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DISCUSSION: As strong storms erupted across portions of central New York yesterday afternoon and evening, there was particularly strong convective instability in place across parts of Central and Northern New Jersey. As a result of this stronger convective instability being positioned downwind (i.e., to the east) of these developing thunderstorms, the National Weather Service office in Upton, New York promptly issued a severe thunderstorm warning in association with these intensifying storms. As seen in the graphic below (created by the National Weather Service office in Upton, New York), a few of the stronger convective cells produced a microburst. As defined in the graphic below, a microburst is observed as the convective downdraft with thunderstorm (typically just under 2.5 miles in width and generally lasts 5 minutes or less). As a result of these strong convective downdrafts reaching the ground, they often spread out and cause severe straight-line wind damage which typically knocks down trees and consequently power lines as well as inducing damage to homes and businesses. Hopefully, people remain safe during this very intense thunderstorm event across Central and Northern New Jersey yesterday evening. To learn more about this and other high-impact weather events across North America, be sure to click here!
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DISCUSSION: As a complex series of weak low-pressure systems continue to slowly sliding east and northeast with time, showers and embedded thunderstorms will continue to impacting parts of the Southwestern United States this evening and during the overnight hours. The main culprit for these widespread pockets of showers and storms is the result of the onset of the North American monsoon which is primarily an early Summer to mid/late Fall-time atmospheric phenomena. The North American monsoon is the result of the stronger surges of deeper/moisture-laden air off of both the Eastern Pacific Ocean as well as the Gulf of California (located between the Southwestern United States and the Baja Peninsula of Southern California and Northern Mexico). If you live across Southeastern Arizona as well as surronding areas, expect these rainy conditions to persist for the next 12 to hours periodically! To learn more about other high-impact weather from across North America, be sure to click here!
Dateline: Vail, CO -- During the months of May and June, in many parts of the Nation, you might start hearing talk about the soon-to-arrive, “monsoon.” But, do you really know what the monsoon is?…To find out, click here. 
DISCUSSION: Though the primary threat for severe thunderstorms capable of producing strong winds as well as some marginally severe-threshold hail, there does remain to be a marginal threat for strong to border-line severe storms this evening as a slow-moving cold front continues moving east towards the NY/NJ/CT coastline! However, at this time, there still remains to be a few strong showers with embedded thunderstorms slowly moving through the heart of New York City and the rest of the five boroughs region. As some of these stronger cells enter Western Long Island, they will likely weaken as a result of the embedded thunderstorms ingesting the cooler marine air being provided by the close presence of the Western Atlantic Ocean. Hence, the primary threat for the remainder of the night appears to be heavy rain and some rumbles of thunder in isolated spots. To learn more about high-impact weather events from across the United States, be sure to click here!
Dateline: Vail, CO -- This article is about latitude and altitude and low temperature readings. Early on Jun. 26, the temperature at Craig (elevation 6,918 feet), in the northwest part of the state, dipped to 35 degrees. To the southeast of Craig, along I-70, Carol B., who works at a Vail timeshare resort, reported that at her home in Edwards, frost graced her windshield this morning…To read the full story, click here.  MAJOR SEVERE WEATHER THREAT BEARING DOWN ON MIDWEST! (credit: NWS Storm Prediction Center)6/24/2016
DISCUSSION: As a strengthening low-pressure system shifts eastward from the Northern Plains to the Midwest region of the United States, there will be a dramatic increase in the large-scale severe weather threat. The primary concern across the regions highlighted in the yellow-to-red shading below is a widespread threat for damaging winds, hail, heavy rainfall, and even a few tornadoes in the wake of multiple rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms anywhere from early this morning to later tonight! Stay tuned for updates through the day as the storms fire and things become to get underway! To learn more about this and other high-impact weather events from across the United States, be sure to click here!
Yesterday (Jun. 22, 2016), I photographed a “fair-weather” funnel, totally by accident (as is usually the case). I was observing the southwest Florida sea breeze, and glanced up as the sea breeze boundary oscillated overhead and saw a laminar tube-like shape within the overall puffy to ragged clouds…To read the full story, click here.  DISCUSSION: As the current low-pressure system centered over the region between Southern Iowa and Northern Missouri continues to slowly slide off to the east and eventually southeast this evening, the primary severe weather threat will shift to the east and southeast with time as well. The current thinking by regional National Weather Service offices is that the most pronounced severe weather threat will be in the form of severe thunderstorms capable of producing strong damaging winds as well as large hail. In addition, a few strong tornadoes cannot be ruled based on the intense combination of strong vertical speed and directional shear coupled with strong convective instability in place across the areas highlighted in the yellow, orange, and red-color coded regions. Hence, since many of these storms will be at their most intense close to and after sunset today, it is imperative to take precautions now and bring any and all lose belongings which can become airborne inside your home to minimize the potential for projectile damage. Currently, a number of dangerous storms have formed across parts of Northwestern Illinois which are already showing strong signs of low-to-mid level rotation. Thus, an indication of the current threat for hail, strong winds associated with the main downdraft(s), and even a few tornadoes being possible very soon! To learn more about this and other high-impact weather from across the United States, be sure to click here!  Earlier this week, I saw a very unusual towering cumulus cloud. My wife likened its shape to a backwards question mark. Meteorologist Adam Caskey (KSAT-TV, San Antonio, TX) noted that the image actually “painted a picture of the (cloud’s) updraft”…To read the full story, click here. 
DISCUSSION: As strong storms fired up across parts of Central to Northern Texas yesterday afternoon and evening, some of the storms blossomed in regions which were particularly dry. As a result of the very dry conditions and very dry ice topsoil in place across many of these areas between Central and Northern Texas, the leading edge of a thunderstorm referred to as the gust front helped to lift dust into the lowest levels of the atmosphere as seen in the image below. Regardless of their nature of origin, dust storms of any kind pose serious travel hazards and general safety hazards due to limited visibility in a variation short distance which can lead to life-threatening travel conditions. In addition to vehicles and modes of transportation on the ground, helicopters as well as the party and landing aircraft also takes serious note in regards to the presence of dust storms; similar to the effects imposed by hazy conditons (e.g., caused by the combination of intense heat and highly concentrated air pollution) and/or fog. This certainly was a very hazardous situation at hand across from certain parts of Texas and as you can also see in the image below there were a number of vehicles on the road with their brake lights on indicating the likely standstill that was caused along this particular highway due to the presence of this this intense dust storm. To learn more about other high-impact weather across the United States, be sure to click here!
DISCUSSION: As a weak low-pressure system continues to slowly push eastward across parts of Eastern Ohio as well as Northern/Western West Virginia, there will be a continued threat for strong to severe thunderstorms capable of producing the full collection of severe weather by-products which includes large/damaging hail, strong gusty winds, heavy rainfall, and even an isolated tornado in a few spots. In light of the temperatures and dew points predominantly ranging anywhere from 75 F to 90 F and from 55 to 70 F respectively, there is plenty of "juice" in the atmosphere to support widespread strong to severe thunderstorm activity. As a result of this reality, the Storm Prediction Center (as of earlier today) placed much of the region in the graphic below under either a slight or an enhanced risk for the occurrence of severe weather as also decribed in more detail in the graphic suite included below! Be mindful and be sure to avoid moving close to or directly passed any downed power lines and/or flooded roadways, if you happen to live in any of these areas or are passing through from this afternoon and/or this evening! To learn more about other high-impact weather from across the United States, be sure to click here!
DISCUSSION: As partly cloudy skies moved over and across parts of Central to Southern British Columbia this afternoon, some neat atmospheric optics came into play across parts of Southern Canada. As clearly seen in the picture below courtesy of Liana Berg, you can denote what appears to be either a sun ray or a sun dog in the distance based on the tilted column of vertical light appearing to emanate from the ground up. Sun rays are for more common since they form as a consequence of light peeking through broken cloud cover and being refracted slightly towards the ground. Hence, we see a tilted shadow hitting the ground at an angle and spreading out slightly; making for beautiful scenery. Alternatively, a sundog forms as a result of sunlight refracting through horizontal tilted ice crystals higher up in the atmosphere. Hence, this was more likely to be the result of more simple sun ray reflection! A gorgeous sight to the naked eye nonetheless! To learn more about other interesting weather-related phenomena from across Canada and the rest of North America, be sure to click here! 
DISCUSSION: As a weak pulse of energy made its way across the South-Central United States last night, the combination of strong deep-layer vertical wind shear and robust convective instability led to the atmosphere responding in the form of strong to severe thunderstorms across Northern Texas, Western/Central Oklahoma, and Western/Central Kansas. As seen in the video below as captured by Whit White prior to being shared publically by the National Weather Service office in Amarillo, Texas, there was a very impressive tornado which formed in association with an intense high-precipitation supercell thunderstorm later yesterday evening! Note towards the end of the video, you can clearly see the rapid formation of the funnel and the descending of the funnel cloud down to the ground and being officially declared as a tornado! To learn more about other high-impact weather from across the contiguous United States, be sure to click here!
DISCUSSION: Only a few weeks after a barrage of strong to severe thunderstorrms produced strong winds, hail, and tornadoes across parts of Central Kansas there is now another round of severe weather heading towards the same areas! This time around, the strong storms are producing damaging winds close to not above hurricane- force (i.e., winds in excess of 70 mph) as denoted in the line of strong to severe thunderstorms in the graphic below courtesy of the National Weather Service office in Dodge City, Kansas! There are also two severe thunderstorm in effect for this thunderstorm line as it currently works its way past cities such as Ullyses, Hugoton, an Moscow in Western Kansas and Guymon in Western Oklahome (the Oklahoma Panhandle to be exact). To learn more about other high-impact weather from across the United States, be sure to click here!
DISCUSSION: As a weak pulse of energy quickly moved across parts of the North-Central Plains throughout the course of Thursday and on into the day on Friday, several areas of intense thunderstorm congealed into a large bowing line of intense thunderstorms. Not too long after they organized, they began to race off to the east and southeast with strong winds and isolated areas of damaging hail being the primary threat as the bowing thunderstorm segments moved through regions of particularly enhanced convective instability (i.e., atmospheric instability favorable for the development and maintenance of strong to severe thunderstorms over a long distance and therefore of a long duration). Therefore, as you will notice in the time-lapse radar animation below as captured from earlier today, you will clearly see the array of severe thunderstorm warnings which were issued in association with the eastward propagation of this bowing thunderstorm line! Though these storms were quick-moving, they certainly packed quite a nasty punch across parts of Central/Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin earlier yesterday evening! To learn more about other high-impact weather from across the United States, click here!
DISCUSSION: As strong warm air advection persists off of the Gulf of Mexico this afternoon, scattered/intense convection has developed across southern and central portions of the Deep South. due to the slow-moving nature of these isolated storms, heavy rain and frequent lightning may be possible at times. As the noted many times by the National Weather Service communication initiative, if thunder roars be sure to go indoors and if you approach flooded roadways always be sure to turn around and do not drown! Note how there are a few scattered severe thunderstorm warnings such as that one on the bottom right-hand portion of the graphic below along the southernmost portion of the state border along the boundary between Alabama and Mississippi! To learn more about other high-impact weather across the United States, be sure to click here!
DISCUSSION: As of earlier this morning, there was an area of banded weak convection slowly moving southward from Central Iowa towards Northern Missouri. As this was occurring the associated precipitation evolved into an weakly anti-cyclonically rotating precipitation feature which looked quite similar to what is known as a mesocale convective vortex or an MCV. It is worth noting that this MCV did not cause any significant thunderstorm activity beyond just aside slowly southward-moving shower activity. As a further explanation, an MCV is a low-pressure center within a mesoscale convective system (MCS) that pulls winds into a circling pattern (or vortex-like structure). With a core only 30 to 60 miles wide and 1 to 3 miles deep, an MCV is often overlooked in standard weather analyses. An MCV can often take on a life of its own, persisting for up to 12 hours after its parent MCS has dissipated. An MCV that moves into tropical waters, such as the Gulf of Mexico, can serve as the nucleus for a tropical storm or hurricane (www.nssl.noaa.gov). To learn more about other high-impact weather content from across the United States, click here!
DISCUSSION: As a weak pulse of energy slowly moved in a southeasterly direction as of earlier this morning, it interacted with the small islands (i.e., namely the Catalina Islands and Guadalupe Island off the coast of Southern California). As a result of these clouds moving in the vicinity of these smaller islands, a number of small rotating cloud eddies formed just to the west of Southern California coastline. During the Spring and Summer-time months, these cloud features often form due at least in part to the presence of differential oceanic winds being present in the vicinity of the growing marine layer cloud cover both to the northwest of and over the aforementioned islands. It is important to note that aside from reducing localized visibilities, these rotating cloud eddies are typically never responsible for directly or indirectly causing the occurrence of any severe or inclement weather capable of disrupting day-to-day lifestyles across much of Southern Californai! To learn more about other interesting weather content from across the United States, click here!
DISCUSSION: As strong thunderstorms slowly move eastward near sections of Central to Southern New Jersey, very impressive storm structure developed during the afternoon hours of June 7th. Namely, in the way of gorgeous shelf cloud such as this one which was observed over in Cape May, New Jersey (located near the southern tip of New Jersey). Shelf clouds typically form as a result of rising motion that occurs along the leading edge of an incoming thunderstorm due to cooler air rising above warmer air typically positioned in front of a thunderstorm's leading edge. The shelf cloud feature forms as a result of intense condensation of water vapor along that leading edge of the approaching thunderstorm as seen in the image below as taken by Mark Russo! To learn more about other high-impact weather from across the United States, be sure to click here!  SEVERE WEATHER THREAT ACROSS THE NORTH-CENTRAL U.S. RIGHT NOW! (credit: NWS Storm Prediction Center)6/8/2016
DISCUSSION: As a series of weak disturbances push through parts of the North-Central United States this evening, there will be an increased threat for severe thunderstorm activity across parts of Northeast Oregon, Central to Northern Idaho, and Western Montana. Having said that, the main threat appears to be severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds along with hail in some cases in the storms containing more robust updrafts! To quote the summary from this mesoscale discussion courtesy of forecasters at the Storm Prediction Center, "OVERALL...CONTINUED FORCING FOR ASCENT ASSOCIATED WITH THE SHORTWAVE TROUGH WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT TSTM DEVELOPMENT AND THE STRONGLY SHEARED AND UNSTABLE ENVIRONMENT WILL REMAIN SUPPORTIVE OF LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND GUSTS WITH THE MORE PERSISTENT/ORGANIZED STORMS." To learn more about other high-impact weather across the United States, be sure to click here!
DISCUSSIONS: Across portions of the Southwestern United States there is a very neat array of cloud cover as shown in the image below courtesy of the National Weather Service office in Grand Junction, Colorado! Note how there is a combination of smoke plumes emanating from wildfires emanating from Central and Northern Arizona, anvils associated with severe thunderstorm activity based in Central New Mexico, and jet contrails located in Eastern Wyoming! As a point of reference, jet contrails are induced as a result of the condensation of water on the particles which are emitted in association with jet fuel exhaust. It is quite impressive to see so many unique cloud structures in such close proximity to one another! To learn more about other high-impact weather from across the United States, be sure to click here!
DISCUSSION: As an evolving Tropical Storm Colin was transitioning from being a weak tropical storm to a post-tropical cyclone, it first moved over parts of the Mid-Atlantic which also consequently brought in a plethora of moisture into this part of the country. To make this point more effectively, there was actually a record depth with respect to the total precipitable water depth measured earlier this morning over eastern portions of North Carolina in the wake of the passage of Tropical Storm Colin! See the graphic below for more courtesy of the National Weather Service in Newport/Morehead City, North Carolina! To learn more about other high-impact weather across the United States, be sure to click here!
DISCUSSION: As Tropical Storm Colin continued to strengthen slowly through the course of the day today, it has remained a large and decently organized tropical storm with maximum sustained winds at 50 MPH as of the 5:00 PM (EST) advisory on Tropical Storm Colin. As suggested in many recent forecasts, Tropical Storm Colin will be making landfall along the coastline of in the vicinity of the Great Bend region of Florida located between Tallahassee, Florida and Tampa, Florida. As the low-pressure center associated with Tropical Storm Colin moves ashore in Western/Northern Florida, the main threats will continue to be heavy rainfall (along with widespread flooding especially in lower-lying areas), gusty winds associated with stronger convective cells moving ashore, and even a few isolated tornadoes as indicated by this recent Mesoscale Discussion issued a little earlier this afternoon by forecasters at the Storm Prediction Center. Moreover, after this system moves ashore, it will continue to produce heavy rainfall as it interacts with a stationary frontal boundary which has stalled out along the East Coast as discussed in the post below courtesy of the National Weather Service Eastern Region Headquarters office! Thus, the impacts from this weak tropical storm will be widely felt and may continue to be very impactful so if you have to travelling anywhere between Northern Florida and eastern sections of North Carolina, be sure to exercise caution and do not attempt to drive through flooded roadways! To learn more about this and other high-impact weather from across the United States, click here!
DISCUSSION: As Hurricane Hunter reconnaissance aircraft investigated the core circulation affiliated with what is now Tropical Storm Colin, they noticed a very unexpected surprise as they made one of their several passes through the different sections of the currently disorganized tropical storm. That unexpected find was in the form of a waterspout as captured in the image below by Hurricane Hunter staff member (1st Lieutenant Kelsie Carpenter) wherein a classic waterspout was seen over the heart of the warm Gulf of Mexico as the storm continues to slowly intensify. Waterspouts are often common with tropical storms both during their periods of intensification or sometimes rapid intensification as well as during the pre- and post-landfall stages associated with tropical storms. Though they are not incredibly uncommon to be found in and around the circulations associated with tropical storms, this is still an awe-inspiring sight nonetheless that they were in the right location at the right time to observe this neat atmospheric phenomena! Stay tuned for more updates right here at the Global Weather and Climate Center for the latest information regarding the status of Tropical Storm Colin. To learn more about other high-impact weather, be sure to click here!
DISCUSSION: As the low-level circulation and deep convection associated with Tropical Depression Three continued to become increasingly more organized through the morning and early afternoon hours, aircraft reconnaissance data coupled with the analysis of the real-time satellite imagery provided sufficient evidence for forecasters at the NWS National Hurricane Center to upgrade Tropical Depression Three to Tropical Storm Colin. The naming of Tropical Storm Colin marks the official recognition of third named tropical storm in 2016. Interestingly, it is somewhat early from a climatological/statistical standpoint for the third named storm to form but nonetheless it now exists and it is currently moving to the northeast across the Central Gulf of Mexico! Being as though it has its sights set on Central and Northern Florida, there is a threat for heavy rainfall (and subsequent flooding and/or flash flooding conditions along with gusty winds and even an isolated waterspout or tornado as stronger segments of the associated spiral rainbands move onshore along the shores of Western to Northern Florida and points inland as well! Stay tuned for more updates right here at the Global Weather and Climate Center for more information on Tropical Storm Colin later today and tomorrow! To learn more about other high-impact weather across the United States, be sure to click here!
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