makes you grip your steering wheel and trip and fall as you get out of your car.

The timing of the Valentine's Day storm in the Northeast is making me question why diamonds are in fact called ice. I know that diamonds don't melt, nor do they fall from the sky (too bad!), and they are much more expensive than the bags of ice we buy to stock the cooler in the summer.

Here's the answer: Diamonds are called "ice" for good reason - and a hot reason at that! When you touch a diamond to your lips, it feels very cold (I do this all the time) because of its high thermal conductivity. Essentially, the diamond is stealing the heat from your lips.

This phenomenon is particular to diamonds because of how strong its conducting ability is compared to other gems. Besides the obvious bling factor of these precious stones, the exceptional conducting property of diamonds is also being used to extract heat from electronic devices to make them smaller and more powerful. Who knew? Now you do.

Happy Valentine's Day and watch out for the ice (the slippery stuff)!

Posted by Jackie Meretsky at 01:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

For lack of a better phrase, I just experienced the ice dagger facial from hell. Sleet pellets slamming me in the face at 50 mph as I walked my dog.

This was a weather first for me. The exposed area between where my scarf ended and my hat stopped is bright red. As soon as I got in the door I checked for any open wounds. Okay, that’s pushing it but a few of those projectiles came close to breaking the skin.

I’ve been in hurricanes on the beach where the sand blows into your face and it feels like tiny needles pricking you but sleet is 5X the size of a sand grain and it felt like tacks being pushed into my face.

I walked backwards, sideways, head down, hands in front of face and nothing worked. I knew it was bad when my Black Lab tucked in behind me like Lance Armstrong in the Tour D’France. He let me shield him from the painful ice, smart dog. It was so bad that I could have walked straight into my real life superhero Derek Jeter and not even have said excuse me.

I wish I was exaggerating but this now enters my top 5 for worst weather to be out in. I grew up in Upstate NY and forecasted in Maine for two winters, but I’ve never experienced anything like this. Here's my top 5.

Top 5 Worst Weather To Be Out In

1) Hail Storm (sleet is nothing compared to golf balls hitting you in the head)
2) -40 Wind Chill or lower (nothing like your own skin freezing)
3) Sleet Storm (I wish my digital camera worked and you could see my face)
4) Sand Blasted (Removing sand from your teeth as a hurricane approaches)
5) Heavy Cold Rain (Its 32.5 degrees and pouring rain. Cold and Wet)

Do you agree with the list? What is your Top 5? Leave a comment and let me know what's the worst weather to be outside in.

Posted by Bill Karins at 10:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Tuesday February 13th, the eve of Valentine’s, has now overshadowed Valentine’s Day itself -- at least for those like me who love the weather -- and of course for those affected by inclement weather.

Technically, right now (as of 7:02pm EST), the massive winter storm that we are looking at is just that – a massive winter storm. We’ll hold off on calling it a dreaded Nor’Easter until it follows the archetype (perhaps by Wednesday, in fact). So, let’s take a look for a moment, shall we, at what this meteorological term entails.

A Nor'easter is a macro-scale storm whose winds come from the Northeast, especially in the coastal areas of the Northeastern United States and Atlantic Canada. More specifically, it describes a low pressure area whose center of rotation is just off the coast and whose leading winds in the left forward quadrant rotate onto land from the Northeast. The precipitation pattern is similar to other extratropical storms. They also can cause coastal flooding, coastal erosion and gale force winds.

The Northeastern United States and Atlantic Canada, particularly the New England coast and Nova Scotia (the Atlantic Northeast), are usually hit with several Nor'easters each year, most often in the winter and early spring, but also sometimes during the autumn. These storms can deliver inches of rain or several feet of snow on the region, and sometimes last for several days.

The Atlantic coast, from northern Georgia northward up the coast, can suffer high winds, pounding surf and extreme rains during these storms. Nor'easters cause a significant amount of severe beach erosion in these areas, as well as flooding in the associated low-lying areas.

Infamous Nor'easters

• The Blizzard of 1888
  
• The Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962
  
• The Groundhog Day gale of 1976
  
• The Northeastern United States Blizzard of 1978 (the "Blizzard of '78")
  
• The Thanksgiving 1984 Nor'easter
  
• The Halloween Nor'easter of 1991 (the "Perfect Storm," combined Nor'easter/hurricane)
  
• The 1993 North American Storm Complex
  
• The North American blizzard of 1996
  
• The Atlantic Canada blizzard of February 2004 ("White Juan")
  
• The North American blizzard of 2005
  
• The North American blizzard of 2006
  
• The Late November Nor'easter of 2006
  

Any stories about Nor’Easters? Shovelling out from under? Share your story in the comments area below. Any pics? Email us at pix@weatherplus.com and share your photos!

GA

Posted by Gary Archibald at 08:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm something of a snowstorm warrior.

I grew up in the Northeast. And also in the Midwest. And I also did a stint in Central Pennsylvania, a place that is geographically in the Northeast but culturally -- well, somewhere else.

And then I went to college in Michigan.

So I know cold, and I know snow. (Note: I didn't say that I like either of them.)

And I also know this: every person older than, say, ten has a need to compare the latest storm to THE WORST STORM EVER. Of course, it's all relative. The worst storm ever for a Floridian or Californian (see Jeff Ranieri and Talia Bluth blog entries) is different than a North Dakotan's experience.

I'm no different. As the details about the winter storm approaching the Northeast trickle in, I'm already thinking back to the worst storm I've suffered through, er, seen. What comes to mind? Well, pretty much the storms that I 'enjoyed' as a child. The short list amounts to 'The Girl Scout Cookie Storm,' 'The Philadelphia Eagles Jackets Storm,' and 'The One Without Gloves.'

By the way, these are not the names the storms were given by meteorologists.

Probably the most memorable was 'The Girl Scout Cookie Storm.' Oh, you may have heard of it -- it's known everywhere else as 'The Blizzard of '78.'

My mother, brothers and I had gone to the movies that day, not realizing that by the time we got out of the flick ('Close Encounters Of The Third Kind,' to be specific), there would be several inches of snow on the ground. We had several close encounters of our own with other cars as we fishtailed our way home from the movie.

Apparently we weren't the only family caught by surprise at the intensity of this storm. Predicting the path of a Nor'easter (for that is what it was) is difficult enough, and back in the ancient times when I was a kid, it was that much tougher.

So why 'The Girl Scout Cookie Storm'? Well, given that we didn't know a major storm was approaching, we didn't have much food in the house. Except for -- wait for it -- the many cartons of Girl Scout Cookies I was expected to sell. Thin Mints and Peanut Butter Patties were our mainstay for three days.

For my brothers and me it was heaven. And due to my unimpressive sales skills, were it not for that storm I would not have earned my Cookie Badge. But for my mother, it was the kind of story she felt would have Social Services ringing our doorbell. And so, after that storm (and though my stint in The Girl Scouts ended shortly after it), we became a family partial to the Scouts motto: Be Prepared. Those winter prep kits are well worth having.

Got a good story about YOUR worst storm ever? Share it with our readership and post a comment below!

Posted by Mara Sonnenschein at 07:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Well it's 4:21a.m. ET right now and I am gearing up for our 4:30 a.m. show on NBC "Early Today". Busy would be an understatement. Here's a quick peek into my head at this early hour and with no coffee yet!

During the 3 a.m. hour several tornado warnings were issued, even one that included New Orleans. The latest storm reports even has 5 possible tornados in the overnight hours. The current data is showing the severe weather continuing all the way through today. We will most likely follow these strong storms through northern Florida by the afternoon. The strong storms are only part one of the story.

As I flip over to the radar right now at 4:24 a.m. we are finding the northern branch of the storm producing a mix of rain and snow south of I-70 with snow to the north. My big dilemma this morning... fitting this all into the weather and telling the story with so many parts today. You see I only have 1:15 for my first hit and :20 seconds for the second. The problem is solved though as I am going against time and a delicate selection process. Here's a peak at my rundown.

First Hit:
Tornado Watches
National Winter Radar
Winter Storm Warnings
Northeast Snow
National Today Forecast
Current temps

Second:
Forecast Snow Totals
Regional Forecast

Ok, the music for the show is starting and here goes my day! It's now 4:31 and I'm just a minute or two away from the first weather hit. Keep it here all day long and through the storm for more updates.

************* 5:20 UPDATE:***********

Update: We are now into our show on MSNBC "First Look" and the tornado warnings just keep coming. Right now at 5:17 we are following 4 different tornado warnings in Louisiana and Mississippi. Reports now have a possible 7 tornados that have touched down overnight, golf ball size hail and wind gusts over 40 mph. It will be bumpy ride in the South and the severe storms very well could eclipse the winter part of the storm into the afternoon. With this much instability this early we will most likely see more damaging reports through the day.

Meteorologist - Jeff Ranieri

Posted by Jeff Ranieri at 07:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Is there room for sanity in the global warming debate?

A piece I posted here on Weatherplus.com shortly before the one-year anniversary of Katrina presented some of the different sides of the debate on global warming.

Since then, global warming has become an even “hotter” news story, if you pardon the pun. Visiting some of the online sites the last week or so, it’s been a virtual blitzkrieg of stories, opinions, and frothing from activists on each side.

Don’t expect it to stop any time soon. The report that came out last week from a leading group of international scientists set off a firestorm of reaction from pundits, politicians and environmental groups around the world.

In Europe last week, several cities went dark when environmental groups pressured their governments to address the issue of global climate change. In London and Los Angeles, a group of celebrities, politicians, and business leaders have started a movement called ‘Global Cool," (www.global-cool.com), aimed at reversing global warming. The movement includes big names such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Josh Harnett, singer K.T. Tunstall and the rock music group The Killers.

Who needs science, when these A-list celebs have it all figured out? Josh Harnett, playing global climate expert, was quoted in the article as saying, “I grew up in Minnesota which is usually a cold place, but we’ve seen abnormally warm winters the last couple of years, which is unnerving …If water levels continue to rise at this rate, my house in New York will be underwater, and I’ll have to get a gondola to get around. It’s frightening.”

Passions are boiling from proponents and skeptics alike. In an article in New York Times, Oklahoma Republican Senator James M. Inhofe called the report a “corruption of science” and previously called the idea of human-induced warming as a “hoax.” Timothy Ball, an environmental consultant and former climatology professor based in Canada, wrote in the right-wing journal Canada Free Press, “Believe it or not, global warming is not due to human contribution of Carbon Dioxide (CO2). This in fact is the greatest deception in the history of science. We are wasting time, energy and trillions of dollars while creating unnecessary fear and consternation over an issue with no scientific justification.”

Meanwhile, folks in the Northern U.S. and Canada are locked in a frigid cold wave having people saying “So much for global warming!” But over the next few years, with hurricane seasons and political elections ahead, this story may become the biggest yet. Hold onto your hats when it does.

Posted by Anthony J. Franzese at 12:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

There is nothing better than actually witnessing active weather (ie. a thunderstorm, waterspout, the first snow of the winter season, a gentle fog bathing a mountain valley). Weather is a constantly evolving organically-mechanized machine – full of power, grace, beauty and awe. I love to take it in, in the now, in the unfolding real-life moments that are very much proof of being alive on this green-blue beautiful planet. My favorite tool, my camera.

Alas, we can not always be in the midst of Mother’s nature’s grandeur, as it is unfolding.

There’s an alternative, that can’t compare really…it can’t match up but it can fill the void if you will, in an artificially creative sense. Hollywood and the like have done their best to re-create nature’s magic in feature films.

Here are a few that come to mind:

Twister is a 1996 disaster film starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton as storm chasers researching tornadoes. It was based on a script by author Michael Crichton and his wife, former actress Anne-Marie Martin. It was directed by Jan de Bont. Twister currently ranks 37th in all time in terms of box office gross with USD 241,708,908. Twister also has a famous scene of a flying cow, a scene that was the subject of many parodies. the film also became the theme of a ride at universal Orlando resort called twister... ride it out. According to IMDB twister was the first movie commercially released on DVD, and it is yet to be one of the first movies to be released commercially onto HD-DVD and on Blu-Ray.

The Day After Tomorrow is a 2004 apocalyptic science-fiction film that depicts catastrophic effects of global warming and boasts high-end special effects, bending the lines between science, reality and science fiction. Worldwide, it is the 38th top grossing film of all time, with total revenue of USD$542,771,772. The movie was filmed mostly in Montreal, and, as of 2007, is the highest grossing Hollywood film in history to be filmed in Canada.

The Perfect Storm written by Sebastian Junger and published by Little, Brown and Company in 1997. The paperback edition followed in 1999 from Harper Collins’ Perennial imprint. It is about the 1991 Halloween Nor’easter that hit North America in October 1991, and features the crew of the fishing boat Andrea Gail, based out of Gloucester, Massachusetts, who were lost 575 miles (925 km) at sea during the severe conditions. All 6 crewmembers were lost, including Captain Billy Tyne, Robert "Bobby" Shatford, Dale "Murph" Murphy, David "Sully" Sullivan, Michael "Bugsy" Moran and Alfred Pierre.

Have any favorite weather flicks? What about scenes having to deal with weather? Please send me and the WeatherPlus gang a comment...we’d love to hear from you.

Posted by Gary Archibald at 03:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Did you know that seasonal mood variations are believed to be related primarily to light and not to temperature? That’s why S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder) affects people who live in mid-latitude locations with relatively mild winters such as Portland, Oregon or Seattle, Washington and Vancouver British Columbia, Canada.

In the cold frigid North – such as the Arctic – residents are especially susceptible to the disorder due to “polar nights” which refer to a night lasting more than 24 hours, usually inside the polar circles. The opposite phenomenon, when the sun stays above the horizon for a long time is called the polar day, or midnight sun. The effect is so significant that the Finnish language has a word, kaamos, which specifically refers to the polar night (source: Wikipedia.com).

And also from the good folks at Wikipedia.com I found this:

Solipsism syndrome is a state of mind in which a person begins to feel that everything is a dream and is not real. This too is a possible affective disorder that can affect those people who live in regions in which polar days or nights are common.

My best advice is to seek medical attention first and foremost.

In addition, just doing things that you really enjoy could potentially lift spirits. For me personally, engaging in a physical activity such as playing a sport works well (try to get some hearty exercise in there for good measure!)…watching a favorite movie is another… reading a good book… perhaps going out to a snazzy restaurant (or just eat right in general)… just some ideas.

The bottom line is that in trying to go to sleep at night you may have to be more active during the day. Eventually your mood could change for the better, so too your overall health.

Be well, friends.

Posted by Gary Archibald at 07:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I’m feeling under the weather. I got up this Friday morning and knew right away that it was going to be a battle. My head aches. Come to think of it I didn’t sleep well last night. Not good. Under the weather, indeed.

Which makes me wonder -- where does that expression come from?

Well, I did a little digging around on the Internet and this is what I found:

In a reply to: Feeling under the weather posting online, blogger Scott Cressey on February 09, 2004 responded with the following:

UNDER THE WEATHER - "Ik Marvel, a pseudonym that resulted from a misprinting of J.K. Marvel, was the pen name of American author Donald Grant Mitchell. In his 'Reveries of a Bachelor' (1850) Ik Marvel is the first to record 'under the weather,' which has been a synonym for everything from 'ill and indisposed' to 'financially embarrassed' and 'drunk,' and has even been a synonym for 'the discomfort accompanying menstruation.'" From "Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins" by Robert Hendrickson (Facts on File, New York, 1997).

Ok then…there you have it. To be “under the weather” is to be unwell, not feeling yourself, sick, less than prime… We all can relate, to be sure. I hope that you and I get better soon.

GA

Posted by Gary Archibald at 03:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

My latest obsession is ice. Also, something called Yoga Toes that I ordered out of a magazine, but that's really off topic. Back to ice.

I first realized how little I knew about it when I took a short cut through Central Park. One of the large ponds I passed was almost totally frozen over. I was completely taken by surprise, as I had never really seen a frozen body of water. It looked beautiful... like something out of a movie. (Probably because the scene has actually been used in dozens of films.)

As I was taking in the serene surroundings --some might call it a winter wonderland-- I noticed out of the corner of my eye a large garbage can lying on top of the pond. Clearly someone else had been equally fascinated with the frozen water and taken it upon themselves to test the ice's thickness.

Well, it was thick. But now there was an ugly garbage can ruining the picturesque park. I then started to notice bottles and trash that people had thrown onto the ice. Horrible.

However, little did I know that was just the beginning. Turns out ice has a huge potential for nastiness. You don't need to be scientist to know that when the temperatures go below 32, liquids can freeze. Well, have you ever given much thought to how many different liquids there are on the streets of New York City?? I don't think I need to go into too much detail here, but let me say I have seen a lot of nasty stuff frozen on the sidewalks.

Ever since the weather turned cold my mom has been diligently reminding me to watch out for black ice. Well Momma, I'm watching...and I'm not a liking' what I see!

Posted by Talia Bluth at 07:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I'm sure you have all heard people blaming our neighbors (neighbours) to the north for all this cold air.

I am personally blamed on a daily basis since I grew up in Toronto, Ontario.

To further pass the buck, I went right to the source and spoke with Ross Hull, Weathercaster for The Weather Network in Oakville, Ontario.

What you might not know is that Canadians have their own laundry list of weather phenomenons that they blame on Americans! To find out more, click here to watch my interview with a fellow Canadian.

Posted by Jackie Meretsky at 05:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Just like the snow in upstate New York the video has been piling into NBC Weather Plus. While watching the video from Oswego, NY this morning on a weather hit I noticed how fluffy the snow was coming down. I did some peddling through the brain and thought for a moment about how much worse it could get.

When you have a rainstorm you can have heavy rain that causes immediate flooding or a slow rain that causes a ton of accumulation over days. Just like with rain there are different ranges of snow. The key to how the snow will feel and stack up is all about water content.

In a typical snow system like a Nor'easter or a Westerly storm in the Northwest there is generally a huge amount of moisture. One inch of rainfall will generally turn into 10 inches of snow. In this case it can be heavy at times and turn into a wet nasty and very dangerous mess.

However, when it comes to the localized phenomenon know as Lake Effect Snow the moisture content is less in many cases as the water source is much smaller. As winds kick up over the lakes it is only able to grab so much moisture before it is deposited on land (Western New York). On top of the smaller moisture source the air has been bitterly cold recently which contributes to a drier snow.

I am certainly not belittling how bad the snow is but recalling that it could be worse with higher water content. So, while the snow has added up quickly it does have more of a delicate result on the body and land as it falls if you will. I do realize this means little to those in Western New York battling the roads and low visibility. As you or I watch more video on Weather Plus I think it's always important to remember that nothing in weather is the same across the board, even when it comes to snowfall.

-- Meteorologist Jeff Ranieri

Posted by Jeff Ranieri at 09:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

How much snow does it take to get a snow day?

Today, the Oswego County school system in Oswego, N.Y., announced a two-hour delay for students because of 62 inches of heavy snow over the past three days. That is 5 foot 2 inches of snow! An average adult woman would disappear walking across the front yard. Either Oswego County has the best snow removers in the world or the kids are bussed in on huge yellow snowmobiles.

Growing up in Upstate New York I would get upset if school wasn’t cancelled for slush on the roads. Good luck to the all the teachers who have to deal with dissapointed students all day.

To make matters worse, the snow isn’t even close to over. The radar is bright white with heavy snow setting up right over Oswego once again. The forecast calls for another 2-4 feet by the weekend. This could end up being a histortoric event and there is a good chance that a snow day will happen on Thursday or Friday in the the region. Just don’t get your hopes up in Oswego County where 62 inches only got you an extra two hours of sleep.

Here are a few fun snow facts about this area that I pulled from Wikipedia:

The communities of Redfield, in Oswego County and Montague and North Osceola, in Lewis County, all on the Tug Hill Plateau, average over 300 inches of snow a winter, with more than 400 inches falling during harsh winters. A 24-hour record for the contiguous United States occurred on January 11th-12th, 1997, when 77" of snow fell in Montague, N.Y. A total of 95 inches of snow fell in that storm between the 11th and 14th.

Do you currently live in this area? Have any memories of recent snowstorms? Leave a comment and share your experience with us.

Posted by Bill Karins at 01:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

In the cold, electronic gadgets may fail.

Some of us have our whole lives (e.g. phone numbers, contact lists, e-mail addresses, appointments, music, photos, documents, personal data, et al) stored in our PDA’s, laptops, cellular phones, Ipods etc. We take them with us everywhere we go. Admit it – some of you have on your person the aforementioned gear, right now, not to mention the accessory items (such as extra batteries, storage media, travel chargers, and headphones or wireless microphones). When will the madness ever end?!

Mind you, I too love the gadgets. Case in point, I have a microscopic Sony MP3 player that’s the size of a cigarette lighter that can go anywhere, anytime. I love it because it’s small and compact and can hold over 150 songs. Technology = Freedom. Freedom to move, freedom to take with you that which makes you feel free – like your favorite tunes, whether it be the complete collection of iconoclastic Muddy Waters, or the live jazz piano recordings of the legendary Art Tatum, or perhaps you just want to rock out to some Hendrix -- hey, you pick your musical medicine. Technological freedom is good. But it does have its weaknesses, especially with respect to the weather.

Plunging temperatures that could only make a polar bear feel comfy at home can easily turn your cutting-edge-MP3-playing-PDA-digital-video-camera-cell-phone into an expensive non-functioning gizmo without the mojo.

Read your manuals. It’s in the black and white on paper; the electronic manufacturers across the board have done their rigorous testing on their products. They don’t have a choice, actually. They know the optimal conditions of performance for the latest flip phone you happen to have purchased recently. How cold can you go?

Well, with the bitterly cold temperatures and wind chill values in much of the Midwest, Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and the New England regions of the country, gadget users on-the-go will likely experience trouble manipulating their precious toys. At the freezing mark, battery performance wanes and some LCD screens (displays) do not function properly. In the minuses, for some gizmos – good luck. You might just wreck them for good. By the way, trying to punch in digits or type a text message on those tiny keyboards with your bare hands isn’t a pleasant exercise and arduous under ideal climate circumstances.

So, what to do? Well, if you can – just stay indoors, otherwise limit the usage while exposed to the elements and shield your techno goodies in their appropriate cases, wallets, pockets, and bags. Carry extra batteries too.

Posted by Gary Archibald at 07:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I have to say the first half of this year’s Super Bowl was one of the most entertaining halves of football I’ve ever seen in my life. Both teams were slipping and sliding all over the place and fumbling the football…who said rain during a Super Bowl would be bad to watch? I loved it.

But as much as I loved the actual football game, I must admit... Prince’s halftime show was something to behold. I just couldn’t walk away from the tube. And I never really was a big Prince fan... I'm more of a hip-hop and R&B guy myself. But that performance was amazing. The rain was pouring down and the whole time I kept thinking to myself a.) “How is his hair staying in place like that” and... b.) “Boy this is going to be a pretty interesting show if a few more of those raindrops hit the right spot on that electric guitar!”

What really sealed the show for me, however, was his rendition of “Purple Rain.” Prince had the whole crowd singing along and waving lights. It was great.

PHOTOS: Prince Rocks The House

Now being the geek that I am, I instantly thought to myself “Purple Rain? Hmmm I wonder what other songs are out there that reference the weather?”

So I did some research and this is what I found, complete with links for your viewing pleasure. Let’s take a look:

Blame It On The Rain - Milli Vanilli
Like The Weather - 10,000 Maniacs
Singing In The Rain - Bing Crosby
I Can See Clearly Now, The Rain Is Gone - Jimmy Cliff
Rain On Me - Ashanti
Good Day Sunshine - Beetles (Paul McCartney)
Sunshine On My Shoulders - John Denver
Walking on Sunshine - Katrina and the Waves
Over The Rainbow - Judy Garland (Wizard Of Oz)
Like A Hurricane - Neil Young
Cloud Nine - Temptations

There are many many more out there and I know I missed a few good ones. So here's what we want you to do. If you have a good song that has something weather-related in its title or is all about the weather, just send the name of the artist and the title of the song to Weather Plus. The best submissions will be posted on our website. Got it? Now let's see what you can come up with!

Posted by Keith Davis at 01:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

For a brief moment today on live national television I thought I was back in Canada. "Alex, Minneapolis clearly has the worst weather in America because look at these numbers! -38 with the wind chill!"

As I uttered -38 to Alex Witt on MSNBC, I did a double take to verify that I was looking at a map of the U.S. and not of the Canadian Prairie provinces.

People who live in Medicine Hat, Alberta or The Pas, Manitoba don't even flinch when they hear numbers like that.

Despite the numerous differences between America and our neighbors (or neighbours in Canadian spelling) politically, socially and economically, when it comes to weather, we are often one in the same. The only thing that separates Minnesota from Manitoba and Ontario, Canada is a border. And customs officials, as we all know, don't do a very good job at shutting down Canadian weather.

Air masses know no boundaries, in fact, they are some of the best international travellers around! Truth be told, it is not entirely unheard of for the Midwest to experience such cold weather. This IS the coldest air of the season but it's not going to break many records in terms of the termperatures. The bigger threat is the fact that its going to last a long time which will test people's patience.

Frostbite and hypothermia are two terms that I have heard alot about because of my childhood winters spent skiiing and summers spent jumping into frighteningly cold lakes at the crack of dawn at summer camp while swimming teachers watched and laughed in big woolly sweaters from the dock. I probably shouldn't admit that I was one of the camp counsellors years later who stood on the dock in a wooly sweater while instructing shivering campers to jump in. Somehow, I think we're all better and tougher for it, but don't expect to see me signing up with the local Polar Bear Club anytime soon.

All kidding aside, there are some dangers with cold weather that are worth mentioning given the wind chill numbers that folks in the Midwest are experiencing right now. Let's start with frostbite which is particularly dangerous to children because they lose heat more quickly then adults.

This is actually a medical condition in which skin tissue is damaged due to extreme cold. Here's the science: At or below 5 degrees, the blood vessels closest to the skin start to constrict. It's actually a way to try and trap the heat or preserve your body temperature. However, in prolonged periods of cold weather, this mechanism reduces blood flow and causes tissue injury which can look like white waxy skin. Other symptoms include numbness, swelling, redness, pain and tingling sensations.

The best way to avoid frostbite in prolonged periods of extremely cold weather is by staying indoors. Duh. But if you must venture outside, here's what you should do:

• Wear a hat and layers of clothing and make sure you cover your fingers (mittens work much better than gloves), toes, ears and nose
• Never wear cotton in extremely cold weather because it retains moisture from perspiration
• Drink plenty of warm fluids and avoid caffeine and alcohol which hinder your body's ability to produce heat

If you suspect you have frostbite, here's what to do:

• Move to a warm, safe area and get medical attention as soon as possible
• Cover the affected area without rubbing or massaging
• Warm the area in warm (not hot) water
• Ensure tha the affected area does not become frozen again because a second roundn of freezing can cause more extensive damage

So, make sure when you're getting the kids dressed for school this week (and yourself too) that you pack on the layers, avoid the cotton and limit your exposure to the cold. Stay cool, but don't freeze ;)

Posted by Keith Davis at 05:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

What?! I’m sorry…come again. You know that it’s 6 degrees outside – the winds straight out of the northwest make it feel like –25… Yes…that white stuff piling up on the lawn is indeed the stuff we call snow… That is correct.

Alas, in some places across the cold northern Plains, the chilly Great Lakes, and the frigid New England states, the AC is buzzing – churning out more cool air in homes, businesses, cars even (to defog the windows of course).

What’s going on exactly? Are we mad?!

Why would the AC be turned on under any circumstances as it stands right now (unless you live in a state where temperatures hover in the 70’s or 80’s, eg. Florida). I just don’t get it. I have now witnessed the cold (from the inside) on two separate occasions this winter season. What a waste of energy, wouldn’t you agree?

I’ll discuss one such occasion. Years ago I worked for a large telecommunication firm that was housed in an enormous skyscraper in downtown Toronto…and I can tell you that on a regular basis, the climate control system for this building was completely out of whack. I would come in from the snow, and the cold Canadian temperatures, and the gusty northwesterly winds that would pound you into submission as you tried to maintain consciousness while mustering the strength to make it to the main lobby doors. It can be that cold. Whew. Now I’m shielded from the elements. I feel the blood circulating again. There is heat in this lobby and the heat is good. But alas…this refuge is short lived. I still have to make my way to the 6th floor, to my company’s offices and it is there that I revisit the winter climate (a walled-in arctic tundra of sorts, with a woosh of northerly air coming for an overhead – this time from the inside. One didn’t dare shed the layers too quickly (the winter parka, the hat, the gloves, scarf, the thermal vest, etc…) once nestled into the small cubicles on that 6th floor…because, for some unimaginable reason, the air-conditioning was turned on – full blast, for full effect. The reason? Quite simply, no one had one. The explanation. Could get one. The madness. Clearly defined. The effects… hmmm, well let’s list some shall we…

I would catch colds in that office. My colleagues, peers, too – would catch colds. You could barely get any work done. You would be shaking, shivering, on the verge of hypothermia (or so it seemed). But there would always be some manager who would defend the situation, you know the type…maintaining that it was “company policy to have the building’s management team operate and maintain the climate control best suited to the needs of all tenants…” Blah blah blah. The bottom line was that they didn’t know…nobody knew how to turn it on or off, how to set a comfortable temperature the entire floor… the AC was an unruly beast, very much in control, in and of itself, like a wild beast…evil…diabolical actually…

Perhaps I am still feeling the after effects, post traumatically…

Posted by Gary Archibald at 02:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I was in an elevator the other night with a woman wearing open-toed shoes. The low that night was 25 degrees. Not to mention the building we were leaving was next to the river so it was probably even colder and definitely very windy.

Seeing as the lady and I were coming from the same function I thought it wouldn’t be too weird if I remarked about the status of her feet.

Me: “Wow, you’re wearing open-toed shoes. You’re feet must be chilly!”

Her: “Oh, no. See I’m wearing nylons.”

Me: “Forgive me. It’s my first New York winter.”

But I still know her feet were cold! I’m pretty sure nylons are the thinnest piece of material you could put on and still be able to say you are actually wearing something. As a stand-alone item in below freezing temperatures, I am certain they don’t have any warmth potential.

How do I know?

Well, before I came east I was under the assumption that jeans were the warmest, thickest pair of pants a girl could need. As I happily outfitted myself for the "brutal" winter ahead I purchased wool sweaters, gloves, scarves, and puffy jackets.

Pants never came into consideration. That is, not until the first time I left the house without them.

Sort of.

Well actually not at all. I was wearing a pair of jeans…it just didn’t feel like it. In fact it felt like I was naked from the waist down! The freezing wind had the power to annihilate my pants. I literally had to look down to confirm my jeans weren’t ripped off in some embarrassing accident.

And that is how I know that woman’s feet were cold and her nylons sure as heck weren’t helping.

Now as for what pants keep you warm in the winter. I’m at a loss. My temporary solution has been to wear legwarmers under everything. They’re comfy…plus I’m ready for the 80’s at a moment’s notice!

Posted by Talia Bluth at 10:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In the world of meteorology we put away some of the computer science for a bit of fun as the one and only Punxsutawney Phil becomes a resident Met. Today, I actually put away some of my strict weather thoughts and accidentally got into the Punxsutawney Phil spirit. It involves an early morning selection of something I wear everyday. Do I have you guessing??? Read more!

First, I must admit each year I always get confused on what it all means. I did some quick fact checking and buffed up on my furry colleague.

Punxsutawney is all about his shadow as he comes out of the hole. If he catches a glimpse of his shadow (sunny day) he runs back into the hole and more winter will persist for six more weeks. On the other hand, if he does not see his shadow (a cloudy day) then he will make his way outside in Punxsutawney, PA and spring will come.

So, while Phil will do his thing it seems I have done my own version of groundhog day! As I was getting dressed this morning I pieced together my suit and other items like any other normal day. I did all of this as usual in the early morning blur before coffee and selected the look. I usually don't wear my tie until I get to work as we have the wonderful process of hair and make-up (note the sarcasm - ha ).

Well, I looked in the mirror and realized I was totally spring! The look is a simple salmon colored tie and a light blue shirt. Was I somehow channeling Phil???? I had to laugh because as I was done and ready for air I was feeling spring in my outfit with Phil in the back of my weather mind.

Even with my pink tie and Phil's prediction, mother nature may win out this time. With the latest cold air in place and the pattern locked down the hard science forecast may mean more winter. This cold story may especially be in place for the East with a jet stream pattern in place. Personally, I hope my tie and Phil will bring in some early Spring! What do you think?

-- Meteorologist Jeff Ranieri

Posted by Jeff Ranieri at 02:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I was getting ready for the early morning shows in Studio A and I forgot to turn my cell phone down. It rings and I see it is my Mom, who is never up this early. The text says "major winds and heavy rain, it's awful". The following text " the sky is purple and green and lightning everywhere".

I quickly doubled checked a few things and looked in closer and what a wild night. Winds in some cases in Central Florida from Orlando Eastward to Daytona Beach gusted over 60 mph with hail and possibly tornados. At the time a tornado watch remained for another hour and a half. I then added some extra maps in my show for the Floridians in the severe situation.

I must say I think of my mom as a Junior Meteorologist as she loves the weather too and knows very well what is happening. Thunderstorms rock the area daily during summer and of course her and my dad know enough about hurricanes. They are residents of Florida for over 20 years and they both said it was the strongest wind they have felt shake our brick house in a long time.

As reports started to come in at our Weather Plus affiliate WESH 2 in Orlando it painted a horrific site. As of 6am over 100 homes have damage, tractor trailers are flipped over and thousands are without power.

The last two text messages as of 6:30 am "homes in nearby New Smyrna destroyed" & "fatalities in lake city". I texted back to have her stay by the cell for a possible interview.

Watch

All of this created by warm moist air in place and colder air moving in this morning. The key component was most likely the upper level winds which were positioned perfect. The situation: surface winds out of the South and West & Upper level winds strong out of the West. This wind pattern will lead to rotation in many cases.

I was able to get a hold of mom and she is fine and you may get to hear her live on Weather Plus TV - Stay tuned.

Click here for more on the latest reports of storm damage.

-- Meteorologist Jeff Ranieri

Posted by Jeff Ranieri at 07:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I’m really liking a hot chocolate right about now… in fact I wish I had a hot chocolate/cappuccino dispenser contraption built into my car. Seriously. That scenario could work for me, to help combat the cold chill that most drivers dread – those that do not have an automatic starter in their cars, who preheat their rides until toasty, and then make a quick dash from out-of-vehicle (and in the elements) into the vehicle.

I’m envisioning a big-gulp size frothy and creamy hot chocolate beverage on those frigid mornings when the wind chill outside makes it feel like the minus teens!

Now when I say that I like hot chocolate, I’m not talking about the scalding variety. I never could understand that… why make it so hot that you could physically injure yourself? Aside from branding your taste buds you could spill it on your lap! Not fun. No. Not at all.

The key is to make it hot but not searing hot to the point reaching the temperature of the surface of the sun. Wear gloves or mitts. Sip cautiously at first. Savor that sweet thermal surge of liquid decadence descending into your innards…ahh…that feels so good.

Automatically your mind has shifted its focus, the cold has long been forgotten. That’s the real magic of hot chocolate, isn’t it? It’s part psychological, part good tasty fun. Be honest, you feel like a kid every time you have a hot chocolate in the dead of winter. Yes you do. Admit it. So do I.

Cheers!

Gary

P.S. Always make it with some extra whipped cream added as a topping – it’s the only way to go!

Posted by Gary Archibald at 05:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

With a new year, we also find new guidelines when it comes to weather. A new scale change will effect how an average of over 1,000 weather events per year are rated.

Have any idea what I'm talking about? It's the Fujita Scale. What is that? you may also ask. Well, it's a scale to rate tornadoes.

Here is a look at the old Fujita scale:

And here is the new:

You will notice that while the classification stays the same (from F0-F5), the winds are much different. As of today, the National Weather Service is putting into place a new name for the Fujita Scale and a new way of looking at this as well.

The name will be altered to "Enhanced Fujita Scale." The difference? The new Fujita scale has scaled down the winds in each category from F5 to F0. The new scale also takes into account more of the actual damage created by the tornado.

According to the National Weather Service , the old scale "may have led to inconsistent ratings, including possible overestimates of associated wind spe