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Today is an unofficial holiday which celebrates people’s fascination with weather. According to online holiday calendars, it is always celebrated on May 4. I got my start in meteorology in the third grade when a tornado came just two blocks from my house in Grand Rapids MI, and I’ve been watching the weather ever since.…
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The Lawn and Garden Index map for the Southeast shows that in spite of significant rains in many areas of the region, there are still areas that need water, either in the form of rain or irrigation. This map, which is produced by the Alabama State Climatologist, shows the capacity of current soil moisture conditions…
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NewSecurityBeat.com had a lengthy article at the end of March discussing the politics of water in Florida and how changes in drought and flood frequency are expected to put even more strain on the water delivery systems there in the future in a warmer climate. Because of Florida’s unique geology, including its low elevation and…
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In the universe of sources of weather and climate data across the Earth, NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) in Asheville, North Carolina has to be the big Kahuna. This center is the official federal archive of all weather and climate information collected by the National Weather Service as well as many other official climate…
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The National Interagency Fire Center has issued their May outlook for wildfire possibilities across the United States this week. The report shows that the Southeast has a lower than normal chance for wildfires this year due to the current wet conditions coupled with the presence of the El Nino, which is expected to last for…
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The latest 7-day QPF shows that a good portion of the Southeast will have dry conditions for another week. This should help farmers finish up their spring planting and take care of other field work. South Florida is the biggest exception, with a higher chance of rain than the rest of the region. The week…
Posted in: Climate outlooks -
If you are a history buff, you will enjoy reading about the first official weather forecast, made by Admiral Robert FitzRoy, a well-known mariner who also happened to be the captain of the HMS Beagle, Charles Darwin’s ship of discovery. The key to FitzRoy’s ability to forecast was the development of the telegraph, which allowed…