 It’s often believed that clouds are a Chinese symbol of good luck. Due to their beauty and change in color and shape, it’s thought that they spark people’s imaginations, leading to happiness and good fortune. Here on the summit of Mount Washington, where I spent a summer interning, we are lucky enough to work, live and sleep among the clouds. So, one would think we would be sated with good luck. But quite the contrary is true. Among those in the meteorology world, there is something known as the Weatherman’s Curse, also referred to as a "Weather Hole."
A Weather Hole is a place that doesn’t receive much meteorological activity when it comes to storms. It could be a variation of approaching storms either slightly missing a specific location, or by dissipating before it reaches its destination. Some people believe that this is not by chance, but rather if someone, such as a meteorologist or weather enthusiast, is in an area forecasted to have severe weather, the storm will miss them. Many claim that meteorologists’ hometowns, or areas where a large number of meteorologists live, have significantly fewer storms than surrounding cities, and are disproportionately missed by approaching storms. Naturally, we apply this theory to the summit, where at any given time, there are multiple meteorologists about, fueling the Weatherman’s Curse. Why does the home of the “world’s worst weather” tend to have storms dissipating and/or missing the summit before it reaches them? This can be explained by statistical behaviors of convection. Due to the topography of the White Mountain Forest, thunderstorms that approach the region tend to killed by their downdraft overcoming its own updraft. Having interned at Mount Washington during the summer of 2016, I have single-handedly witnessed this multiple times. There have been many instances in which the probability of a thunderstorm reaching us was significantly high. We would all become excited—forgetting the curse--and gather in the weather room to watch the incoming storm. We would track it on the radar--closely watching reflectivity increase--and often see the electromagnetic fields rise to levels where lightning was possible. It would seem that the summit would have a wicked thunderstorm, and then, a few moments later, it would either weaken or miss us. One day, in particular, we had spotty thunderstorms around the summit and at two different occasions, it appeared that we would become the target of a storm; and in the moments preceding the expected impact, the storm would venture too far north. As a meteorologist, eager to see severe weather, this was very frustrating. Is it just pure coincidence that forecasted storms miss the highest peak in the Northeast containing a group of our nation's storm-hungry meteorologist or does the Weatherman’s Curse actually exist? Science has proven there are reasons why certain regions receive less severe weather, but what are the chances of this happening where meteorologists are typically stationed? Studies have been done on the topic, and have, in fact, proven that some areas are known to be weather holes. There are some notable weather hot spots where severe weather hits more frequently such as Tallahassee, FL. Interestingly enough, this has actually proven to be helpful when forecasting storms, because if meteorologists are aware of these unique areas, they can apply knowledge of past events when forecasting upcoming storms. Given the substantial anecdotes I have just provided, it is now up to you to decide if you believe in the Weatherman’s Curse. Either eager meteorologists have the consistent misfortunate of being in areas with infrequent storms, or meteorologists do, in fact, control the weather! Perhaps if you are aware of a bad storm coming to your area, you should find yourself a meteorologist--they may just be the “bad luck” or “good fortune” you need. Original article written for Mount Washington Observatory, found here. Information found in this article is based off of research found here. To learn more about other meteorology educational topics, be sure to click here. ©2017 Weather Forecaster Claudia Pukropski
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Passage of a Cold Front Via Radars Across the Carolinas! (credit: NWS Wilmington, North Carolina)3/8/2017  DISCUSSION: As is the case for many cold front passages, there are multiple ways by which operational and research meteorologists alike opt to identify and study the propagation of cold fronts through different parts of the United States. The reason for our increased ability to monitor the progression of cold fronts (especially across the contiguous United States), is due to the particularly high density of surface observations throughout the country. This fairly widespread and dense network of surface-based weather observations allows forecasters to better identify and make projections for where given frontal boundaries are and where they will be moving with time. In addition to surface-based observations, many forecasters will take advantage of regional dual-polarization radar sites to identify the passage and/or movement of frontal boundaries via weak reflectivity returns (as captured in the image above). To be more specific, the image above depicts the southeasterly movement associated with a cold front moving through the Carolinas as scattered storms continued moving parallel to the Gulf Stream. Thus, modern technology has many different benefits in regards to improving the efficiency of day-to-day operational forecasting.
To learn more about other educational topics in meteorology, be sure to click here! ©2017 Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz Avalanche Safety Awareness! (credit: Alaskan Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)3/4/2017 
DISCUSSION: When it comes down to preparing for and executing general protocols for avalanche safety, there is no substitution for remaining on the side of caution in all situations once is faced with. In particular, across the state of Alaska during the Winter season, there is often a substantially increased threat for avalanches due more frequent winter storms which deposit incredibly large amounts of snowfall. As a result of these frequent/heavy snowstorms, this allows for very deep snowfall to accumulate on various mountainsides. Thus, as snowfall continues to pile up, there is an increasing threat for various triggers which may include hikers, snowboarders, skiers, etc. to start an avalanche by moving over a critical trigger point. You can note in the video above how these particular trucks moving through parts of the Dalton Highway as a small avalanche impacted them. Attached below is a direct excerpt from the Alaskan Department of Transportation and Public Facilities on this event.
"The Dalton Highway remains closed from Mile 241-247 (Atigun Pass) due to extreme avalanche conditions. Last night, crews decided to close the avalanche gates after witnessing small avalanches. This is the first time the gates have been closed since they were installed three years ago. At approximately 7:30 p.m., four trucks who were already past the avalanche gates were struck by an avalanche. All drivers are safe, and at this time, there are no confirmed injuries, though there are reports that one driver hit his head. Two of the trucks were able to get out of the snow with minimal assistance, and two trucks remain stuck. Additional resources are on the way to assist with removing these vehicles. At this time, there is no estimate when the road will be cleared and reopened. Weather in this area continues to be challenging, and the current storm is forecast through tomorrow. Once the weather improves, crews will conduct avalanche mitigation and clear the road. No one will go back on the road until weather improves and conditions are safe." To learn more about other educational topics in meteorology, be sure to click here! ©2017 Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz  DISCUSSION: As of earlier this morning across some parts of Southeast Florida, there was quite a familiar presence in the skies overhead. This familiar sight was characterized by the presence of deep surface-based thunderstorm activity. Quite often, such thunderstorm activity is associated with the inland movement of sea breezes which typically move ashore during late afternoon to early evening hours. As these sea breeze circulations move ashore, they often help to trigger shorter-duration thunderstorms which form as air masses collide over land in the state of Florida. This type of air mass collision which occurs is best described by the given sea breeze interacting with warm, moist air that is consistently in place over much of the Sunshine State.
In some cases, such thunderstorms can develop weak rotation close to and right near their base. As this occurs, the rotation can increase on a horizontal axis within the lower part of the thunderstorm and get turned into the vertical due to the presence of stronger localized vertical motions. Thus, as the rotation is turned from the horizontal to the vertical, atmospheric phenomena referred to as waterspouts (when the given thunderstorm is over water) can occur. As seen in the photo above (courtesy of a forecaster who was off-duty from the National Weather Service located in Miami, Florida), you can see near the center of the photo (and just below the center of the base of this thunderstorm) the presence of a very narrow appendage which looks similar to a funnel cloud. That small feature is a perfect example of what was previously acknowledged as a waterspout which is what was observed earlier this morning over Miami South Beach, Florida! To learn more about other educational topics in meteorology, be sure to click here! ©2017 Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz |
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