WELCOME TO THE SEVERE WEATHER TEAM 9 WEATHER BLOG

Greetings everyone and welcome to the Severe Weather Team 9 Weather Blog. If you have a passion for weather, you've come to the right place.

We'll use this forum to discuss Ohio Valley weather in greater detail and answer as many weather questions as possible. You can send in your questions to weather@wtov.com.

AUGUST 17, 2008: PLACE YOUR NFL BETS...BUT CHECK THIS FIRST

Well, it’s a quiet Sunday night in the weather center. No drastic changes in the weather are expected over the next several days. In a just a couple of weeks though, everybody across the country will be interested in Sunday’s weather…the NFL season is just 3 weeks away.

So tonight’s weather blog is dedicated to all of you sports fans who think you know more than everyone else. You think you’ve analyzed every statistic, every trend, and every off-season move that will give you the edge in showing up your friends with the ultimate “I told you so” about predicting how this year’s season will play out. Well, I can guarantee there is one thing you have overlooked…the WX factor. That’s right, not the X-factor, the WX factor (WX is an often used abbreviation for “weather”). Since the two most popular teams in the Ohio Valley are the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns, I’ve spent the night compiling a couple of quick stats of my own relating their 2007 seasons to the 2007 climate. I warn you…use these stats of your favorite AFC North team at your own discretion for 2008:

Pittsburgh Steelers:
- Won every game at Heinz Field when the high temperature was above average
- Lost every Sunday road game in the fall and winter where rain or snow was recorded

Cleveland Browns:
- Won every home game when the high temperature was at or below average
- Won every game (both home and away) where snow was recorded

Oh yeah…and if you’re looking for the ultimate prediction for Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, that pick is all yours. I just have one more bit of advice…for every prior Super Bowl hosted in Tampa…the team from the warmer city has always won ;)

Email your weather questions to weather@wtov.com.
I'm meteorologist Mike Skurko.

AUGUST 16, 2008: HURRICANE HUNTERS, PART II

Well thank goodness for the hurricane hunters! A closed circulation has been identified, upgrading this storm to a tropical system. Since all has been (and will be) pretty quiet in the weather center this evening, I’ve been taking a closer look at this storm. Earlier today, it’s maximum sustained winds exceeded the 39 mph threshold, thus Tropical Storm Fay has been born. It’s the 6th named storm of 2008, and latest forecasts expect it to become the season’s second hurricane to threaten the United States. It’s latest projections expect it to turn northward through Cuba and hit near Tampa, Florida by Tuesday afternoon. It’s winds have been slightly increasing, and it’s minimum central pressure has been slowly dropping, both meaning it’s strengthening just a bit. Hopefully (albeit unfortunately) its presence over the Carribean Islands will cut it off from open waters, not giving it enough time to strengthen out-of-control.

Email your weather questions to weather@wtov.com.
I'm meteorologist Mike Skurko.

AUGUST 15, 2008: HURRICANE HUNTERS

With the 2008 hurricane season almost halfway complete (not University of Miami football…you’re reading the weather blog), it’s time to brush up on our knowledge about the tropics. The difference between a tropical storm and a hurricane is simple: wind speeds. By definition, a tropical storm has maximum sustained wind speeds between 39 and 73 mph. Anything less is dubbed a “tropical depression” and anything more is a hurricane. Perhaps the most talked about feature (and destructive feature) of tropical storms and hurricanes are their powerful winds. But before anything is classified as a tropical system, there is one different and important characteristic it must have. While the area of storms in question may be pretty organized, it must have a well-defined closed circulation at the surface. In other words, it must have that classic “swirling” and “spinning” feature to it.

At first, it may be difficult for forecasters to detect circulation with a young tropical depression by just using a satellite or radar. The weaker the storm, the weaker this rotation appears to be. So how do they do it? A group of aircrafts known as “Hurricane Hunters” fly right into the heart of the storm, equipped with special instruments and a team of meteorologists to find signs of a circulation (and you thought a commercial flight to Chicago had too much turbulence to handle).

If you’re interested, a flight is taking off later this afternoon. Over the past couple of days, an area of thunderstorms over Puerto Rico has been intensifying. Its movement over some of the Caribbean Islands may hurt its development, but nonetheless the Hurricane Hunters are off to investigate. Recent outlooks from the National Hurricane Center in Miami suspect it still has a good shot of becoming a tropical depression within the next day or so.

Once a storm becomes a tropical depression, then the focus shifts to wind speeds. Once it hits 39 mph it becomes a tropical storm, and if it hits 74 mph it becomes a hurricane. If this storm over Puerto Rico becomes a tropical storm, the next name on the list for it is Fay. Every major hurricane, including Andrew and Katrina, started out as a small tropical depression. We’ll have to wait until the Hurricane Hunters return to see if this storm moves one step closer to a similar fate.

Email your weather questions to weather@wtov.com.
I'm meteorologist Mike Skurko.

AUGUST 7, 2008: THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER

Now that we are heading towards the middle of August, we often throw around the term “the dogs day of summer” to refer to the heat and humidity this month. Most people associate this term with the lazy behavior that dogs exhibit to avoid the hot weather, while we seem to stay indoors and have our air conditioning on full alert as well. But are you entirely sure this is how that expression came about?

Turns out, the “dog days of summer” was coined by the ancient Greeks in reference to the “dog star” – Sirius (the brightest star in the sky). Stars move around our night sky, sometimes appearing to rise and set over the horizon as its position changes relative to earth. The ancient Egyptians first noted that this star appeared to rise just before the hottest part of the year, and set a few weeks later. Thus they thought that this star was responsible for the heat.

The Greeks were the first to refer to Sirius as the “dog star.” Sirius is located on a constellation known as Canis Major. This constellation is usually paired with the constellation Orion (remember the movie Men In Black, they were looking for a galaxy on “Orion’s belt” and thought it was in reference to the stars). The constellation Canis Major was referred to by the Greeks as one of Orion’s dogs, hunting with him in the night sky. With Sirius being the brightest star, it became dubbed the “dog star.” Like the Egyptians, the Greeks also picked up on the correlation between this star’s rising and the hottest part of the year.

Don’t expect the dog days of summer to take over the Ohio Valley just yet, as temperatures will be well below normal for the next couple of days.

Email your weather questions to weather@wtov.com.
I'm meteorologist Mike Skurko.

AUGUST 1, 2008: METEOROLOGICAL SUMMER

For many people, the first day of August marks the beginning of the “dog days of summer”. You know, that oppressively long stretch of wickedly hot weather that makes you want to sit in air conditioning all day and do nothing. (I guess that qualifies about 6 months out of the year for me.) But for meteorologists, August 1st marks the beginning of the end. It’s the last month of meteorological summer.

While the weather across the globe changes with each season, the definition of the four seasons comes from astronomy (space), not meteorology (weather). A quick review: When the Earth is tilted so that the Northern Hemisphere is closest to the sun, it is summer here. Right now it is winter in the Southern Hemisphere since it is now tilted away from the sun.

So what is “meteorological summer”? It is simply defined as the complete months of June, July, and August. Meteorologists noticed that weather patterns do not follow the normal course of the seasons exactly. Shifting the seasons would allow data to be compiled more easily, and analyzed in a more useful manner. In fact, we have a perfect example of this right here in the Ohio Valley! The meteorological seasons are defined as follows:

Winter: December, January, February
Spring: March, April, May
Summer: June, July, August
Fall: September, October, November

Every now and then, Jeff, Kevin, and I will show the almanac – the average temperatures for that particular date. If you follow them closely over the course of the year, you’ll see that the average high temperature peaks at 85 degrees on July 16 – smack in the middle of meteorological summer! Our average low temperature falls to 18 degrees during the second and third week of January –directly in the middle of meteorological winter! See…there’s a method to this meteorological madness!

Email your weather questions to weather@wtov.com.
I'm meteorologist Mike Skurko.

JULY 29, 2008: FRIDGE FACTS

About 20 percent of homes in the U.S. have at least two refrigerators, and often, one of those refrigerators is kept in the garage. While the extra space may be helpful, the extra energy used to power a refrigerator in the garage can add up fast - especially during hot weather, when garage temperatures can be significantly higher than indoor temperatures. Each one degree change from a normal kitchen temperature results in a 2.25 to 2.5 percent change in energy use by your refrigerator. That means that a refrigerator stored in an 80 degree garage would use between 22 and 25 percent more energy than the same appliance in a 70 degree kitchen!

Avoid placing refrigerators or freezers in the garage or other areas of your home where it is hard to regulate air temperature. Inside, place your refrigerator away from heat sources, such as ovens, dishwashers and direct sunlight. 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.

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

JULY 28, 2008: PARCHED LAWNS

At more than 49,400 square miles, lawns in the U.S. cover three times more area than corn crops, making them the largest irrigated crop in the country! The typical home lawn only needs about one-inch of water per week - including water received from rainfall - which means that you can save water by keeping an eye on the forecast and using "smart" watering techniques at home.

When there is rain in the forecast, switch off the sprinklers and let mother nature do your watering for you. When the weather is dry, look for tell-tale signs that your lawn is thirsty before you water, including loss of shine or footprints that remain visible after you walk across the lawn. When you do turn on the sprinklers, keep these tips in mind to water efficiently:

• Water in the AM - Early morning watering, when the air is cooler, means less evaporation.

• Go for big drops - Sprinklers that deposit big drops of water close to the ground will help to ensure water soaks into the soil. Look for soaker hoses or drip irrigation sprinklers.

• Watch for puddles - Dry or compacted lawns don't absorb water quickly. If water is puddling on your lawn, turn the sprinklers off and give the water time to soak

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

JULY 19, 2008: MIKE SKURKO'S FIRST JAMBO EXPERIENCE

Before I came to WTOV9, I heard about the craziness of Jamboree in the Hills. After I joined Severe Weather Team 9, I continued to hear all the hype from viewers and my coworkers. On Saturday I finally got the chance to see what Jamboree was all about. And trust me, working Jambo Cam I saw everything. What the heck did I get myself into here?

In the days leading up to Jamboree, I knew the weather would be hot. Like…sizzling hot. Jewel hot. Did I have a hat and enough sunscreen? No. You would think a weatherman would know better. People spraying water never felt so good. The men knew to take their shirt off and the women knew to wear the legal minimum. Then again, they’ve dealt with the heat before. Maybe next year I’ll learn and take my shirt off in the crowd as well. Although you might see 50,000 people run away faster than the Running of the Rednecks.

I would like to see the 40-yard dash times of some of you redneck runners. You might put up some good numbers at the NFL combines to be able to grab seats that good. I’d like to see how much the cooler-carriers could bench press as well. Some of those coolers were massive. It looked like 3 men trying to drag a camel through the desert. I actually did see a cooler with a dead deer head. Isn’t it scary what a bunch of men with a lot of beer can conspire to think of next?

I went to Penn State University, and for 4 years I saw my fair share of wild tailgates outside of Beaver Stadium. The craziness of today blew some of those out of the water. When I saw a group playing beer pong, old memories came rushing back to me. When I tried my luck while on Jambo Cam, I realized I may need a tune-up for next year. I think there was a little wind out there that threw me off. But then again, shouldn’t I have known that too? I wasn’t thinking about the weather while out in the crowd. How could you think of anything out there? Even though I was technically working, I still wanted to try and have a good time. There were so many happy people; I didn’t have to try hard.

So how was my first day in the middle of the crowd at Jamboree? Weird, wild, scary, hectic, hot, humid, shocking, outrageous, and all-around bizarre. Nonetheless…I can’t wait to do it again next year.

Email your weather questions toweather@wtov.com.
I'm meteorologist Mike Skurko.

JULY 15, 2008: JULY IS UV AWARENESS MONTH

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun causes sunburn and other health effects, including skin cancer and cataracts. Everyone should protect themselves from the sun, and some groups can be particularly susceptible to health effects from sun exposure:

• Kids: About 25 percent of a person's lifetime exposure to UV radiation occurs before the age of 18, meaning that it is especially important to protect children - who may not know how to properly protect themselves - from sun exposure.

• Gardeners and Farmers: The National Gardening Association found that the average gardener spends 2.8 hours per week in the garden. Because they spend lots of time outside, gardeners and farmers can be more at-risk for skin cancer.

• Older Individuals: Older people's skin cells are less able to repair DNA damage caused by exposure to the sun. There is also evidence that UV-B radiation from the sun puts older people at increased risk of developing cataracts.

When possible, work and play outside during the cooler parts of the day - before 10:00 a.m. and after 4:00 p.m. - and remember that it is possible to burn on a cloudy day, even when the sun doesn't seem bright. Use a sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 that provides protection from both UVA and UVB rays. Apply sunscreen liberally and often, and wear protective clothing - hat, sunglasses, long-sleeved shirt, and pants.

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

JULY 9, 2008: THE SOUND OF THUNDER

Sometimes thunder claps, sometimes it rumbles. Claps tend to be 0.2- to 2-second-long cracks that accompany close lightning. Lightning that occurs farther away tends to produce rumbles, rather than claps. This is because higher frequencies tend to be more rapidly absorbed by the surrounding environment, while the lower frequency waves sometimes travel distances of 10 to 15 miles (even 25 miles under the right conditions). These long-distance travelers can come from different parts of the lightning bolt, bounce against terrain and buildings, or be refracted by temperature variations in the atmosphere, resulting in a myriad of sound waves reaching an observer's ears at different times. When this happens from repeated lightning bolts from one storm, and other storms chime in, you can wind up with rumbling, or rolling, thunder.

Regardless of whether lightning is positive or negative, thunder is produced the same way. Thunder is the acoustic shock wave resulting from the extreme heat generated by a lightning flash. Lightning can be as hot as 54,000°F, a temperature that is five times the surface of the sun! When lightning occurs, it heats the air surrounding its channel to that same incredible temperature in a fraction of a second.

Like all gases, when air molecules are heated, they expand. The faster they are heated, the faster their rate of expansion. But when air is heated to 54,000°F in a fraction of a second, a phenomenon known as "explosive expansion" occurs. This is where air expands so rapidly that it compresses the air in front of it, forming a shock wave similar to a sonic boon addition, the temperature of the atmosphere affects the thunder sound you hear as well as how far away you can hear it. Sound waves move faster in warm air than they do in cool air. Typically, the air temperature decreases with height. When this occurs, thunder will normally have an audible range up to 10 miles.

However, when the air temperature increases with height, called an inversion, sound waves are refracted (bent back toward the earth) as they move due to their faster motion in the warmer air. Normally, only the direct sound of thunder is heard. But refraction can add some additional sound, effectively amplifying the thunder and making it sound louder. This is more common in the winter as thunderstorms develop in the warm air above a cooler surface air mass. If the lightning in these "elevated thunderstorms" remains above the inversion, then most of the thunder sound also remains above the inversion. However, much of the sound waves from cloud-to-ground strikes remain below the inversion giving thunder a much louder impact.

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

JULY 3 & 4, 2008: WTOV9 TRIP TOURS THE GRAND TETONS & JACKSON HOLE, WYOMING

Yesterday, July 3rd we hopped on the bus and headed to the Grand Tetons. The Grand Tetons are the youngest mountain range in North America. They were all snow capped and seemed to just pop up out of the ground. There was no gradual increase in elevation. The land went from flat to mountainous. While in the Tetons we visited the Chapel of the Transfiguration. It was a very small church made out of logs, but the view was amazing. There was a window located behind the alter and the grandeur of mountains appeared.

We had some free time yesterday afternoon in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. My wife and I did a little souvenir shopping while others in the group took a ski lift up to the top of a mountain overlooking the city.

Yesterday evening we saddled up for a good old fashioned cowboy dinner. We boarded a horse drawn covered wagon. Joe and Jack pulled our wagon while Tar and Feather pulled the other wagon that carried up our group. The horses ate 1800 pounds of hay a day. Our wagon was ambushed by Indians on horses; luckily we made it through the path and safely to dinner. Ike Hostetler from Sugarcreek, Ohio got to ring the dinner bell. Dinner was buffet style with bbq chicken, roast beef, baked beans, salad, rolls, and brownies for dessert. After dinner we watched a western show. I was asked on stage to be a part of the show.

Today, July 4th we are traveling to Salt Lake City, Utah, our final destination along our great adventure. We will be stopping in Idaho for lunch. After our farewell dinner in Salt Lake City we hope to catch some fireworks. Then it’s off to bed so we can catch our early flight back home tomorrow.

JULY 2, 2008: WTOV9 TRIP TOURS YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

It was a chilly wake up in Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park, but it was another spectacular weather day with sunshine. After breakfast we hopped on the tour bus and headed west and stopped at the Continental Divide. On one side of the divide water travels west towards the Pacific and on the other side the water flows east towards the Atlantic.

After the divide we visited Old Faithful. Old Faithful spews on average every 1 and a half hours. The average height is 130 feet. It lasts for 2 and a half to 5 minutes. Old Faithful isn’t the highest geyser in the park but it is the most famous since it erupts on schedule.

After Old Faithful we checked out Fountain Paint Pot. This is where four different types of hot spots were located. The ground would bubble; some were more liquid while others looked like mud baths.

We continued to spot lots of wildlife including elk and tons of bison. Some of the bison were very close to the road. Still no sight of bear! Some of us even ate bison sausage at lunch. Pat Pagendarm let me try some of the bison, it didn’t taste like chicken, but it was pretty good. I had the trout, which is also found in the lakes and rivers inside park.

After lunch at Canyon Village we viewed some of the most spectacular scenery in the park. The Upper and Lower Falls along the Yellowstone River were breathtaking. Peggy and Jack Douglass from Barnesville summed it up best; they said that every step you took gave you a different perspective of the falls. We also viewed the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. It’s hard to describe these places, you will just have to look at the pictures yourself and even that may not do much justice.

We just left Yellowstone National Park, waving bye bye to Yogi and Boo-Boo. Now it’s off to Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole Wyoming.

WTOV9 Photo Album: Jeff Visits America's Greatest Parks

JULY 1, 2008: WTOV9 TRIP ENTERS YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

Earlier this morning we left Helena, Montana and headed southward towards Yellowstone National Park. On the trip down I entertained a little with some weather Q and A. We stopped in West Yellowstone for lunch and afterwards we had time to shop for souvenirs. Then we watched an amazing IMAX film about Yellowstone. The movie screen was 6 stories tall and it seemed like bears jumped at you.

Speaking of bears, after the movie, we toured through the Yellowstone Discovery Center. It had bears that were once in the wild but caused too many problems with humans. The Discovery Center also had a pack of wolves.

Then off we went to the park entrance of Yellowstone. Once inside the park we began to spot lots of wildlife, such as bison, bald eagle, and elk. After dinner a few of us went on a walk, that’s where we saw the biggest rabbit ever! We took some pictures as we walked the trails around Lake Yellowstone. We didn’t last that long though as the mosquitoes were eating us alive!

Tomorrow we will be touring Yellowstone which will include a visit to Old Faithful.

WTOV9 Photo Album: Jeff Visits America's Greatest Parks

JUNE 30,2008: WTOV9 TRIP TRAVELS THROUGH MONTANA

It was another hot day in Montana. I just saw that Helena, Montana, where we are at, just tied the record of 98 degrees set back in 1990. Sunshine in the morning gave way to a lot of clouds, but so far no rain. It looks like we might run into some scattered storms tomorrow as we venture towards Yellowstone National Park.

Earlier this morning we left Kalispell, Montana and headed south. We stopped for coffee and danishes at a quaint resort. There were many log cabins and horses in the back. If you check out the pictures you will see that I shared my coffee with a bison!

We continued on our trek southward through Montana, arriving in Helena just in time for lunch. Lunch was at this great brewhouse. I had the fish and chips, my wife had an oriental salad, and others had huge burgers. I hope I will be able to fit into my suits when I return to work!

After lunch we boarded a sightseeing cruise along the Misouri River. We followed the path that Lewis and Clark took and they called it the gateway to the Rocky Mountains. If you look at the pictures you will be able to see how the rock formation opens up like a gate and you see the rockies in the distance. Lewis and Clark arrived here on July 19, 1805, hey that's my birthday, of course a few years later! Some of the pictures we took shows the footprints of forest fires of years past. Unfurtunately it will take a century for the forests that were schorced to return back to normal.

Tomorrow we will continue to head south towards Yellowstone National Park. I may not be able to add an entry as I doubt that we will have internet access in the park. In fact we won't have a tv or a phone. I guess we will have to just rough it with the bears!

WTOV9 Photo Album: Jeff Visits America's Greatest Parks

JUNE 29, 2008: WTOV9 TRIP TO GLACIER, YELLOWSTONE, & TETONS BY RAIL

We made it into Whitefish, Montana at 1:30 Sunday morning. We were all glad to get off the train and get some much needed rest at our hotel. Today we headed to Glacier National Park. In 1850 there were 150 glaciers in the park, today there are only 26. Some scientists believe that all the glaciers will be gone in the park by 2030. We traveled along the infamous Going to the Sun Road which is celebrating its 75th anniversary. The views experienced today truly were breathtaking.

We enjoyed the beauty of Glacier National Park by boarding a vintage tour bus. These red tour buses are called jammers. They get their name from the drivers who would jam the transmission of the buses while shifting gears along the hilly terain of the park. The jammers have been around since 1910, but today's version is eco-friendly. They use propane instead of gasoline. It was a perfect day in the park for a drive in these vintage convertible buses.

Amy Fontaine, who is on the trip told me that she measured a temperature of 85 degrees with her portable thermometer at the higher elevations in the park. That's impressive, even I don't carry a thermometer with me. At times we were over a mile above sea level. At lower elevations such as Kallispell, Montana, where our hotel was located, the temperature reached into the upper 90's. Several of us got a little crisp on the ride today under a clear, sun filled sky. I learned my lesson and bought sun tan lotion for tomorrow. On the animal front we saw a rare American bald eagle, deer, and coyote today. So far no moose or bear, but the trip is still young. We will have more oppertunity tomorrow as we head towards Grand Teton National Park.

JUNE 28, 2008: WTOV9 TRIP TO GLACIER, YELLOWSTONE, & TETONS BY RAIL

Yesterday evening during dinner on the Empire Builder I witnessed first hand some of the flooding that is ongoing in the Midwest. Entire roads and farms were covered in water. Because of the flooding we are taking a different route, one that Amtrak shares with other freight traffic. So our voyage from Chicago to Minneapolis / St Paul was very slow. The train averaged a speed of 20 mph. So needles to say we are a little behind schedule. But no one is complaining, we are enjoying ones company and the views of our great nation.

Sleeping onboard a train is an experience. Let’s put it this way everyone slept tight, literally tight. The rocking back motion of the train sort of lulls you to sleep. You just wake up a lot when the train gets a little bumpy. While we were sleeping we crossed the mighty Mississippi.

On Saturday morning we woke up near Fargo, North Dakota. We had breakfast in the diner car. A lot of people in our group including my wife had the French toast. They all said it was tasty. I had an egg and cheese omelet which was also very good. After some conversing, it was lunch time. I think I am going to gain 10 pounds on this train alone, a lot of eating and not a lot of moving around.

Rain showers ended as we pressed into North Dakota and the sun made an appearance. The winds outside the train were whipping the trees and fields of grain. North Dakota is one of the windiest places in the country.

The train passed through the little town of Rugby, North Dakota, known for being the geographic center of North America. Along our way the land is flat and you see lots of cattle farming. The train made a stop in Minot, North Dakota. Many of us got off the train for 15 minutes to breathe in some fresh air. It was special to actually see Minot, North Dakota, as that was where my Dad was stationed for a few years in the Air Force. This was before I was even born, but he often told me about the harsh winters in Minot.

It’s late in the afternoon on Saturday and we are about to cross into Montana and into the Mountain Time Zone. Looking out the window I can see why this is called big sky country. The large, fluffy cumulus clouds seem to hang low in the sky, it’s almost like I could reach out and grab them. They just announced that we are having a wine and cheese tasting event in the diner car, more food! We still have a ways to go to reach our final destination on the train which is Whitefish, Montana. It looks like we won’t reach that destination until after midnight tonight. Then we will crash at the hotel before we begin our adventure into Glacier National Park tomorrow. I can’t wait.

JUNE 27, 2008: WTOV9 TRIP TO GLACIER, YELLOWSTONE, & TETONS BY RAIL

Yesterday 32 people from the Ohio Valley including my wife Amber and myself embarked on a 10 day adventure across the United States. Our flight into Ohare International Airport was a little bumpy thanks to thunderstorms, but we made it. We had a wonderful welcome dinner at the hotel yesterday evening.

Today we were taken on a city tour of downtown Chicago. Did you know the phrase Windy City was actually given to Chicago by newspaper writers in New York City. They were upset that the politicians talked up Chicago so they were able to host the World's Fair in 1933. So the writers called the polticians winded and coined the phrase Windy City. We took some picutres of the skyline including the Chicago Sears Tower, the tallest building in North America. For lunch I ate a Chicago style hot dog. The hot dog was loaded with rellish, onion, pickel, celery salt, ketchup, mustard, and some kind of hot peppers. It was great and so far no heart burn!

We were able to board the Amtrak Empire Builder at Union Station in Chicago. We were lucky as this is the first train to leave here in 2 weeks due to all the flooding that has occured in the midwest. This will be our first night sleeping on a train. I'll let you know how it went tomorrow! The rooms are very cozy, but we are able to walk around to an observation deck and grab breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the dining car. They just announced we are in Wisconsin! Make sure you check out the photos on the sidebar to the right. Choo Choo!

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

JUNE 25, 2008: LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK

Lightning kills more people each year on average than hurricanes and tornadoes combined. There are about 100 lightning fatalities annually in the United States. Beyond the tragic loss of life, however, are the many injuries. Only about 10% of lightning strike victims are killed; 90% survive. But many of the estimated 1000 survivors suffer severe, life-long injury and disability.

It is common for people to refer to the chance of being struck by lightning as an improbable or unlikely event. Yet actual statistics say otherwise. Lightning strikes the ground approximately 25 million times each year in the United States. Most people greatly underestimate the probability of being involved in a lightning strike. According to the National Weather Service, the chance of an individual in the United States being killed or injured during a given year is one in 240,000. Assuming an average life span of 80 years, a person's odds over their lifetime becomes one in 3000. Assuming the average person has ten family members and others with whom they are close, then the chances are one in 300 that a lightning strike will closely affect a person during their lifetime.

Lightning can strike many miles from the parent thunderstorm, well outside the rain area and even beyond the visible thundercloud. Lightning can also strike from debris clouds several tens of minutes after the parent thunderstorm has decayed. Thus lightning safety requires a large standoff distance from thunderstorms and a long standoff time after apparent thunderstorm decay.

Thunder produced by a lightning strike travels one mile every five seconds. Thus, counting the number of seconds between the visible "flash" and the audible "bang" and dividing by 5, provides the distance in miles.

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

June 20, 2008: FIRST DAY OF SUMMER

The summer solstice occurs at 7:59 pm and summer begins in the Northern Hemisphere. This is when the sun’s direct rays reach their northern most point and impinge on the Tropic of Cancer. It’s the start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and winter in the Southern Hemisphere.

Locally the longest amount of daylight is enjoyed today with 15 hours and 4 minutes of light. That's compared to the 9 hours and 17 minutes of daylight we see on the first day of winter. So between today and December 21st we will lose 5 hours and 47 minutes of daylight!

With the aid of sunshine temperatures will finally get warmer today. The last three days featured high temperatures in the 60's. Today we will see temperatures climb through the 70's. Chances of rain today seem slim, only a 20% chance.

Chances for thunderstorms will go up tomorrow afternoon. The Storms Prediction Center has the area in a slight risk for severe storms tomorrow.

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

JUNE 18, 2008: TONIGHT’S FULL STRAWBERRY MOON

As the full moon rises Wednesday evening many people will be fooled into thinking it's unusually large. The moon illusion, as it's known, is a trick in our minds that makes the moon seem bigger when it's near the horizon. The effect is most pronounced at full moon. Many people swear it's real, suggesting that perhaps Earth's atmosphere magnifies the moon. But it really is all in our minds. The moon is not bigger at the horizon than when overhead.

The illusion will be particularly noticeable at this "solstice moon," coming just two days before summer starts in the Northern Hemisphere. The reason, according to NASA, lies in lunar mechanics: The sun and full moon are like kids on a see-saw; when one is high, the other is low. This week's high solstice sun gives us a low, horizon-hugging moon and a strong, long-lasting version of the illusion.

Here's how it works: Your mind believes things on the horizon are farther away than things overhead, because you are used to seeing clouds just a few miles above, but the clouds on the horizon can indeed be hundreds of miles away. So if we think something (such as the moon) is farther away, and it's not, then it seems larger.

If you remain doubtful, test the idea yourself. Go out at moonrise with a small object, perhaps a pencil eraser. Hold it at arm's length as the moon rises and compare the sizes of the moon and the eraser, then repeat the experiment an hour or two later when the moon is high in the sky. A rolled up tube of paper works well, too.

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

JUNE 17, 2008: TORNADO SEASON COULD BE A RECORD

This year may set records for tornadoes and tornado-related deaths. According to the Storms Prediction Center in Norman Oklahoma we have already seen more than 115 tornado-related deaths, making this the deadliest tornado season since 1998.

It is only the third time since the 1974 super tornado outbreak that there have been more than 100 tornado-related deaths during a single tornado season in the U.S. In 1998 and 1984 there were 132 and 122 tornado-related deaths, respectively — 2008 will likely equal or exceed that record.

Recent years averaged about 1,200 tornadoes and 60 tornado-related deaths reported annually across the United States. Most tornadoes occur from late winter to mid-summer, mostly in the Southeast in the early part of the season, followed by the Midwestern and Plains states in the later part of the season.

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

JUNE 12, 2008: THE GREEN FLASH

What is the green flash? A super hero? An odd color of lighting? No, it actually occurs during sunrise and sunset. The green flash is a momentary flash of green light emanating from the upper rim of the rising or setting sun at the moment it crosses the horizon.

Widely thought to be visible only in the tropics, the green flash can be seen anywhere in the world, and most easily from a vantage point with an unimpeded view of the horizon, such as over a large lake or ocean.

Sunlight passing through the atmosphere is bent upward, and the bending is greatest when the sun is on the horizon. The shortest wavelengths of light (blue and green) are bent the most, so they are the first colors seen on the rising sun and the last as it sets. Blue wavelengths are removed by atmospheric scattering, leaving the green wavelengths visible for the flash. For examples of the green flash check out: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/atmos/redsun.html.

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

JUNE 6, 2008: “FRY”DAY WEATHER

Steams like summer as hot and humid days arrive! The first true heat wave of the season is expected to begin this afternoon. By definition a heat wave is at least 3 days of 90 degree temperatures. With sunshine today our record high of 90 degrees set back in 1942 (66 years ago on this date) will likely fall. Near record high temperatures are expected through Monday.

There will probably be a few scattered thunderstorms Saturday afternoon. A more widespread event will occur on Tuesday of next week as a cold front advances towards the Ohio Valley. Somewhat cooler and drier air should trickle in behind this front by the middle of next week.

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