![U.S. 2012 Billion Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters (NCDC)]( "U.S. 2012 Billion Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters (NCDC)")
U.S. 2012 Billion Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters (NCDC)According to the National Climate Data Center's 2012 weather and climate disasters information... 2012 saw 11 weather and climate disaster events each with losses exceeding $1 billion in damages. This
2012 saw 11 weather and climate disaster events each with losses exceeding $1 billion in damages.
![Help Protect our Rivers! (Earth Gauge)]( "Help Protect our Rivers! (Earth Gauge)")
Help Protect our Rivers! (Earth Gauge)Did you know that Georgia is home to nearly 70,000 miles of rivers? Freshwater rivers and streams sustain our communities by providing drinking and irrigation water... wildlife habitat... recreational
June is the perfect time to begin protecting and enjoying our rivers!
![Lightning strikes the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) on June 12 in Chicago. (Getty Images)]( "Lightning strikes the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) on June 12 in Chicago. (Getty Images)")
Lightning strikes the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) on June 12 in Chicago. (Getty Images)The picture on your left is a lightning strike at the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) yesterday in Chicago. A massive storm system with heavy rain... high winds and hail and possible tornadoes
So... how often does the Willis tower get struck by lightning?
![The debris signature of the 2013 Moore, Oklahoma, tornado as detected from the Oklahoma City weather radar.]( "The debris signature of the 2013 Moore, Oklahoma, tornado as detected from the Oklahoma City weather radar.")
The debris signature of the 2013 Moore, Oklahoma, tornado as detected from the Oklahoma City weather radar.Weather radar is a type of instrumentation that can detect and locate precipitation... calculate its motion and estimate its type such as rain... snow or hail. The data gained from these weather radar
The Oklahoma City weather radar observed the entire life of the tornado from 2:56 p.m. to 3:35 p.m. Central Time on May 20, 2013.
![Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory]( "Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory")
Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory On May 20, 2013... central Oklahoma was devastated by a EF-5 tornado... the most severe on the enhanced Fujita scale. The Newcastle-Moore tornado killed at least 24 people... injured 377... and affected
On June 2, 2013... the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) on NASA's Terra satellite observed the scar of that tornado on the Oklahoma landscape.
![Savannah Overdue for a Hurricane (WSAV)]( "Savannah Overdue for a Hurricane (WSAV)")
Savannah Overdue for a Hurricane (WSAV)Hurricane season is a little over a week old... and already one named storm has come and gone... Andrea... which became a tropical storm and impacted our local area with rain and gusty winds. Recently...
Recently... a team of meteorologists at The Weather Channel and weather.com came up with a list of overdue and most vulnerable cities... and Savannah was on this list.
![Photo: National Parks Service]( "Photo: National Parks Service")
Photo: National Parks ServiceJune 1-9... 2013 is National Fishing and Boating Week... the perfect chance enjoy nice weather and connect with nature. In 2011... over 90 million U.S. residents – 38 percent of the population 16 years
June 1-9... 2013 is National Fishing and Boating Week... the perfect chance enjoy nice weather and connect with nature.
![NOAA NWS Major Hurricane Historic Tracks]( "NOAA NWS Major Hurricane Historic Tracks")
NOAA NWS Major Hurricane Historic TracksHurricane season officially kicks off tomorrow (June 1) in the Atlantic basin (Atlantic... Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea) and the forecast is for an active to very active season this year. I usually
The last major hurricane to strike the United States was Wilma back in 2005!
![NOAA Storm Prediction Center]( "NOAA Storm Prediction Center")
NOAA Storm Prediction CenterWe have all seen the severe weather outbreaks this spring in the plains... with dangerous thunderstorms and even some powerful tornadoes. We are squarely in thunderstorm season... and this morning I wanted
Squarely in thunderstorm season... this morning I want to discuss some terms you may hear us use related to severe weather.
![National Hurricane Preparedness Week (Courtesy National Hurricane Center)]( "National Hurricane Preparedness Week (Courtesy National Hurricane Center)")
National Hurricane Preparedness Week (Courtesy National Hurricane Center)The devastation wrought by the recent powerful tornadoes in the Oklahoma City area is a tragic reminder of the importance of being prepared for severe weather of all kinds. This week is National Hurricane
This week is National Hurricane Preparedness Week... a time to emphasize that preparing for these massive storms is vital to every family's health and well-being.
![Volunteers Jaqi Castro, left, Angelica Morris-Smith and Cetoria Petties walk through a tornado ravaged neighborhood handing out supplies to residents and volunteers on Memorial Day in Moore, Okla. (Getty Images)]( "Volunteers Jaqi Castro, left, Angelica Morris-Smith and Cetoria Petties walk through a tornado ravaged neighborhood handing out supplies to residents and volunteers on Memorial Day in Moore, Okla. (Getty Images)")
Volunteers Jaqi Castro, left, Angelica Morris-Smith and Cetoria Petties walk through a tornado ravaged neighborhood handing out supplies to residents and volunteers on Memorial Day in Moore, Okla. (Getty Images)Some states find themselves with more natural disasters than others do. U.S. presidents have declared nearly 2,000 major disasters in the 50 states and the District of Columbia over the past 60 years
Some states find themselves with more natural disasters than others do. U.S. presidents have declared nearly 2,000 major disasters in the 50 states and the District of Columbia over the past 60 years
![MyNOAACharts, a mobile app beta test for Android tablets, can easily integrate the user's location, the nautical chart, and all the navigational information from the U.S. Coast Pilot. (Courtesy NOAA)]( "MyNOAACharts, a mobile app beta test for Android tablets, can easily integrate the user's location, the nautical chart, and all the navigational information from the U.S. Coast Pilot. (Courtesy NOAA)")
MyNOAACharts, a mobile app beta test for Android tablets, can easily integrate the user's location, the nautical chart, and all the navigational information from the U.S. Coast Pilot. (Courtesy NOAA)As recreational boaters gear up for a summer of fun on the coastal waters... NOAA is testing MyNOAACharts... a new mobile application that allows users to download NOAA nautical charts and editions of
The public is invited to try the beta version of MyNOAACharts.
![Heat Awareness Day (Photo NOAA)]( "Heat Awareness Day (Photo NOAA)")
Heat Awareness Day (Photo NOAA)Extreme Heat is the number one weather-related killer in the United States... claiming more lives each year than floods... lightning... tornadoes and hurricanes combined. Today I am talking about the
Heat-related illnesses can range from heat cramps to heat exhaustion to more serious heat stroke.
![Composite satellite image shows a lack of data from GOES-13 over the east coast of the U.S. (CIMSS)]( "Composite satellite image shows a lack of data from GOES-13 over the east coast of the U.S. (CIMSS)")
Composite satellite image shows a lack of data from GOES-13 over the east coast of the U.S. (CIMSS)This is bad news with hurricane season on the verge of beginning in the Atlantic… Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. Hurricane season starts June 1.
The primary weather satellite meteorologists use to forecast weather over the eastern United States and the tropical Atlantic Ocean failed late Tuesday… which is bad short term news for weather forecasters. The
![Detailed Tornado Track Map (Courtesy NOAA NWS)]( "Detailed Tornado Track Map (Courtesy NOAA NWS)")
Detailed Tornado Track Map (Courtesy NOAA NWS)The information is in... and the National Weather Service Damage Survey Has Now Rated The Newcastle/Moore Tornado As Ef5 With Winds At 200 To 210 Mph... The Highest Category On The Ef Scale. The National
The Newcastle/Moore Tornado Is Rated As Ef5 With Winds At 200 To 210 Mph... The Highest Category On The Ef Scale.
![A woman carries a child through a tornado-ravaged neighborhood in Moore, Okla., May 20, 2013. (AP)]( "A woman carries a child through a tornado-ravaged neighborhood in Moore, Okla., May 20, 2013. (AP)")
A woman carries a child through a tornado-ravaged neighborhood in Moore, Okla., May 20, 2013. (AP)Many of us are looking for ways we can help the residents of Moore, Oklahoma... which was ravaged by at least an EF-4 tornado yesterday afternoon. There are a number of organizations providing relief
There are a number of organizations providing relief in the area.
![Hurricane/Post-Tropical Cyclone Sandy, October 22-29, 2012 (Courtesy NOAA)]( "Hurricane/Post-Tropical Cyclone Sandy, October 22-29, 2012 (Courtesy NOAA)")
Hurricane/Post-Tropical Cyclone Sandy, October 22-29, 2012 (Courtesy NOAA)After a thoughtful and deliberate review... NOAA has released a report on the National Weather Service's performance during hurricane/post tropical cyclone Sandy. The report... Hurricane/Post Tropical
NOAA has released a report on the National Weather Service's performance during hurricane/post tropical cyclone Sandy.
![National Safe Boating Week / National Weather Service]( "National Safe Boating Week / National Weather Service")
National Safe Boating Week / National Weather ServiceWith summer fast approaching... families and friends are anxious to enjoy time in the sun and on the water... boating... fishing... paddling and more. During all recreational water activities it's important
During all recreational water activities it's important to remember safety precautions.
![© Smart Summer Drive (Pic Courtesy midtowntire.com)]( "© Smart Summer Drive (Pic Courtesy midtowntire.com)")
© Smart Summer Drive (Pic Courtesy midtowntire.com)As the weather warms up... many people are hitting the road for summer vacation. The Alliance to Save Energy calculated that the average U.S. household will spend nearly 3,500 dollars fueling up vehicles
Maintaining your vehicle and using smart driving techniques can make the gas in your tank last longer – and put a few dollars back in your pocket.
![The PING Project]( "The PING Project")
The PING ProjectThe National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) needs YOUR help with a research project! The Precipitation Identification Near the Ground project (PING) wants YOU to watch and report on precipitation type.
The National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) needs YOUR help with a research project! The Precipitation Identification Near the Ground project (PING) wants YOU to watch and report on precipitation type.
![Depletion of ozone around the South Pole has altered global air-circulation patterns (Kang et al., 2011)]( "Depletion of ozone around the South Pole has altered global air-circulation patterns (Kang et al., 2011)")
Depletion of ozone around the South Pole has altered global air-circulation patterns (Kang et al., 2011)When you hear about the Ozone Hole... you might think about sun burns and skin cancer. Or... maybe you think about aerosol cans... CFCs and the Montreal Protocol. You probably don't picture stronger
The hole in the Earth's ozone layer over the South Pole has affected atmospheric circulation in the Southern Hemisphere all the way to the equator.
![Spring & Summer Temp Trend vs Wildfire Activity (Climate Central)]( "Spring & Summer Temp Trend vs Wildfire Activity (Climate Central)")
Spring & Summer Temp Trend vs Wildfire Activity (Climate Central)The early-season wildfires that flared in Southern California last week are mostly under control now… but that term "early season" may not mean much anymore. A recent Climate Central report shows that
A recent report shows that the burn season across the West is a whopping two-and-a-half months longer than it was 40 years ago.
![Source... NWS / NOAA and Climate Central]( "Source... NWS / NOAA and Climate Central")
Source... NWS / NOAA and Climate CentralThe weather forecast for the Kentucky Derby is not looking to good. Latest indications... an 80 to 90 percent chance of showers with cloudy skies. A high around 59 at Churchill Downs... so its going to
The weather forecast for the Kentucky Derby is not looking to good. Latest indications... an 80 to 90 percent chance of showers with cloudy skies. A high around 59 at Churchill Downs... so its going to
![GOES-R credit: NOAA/NASA]( "GOES-R credit: NOAA/NASA")
GOES-R credit: NOAA/NASA We are just a few years away from seeing significant improvements in the way NOAA will serve the public with even better weather forecasts and warnings. The first of six instruments that will fly on GOES-R…
The instrument… the Extreme Ultraviolet and X-ray Irradiance Sensors… or EXIS… will provide forecasters at NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center with some of the most important early warnings of impending solar storms.
![One year of CO2 daily and weekly means at Mauna Loa (Courtesy NOAA)]( "One year of CO2 daily and weekly means at Mauna Loa (Courtesy NOAA)")
One year of CO2 daily and weekly means at Mauna Loa (Courtesy NOAA)The concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide has reached 399.72 parts per million (ppm) and will likely pass the important symbolic 400ppm level for the first time in the next several days. Official
The concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide has reached 399.72 parts per million (ppm) and will likely pass the important symbolic 400ppm level for the first time in the next several days.
