I had to make three copies of a 25-page document today and I immediately thought of an old school prank. I once knew a guy (and no it isn’t me) who set the copier to 99 pages with 100% contrast. The result? The next person who used the copy machine and didn’t check the settings would wind up with 99 solid dark pages. Was it funny? Well…sort of…but at that time we didn’t think about the environment, as we should have. So as the 75th page spit out of the copier my next thought was about the easy waste a copy machine can make. Copy machines use tons of paper, caustic chemicals and a fair share of electricity. And what happens if you make a mistake at the copier? Those “mistakes” hit the trash and a new set of copies are made…wasting more paper. I wish I could have just emailed this document!

A New York schoolteacher is setting out to make a difference by trying to get schools to cut down on their copy-machine dependence. His name is Kenny Luna, a science teacher at Long Island’s Robert Moses Middle School in North Babylon, New York. He has challenged schools around the nation to find creative ways of highlighting their excessive copy machine usage (and of course, their excessive waste). The program is imaginative…it allows the kids to learn about ways to cut down pollution and waste while having fun at the same time. Each school is asked to “diagnose” the “disease” the copy machine suffers from, causing it to produce waste. The kids came up with creative names like "Tree-berculosis", "Contagious Menu-Pause" and “INKfluenza”. The winning school gets a $125 grant to plant trees on the school’s grounds. Click here to see the participating schools and vote for your favorites here:

The program is great because it gets kids thinking about conserving resources. The blame, of course, doesn’t lie in the copy machine though. Let’s face it…it’s only a hunk of plastic. The key is in us, as people working in an office or a school or wherever lots of paper is used. When you go to the copy machine…check the settings and make sure they’ve correct (don’t fall for that old prank). Check your documents before you go to the copy machine! And also, when you do use the copier…try to get all the copying done at one shot…this way the machine can go into sleep mode (and you won’t have to stand there as often waiting for it to “wake up”). Nobody has been better at going paperless than the billing industry. The next time you get a credit card bill, check to see if you can get it sent electronically. These are all very small steps that add up to big savings for the world around us. Give it a try and I’m sure you’ll like it…after all…who wants copies of all those credit card bills laying around anyway?

The vineyards in Northern California have been hit by one of the worst frosts in nearly 30 years. Nighttime temperatures at the end of April were in the 20's. Frost alarms on the vines were set off signaling growers of the freezing temperatures. Frost is not unusual in California, but this season it was particularly bad because of the severity and the duration of the frost. The cold temperatures lasted about twenty nights in a row.

Frost damaged Merlot grapevines are shown at a vineyard in the Stag's Leap Wine District in Napa, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

Growers in Napa and Mendocino are still assessing the damage; it is expected to be in the Millions. It will not be until June until the damage is fully assessed, but growers are expected to have a smaller than average harvest this year.

There are a few things that can be done to prevent frost on the vineyards. Farmers can install wind machines. This will circulate the air, letting warmer air in keeping the cold air off the vines. Irrigation is another technique that can be used. This deposits a thin layer of ice over the buds, which believe it or not, can actually keep them at 32 degrees preventing damage from below freezing temperatures.

Ok. I am back to bogging on a much more regular basis. Wonderful. Lots of stuff to blog about with respect to the weather and our intertwined lives her on this beautiful, fragile, magical planet. Spring in the western hemisphere is truly the dawn of a new age - relative to the yearly cycle - and with it, I have come to question the modality of this perennial cycle. I hear the birds singing in the morning outside my window (a lovely melodic assembly of chirps and perfectly pitched whirls overhead and all around); I long for hikes in the deep thick burgeoning green; the air seems to be refreshed - nay, dare I say refreshing; children dance about in the play yards - their youthful exuberance spawns mindful reflection of carefree younger days in the midst of the sunshine, dew dropped glistening fields, mud, puddles, and bugs, so many insects to chase and be chased by. Lovely fun.

The question is this: how does one keep this spirit of life's renewal program alive throughout the annum? How does one make rebirth and revitalization anew, a seamless ongoing concern, enterprise?

Enjoy your day of redemption and your springtime weather.

The saying goes, “April showers bring May Flowers”, but what happens after a May snowstorm?

Many folks from Wyoming, through the Colorado Rockies, into the Dakotas walked to the window on May 1st and 2nd to see a winter wonderland. Western South Dakota, including Rapid City, was actually under a blizzard warning during the storm and received over a foot of snow! It is late season storms like this that leave people not only wondering if their calendar is right but if this is normal?

To explore what really is normal we head to my favorite state of Colorado, big surprise!

The average snowfall for Denver in May is 1.3’’ and every two years out of five years snow is actually recorded in the mile high city. The past decade hardly any snowfall was recorded in the area but a few days ago the first week of May 2008 hit the books with 0.7’’ of snow in Denver. Thankfully this was nowhere near the record May snowfall of 15.5’’ in 1898.

It is hard to say what is normal when it comes to weather especially in Colorado. The month of May is know for is variety across the Front Range. Daytime highs can fall between 40 degrees one day and then a couple days later can rebound into the 70s and 80s.

The latest freeze for the area is usually on June 8th. With cooler temperatures staying in the higher elevations ski resorts can stay open late into the season by making snow overnight. This year Arapahoe Basin, known as A-Basin to the locals, is open until early June!

May is also the wettest month on average for Denver with precipitation recorded once out of every three days. And although Colorado is known for its sunshine (some say 300 days of sun a year) May is characterized as the cloudiest month tied with November.

So from fat snowflakes to beautiful summer like conditions your calendar is right, it really is May.

The vineyards in Northern California have been hit by one of the worst frosts in nearly 30 years. Nighttime temperatures at the end of April were in the 20’s. Frost alarms on the vines were set off signaling growers of the freezing temperatures. Frost is not unusual in California, but this season it was particularly bad because of the severity and the duration of the frost. The cold temperatures lasted about twenty nights in a row.

Frost damaged Merlot grapevines are shown at a vineyard in the Stag's Leap Wine District in Napa, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

Growers in Napa and Mendocino are still assessing the damage; it is expected to be in the Millions. It will not be until June until the damage is fully assessed, but growers are expected to have a smaller than average harvest this year.

There are a few things that can be done to prevent frost on the vineyards. Farmers can install wind machines. This will circulate the air, letting warmer air in keeping the cold air off the vines. Irrigation is another technique that can be used. This deposits a thin layer of ice over the buds, which believe it or not, can actually keep them at 32 degrees preventing damage from below freezing temperatures.

Plumes of toxic gases spew from Kilauea everyday on the Big Island of Hawaii. The volcano has actually been continuously erupting since 1983. With this activity occurring everyday, an estimated 2,000 tons of vog is created each day over the Big Island. Recently the production of vog has increased due to a new vent opening on the volcano this past March. This secondary vent is now increasing the amount of sulfur dioxide spilling over the island. This increase in toxic gas is killing crops, aggravating people’s respiratory illnesses, and even prompted the evacuation of visitors from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

So what exactly is vog? Vog is volcanic smog. Basically sulfur dioxide and other volcanic particles are emitted into the atmosphere during an eruption. These pollutants then mix with oxygen and water vapor. A key ingredient of vog is sunlight; the intense radiation is needed to create volcanic smog.

Many people wonder is vog like smog? Although the two are very similar and cause city skylines to appear draped in a dark fog the two phenomena are different.

Smog is actually created by certain chemicals that result in the incomplete combustion of fuels and the combination of N2 and O2 in internal combustion engines.

Both require pollutants combining with water vapor, oxygen, and sunlight but vog and smog include a different set of pollutants.

Vog is harmful to plants, animals, and humans. For people with sensitive respiratory systems the presence of vog can worsen symptoms and it can actually cause asthma and lung disease. Large amounts of vog can even irritate a healthy person’s ability to breath and cause irritations of the eyes and skin.

Nothing is ever "typical" or "normal" when it comes to weather, but something you might always expect with a major tornado is the possibility of death. While this may sound grim it is the reality we often live when natural disasters like tornados or hurricanes strike.

Monday I traveled to Virginia to cover the tornado in Suffolk and while I was expecting the worst, there was a glimmer of sunshine through the tragedy. I arrived with my producer at 5am for a Today Show live shot and as the sun started to rise, so did the damage. We would soon learn we were positioned at the heart of the damage outside a neighborhood where homes were completely flattened.

Click here for a look at all of Jeff's photos

As I was preparing for the live shot and contacting the local officials, I was more than surprised. While we learned over 150 homes were heavily damaged, there were no reports of any deaths. This major EF-3 tornado with winds topping 160 mph managed to spare the entire community. Truly remarkable, when you compare this to similar tornado disasters in the past. It became even harder to believe after hearing stories all day of how some survived when the twister cut a path 25 miles long.

Take a look at photos I took on the scene and I'm sure you will see the miracle in the Monday tornado that took just minutes to change a community forever.

You are right, the title says California not Colorado! Although everyone in my life knows I think Colorado is the best state in America, California is not too far behind in my book. My Dad has been a California resident for over ten years now and I recently got back from visiting him in beautiful Napa, California!

One highlight on my trip was an adventure to Bodega Bay, approximately 40 miles northwest of San Francisco. The area is beautiful, known for its rocky coastline and impressive surf.

These beachfronts are not meant for the sunbathers or weak swimmers. The diverse ocean floor leads to erratic wave patterns, deadly rip currents and sleeper waves! Sleeper waves, also known as rouge waves, are extremely large and strike the beach with little warning. Unexpected beach goers have become victims of these giant killers.

Also, temperatures at the coastline are usually very cool all year round with strong winds helping keep people out of the water. The only people who dare to enter the water are some of the strongest surfers but signs combing the beach warn visitors to keep their distance from the shoreline.

Another reason to stay out of the water, if dangerous currents and cool temperatures weren’t enough is something called the Red Triangle. Great white sharks are known to feed off of the large population of marine mammals like harbor seals that live along the Northern California coastline. Although I didn’t see any great whites, I did see about a hundred harbor seals at Goat Head Rock.

The group of seals finds a safe home where the Russian River dumps into the Pacific Ocean. Many fish are found in the area providing plenty of food for the group and the river provides a safe haven from the dangers of the open ocean.

The area also provides a great location for rising pups and luckily I arrived just in time for baby season! I got within 30 yards of a Mom and her pup enjoying the surf! It was amazing to observe the animals in their natural environment.

My trip was very peaceful; it is amazing how Mother Nature can revitalize even the busiest soul. So on that note I leave you with this picture, which for all you yoga nuts out there I call “Warrior on the Beach”

This idea isn’t completely new. Over the last few years many communities have used this kind of solar powered LED technology to light up those blinking “school crossing” signs when needed. Solar panels are also the main power source for emergency call boxes found on the side of the highway and the venerable large blinking orange arrow that forces you to merge three lanes into one. LED lamps are the kind of technology that you wish I invented. They require little electricity, rarely (if ever) burn out and shine bright enough to be seen miles away. LED’s are the way of the future and probably the greatest revelation to lighting since Thomas Edison.

There are lots of other nice little side benefits from a solar powered traffic light though. When the lights go out…where do the cops go first? Intersections and traffic control. With a solar-powered light independent of the electrical grid, the traffic lights would still work like a charm. This would allow the police to focus elsewhere when the power goes out.

So while we’re on a LED kick, let’s take it a step farther…shall we? How about street lamps? The city of Dania Beach, Florida has now undertaken the task of installing 124 solar powered street lamps. Again, those low powered, high brightness beauties called LED’s play a crucial role here. Apparently the city came up with idea after the local power company was too slow in responding to burned out street lamps. Again, this is another idea that I wish I would’ve thought of! Imagine street lamps that are independent of the power grid (and would work in a power outage), and never have to have a bulb replaced…brilliant!

Of course, this kind of thing takes time. I have been using those little solar powered lamps in my garden for years and they rarely last into the evening and produce nary a faint glow. But the key here is progress. We can’t achieve any kind of advancements in “green” light technology unless we are willing to keep experimenting. Could you imagine if Thomas Edison stopped trying after his hundreds of failures to perfect the light bulb? We are in a similar, exciting time right now.

It will probably be a while before green lights get the “green light” in your town, but know that change is coming soon. The safety benefits alone are enough to keep everyone trying!

Recently in Alaska, a cloud of off-white haze covered the sky. The haze was so thick that it blocked the view of the Chugach Mountains, in Anchorage.

At first, residents did not know where that haze was coming from, but the mystery has now been solved! The haze was the result of sand storms in the Gobi Desert and wildfires in Russia.

Sand storms in the Gobi desert are very common in April and May. The dust from these storms usually reaches Alaska, however, this year it’s worse than usual.

Last week, wildfires spread across southern Siberia and the Russian Far East. Over 100 wildfires were burning in four regions, and some areas were declared a state of emergency.

The haze has stubbornly been sitting over the state. Due to the smoke and dust Air Quality has been reduced to moderate level, meaning that the air is unhealthy for sensitive groups. The air is expected to clear as a storm system approaches Thursday and Friday.

This is the beginning of Green Week here at NBC Universal. Our goal is to increase environmental awareness and to offer earth-friendly suggestions that you can try to help save the planet. It’s a fact that every “going green” thing we do helps. I’ve never come across a person that wouldn’t do everything he or she could to help if cost wasn’t an issue.

MORE: Go Green With Weather Plus

Of course in these hard financial times, cost is probably the most important factor when deciding upon going green options. In many cases Going Green can actually save you money or be negligible to your wallet. Below is information on one of today’s most controversial going green decisions to date. It was made by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is guaranteed to affect your family or one you know. Here are the facts. If you were on the FDA panel what would you have done?

One of the first developments in the “save the planet” movement was the realization that CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons) were depleting the ozone layer. The ozone layer is located in the stratosphere 6–10 miles above the earth’s surface and blocks the suns ultra violet radiation so we can play outside without too much worry.

The large hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica led to the Montreal Protocol in 1987 that globally banned production of CFCs with the exception of medical benefits. One of the medical exceptions was made for small but essential asthma inhalers that required CFCs to push the medicine into a patient’s lungs. This exception continues to this day but not for long.

The area shaded in purple represents the hole in the ozone layer. Courtesy of NASA.

In 2005, the FDA voted to halt the production and sale of CFC multi-dose inhalers beginning December 31st, 2008. Starting next year asthma suffers will have to use the relatively new HFA (Hydrofluoroalkane) inhalers. The New England Journal of medicine reported that the safety and use of the new HFA inhalers is comparable to the CFC inhalers. So what’s the big deal? Try sticker shock!

For me, this is the first time in memory that the cost of protecting the planet will directly take money out of unsuspecting families’ pockets. Yes, I know we all pay more for gas because of the environmental production costs, but this case is different. Technically, driving is considered a luxury; breathing is literally a luxury you can’t live without. The cost of these new inhalers is 3x the cost of the current CFC inhalers.

Asthma inhalers like this one may soon become obsolete. Courtesy of Asthma.org.

For insured asthma suffers this will likely mean increased co-pays but for uninsured asthma suffers the cost per prescription will go up an average of $26 dollars. That’s $312 dollars more per year. The price increased because there is no cheaper generic HFA inhaler – whereas there has been a generic CFC inhaler available for years. The drug companies basically ensure that asthma suffers will pay brand name prices until at least 2010 when the generic HFA may become available.

If this issue still doesn’t seem important consider the fact that the asthma drug Albuterol is the 7th most commonly prescribed drug in the U.S. with an estimated 52 million prescriptions. The New England Journal of Medicine predicts Americans will spend an additional $1.2 billion in 2009 to treat asthma in order to prevent CFCs from harming the ozone. This sounds like a great deal for drug companies but a tough pill to swallow (or inhale in this case) for consumers. If you are one of the millions of families with children who suffer from asthma, this has recently occurred or will shortly.

For me, the consumer acceptance or protest of these changes will be a litmus test for future planetary sacrifices. In order to truly negate the harm humans are doing to our planet, the sacrifices will have to begin.

Happy Earth Day!

Thursday, the word game Mad Libs turned 50!! So, to celebrate I figured I’d turn the forecast into a mad lib. Enjoy!

Today it will feel like (season__________) across the Eastern half of the nation. High pressure will allow for a (adjective_________) southerly flow and dry conditions. Plenty of (noun_________) can be expected from (location__________) to (location________). High temperatures will range from (number______) to (number______) degrees.

The center of the country is where the (adjective_____) weather will be. A cold front draped across the Midwest will be the focus for some (plural noun_________) and storms. Rain can be expected from the Great Lakes southward through Texas. Tonight, there is a possibility for (adjective_____) storms in Oklahoma and portions of (location______). Some of the stronger storms may contain (noun_______) and (verb________) winds. To the north of this, cold front the air is much cooler and (noun__________) can be expected in Eastern New Mexico and Colorado.

The West coast will also see (adjective________) weather, as high pressure is (verb_______) the region. Partly sunny (plural noun_________) can be expected for the Pacific (direction__________) with temperatures in the upper 50s. California and the Southwest will see a lot of (noun_______) with temperatures in the 70s and 80s.

Scroll down for the answers….

Today it will feel like spring across the Eastern half of the nation. High pressure will allow for a warm southerly flow and dry conditions. Plenty of sun can be expected from Boston to Orlando. High temperatures will range from 60 to 80 degrees.

The center of the country is where the active weather will be. A cold front draped across the Midwest will be the focus for some showers and storms. Rain can be expected from the Great Lakes southward through Texas. Tonight, there is a possibility for severe storms in Oklahoma and portions of Texas. Some of the stronger storms may contain hail and gusty winds. To the north of this cold front the air is much cooler and snow can be expected in Eastern New Mexico and Colorado.

The West coast will also see pleasant weather as high pressure is dominating the region. Partly sunny skies can be expected for the Pacific Northwest with temperatures in the upper 50s. California and the Southwest will see a lot of sun with temperatures in the 70s and 80s.

A swarm of earthquakes off the coast of Oregon is generating a lot of questions. Scientists listening to microphones underwater have detected the unusual earthquakes. Over the past two weeks over 600 earthquakes have been reported with three of them being magnitude 5 or greater. Usually this is a sign of a potential volcanic eruption, but here is where the questions lie- there is no volcanoes in the area.

Is there a new volcano forming?? The earthquakes could be the result of magma rumbling under the Juan de Fuca Plate. The earths crust is made up of plates sitting on molten rock (magma), when the molten rock erupts through the crust a volcano is created. Scientists from Oregon State University soon hope to send out research ships to take water samples. Within these samples, scientists will look for sediments that could have been stirred up, and they will look for chemicals indicating magma moving through the plate.

The other geological news: scientists are predicting that a major earthquake will strike California by the year 2037. Seismologists have looked at historical data, and fault lines to determine a 99.7% chance of 6.7-magnitude earthquake within the next 30 years. Scientists, however, can’t determine the location of the earthquake. There is a 67% chance that the tremor will hit the Los Angeles basin, and a 63% chance that the quake will impact the San Francisco Bay area.

California saw record high temperatures over the weekend. Temperatures were around 15 degrees above normal. Here is a look at some of the numbers from this past Saturday:

MAP: Southwest Heat Index Contours

Bob Hope Airport: High- 92, Record- 96
Camarillo/ Oxnard: High- 94, Record- 85
Los Angeles: High- 94, Record- 97
Long Beach: High- 95, Record- 91
Santa Barbara: High- 89, Record- 88
Anaheim: High- 96, Record- 89
Sacramento: High- 87, Record- 87
Oakland: High- 87, Record- 86

Sunday also featured highs in the 90s for many locations. High pressure in the upper levels of the atmosphere combined with a light offshore flow allowed for this heat. California isn’t the only location seeing warmer than normal temperatures. The graphic below is the jet stream from Sunday; you will notice the large ridge in the west allowing for warm air to flow all the way to the Canadian border. The intermountain west is experiencing temperatures in the 70s, while the eastern half of the country is dealing with cold temperatures. Freeze watches are issued for residents as far south as the Gulf Coast.

A pattern change in the atmosphere will allow for a big cool down in California. Many valley and costal areas could see a 30-degree temperature drop through mid-week. An onshore flow is expected to increase and noticeably cooler temperatures will be felt across the region by Tuesday.

A classic spring storm will bring tornadoes and heavy snow to the middle of the nation

Headlines:
1) Large, very dangerous tornadoes are expected Thursday afternoon
2) Up to a foot of snow with near blizzard conditions are expected from South Dakota through Northern Minnesota
3) Heavy rain in Oklahoma, Missouri and Illinois will lead to flash flooding

We will be covering a dangerous storm during the next three days. This is your classic spring storm that will have it all (tornadoes, flooding and heavy snow).

The highlight of the storm will be Thursday afternoon and evening with supercell thunderstorms producing what looks to be a significant tornado outbreak.

The area at greatest risk of large, long-track tornadoes will be from Little Rock to St. Louis. The other highlight of the storm will occur Thursday night and Friday across the Northern Plains where heavy snow and gusty winds will produce blizzard or near blizzard conditions.

The areas I expect to see the heaviest snow (6-12") will be from Sioux Falls, SD to Duluth, MN. Denver and Minneapolis will also see snow, but not as heavy (3-6").

The last concern with this storm will be flooding. As of now, I don't foresee any major river flooding but flash flooding will be widespread. The areas at greatest risk for flash flooding will be from Oklahoma City to St. Louis and up to Chicago Thursday night.

Here is a break down of what areas will be impacted and when:

Thursday:
Denver (Light snow ending 3-6" total)
Little Rock (tornadoes nearby, widespread wind damage)
St. Louis (tornadoes nearby, widespread wind damage)
Chicago (possible wind damage with flash flooding nearby)

Thursday Overnight:
Memphis (tornadoes possible nearby, widespread wind damage)
Sioux Falls (Rain going over to heavy snow 3-6")
Minneapolis (Rain to snow 1-3")
Duluth (Snow begins 1-3")

Friday:
Sioux Falls (snow and blowing snow 8-12" total)
Minneapolis (light snow 3-6" total)
Duluth (blizzard conditions 8-12" total)
Nashville (wind damage possible nearby)