A rumbling in the distance, the weather radio going off, the storm siren blowing - all are sure signs a big and nasty thunderstorm is about to move through immediate area.  However, for 2009, this has been a rare sight, with only a handful of severe weather warnings issued in late April and May.  In past years, we’ve already experienced our share of weather by now.  You may recall in May 2008, when we experienced that severe weather blowout just before Memorial Day, with tornadoes and grapefruit sized hail.  That event was followed by eight consecutive weekends where a severe thunderstorm warning or a tornado warning was issued for at least one of our 14 counties.

So what’s the deal?  That answer boils down to one crucial element in weather - wind.  Sure, you need that hot sun during the spring, summer and early fall to help power up those storms.  But in the end, you need the right kind of wind to kickoff those nasty thunderstorms.

Wind’s first role is fueling the thunderstorm.  Southerly winds usher in crucial moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, while rapidly shifting upper-level winds induce regions of rising and sinking air in the atmosphere.  Areas where air is sinking can be especially helpful to severe weather development, as it puts a cap on any lower-level being pulled northward from the gulf.  Just like a lid on a boiling pot of water, moisture builds up at the ground, until a little burst of dry air breaks that cap, sending the moisture high into the atmosphere, fueling thunderstorms.

Secondly, not only must the wind bring in moisture, but it must have the right amount of shear.  Wind shear is defined as the wind’s change in direction and speed with height in the atmosphere.  For example, for optimal severe weather development, the winds just above the ground should be out of the south at around 10-15 miles per hour, while three to four miles above ground, winds should be westerly between 50 to 70 miles per hour.  This shift in direction and speed causes tilted updrafts to develop, a critical component of a severe thunderstorm.  That’s because tilted updrafts will feed moisture to the thunderstorm for a long duration, unlike vertical updrafts, which are “killed” when rain falls out of the sky.  If the winds aloft are too weak, or the winds at the ground are too strong, the updrafts will not be sufficient enough for severe weather development.

So now you know a little about wind and its impact on severe weather development.  And speaking of severe storms, keep your eyes to the sky the next few days, as an approaching low will kick up a few thunderstorms that could reach those severe limits.  Of course, we’ll be keeping you tuned!

Have a great day, and thank you for reading!

Meteorologist Nick Grunseth

Posted under Weather, Weblogs

Recently I visited two summer camps talking about summer weather safety, and as is often the case severe thunderstorm and tornado safety were tops on my list of items to discuss.  Today, however, I thought that I’d begin with heat safety instead.  It may seem elementary but heat deaths occur every year - in most cases they can be prevented with caution and planning.  Here are some things to remember when the temperature soars towards that 90 degree mark and beyond this summer:

1. Try and avoid strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day (noon-4pm).  If you do have to be out in the heat be sure to take frequent breaks and drink plenty of water.
2. Wear loose fitting clothing and light colors
3. Use sunscreen if you will be out in the sun for a prolonged period of time
4. Under no circumstances leave people or pets in a car - it only takes a matter of minutes for internal temperatures to reach 120 degrees or higher. 

Keep in mind that a temperature of 90 degrees is only part of the equation - the heat index is how it really feels when you factor in the temperature and dewpoint.  The higher the dewpoint temperature the more uncomfortable it will feel when the heat is on.  A heat index of 100 degrees or higher can be deadly and lead to such symptoms as cramping, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke.   If you are with someone who is experiencing fatigue or exhaustion due to the heat get them out of the sun and into an air conditioned area.  Give them water and place a cool, wet cloth on their head to cool their body temperature down.  Heat stroke is a serious condition and should be treated as an emergency - contact medical aid or get them to the hospital immediately. 

Summer is a fun time of year with many activities to enjoy, but remember to take it easy in the heat!

Posted under Weather

Here in Wisconsin we go through a variety of weather.  From the brutal cold winters to the hot and humid summers…but what causes the seasons to changes?

Take a trip back to elementary science class and if you were paying attention, you know the answer…it’s the earth’s tilt!  The earth orbits the sun and at the same time, is tilted on it’s axis at a 23.5 degree angle. This means that different areas of the earth’s surface are exposed to different amounts of sunlight throughout the year

The seasons are marked by what we call solstices and equinoxes. The solstices occur when the poles are tilted at their max either toward the sun (summer) or away from the sun (winter).  Summer solstice takes place June 21^st or 22^nd and Winter solstice December 21^st or 22^nd in the Northern Hemisphere.

The equinoxes mark the beginning of spring and fall. At this time the sun’s rays are directly over the equator and the length of day and night are equal across the planet.  The spring equinox falls on March 20th or 21st and the fall equinox on September 22nd or 23^rd.

There is some variability to the exact time of Solstices and Equinoxes due to the Earths tilt and how it matches up with the orbit…but we know one thing for sure, the weather here in Wisconsin is never boring and always gives us something to talk about!

Enjoy your summer!

Meteorologist LeAnn Lombardo

Posted under Weather

On May 16th, I had the opportunity to visit some area Boy Scouts at their Spring Camporee in Chetek.  It was also an opportunity for me to teach them about weather and tackle the requirements for their weather merit badge.

The troops camped out for the weekend in some of the roughest camping weather.  On Friday night, an approaching cold front fired up showers and isolated thunderstorms, which dumped more than 1/2″ of rain in Barron County.  That was followed by 20-30 mile per hour winds, and a frost that next night.  The scouts were in good spirits about how their campout was turning going, but I have to admit I was shocked when a few of them came up and told me that when they left their hometown that morning, it was snowing.

I was in disbelief, but at the same time, I knew they weren’t pulling my leg.  I’ve witnessed a snow fall in May before, and being a born and raised Wisconsinite, I’ve been through my share of winters.  But still, I couldn’t resist looking at my watch to see what the day was - May 16th, just over a month to go until the start of summer.  Scientifically, it pans out.  The atmosphere was cold enough to support light snow, thanks to northwesterly winds ushering in Canadian air, and the sun was just rising, so we were at the coldest part of our day.  Nevertheless, the thinking cap went on, and I sat, scoping the web, trying to figure out the latest snowfall ever recorded in Wisconsin.  I’ve heard stories of flurries falling in June, but haven’t found any records supporting it.

Please, post a comment and share your story of late snow memories.  We’d love to hear from you, and get a perspective on what Wisconsin weather has to offer!

Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day!

Meteorologist Nick Grunseth

Posted under Weather

Posted under Weather

April 20th - April 24th has been deemed Severe Weather Awareness week in Wisconsin and this is to remind people of the dangers associated with severe weather, including tornadoes, thunderstorms, flooding and hail. 

There will be a mock tornado drill on Thursday, April 24th for the entire state of Wisconsin.  Below is a list of times as to when you can expect it in your community.  If there is a real threat for severe weather on Thursday, the drill will be postponed until Friday.                                                         

1:10-1:15 pm - National Weather Service Green Bay issues mock tornado warning for Brown, Calumet, Door, Florence, Forest, Kewaunee, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Portage, Shawano, Vilas, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago and Wood Counties.

1:20-1:25 pm - National Weather Service Milwaukee issues mock tornado warning for Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jefferson, Kenosha, Lafayette, Marquette, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Rock, Sauk, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha Counties.

1:30-1:35 pm - National Weather Service La Crosse issues mock tornado warning for Adams, Buffalo, Clark, Crawford, Grant, Jackson, Juneau, LaCrosse, Monroe, Richland, Taylor, Trempealeau and Vernon Counties.

**1:40-1:45 pm - National Weather Service Minneapolis/Chanhassen issues mock tornado warning for Barron, Chippewa, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Rusk and St. Croix Counties.**

1:50-1:55 pm - National Weather Service Duluth issues mock tornado warning for Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Price, Sawyer and Washburn Counties.

2:00 pm - END OF MOCK TORNADO WATCH/WARNING DRILL

It’s always a good idea to have a battery operated flashlight, battery operated radio, weather radio and most of all, a plan in place in case of severe weather.  For more information, head to the Wisconsin Emergency Management Website at http://emergencymanagement.wi.gov/

Be safe!

Meteorologist LeAnn Lombardo

Posted under Weather

Mother Nature certainly works in strange ways when it comes to our weather here in the upper Midwest.  The Chippewa Valley is dealing with extremely dry conditions and high fire dangers, while our neighbors just across the border in Minnesota are still throwing sand bags, trying to keep the Red River from entering their businesses and their homes.

At the time of this writing the relative humidity in Eau Claire was 16%, in Phoenix, Arizona it was 17%.  We are drier than the desert!

Because of these dry conditions the Wisconsin DNR has placed burning bans in certain areas across the state.  Check out the link below to see if your neighborhood is included:

http://dnr.wi.gov/forestry/fire/fire_danger/Wis_Burn/StateCounties.asp

Have a great week!

Meteorologist LeAnn Lombardo

Posted under Weather

March 1st was more than just a flip of the calendar.  For a meteorologist, it was a time to celebrate and a time to close the books on one season and open the book on another.  March 1st was the climatological start of spring, and good golly, did we survive a beating from Mother Nature.

During the last 90 days, we witnessed many extremes, from a near record December snowfall, an abnormal streak of below freezing temperatures and an extended period of dry weather.  We started the winter season off with a bang in December, as 27 of the 31 days in the month had measurable snowfall reported to the National Weather Service.  Those reports totaled to 25 inches of snow for the month, the fourth snowiest December on record in Eau Claire.  Then, the cold weather rolled into the region.  Every day in January except the 31st was below freezing, and in that streak, there was another, shorter streak of double-digit below zero temperatures.  Our coldest January low was -26 on the 16th, and many other days were close to that mark.  Finally, there was a dry spell from January into February, as combined snow totals for both months fell more than 8 inches short of December’s total.

Overall, the winter of ‘08-’09 can be summed up in one word - cold - and the statistics are there to prove it.  A weighted average from December 1st through February 28th shows the season’s mean temperature was more than four degrees below the 100 year average.  That’s signifcant, considering a two degree shift either way is noticeable by humans!  Thankfully, our average high temperature is quickly rising, and we’re gaining more daylight each day.  But keep those shovels handy, because tournament time is just around the corner, and most Wisconsinites will say, that’s prime time for a “big one” to occur.  Thanks for reading and have a wonderful week!

Meteorologist Nick Grunseth

Posted under Weather

We’re closing in on February now and gaining 2-4 minutes of daylight every day. The higher sun angle is starting to improve our temperatures and the cold snaps we encounter tend to be more short-lived. Our average high for this time of the year is in the low 30s…out of the first 22 days, we were above that 11 times.  On February 10th we broke a record by hitting 48 degrees. Another phenomenon that will occur this month…Comet Lulin.  It will be closest to the Earth on February 24th and then slowly dim in the days following.

Click here for more information on Comet Lulin.

Another reminder that Daylight Saving Time begins on March 8th this year (set your clocks ahead one hour) and ends on November 1st.

Thanks for reading!

Meteorologist LeAnn Lombardo

Posted under Uncategorized

February is month number three of winter, climatologically speaking.  December was snowy, January was bitter.  February, however, hasn’t been too bad.  In the span of just 36 hours a record high has been set, rain has fallen, and our snow depth has shrunk from 8″ down to a meager 1″.  Winter began in much the same fashion last year, but instead of a prolonged winter thaw, February went in a completely different direction in 2008.  Here are a few differences through the first 10 days:

                                                                      2008                       2009 

                                 Total Snowfall:                  4.4″                          0.1″

                                  Average High:                 24.1                         31.3

                                    Snow Depth:                  10″                             1″

Obviously, we still have a month to go before Spring officially begins (38 days and counting down), but this is certainly a step in that direction.  In case you are wondering, February 2008 concluded with 13.1″ of snowfall, an average temperature of 22.1 degrees, and a maximum snow depth of 15″ on the 19th.  A sneak peek ahead features a pretty quiet stretch for the Chippewa Valley, with our next best chance of accumulating snow not until next week! 

Chief Meteorologist Doug Michaels

Posted under Weather