AUGUST 31, 2007: END OF SUMMER AND CRICKET TALK

The last day of August is also the last day of summer. Now wait one minute my calendar says we have 3 more weeks until Fall begins. So which is it? Both are right as meteorological summer consists of June, July, and August while astronomical summer begins on June 21 and ends near September 21.

With the weather getting cooler, its perfect weather to spend some time on the porch or deck during the evening before it gets too cold! While you’re outside this weekend do some cricket counting.

Crickets are poikilothermic, which means that their activity is directly related to the ambient temperature. During warm weather, the chirp of a cricket is rapid and high pitched but, during cold periods, it slows down to a dull rattle.

The fast and easy way to determine the temperature is to count the number of chirps in 15 seconds and add 40. Dolbear's Law states the relationship between the air temperature and the rate at which crickets chirp.

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

AUGUST 30, 2007: EARTH ISLAND WEB SITE PROVIDES VIRTUAL SCIENCE

One of the first government sponsored, Earth Science islands in the rapidly growing online world of Second Life has been developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Second Life is a three-dimensional virtual world entirely built and owned by its residents.

The Web site claims more than 5 million inhabitants from around the globe, and the population is growing quickly. On the site, users can have virtual experiences they may not have in the physical world, with the intention of learning about today’s cutting edge science. Some of the experiences available are flying through a hurricane, riding a weather balloon, or diving to hidden underwater caves.

More information on how to access this virtual world is available at NOAA’s Second Life Web site: www.esrl.noaa.gov/outreach/sl

TODAY’S WEATHER QUIZ

How many 90 degree days have we sweated through this year?

A.9

B.14

C.20

ANSWER: B. 14 days, an average summer yields 7.5 days of 90 degree heat.

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

AUGUST 28, 2007: FARMER’S ALMANAC WINTER PREDICTION

The Farmers' Almanac, a weather forecaster for almost two centuries, said it will be colder and snowier than normal in the eastern U.S. this winter, and milder and drier in the western half of the country. Temperatures in Atlantic Ocean coastal regions will be as much as 3 degrees lower than normal, from New England to the southeastern U.S., with at least four frosts predicted as far south as Florida.

The Great Lakes region and Ohio Valley will also experience cold, snowy weather, with unseasonably chilly temperatures as far south as the central and eastern coasts of the Gulf of Mexico, the almanac said. Every part of the country east of the Mississippi is in for some very cold and snowy conditions.

Last year, the Farmers' Almanac called for a cold winter. While the appearance of El Nino resulted in a warm start to the season, the almanac said it was correct about the latter half, accurately forecasting a series of major snowstorms that hit Denver during Christmas week, as well as storms that gripped the Northeast in February and March.

TODAY’S WEATHER QUIZ

What is Kiana, Alaska famous for?

A.coldest location in the United States

B.snowiest location in the United States

C.site of the most northerly tornado ever observed

ANSWER: Site of the most northerly tornado ever observed on August 26, 1976. Kiana, Alaska is 54 miles northwest of Anchorage, Alaska. A tornado has been reported in every state including Alaska and Hawaii.

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

AUGUST 27, 2007: OHIO VALLEY TO MISS MOST OF THE LUNAR ELCIPSE EARLY TOMORROW MORNING
Tuesday morning, Aug. 28 brings us the second total lunar eclipse of 2007. Those living in the Western Hemisphere and eastern Asia will be able to partake in at least some of this sky show. Across the eastern third of the United States, including the Ohio Valley, moonset arrives in the midst of the total phase. Totality begins at 5:52 am but our moon sets at a few minutes earlier at 5:35 am. So, less than six months after easterners watched the moon rise during totality, come the opportunity to be treated to the sight of the moon setting during totality! However, thanks to advancing morning twilight, plus horizon haze, it is likely that the dim moon (some 10,000 times fainter than a normal full moon) will more-or-less vanish from view near or just after the onset of totality.

The very best viewing region for viewing this eclipse will fall across the Pacific Rim, including the West Coast of the United States and Canada, as well as Alaska, Hawaii, New Zealand and eastern Australia. All these places will be able to see the complete eclipse from start to finish.

You can read more about the eclipse and even check out a web cam of the event by going to this web site from NASA

TODAY’S WEATHER QUIZ

How many days has Phoenix, Arizona topped 110 degrees this summer?

A.12

B.27

C.43

ANSWER: 27 days! Phoenix, a city familiar with triple-digit heat, is closing in on a record this summer. There have been 27 days with high temperatures of 110°F or more in 2007. The current record for 110+ days is 28, set in both 2002 and 1979.

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

AUGUST 25, 2007: STRONG STORMS PASS THROUGH OHIO VALLEY

A cold front passing through the Ohio Valley Saturday evening produced strong to severe thunderstorms in parts of the area.

Noble County sustained wind damage with downed trees after a severe thunderstorm moved through the county. Wind gusts were as high as 60 miles per hour, with nickle size hail, as reported by local law enforcement.

Trees were downed in Marshall and Greene counties as well.

Cooler and less humid air will filter into the region for Sunday, with high temperatures staying in the upper 70's. By the afternoon, clouds will give way to sunshine.

Monday expect mostly sunny skies with highs around 81 degrees, which is the normal daily high temperature for this time of year.

This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.

TODAY’S WEATHER QUIZ

A world record rainfall occurred at Hot, MO in 1947. How much rain fell there in just 42 minutes?

A.5 inches

B.9 inches

C.12 inches

ANSWER: 12 inches! This averages to over 1/4 of an inch of rainfall per minute. On July 4th, 1956 In Unionville, Maryland 1.23 inches of rain fell in 1 minute.

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

AUGUST 23, 2007: HEAT WAVE SPREADS NORTHWARD

A dome of stiflingly hot, humid air, is responsible for at least 50 deaths over the past three weeks. Nashville, Tennessee is sweating through 13 consecutive days of 100 degree heat! Some of that heat is heading north in out direction. Actual air temperatures locally will climb to near 90 today and into the lower 90’s tomorrow. The heat index, sort of a cousin to the wind chill combines heat and humidity to create a “feel like” temperature. The heat index will range from 92 to 98 degrees this afternoon and to over 100 degrees by tomorrow afternoon.

You can figure out the Heat Index by going to theHeat Index Calculator.

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

TODAY’S WEATHER QUIZ

Which city averages the most hail storms in the United States with 10 per year?

A.Denver, Colorado

B.Cheyenne, Wyoming

C.Bismark, North Dakota

ANSWER: Cheyenne, Wyoming

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

AUGUST 21, 2007: DEAN LOSES IT’S PUNCH OVER LAND

First Jamaica, now Mexico has been added to the Dean’s list. (that’s not a good thing!) Dean is the first Category 5 hurricane to make landfall in the Atlantic since Hurricane Andrew. Hurricane Andrew was the second-most-destructive hurricane in U.S. history. In addition to assessing the damage done when powerful Category 5 hurricane Dean roared ashore this morning on the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexicans will next be wondering where Dean will head next and how strong it will be when it gets there. The storm will weaken with its interaction with land today, both due to the lack of water vapor as well as frictional effects from the land surface, but will regain strength in the Bay of Campeche.

TODAY’S WEATHER QUIZ

Where is the National Hurricane Center located?

A.Miami, FL

B.Cape Canaveral, FL

C.Houston, TX

ANSWER: Miami, FL, The Miami office was designated the National Hurricane Center in 1967, and given responsibility for Atlantic tropical cyclones in their vicinity. Other hurricane warning centers, such as in New Orleans and Boston, played a role even into the 1980's. In 1984, the NHC was separated from the Miami Weather Service Forecast Office. By 1988, the NHC gained responsibility for eastern Pacific tropical cyclones as the former Eastern Pacific Hurricane Center in San Francisco was decommissioned.

In 1992, Hurricane Andrew blew the WSR-57 weather radar and the anemometer off the roof of Gables One Tower, then the location of the NHC's offices. The radar was replaced with a WSR-88D NEXRAD system. In 1995, the NHC moved into a new hurricane resistant facility on the campus of Florida International University

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

AUGUST 18, 2007: HURRICANE DEAN GETTING STRONGER; TEXAS IN PROJECTED PATH

Hurricane Dean, the first hurricane of this year's Atlantic season, continues to strengthen as it moves through the eastern Caribbean toward Jamaica, where it is expected to make landfall tomorrow.

The U.S. National Weather Service says Dean's winds are reaching 240 kilometers-per-hour, a category four storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale that measures a hurricane's intensity and potential destructive power.

Dean is passing, as of Saturday evening, near the island of Hispaniola, which is shared between the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

Dean could dump as much as 12 centimeters of rain on the island, and cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.

The governor of the southern U.S. state of Louisiana, on the Gulf of Mexico, has declared a state of emergency in anticipation of the storm and requested federal funding in case Dean makes landfall there. Louisiana is home to the city of New Orleans, which suffered devastating floods in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Forecasters say Dean could be a category five storm, with winds exceeding 250 kilometers per hour, when it hits Jamaica on Sunday.

Source: AP

AUGUST 17, 2007: RECORD WARMTH IN WESTERN U.S. IN JULY, DROUGHT SEVERITY WORSENED

The global temperature is 7th warmest for July.

July 2007 brought record and near-record warmth to the western United States, while much of the eastern and southern U.S. experienced cooler-than-average temperatures, according to scientists at NOAA's National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C.

Below-average rainfall, combined with scorching temperatures, helped put 46 percent of the contiguous U.S. in some stage of drought by the end of July.

The global average temperature was the seventh warmest on record for July, and the presence of cooler-than-average waters in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific reflected the possible development of a La Niña episode.

U.S. Temperature Highlights -For the contiguous United States, July 2007 was the 15th warmest July since records began in 1895. The monthly mean temperature was 1.4° F (0.8° C) above the 20th century average of 74.3° F (23.5° C). -Twenty states from the eastern seaboard to the Midwest and southern Plains were cooler than average for the month. Florida was the only state warmer-than-average east of the Mississippi. -The persistent atmospheric pattern that brought cooler-than-average temperatures to the East contributed to record and near-record warmth in the West. It was the warmest July on record in Montana, Wyoming and Idaho. Boise, Idaho's average temperature of 98.6° F (37° C) was more than 9° F (5° C) above average, and made July 2007 its warmest month ever.

-There were 11 days of triple digit temperatures in Missoula, Mont., almost double the previous record of 6 days for the month. -The cooler-than-average July temperatures in the heavily populated eastern U.S. helped push down residential energy needs for the nation as a whole. Using the Residential Energy Demand Temperature Index (REDTI - an index developed at NOAA to relate energy usage to climate), the nation's residential energy demand was approximately 4 percent lower than what would have occurred under average climate conditions for the month.

U.S. Precipitation Highlights -The record warmth and drier-than-average conditions in the northern Rockies led to rapidly worsening drought conditions and helped give the western wildfire season an early and extremely active start. By early August more than 5 million acres had burned in the contiguous U.S, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. -Drought conditions worsened in parts of the northern Rockies, northern Plains, Midwest, and mid-Atlantic. At the end of July, 46 percent of the contiguous U.S. was in moderate-to-exceptional drought, an increase of 12 percent since June. Eighty percent of the Southeast was in drought, with the most severe drought in the nation concentrated in the northern half of Alabama.

-July precipitation was near average for the contiguous U.S., but there were sharp contrasts between areas that received above average rainfall and other areas that were drier than average.

-It was the third wettest July on record in Texas and Louisiana, the second wettest for the region that includes four neighboring states. The Northeast was also wetter than average along with six western states: Wyoming, Utah, Washington, Oregon, Arizona and California.

-Drier-than-average conditions stretched from parts of the mid-Atlantic and Southeast to the Midwest and northern Plains. Rainfall was also below average in Montana, Idaho and Nevada.

-Rainfall from the remnants of Hurricane Cosme eased dry conditions on the eastern end of the Big Island of Hawaii, but moderate-to-severe drought continued to affect several of the Hawaiian Islands at the end of July.

Global Highlights -The combined global land and ocean surface temperature was the seventh warmest on record for July. -Cooler-than-average ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific reflected the possible development of a La Niña episode and contributed to a global temperature average for July that was lower than recent years. -Although above average temperatures covered most of the world's land surfaces during July, monthly temperatures were cooler than average in some countries. In much of Argentina, temperatures were more than 5° F (3° C) cooler than average for July, and Buenos Aires had its first major snowfall since 1918.

This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.

Source: NOAA

AUGUST 17, 2007: SWEATIEST CITIES

We will catch a break from sweating this weekend as the heat and humidity head south, so turn off those air conditioners. With sweat in mind, Old Spice, yes the deodorant, recently released the 100 sweatiest cities in the Unites States. For the fourth year in a row Phoenix, Arizona is the city that sweats the most. In fact, they say that the city can fill an Olympic sized swimming pool with sweat in less than three hours. Collectively, the city's population sweats enough to fill more than 53,000 beer kegs in just one hour. Don’t even ask me how they figured that out! Here are the top 10 cities:

1.) Phoenix, AZ

2.) Las Vegas, NV

3.) Tucson, AZ

4.) Dallas, TX

5.) Corpus Christi, TX

6.) San Antonio, TX

7.) Austin, TX

8.) Shreveport, LA

9.) Houston, TX

10.) Waco, TX

And the least sweatiest? San Francisco, Seattle, and Portland, Maine.

TODAY’S WEATHER QUIZ

When is the peak of hurricane season?

A.August 21

B.September 10

C.October 1

ANSWER: September 10

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

TODAY’S WEATHER QUIZ

What is the longest rain free period in the United States?

A.367 days

B.567 days

C.767 days

ANSWER: C. 767 days, The longest rain-free period in the United States was 767 days (2 years, 37 days), from Oct. 3, 1912 to Nov. 8 1914 at Bagdad, California.

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

AUGUST 15, 2007: TROPICAL TROUBLES

Flossie has been downgraded to a tropical storm and will continue to weaken as it moves south of the Hawaiian islands. Flossie had a rather minimal impact on Hawaii’s Big Island, the southern and eastern portions of which are largely rural. The storm did not produce as much rainfall as feared, though a flash flood watch remains in effect for the Big Island through this afternoon.

Tropical depression number five formed in the Gulf of Mexico last night. The storm is expected to strengthen and be named Tropical Storm Erin later today. The storm will track northwestward and should make landfall along the Texas coast on Thursday and a tropical storm watch as been posted for the middle Texas coast from Baffin Bay to Port O’Connor. Heavy rainfall will be the main concern from this system.

Tropical storm Dean continues to move westward toward the Lesser Antilles. The storm is still expected to strengthen into a hurricane by the time it reaches the Lesser Antilles and enters the eastern Caribbean late Friday into early Saturday.

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

AUGUST 14, 2007: HOW MUCH WATER DO "YOU" USE?

Did you know that the average American uses about 100 gallons of water each day?

Increasing water demands can put stress on water supplies, and one government survey indicated that 36 states anticipate water shortages by the year 2013, either on a local, regional, or state-wide basis.

HERE'S A TIP: With warmer, drier weather in the forecast, this is a great time to think about implementing water conservation measures at home.

Most water used indoors is used in the bathroom, and adding water-efficient fixtures to your bathroom not only saves water, but it also saves energy.

Consider adding a water-efficient toilet to your home.

If just one percent of homes in America switched to a high-efficiency toilet, which uses 75-80 percent less water than older versions, we could save enough electricity to power 43,000 homes for one month!

Source: Earth Gauge

This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.

AUGUST 14, 2007: OVER THE RAINBOW

Rainbows are optical and meteorological phenomena that cause a spectrum of light to appear in the sky when the Sun shines onto droplets of moisture in the Earth's atmosphere. They take the form of a multicolored arc, with red on the outer part of the arch and violet on the inner section of the arch. More rarely, a double rainbow is seen, which includes a second, fainter arc with colors in the opposite order, that is, with violet on the outside and red on the inside.

The rainbow's appearance is caused by dispersion of sunlight as it goes through raindrops. The light is first refracted as it enters the surface of the raindrop, reflected off the back of the drop, and again refracted as it leaves the drop. The overall effect is that the incoming light is reflected back over a wide range of angles, with the most intense light at an angle of 40°-42°.

The amount by which light is refracted depends upon its wavelength, and hence its color. Blue light (shorter wavelength) is refracted at a greater angle than red light, but because the area of the back of the droplet has a focal point inside the droplet, the spectrum crosses itself, and therefore the red light appears higher in the sky, and forms the outer color of the rainbow. Contrary to popular belief, the light at the back of the raindrop does not undergo total internal reflection and some light does emerge from the back. However, light coming out the back of the raindrop does not create a rainbow between the observer and the sun because spectra emitted from the back of the raindrop do not have a maximum of intensity, as the other visible rainbows do, and thus the colors blend together rather than forming a rainbow.

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

AUGUST 12, 2007: METEOR SHOWERS TO PEAK AT 9 TONIGHT

Valley sky gazers can expect to spot streaks of fireballs cross the Northeast sky this evening.

The annual Perseids meteor shower is expected to illuminate the sky tonight with streaks of bright light, and viewing should be decent.

The meteor shower, which is named after the constellation Perseus, originates from the comet Swift-Tuttle.

This one happens every year. The comet's tail, which is debris that fell off the comet, hits the Earth's atmosphere, which causes streaks of light to appear.

The peak is expected about 9 p.m., with one or two meteors appearing per minute.

The visibility of the meteor shower depends on sky conditions. We do have a weak cold front that will push south through the area overnight and it will bring some clouds, but much of the area should have clear to partly cloudy skies around this time.

If it's clear where you are located, you could see possibly 60 to 100 streaks going by in the night sky.

Sometimes these showers have created meteor storms, where you get 10 times the amount of streaking, according to an expert. We had one of those about five years ago. But this one seems to be your average, run-of-the-mill meteor shower, the expert said.

This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.

AUGUST 10, 2007: SEVERE WEATHER THREAT OVER BUT EFFECTS STILL HERE

In the Ohio Valley, the northern sections of the region were hardest hit by Thursday's severe thunderstorms that erupted in the early afternoon and again throughout the evening. Power company crews and others are still cleaning up the mess left behind.

The National Weather Service must still determine whether a tornado indeed touched down near Salem in Columbiana County and caused damage to a store parking lot and hundreds of parked cars there.

A skywarn spotter reported sighting a funnel cloud in the vicinity of East Palestine that dissipated quickly. A number of trees were downed there.

The city of Pittsburgh and cities east endured the brunt of these storms with flooding woes being the biggest headache. Rain fell at a pace of 5 inches per hour in some locations. A few areas received just over 3 inches of rain in a very short amount of time, causing road flooding, backed-up drainage systems and mud slides.

An upper air disturbance, cold air aloft and warm, moist air at the surface came together to create favorable conditions for severe storms across the local region.

Friday's weather will gradually improve throughout the day, with clearing skies, drier and less humid air invading the Ohio Valley.

This weekend, you can plan on spending time outside in the comfortable conditions. Expect plenty of sunshine with warm temps but LESS HUMID! Enjoy this welcomed change.

This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.

AUGUST 8, 2007: HEAT ADVISORY FOR OHIO VALLEY

As of 10 this morning, the National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for the entire Ohio Valley through 8 p.m. this evening.

Temperatures will rise to at least 90 degrees this afternoon with very humid conditions in place. Heat Index values will rise to around 100 degrees this afternoon across most of the region.

The Heat Index combines the effects of heat and humidity to give the "feels like" temperature.

A Head Advisory means that a period of hot temperatures is expected. The combination of hot temperatures and high humidity will combine to create a situation in which heat illnesses are possible.

Drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun and check up on relatives and neighbors.

Make sure outdoor pets and animals have shade, plenty of fresh, cool water.

For additional weather information, check out www.weather.gov/pittsburgh.

This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.

AUGUST 7, 2007: WILDLIFE AND WEATHER DURING MID SUMMER

As summer progresses, katydids calls can be heard in wooded neighborhoods throughout the Ohio Valley as well as the entire Northeast.

These large, nocturnal members of the cricket family live in trees and look like leaves. They produce the rapid "cheh-cheh-cheh-cheh" sounds that characterize mid-summer evenings in this region.

Also during this time of year, large yellow and black butterflies known as tiger swallowtails can be seen flying and sipping flower nectar in gardens across the area. You can attract these beautiful butterflies by planting native prairie wildflowers including milkweed, purple coneflower, sunflowers, wild bergamot, asters and blazing star.

People along the West coast aren't the only ones to flock to the beach in the summer. In the Los Angeles area, populations of the endangered butterfly named El Segundo blue have been found thriving on two busy public beaches. The butterflies migrated there frm protected sites after native plants were restored to the dunes.

In the South, if you are spending any time on a lake, river or other slow-moving body of water this summer, be on the lookout for baby snapping turtles that begin hatching across the south in mid-summer.

The quarter-sized babies head for the shelter of dense aquatic vegetation where they'll feed on invertebrates and small fish, hide from their predators and begin to rapidly grow. The average adult weight of the common snapping turtle is 35 pounds while the larger alligator snapping turtle can reach a whopping 200 pounds.

This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.

AUGUST 6, 2007: PAY ATTENTION TO THE HEAT INDEX THIS WEEK

The Heat index is an index that combines air temperature and relative humidity to determine an apparent temperature — how hot it actually feels.

The human body normally cools itself by perspiration, or sweating, in which the water in the sweat evaporates and carries heat away from the body.

However, when the relative humidity is high, the evaporation rate of water is reduced. This means heat is removed from the body at a lower rate, causing it to retain more heat than it would in dry air.

Measurements have been taken based on subjective descriptions of how hot subjects feel for a given temperature and humidity, allowing an index to be made which corresponds a temperature and humidity combination to a higher temperature in dry air.

At high temperatures, the level of relative humidity needed to make the Heat Index higher than the actual temperature is lower than at cooler temperatures.

For example, at 80 °F the heat index will agree with the actual temperature if the relative humidity is 45%, but at 110 °F any relative-humidity reading above 17% will make the Heat Index higher than 110 °F.

Humidity is deemed not to raise the apparent temperature at all if the actual temperature is below approximately 68 °F — essentially the same temperature colder than which wind chill is thought to commence.

A good example of the difference between heat index and true temperature would be comparing the climates of New Orleans, Louisiana and Bakersfield, California.

New Orleans typically has the lower daytime temperatures in summer due to being closer to the Gulf of Mexico, yet the city has a higher heat index because of the usually high local humidity. Likewise, while Bakersfield usually has higher daytime temperatures than New Orleans, the humidity in Bakersfield is much less, so it doesn't feel as hot as New Orleans.

Effects of the heat index

80–90 °F -- Caution — fatigue is possible with prolonged exposure and activity

90–105 °F -- Extreme caution — sunstroke, heat cramps, and heat exhaustion are possible

105–130 °F -- Danger — sunstroke, heat cramps, and heat exhaustion are likely; heat stroke is possible

over 130 °F -- Extreme danger — heat stroke or sunstroke are likely with continued exposure

Note that exposure to full sunshine can increase heat index values by up to 15 °F (8 °C).

This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.

AUGUST 4, 2007: HEAT WAVE HISTORY

After Sunday, the heat wave is on once again in the valley. Temps will rise to around 90 degrees all week with humid conditions. Expect hazy, hot and humid conditions to last through next weekend.

It's always important to use common sense and take all necessary precaustions during a heat wave. Here's a little bit more information on the history of heat waves:

The European heat wave of 2003 killed around 50,000. Much of the heat was concentrated in France, where nearly 15,000 people died.

In July 2006, the United States experienced a massive heat wave, and almost all parts of the country had recorded temperatures above the average temperature for that time of year. Temperatures in some parts of South Dakota exceeded 115 degrees F (46 degrees C), causing many problems for the residents.

Also, California experienced temps that were extraordinarily high, with records ranging from 100 to 130 degrees. On July 22, the County of Los Angeles recorded its highest temp ever at 119 degrees.

Europe suffered from a massive heat wave as well, with temps rising to 104 degrees in Paris, with even Ireland, which has a moderate maritime climate, reporting temps of over 90 degrees. Temperatures of 95 degrees were reached in the Benelux, the United Kingdom and Germany.

Many heat records have been broken and many people who have experienced the heat wave of 1976 draw comparisons with it.

Major Heat Waves:

--1901 United States --1936 North America --1976 United Kingdom --1976 Europe --1977 New York City

The number of heat fatalities is likely highly underreported due to lack of reports and misreports. Part of the mortality observed during a heat wave, however, can be attributed to a so-called "harvesting effect," a term for a short-term forward mortality displacement. It has been observed that for some heat waves, there is a compensatory decrease in overall mortality during the subsequent weeks after a heat wave.

Such compensatory reduction in mortality suggest that heat affects especially those so ill that they "would have died in the short term anyway".

This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.

AUGUST 3, 2007: Moon at Sunrise!

A coworker asked me yesterday why she could see the moon and the sun in the bright morning sky at the same time. This is not uncommon, and many may have asked themselves this same question!

It has to do with the moon phases.

Moon Visibility: There are times during the moon's monthly cycle that the Moon is sometimes visible in broad daylight.

For example in the east:

New Moon --Rises at Sunrise and located at mid point in the sky at noon

1st Qtr. Moon -- Rises at Noon; mid point in the sky is at sunset

Full Moon --Rises at Sunset: mid point in the sky is at midnight

3rd Qtr. Moon --Rises at Midnight: mid point in the sky is at sunrise

The lighted part of the moon always points towards the sun. If lighted on the right the sun is ahead of the moon. If the left portion of the moon is lighted, the moon is ahead of the sun.

The moon's cycle is a continuous process that is in constant change. The moon never stays at any one phase for more than an instance in time. Starting with a new moon on day one and ending with a waning crescent moon on day 29, the moon's light shape and intensity is always changing.

These phases of the Moon, in the sequence of their occurrence are: New Moon, Waxing Crescent Moon, Quarter Moon, Waxing Gibbous Moon, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous Moon, Last Quarter Moon and Waning Crescent Moon.

The moon reaches a major phase every seven days after the new moon. The first of which is the first quarter moon occuring after 7.4 days. Between the new and first quarter is the time of the waxing crescent moon. 14.8 days into trip around the earth we see a full moon, but not before the waxing gibbous make an appearance. After the full moon a state of waning begins on the 15th day. Along with a last quarter moon both a waning gibbous and crescent moon is visible before a new moon cycle starts a new on the 29th day.

Karen, hope this helped! This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.

CANADIAN ROCKIES TRIP DAYS 1 AND 2

July 31: We arrived in Seattle! There are a total of 37 people from the Ohio Valley joining my parents and I on a trip to the Canadian Rockies. Our flight landed in Seattle about an hour behind schedule. There was a bit of a delay at Chicago's Ohare International Airport, but it wasn't too bad of a wait. We checked into the Embassy Suites Hotel, had some dinner and rested after a long day of travel! It's 3 hours earlier on the west coast, so at 6pm here it's 9 pm back home. Needless to say we are all pooped!

August 1: Off to Canada! After breakfast at the Embassy Suites we hopped on a bus towards Port Angeles, Washington, this is where we catch the ferry to Victoria. Being in Seattle I couldn't resist wearing my Steelers shirt.

A few Seattle fans said I had guts wearing that jersey in their town. After a bowl of delicious clam chowder on the waterfront at Port Angeles it was time to board the Blackball Ferry to Canada. I've never been on a ferry where buses, cars, motorcycles, and 18 wheelers could just drive on in. The parking job was amazing, they crammed cars and trucks in every little square inch of space. The ferry ride took an hour and a half. I sat upstairs out in the sun and got a little sunburn. Victoria Island is beautiful with flowers everywhere! We walked around the quaint town with lots of shops.

For dinner we ate at Barkleys Resturant located conveniently at our hotel, the Executive House. A lot of places including our hotel don't have air conditioning! You don't need it though as temperatures are near 22 degrees Celsius or 70 degrees Fahrenheit and sorry to all of you back at home sweating through the dog days of summer, there is very low humidity up here.

For dinner we had a choice of steak, salmon, or chicken. I had the salmon and it melted in my mouth! We celebrated Randy's 50th birthday, he's from St Clairsville, Ohio. After dinner we strolled through the city and watched the lights come on at the Parliment building. I will be sending back some pictures of my trip, but the computer at this hotel will not let me upload any, so stay tuned. From cool Canada, I'm meteorologist Jeff Oechslein.

AUGUST 1, 2007: HEAT WAVE CAN HAVE SERIOUS EVEN FATAL EFFECTS

Heat waves are the most lethal type of weather phenomenon, overall.

Between 1992 and 2001, deaths from excessive heat in the United States numbered 2,190, compared with 880 deaths from floods and 150 from hurricanes.

Here are some health effects to watch out for during heat waves:

HEAT EDEMA presents as a transient swelling of the hands, feet and ankles and is generally secondary to increased aldosterone secretion, which enhances water retention. When combined with peripheral vasodilation and venous stasis, the excess fluid accumulates in the dependent areas of the extremeities.

The heat edema usually resolves within several days after the patient becomes acclimated to the warmer environment. No treatment is required, although wearing support stocking and elevating the affected legs with help to minimize the edema.

HEAT RASH, also known as prickly heat, is a maculopapular rash accompanied by acute inflammation and blocked sweat ducts. The sweat ducts may become dilated and may eventually rupture, producing small pruritic vesicles on an erythematous base.

Heat rash affects areas of the body covered by tight clothing. If this continues fro a duration of time it can lead to the development of chronic dermatitis or a secondary bacterial infection. Prevention is the best therapy. It is also advised to wear loose-fitting clothing in the heat.

However, once heat rash has developed, the initial treatment involves the application of chlorhexidine lotion to remove and desquamated skin. The associated itching may be treated with topical or systemic antihistamines. If infection occurs a regimen of antibiotics is required.

HEAT CRAMPS are painful, often severe, involuntary spasms of the large muscle groups used in strenuous exercise.

Heat cramps tend to occur after intense exertion. They usually develop in people performing heavy exercise while sweating profusely and replenishing fluid loss with non-electrolyte containing water. This is believed to lead to hyponatremia that induces cramping in stressed muscles.

Rehydration with salt-containing fluids provides rapid relief. Patients with mild cramps can be given oral .2% salt solutions, while those with severe cramps require IV isotonic fluids. The many sport drinks on the market are a good source of electrolytes and are readily accessible.

HEAT EXHAUSTION is considered by experts to be the forerunner of heat stroke. It may even resemble heat stroke with the difference being the neurologic function remains intact. Heat exhaustion is marked by excessive dehydration and electrolyte depletion.

Symptoms may include headache, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, tachycardia, malaise and myalgia. Definitive therapy includes removing patients from the heat and replenishing their fluids.

Most patients require fluid replacement with IV isotonic fluids at first. The salt content is the adjusted as necessary once the electrolyte levels are known. After discharge from the hospital, patients are instructed to rest, drink plenty of fluids for 2-3 hours, and to avoid the heat for several days. If this advice is not followed, it may then lead to heat stroke.

This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.