Hey... it's been a while. Sorry so many have been on the email and special request line on WHOTV.com it has taken a while to get back in a rhythm on the blog site.
Our October has been a cold and rather dreary month. We are way over the average for rainfall... 2.27" of rainfall so far and that compares to 1.58 as an average between Oct. 1 and Oct. 19.
The cold air has been the big shocker. With all the rainfall our clouds have been a constant companion. Those clouds are also the shade to the warmth of the sun.
Here are some of the numbers for the cold October....
Des Moines...Record Cold October
45.8 .... 2009
47.8 .... 1952
49.5 .... 1925
50.2 .... 1959/1977
Usually the temperature records are set by just a degree or maybe a fraction of a degree. The last record was 2 degrees below the old record. This is substantial cooling. We are really watching a much cooler trend that started back in the late 1990s. There is so much talk of global warming or climate change in the news. Here it is really much cooler.
The highs today and tomorrow will be above the average... but there is more rain and cooler temperatures coming our way with a cold front on Wednesday. That front will become stationary and we will see cooler than normal temperatures.
Enjoy the day... get out and get some of those fall chores finished before we hit the next round of rain.
Ed
Monday, October 19, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
Iowa...9th Coolest Summer on Record. U.S. ... 34th
We have seen some cool temperatures this summer. The July average temperature was 68. That was the coldest July on record for Iowa. The old record was set in the late 1800s.
Here in Iowa we saw the 9th coldest summer on record. Nationally we experienced the 34th coldest.
The regional area of Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota had the 4th coldest summer on record. www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2009/20090910_summerstats.html
More great weather for football Friday night and for the game tomorrow in Ames. There is a threat for some rainfall tonight and tomorrow...but the forecast is still showing the western 1/2 of the state with the best chance for showers. I think the front will become stationary over western counties and will give us much less sunshine...but should hold the heavier rainfall in the area around the Missouri River.
We will see a raindrop or two...so bring the umbrella and poncho just to be safe.
It will remain warm through the next 48 hours. Highs should stay in the upper 70s and lower 80s.
Tonight I will be live with the Ramsey Intercept Hunger drive. We will be at the Saydel High School football field with the Ankeny/Iowa Christian Academy football team that will play last year's champions...Lenox.
Bring a non-perishable food item to the game and get a free tee-shirt...while supplies last. The food will go to the Des Moines Area Religious Council's Emergency Food Pantry. Last week we collected over 300 foot items and $30.00. It will help those who need assistance through the winter months.
Have a great weekend...root for your favorite team...we will be there to watch the action.
Here in Iowa we saw the 9th coldest summer on record. Nationally we experienced the 34th coldest.
The regional area of Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota had the 4th coldest summer on record. www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2009/20090910_summerstats.html
More great weather for football Friday night and for the game tomorrow in Ames. There is a threat for some rainfall tonight and tomorrow...but the forecast is still showing the western 1/2 of the state with the best chance for showers. I think the front will become stationary over western counties and will give us much less sunshine...but should hold the heavier rainfall in the area around the Missouri River.
We will see a raindrop or two...so bring the umbrella and poncho just to be safe.
It will remain warm through the next 48 hours. Highs should stay in the upper 70s and lower 80s.
Tonight I will be live with the Ramsey Intercept Hunger drive. We will be at the Saydel High School football field with the Ankeny/Iowa Christian Academy football team that will play last year's champions...Lenox.
Bring a non-perishable food item to the game and get a free tee-shirt...while supplies last. The food will go to the Des Moines Area Religious Council's Emergency Food Pantry. Last week we collected over 300 foot items and $30.00. It will help those who need assistance through the winter months.
Have a great weekend...root for your favorite team...we will be there to watch the action.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Calm...Cool July
So we are on the way to the last part of summer. Kids are already getting supplies for school. It is hard to believe we are on the way to August this week.
The tornado season is starting to wane. We have only seen 18 tornadoes on the ground so far this year. Last year our tornado total was 101 by this time of the year. Of those 18 tornadoes...all were very weak. 15 were EF0..3 were EF1. If we have no more tornadoes this year... it will be the lowest number of twisters since 1980. On Average we see about 44 tornadoes in Iowa by the end of July.
Cool again for the end of July.
Our highs are going to be warm today...but they will be the hottest of the week. As a cold front moves through tonight we will see a chance for thunderstorms. Then the cooler air falls in through the end of the seven day.
Highs will only be in the lower 80s and upper 70s. We are expecting a few nights with 50s.
Have a great day... tune in to Iowa's Weather Plus on channel 13.1 and cable channel 246 for coverage of the storms tonight and tomorrow morning.
Ed
The tornado season is starting to wane. We have only seen 18 tornadoes on the ground so far this year. Last year our tornado total was 101 by this time of the year. Of those 18 tornadoes...all were very weak. 15 were EF0..3 were EF1. If we have no more tornadoes this year... it will be the lowest number of twisters since 1980. On Average we see about 44 tornadoes in Iowa by the end of July.
Cool again for the end of July.
Our highs are going to be warm today...but they will be the hottest of the week. As a cold front moves through tonight we will see a chance for thunderstorms. Then the cooler air falls in through the end of the seven day.
Highs will only be in the lower 80s and upper 70s. We are expecting a few nights with 50s.
Have a great day... tune in to Iowa's Weather Plus on channel 13.1 and cable channel 246 for coverage of the storms tonight and tomorrow morning.
Ed
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Tornado Safety
Hi folks... there is a chance for severe weather over much of the state tonight. We will be watching for you and of course you can get the latest information on Channel 13... Channel 13.2 and digital 246 on cable with Iowa's Weather Plus.
Please take a little time to go over the tornado safety rules attached below. It is so important to go over the rules and memorize them to keep you and your family safe.
www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/#Safety
Please take a little time to go over the tornado safety rules attached below. It is so important to go over the rules and memorize them to keep you and your family safe.
www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/#Safety
Thursday, June 11, 2009
May...Above Average US Temps?!
Are you kidding me? This is amazing to those of us who are wondering if we will have a real summer. (((See Carlson's Story in the Register Wednesday)))
There is a cool wind blowing again over Iowa and now the climate numbers have reached the weather desk of TV 13. It seems the United States was above average for temperatures last month.
Most of the heat recorded in the report came from the southwestern U.S. There were record highs for Arizona, Nevada and Utah.
Here is the full report: www.crh.noaa.gov/eax/?n=season_spring09_sum
We are still way below the average for temps in June. This is great for the electric bill. Some are telling me the flowers have never looked better. Some others want to know if there will be a time when the kids will not be shivering at the swimming pools.
The week ahead is still looking cooler than the average...and there will be chances for showers and isolated thunderstorms just about every day.
The split jet stream is one of the reasons for the cooler and wet weather. The southern jet is keeping the warmer air far south of Iowa. The northern jet is sweeping in the cooler air just to the north of Iowa. We are caught in the pinch...and that means showers... and clouds. High temperatures have remained about 10 degrees cooler than normal.
The good news is we are not seeing the severe storms...most of that is over Missouri. In fact Missouri could be caught in the heavy rain pattern we had during June and July of 1993. The low that is set up off the Pacific Northwest has similar characteristics of the storm system that sent one shot of rain after another over Iowa in 1993.
There was frost last night in North Dakota. Sweater weather in summer?
Have a great one... see you on the air tonight.
Ed
There is a cool wind blowing again over Iowa and now the climate numbers have reached the weather desk of TV 13. It seems the United States was above average for temperatures last month.
Most of the heat recorded in the report came from the southwestern U.S. There were record highs for Arizona, Nevada and Utah.
Here is the full report: www.crh.noaa.gov/eax/?n=season_spring09_sum
We are still way below the average for temps in June. This is great for the electric bill. Some are telling me the flowers have never looked better. Some others want to know if there will be a time when the kids will not be shivering at the swimming pools.
The week ahead is still looking cooler than the average...and there will be chances for showers and isolated thunderstorms just about every day.
The split jet stream is one of the reasons for the cooler and wet weather. The southern jet is keeping the warmer air far south of Iowa. The northern jet is sweeping in the cooler air just to the north of Iowa. We are caught in the pinch...and that means showers... and clouds. High temperatures have remained about 10 degrees cooler than normal.
The good news is we are not seeing the severe storms...most of that is over Missouri. In fact Missouri could be caught in the heavy rain pattern we had during June and July of 1993. The low that is set up off the Pacific Northwest has similar characteristics of the storm system that sent one shot of rain after another over Iowa in 1993.
There was frost last night in North Dakota. Sweater weather in summer?
Have a great one... see you on the air tonight.
Ed
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Parkersburg...One Year Later
Memorial Day has more significance in Parkersburg, Iowa this year. It will be one year ago to the day that the little town in Butler County was nearly wiped off the map by an EF 05 tornado.
6 People were killed in Parkersburg...3 more died in the New Hartford area.
The town was changed forever...but rebirth of homes and connections between family and friends in the area is amazing. It is a testament to the community and to the caring of those who were there day one and again through the last 365 days.
Parkersburg now looks like a new housing development in any suburb Iowa. The big trees that lined the streets are gone. Now there are new sprouts and saplings. There are new and bigger homes in the place where only foundations remained after the tornado last May 25th.
The numbers are amazing. 282 homes were damaged or destroyed. The cost estimate so far is around $37 million.
This weekend Parkersburg will pay tribute to those who were killed and to those who survived. Memorial Day weekend has special meaning for those folks in north central Iowa.
The National Weather Service in Johnston has a pdf poster of the track and timeline of the May 25, 2008 tornado. You can see it and find out more about the events this weekend. www.crh.noaa.gov/dmx/?=parkersburg
Have a safe weekend.
Ed
6 People were killed in Parkersburg...3 more died in the New Hartford area.
The town was changed forever...but rebirth of homes and connections between family and friends in the area is amazing. It is a testament to the community and to the caring of those who were there day one and again through the last 365 days.
Parkersburg now looks like a new housing development in any suburb Iowa. The big trees that lined the streets are gone. Now there are new sprouts and saplings. There are new and bigger homes in the place where only foundations remained after the tornado last May 25th.
The numbers are amazing. 282 homes were damaged or destroyed. The cost estimate so far is around $37 million.
This weekend Parkersburg will pay tribute to those who were killed and to those who survived. Memorial Day weekend has special meaning for those folks in north central Iowa.
The National Weather Service in Johnston has a pdf poster of the track and timeline of the May 25, 2008 tornado. You can see it and find out more about the events this weekend. www.crh.noaa.gov/dmx/?=parkersburg
Have a safe weekend.
Ed
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Doppler Ground Clutter
There are many viewers who have asked about the junk that is around the center of Doppler radars. It looks like precipitation...but is always there....even on a clear night.
Here is a general explanation of ground clutter around the radar and anomalous propagation.
Ground clutter is a pattern of radar echoes from fixed targets around the radar. An example is the red and orange spots that are always around the Mega Doppler. There are farm buildings and grain silos near the radar site that always show up as red or orange spots that do not move in the center of our radar display. We built Mega Doppler outside of the metro so we would not the interference of buildings downtown. Ground clutter can hide or disrupt precipitation echoes near the radar antenna.
Anomalous propagation (A.P.) occurs with temperature or moisture gradients near the radar that cause part of the radar to bend abnormally. The beam of the radar can be turned into the ground or can bend upward. Both types of A.P. can make it look like there are large areas of rain or snow falling right around the radar. A.P. is most often visible at night with high amounts of moisture. Yellow and green are the most common colors that show up on the Doppler during anomalous propagation. The false returns are most common during nighttime hours when cooler temperatures and more moisture is pumped into the atmosphere adding to the bending of the radar beam.
We manipulate the power and tilt of Mega Doppler to eliminate most of the ground clutter and A.P.
---------------
A viewer from Ankeny noticed that it is really difficult to see storms on radar when they move over the northern edge of Ankeny. This is a portion of the email I sent to our Ankeny viewer... it will help explain why being close to the radar does not keep you safer in storms.
The issue with Ankeny is the growth of the area to the north of town since our radar was installed at Alleman. That area...just like so many in central Iowa... has expanded so much in the last several years. Many housing developments...golf courses...etc have moved very close to the radar site. This has created an issue for those who live under the dome of ground clutter that will always be a part of any Doppler radar location.
I mentioned in the earlier email we purposely put the radar site away from the downtown area of Des Moines. Since the installation of our Doppler... Ankeny and Des Moines have nearly joined at the south...and Ankeny has really expanded to the north. Alleman has expanded right under the dome of silence around the radar site.
We use this site because Alleman is one of the highest points of the central Iowa area. It is where our TV towers are located...so we own the property.
We try to eliminate as much ground clutter and Anomalous Propagation as possible... but if you are right under the radar site... there is really nothing we can do about those permanent returns of buildings and bending of the radar very close to the radar.
In the event of a very close storm over the our radar... you can cross-section the storm with the National Weather Service Doppler that is located over by Camp Dodge in Johnston. http://radar.weather.gov/radar.php?rid=dmx
You will notice they have more ground clutter than we do on a clear day... they put their radar into a "clear air" mode that really increases the junk around the center of the Doppler.... but during a storm that is right over Ankeny... this could help.
Keep that NOAA all-hazard weather radio in your home and in a place that will wake you up if the storms move through when your family is sleeping. You can even register to win a weather radio from Channel 13 by going to http://who.4wmt.com/packages/templates/anonymous/giveaway.aspx?pageid=092af6b5-e0ee-4c80-8ca0-ba046b7830ab
Here is a general explanation of ground clutter around the radar and anomalous propagation.
Ground clutter is a pattern of radar echoes from fixed targets around the radar. An example is the red and orange spots that are always around the Mega Doppler. There are farm buildings and grain silos near the radar site that always show up as red or orange spots that do not move in the center of our radar display. We built Mega Doppler outside of the metro so we would not the interference of buildings downtown. Ground clutter can hide or disrupt precipitation echoes near the radar antenna.
Anomalous propagation (A.P.) occurs with temperature or moisture gradients near the radar that cause part of the radar to bend abnormally. The beam of the radar can be turned into the ground or can bend upward. Both types of A.P. can make it look like there are large areas of rain or snow falling right around the radar. A.P. is most often visible at night with high amounts of moisture. Yellow and green are the most common colors that show up on the Doppler during anomalous propagation. The false returns are most common during nighttime hours when cooler temperatures and more moisture is pumped into the atmosphere adding to the bending of the radar beam.
We manipulate the power and tilt of Mega Doppler to eliminate most of the ground clutter and A.P.
---------------
A viewer from Ankeny noticed that it is really difficult to see storms on radar when they move over the northern edge of Ankeny. This is a portion of the email I sent to our Ankeny viewer... it will help explain why being close to the radar does not keep you safer in storms.
The issue with Ankeny is the growth of the area to the north of town since our radar was installed at Alleman. That area...just like so many in central Iowa... has expanded so much in the last several years. Many housing developments...golf courses...etc have moved very close to the radar site. This has created an issue for those who live under the dome of ground clutter that will always be a part of any Doppler radar location.
I mentioned in the earlier email we purposely put the radar site away from the downtown area of Des Moines. Since the installation of our Doppler... Ankeny and Des Moines have nearly joined at the south...and Ankeny has really expanded to the north. Alleman has expanded right under the dome of silence around the radar site.
We use this site because Alleman is one of the highest points of the central Iowa area. It is where our TV towers are located...so we own the property.
We try to eliminate as much ground clutter and Anomalous Propagation as possible... but if you are right under the radar site... there is really nothing we can do about those permanent returns of buildings and bending of the radar very close to the radar.
In the event of a very close storm over the our radar... you can cross-section the storm with the National Weather Service Doppler that is located over by Camp Dodge in Johnston. http://radar.weather.gov/radar.php?rid=dmx
You will notice they have more ground clutter than we do on a clear day... they put their radar into a "clear air" mode that really increases the junk around the center of the Doppler.... but during a storm that is right over Ankeny... this could help.
Keep that NOAA all-hazard weather radio in your home and in a place that will wake you up if the storms move through when your family is sleeping. You can even register to win a weather radio from Channel 13 by going to http://who.4wmt.com/packages/templates/anonymous/giveaway.aspx?pageid=092af6b5-e0ee-4c80-8ca0-ba046b7830ab
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