Last Friday was a great day – temps were ideal for late-April and the second graders of Tainter Elementary were definitely pumped up about my visit.  I performed my usual assortment of weather-related experiments, including the always fun “human tornado”.  This time is was actually close, but once again I was defeated by the quick feet of a second grade boy -  Oh well!  Here are a few pictures from a fun time in Rice Lake.

Posted under Hometown Weather

A lot of folks have been asking lately…why so many earthquakes?  The answer may actually surprise you!  We’re not experiencing above normal seismic activity, and in reality, the number of earthquakes may be decreasing.  Here’s an article from the USGS (United States Geological Survey) which explains it all.

Although it may seem that we are having more earthquakes, earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or greater have remained fairly constant throughout this century and, according to our records, have actually seemed to decrease in recent years. A partial explanation may lie in the fact that in the last twenty years, we have definitely had an increase in the number of earthquakes we have been able to locate each year. This is because of the tremendous increase in the number of seismograph stations in the world and the many improvements in global communications.

In 1931, there were about 350 stations operating in the world; today, there are more that 4,000 stations and the data now comes in rapidly from these stations by telex, computer and satellite. This increase in the number of stations and the more timely receipt of data has allowed us and other seismological centers to locate many small earthquakes which were undetected in earlier years, and we are able to locate earthquakes more rapidly.

The NEIC now locates about 12,000 to 14,000 earthquakes each year or approximately 50 per day. Also, because of the improvements in communications and the increased interest in natural disasters, the public now learns about more earthquakes. According to long-term records (since about 1900), we expect about 18 major earthquakes (7.0 – 7.9) and one great earthquake (8.0 or above) in any given year. However, let’s take a look at what has happened in the past 32 years, from 1969 through 2001, so far. Our records show that 1992, and 1995-1997 were the only years that we have reached or exceeded the long-term average number of major earthquakes since 1971. In 1970 and in 1971 we had 20 and 19 major earthquakes, respectively, but in other years the total was in many cases well below the 18 per year which we may expect based on the long-term average.

A temporal increase in earthquake activity does not mean that a large earthquake is about to happen. Similarly, quiescence, or the lack of seismicity, does not mean a large earthquake is going to happen.

And just because we live in the upper Midwest, doesn’t mean we don’t get to experience the shakes and quakes!  It was just this last February when a 4.3-magnitude earthquake was centered about 50 miles north of Chicago…felt by most of southern Wisconsin.

Meteorologist LeAnn Lombardo

Posted under Hometown Weather

On Wednesday I had the opportunity to take a drive down Hwy. 29 into Menomonie, stopping off at Bouncin’ Babies and Kool Kids for a short weather presentation.  The thing I love about little kids is when you ask them a question (making sure they respond by raising their hands), inevitably there are a half dozen who volunteer their own answer afterwards!  I did my normal assortment of weather activities, including the egg in the bottle experiment and ‘human tornado’ (which I lost . . . again!).  A big thanks to Ms. Larson for the invitation and the pictures.

Posted under Hometown Weather

After all of the wonderful weather days so far this spring, it’s actually nice to be talking about a little bit of rain in the near future.  The weather pattern will remain conducive for scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms into Thursday, as a southwest breeze continues to pump warm and moist air into western Wisconsin.  A dying cool front also adds some lift for the generation of showers.  Meanwhile, a stronger push of cool and dry air arrives Thursday night marking the end of any lingering rain here in the Chippewa Valley. 

Thursday Map

Posted under Hometown Weather

Tuesday featured something we haven’t seen a lot of so far this spring:  rain!  A warm front parked over Iowa and northern Illinois was instrumental in thunderstorm formation Monday night and early Tuesday morning.  It provided the necessary lift in the atmosphere, while it was warm and moist air that was being carried over the top of the warm front (see image below).

Thunderstorms continued to develop through the morning hours of Tuesday over the western and northern portions of the Chippewa Valley.  Pea and dime-sized hail fell from some of the storms – strong lift over the front and sufficient cold air aloft allowed hail development to occur.  Rain totals varied greatly, from nothing southeast of Eau Claire to as much as one inch around Menomonie (see list).  Precipitation associated with the warm front is over, but a weakening cool front will likely spark more scattered thunderstorms late Wednesday afternoon and night over western Wisconsin as it creeps towards the area.

Tuesday rainfall

Posted under Hometown Weather

The first 12 days of April have been pretty outstanding from a temperature standpoint – all but two days have been above normal.  Unfortunately, it hasn’t been the wettest start to the month and moisture is really something we could use right now.  Looking ahead . . . there will be a couple of chances for a little moisture, but at this point it won’t be enough to permanently relieve the very dry soil conditions.  A warm front slowly moves north on Tuesday with some scattered thundershowers possible early on.  Beyond that we’ll have to wait until Wednesday afternoon, when a weakening cool front slides through Minnesota and eventually western Wisconsin.  The weakening nature of the front doesn’t bode well for rain, but the air ahead of it will be warm and slightly unstable so scattered thunderstorms will be possible. 

Temperatures continue the above average trend through most of this week, with the mercury jumping into the 70s again by Wednesday.  In fact, there is an outside shot at 80 degrees Thursday before a slightly stronger front drops those numbers back a little for the upcoming weekend.  The images below reflect the mid-week temperature trend, followed by a sneak peek at our weekend weather. 

Posted under Hometown Weather

As I mentioned in my last blog, I take many trips to area schools during the course of the year.  Thursday morning I hit the road to Knapp for a chat about weather with grades K-2.  I pulled up to the school and immediately took notice of a pond complete with fountain directly in front of the school.  Talk about quiet serenity!  It was 9am so the kids were still pretty calm too . . . until I got going!  The talk culminated with my attempt to win the “human tornado” contest, but I should’ve known better.  Competing against much younger and more mobile kids is tough – I lost! 

They were a fantastic group – check out the pictures below!

Grades K-2

Posted under Hometown Weather

Perhaps the best part of my job is having the opportunity to visit many classrooms each year.  I absolutely love getting kids excited about something that has been my passion since I was in grade school.  Since arriving in the Chippewa Valley in 2002 I’ve had the chance to do weather presentations for children ranging in age from 3 all the way through the teenage years.  Whether it’s doing pressure experiments, watching storm chasers in action, competing in my “human tornado” contest, or playing weather trivia my goal is to present some of the concepts of the atmosphere in a fun way for kids to remember. 

Last Thursday I made the trek to Merrillan, Wisconsin on the warmest day of 2010 so far.  The second graders welcomed me to Lincoln Elementary, and they were definitely dressed for the weather!  Here are a couple of snapshots from that trip, courtesy of Miss Welch. 

Making a Tornado

2nd Grade

Posted under Hometown Weather

Spring 2010 so far has been a mild (even warm at times) and dry one across the Chippewa Valley.   Since March 20 we’ve only had to endure a couple of days at or below normal.  In fact, we are just coming out of a truly amazing week of weather, one that for a while resembled summer more than spring.  Tuesday was the first time in over a week that our high temperature did not reach at least 60 degrees; to put it in perspective, the normal high in Eau Claire won’t hit the 60 degree threshold until April 21.  In addition, dry conditions have once again set in.  Last Friday featured the first measurable precipitation since March 12, a stretch of 20 consecutive days without rain or snow in Eau Claire. 

The culprit for this lengthy mild and dry pattern was a late winter El Nino - an upper level pattern which drove the big storm systems well to our south and allowed warmer temperatures to melt the snow and warm ground temperatures.  Canadian high pressure is going to build south over the next couple of days, preventing a return of the 60 degree temps for at least a couple more days. 

Posted under Hometown Weather