JUNE 29, 2007: LIGHTNING IS A RANDOM, DANGEROUS FACT OF NATURE

At any given moment, there are 1,800 thunderstorms in progress somewhere on the earth. This amounts to 16 million storms each year!

There are lightning detection systems in the United States and they monitor an average of 25 million flashes of lightning from the cloud to ground every year.

Lightning has been seen in volcanic eruptions, extremely intense forest fires, surface nuclear detonations, heavy snowstorms, and in large hurricanes, however, it is most often seen in thunderstorms.

A thunderstorm forms in air that has three components: moisture, instability and something such as a cold front to cause the air to rise. Continued rising motions within the storm may buid the cloud to a height of 35,000 to 60,000 feet (6 to 10 miles) above sea level. Temperatures higher in the atmosphere are colder, ice forms in the higher parts of the cloud.

How powerful is lightning?

Each spark of lightning can reach over five miles in length, soar to temperatures of approximately 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit, and contain 100 million electrical volts.

This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.

Source: NOAA

JUNE 29, 2007: CAN LIGHTNING STRIKE THE SAME SPOT TWICE?

Yes! The old adage of lightning never striking twice in the same place is false. Lightning is not limited to a one-bolt action. Many lightning flashes are of a multiple variety and may strike repeatedly in a few seconds. Up to 22 consecutive lightning strokes have been observed in a multiple flash.

Tall structures and buildings such as the Empire State Building in New York City, the Hancock Building in Chicago and the CN Tower in Toronto are hit many times each year. This fact has actually led to conducting research sites in lightning in using structure like these. In general any object struck by lightning is generally a better candidate to be struck again than something which hasn't been zapped.

On August 8, 1937, three persons were killed by a bolt that struck Jacob Riis Park beach in New York. On August 7, 1938, almost a year to the day later, lightning again struck the same beach, and again killed 3 bathers. Don't tell a homeowner in Arvada, CO that lightning doesn't strike twice. His new house was struck during a summer thunderstorm and sustained considerable damage. Just as they were getting things back in shape six weeks later, you guessed it, another lightning strike and $30,000 more in fire damage.

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

JUNE 28, 2007: LIGHTNING SAFETY IN STADIUMS

When lightning threatens an outdoor activity, it is usually postponed so that people may seek a safe location. When lightning threatens a large outdoor stadium, the game or event itself is usually postponed, but it is often difficult to ensure the safety of tens of thousands of spectators.

A study completed by the Center for Science and Technology Policy Research at the University of Colorado found that many large college football stadiums do not have an emergency plan for adverse weather. Although stadiums may employ a general evacuation plan, complete evacuation is counterproductive for lightning safety. Outdoor events which fill stadiums to capacity are at the highest risk since there is little room for people to move about. The University of Colorado study detailed five lightning-related incidents at games within the last two years. In some cases, stadium officials did not have adequate and timely knowledge of an approaching storm. In other cases when officials knew of such a storm, crowd management actions (or lack thereof) frequently resulted in near panic situations where exits were blocked and/or fans were left in the open during the lightning storm.

Lightning safety recommendations exist for both players and spectators during collegiate sports. However, most stadiums do not have weather-related emergency action plans or do a poor job of controlling crowd movements and ensuring safety. The study recommended that stadiums and other outdoor venues develop an action plan specific to weather (main focus on lightning) situations. This plan should incorporate crowd management strategies. Alternatively, the stadium may choose to add safety features such as more lightning rods and/or suspended grounded wires so that spectators are protected at their seats.

TODAY’S WEATHER QUIZ

How much of an impact does lightning have on the United States economy?

A.$5 million

B.$3 billion

C.$5 billion

ANSWER: $5 billion

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

JUNE 27, 2007: DAMAGE REPORTS FROM SEVERE STORMS ACROSS THE OHIO VALLEY

Here is a list of damage reports from local police and emergency personnel from Wednesday's severe weather:

Columbiana County--Trees down in Summitville

Beaver County--Trees down in Aliquippa

Harrison County--60 mph winds and 1.5 inches of rain in Cadiz, trees down on Route 250 and Route 9; and 1'' hail in Hanover

Guernsey County-- Trees and power lines down in Quaker City

Noble County--Large trees down along Route 146 and Route 285 in Sarahsville

Brooke County--Trees down in the McCords Hill Area, SE of Wellsburg

Hancock County--Trees down along Route 2 in the Cemetary Hill area and Gas Valley Road and Wylie Ridge Road

Jefferson County--Trees and powerlines down in Toronto, 60 mph winds, intense cloud-to-ground lightning and hail reported

Severe thunderstorms popped up after the daytime heating between 3 and 5 p.m., with isolated storms through Wednesday evening.

Thursday will be unsettled with the arrival of a cold front so expect more showers and thunderstorms.

This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.

JUNE 27, 2007: LIGHTNING SAFETY INDOORS

Lightning Safety Awarenss Week continues across the country. Today we will go over lightning safety in your home. A house or other substantial building offers the best protection from lightning. On the outside, lightning can travel along the outer shell of the building or may follow metal gutters and downspouts to the ground. Inside a structure, lightning can follow conductors such as the electrical wiring, plumbing, and telephone lines to the ground.

How Lightning Enters a House

There are three main ways lightning enters homes and buildings: (1) a direct strike, (2) through wires or pipes that extend outside the structure, and (3) through the ground. Regardless of the method of entrance, once in a structure, the lightning can travel through the electrical, phone, plumbing, and radio/television reception systems. Lightning can also travel through any metal wires or bars in concrete walls or flooring.

Stay Safe While Inside

Phone use is the leading cause of indoor lightning injuries in the United States. Lightning can travel long distances in both phone and electrical wires, particularly in rural areas. Stay away from windows and doors as these can provide the path for a direct strike to enter a home. Do not lie on the concrete floor of a garage as it likely contains a wire mesh. In general, basements are a safe place to go during thunderstorms. However, there are some things to keep in mind. Avoid contact with concrete walls which may contain metal reinforcing bars. Avoid washers and dryers since they not only have contacts with the plumbing and electrical systems, but also contain an electrical path to the outside through the dryer vent.

Remember Your Pets

You may want to consider the safety of your family pets during thunderstorms. Dog houses are not lightning-safe. Dogs that are chained to trees or chained to wire runners can easily fall victim to a lightning strike.

Protect Your Personal Property

Lightning also causes significant damage to personal property each year. In addition to direct strikes, lightning generates electrical surges that can damage electronic equipment some distance from the actual strike. Typical surge protectors will NOT protect equipment from a lightning strike. To the extent possible, unplug any appliances or electronic equipment from all conductors well before a thunderstorm threatens. This includes not only the electrical system, but also the reception system. If you plan to be away from your home when thunderstorms are possible, be sure to unplug unneeded equipment before you leave.

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

JUNE 27, 2007: ONE MORE DAY OF INTENSE HEAT

Get ready for another day of unbearable heat and humidity! The good news...just one more day til we see a change in air mass over the Ohio Valley.

High temperatures were right around 90 degrees Tuesday, and today, some local areas could be in the low 90's for the daytime high temperature. Dew points were in the upper 60's, which means the combined heat and humidity made the outdoors extremely uncomfortable and unpleasant!

Most folks should seek air conditioned places or at least the shade Wednesday, and take it easy.

Pets too, need to be safe from the sun and heat. ...a shade and fresh water at the very least. It could mean a matter of life and death. Precautions should be taken seriously during this kind of weather.

My two dogs wouldn't even step outside Tuesday afternoon! I opened the door, they stuck their head out and got a feel of the intense heat and backed on inside! My two horses did not leave the stall all afternoon. They stayed in the barn, out of the hot sun, where a fan helped to cool them down and chase away the flies!

By Thursday, a cold front will sweep through and bring some relief. Showers and thunderstorms are likely as the front moves into the warm and humid air mass. But afternoon temperature readings will be in the low 80's.

The weekend is looking great...lots of sunshine and high temperatures in the 70's. This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.

JUNE 26, 2007: LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK

Lightning has been the second largest storm killer in the U.S. for the last 40 years, exceeded only by floods. A lightning strike can result in a cardiac arrest (heart stopping) at the time of the injury, although some victims may appear to have a delayed death a few days later if they are resuscitated but have suffered irreversible brain damage.

According to Storm Data, a National Weather Service publication, over the last 30 years the U.S. has averaged 62 reported lightning fatalities per year. Due to under reporting, the figures are more realistically at least 70 deaths per year. Only about 10% of people who are struck by lightning are killed, leaving 90% with various degrees of disability.

ODDS OF BEING STRUCK BY LIGHTNING IN A GIVEN YEAR: 1 IN 400,000

ODDS OF BEING STRUCK BY LIGHTNING IN YOUR LIFETIME (ESTIMATED 80 YEARS): 1 IN 5,000

Survivors often complain of becoming exhausted after only a few hours of work. This may be because tasks they used to do automatically now require intense concentration. Many return to work but find that they cannot do all of the activities required at their job.

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

JUNE 26, 2007: BILL WOULD REQUIRE WEATHER RADIOS IN MOBILE HOMES

Mobile homes across the nation would come equipped from the manufacturer with early warning radios to alert residents of dangerous weather under a bill announced last week in Washington.

The bill, introduced by Rep. Brad Ellsworth from southern Indiana's 8th District, mirrors state legislation dubbed "C.J.'s Law" that sailed through this year's General Assembly. It requires all mobile homes come equipped with the radios that broadcast warnings from the National Weather Service.

Opponents of such bills have argued that requiring the radios--which typically cost around $30--would not be cost effective in large scale production for mobile home manufacturers.

"It may not save every life, but I do believe it would save some," Ellsworth said.

The bill requires mobile homes to come with state-of-the-art radios installed like smoke detectors. It is the latest of reforms that came amid a widespread push in the aftermath of a deadly tornado in Indiana. Kathryn Martin, whose son C.J. and two other family members died in the tornado, was behind the Indiana legislation. It is senseless for mobile home residents not to have what she argued could be their only line of protection.

"Anybody who stood in the midst of Eastbrook should know this is something that's got to be done," she said.

"It's not just tornadoes. It could be warnings for mudslides, fires, high winds," Ellsworth said. "It's not just an Indiana thing."

This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery

Source: Associated Press

JUNE 25, 2007: MUSIC TO MY EARS

It's almost as familiar as the Weather Channel's man-on-the-beach, Jim Cantore: the music that plays in the background six times per hour during the network's signature "Local on the 8s."

This fall, two packages of that music will be available to consumers when Nashville-based Midas Records releases "The Weather Channel Presents: Best of Smooth Jazz" and "Best of Instrumental Classic Rock." While licensing details and track listings are still being worked out, music played on the channel includes such acts as Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, Nancy Wilson and Trey Anastasio.

Although the 25-year-old network has previously licensed items ranging from apparel to weather radios to umbrellas, this marks the first time it has entered the licensed-entertainment category. The CDs, tentatively scheduled for mid-September release, will be sold through traditional retailers as well as through some nontraditional outlets.

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

JUNE 24, 2007: TEMPS RISING AND STILL DRY!

The Ohio Valley is in the beginning of the drought stage, with current weather conditions being more common during July and August. It's been abnormally hot and dry. The recent dry weather is causing some brown lawns but it could be a lot worse. The southeast U.S. is experiencing major drought concerns.

The dry spell in that part of the region has been classified as "exceptional." For instance, Huntsville, Alabama, has recorded only 11 inches of rain this year, that is a deficit of nearly 20 inches!

The forecast will bring little relief for the rain starved area.

Locally, we have a chance of showers and thunderstorms each and every day this week as heat and humidity creeps back into our area. A cold front will arrive Wednesday night, bringing a better chance of rain with cooler temperatures.

So let's hope for some rain this week because we can certainly use it! This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.

Source: Accu Weather

JUNE 23, 2007: SATURDAY IS GREAT AMERICAN BACKYARD CAMPOUT

Saturday, June 23, 2007 is the annual Great American Backyard Campout sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation.

Each year tens of thousands of families all across the country camp out in their yards and enjoy a nighttime nature experience. And I must add it's a great weekend weatherwise to do so!

Watching for wildlife is a wonderful nighttime activity for all ages. Here are some of the wildlife signs you can look and listen for:

--In late June throughout the eastern U.S. campers can see lightening bugs. These insects are also known as fireflies, although they are actually beetles. Different species have distinct glow patterns which they use to find mates.

--Backyard campers across the country can look for the glowing eyeshine of nocturnal wildlife from rabbits to whip-poor-will birds to wolf spiders. Light is reflected off an extra reflective surface behind the retina which allows many species to capture more light and see better in the dark.

--In late June male bullfrogs in the eastern and central parts of the country and Pacific treefrogs in the West can be heard calling in search of mates. Bullfrogs have a deep croak while the treefrog have higher-pitched ribbits.

--Both great horned and screech owls can be heard calling around the country at night. Backyard campers can listen for the classic owl hoot of the great horned owl and the long, whinnying call of the tiny screech owl.

Have fun! This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.

Source: David Mizejewski, Naturalist National Wildlife Federation

JUNE 22, 2007: WHERE THERE IS THUNDER THERE IS LIGHTNING

Thunder is the sound generated by lightning, so there can be no thunder without a flash of lightning. A typical lightning bolt is less than one-half inch wide but the lightning spark will heat the air through which it travels to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit. This extreme heating causes air to expand explosively, creating sound waves that we hear as thunder.

Thunder is rarely heard beyond 15 miles from the lightning strike and sometimes heavy rain will reduce the distance that thunder can be heard. This is why we can sometimes see lightning from a distance and not hear the thunder. Many people typically call this “heat lightning”, but it has nothing to do with the temperature. Heat lightning is simply lightning from a far away thunderstorm. So in summary you can see lightning and not hear thunder, but if you hear thunder, you know it was caused by lightning.

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

JUNE 21, 2007: WELCOME TO SUMMER!

Happy Summer Solstice, at precisely 2:06pm summer arrives in the Northern Hemisphere. The sun’s direct rays impinge on the Tropic of Cancer. We are tilted towards the sun, allowing more of the sun’s energy to heat the Northern Hemisphere. Conversely, during the Northern Hemisphere winter, the land north of the equator is tilted away from the sun, which lowers the amount of the sun’s energy warming the Northern Hemisphere.

The Earth is actually closer to the sun during the Northern Hemisphere winter, but since the hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, it still feels like winter.

In fact, the Earth's average temperature is actually higher in July, when it's the farthest from the sun. The Earth is closest to the Sun on January 3 at 91,650,000 miles. It is called perihelion. The greatest distance from the Sun is called aphelion and it occurs on July 4 at 94,760,000 miles. Yet, the greatest amount of daylight occurs on June 21 due to the tilt of the Earth's axis.

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

JUNE 20, 2007: HOT GOLF GAME

A golfer's attempt to get out of the rough and back on the fairway started a grass fire that burned about 20 acres near a Nevada golf course, officials said. The golfer had knocked his ball into dry grass beyond the course Monday afternoon, officials said. When he tried to play back to the fairway, his club struck something that created a spark. "He was totally honest about it," Reno Battalion Chief Curtis Johnson said. About 50 firefighters responded to the blaze as it spread through tinder-dry grass, and fire engines were brought in to protect nearby homes. No buildings were damaged and no one was injured, officials said.

TODAY’S WEATHER QUIZ

What is the highest temperature ever in the Ohio Valley?

A.102 degrees

B.104 degrees

C.106 degrees

ANSWER: B. 104 degrees on August 10, 1944

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

JUNE 19, 2007: IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT

It was a sultry morning with wake up temperatures in the seventies for most of us. Did you know? From 2001 to 2005, nearly 30 percent of the nation experienced daily minimum summertime temperatures that were “much above normal;” in other words, the summer nights over the last five years have been the hottest on record. Because urban areas can be up to ten degrees hotter than surrounding rural areas, this trend in minimum temperatures is particularly troublesome, as most of America’s population growth is occurring in cities.

A cold front will slice through our warm and sticky air mass today. For a change there is a good chance of thunderstorms in the forecast. A few of these storms could be severe, but the rainfall is desperately needed. Stay tuned to Severe Weather Team 9 throughout the afternoon with updates on wtov9.com, WTOV9 and WTOV9 Weather Plus.

TODAY’S WEATHER QUIZ

When was our last 100 degree day?

A.2000

B.1994

C.1988

ANSWER: C. 1988, there were 3 days that summer in which the thermometer topped the century mark.

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

JUNE 18, 2007: SUMMER HEAT BEFORE SUMMER’S ARRIVAL

Summer officially begins this Thursday at 2:06 pm. Why that exact time? The sun’s direct rays make their northern most point at the Tropic of Cancer at that precise time. It’s summer in the Northern Hemisphere and winter in the Southern Hemisphere. We experience the longest amount of daylight on June 21st, after that the daylight slowly but surely gets shorter and shorter.

Don’t wait for summer to go to the pool as the mercury will reach 90 degrees or better for the third day this year. Typically we average 7.5 days a summer with 90 degree heat. Last year we saw 11 days and in 2005 17 days of 90 degree heat. One can only hope that this summer won’t be as hot as 1988 when we saw 38 days of 90 degree heat.

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

JUNE 15, 2007: DON’T FOOL THE WEATHERMAN!

Federal agents are tracking the source of 50 suspicious or false weather sightings sent via the Internet to four National Weather Service offices, including the La Crosse, Wisconsin office. The Milwaukee, Chicago and Lincoln, in central Illinois, also have received bogus reports.

A fictitious hail report triggered at least one severe thunderstorm warning in northeastern Iowa on May 14. The fake report actually looked legitimate coming in because of what was showing up on radar. NWS officials now are on guard. Among them, the NWS at La Crosse detected a bad report of a funnel cloud in Dodge County one weekend in May.

The reports can get into the agency's forecasting system since NWS branches accept weather updates from the general public. The NWS does not rely exclusively on the postings, but does use them to confirm or add to information from trained spotters and radar readings.

No suspects have been arrested, FBI spokesman Jeff Lanza said. He declined to discuss details of the investigation. Federal law provides for as much as five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for deliberately making a false weather report to the government agency.

TODAY’S WEATHER QUIZ

What is the approximate voltage of lightning bolts?

A.Hundred volts

B.Thousand volts

C.Hundred million volts

ANSWER: C. Hundred million volts

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

JUNE 14, 2007: FLAG DAY

On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress approved the design of a national flag. Since 1916, when President Woodrow Wilson issued a presidential proclamation establishing a national Flag Day on June 14, Americans have commemorated the adoption of the Stars and Stripes by celebrating June 14 as Flag Day.

Prior to 1916, many localities and a few states had been celebrating the day for years. Congressional legislation designating that date as the national Flag Day was signed into law by President Harry Truman in 1949; the legislation also called upon the president to issue a flag day proclamation every year.

According to legend, in 1776, George Washington commissioned Philadelphia seamstress Betsy Ross to create a flag for the new nation. Scholars debate this legend, but agree that Mrs. Ross most likely knew Washington and sewed flags. To date, there have been twenty-seven official versions of the flag, but the arrangement of the stars varied according to the flag-makers' preferences until 1912 when President Taft standardized the then-new flag's forty-eight stars into six rows of eight. The forty-nine-star flag (1959-60), as well as the fifty-star flag, also have standardized star patterns. The current version of the flag dates to July 4, 1960, after Hawaii became the fiftieth state on August 21, 1959.

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

JUNE 13, 2007: WHISKEY AND WEATHER

There aren’t too many opportunities to talk about whiskey and weather together so when I stumbled upon this story in USA Today I knew it was the blog topic of the day. Tennessee is experiencing a drought and it’s putting the production of the legendary Jack Daniel’s whiskey at risk. The spring that is used in the making of Jack Daniels may dry up and distillers are wondering what may happen next.

Rainfall for the year in nearby Nashville is more than 9 inches below average. The National Weather Service has much of southern Tennessee in a severe drought.

According to the Jack Daniel's website, the water at the spring "flows year-round at 800 gallons per minute at a constant temperature of 56°and is virtually iron free. It’s the reason why the distillery was located in this spot originally –- and why it’s remained there ever since. Just outside the cave you’ll find a statue of Jack Daniel. The man himself, standing guard over this prized spring."

TODAY’S WEATHER QUIZ

How long does a typical flash of lightning last?

A.2/10 second

B.half second

C.1 second

ANSWER: A. 2/10 second

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

JUNE 12, 2007: THE SOUND OF THUNDER

Thunder rolls, just like the Garth Brooks song, but sometimes thunder crashes. So what causes thunder to sound different?

A lightning spark heats the air through which it travels to 50,0000 degrees Fahrenheit! That’s five times hotter than the surface of the sun. This immense heat causes the air to expand explosively which initiates a shock wave that we hear as thunder.

If a portion of the lightning spark is perpendicular to you, all points on that portion will produce sound that arrives simultaneously at your ears. So we hear thunder that crashes.

However, if much of the lightning is along your line of sight, the sound arrival times vary. So the thunder is a lower intensity rumble.

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

JUNE 11, 2007: WEDDING BELLS

I’ve received a lot of emails of late that go something like this: “Did Jeff get married?, I noticed a ring around his finger.” Either everyone has a big screen television or you all have really good eye sight. On May 26, 2007, I married the love of my life and best friend Amber. Amber and I met at WTOV, I asked her out at the water cooler and luckily she said yes. I took her ice skating on our first date and a few years later I asked her to marry me on that same ice skating rink.

When people give me marriage advice like “take it one day at a time” I comeback with “I’ll take it 5 days at a time”, since I am the weatherman! I wanted to share a few moments of our special day with you. Check out a few of the pictures taken at the wedding by going to my bio at Jeff Oechslein.

TODAY’S WEATHER QUIZ

What is SCINTILLATION?

A.Twinkling stars

B.Partial solar eclipse

C.A bright rainbow

ANSWER: A TWINKLING STAR

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

JUNE 10, 2007: A QUIET WEEK AHEAD

High pressure will dominate the Ohio Valley for most of this week and that means more sunny, dry and seasonal weather. The system will help "block" any other weather systems from moving in this week so just expect more of the same. Weekend temps were in the mid to upper 70's with dew points around 40! Very comfortable...I think it was the perfect weekend weatherwise! Hope you got to get outdoors and enjoy it!

We have a slight chance for rain Wednesday and Thursday due to a system off to our south and east, which may bring clouds and some moisture our way. Otherwise, look for some summertime conditions with high temperatures staying close to 80 degrees through Friday.

For your Monday morning commute, don't forget your sunglasses! Have a good week. This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.

JUNE 9, 2007: A STORMY FRIDAY AFTERNOON

Severe thunderstorms moved through almost every county Friday afternoon and early evening, causing wind damage throughout the valley. Strong winds, intense cloud-to-ground lightning and hail were reported all over the area. Most areas sustained wind damage with trees and powerlines down. Here's a list of storm damage reported to the National Weather Service:

-Guernsey County--Trees down along Parker Road in Salt Fork State Park

-Jefferson County--Trees down along County Route 2 in Rayland

-Brooke County --Trees down on Route 2 between Wellsburg and Beech Bottom in Wellsburg

-Columbiana County--.88 inch size hail in Salem

-Wetzel County--Trees down along North Fork Road in Pine Grove

-Marshall County--Trees down in Moundsville

The Ohio Valley escaped the worst of these storm supercells as they moved through about 40 mph, but just to our north near Akron, Canton and Youngstown, tornado warnings were issued and a report of softball sized hail!

Enjoy this quiet weather pattern with clear, calm, less humid weather! This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.

JUNE 8, 2007: STEAMY TO STORMY

Temperatures will soar through the 80’s again today and it will feel more oppressive than yesterday as humidity levels are running on the high side. It’s hot days like these that make one wonder, can you really fry an egg on the sidewalk? Unfortunately or maybe fortunately, even asphalt doesn’t get much warmer than 145 degrees Fahrenheit, just a little too cool to fry an egg. However the hood of your car can hit readings of 178 degrees Fahrenheit which is just warm enough to fry the egg.

The heat and humidity will get pushed out of the area thanks to a cold front. Unfortunately this front will spark strong to severe thunderstorms for late this afternoon and early this evening. Some of these thunderstorms will contain damaging winds and hail.

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

JUNE 7, 2007: LIGHTNING FACTS

In the United States, there are an estimated 25 million lightning flashes each year. During the past 30 years, lightning killed an average of 66 people per year . This is more than the average of 65 deaths per year caused by tornadoes. Yet because lightning usually claims only one or two victims at a time and does not cause mass destruction of property, it is underrated as a risk. While documented lightning injuries in the United States average about 300 per year, undocumented injuries likely much higher.

The Severe Storms Laboratory reported that Florida leads the way with 428 lightning fatalities between 1959 and 2004. What might surprise you is that the state of Ohio ranked fourth in the country during this time frame with some 137 lightning strike fatalities. Email your weather questions toweather@wtov.com.
I'm meteorologist Jeff Oechslein.

JUNE 6, 2007: FEWER BABIES NAMED KATRINA

As baby names go, Katrina isn't in vogue these days. The name Katrina was ranked among the 100 most popular names that parents chose for their daughters. But since Hurricane Katrina smashed the Gulf Coast in late summer of 2005 the name Katrina has gradually slumped to the 382nd most popular name.

The name's association with the catastrophe has now knocked it out of consideration for most parents, sinking its popularity to the lowest ebb since the 1950s.

Only about 850 baby girls in the United States were named Katrina last year, according to new data released Friday by the Social Security Administration, dropping it more than 100 slots on the popularity list. At a rank of 382nd, it now sits just below Brenna.

Ironically, the two states that suffered most of Katrina's wrath bucked the trend, if only in small numbers. In Louisiana, the number of babies named Katrina jumped from eight in the 12 months before the storm to 15 in the 12 months after, according to state health officials. In Mississippi, seven babies were given the name from 2004 until the storm hit in August 2005, according to state data. The number climbed to 24 from September 2005 through the end of 2006.

Overall, the country's most popular names list hasn't changed much since 2005. Emily and Jacob remain atop the list. Emily has been the top girls' name since 1996; Jacob for boys since 1999.

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

JUNE 5, 2007: WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Hurricanes used to be designated by a system of latitude-longitude, which was a great way for meteorologists to track them. However, once the public began receiving storm warnings and trying to keep track of a particular storm path, this got very confusing. A system of names to refer to them was much easier to track and remember.

In 1953, the National Weather Service picked up on the habit of Naval meteorologists of naming the storms after women. In 1979, male names were inserted to alternate with the female names to the delight of women's-libbers everywhere.

There are actually six lists of names in use for storms in the Atlantic. These lists rotate so that this year's list of names will not be reused until 2013. The names get recycled each time the list comes up, with one exception: storms so devastating and deadly that reusing the name is inappropriate. In 1979, the first list to include male names, David and Frederic were retired.

For several hundred years many hurricanes in the West Indies were named after the particular saint's day on which the hurricane occurred. Ivan R. Tannehill describes in his book "Hurricanes" the major tropical storms of recorded history and mentions many hurricanes named after saints. For example, there was "Hurricane Santa Ana" which struck Puerto Rico with exceptional violence on July 26, 1825, and "San Felipe" (the first) and "San Felipe" (the second) which hit Puerto Rico on September 13 in both 1876 and 1928.

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

JUNE 4, 2007: TROPICAL STORM BARRY FORMS AS HURRICANE SEASON BEGINS

Tropical Storm Barry formed in the Gulf of Mexico and headed for Florida over the weekend, which also marked the official beginning of the Atlantic hurricane season.

Barry is the second named storm of the year, after Subtropical Storm Andrea made its debut May 9.

The storm dumped much needed rain on Florida and southeastern Georgia as it crossed the peninsula and headed toward the Atlantic Ocean.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted an active season, with 13 to 17 named storms in the Gulf of Mexico and along the Atlantic before the end of 2007. Of those, it said, seven to 10 are likely to be strong enough to develop into hurricanes.

This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.

Source: CNN.com

JUNE 2, 2007: DRY MONTH OF MAY SPELLS TROUBLE FOR CORN FARMERS

Though welcomed by corn growers across the state, the recent scattered rainfall throughout Ohio will probably provide little relief for many cornfields.

Peter Thomison, an Ohio State University Extension agronomist, said the scattered showers and thunderstorms this past week might not be enough to lift the plants out of their drought-stressed conditions. Due to the continued dry weather, some corn plants may be prime candidates for lodging, or fallen stalks, in the coming weeks.

"One of the issues we are concerned about this year is stalk quality. Some of the corn did get moisture during critical stages of development, but it may not be enough to keep the plant alive through maturity," said Thomison. Those plants may have obtained enough moisture to produce some pretty good ears. But with their limited root systems from early season stress, they are most likely to express lodging problems, he said.

Drought-stressed conditions increase the potential for stalk quality problems because not enough carbohydrates, or sugars, are being produced to keep the stalk alive and meet the demands for grain fill. The corn plant "cannibalizes" the sugars in the leaves, stalks and roots to develop the ears, and as a result, premature death occurs in the stalk, which paves the way for fungal infections.

While stalk lodging may not directly affect yeilds, it does slow down harvest as lodged plants tend to drop their ears and plants lying on the ground are subject to additional diseases.

"Even if a grower can get still obtain yields, the grower has to harvest more slowly, and other fields get harvested later than normal," said Thomison. "Stalk lodging can have such an impact on harvest losses that many plant pathologists consider stalk rots to be the most significant yield-limiting disease of corn," said Thomison.

Source: The Ohio State Univeristy Extension, Peter Thomison

This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.

JUNE 1, 2007: HURRICANE AND SUMMER RAINY SEASON BEGINS

Today marks the official arrival of the 2007 hurricane and summer rainy season and the Federal Emergency Management Agency is strongly encouraging people to prepare their homes and businesses now for the risks of flooding.

This year, flood risk is especially high; experts predict above-average hurricane activity.

FEMA says "You don't have to live on the coast or in a high-risk area to experience flood damage." Last year, every state experienced some type of flooding.

Flood insurance is extremely important, according to FEMA. Without flood insurance, residents will likely have to cover repair costs out of their own savings--and future. Homeowners may have to absorb approximately $25,000 in damage repairs and cleanup fees, according to FEMA's most recent statistics.

Flood insurance is available through about 90 insurance companies with policies that start at just $112 a year. Individuals can learn more about their flood risk by contacting FEMA.

Source:FEMA FloodSmart Campaign

This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.