August 31, 2006: ERNESTO AND JOHN, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE F, G, H, AND I STORM NAMES?

Tropical storm Ernesto will make a second landfall later this evening in the Carolinas. Meantime a dangerous category three hurricane John, the first east Pacific Hurricane, is affecting Western Mexico. This could be the Baja’s most powerful hurricane ever. Areas such as Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas will likely be impacted. So you might be asking, what happened to the F, G, H, and I named storms?

There are a separate list of names for tropical systems in the Atlantic basin (including the North Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea) and the Northeast Pacific basin (from Mexico to about the dateline). So as you can see the Pacific has been a lot more active this hurricane season compared to the Atlantic.

2006 Atlantic Hurricane Names

Alberto Beryl Chris Debby Ernesto Florence Gordon Helene Isaac Joyce Kirk Leslie Michael Nadine Oscar Patty Rafael Sandy Tony Valerie William

2006 Pacific Hurricane Names

Aletta Bud Carlotta Daniel Emilia Fabio Gilma Hector Ileana John Kristy Lane Miriam Norman Olivia Paul Rosa Sergio Tara Vicente Willa Xavier Yolanda Zeke

You can get the latest update on Ernesto by going to theNational Hurricane Center..

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

August 30, 2006: ERNESTO COULD RUIN VACATION PLANS ALONG THE EAST COAST THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND

Tropical storm Ernesto could bring heavy rains and flooding to a broad area stretching from the Carolinas to New England over the Labor Day Weekend, affecting travel and vacation plans.

Tropical Storm Ernesto will bring heavy rainfall to Florida. Once it exits Florida, the storm will then swing back out to sea and travel up the southeastern United States coast before making a second landfall near Myrtle Beach, SC by Thursday evening.

After making a second landfall, the inland track that Ernesto takes will impact our local weather. This makes the extended forecast a bit of a challenge. At this point we can’t totally rule out rain, but confidence is low that the local area will see heavy rainfall.

You can get the latest update on Ernesto by going to theNational Hurricane Center..

Bruce Hobbs sent me the following question: “I have just received a weather station that reads inside the house where do I need to place transmitter for the proper temperature outside and how high off the ground.”

Bruce, for ground installations, the rule of thumb is to install the weather station at a distance of 10 times the height of the nearest building (or any wind obstruction). For example, if your building is 20 feet tall, install the weather station at a distance of 200 feet from the building at a height of 6' off of the ground. Of course, this is rarely practical unless you live at the airport.

Temperature sensors must be shielded from the sun to avoid errors due radiant heat transfer. Sun facing buildings or structures also radiate heat. The best advice is to use common sense when mounting your temperature sensor. Mount in a shaded, ventilated area.

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

August 29, 2006: FLORIDA THUNDERSTORMS

"Hi Jeff, Lisa, my question is simple. I used to live in south Florida. Down there we really get some hot storms. The lightning is really bad. Why is it not the same up here for thunderstorms? I have not seen a storm up here that could hold its own to an evening thunderstorm in south Florida."

Thanks, a loyal viewer, Jeff Drazic of Mingo

Well, Jeff, did you know Florida is the lightning capital of the nation? A study by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows that Fort Myers averages 100 days with lightning annually, the Tampa Bay area, 90; and Miami, 76. The so-called "lightning belt" in Florida is an area between Orlando and Tampa south along the west coast to Fort Myers and east to Lake Okeechobee.

A recent study revealed that Florida's brand of lightning frequently packs a walloping 45,000 amperes. Researchers believe Florida lightning is particularly powerful because it is born of tall, more highly charged storm-cloud formations. Florida's thunderstorms are beautiful and powerful and typically short-lived dropping inches of rain in a short period of time. The majority of Florida's storms come in the afternoon in the summer months, and are formed by the very moist summer air and very hot summer days combining, causing air to lift and form massive Cumulonimbus Clouds. And because of this, Florida has the national worst record of deaths by lightning.

Thanks for your question, Jeff. This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.

August 29, 2006: KATRINA REMEMBERED, WATCHING ERNESTO

Hurricane Katrina barreled onshore, one year ago, early on the morning of August 29, 2005, near Buras, Louisiana. By the time it reached the coast, Katrina had lost some of its power. However, even though it was later determined to be a Category 3 hurricane at landfall, it was just below Category 4 strength.

The confirmed death toll stands at 1,836. The majority of the deaths occurred in Louisiana with 1,577 deaths and Mississippi with 238. More than 700 people in Louisiana are still missing, and the exact cause of many fatalities may never be determined. The death toll is not final, and may never be.

The economic impact was unheard of. Federal disaster declarations covered approximately 90 thousand square miles, basically the size of the United Kingdom. According to a Marshall University study, the total economic impact on Louisiana and Mississippi alone could top $150 billion.

Exactly one year later the tropics are a lot quieter, with the exception of Tropical Storm Ernesto. The tropical storm is expected to make landfall in Southern Florida later tonight or early Wednesday morning. The storm will reemerge over the open waters of the Atlantic, just off the Eastern Coast of Florida. The storm could regain some strength and make a second landfall, possibly as a category one hurricane, over the Carolina’s by this Thursday.

Severe Weather Team 9 is keeping an eye on the exact track of Ernesto. The latest projections have the remnants of the tropical system scooting by just to our east by late Friday into Saturday. This track would keep most of the heavy rain to our east. Any slight variation in that track to the west would bring the Ohio Valley a substantial rainfall.

You can get the latest update on Ernesto by going to theNational Hurricane Center..

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

August 26, 2006: HOT OHIO VALLEY, TROUBLE IN THE TROPICS

For the 11th time this summer the thermometer hit 90 degrees. Just in case you were wondering we average eight days a summer with 90 degree heat. Will we reach 90 again tomorrow? The quick answer is no. A cold front will inch closer, thus look for more clouds and showers and thunderstorms. Some of these storms tomorrow will be severe with damaging winds.

The Severe Storms Laboratory has the local area under a slight risk of seeing severe weather tomorrow. Monitor severe thunderstorms this weekend by checking out this web site: Storm Prediction Center.

The tropics which have been extremely quiet are starting to get a little noisy. All thanks to tropical storm Ernesto. Here is the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center:

AT 8PM THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM ERNESTO WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 16.5 NORTH...LONGITUDE 72.2 WEST OR ABOUT 145 MILES...235 KM...SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF PORT AU PRINCE HAITI AND ABOUT 310 MILES...455 KM...EAST-SOUTHEAST OF KINGSTON JAMAICA.

ERNESTO IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 14 MPH...22 KM/HR...AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT 24HOURS. THIS MOTION SHOULD BRING THE CENTER NEAR THE SOUTH COAST OF HISPANIOLA TONIGHT AND NEAR JAMAICA ON SUNDAY. REPORTS FROM AN AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT INDICATE THAT MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 60 MPH...95 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS...AND ERNESTO COULD BE NEAR HURRICANE STRENGTH AS IT APPROACHES JAMAICA AND WESTERN HAITI ON SUNDAY.

You can get the latest update on Ernesto by going to theNational Hurricane Center..

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

August 25 2006: GRAPEFRUIT SIZE HAIL AND TORNADOES HIT DAKOTAS AND MINNESOTA

Nearly 24 twisters touched down across the Dakotas and Minnesota yesterday. Thunderstorms pounded the region with mammoth hailstones. The hail reached 4.25 inches in diameter, the size of grapefruit! In Stanton, N.D., the hail is reported to have destroyed vehicles and induced severe structural damage to some buildings. Northfield, Minnesota, was pounded for 20 minutes by hail which varied from golf ball to softball size. Crop damage was reportedly severe in the hardest hit areas.

Locally our weather is a lot tamer. The area did see widely scattered showers and thundershowers yesterday afternoon. Levi Fausnight, one of our weather watchers, reported .65 inches of rain with a thunderstorm at 3 pm Thursday in Birds Run, Ohio (Guernsey County).

The area will be in the warm sector today, so look for that thermometer to get a good work out this afternoon. Chances for thunderstorms will increase later tomorrow and into the day on Sunday as a cold front advances towards the Ohio Valley.

The Severe Storms Laboratory has the local area under a slight risk of seeing severe weather tomorrow. Monitor severe thunderstorms this weekend by checking out this web site: Storm Prediction Center.

If you want a detailed hour by hour forecast for tonight’s local high school football games make sure you check out the Football Forecast..

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

August 24 2006: ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?

The kickoff to the high school football season is tonight with Akron Buchtel storming into town to take on the defending champs at Steubenville Big Red, while Bellaire takes on Wheeling Park. Both games are The Game of the Week with the Steubenville game airing tonight at 11:35 pm and the Bellaire at Wheeling Park game airing tomorrow after Sports Friday. There is extra pressure on the meteorologists during football season, especially if thunderstorms are nearby. Rain isn’t much of a problem, sure the camera guys shooting the games will give me a hard time, but lightning can delay and sometimes postpone games. Most of the showers and storms this evening will be north of the local area, so with any luck both games should be dry!

If you want a detailed hour by hour forecast for these games or any local high school football game make sure you check out the Football Forecast..

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

August 23, 2006: RAGWEED FEVER

Allergies affect up to 50 million people in the U.S.--they are the most frequent chronic illness reported in children, and in adults, they result in up to 4 million missed or lost workdays each year. Ragweed is one of the most common allergens, and it generally flowers in late summer when nighttime temperatures begin to cool off. Warm, dry and breezy days are the ideal allergy conditions--light, dry pollen particles will be on the move.

The morning hours--after morning dew dries and the sun starts to rise-- can have the highest pollen counts of the day. If you can, try to minimize outdoor time during these hours, and keep home windows closed to prevent pollen levels from rising inside. If you are traveling, keep car windows closed to minimize exposure. Source: "The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology"

This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery

August 23, 2006: NOT MUCH HELP FOR RECENT DRY SPELL

After numerous rain-free days this August, lawns are brown and crops are dry across the Ohio Valley. Some showers will arrive tomorrow as an area of low pressure rides along a front. However, the bulk of the wet weather will remain just to our north, leaving many locations high and dry. Outside of the chance for showers tomorrow the rest of the week looks dry until Sunday evening when a cold front will produce thunderstorms.

Maybe meteorologist Kevin Carter can bring back some of the rain he is seeing in Alaska. Downpours in Alaska are the heaviest in some 25 years. South Alaskan downpours provoke mudslides and flooding as rainfall amounts reach 20 inches in spots!

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

August 22, 2006: THE GREAT MARS HOAX

Joy from Hundred, WV sent us an email that she received about the planet Mars. The email goes on to say that on August 27th Mars will be at its closest point ever and it will appear as bright and large as the full moon. THIS IS A HOAX!

A bogus email is spreading across the world wide web. The email refers back to August 27, 2003 when Mars did come within 35 million miles of the Earth and the size, brightness reference refers to viewing Mars through a telescope and not with the naked eye. Mars is currently on the far side of the sun about as far away from Earth as it can get, some 236 million miles. So the next time your at the grocery store and the person at the check out line in front of you is telling everyone how Mars will be as big as the Moon on the 27th of August, tell them they are wrong, and continue reading real news in the tabloid magazines!

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

August 21, 2006: DEWPOINT VS. HUMIDITY

"Enjoy your nightly weather forecast. I would like to know the difference between humidity and dewpoint, thank you."

Owen Hoffman, Powhatan Point, OH

Good question, Owen! Both can be used when it comes to talking about the comfort level during those summer heatwaves, but there is a difference between dewpoint and humidity. Humidity is a calculated value and varies significantly throughout the day as the air temperature changes. U.S. weather reports include the "relative humidity," telling us how much water there is in the air as a percentage the maximum possible amount. Example, a temperature of 96 degrees and a relative humidity of 46%, means that the air contains 46% of the moisture it can possibly hold at that temperature.

The problem with relative humidity? It doesn't tell us how the air feels. That's why more and more meteorologists and television stations, including The Weather Channel, are using the dewpoint in reports and forecasts.

A dewpoint is a better indicator of the actual water vapor content in the air. The more water vapor the higher the dewpoint temperature. Why does water vapor make us feel hot and uncomfortable? It has to do with how the body cools itself. The human body cools itself through evaporation and perspiration. When the temperature and dew points are high, the air is nearly saturated and the perspiration cannot evaporate quickly. This means less cooling for the body so we feel warmer and uncomfortable.

This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.

August 21, 2006: HAVE YOU NOTICED? DAYLIGHT IS GETTING SHORTER
It’s that time of year, school bells will be ringing, footballs will be flying, and you will probably hear someone say “the days are getting shorter!” Well it’s not the days that are getting shorter, but the amount of daylight is decreasing. On the Summer Solstice, back in June the sun came up at 5:53 am and went down at 8:57 pm, a total of 15 hours and 3 minutes of daylight. Today the sunrises at 6:39 am and sets at 8:12 pm, a grand total of 13 hours and 33 minutes of daylight. We will continue to lose daylight at a rate of a few minutes per day until December 22nd, the first day of winter. By the way on that cold, wintry day in December we will only experience 9 hours and 17 minutes of daylight.

Check out The US Naval Observatory Website. You can see for yourself how sunrise and sunset times change throughout the year and throughout the globe.

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

August 19, 2006: What's the dewpoint?

Recently a viewer wrote us and requested Severe Weather Team 9 eliminate the dewpoint from our weather forecasts because it's "needless information." Quite the contrary, the dewpoint can give very useful information not only to the meteorologist, but to the average weather watcher.

By definition, the dewpoint is the critical temperature at which condensation occurs. If we cool air without changing its moisture content, eventually we'll reach a temperature at which the air can no longer hold the moisture it contains. The water will have to condense out of the air, forming dew or fog.

The dewpoint is a measure of how moist the air mass itself is....When the dewpoint rises above 70 degrees, the air begins to feel uncomfortably muggy. At a dewpoint of 75 degrees, the air is definitely unpleasant, and at a dewpoint of 80 degrees, the humidity is hazardous: sweating no longer cools human bodies effectively and heat stroke is the price of overexertion. If you know the dewpoint, you can determine how uncomfortable it actually is outside, and take proper precautions. It can be critical to know this type of weather because it affects the old, the young, people with health problems and pets. The National Weather Service will issue heat warnings to further alert the public.

This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.

August 18, 2006: WHERE’S THE RAIN?

Rainfall this summer has been on target, then we hit a brick wall this August. In fact over the last 34 days we saw measurable rain on only 3 days!

2006 GROWING SEASON RAINFALL
MAY: 4.34”
JUNE: 5.12”
JULY: 4.84”
AUGUST: 0.28”

Chances for rain will increase this upcoming weekend. Showers and thunderstorms are most likely to fall during the afternoon and evening hours of Saturday. Rain should come to an end Sunday morning as high pressure builds in from the north. Rainfall amounts should be between .25” and .50”. Of course higher amounts of rain will be found in areas receiving heavier thunderstorms. Have a great weekend!

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

August 17, 2006: GLOBAL ITCHING

My favorite magazine “BAMS” arrived in the mail yesterday. By the way “BAMS” stands for Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. I came across a very interesting article about global warming and of all things poison ivy. You might want to stock up on calamine lotion now as the itchy rash is likely to get itchier due to global warming. The plant is expected to grow faster and bigger when exposed to higher levels of carbon dioxide. The plant is also expected to produce more urushiol, the rash causing chemical. Researchers exposed poison ivy to carbon dioxide levels expected in 2050 and the plants grew three times larger. The poison ivy also produced a more allergenic form of urushiol.

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

August 16,2006: HUMIDITY BACK IN OUR FORECAST

Muggy weather will be back in the Ohio Valley as early as Thursday night. Sunny and warmer Thursday with highs in the mid-to-upper 80's. The winds around High pressure in control of our weather will shift from north to south, so more tropical air will be building in. Friday will be hazy, hot, and humid. Saturday will be muggy and unsettled as a cold front arrives late. The muggies will be short-lived; cooler, drier air will move in for Sunday and Monday. This is Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.

I received this email question:

“Can you tell me how fast is a knot of wind ? Wind is measured by mph on land & on water by knots, but I don't know how fast it is. Thank you.”

Both miles per hour and knots are a speed which is the number of units of distance that is covered for a certain amount of time.

1 knot = 1 nautical mile per hour = 6076 feet per hour

1 mph =1 mile per hour = 5280 feet per hour

Or 1 knot=1.152 miles per hour

For example, if the wind is blowing at 20 mph, how would you calculate knots?

Multiply the number of miles per hour that the wind is blowing by the number of feet per hour that equals 1 mph. (20 mph)(5280 feet/mph) = 105,600 feet

Now divide that distance by the number of feet in a nautical mile (6076)

(105,600 feet) / (6076 feet / knot) = 17.4 knots

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

August 15, 2006: A NARROW BAND OF HEAVY RAIN OVERNIGHT
Another cold front has moved through with little rain for most and a lot of rain for just some of us. A narrow band of heavy thunderstorms rolled across northern Belmont and Ohio counties last night. Here is a list of rainfall amounts from this morning:

West Liberty, WV: 2.10”
Colerain: 1.27”
Wheeling (Ohio County Airport), WV: 1.19”
Morristown, OH: .60”
Tippecanoe, OH: .32”
Beallsville, OH: .24”
Bloomingdale, OH: .12”
Steubenville, OH: Trace

The next chance for rain will be on Saturday, but even this doesn't look good for decent rainfall. So if you're looking to get outdoors for the last few days of summer, you'll get your shot. If you're looking to keep your garden from burning up, you may want to line up the watering cans and get to work.

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

August 14, 2006: BIRDS IN AUGUST

Did you know that August is the month of greatest water usage by birds? At this time of year, young birds that hatched in the spring will be bathing and eating, and sugarwater feeders will be frequented by hummingbirds, orioles and finches.

Here's a tip: consider a birdbath to your yard to attract feathered friends. The bath should be two-to-three inches deep, and try to place in in an open area where birds will not be threatened by sneaky predators. Make sure to change the water every few days to prevent mosquito breeding and provide fresh water. I'm Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.

August 14, 2006: PARTLY CLOUDY OR MOSTLY SUNNY, WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

“Watching the weather, I notice sometimes the forecast is mentioned Partly Cloudy, and sometimes the forecast is Mostly Sunny. What is the difference? If it is partly cloudy, then that means it is mostly sunny. Can I have you input on how you determine the difference between the two.”

Teresa Yoder

Teresa, this is a question that has perplexed the general public for many years. I looked up the National Weather Services definitions for sky cover. Here is what I found:

Cloudy: 8/8 opaque clouds
Mostly Cloudy or Considerable Cloudiness: 6/8 - 7/8 opaque clouds
Partly cloudy or Partly sunny: 3/8 – 5/8 opaque clouds
Mostly sunny: 1/8 – 2/8 opaque clouds
Sunny or Clear: 0/8 opaque clouds

Opaque means that an observer can not see through the clouds. The sun, moon, stars, and blue sky are hidden. One interesting point is that partly sunny and partly cloudy mean the same thing. To avoid confusion the meteorologists at Severe Weather Team 9 often give a phrase such as “a mix of sun and clouds” rather than saying partly cloudy or partly sunny. A forecast for mostly sunny is given when the meteorologist believes that 80% or 90% of the sky is clear. This past weekend I said it would be sunny, meaning there would be little if any cloud cover, and to all our delight the forecast held true!

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

August 13, 2006: SUMMER RETURNS TO THE VALLEY

We had a taste of Fall this past weekend, but we'll return to summer starting Monday. Winds will shift from the North-Northeast to the South and humidity levels will increase. Dew points will be in the uncomfortable category once again...you'll notice the rise in dew points more than the temperatures. Breezy, warm and humid conditions are in the forecast for Monday, with showers and thunderstorms a possibility Monday night. A cold front will sweep through the area and change our weather once again.Warm and cold air will collide and bring us a chance for wet, stormy weather. Sunny and warm weather will finish the rest of the week, with rising temps each day. I'm Meteorologist Lisa Montgomery.

August 11, 2006:GET READY FOR A GREAT WEEKEND

To sum up the weekend weather: clear, cool nights and sunny, mild days. Another air mass that originated in northern Canada is settling southward and high pressure will dominate the weather this weekend. With a clear sky, temperatures will drop quickly tonight, falling into the lower 50’s by tomorrow morning. Clouds will be hard to find this weekend. Warmer weather is expected early next week.

With clear skies in the forecast, don’t forget about the Perseid meteor shower. It reaches its annual peak tonight and Saturday night. Bright moonlight, however, this year will obscure all but the brightest of the shooting stars. But Sky and Telescope Magazine.
advises people to go out, "lie back, and gaze up at the night sky." Binoculars and telescopes are not necessary to see the show. With a little luck and patience you could see a shooting star every other minute. The shooting stars come from the constellation Perseus, which rises late at night in the northeast at this time of year. But meteors can appear anywhere in the sky, so the best direction to look is where the sky is darkest. Happy stargazing and have a great weekend! Email your weather questions toweather@wtov.com.
I'm meteorologist Jeff Oechslein.

August 10, 2006: A CASE OF THE HAVES AND HAVE NOTS
Not including today 22 out of the past 25 days have been free of measurable rain in Steubenville, Ohio. Some locations across the Ohio Valley saw heavier showers early this morning. Here is a list of rainfall amounts from this morning:

Centerville, OH: .76”
Somerton, OH: .68”
Morristown, OH: .56”
Fairview, WV: .48”
Colerain, OH: .32”
New Athens, OH: .28”
Beallsville, OH: .24”
Starkey Ridge, WV: .24”
Oglebay, WV: .20”
Valley Grove, WV: .16”
Wheeling (Ohio County Airport), WV: .11”
Weirton, WV: Trace
Steubenville, OH: Trace

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

August 9, 2006: WISH UPON A SHOOTING STAR

On my way into work at 3:30 am, the bright full moon was lighting my way. Then I looked to my left and saw a shooting star. Your chances of seeing a shooting star will be on the rise over the next few days as the Perseid meteor shower reaches its annual peak this Friday and Saturday night. Skies should be mainly clear, but the waning gibbous Moon will wash the sky. The brightest of meteors should still be seen though. Grab your favorite lawn chair and head outside around 11 pm and watch the darkest part of the sky. You could see a shooting star every few minutes.

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

August 8, 2006: THERE’S SOMETHING FISHY ABOUT THIS FULL MOON

Skies are clearing out just in time to catch a glimpse of the full moon tonight. Did you know that tonight’s full moon is called the Sturgeon Moon? Native American fishing tribes are given credit for naming this full moon. Sturgeon is a large fish of the Great Lakes that were readily caught during this month. A few tribes called this moon a Full Red Moon, as it appears reddish through the sultry haze.

We won’t have to worry about haze or high humidity around here for the next few days. An area of high pressure moving through the Great Lakes will spread the drier and comfortable air into the region. You will sleep comfortably tonight with the windows open as air temperatures take the dip into the 50’s!

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

August 7, 2006: BOOMERS IN THE FORECAST TODAY

Hot and sticky air in place across the Ohio Valley will meet up with an advancing cold front. The air behind this cold front is cooler and less humid, very similar to the air mass we saw this past Friday and Saturday. The clash of these two bodies of air will spark thunderstorms with gusty winds, possible hail, and heavy downpours of rain. By tomorrow we will be drying out with low humidity in place for the next several days.

Monitor severe thunderstorms this afternoon by checking out this web site: Storm Prediction Center.

Now onto the email question of the day:

“Are the winds inside a tornado really calm?”

Very possibly. Both theoretical and observational evidence suggest that the inner portion of the tornado funnel may be largely cloud free and have relatively light winds. On May 3, 1943 a farmer named Roy Hall from Texas survived being trapped inside a 150 yard-wide tornado. He was able to look straight up into the vortex. It had small mini-tornadoes spinning off the smooth wall of clouds, and these were illuminated by almost constant lightning!

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

August 4, 2006: HEAT WAVE BUSTING THUNDERSTORMS

We had to pay a price for a break in the high heat and humidity. Thunderstorms erupted yesterday afternoon and evening out ahead of cold front. Here is a list of local storm reports from the National Weather Service:

0431 PM TSTM WND DMG CHESTER, HANCOCK, WV TREES DOWN.

0440 PM TSTM WND DMG CAMBRIDGE, GUERNSEY, OH TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN.

0445 PM TSTM WND DMG IRONDALE, JEFFERSON, OH TREES DOWN ACROSS COUNTY ROAD 55 NEAR HAMMONDSVILLE.

0520 PM HAIL 0.75 INCH BETHESDA, BELMONT, OH

0520 PM TSTM WND DMG 6 E NEW PHILADELPHIA, TUSCARAWAS, OH TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN.

0520 PM TSTM WND DMG KIMBOLTON, GUERNSEY, OH SIGNS BLOWN OVER.

0535 PM TSTM WND DMG 6 E NEW PHILADELPHIA, TUSCARAWAS, OH TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN.

0547 PM TSTM WND DMG BETHANY, BROOKE, WV TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN COUNTY WIDE.

0418 PM TSTM WND DMG EAST LIVERPOOL, COLUMBIANA, OH STRUCTURAL DAMGE TO BUILDING.

0610 PM TSTM WND DMG 10 W CADIZ, HARRISON, OH POWER LINES DOWN IN TIPPECANOE

Here is today’s email question:

“What is the highest (warmest) low temperature recorded in the area?”

Here is the top 10 highest minimum temperatures on record:

82 Jul 1, 1901
81 Aug 6, 1918
80 Jul 21, 1930
79 Jul 28, 1901
79 Aug 5, 1918
79 Jul 20, 1930
79 Jul 25, 1934
79 Jul 28, 1901
78 Jun 20, 1924
78 Jul 6, 1911
78 Jul 10, 1881
78 Jul 17, 1990
78 Jul 18, 1887
78 Jul 26, 1892

Great question! Keep on sending in those emails toweather@wtov.com.
I'm meteorologist Jeff Oechslein.

August 3, 2006: RELIEF IS ON THE WAY!

A cold front will slowly press south and eastward today. The difference in air masses, one hot and humid, the other, dry and cool will cause thunderstorms to erupt. Storms this afternoon and this evening will contain gusty winds. Also with a muggy air mass, there is plenty of moisture for these storms to feed on. These storms will produce heavy rainfall in a short period of time. Monitor severe thunderstorms this afternoon by checking out this web site: Storm Prediction Center.

Drier air will trickle in behind this front for Friday. Computer models are showing dew points dropping from the 70s into the low 60s by tomorrow evening. This will bring relief from the oppressive heat and humidity. It should also bring to an end the constant complaints pouring into the weather center!

Now onto your email questions!

“What is the highest dew point ever recorded? What is the highest dew point ever recorded here in the valley?”

What is recognized by some sources as the highest dew point on record, 93 degrees, occurred in the United Arab Emirates, along the Persian Gulf. Combined with temperatures that can commonly top 110 degrees, such a dew point could cause a heat index reading above 170 degrees!

Dew points in the 70s are common in the Ohio Valley. Just last year on July the 25th we saw a dew point as high as 79 degrees! Since we do not keep records of daily dew points, we don’t have a record high dew point. I would assume it would be around 80 degrees.

”Has the Ohio Valley ever experienced a frost on the 4th of July?”

Probably not, the latest date of killing frost is spring occurred on May 29, 1894. The record low for July 4th is 46 degrees set in 1968. This would have been too warm for frost on the 4th.

Jim from McMechen wrote this question about hurricanes. ”When an Air Force recon plane flies into a hurricane to check pressure and wind speed does the plane actually fly into the hurricane or is some type of recorder lowered from the plane to get info?”

Hurricane hunter aircraft have been modified to carry weather instruments to measure wind, pressure, temperature and dew point as well as drop instrumented sondes and make other observations. They fly above the tropical system and record information at flight level and drop sondes into the hurricane to record information at various heights. For more information on hurricanes check out this web site: : National Hurricane Center Frequently Asked Questions.

Great questions! Keep on sending in those emails toweather@wtov.com.
I'm meteorologist Jeff Oechslein.

August 2, 2006: Scorching Heat Continues Today

This just in, it’s hot! You know it will be hot when you break a sweat going from your home to your car at 7 in the morning! A Heat Advisory will remain in effect today from noon until 7 pm. The Heat Index will range from 100 to 104 degrees this afternoon. I’m not sure what is worse the heat index or calculating it! For those math wizards, here is the formula for calculating the Heat Index:

HI = -42.379 + 2.04901523T + 10.1433127R - 0.22475541TR - 6.83783x10 -3 T 2 - 5.481717x10 -2 R 2 + 1.22874x10 -3 T 2R + 8.5282x10 -4 TR 2 - 1.99x10 -6 T 2 R 2

Where T = ambient dry bulb temperature degrees Fahrenheit

R = relative humidity

The equation is only useful for temperatures 80 degrees or higher, and relative humidities 40% or greater.

Most of us are used to the high heat and humidity, but if you are new to the area this heat wave is more unbearable! Aussie De` wrote:

“ Just a general question, is it always this sultry & humid in Ohio?? I'm from Australia, a place called Whyalla, Aboriginal for Windy Place, it is never humid there. Growing up our summers were hot, usually around the 40 to 40C, dry, hot & usually with a hot northerly wind. It's fall/winter there now. I have never felt such humidity & heat together like this, the humidity is killing me mate, when is it going to stop?? It isn't even that nice to get out on the bike & ride.

Always watching your weather forecast in 'humid' Piney Fork”

Aussie De` let me first welcome you to the Ohio Valley and second welcome you to Ohio Valley summers! You can thank a high pressure system centered near Bermuda for our hot and steamy weather. The Bermuda High is a semi-permanent high pressure system that generally sits over the eastern Atlantic during winter and drifts westward, and strengthens, during the summer. Air circulates anticyclonically, or clockwise in the northern hemisphere, around high pressure systems. As the Bermuda High moves westward it pumps warm, humid subtropical air over the eastern U. S. If you are not a hot weather fan you're in luck, a cold front should pass through late Thursday and push the High back out to sea.

Amber, from Toronto, Ohio, emailed me this good question:

“This is something I have always wondered. During a tornado should you keep your windows open or closed?”

Good question! No! This is an old wives’ tale. Creating an opening for wind may actually increase damage, and in any case going to a window to open it exposes you to flying debris. It used to be thought that much of the damage from tornadoes resulted from unequalized air pressure as the funnel moved over the building, but it is now clear that wind effects are the primary cause of most structural damage.

Stay cool Ohio Valley and keep on sending in those emails toweather@wtov.com.
I'm meteorologist Jeff Oechslein.

August 1, 2006: HEAT ADVISORY

A Heat Advisory has been issued for the Ohio Valley today. Temperatures will soar into the 90’s this afternoon with heat index values around 100 degrees. Tomorrow looks just as hot! Here are a few tips so you can beat the heat!

1. DRINK WATER! Even if you are not thirsty!

2. AVOID DIRECT SUNLIGHT.

3. GO DOWNSTAIRS. Warm air rises.

4. EAT SPICY FOODS. Spicy food increases perspiration which cools the body as it evaporates. It’s no coincidence that people in hotter regions of the world eat spicy food.

5. TRY MINTY PRODUCTS ON YOUR SKIN. Mint refreshes the skin and leaves a nice cooling sensation.

For more heat safety check out this web site at the American Red Cross.

Tim emailed me this question: “There appear to be more spiders, bees and wasps when the temps go over the 90 degree mark. Is this true?

That’s a great question and it’s been bugging me to find the answer. (Sorry for the bad pun) I contacted Ken Simeral from the Jefferson County Extension Office.

He said that bees and wasps are more active when the mercury climbs. He also noted that insects are more prevalent during the summer months which also corresponds to the time of year that we all tend to spend more time outdoors.

If you have a question about the weather that is just bugging you, feel free to drop me an email at weather@wtov.com.
I'm meteorologist Jeff Oechslein.