Climate science
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A “cut-off” low is an area of low pressure in the atmosphere separated or cut off from the main atmospheric circulation. That means it does not feel the steering effects of the westerly winds and sits and spins in one spot for several days until something comes to push it out. We get cut-off lows…
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If you follow tropical weather at all, you are probably not surprised to know that the number of landfalling hurricanes and tropical storms we have had the last few years has been very high, and of course we have had to deal with the impacts of those storms, ranging from extreme winds to significant storm…
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Now that we are in fall, we can expect to see more frequent formation of fog, especially in the mornings and late in the day as the air cools down to a temperature that allows water vapor to condense. Earth Networks has a new video and web page that gives a good description of how…
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The North Carolina State Climate Office has posted a new blog that describes how drought is defined, how the Drought Monitor determines its level, and the problems that it has capturing agricultural drought. They also describe a project looking at how drought is communicated and what they learned about improving communication. You can read it…
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This Wednesday we will celebrate the autumnal equinox and the beginning of astronomical fall. It happens this year at 3:21 pm EDT. So if fall is your favorite season, get out and enjoy the cooler weather at the end of the week as fall comes in with a cold front moving through the area. Won’t…
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According to NOAA’s latest ENSO post, we are on the verge of going back into a La Nina, with a 70-80 percent chance of occurrence over the winter. All of the conditions are ripe for us to cross the magic threshold of ocean temperatures more than 1/2 degree C below the long-term average. You might…
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In their latest blog post, the North Carolina State Climate Office folks provide some interesting statistical details about the hottest day of the year at stations across the state and how they vary due to geography. When do you think the hottest day is? Is it when the sun is highest in the sky on…