The cone from Katrina vs what the cone would look like for Katrina in 2015—big improvement in track skill in 10 yrs pic.twitter.com/mcSfDZfqw9
— Eric Blake (@EricBlake12)
March 27, 2015
AccuWeather Slams the NWS for Missing a Tornado AccuWeather Didn't Cover
The National Weather Service failed to issue a tornado warning in Moore, Oklahoma, when a preliminary EF-1 tornado made a mess of the town for the sixth time in as many years on Wednesday. AccuWeather wasted no time blasting the agency for its failure while trumpeting their own success in warning clients twelve…
Europeans Upgrading Already-Superior Weather Model Just to Rub It In
Just months after NOAA upgraded the American global weather model, the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) plans to upgrade their already-superior model so that it wipes the floor with our proud, measly little heap of computer algorithms.
Homes, Elementary School Damaged After Tornado in Moore, Oklahoma
Moore, Oklahoma, a city of more than 50,000 people that lies a few miles south of Oklahoma City, suffered a direct hit from its sixth tornado in the past fifteen years tonight. Numerous structures were significantly damaged by the tornado, including Southgate Elementary school.
Watch Storm Chasers Race to Catch Up With Oklahoma Supercells
Today is the second day of a two-part severe weather outbreak across the Plains states, with giant thunderstorms blowing up over Oklahoma and Arkansas. The storms have the potential to produce hail up to the size of tennis balls, so naturally, storm chasers are speeding towards them in hopes of catching nature at its…
Do Television Meteorologists Have a Responsibility to Prevent Confusion?
Oklahoma City is one of the most threatened cities in the United States when it comes to severe weather. At least once a year—often more than that—nature throws violent tornadoes, enormous hail, and destructive winds at the city on the plains. That's why many people have found it a little unsettling that the city's…
Hail Larger Than Golf Balls Could Pelt the Central Plains This Afternoon
The first day of a two-part severe thunderstorm event is unfolding across the middle of the country, with an enhanced risk for severe weather—three on a scale from zero to five—possible in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri. Storms could produce very large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes.…
Here's a Crash Course on Severe Weather Forecasts to Help Keep You Safe
We've been lucky enough to see a lull in severe thunderstorms over the past couple of months, sparing countless towns from damage or destruction. Unfortunately, all good things have to come to an end. Here's a primer on how to use severe weather forecasts to keep you and your loved ones safe this spring.
Near-Record Lull in Severe Weather Could Come to an End Next Week
Even though Friday was the official start to spring, severe weather season across the U.S. typically ramps up much earlier. This year, however, has been quiet. Extremely quiet. In fact, we're on track to see the quietest start to the year we've ever recorded. That's probably going to change pretty soon.…
Forecasters did a good job predicting Friday's snow, with some communities clocking in on the higher end of the forecasts. Central Park saw three inches, Philadelphia recorded four, an inch fell in Baltimore, and D.C. only saw a dusting. The big winner was Freehold, New Jersey, with 7.2 inches of snow.
Why Do Communities Keep Wasting Money on Useless Tornado Sirens?
The droning wail of a tornado siren is ubiquitous in the southern and central parts of the United States. These loud sirens are meant to warn people who are outdoors that a tornado is on its way. Now that we're indoors or in a car for most of our lives, tornado sirens are all but useless, yet we keep wasting money on…
Of Course It's Going to Snow Tomorrow, the First Day of Spring
Forecasters have growing confidence that it's going to snow tomorrow in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Some cities from Pennsylvania to Long Island could see five or more inches of snow by the time it's over on Friday night. Oh, and tomorrow is the first day of spring. Nature has a twisted sense of humor.
Learn How to Identify Rip Currents So You Don't Die on Spring Break
Beaches are a relaxing place to spend a family trip or just enjoy a raging, booze-fueled spring break. While a trip to the ocean can be packed with fun, it can also be dangerous. Aside from sunburns and jellyfish, one of the most dangerous things you have to look out for is a silent, sloshing killer: rip currents.
After Record Warmth, U.S. Dips Back Into Winter's Stubborn Pattern
It was downright gorgeous across the United States and Canada earlier this week. Dozens of towns from Texas to Saskatchewan set record highs during the brief warm-up. Unfortunately, March's gotta act like March, and we've slumped back into that weird winter pattern of a warm west and cool east.
Here Are the Water Restrictions California Should Have Passed Today
After confronting the truth that we have only one year of water left, California passed new water restrictions today which are WIMPY AS HELL. Here, California, I fixed them for you.
Fed. Gov't Drops Hacking Charges Against Nat'l Weather Service Employee
The federal government dropped charges against an accused National Weather Service hydrologist last week, five months after she was arrested and charged with illegally accessing and downloading restricted information about the country's dams. http://thevane.gawker.com/natl-weather-s...
Fahrenheit Is a Better Temperature Scale Than Celsius
Few things will earn you a nastier, contemptuous snarl from a Very Serious Scientist than using that lowly, scum-based Fahrenheit scale for measuring air temperature. "Celsius is the proper form of measurement," they haughtily trumpet, "because everyone else uses it." Everyone else is wrong.
Boston Breaks All-Time Winter Snowfall Record with 108.6 Inches of Snow
A burst of heavy snow this afternoon nudged Boston over the threshold the city needed to break its all-time snowfall record. The airport reported 2.9 inches of snow at 7:00 PM EDT, bringing the seasonal total to 108.6 inches, or one inch above the previous all-time record set in 1995-1996. Snowfall records in Boston…
South Pacific's Vanuatu Hammered by 165 MPH Tropical Cyclone
The world is on edge this afternoon as we await news from Vanuatu's capital city of Port Vila to see how they fared the wrath of Severe Cyclone Pam. The storm had estimated winds of 165 MPH as its eyewall brushed the capital island's 66,000 inhabitants on Friday around 9:00 AM EDT. …
Southern Rains Will Lead to Weekend Snow in New England, I'm So Sorry
The thing about March is that it lures you in with springlike temperatures, chirping birds, bumbling bees, and just when you start to let down your guard—WHAM!—you get smacked with a winter storm. It happens almost every year, but I am so sorry to say that it's probably going to snow this weekend.