Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch (credit: NOAA HRD)7/29/2017  DISCUSSION: Within the last couple of days, many people across the atmospheric community and even people who are enthusiastic about it all were reminded about a fairly history day in United Weather history. More specifically, this past week marked the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Tropical Analysis Center which is a sub-division of the National Weather Service's National Hurricane Center. This marked a momentous occasion in United States weather history since this event allowed United States-based tropical forecasting to become elevated to new and greater heights with the help of tropical researchers such as Dr. Bob Simpson, David Shideler, and Miles Lawrence. "The Tropical Analysis Center’s duties included analyzing the weather across the tropical belt (40°N to 35°S) of the Atlantic and eastern Pacific and forecasting the movement of disturbances in the normal trade-wind patterns. This was a daunting task, since there were very few weather observations over vast stretches of this region. To supplement the sparse island and ship reports, the Tropical Analysis Center meteorologists had to rely on the new technology of satellite picture analysis. To add to their difficulties, they also had to analyze the upper troposphere from a handful of radiosonde stations." To learn more about this neat period of United Weather history and improvements thereof, click on the following link! To learn more about other past historic weather events from around the world, be sure to click here! ©2017 Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz
0 Comments
 DISCUSSION: As we go back in time to July 23rd, 2010, we arrive at what a pretty remarkable day in South Dakota state weather history. This day marks the occurrence of one of the more historic severe weather events in recorded history. The interesting thing about this particular event is that it is not historic for the more apparent reasons which most people are probably thinking of at first instinct. When people think of notably historic severe weather events, the majority of people will think of severe weather events which produced tornadoes, intense lightning, and strong winds often times. However, during this particular severe weather event which occurred back on July 23rd, 2010, it was hail that took the headlines.
Not only was there hail which was quantifiable for the purposes of issuing severe thunderstorm warnings for this storm but one of the hailstones which was measured was found to be an incredible 8.0 inches in diameter, having a circumference of 18.625 inches, and a weight of 1.9375 lbs. What is even more incredible is the fact that in order for a thunderstorm to generate a hailstone of that size, there would need to be a core updraft speed of at least 160 to 180 MPH to support the generation of such a large hailstone prior to the updraft no longer being able to support the weight of the growing hailstone. Thus, this is without question one of the more impressive hail-producing thunderstorms in recorded United States weather history. To learn more about other past historic weather events from around the world, be sure to click here! ©2017 Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz Looking Back at Hurricane Danny (credit: National Weather Service Office in Mobile, Alabama)7/20/2017 
DISCUSSION: In going back to July 20th, 1997, we remember the first and final landfall of Category 1 Hurricane Danny. It goes without saying that any hurricane landfall is hazardous to both life and property based on the fact that even a relatively weak tropical cyclone has the potential to create dangerous flooding and windy conditions both directly along the coastline and points further inland. Thus, in any situation where there is a threat of a landfall or a nearby tropical cyclone landfall, it is always imperative to take appropriate precautions to protect yourself, your family/friends, and any other important personal/professional assets.
In the case of Hurricane Danny, above all of the natural inherent threats tied to a typical tropical cyclone landfall, it was also a particularly slow-moving tropical low-pressure system. Therefore, as the center of the low continued to gradually move further inland, there were very heavy rainfall totals realized quite rapidly. In cases such as what happened with the landfall of Hurricane Danny, it is always imperative to heed the warnings of local emergency management officials and observe any and all evacuations or preparatory recommendations which are issued. As you can clearly see in the radar mosaic attached above, the very slow-moving nature of the landfall of Hurricane Danny allowed particular heavy rainfall banding features to continue to pivot over the same parts of far southern Alabama and Mississippi which facilitated very dramatic rainfall totals over a relatively short period of time. To learn more about other past historic weather events from around the world, be sure to click here! ©2017 Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz  DISCUSSION: As we turn the clocks back to the Summer of 1942, we arrive at the occurrence of a fairly historic flooding event which impacted the city of Bayfield, Wisconsin. Attached below is a neat discussion (courtesy of the National Weather Service office located in Duluth, Minnesota) which captures the essence of this event.
"For the city of Bayfield, Wisconsin, water is a constant reminder of its geographic location, companionship with Lake Superior, and gateway to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. On the evening of July 16, 1942, water engulfed the city, dividing it during wartime. For 12 hours, intermittent heavy rainfall inundated the city. The rain began to fall at 9:30 PM on the 16th and would not cease until the following morning, July 17th, at 9:30 AM. The flood waters drained into two ravines that flowed into the city. The water rushed through the business district of Bayfield, Wisconsin, creating "gullies 50 feet wide and 20 feet deep in places" (Swenson, 1942). The rushing waves of water forced large boulders loose upon the city and into area businesses. Across the city, the flood waters deposited up to five feet of sand burying many doorways and windows of local businesses and homes. The flooding even impacted Evergreen Cemetery where unearthed caskets and various body parts were strewn across. In spite of the catastrophic damage and destruction to many homes and businesses, only one fatality was reported, a dog. Total regional damage was estimated to $750,000 ($11.7 million in 2017) (Reque, 1942)." To learn more about this particular event, click on the following link. To learn more about other past historic weather events from around the world, be sure to click here! ©2017 Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz  DISCUSSION: It is well-known that the period between early May and late June tends to be the seasonal peak for severe weather outbreaks across the contiguous United States. Having said that, the typical seasonal peak for severe weather outbreaks across western/central Canada tends to be several weeks after that period of time. The reason for this time lag in the seasonal severe weather peak across parts of Canada is chiefly due to the change in the average position of the polar and sub-tropical jet streams across North America. During the Summer-time season, the polar jet stream consistently shifts much farther northward as the influences from the sub-tropical jet stream tend to overtake those presented by the polar jet stream.
It is this period of transition which favors severe weather across the south, central, and northern Plains regions of the United States. As the average position of the polar jet stream continues shifting northward, it is the clash between the polar jet stream and the northward shifting sub-tropical jet stream which facilitates an increasingly greater severe weather threat across parts of western/central Canada. On July 14th, 2000, this was precisely the case as a nasty tornado impacted areas both in and around Pine Lake, Alberta, Canada. Unfortunately, this was a particularly deadly and destructive tornadic event which left brutal memories on the minds of many people living across this part of Canada. To learn more about this particular tornado event, click on the following link. ©2017 Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz  DISCUSSION: By going back to July 14th, 2006, we find ourselves at a fairly historic day in Western Pacific weather history. On July 14th, 2006, we arrive at the landfall of Tropical Storm Bilis. Though it not a particularly intense tropical cyclone, Bilis tracked across northern Taiwan before making landfall in southeastern China's Fujian province with maximum sustained winds near 65 mph. The storm causes at least 575 deaths in Fujian, Guangdong, and Hunan provinces and direct economic losses near $3.3 billion. Thus, this was yet another classic example of a tropical cyclone which had severe impacts on both live and property while not being an intense storm. This is a critical message for any and all people who live in or ever travel to tropical cyclone prone regions of the world. Even if you are in the path of a weak tropical cyclone, it is imperative to understand that even a weak storm can have severe consequences on a given region based on heavy rainfall and even a minor storm surge in vulnerable regions.
To learn more about other past historic weather events from around the world, be sure to click here! ©2017 Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz Remembering the Landfall of Hurricane Bertha (credit: NWS Newport/Morehead, North Carolina)7/12/2017  DISCUSSION: Though it may not feel like very long ago for many people living across many parts of the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, 11 years ago today marked a very historic and memorable day (and weather event) for many people living in and around the Carolinas. On July 11th, 1996, this marked the day on which the heart of Hurricane Bertha directly struck the South Carolina and North Carolina coastlines. During the course of Hurricane Bertha's landfall, one of the more remarkable and ultimately notable impacts was the high-magnitude impacts inflicted by the storm surge generated by Bertha. Attached below is a direct excerpt from the "This Day in Weather History" team which captures the essence of what went down during the landfall of this particular tropical cyclone.
"July 12, 1996 - Hurricane Bertha makes landfall near Wrightsville Beach, NC with maximum winds of 105 mph, but the storm surge dealt the most devastation. The U.S. Virgin Islands, along with North Carolina, were declared federal disaster areas. Surveys indicate that Bertha damaged almost 2,500 homes on St. Thomas and St. John. For many, it was the second hit in the ten months since Hurricane Marilyn devastated the same area. The primary effects in North Carolina were to the coastal counties and included storm surge flooding and beach erosion, roof damage, piers washed away, fallen trees and damage to crops. Over 5,000 homes were damaged, mostly from storm surge. Storm total rainfall amounts ranged from 5 to 8 inches along a coastal strip from South Carolina to Maine. Overall, as many as 12 deaths resulted with 8 in the U.S. and territories." To learn more about this particular event, click on the following link. ©2017 Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz  DISCUSSION: As we turn time all the way back to July 11th, 2005, we arrive at yet another historic date in United States weather history. As of the present day, this date marks the 12th anniversary of the landfall of Major Hurricane Dennis along the United States Gulf Coast. In looking back to the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, it goes without saying that Dennis was just one of the many tropical cyclones which wreaked havoc on the Gulf Coast region of the United States predominantly between May and December of 2005. As we take a look back at the evolution of Hurricane Dennis, there is no debate that it was an impressive storm since this tropical cyclone impacted many parts of the Caribbean before making it's way towards the southeastern United States. During much of the Dennis's lifetime, it maintained its major hurricane intensity (i.e., sustained wind speeds of 111 mph or greater) which also created notable storm surge hazards in areas such as (but certainly not limited to) the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Haiti, Puerto Rico, and others. Hence, it was a far reaching storm in terms of its impacts and left an unforgettable mark on many people's memories across the Caribbean and parts of the southeastern United States. To learn more about Hurricane Dennis, click on the following link!
To learn more about other past historic weather events from around the world, be sure to click here! ©2017 Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz Remembering Record High Temperature in Death Valley, California (credit: NOAA NCEI-Climate)7/10/2017  DISCUSSION: As we go back in California state weather history all the way to July 10th, 1913, we arrive at a very memorable day for Death Valley, California. Many people both across the United States and around the world recognize Death Valley, California as an iconic location within the contiguous United States for unbearably hot daytime high temperatures year-in and year-out. Back on July 10th, 1913, there was most certainly no exception to that common theme for that part of the country. On this particular day, the official observing station located at Greenland Ranch out in Death Valley, California recorded a maximum daytime high temperature of 134°F. This still remains to be a world record for the highest daytime high temperature observed anywhere ever at any point in recorded history. It is also worth noting per the link attached below (courtesy of the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information-Climate) that this particular day with a global record maximum daytime high temperature was just one day within a larger 10-day period of incredibly hot weather in and around the Death Valley region. To learn more about this steaming story, click this link.
To learn more about other past historic weather events from around the world, be sure to click here! ©2017 Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz  DISCUSSION: As we turn the clocks back to July 7th, 2004, we find ourselves at a very history day in California state weather history. On this date back in July of 2004, a tornado occurred in the Rockwell Pass area of Sequoia National Park, California. Since the elevation of the tornado’s ground circulation was approximately 3705 m (12,156 ft) MSL, this is the highest-elevation tornado documented in the United States. Although there were a complicated series of events which had to unfold just right in order for a tornado to occur at such a high altitude, it is still impressive nonetheless to observe such a rare atmospheric phenomena in this part of the United States. Also note how by looking at the image attached above, you can also identify how the base of this particular thunderstorm was clearly rotating based on the evident twisting edges of the cloud-base pivoting around the parent funnel descending to the ground. To learn more about this particular tornadic thunderstorm, click on the following link.
To learn more about other past historic weather events occurring around the world, be sure to click here! ©2017 Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz |
Archives
February 2023
|
RSS Feed