Here are some great photos inside a hurricane hunter plane and some instruments that are used. These were taken when they were flying through Hurricane Ike in September of 2008.

Click here for more photos from a hurricane hunters perspective.

Posted under NOAA, Photo, Tropics

Never touch a fallen power line. Never touch anything or anyone in contact with a power line. You could be shocked by contact with the line or a secondary object or person.

Reporting a Fallen Power Line

• Call 911 and report it to local Sheriff or Police

When Vehicles Comes in Contact with a Power Lines

• If you are inside a vehicle:
  • Stay inside the vehicle and warn others to keep away.
  • Wait inside the vehicle until rescue personnel arrive.
  • Do not make contact with metal parts in the vehicle.

• If you have to get out of the vehicle because of a fire or other danger:
  • Jump out so that you do not touch the vehicle and ground at the same time.
  • Don’t run. Hop away keeping your feet together. Separating your feet can create two contact points with the ground and can result in a shock if the ground is energized by a fallen wire.

About Fallen Power Lines

When a live wire touches the ground, electricity fans out in a pool, similar to when a pebble hits water, with the voltage decreasing as it travels from the center. You can be shocked when in this area. Other factors play a role in the severity of the situation, such as wet conditions and the voltage of the wire.

It is important that those without power use caution when trying to stay warm. Special caution should be used.

• Generators should only be used outdoors, in well ventilated areas.  It is not safe to operate a generator in your house, or even in a garage attached to your house, even if the garage is well ventilated.  The exhaust from the generator contains carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless gas that can seep into your house and kill you.

• Don’t try to hook up a portable generator to your home electrical service.  This not only endangers you, but also utility crews that are trying to restore service.

• Only use appliances that are designed for heating to stay warm.  Never, ever, use a gas or charcoal grill, camping stove, or gas stove to generate heat.  In addition to carbon monoxide, prolonged use of these devices for warmth could cause them to overheat and lead to a fire.

• One of the greatest threats during times of prolonged power outages are fires caused by the careless use of candles or fireplaces.  Also use care when refueling generators and kerosene heaters, as hot surfaces can ignite spilled fuel.

Posted under NOAA, Uncategorized, Winter Weather

After a weekend with highs in the upper 60s and low 70s it is hard to think about winter weather. It is November after all and the weather could change very quickly. The National Weather Service (NWS) in conjunction with the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency have declared Thursday, November  12 as Winter Weather Awareness Day in Iowa. Each day this week I will be posting winter information to get you prepared for the inevitable cold and snow to come.

Here are some definitions of products the NWS issues during the winter.

Hazardous Weather Outlook (HWO)

The Hazardous Weather Outlook includes any potential weather hazard out to seven (7) days. It is used for planning purposes and will include a short description of what the weather threat is, when it is expected, and how much it may impact the region. The HWO is issued daily around 5:00 AM, and updated during the day as needed. It is also broadcast on NOAA Weather Radio near the top and bottom of every hour.

Winter Storm Watch (WSW)

A Winter Storm Watch is issued when there is a potential for a winter storm to affect the region during the next 1 to 3 days. It does not always mean the area will be hit by a winter storm, but there is still some uncertainity of the exact path or timing of the event. This is a planning stage. Use this time to ensure you have supplies at home, like some extra food, medications, baby items, etc.. If travel is planned, check ahead and see if a different route or delaying your departure may make your trip safer. Be alert for changing weather conditions.

Winter Weather Advisory (WSW)

Advisories are issued for those winter weather events that are expected to be more of an inconvenience and should not become life-threatening if caution is exercised. These are often issued for 3 to 6 inches of snow, blowing and drifting snow, freezing drizzle, or a combination of these elements. It may be issued for less snow for early season events, when drivers may not be accustomed to slick roads.

Winter Storm Warning (WSW)

Winter Storm Warnings are usually issued when dangerous winter weather is expected, occurring, or imminent. The weather can become life-threatening. Criteria includes snowfalls of 6 inches or more in 12 hours, 8 inches in 24 hours, or lower amounts if accompanied by strong winds or a combination of dangerous winter elements. Avoid unnecessary travel.

Blizzard Warnings (BZW)

The most dangerous winter event is certainly the blizzard. Blizzard Warnings are issued when snow or blowing snow lowers visibilities to a 1/4 mile or less, wind gusts hit 35 mph or higher, and the storm lasts for 3 hours or more. Travel is dangerous and should be avoided if possible.

Ice Storm Warning (WSW)

Ice storm Warnings are issued when freezing rain will cause widespread glazing. A coating of ice is expected to reach 1/4 inch thick or more on objects and make travel nearly impossible. For lesser amounts of ice, usually a winter weather advisory would be used, but even a thin glaze of ice can make travel difficult. Avoid travel.

Wind Chill Warning (NPW)

Issued when wind chills of -35 F or lower are expected with wind speeds of 10 mph or more. A wind chill advisory is issued for values between -20 and -34 F. Dress warmly and cover as much exposed skin as possible.

Posted under NOAA, Winter Weather

Part of the forecast discussion from NWS in the Quad Cities:

STRENGTHENING EL NINO FULLY IN CONTROL NOW ACROSS NORTH AMERICA… AND WILL REMAIN SO THE REMAINDER OF THE UPCOMING WINTER. THIS MEANS ABOVE NORMAL TEMPS AND BELOW NORMAL SNOWFALL FOR THE DVN CWA. ANY COLD AIR INTRUSIONS ARE USUALLY FEW AND FAR BETWEEN IN A MODERATE TO STRONG EL NINO.

Posted under Long Range Outlook, NOAA, Winter Weather

On Tuesday, October 27th, Buchanan County, IA became officially recognized as a StormReady County. 

The NWS designed StormReady to help communities, businesses, and other organizations better prepare for and mitigate the effects of extreme weather-related events. StormReady essentially sets an industry standard for severe weather preparedness and safety. 

 Buchanan County is the 10th county in Iowa to be recognized as StormReady.

For more information on StormReady, visit the following links:

StormReady in the local area: www.weather.gov/quadcities/?n=stormready
National StormReady Program: www.stormready.noaa.gov

Posted under NOAA, Severe Weather

The combined global land and ocean surface temperature was the second warmest September on record, according to NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C. Based on records going back to 1880, the monthly National Climatic Data Center analysis is part of the suite of climate services NOAA provides. Click here for the rest of the story.

Posted under NOAA

From: NOAA
El Niño in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean is expected to be a dominant climate factor that will influence the December through February winter weather in the United States, according to the 2009 Winter Outlook released today by NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. Such seasonal outlooks are part of NOAA’s suite of climate services.

“We expect El Niño to strengthen and persist through the winter months, providing clues as to what the weather will be like during the period,” says Mike Halpert, deputy director of the Climate Prediction Center – a division of the National Weather Service. “Warmer ocean water in the equatorial Pacific shifts the patterns of tropical rainfall that in turn change the strength and position of the jetstream and storms over the Pacific Ocean and the U.S.”
Click here for more details to the story.

Posted under Long Range Outlook, NOAA, Winter Weather

The eye of Hurricane Bill on August 19 , from a NOAA P-3 Hurricane Hunter aircraft flying at 10,000 feet. Photo credit: Jack Parrish of NOAA’s Aircraft Operations Center.

Posted under NOAA, Photo, Tropics

Here is some more information about our record cold across the Midwest…

This was the coldest July on record for the nine-state Midwest region, based on preliminary temperature data. The average temperature for the region was 68.0 degrees, 4.7 degrees below normal. The previous record was 68.9 degrees in 1992, according to Mike Timlin, Regional Climatologist with the NOAA Midwestern Regional Climate Center.

It was the coldest July on record for Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa; the second coldest on record for Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio, and Wisconsin; the third coldest in Minnesota; and the fourth coldest on record for Missouri. Records for the region date back 114 years.

Click here for the rest of the story.

Posted under NOAA, Records, Temperatures

NOAA scientists today announced the arrival of El Niño, a climate phenomenon with a significant influence on global weather, ocean conditions and marine fisheries. El Niño, the periodic warming of central and eastern tropical Pacific waters, occurs on average every two to five years and typically lasts about 12 months.  

NOAA expects this El Niño to continue developing during the next several months, with further strengthening possible. The event is expected to last through winter 2009-10.  

“Advanced climate science allows us to alert industries, governments and emergency managers about the weather conditions El Niño may bring so these can be factored into decision-making and ultimately protect life, property and the economy,” said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. 

El Niño’s impacts depend on a variety of factors, such as intensity and extent of ocean warming, and the time of year. Contrary to popular belief, not all effects are negative. On the positive side, El Niño can help to suppress Atlantic hurricane activity. In the United States, it typically brings beneficial winter precipitation to the arid Southwest, less wintry weather across the North, and a reduced risk of Florida wildfires.  

El Niño’s negative impacts have included damaging winter storms in California and increased storminess across the southern United States. Some past El Niño’s have also produced severe flooding and mudslides in Central and South America, and drought in Indonesia.  

An El Niño event may significantly diminish ocean productivity off the west coast by limiting weather patterns that cause upwelling, or nutrient circulation in the ocean.  These nutrients are the foundation of a vibrant marine food web and could negatively impact food sources for several types of birds, fish and marine mammals.  

In its monthly El Niño diagnostics discussion today, scientists with the NOAA National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center noted weekly eastern equatorial Pacific sea surface temperatures were at least 1.0 degree C above average at the end of June. The most recent El Niño occurred in 2006.

El Niño includes weaker trade winds, increased rainfall over the central tropical Pacific, and decreased rainfall in Indonesia. These vast rainfall patterns in the tropics are responsible for many of El Niño’s global effects on weather patterns.  

NOAA will continue to monitor the rapidly evolving situation in the tropical Pacific, and will provide more detailed information on possible Atlantic hurricane impacts in its updated Seasonal Hurricane Outlook scheduled for release on August 6, 2009.

Posted under Climate, Long Range Outlook, NOAA