Thursday, August 30, 2007
Hurricane Carol
It was on this date back in 1954 Hurricane Carol struck the northeast as a category three storm. It made landfall on Long Island, NY and continued northward through New England.
Block Island reported a 130mph wind gust. Coastal flooding occurred and wind gusts reached 100-125mph across the area. 60 people lost their lives and damages totaled more than 450 million dollars.
New England had to quickly prepare for a second storm as Hurricane Edna formed in Carols wake. It followed a similar path, reaching New England just three days after Carol.
Block Island reported a 130mph wind gust. Coastal flooding occurred and wind gusts reached 100-125mph across the area. 60 people lost their lives and damages totaled more than 450 million dollars.
New England had to quickly prepare for a second storm as Hurricane Edna formed in Carols wake. It followed a similar path, reaching New England just three days after Carol.
Posted at 12:50 PM by Storm Team 5 0 comments
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Thunderstorms will enter the picture for parts of New England on late Thursday
into early Friday.There could even be a little hail mixed in well north and west
of Boston.
The National Weather Service has quite a list of hail sizes from tiny to huge
and here it is:
Pea size hail.............1/4" Diamerter
Marble size hail.......1/2" Diamerter
Dime size hail...........3/4"Diameter
Quarter size hail........1' Diameter
Ping Pong size hail..11/2"Diameter
Hen Egg size hail.....2"Diameter
Baseball size hail.....23/4" Diameter
Grapefruit size hail....4" Diameter
Softball size hail........41/2" Diameter
Dick Albert
into early Friday.There could even be a little hail mixed in well north and west
of Boston.
The National Weather Service has quite a list of hail sizes from tiny to huge
and here it is:
Pea size hail.............1/4" Diamerter
Marble size hail.......1/2" Diamerter
Dime size hail...........3/4"Diameter
Quarter size hail........1' Diameter
Ping Pong size hail..11/2"Diameter
Hen Egg size hail.....2"Diameter
Baseball size hail.....23/4" Diameter
Grapefruit size hail....4" Diameter
Softball size hail........41/2" Diameter
Dick Albert
Posted at 12:30 PM by Storm Team 5 0 comments
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
The Heart Of Hurricane Season
The Heart Of Hurricane Season
We are fast approaching the peak of Hurricane Season. September is usually the most active month (that's when tropical ocean water temperatures are at their warmest) , with the peak day of Hurricane Frequency on September 10th (on average). In reality, the entire period from the middle of August into early October is usually the most active period, and notice how Sept. 10th falls right into the middle of that period. And, although the tropics are relatively quiet now, there are signs that one or more storms may be developing during the next couple of weeks. Don't be surprised if we are tracking multiple storms by the time Sept. 10th rolls around.
Harvey Leonard
Co-Chief Meteorologist, WCVB-TV
We are fast approaching the peak of Hurricane Season. September is usually the most active month (that's when tropical ocean water temperatures are at their warmest) , with the peak day of Hurricane Frequency on September 10th (on average). In reality, the entire period from the middle of August into early October is usually the most active period, and notice how Sept. 10th falls right into the middle of that period. And, although the tropics are relatively quiet now, there are signs that one or more storms may be developing during the next couple of weeks. Don't be surprised if we are tracking multiple storms by the time Sept. 10th rolls around.
Harvey Leonard
Co-Chief Meteorologist, WCVB-TV
Posted at 3:18 PM by Storm Team 5 0 comments
Saturday, August 25, 2007
The tropics have been quiet...especially for New England.
2007 was originally forecast to be a very active hurricane season. With the exception of "Dean" it hasn't lived up to its original billing. The real fear among forecasters it that an active season could mean a long over due major New England hurricane.
Major hurricanes are in our history. We've had several strong tropical systems move through in recent years, but none compare to the massive Hurricane of 1938. It was one of the worst disasters in North American history. 688 people were killed and more than 75,000 buildings were damaged. The storm surge that hit Rhode Island was so severe - that earthquake instruments 3,000-miles away recorded it on seismographs.
The Hurricane of September 1938 was not an anomaly. Such powerful systems have been recorded in New England as far back as 1635 when the "Great Colonial Hurricane" hit the northeast.
It's not a question of IF we'll every see a major hurricane, but merely when.
Mike Wankum
Meteorologist
WCVB-TV
Major hurricanes are in our history. We've had several strong tropical systems move through in recent years, but none compare to the massive Hurricane of 1938. It was one of the worst disasters in North American history. 688 people were killed and more than 75,000 buildings were damaged. The storm surge that hit Rhode Island was so severe - that earthquake instruments 3,000-miles away recorded it on seismographs.
The Hurricane of September 1938 was not an anomaly. Such powerful systems have been recorded in New England as far back as 1635 when the "Great Colonial Hurricane" hit the northeast.
It's not a question of IF we'll every see a major hurricane, but merely when.
Mike Wankum
Meteorologist
WCVB-TV
Posted at 5:53 PM by Storm Team 5 0 comments
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Hurricane Dean vs Hurricane Andrew
Hurricane Dean made landfall along the Yucatan Peninsula early Tuesday
morning. It was the first Category Five Atlantic hurricane to strike land
since Hurricane Andrew struck in 1992.
It was on this date, August 24th, 15 years ago Andrew made landfall near Homestead, Florida. At the time, Andrew had maximum sustained winds of 165mph. Dean also hit land with 165mph winds but in a much less populated area of Mexico.
41 people died when Andrew hit and more than 125,000 homes were destroyed. It will take time to calculate the cost of Dean's destruction as people in Mexico clean up in the aftermath of this historic storm.
morning. It was the first Category Five Atlantic hurricane to strike land
since Hurricane Andrew struck in 1992.
It was on this date, August 24th, 15 years ago Andrew made landfall near Homestead, Florida. At the time, Andrew had maximum sustained winds of 165mph. Dean also hit land with 165mph winds but in a much less populated area of Mexico.
41 people died when Andrew hit and more than 125,000 homes were destroyed. It will take time to calculate the cost of Dean's destruction as people in Mexico clean up in the aftermath of this historic storm.
Posted at 4:33 AM by Storm Team 5 0 comments
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
The Night Sky
Did you know that the International Space Station is undergoing renovations? That’s right…the space station is under construction! Each shuttle trip brings more and more supplies to continue the expansion. These new additions will make the sprawling space station even easier to see from the ground with the naked eye. The station now resembles a very bright star streaking across the night sky. Backyard telescopes reveal even more with solar panels, laboratories, and living modules all in view.
Joe Venuti
WCVB Meteorologist
Joe Venuti
WCVB Meteorologist
Posted at 10:58 AM by Storm Team 5 0 comments
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Ranking a Hurricane.
Hurricanes are ranked from 1-5. The strongest is a Category 5 and capable of devastating damage. This ranking is called the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. Herbert Saffir was a civil engineer studying low cost housing in hurricane regions. He realized there was no simple scale for determining hurricane destruction. His initial system was based on wind speeds and what type of damage would result from hurricanes. In 1969 he teamed with National Hurricane Center Director Bob Simpson, adding the effect of storm surge. Because of these two scientist we now have an accurate way of ranking tropical systems.
Mike Wankum
Meteorologist
WCVB-TV
Boston
Mike Wankum
Meteorologist
WCVB-TV
Boston
Posted at 6:11 AM by Storm Team 5 0 comments
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Hurricane Diane, 1955
On this date in 1955, Hurricane Diane hit the coast of North Carolina, just north of Cape Fear. The storm weakened just before landfall but had at one time strengthened to a category three hurricane.
Over the next two days, Diane continued it's northeast track bringing flooding rain to New England. Westfield, MA received a record 18.15" of rain in just 24 hours, proving it's not just coastal towns that need to be concerned about the tropics.
By The 19th, Diane was passing just south of New England as a tropical storm. Flooding from North Carolina to New England led to 184 deaths and more than 800 million dollars in damage.
Over the next two days, Diane continued it's northeast track bringing flooding rain to New England. Westfield, MA received a record 18.15" of rain in just 24 hours, proving it's not just coastal towns that need to be concerned about the tropics.
By The 19th, Diane was passing just south of New England as a tropical storm. Flooding from North Carolina to New England led to 184 deaths and more than 800 million dollars in damage.
Posted at 5:17 AM by Storm Team 5 0 comments
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Late Summer Thunder
The lack of rain this time of year can wreak havoc on our gardens and lawns. Thunderstorms often provide some quick relief, but can also cause problems. The heavy downpours often strip the top layer of soil away and carry needed nutrients with it. A layer of mulch, whether it’s bark chips, grass clippings, or stone, can add a protective layer. Two to three inches is all that’s needed. The mulch will also deprive weeds of the needed light to thrive and keep the soil temperature and moisture levels much more constant.
Joe Venuti
WCVB Meteorologist
Joe Venuti
WCVB Meteorologist
Posted at 12:49 PM by Storm Team 5 0 comments
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Trouble Brewing In The Atlantic
"Trouble Brewing In The Atlantic"
Tropical Storm Dean, located over a 1000 miles east of The Caribbean is likely to intensify to hurricane status as it moves westward over warmer ocean waters in the general direction of The Windward and Leeward Islands. In fact, Dean may be very close to some of those islands over the coming weekend. Dean could very well turn out to be the first significant hurricane of the season, which is still predicted to be a rather active season. It's a bit too early to say for sure if Dean will eventually impact any part of the United States, but folks in Florida and along the Gulf of Mexico will have to monitor the progress of the storm carefully, particularly with regard to the time period of next week.
Harvey Leonard
Co-Chief Meteorologist, WCVB-TV
Tropical Storm Dean, located over a 1000 miles east of The Caribbean is likely to intensify to hurricane status as it moves westward over warmer ocean waters in the general direction of The Windward and Leeward Islands. In fact, Dean may be very close to some of those islands over the coming weekend. Dean could very well turn out to be the first significant hurricane of the season, which is still predicted to be a rather active season. It's a bit too early to say for sure if Dean will eventually impact any part of the United States, but folks in Florida and along the Gulf of Mexico will have to monitor the progress of the storm carefully, particularly with regard to the time period of next week.
Harvey Leonard
Co-Chief Meteorologist, WCVB-TV
Posted at 1:27 PM by Storm Team 5 0 comments
Monday, August 13, 2007
Dog Days
The “Dog Days of Summer”…a phrase I’ve heard all my life…but why and how did this part of summer acquire this stigma? Dog Days are the name usually given to the sultriest part of the summer season. Named centuries ago by ancient astronomers who paid very close attention to the stars, this time of the year correlated with the alignment of the sun and the star Sirius. Sirius, or the Dog Star, is one of the brightest stars in our sky and is located in Canis Major or the Large Dog constellation.
Joe Venuti
WCVB Meteorologist
Joe Venuti
WCVB Meteorologist
Posted at 1:09 PM by Storm Team 5 0 comments
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Before it becomes a hurricane....
Tropical system go through several stages of development before finally becoming a hurricane. The first stage is a "Tropical Wave". No, this isn't a hula dancer waving a greeting. It's the very beginning of most hurricanes. It can be as simple as an area of thunderstorms coming off the African Coast. If the conditions are just right it will become an East Coast hurricane in about 10-days. At any given time we might be tracking a half dozen of these Tropical Waves in the Atlantic Basin. Most just fade away. However a few become "Tropical Depressions". After this, the next stage is a Tropical Storm. "Tropical Storms" get a name and if the winds are just right it becomes a" Hurricane". Winds must exceed 74mph to be call a "Hurricane".
Mike Wankum
Meteorologist
WCVB
Boston
Mike Wankum
Meteorologist
WCVB
Boston
Posted at 1:00 PM by Storm Team 5 0 comments
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Perseid Meteor Shower
One of the most famous meteor showers, the Perseids, will be peaking this weekend. We owe the often brilliant nighttime display to the comet Swift-Tuttle which is no where near the Earth. However, our orbit takes us through the large icy tale of the comet which contains mostly sand size grains of debris which streak through the atmosphere at 132,000 mph. The best viewing will be from 11pm Sunday night through the early morning on Monday. Look overhead and towards the northeastern part of the sky where the constellation Perseus resides. This is where the meteor shower gets its name.
Joe Venuti
WCVB Meteorologist
Joe Venuti
WCVB Meteorologist
Posted at 7:19 AM by Storm Team 5 0 comments
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Ocean Temperatures
We may have already had our hottest temperatures this season.
It reached 96 degrees on June 27th.It was a sizzling 95 degrees
on June 26th and August 3rd.
But the ocean water temperatures usually peak in the next few weeks.
This is when the water temperatures can get well in the 70s, especially
over the Cape and the islands.
It is interesting to note that the warm ocean temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean
in August coincide with the usual increase in tropical storm and hurricane activity.
I will be watching the waters for any tropical storm development over
the next several weeks.
It reached 96 degrees on June 27th.It was a sizzling 95 degrees
on June 26th and August 3rd.
But the ocean water temperatures usually peak in the next few weeks.
This is when the water temperatures can get well in the 70s, especially
over the Cape and the islands.
It is interesting to note that the warm ocean temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean
in August coincide with the usual increase in tropical storm and hurricane activity.
I will be watching the waters for any tropical storm development over
the next several weeks.
Posted at 12:31 PM by Storm Team 5 0 comments
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Summertime Thunderstorms
Timing Is Everything
Have you ever noticed that most of the truly severe thunderstorms that we get usually occur during the maximum heating of the day (mid-afternoon through early evening), when sunshine has really boosted temperatures on a humid day? That's because some of the weather conditions necessary to produce severe thunderstorms involve very warm temperatures on the ground while relatively cool temperatures exist thousands of feet above us. That creates instability in the atmosphere which during the warmer time of the year can lead to severe thunderstorms. But, if there air is chilly enough above us, we can still have enough instability to produce thunderstorms at other times of the day or night, even without having the air at ground level heated by the sun.
Harvey Leonard
Co-Chief Meteorologist, WCVB-TV
Have you ever noticed that most of the truly severe thunderstorms that we get usually occur during the maximum heating of the day (mid-afternoon through early evening), when sunshine has really boosted temperatures on a humid day? That's because some of the weather conditions necessary to produce severe thunderstorms involve very warm temperatures on the ground while relatively cool temperatures exist thousands of feet above us. That creates instability in the atmosphere which during the warmer time of the year can lead to severe thunderstorms. But, if there air is chilly enough above us, we can still have enough instability to produce thunderstorms at other times of the day or night, even without having the air at ground level heated by the sun.
Harvey Leonard
Co-Chief Meteorologist, WCVB-TV
Posted at 3:05 PM by Storm Team 5 0 comments
Monday, August 6, 2007
A Brief Break
Hot and humid weather is upon us once again today after our brief break from the unhealthy air. Just like the slogan goes for milk, “it does a body good”, that refreshing change of Canadian air gave our bodies a much needed respite from the heat and humidity. Cooler periods in the weather, especially at night, help to prevent heat stroke during the day. The number of US heat related deaths has gone up over 5% in the last 15 years. About 96 people die each year from heat stress in the Boston Metropolitan Area. So in other words…take it easy out there today.
Joe Venuti
WCVB Meteorologist
Joe Venuti
WCVB Meteorologist
Posted at 12:52 PM by Storm Team 5 0 comments
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Weakening Hurricane Season
The 2007 Atlantic Hurricane Season began back on June 1st. It's been pretty quiet so far. In fact one of the premiere hurricane forecaster, Dr. William Gray has lowered his estimates. Back in May Dr. Gray's research team estimated we'd have 17 named storms, 5 of which would become hurricanes and 5 of those Category 3 or larger. Last week the prediction was lowered to 15 named storms, 8 of those hurricanes and only 4 of those labeled as intense. Even though the forecast has been lowered for this year, most scientist agree that we have entered a period of above average hurricane development. And this period could last another 10-20 years.
Mike Wankum
Meteorologist
WCVB
Mike Wankum
Meteorologist
WCVB
Posted at 11:35 AM by Storm Team 5 0 comments
Thursday, August 2, 2007
An Eye To The Sky
Friday looks to be one hot and humid day. The air could
also be very unhealthy due to high ozone levels.
We're going to have to keep an eye to the sky because
of possible potent thunderstorms.
The thunderstorm clouds are called cumulonimbus clouds.
They can develop rather rapidly from a relatively small cloud
rising ten thousand feet to a mammoth thirty thousand foot
thunderhead.A severe thunderstorm can contain
dangerously strong winds,large hail,vivid dangerous lightning
and torrential rains.So be careful and safe.
Dick Albert,Co-Chief Meteorologist,WCVB-TV
also be very unhealthy due to high ozone levels.
We're going to have to keep an eye to the sky because
of possible potent thunderstorms.
The thunderstorm clouds are called cumulonimbus clouds.
They can develop rather rapidly from a relatively small cloud
rising ten thousand feet to a mammoth thirty thousand foot
thunderhead.A severe thunderstorm can contain
dangerously strong winds,large hail,vivid dangerous lightning
and torrential rains.So be careful and safe.
Dick Albert,Co-Chief Meteorologist,WCVB-TV
Posted at 2:33 PM by Storm Team 5 0 comments
July Climate Report
Is it just me, or does Summer seem to go more quickly than the other
seasons? Already, August is upon us and with it, a lot of heat and
humidity, at least to start.
Looking back at July in Boston, it was a month of extremes. While much of
the month was dry, our total rainfall was 5.26". That's 2.20" above normal.
However, most of the rain came on two days at the end of the month. This
past Saturday, Boston picked up more than 2 inches of rain and then again on
Monday, more than an inch and a half.
As for temperatures, Boston recorded five days of 90 degree or greater
readings and one day when the temperarture never got out of the 60's!
No doubt, we'll be looking back at August in no time and looking ahead to
fall. In the meantime, enjoy the summer,
JC Monahan
Meteorologist, WCVB
seasons? Already, August is upon us and with it, a lot of heat and
humidity, at least to start.
Looking back at July in Boston, it was a month of extremes. While much of
the month was dry, our total rainfall was 5.26". That's 2.20" above normal.
However, most of the rain came on two days at the end of the month. This
past Saturday, Boston picked up more than 2 inches of rain and then again on
Monday, more than an inch and a half.
As for temperatures, Boston recorded five days of 90 degree or greater
readings and one day when the temperarture never got out of the 60's!
No doubt, we'll be looking back at August in no time and looking ahead to
fall. In the meantime, enjoy the summer,
JC Monahan
Meteorologist, WCVB
Posted at 3:32 AM by Storm Team 5 0 comments
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Hot Weather
A couple of very hot days of summer are upon us.
The temperatures on Thursday will range from
85 to 95 degrees. Friday will be even hotter and more humid
with the chance of strong thunderstorms late in the day.
It will be hot,but not even close to record heat.
The record in Boston on August 2nd is 102 degrees ste in 1975!!
The record for August 3rd is 98 degrees set in 1930!
The all-time record for Boston was set on July 4th,1911.
The temperature on that day reached 104 degrees!
Dick Albert,Co-Chief Meteorologist,WCVB-TV
The temperatures on Thursday will range from
85 to 95 degrees. Friday will be even hotter and more humid
with the chance of strong thunderstorms late in the day.
It will be hot,but not even close to record heat.
The record in Boston on August 2nd is 102 degrees ste in 1975!!
The record for August 3rd is 98 degrees set in 1930!
The all-time record for Boston was set on July 4th,1911.
The temperature on that day reached 104 degrees!
Dick Albert,Co-Chief Meteorologist,WCVB-TV
Posted at 2:51 PM by Storm Team 5 0 comments