OCTOBER 31, 2007: FRIGHTFULLY WARM HALLOWEEN AND SCARY COLD ON THE WAY!

We will enjoy a frightfully mild Halloween as high temperatures soar into the upper 60’s. It will be dry this evening for trick or treaters. The temperature at 6 pm will read 64 degrees, then by the time trick or treating is over with, temperatures will fall into the upper 50’s by 8 pm.

A shift to markedly cooler weather is the Ohio Valley’s future. The coldest in a series of chilly air masses predicted here over the next two weeks is to wait until next Tuesday to arrive. It’s an air mass potentially old enough to deliver our first snow flurries.

The establishment of a snow cover north of the area in Canada is essential to each year’s seasonal temperature decline. A winter storm is expected to blanket sections of Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec provinces with as much as 6 to 12 inches of snow today through Thursday.

TODAY’S WEATHER QUIZ

Besides orange, what other color(s) do pumpkins come in?

A. Blue

B. White

C. Green

D. All of the above

ANSWER: D. All of the above

Email your weather questions toweather@wtov.com.
I'm meteorologist Jeff Oechslein.

TODAY’S WEATHER QUIZ

In which countries did Jack O’ lanterns originate?

A. England

B. Ireland

C. United States

ANSWER: Ireland, Jack o’ lanterns originated in Ireland where people placed candles in hollowed-out turnips to keep away spirits and ghosts on the Samhain holiday.

Email your weather questions toweather@wtov.com.
I'm meteorologist Jeff Oechslein.

OCTOBER 29, 2007: TROPICAL STORM NOEL

Noel is expected to strengthen and possibly reach hurricane strength as it moves slowly today and Tuesday. The latest forecasts show the storm weakening as it passes over Cuba, then tracking towards the Bahamas on Wednesday. You can track Noel at the National Hurricane Center.

Temperatures early this morning dropped down into the 20’s, thus officially ending the growing season. Here is a sampling of area temperatures this morning:

Steubenville 29

Wheeling 28

Adena: 25

West Liberty: 25

New Philadelphia: 28

TODAY’S WEATHER QUIZ

What is the most popular chocolate bar amongst trick or treaters?

A. Snickers

B. Hershey

C. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup

ANSWER: Snickers

Email your weather questions toweather@wtov.com.
I'm meteorologist Jeff Oechslein.

OCTOBER 27, 2007: Refrigerator Rundown

As the weather finally cools off, many homeowners have energy efficiency on their minds. While it's important to have your heating systems checked out and tuned up before winter, remember that there are other ways you can save energy around the house.

Refrigerators, for example, are the biggest energy-consumers in the kitchen, and the energy saved by replacing a typical refrigerator from 1990 with a new, energy efficient version is enough to light-up an average home for about four months!

Here's a Tip:

If you are in the market for a new refrigerator, look for an energy efficient model. You can give your current model an efficiency boost by making sure it is placed away from heat sources, such as ovens, dishwashers and direct sunlight, and keeping the condenser coils on the back of the unit clean.

Make sure the seals on refrigerator doors are tight, and try to reduce the amount of time the doors are open so that your appliance doesn't have to work overtime to stay cool.

If you have an old refrigerator you need to dispose of, find a recycling or donation center in your community.

Find more information about energy efficient appliances at Energy Star.

This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.

OCTOBER 25, 2007: NBC WEATHER PLUS KEEPS AN EYE ON THE SKY FOR SOUTHWEST AIRLINES

Should you take a sweater or a bikini, a parka or flip flops? Now you can make your packing list while booking your trip or checking in for a flight on southwest.com! Southwest Airlines enhances the Customer online experience by partnering with NBC Weather Plus, the first all-digital broadcast network and premiere online weather property, offering Customers online video forecasts for each region Southwest Airlines serves.

The new online feature is powered by the NBC Weather Plus team of meteorologists. The videos will feature accurate, up-to-the-minute local weather data and maps, all just clicks away from southwest.com.

The NBC Weather Plus/Southwest partnership will give southwest.com Customers a quality service that will provide a user-friendly experience. The weather information will provide a needed, yet underserved service to business and leisure Customers. The NBC Weather Plus/Southwest Forecasts icon will reside on various pages of southwest.com. Once visitors click on the icon, they have the opportunity to choose a forecast that relates to their personal outbound or inbound travel plans.

TODAY’S WEATHER QUIZ

What is another name for the Santa Ana winds?

A. Wildfire wind

B. Devil wind

C. Canyon wind

ANSWER: Devil wind, Santana is the Spanish name for Satan

Email your weather questions toweather@wtov.com.
I'm meteorologist Jeff Oechslein.

OCOTBER 24, 2007: THE SANTA ANA WINDS

Named after Southern California's Santa Ana Canyon and a fixture of local legend and literature, the Santa Ana is a blustery, dry and warm (often hot) wind that blows out of the desert.

A popular misconception is that the winds are hot owing to their desert origin. Actually, the Santa Anas develop when the desert is cold, and are thus most common during the cool season stretching from October through March. High pressure builds over the Great Basin OF Nevada and the cold air there begins to sink. However, this air is forced downslope which compresses and warms it at a rate of about 29 degrees per mile of descent. As its temperature rises, the relative humidity drops; the air starts out dry and winds up at sea level much drier still. The air picks up speed as it is channeled through passes and canyons.

Santa Anas can cause a great deal of damage. The fast, hot winds cause vegetation to dry out, increasing the danger of wildfire. Once the fires start, the winds fan the flames and hasten their spread.

Email your weather questions toweather@wtov.com.
I'm meteorologist Jeff Oechslein.

OCTOBER 22, 2007: SOMEONE IS PREDICTING A ROUGH WINTER!

It doesn't feel at all like winter, but a woolly worm named Armstrong says it won't stay that way.

The caterpillar raced by Raleigh's Olivia King out crawled 1,400 competitors to earn the honor of proclaiming the official winter weather forecast at the 30th annual Woolly Worm Festival at Banner Elk.

Armstrong's forecast calls for cold and snow in the first four weeks of winter. He says the fifth and sixth weeks will be cold, with the next two weeks remaining cold with light snow.

A mild spell pops up during weeks 10 and 11 with a cold and snowy close to the winter in weeks 12 and 13.

For 30 years, Banner Elk has hosted the races for the black and brown striped worms to determine which one deserves the honor of making the winter forecast. Tradition says the black stripes predict cold and snowy weather while brown stripes point toward milder conditions. History shows the woolly worm has been close or right 85 percent of the time.

TODAY’S WEATHER QUIZ

What is the greatest snowfall to be recorded in Phoenix, Arizona?

A. 1”

B. 2”

C. 3”

ANSWER: 1”

Email your weather questions toweather@wtov.com.
I'm meteorologist Jeff Oechslein.

OCTOBER 21, 2007: SUMMER IN OCTOBER

It's summertime once again in the Ohio Valley. Sunday's high reached 80 degrees, and that's just 3 degrees shy of matching the current record high for that date, which is 83 set in 1949.

Monday will be another sunny, warm day with the daily high reaching 80 degrees. The record is 85, set back in 1947.

It's downhill from there, with a big drop in temps on Tuesday. A cold front will bring clouds and rain, and highs will be in the 60's. By the end of the week, we'll dip into the 50's for the high.

The average temp for this time of the year is 63 degrees.

By the weekend, conditions will improve with sun but more seasonal temps. Good news for trick or treaters Saturday!

This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.

OCTOBER 19, 2007: HOW CLIMATE IS AFFECTING MIGRATION TIMING

In Western Europe, a combination of milder winters and an earlier arrival of spring-like temperatures have prompted the Region's birds to change their migratory patterns.

Over the last 50 years, short distance migratory birds have generally delayed the start of their autumn migrations, while long distance migratory birds are generally leaving their northern breeding grounds earlier.

Earlier springs and milder autumns mean longer breeding seasons, and short distance migratory birds that can have two broods of chicks each year instead of one have benefited greatly from longer breeding seasons, as they are having more offspring.

This move toward two broods each year instead of one means that these birds will delay their departure to their wintering grounds; moreover, the general warming trend means that suitable wintering grounds are now farther north than they used to be, so the birds have less distance to travel.

The longer dry season means that long distance migrants must start their autumn migration earlier; if they do not, the land they will pass through will be too dry to provide the food they need. Because they must leave earlier in the year, the breeding season of Western Europe's long distance migrants is now shorter than it was 50 years ago, this is probably one factor behind the recent widespread decline of these birds.

Source: Earth Gauge; National Environmental Education Foundation

This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.

OCTOBER 18, 2007: CEILING FAN WEATHER

Pretty soon it will get cold, in fact if you believe one of the computer models that I look at, it could get pretty chilly by the middle of next week. Did you know that you can save a lot on heating bills with the use of the ceiling fan?

First make sure the fan is spinning in the correct direction. Fans spinning counterclockwise push air downward, but fans set on the clockwise setting pull the air towards the ceiling. When it’s warm in the house we want the fan to spin counter-clockwise. The air will flow downward and give us a wind chill effect.

A ceiling fan can help lower energy consumption in the winter by up to 10%. The temperature of the air in a heated room varies in layers: The air near the ceiling is warmer than the air near the floor because warm air rises.

When it is cold outside, the ceiling fan should be run in a clockwise direction. This pushes the air up against the ceilings and down the walls, to gently recirculate the warm air without creating a cooling wind chill effect.

TODAY’S WEATHER QUIZ

Which has more ice?.

A. Greenland

B. Iceland

ANSWER: Greenland!

OCOTBER 17, 2007: TUESDAY'S EARTHQUAKE IN OHIO

An earthquake was felt weakly by many people in Lake County, primarily near the lakeshore. Lake County sits off Lake Erie east of the city of Cleveland.

No damage was reported at this time.

The United States geological survey has indicated that an earthquake of magnitude 2.9 on the Richter Scale occurred at 4:04 p.m. EDT, at a position of 41.919 degrees north latitude, and 81.466 degrees west longitude.

This location is about 15 miles northwest of Fairport Harbor, Ohio, or 32 miles north-northeast of Cleveland, Ohio.

The National Weather Service issued a public statement and reported more information will be provided as it becomes available from the National Earthquake Information Center in Golden Colorado.

This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.

OCOTBER 17, 2007: MILD WEATHER HANGS ON

Temperatures are staying well above average for the middle of October. High temperatures today through Friday will climb into the 70’s. Slightly cooler weather will come back into the area by Saturday, but it will be short lived as temperatures skyrocket towards 80 degrees for Sunday and Monday. Some of the computer models are hinting at a significant change towards cooler weather by the middle of next week. It’s hard to believe that November is nearly two weeks away!

TODAY’S WEATHER QUIZ

What is the highest temperature recorded during the month of October?

A. 91 degrees

B. 88 degrees

C. 85 degrees

ANSWER: 91 degrees, October 10, 1949.

Email your weather questions toweather@wtov.com.
I'm meteorologist Jeff Oechslein.

OCTOBER 16, 2007: WILDLIFE DURING FALL

During the fall months, wildlife and many farm animals begin to prepare for cooler nights and colder weather ahead by going through a number of physiological changes.

It's neat to witness the changes. Just recently, my horses have grown a soft full coat for the same reason. They're getting their winter coats!

Many animals, such as deer and raccoons, increase fat deposits, grow thicker coats and some begin to decrease their activity levels.

This physical prep-work will help to ensure animals make it through the colder late-fall and winter months successfully.

Here's a tip:

While it may seem like a good idea to feed backyard wildlife to lend a hand as weather cools off, it is actually much better to let wildlife fend for themsleves. Deer and other animals are adapted to certain natural foods, and switching up their diet can make them sick.

Artificial food sources can cause wildlife to crowd together, increase competition between animals, and increase the possibility for spreading disease.

If you want to offer food for wildlife in your backyard, stick to birdfeeders-birds will benefit from feeders without side effects!

This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.

Source: Earth Gauge National Environmental Education Foundation, Washington, D.C.

OCTOBER 15, 2007: SHORTENING DAYS AND GROWING SNOWPACK

In the past, despite the shortest day of the year occurring around December 21, the latest sunrise is delayed several days to early January. However, beginning this year, the rules for Daylight Saving Time have changed for the first time in more than 20 years. The new changes were enacted by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which extended the length of Daylight Saving Time in the interest of reducing energy consumption. The new rules increase the length of Daylight Saving Time by about one month to a total of 238 days or about 65% of the year, although Congress retained the right to revert to the prior law should the change prove unpopular or if energy savings are not significant.

As a result, Daylight Saving Time begins at 2am on the second Sunday of March and ends on the first Sunday of November. With the ending one week later than in the past, the sunrises are getting later and later so now the latest sunrise is in early November rather than in early January. The sunrise on November 3 occurs at 7:55 am. The sunrise on November 4 will be 6:56 am with the sunset at 5:16pm.

While our weather is just getting a little cooler, October is the month when snow begins to pile up across Siberia. October is also the month that the Siberian high, one of three dominant weather centers across the Northern Hemisphere, forms. We are starting to see a dramatic increase in overall snow and ice coverage. Check it out yourself at The Northern Hemisphere Snow and Ice Coverage Map.

In years when Siberian snow cover is above normal, a strengthened Siberian high and colder surface temperatures across Northern Eurasia develop in the fall. In mid-latitudes it turns colder, so winters in the northeastern U.S. and Eastern Europe are likely to be colder and snowier than normal.

Email your weather questions toweather@wtov.com.
I'm meteorologist Jeff Oechslein.

OCTOBER 14, 2007: ABOVE AVERAGE WINTER TEMPS

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasters are calling for above-average temperatures over most of the country and a continuation of drier-than-average conditions across already drought-stricken parts of the Southwest and Southeast in its winter outlook for the United States.

"The big concern this winter may be the persistence of drought across large parts of the already parched South. And while December through February is likely to be another milder-than-average winter for much of the country, people should still expect some bouts of winter weather," said Michael Halpert, head of forecast operations and acting deputy director of NOAA's Climate Prediction Center.

For the 2007-2008 U.S. winter, from December through February, NOAA seasonal forecasters predict:

In the Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic, temperatures are expected to be above average in response to the long-term warming trend. Snowfall for the region will depend on other climate factors, which are difficult to anticipate more than one-to-two weeks in advance.

In the Great Lakes and Tennessee Valley, temperatures and precipitation should be above average.

The drought-plagued Southeast is likely to remain drier-than-average dur to La Nina, while temperatures are expected to be above average.

The south-central Plains should see drier-than-average conditions and warmer-than-average temperatures. Above average temperatures are also expected in the central Plains.

This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.

Source: NOAA

OCTOBER 13, 2007: WOOLLY BEARS AND WINTER

Superstition holds that the size of the bands on woolly bear catepillars predicts the severity of the upcoming winter.

The truth is that the size of the bands on these furry, black and rust-colored caterpillars is simply a sign of their age.

Thicker bands mean the catepillar is older. Be on the lookout for these cute little guys as they scurry across the roads and sidewalks this fall seeking places to hibernate.

Next spring, they'll pupate and emerge as Isabella tiger moths.

This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.

Source: David Mizejewski, Naturalist, National Wildlife Federation.

OCTOBER 12, 2007: HISTORY OF THE UMBRELLA

The umbrella has become sort of instinct of late with the lack of rain. The spotty sprinkles over the last 24 hours may have at least made you look for where you last placed it. No one wants to be caught outside in the rain without an umbrella. These handy devices come in an array of shapes and sizes, many that will conveniently tuck into a purse or glove compartment in case of a sudden downpour. Just about everyone owns an umbrella, but not many of us give them a second thought.

Historians are unsure of when exactly umbrellas came into play. Some say the umbrella originated in Egypt while others say China. What is for sure is that they’ve been around a very long time. Some estimate the umbrella to be over 4,000 years old. They were first used as shade from the sun. It was the Roman women who began to oil the cloth of the umbrella to protect it from moisture.

It wasn’t until the 1600’s that European women began to carry umbrellas, mostly as shade from the sun. Sometime in the 1700’s it became popular to carry wood and oilcloth models as protection from the rain. In 1750, an Englishman named Jonah Hanway decided to carry an umbrella everywhere he went. This was unheard of. Only women carried umbrellas. Because of this, he became the subject of much ridicule, but at least he was dry. Ignoring the snickers of those around him, Hanway carried his umbrella for 30 years. By the late 1700’s however, it became more acceptable for men to carry “hanways.”

Because they were made of wood, umbrellas were not only expensive, but they were difficult to operate. In 1852, Samuel Fox invented the steel ribbed kind that we see today. Since then, they’ve evolved. We now have umbrellas for the rain and sun. We use them on the beach, while playing golf, and on our patios and decks. What would we do without our umbrellas?

Email your weather questions toweather@wtov.com.
I'm meteorologist Jeff Oechslein.

OCTOBER 11: WILDLIFE AND OCTOBER WEATHER

We've been hearing about, and seeing, a lot of black bears all over the Ohio Valley since last Spring. Wildlife experts say they are now out preparing for the cold winter months.

Black bears, in their effort to store enough fat to get them through the upcoming winter, are likely to visit bird feeders filled with high calorie seeds.

If you live near a wooded area and see evidence of bear activity at your feeders, you should take the feeders down.

Attracting bears to your yard dulls their natural fear of humans and increases the chances of close encounters. Instead, feed the birds by planting seed-producing grasses and wildflowers that don't attract bears.

This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.

Source: David Mizejewski, Naturalist, National Wildlife Federation

OCTOBER 11: DOES EARTH HAVE A CASE OF THE STICKIES?

It's getting hotter. Now a new study says it's also getting stickier. Humidity worldwide has risen 2.2 percent over the past 30 years, and the only explanation is global warming from the burning of fossil fuels. That's the conclusion of a study published today in Nature that says rising humidity levels represent the latest human fingerprint on global warming.

The report said the trend of rising humidity, while not lethal, already has raised levels of discomfort. Those levels will worsen throughout the century if the trend continues.

The more moisture that's tied to heat, the slower the human body can evaporate the water. When the body is holding more water, the tougher time it has dealing with the heat.

The study provides some new insights, but climatologists long have expected humidity levels to increase. Physics dictates that warmer air holds more moisture.

Nature's article about the study, "Humans have made the skies more moist," is available at www.nature.com/news.

TODAY’S WEATHER QUIZ

What is the speed of a typical rain drop?

A. 5 mph

B. 10 mph

C. 20 mph

ANSWER: 10 mph, the bigger the drop the faster the velocity and vice versa. Rain drops typically travel under 15 mph, even in a downpour.

Email your weather questions toweather@wtov.com.
I'm meteorologist Jeff Oechslein.

OCTOBER 9, 2007: JEFF’S WINTER PREDICTION

The weather inbox is getting filled up lately with emails that ask about the upcoming winter. Does a warm fall mean it will be a cold and snowy winter? Yesterday’s high temperature soared to 88 degrees just one degree shy of the record high of 89 back in 1949. Today’s record high was also set in 1949, so I asked myself what did the winter of 1949-1950 bring us? Well it turns out that the winter of 1949-1950 was a very warm winter with only 22.3 inches of snow falling. An average winter around here yields 40.6 inches of snow. Here is how a typical winter breaks down in terms of snowfall.

SNOWFALL NORMALS (30 yr mean 1971-2000)

October 0.4

November 3.1

December 6.9

January 12.3

February 8.5

March 7.9

April 1.5

May T

Annual 40.6

Looking at the global picture, it looks like we are heading towards La Niña forming off the coast of South America. La Niña is the opposite of El Nino (warmer than normal sea surface temperatures across the central equatorial Pacific). Over the past several months, water temperatures off the South America coast have cooled substantially meaning that La Niña conditions are taking a firm hold of the Pacific waters.

Typical La Niña winters bring enhanced storminess, increased precipitation, and an increased frequency of cold-air outbreaks to the Ohio Valley. There also tends to be considerable month-to-month variations in temperature and storminess.

Overall I'm expecting temperatures to run slightly above normal this winter, but I also feel this winter will be stormy with above normal precipitation.

TODAY’S WEATHER QUIZ

What device do you use to measure the strength of the wind?

A. hygrometer

B. anemometer

C. cielometer

ANSWER: anemometer

Email your weather questions toweather@wtov.com.
I'm meteorologist Jeff Oechslein.

OCTOBER 8, 2007: IS THIS INDIAN SUMMER?

Sometimes I think August never really ended, maybe it’s the dog days of October! I even heard a few people call this Indian Summer, but that would be incorrect. Indian Summer is a name given to a period of sunny, warm weather in autumn, not long before winter. Modern ideas on what an Indian summer constitutes vary, but the most widely accepted value for determining whether an Indian summer is occurring is that the weather must be above 70° for seven days after the autumnal equinox. True Indian Summer occurs after a killing frost and most all of the leaves are off the trees which is generally in November.

We will likely not see temperatures in the upper 80’s until June of ‘08, but Indian Summer is something to look forward to after our first frost.

Email your weather questions toweather@wtov.com.
I'm meteorologist Jeff Oechslein.

OCTOBER 7, 2007: ANOTHER DAY OF NEAR RECORD HEAT!

The Ohio Valley was just 1 degree shy of our current record daily high temperature today! We made it to 88 degrees, and the current record is 89 set way back in 1946.

Although we came very close, there were new record highs today in Ohio. Columbus shattered its record high after an afternoon reading of 91 degrees! The old record for this date was 88 degrees in 1939. Wow!

Dayton and Cincinnati also broke records for today with highs in the upper 80's.

Monday will be another hot day with near record heat, then we cool off dramatically by week's end. Can you believe we'll be BELOW average by Thursday. The average high to today's date is 67 degrees.

Stay cool and don't forget to give your pets plenty of shade and cool water.

This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.

OCTOBER 6, 2007: IS IT REALLY FALL?

The calendar may read October, but stepping outside tells you it must still be summer! Today's high was 87 degrees, just two shy of matching our record high for this date. The record is 89 degrees set way back in 1946!

Columbus, Ohio beat its old record of 86 when temps there soared up to 87 degrees.

It's hard to believe that Las Vegas is actually cooler than the Ohio Valley today! How's that for comparison!

Sunday and Monday the heat is still on with highs near 90 degrees. Current record highs for those days...89 degrees.

A big change is coming next week. By Wednesday, rain and cooler temps will be here. Wednesday's high will be in the mid to upper 60's. Ahh back to Autumn!

This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.

OCTOBER 5, 2007: GETTING HOTTER!

It's hard to believe were using the words, "muggy" and "hot" as we enter our first October weekend. We're usually talking about the cool crisp mornings that require a sweater or jacket and a hot cup of java!

Not the case this year...sultry weather today and through the weekend with near record heat. Today, we'll at least get to 87 degrees. Our record high temperature for this day is 88 degrees, which was set back in 1951.

Keep those summer clothes handy through early next week as this hot, dry weather continues for a while longer. The next chance for rain and cooler weather will come mid week next week. By Wednesday, we should have a cold front move through the Ohio Valley bringing a chance for rain and cooler temps.

By next Thursday, we should be back to normal with highs in the upper 60's!

It will be hot and humid, so don't let your guard down as far as providing shade and plenty of fresh cool water for your outside pets!

Take it easy and keep in mind this will most likely be the last warm spell before the colder weather sets in for good!

This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.

OCTOBER 3, 2007: SPUTNIK AND THE SPACE STATION

Tomorrow marks the 50th anniversary of Sputnik being launched into space. The Oct. 4, 1957 launch of Sputnik marked the first time a manmade satellite orbited Earth. But for the United States, it brought a 1950s version of shock and awe, then concern that the nation was ill-prepared for the space age. A few years later, Tiros, the first weather satellite, launched into space on April 1, 1960.

A modern marvel will appear in the sky tomorrow as if to help commemorate the Sputnik launch of 50 years ago and to remind us how far we've come since humans took that first baby step into the cosmos.

The International Space Station easily will be visible in the early evening and binoculars or telescopes will not be needed to watch the event. The space station, of course, is a much larger orbiting object, and will be much brighter than that first manmade satellite of a half-century ago.

The International Space Station will rise above the southwestern horizon around 7:53 p.m. Observers likely will be able to spot the space station by about 7:55 p.m., when it reaches 10 degrees altitude in the south-southwest (10 degrees equals about the width of your fist held at arm's length).

The ISS will reach its maximum altitude at 7:57:47 p.m. when it is 42 degrees high, a little less than halfway from the horizon to directly overhead, in the southeast. The space station is visible because it is illuminated by sunlight, so it will disappear when it passes into Earth's shadow just after 7:59 p.m.

Over the next two nights, the ISS will make similar passes visible to the naked eye. Each night, the space station will be one of the brightest, starlike objects in the sky.

Email your weather questions toweather@wtov.com.
I'm meteorologist Jeff Oechslein.

TODAY’S WEATHER QUIZ

When did we see our first flakes of snow last year?

A. October 12

B. October 24

C. November 12

ANSWER: October 12th

Email your weather questions toweather@wtov.com.
I'm meteorologist Jeff Oechslein.

OCTOBER 1, 2007: HELLO TO OCTOBER AND STORM BASED WARNINGS

The National Weather Service currently issues and disseminates warnings for tornado, severe thunderstorm, flood and marine hazards using geopolitical boundaries. Realizing the continuing need to improve the specificity and accuracy of warnings for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, floods and marine hazards, the NWS will implement Storm-Based Warnings on October 1, 2007.

Storm-Based Warnings (threat-based polygon warnings), are essential to effectively warn for severe weather. Storm-Based Warnings show the specific meteorological or hydrological threat area and are not restricted to geopolitical boundaries. By focusing on the true threat area, warning polygons will improve NWS warning accuracy and quality. Storm-Based Warnings will promote improved graphical warning displays, and in partnership with the private sector, support a wider warning distribution through cell phone alerts, pagers, web-enabled Personal Data Assistants (PDA).

It’s a new month but we are dealing with the same old weather. Unseasonably mild and dry conditions will persist this week. Our next good opportunity for rain will hold off until late Sunday or Monday of next week.

The average high temperature for the beginning of the month is 70 degrees and the average low temperature is 49 degrees. By Halloween the average high dips to 60 degrees and the average low falls to 39 degrees. October is typically our driest month with normal precipitation for the month being 2.36 inches. Snowflakes can make an appearance this month, in fact we average .4 inches of snow this month. On Halloween 1993, 2 inches of snow fell!

TODAY’S WEATHER QUIZ

What is the coldest recorded temperature for the month of October?

A. 30 degrees

B. 24 degrees

C. 19 degrees

ANSWER: C. 19 degrees on October 21, 1952

Email your weather questions toweather@wtov.com.
I'm meteorologist Jeff Oechslein.