As I put the finishing touches on the morning forecast package, I am in Denver, Colorado, site of the 2005 National Storm Chasers Convention. Over 250 people have registered for the conference, which features two days of information about the exciting hobby. This is my third visit to the convention. Two years ago, we were shocked and saddened to learn that the Space Shuttle Columbia had blown up on re-entry over the western United States. Last year’s conference was an exciting one, with the presence of the Doppler on Wheels trucks and a jam-packed agenda. I was fortunate to win the Baron Wx-Worx satellite delivered weather radar system.
This year’s agenda features lost of informative topics. Storm chasing is not just for tornadoes anymore. There is a growing segment of chasers who track down hurricanes, with the singular goal of getting into the eye of the storm at ground level. Chasers Jim Edds will share his experiences chasing the hurricanes of 2004. Doug Kiesling will share video that his Breaking News Video Network took during the hurricanes of 2004 (and tornadoes too.)
The main course will be tornadoes, tornadoes and more tornadoes. Researcher Jon Davies will take a new look at tornado forecast parameters. That should be interesting. Dr. Greg Forbes will be here, going over the events of 2004. Structural engineer and storm chaser Tim Marshall will review his chase season. Scott Blair took some amazing video of a photogenic tornado near Mulvane, Kansas. This tornado produced some of the most striking photography I have ever seen, with a bright white, snaky funnel against the inky black backdrop of the thunderstorm as it menaced a beautiful farmhouse and barn. Other highlights will be Tim Samaras and his tornado probes, Josh Wurman with the latest on the DOW project, Howie Bluestein with new developments in Doppler Radar and Dr. Erik Rasmussen talking about VORTEX 2007, the big research project that will attempt to learn more about the formation of tornadoes.
Fun Time In Denver
February 18, 2005, 11:46 pm
by Bill Murray
in General Thoughts
Bald Rock Mountain DT Signal On The Air!
February 18, 2005, 10:48 pm
A quick note for those of you with digital TV receivers...
Our new transmitter on Bald Rock Mountain went on the air this week on Channel 9. I checked it at my home this evening and the signal is picture perfect.
Like our digital signal over in Tuscaloosa county on Channel 5, we are providing live Pinpoint Doppler Radar 24 hours a day, seven days a week on the standard definition channel, 9.2.
So, to see live radar anytime, tune in to either WCFT-DT 5.2 from Birmingham west, or WJSU-DT 9.2 from Birmingham east.
The HDTV programming is awesome as well on the main digital channels.
Times are indeed changing in our industry.
Our new transmitter on Bald Rock Mountain went on the air this week on Channel 9. I checked it at my home this evening and the signal is picture perfect.
Like our digital signal over in Tuscaloosa county on Channel 5, we are providing live Pinpoint Doppler Radar 24 hours a day, seven days a week on the standard definition channel, 9.2.
So, to see live radar anytime, tune in to either WCFT-DT 5.2 from Birmingham west, or WJSU-DT 9.2 from Birmingham east.
The HDTV programming is awesome as well on the main digital channels.
Times are indeed changing in our industry.
by James Spann
in General Thoughts
Sunset Watch
February 18, 2005, 5:55 pm
Some very nice large patches of altocumulus out there as sunset gets closer. These appear to be 12 to 15 thousand feet up. Those type clouds make for unusually beautiful sunsets (or sunrises)
While walking my dog a few minutes ago, I saw a jet fly over headed SW. It appeared to fly right through the cloud base leaving a contrail in the clouds. Unusual.
Look for a nice sunset!
While walking my dog a few minutes ago, I saw a jet fly over headed SW. It appeared to fly right through the cloud base leaving a contrail in the clouds. Unusual.
Look for a nice sunset!
by J.B. Elliott
in General Thoughts
Bring On The Weekend
February 18, 2005, 3:50 pm
The Friday afternoon video is on the server:
http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb
This is the busiest time of the year for us; I am always thankful for a couple of days off. I might even sleep until 7:00 a.m. tomorrow!
On the plate this afternoon:
*Looks like the colder valleys will have another freeze tonight. Not much cloud cover and light wind, a good night for radiational cooling. The thicker clouds probably won't arrive until after daybreak. Some places could be as cold as last night.
*Rain returns on Sunday, but the GFS keeps slowing everything down a bit. Might be Sunday afternoon or even Sunday night before the rain becomes really widespread around here.
*We still have the broadbrush thing going next week with a chance of rain almost every day. A stalled front, southwest flow aloft, and upper low in the southwest U.S. make it almost impossible to determine the timing of the rain. For the moment, it looks like the most significant rain will come Sunday night into Monday, and then again Wednesday night into Thursday. We will be able to fine tune this over the weekend. Still some concern of flooding issues here before the week is over.
*The cold snap is still being advertised by the GFS for the end of the month and the first few days of March. Might get really cold if the 12Z run of the GFS is correct. And, of course, with the split flow the snow fans are hanging on every model run watching for those impressive Gulf storms. I get the idea we will have some challenging forecasts in the weeks ahead.
Try to get in some quality time with your family this weekend. For our youngest, baseball practice begins tomorrow!
Have a great weekend.
http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb
This is the busiest time of the year for us; I am always thankful for a couple of days off. I might even sleep until 7:00 a.m. tomorrow!
On the plate this afternoon:
*Looks like the colder valleys will have another freeze tonight. Not much cloud cover and light wind, a good night for radiational cooling. The thicker clouds probably won't arrive until after daybreak. Some places could be as cold as last night.
*Rain returns on Sunday, but the GFS keeps slowing everything down a bit. Might be Sunday afternoon or even Sunday night before the rain becomes really widespread around here.
*We still have the broadbrush thing going next week with a chance of rain almost every day. A stalled front, southwest flow aloft, and upper low in the southwest U.S. make it almost impossible to determine the timing of the rain. For the moment, it looks like the most significant rain will come Sunday night into Monday, and then again Wednesday night into Thursday. We will be able to fine tune this over the weekend. Still some concern of flooding issues here before the week is over.
*The cold snap is still being advertised by the GFS for the end of the month and the first few days of March. Might get really cold if the 12Z run of the GFS is correct. And, of course, with the split flow the snow fans are hanging on every model run watching for those impressive Gulf storms. I get the idea we will have some challenging forecasts in the weeks ahead.
Try to get in some quality time with your family this weekend. For our youngest, baseball practice begins tomorrow!
Have a great weekend.
by James Spann
in General Thoughts
Next Week Looks Wet
February 18, 2005, 6:49 am
The Friday morning video is on the server:
http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb
Thanks to the huge crowd who came out last night to the Storm Alert 2005 show in Hanceville. We had a blast.
Coming weather attractions:
*Cool and dry weather continues today and tomorrow with a gradual increase in clouds. We will still mention a good chance of rain developing late tomorrow night and Sunday, although the latest run of the GFS keeps much of the rain north of I-20 on Sunday.
*Next week looks very wet. A stalled front, a southwest flow aloft, and an upper air storm over the southwest U.S. is a pretty good setup for several rounds of rain, and I still have concern over flash flooding before the rain ends toward the end of the week. Some thunder is also a good bet at times, but I don't see any strong evidence of any significant severe weather threat at this point. We will keep an eye on the wave expected on the front toward the middle of next week, however.
*GFS still advertising a cold snap toward the end of the month and the first of March. No record breaking cold or anything like that, but the pattern looks pretty chilly. And, the snow lovers like that active southern branch in the split flow. No way the GFS can resolve southern stream systems this far in advance; it has tried to spit out a variety of storms in the Gulf of Mexico at different places on different days. Just too early to get excited, but that is a fun pattern to watch. Once again, winter is far from over.
http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb
Thanks to the huge crowd who came out last night to the Storm Alert 2005 show in Hanceville. We had a blast.
Coming weather attractions:
*Cool and dry weather continues today and tomorrow with a gradual increase in clouds. We will still mention a good chance of rain developing late tomorrow night and Sunday, although the latest run of the GFS keeps much of the rain north of I-20 on Sunday.
*Next week looks very wet. A stalled front, a southwest flow aloft, and an upper air storm over the southwest U.S. is a pretty good setup for several rounds of rain, and I still have concern over flash flooding before the rain ends toward the end of the week. Some thunder is also a good bet at times, but I don't see any strong evidence of any significant severe weather threat at this point. We will keep an eye on the wave expected on the front toward the middle of next week, however.
*GFS still advertising a cold snap toward the end of the month and the first of March. No record breaking cold or anything like that, but the pattern looks pretty chilly. And, the snow lovers like that active southern branch in the split flow. No way the GFS can resolve southern stream systems this far in advance; it has tried to spit out a variety of storms in the Gulf of Mexico at different places on different days. Just too early to get excited, but that is a fun pattern to watch. Once again, winter is far from over.
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