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DecemberWinter Driving...It's Already Hard Enough In Normal Conditions (Gary Archibald, Weathercaster) February 1, 2007 | 8:53 a.m. ET Just a request to those who have little if any experience driving in wintry weather conditions – there are so many things that can be done to avoid making life dangerous for you, me and everyone else on the road. Let’s examine the situation shall we…
Don’t drive.
That is…please let us all avoid driving if possible on days or nights that weather is active (this holds for all seasons by the way). You know, falling snow…perhaps blowing and drifting at times with whiteout conditions, freezing fog and or rain, which not only reduces visibility also but is extremely treacherous due to the fact that vehicles in general just have the a really tough time gaining, maintaining traction on ice. Ummm…actually it is practically impossible to gain traction on ice unless you are driving a tank.
Some of you may recall the great amateur video of the sliding cars and SUVs in Portland, Oregon, several days ago.
Watch! Real Life Bumper CarsFor some of those unfortunate drivers, they had no idea what was coming. What seemed like a snow-covered road was in fact a ruse. A thick layer of a half to an inch of frozen H2O coated the streets making it look more like an elongated ice rink than an avenue.
I just bet that some of those drivers actually thought that because their vehicles were “all-wheel-drive” or “4x4s” that they could conquer anything Mother Nature laid down. And despite the conditions that they knew before they got behind the wheel, they motored on anyway. Not so. Pretty arrogant if you ask me. And foolish.
You and I get the idea. Besides, if they tuned on to WeatherPlus.com (via the web or television) they would have know what we had forecasted for the region and made plans accordingly. Who wants to get into an accident? Not me. And I certainly don’t want my insurance rates to go up. There’s also that issue of endangering life. Just a thought.
The thing to do if you are caught in a freezing rain storm or a blinding blizzard is to try and get off the main road – pull over in an area parking lot for example and wait it out. On an Interstate, you always have to drive according to the conditions – period. Have you ever been driving in a snowstorm at say…35 mph, just like most of the drivers on the road because that’s the speed that is SENSIBLE, SAFE AND MANAGEABLE? And then a car comes up behind you, throws on his/her high beams to get you to speed up or move aside? They go on to cruise at the speed limit of say 60 or 65, weaving in and out of traffic to boot – just crazy.
Let’s not do that. In really bad weather, pull over and put your hazards on. Better to get out of the way of the 4,000-pound missiles flying down the parkway. That makes sense.
Drive safe. Tune into Weather Plus and get your accurate forecast in advance of the oncoming storm so that you can deal with the elements – sensibly and safely.
Have any crazy weather-driving stories?
E-mail us! We would love to hear form you!
Cheers!
Gary
---Snow For Alabama But Not New York??? (Kristen Cornett, Meteorologist) January 31, 2007 | 7:45 p.m. ET What is up with the New York City weather?!?!? Here's the deal...I don't even like snow that much but this is getting ridiculous.
I used to live in Huntsville, Ala., and they are under a Winter Weather Advisory through Thursday morning. As I'm sure you can imagine, it doesn't snow much in Alabama. However, snowfall of one to two inches is expected tonight!
On the other hand, New York City (Central Park) just got their first inch of snow January 30. That's it. One little bitty inch. We didn't even get our first trace of snow this winter until January. The last time that there was no winter snow until January? The winter of 1877-1878!!!
Typically 2.6 inches of snow falls in Central Park in December. The previous December (2005), we received 9.7 inches. I'm a big believer in climate cycles. We might get dumped on one winter and hardly anything the next...and then it all averages out to normal levels over time. Therefore I'm not offering any kind of explanation, because I don't think there necessarily is one. But it is kind of weird, don't you think???
---I Hated Winter In The Northeast, But Now… (Keith Davis, Web Producer) January 31, 2007 | 10:45 a.m. ET I hate winter in the Northeast…at least that’s what I thought when I was still running around the streets of Freehold, N.J., (
hometown of Bruce Springsteen) as a 5th grader in my
KangaROOS shoes. You see, to me winter meant one thing and one thing only. Really, really cold weather. Uncomfortable…bone-chilling…big, ugly wool coat and brown corduroy jeans weather.
To say I hated winter as a child would be an understatement. I really hated it. But why?
Well for me it all had to do with sports. Baseball was my favorite sport, but as soon as the mercury took a dip, the aluminum bats and rubber spikes got packed away and shoved in a dusty corner in the basement. And to make matters worst, a snowy driveway and the possibility of frostbite kept me from my second favorite pastime – shooting hoops. Playing
Double Dribble on my Nintendo helped out a bit but nothing could beat playing the real thing.
I was addicted to sports as a youth but couldn’t play year-round because Mother Nature decided every October to blow her chilly winds on the Northeast and bring about change. My cousins in Florida played baseball all year. Kids in Southern California played basketball outdoors year-round. But in the Northeast, no such luck. All we got were a few days off from school, snowball fights and maybe some extra cash (if you had a good shovel and an entrepreneurial spirit like myself).
Which brings me to the present. If you haven’t noticed, this year it’s been pretty warm in the tri-state area. We’ve had no “real” snowfall to speak of and there are reports of
flowers already starting to bloom. Flowers blooming in New York? In January? Are you freaggin’ kidding me?
Not having a “real” winter so far has definitely turned me into a softy. Okay I DON’T hate winter. In fact, I kinda miss it. What’s winter without a few broken down Pintos and Hyundais on the Jersey Turnpike turning a 40-minute commute into a 2-hour sightseeing tour of The Garden State? You gotta love Joysee!
And plus, with cold weather comes the best holidays. There’s Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day…I couldn’t imagine any of these days without a few flurries and a slight chill in the air.
So I’m going on record and saying that winter isn’t all that bad. Okay, there I said it. Oh and just for good measure…a few members of the web team are heading to
Minneapolis today. Morning highs are predicted to be in the low teens with wind chills approaching 0.
When they get back, I’ll ask them how much
they hate winter lol.
-Keith
---A Nice Warm Blanket (Bill Karins, Meteorologist) January 30, 2007 | 1:49 p.m. ET The oranges, tropical plants and snowbirds survived. The potential freeze never materialized over Central Florida. It was still cold, but not damaging.
So why didn’t the freeze materialize? Take a look at this satellite image from early this morning.
The easiest weather rule in the book is "Warm air rises, Cold air sinks." The clouds didn’t allow this to happen to its maximum potential. The clouds act as an insulator to the heat of the earth. Meteorologists refer to this as a blanket of clouds because blankets hold in the heat for us every night.
Going into last night we were unsure when the clouds would move over Florida during the night. So a freeze warning was issued just in case the clouds came too late or dissipated. Watches and warnings are sometimes issued just in case the worst happens.
Although a lot of workers stayed up all night long heating and protecting their crops for no reason, I’m sure they aren’t complaining. If the clouds hadn’t moved in, many of the crops would have been lost along with their jobs. Everybody loves a good blanket.
Looking back to my last blog, I need to give a quick thank you to Mother Nature. Right after I complained about no snow and ugly brown grass, she surprised me with a mini snowstorm. Sunday night 2-3 inches fell in Prospect Park, Brooklyn near my home. It was by far the highest total anywhere in the region. I was the bulls-eye.
As I walked my dog that night I heard one man say to his son, "Let's enjoy the magic of winter." I couldn’t have agreed more. Who knew Mother Nature and I were so tight?
---Something In The Water? (Gary Archibald, Weathercaster) January 26, 2007 | 7:03 p.m. ET You know something interesting happened today – I discovered something about box drinks, you know the one’s that kids (young and old) pack into their lunch bags… They don’t freeze apparently. Hmmmm…
Check this out. I leave some foodstuffs in my car like chocolate (because I like it so much on a semi-daily basis in fact, and because it's good energy food if you are ever caught out in "nowhere land" with your car stuck in ice-covered ditch … you get the idea). I also have a bottle of water or two tucked away, and I bring in a couple on a daily basis (although on occasion stored for a few days in my car). In addition, I pack a lunch (some fruit, yogurt, bottle juices, and a sandwich perhaps). My drive from New York City to our NBC studios in New Jersey takes about an hour and a half (on a good day with all of that traffic). So on a day like today, I knew that with temperatures in the low single digits overnight into the wee early morning hours Friday (9 degrees, and the wind chill made it feel like -4!), whatever was in my car was going to be frozen or at the very least, very cold.
To no one’s surprise, the water bottles were rock hard. So were my chocolate bars -- you could break your teeth on them trying to take a bite. My lunch was cold, like it had been in the fridge for a day – especially my yogurt. However,
a couple of fruit juice box drinks (no product names mentioned here) that I forgot were in my car (overnight) were surprising cold but not frozen.
In fact, the boxes weren't showing any signs of freezing at all.I checked the ingredients just to see if there was water as one of the listed contents and sure enough there it was. Shouldn’t that have frozen?
No, this is not a scientific observation, just one of curiosity. Perhaps the water content in conjunction with the other ingredients played a part of the story? Or maybe the packaging had something to do with it? Either way, it left me thinking that I was drinking some concoction of, shall we say, unusual propertie. Hmm … Funny. A little scary too.
---I Say Graupel, You Say ... (Gary Archibald, Weathercaster) January 26, 2007 | 4:45 p.m. ET GRAUPEL – what’s that again?
As a weathercaster one has to be cautious of the terminology used to explain weather phenomena, facts, details. Case in point: I used the term "graupel" on-air to describe a type of wintry precipitation that had fallen on during a snow squall near my hometown of Toronto, Ontario. A few viewers, residents of the area afflicted, knew what graupel was -- but by another name.
Anyone who lives in the Great Lakes region is used to seeing and experiencing the effects of graupel as it falls to ground, coating the roads and in turn making them slippery and dangerous; it can accumulate very quickly under the right conditions. What is graupel exactly? It’s another term for snow pellets. It’s a German word that means "freezing rain" or "soft hail." It forms when freezing fog condenses on a snowflake and forms a small ball-like structure of ice somewhere in the neighborhood of 1-3mm. Snow or ice crystals are not included in the same family of precipitation – graupel is unique all by itself.
So you may ask, isn't it just easier to say "snow pellets" on air? Yes. It is easier, but the word "graupel" has a nice ring to it. In addition, I like being able to say "…and for those who may not know what graupel is, here’s a brief explanation." Ah yes, the opportunity to spread the jargon. What can I say, I’m a weather geek.
So how about you? Have any interesting terms for precipitation, official of otherwise? Perhaps a funny local weather story that’s been passed down a few generations?
Let us know!---My First Winter: Hello Cold (Talia Bluth, Weather Plus Producer) January 26, 2007 | 10:00 a.m. ET I never thought I would be moved to tears by the weather.
I also never thought I would look forward to 39 degrees.
(BTW: I also never thought I would fantasize about washing machines and fresh produce, but New York City changes a girl.)
Anyway, it is all true. Frigid doesn’t even come close to describing today’s weather. This is what New Yorkers have been warning me about. Take for example the following thoughtful email from one kind friend:
Ready for tonight? It's going to be 10 degrees out. I can't wait to read your blog on that one. Get ready to freeze you’re a** off.Ok, that might be more of a challenge than a warning, but I get where he’s going with it.
It’s amazing how much has changed in one week.
Last Friday I was concerned about temperatures in the 30s. And yeah, it was a cold week. Let me not down play that. However, turns out I didn’t meet true
cold until 5:32 this morning.
Talia, allow me to introduce you to Mr. Nine Degrees.
Did you know that it is still freezing down on the subway platforms? I didn’t. (I also didn’t realize that I left my hat on a bookshelf at home, but that’s a whole other story.)
I wasn’t able to warm up until I sat down on the bus headed for Jersey. I am really very lucky because I board the bus inside the Port Authority and don’t have to wait outside for a ride.
However, as we picked up people who had been waiting in the cold I learned a little lesson in layering. I was actually quite impressed. Passengers and their puffy coats were literally exploding out of their seats and into the isle. Not one person on that bus looked like they weighed less than 180lbs. My favorite accessory was the full face masks …
very creepy but also very warm I’m sure.
The tears started when we arrived at my stop. I have a one-block walk to MSNBC. Never have I ever experienced such temperatures. With the wind chill it was
at least 6 BELOW zero!! Did I mention I forgot my hat? Though let's be real, short of outfitting myself in a complete ski suit I’m not sure what would’ve kept this Californian warm.
Anyway, I’m safe now until I have to leave work.
But here’s the kicker: I, and five other fools, have dinner plans tonight. Who are these fools?
Other Californians.
Of course.
Ultimately, I see the evening going one of two ways. We are either going to freeze … or flake.
Any bets?
---The Coldest Air of My Life (Jeff Ranieri, Meteorologist) January 26, 2007 | 7:30 a.m. ET This Florida guy has officially stepped into the coldest weather of my life.
I have often used the words arctic, bitter, and frigid on the air to describe temperatures below 10 degrees and this morning I learned the true meaning. Wind Chills at my early rise time of 3 am came in at ( -12 ) degrees! The city of New York weather station even stopped reporting data for a bit as the cold may have got the best of the equipment.
It almost got the best of my weather reading equipment on my body as I felt the cold last night. I went to my window which faces the street and could feel the arctic chill trying to also get the best of my windows.
Then I really did it. Yep, I got the urge... and the weather geek in me popped the window open. Stupid, yes... within seconds the chill seemed to make the face feel numb and turned my hands into ice cubes. While that was fun for me in a weird weather geek way I was now left with a draft in my apartment. I took one look at the fireplace and fired up a log.
Once the fire was going I decided to get the gear out for tomorrow. I grabbed the gloves, long johns, heavy jacket and most importantly the hat. The hat is one of the most important items as you can loose most of the heat in your body through your head. A good wool cap usually works best in this type of weather.
Remember, frost bite and hypothermia can happen in weather this cold in as little as 15-20 minutes in some cases. Another important tip is to make sure you dress in layers. When you have several different layers it helps to trap heat molecules close to your body and this will defeat some of the wind chill.
I even had some fun with this on the NBC show Early Today this morning:
JEFF ON EARLY TODAY: Wrap It Up |
Hats OffIf you venture out in the Northeast, make sure to wrap yourself up good. Otherwise, if your reading this in a tropical location, feel some of the warmth for me today. Right now only my computer wallpaper is supplying a view and no heat, rrrrrrrrrrrr.
Meteorologist Jeff Ranieri
---Bill's Winter Blues: A Request For Mother Nature (Bill Karins, Meteorologist) January 25, 2007 | 5:47 p.m. ET Dear Mother Nature,
Cold and ugly. I look out the window and all I see is brown dead grass, skeleton-looking trees and white-crusted pavement from salt. I don’t mind the cold but at least have the decency to cover the ugly with a nice coating of snow. It won’t take much. An inch will do the trick. I’ve given up on the sledding and skiing this year but please give me at least one walk in the park with trees outlined in fresh white powder.
You know how much I love the snow and now I’m wondering if I’m being punished. Just look at the current snow cover across the country. What did all of us from Philadelphia to New York do to deserve this? How can Northern Virginia and Delaware be covered with snow but not us? While I’m at it, I'm throwing in a complaint from my friends in Montana who are still waiting for their first snowmobile ride.
I think what’s making this worse is that now I’m desperate for snow. I stare 4 times a day at the new weather computers forecasts waiting for details on the first big East Coast snowstorm.
The computers teased me last week with a storm that never happened and now my hopes are waiting to be crushed again. The computers are showing a large East Coast storm for February 2 - 3. I’m sure I’ll get all excited and then just disappointed again as the storm heads out to sea. I guess I deserve it, for writing all of these annoying complaint letters.
Sincerely, with the Winter Blues,
-- BK
---Met Mailbag (NBC Weather Plus Meteorologists) January 25, 2007 | 2:54 p.m. ET Met Mailbag is your chance to have a Weather Plus Meteorologist answer your weather question. Each Thursday, our NBC Weather Pulse Blog will publish the answers to questions you send us. This week's question was answered by NBC Weather Plus Meteorologist
Jackie Meretsky.
Question: What is thunder snow?
Submitted by Matt Gold, Santa Monica, California Answer:I hope you were able to witness the snow that fell last week in the mountains above Malibu! I find California to be an extraordinary state because of its meteorological diversity. From exploring the vineyards in Napa Valley, to skiing in Tahoe or just watching the sunset form the Santa Monica pier, California provides one of the most picturesque backdrops in the world.
Since you live in California, you probably don’t see thunder snow too often, if ever. This phenomenon is more common with lake-effect snow generated across the Great Lakes in the Midwest. One of the last recorded instances of thunder snow in your home state was in the
Sierra Nevadas in November 2000.
Think of thunder snow as a thunderstorm with snow falling instead of rain. The main component is that strong upward motion within the cold sector of an extra tropical cyclone. This normally occurs between fall and spring when surface temperatures are near the freezing mark. Your best chance at seeing and hearing thunder snow is in March.
This can happen in three ways:
- Cold air pushing across milder lake water which we call lake effect snow. The main factors with this type of thunder snow are wind shear and a steepened lapse rate between the temperature aloft and the lake water temperature. To put it another way, Mother Nature does not take temperature clashes well and often responds with dramatic results which we witness when the seasons change.
- A thunderstorm that either forms in a winter environment or one which runs into cool air and produces snow.
- A large scale snowstorm in the comma head (northwest side) of an extra tropical cyclone with strong vertical mixing producing lightning and thunder. In some cases, thunder snow is found underneath a trough of warm air aloft (a trowal).
VIDEO: Click Here To View The On-Air Met Mailbag AnswerThunder snow differs from a typical thunderstorm not just because of the precipitation, but because of the relationship between the snow and the thunder in that it suppresses the thunder acoustically. So, you can only hear the thunder within a two to three kilometer radius, which only further limits your chances of hearing this unique phenomenon.
Thanks for the question Matt!
---These Boots Were Made For Walking (Jackie Meretsky, Meteorologist) January 25, 2007 | 11:41 a.m. ET The boot craze has spread from lower Manhattan to the Upper East and Upper West Side faster than a California wildfire with the leggings craze fanning the well-heeled flames.
Now in case you don’t know, boots were originally designed for protection from the elements to prevent the entry of water, mud or any type of precipitation. Ironically, today the sheepskin lined Uggs are most popular at a time where New York has been experiencing record-high temperatures and a snow deficit.
I wonder if workers in the Australilan outback are fighting and crying to get a pair in their local department store with the same passion as New York’s well heeled.
With an Alberta clipper on its way to the Northeast, New York just might get some snow in the near future. The big conundrum will be deciding what boots to wear in the snow: brown, black, zipper closure, platform or riding?
Boots are so big they even have their own page on Wikipedia. In fact, there are different types of boots on Wikipedia, from cowboys to calf-highs, to spikes to platform soles. If you live in Manhattan and you’re not wearing boots OVER your choice of leg wear, than you’re either a tourist or a guy… or a male tourist!
Not that I typically subscribe to conspiracy theories, but there’s ample reason to believe that somewhere in the fashion world the makers of skinny jeans and boots are congratulating themselves on their fashion fusion. Men might not be wearing boots over skinny jeans, but they are definitely catching on to the boot craze.
For some men, boots are a wardrobe mainstay like Don Imus who I have yet to see without his cowboy boots. President George W. Bush seems quite fond of his own cowboy boots as well!
New York women are flocking to buy everything from the clunky Australian Uggs to flat equestrian riding boots. Fashion or Function? Please! When was the last time you saw a New Yorker galloping down Madison Avenue on horseback? The good news is that if cars ever become outlawed and the mode of transportation becomes horses, we the people of New York will be prepared. At least our feet will be!
-Jackie Meretsky
---A Donut Hole That's Fat Free (Jeff Ranieri, Meteorologist) January 24, 2007 | 1:30 p.m. ET They are round, pop easily in the mouth and give us a nice sugar overload. What am I talking about? Donut holes!
Waking up at 2 a.m. everyday always has random food items in the brain as I usually wake up starving. This morning though my thoughts of food actually went a bit with the weather story.
You may be asking how a donut hole ties into weather and I must admit this is a stretch...but at least a fun way to spot what I am about to explain.
Take a look at the graphic to the left. I have highlighted an area that resembles a donut hole in loose terms. It's clearly round and is pretty much a hole in the overall cloud pattern.
This hole in the cloud pattern, or "donut hole," will be very important in the coming days. The vast clearing in the clouds represents very frigid air that's void of any moisture.
When you have super cold air it can help to evaporate the moisture in the atmosphere, leaving an open space. Take a look to the South and East and you will find clouds. But near this cold dome we are cloud-free. This cold zone will mean teens on Friday and wind chills in the single digits. The following graphic gives a good view of what's to come.
So, while the region is super cold, it is void of moisture that would cause a major snow storm with the cold. I guess you could say while this donut hole may fill a need for winter in our stomachs, it will be sugar free and not rolled in the white we all like to call snow. Are you still hungry for more? Maybe an extra large drink? Bring your eyes to the Southeast.
Meteorologist Jeff Ranieri
---Mild Winter? Not So Fast (Anthony J. Franzese, Weather Producer) January 24, 2007 | 10:38 a.m. ET News flash…it’s winter! And it will finally be feeling like it in parts of the nation that so far have gotten off easy.
The forecasts that came out last fall
called for a mild winter across most of the country, and this has mostly been true, although the recent cold snap in the Southwest is one glaring exception. The deserts have seen snow and record cold while places in the East have yet to see much of any snow. It has been one of the warmest starts to winter on record in some eastern cities.
But the times may be a changin’.
Forecasters around the country are recanting their previous calls that the rest of the winter would remain mild.
The reason is that the latest computer forecasts are now forecasting the jet stream to make a significant shift over the next few weeks, which will allow frigid air building near the North Pole region to pour southward into much of North America.
In the U.S., indications are the Midwest may feel the brunt of the return to colder temperatures, which, as that article mentions, has already had some noticeable affect on the gas and oil markets.
In the near term, the Northeast will get a quick arctic plunge this week, most noticeable by Friday morning. In many places this will be the coldest yet of the winter, though not at all unusual for this time of year.
---Snow In The Desert? (Kristen Cornett, Meteorologist) January 24, 2007 | 8:29 a.m. ET With a trace of snow in Tucson a couple of days ago, I wondered how rare snow is there. I mean obviously in the desert climate it’s not common…but exactly how uncommon is it?
I did some digging. It turns out that on December 8, 1971, Tucson received 6.8 inches of snow. That was not only the record one day snow total, but it ended up leading to the record seasonal snowfall for that winter as well.
The trace of snow that fell there on Sunday wasn’t even in the top 10 snows…not even close. The #10 snowiest day in Tucson was in February of 1965 when 2.2 inches of snow was recorded.
Ok, so we’re not talking about record breakers here… but what is normal in Tucson? How much snow do they usually get in January?
January’s normal, or average, snowfall is 0.3 inches. December’s average snowfall is even higher at 0.4. The average for the year?
A very small 1.2 inches.
Here are the top 10 Tucson snows for your enjoyment:
| 1 | 12/8/71 | 6.8” |
| 2 | 11/16/58 | 6.4” |
| 3 | 1/16/87 | 4.3” |
| 4 | 3/2/64 | 4.0” |
| 5 | 3/3/76 | 3.8” |
| 6 | 1/25/49 | 3.5” |
| 7 | 3/9/52 | 3.4” |
| 8 | 7/7/57 | 3.0” |
| 9 | 12/25/87 | 2.6” (A WHITE CHRISTMAS!!) |
| 10 | 2/10/65 | 2.2” |
---Spoiling For A (Snowball) Fight (Gary Archibald, Weathercaster) January 23, 2007 | 6:34 p.m. ET Hmmm... I’m thinking that I could go for a huge snowball fight right about now. I’m talking about a real free-for-all wintry brawl. Mind you, I’m not envisioning (nor desire) any real casualties on either side, just some good ole well-natured snowball-gladiator-clashing over frozen tundra...
OK, I’ll settle for an open schoolyard or field.
Such frosty battles remind me of cold days long ago when I was a grade school kid growing up in the friendly suburbs of Toronto, Ontario. Snowball fights were the norm at recess, during the lunch-break hour, and of course they picked up again with my friends after school was out. We frolicked in knee-deep snow drifts, finding cover from the volley of crystallized projectiles hurled our way (as a side note, we built elaborate fortifications also to make the engagement all the more dynamic strategically on the "battlefield").
Snow was in abundance; packing snow being our favorite and the ideal form of building material for our purposes. Alas, for the most part, those winters of the mid-seventies through to the eighties in southern Ontario, that provided what seemed at the time more than our fair share of the white stuff have since seemingly disappeared.
I can recall blizzards that shout down local schools and businesses for days. Those occurrences are far more infrequent nowadays in my old stomping grounds. This is not to say that we don’t have blasts of arctic air, Alberta clippers, and Nor’easters that do in fact deliver significant amounts of wintry precipitation to the region. Nothing could be further from the truth. But statistically, across a great deal of the Great Lakes basin and the northeast, snow totals have not sustained their lofty heights in terms of accumulation compared to 20 or 30 years ago.
The good news for those who do like to have a friendly snowball fight: there is still snow in the long-term forecast for much of the country for February, in particular the Great Lakes region and the Northeast – areas for which wintry weather (snowball-producing weather specifically!) is familiar.
---Weather Pet Peeve (Jeff Ranieri, Meteorologist) January 23, 2007 | 11:59 a.m. ET My most recent weather pet peeve has to do with the use of the word 'normal' in describing weather patterns. When it comes to weather many of us have learned first hand there really is no normal. While we often throw the term around plenty, the weather is always changing not only from day to day but from year to year. I think all of us should be a lot more careful using "normal" when we mention weather.
While I do agree using normal helps to give the public a baseline of where cold and warm air historically hits the map. I believe we should think harder as a science community about using the word "normal" vs. "average." When you think about weather and the world weather cycles, we have only been keeping accurate records for just over 100 years in many cases. The age of the world versus our recordkeeping is certainly lopsided. In my opinion, we have many more years of accurate recordkeeping before we can really pin down what normal could mean in the context of weather.
---Avoiding WWG (Winter Weight Gain) (Jackie Meretsky, Meteorologist) January 22, 2007 | 8:00 a.m. ET Ironically, I'm eating chips while I write this, and not the fat free baked variety either. However, sometimes I'm pressed for time and my only snacking option is to hit the vending machine and I feel more confident with the shelf life of Sunchips than that of lower calorie yogurt. You should also know that I am enjoying my Sunchips immensely and do not care right now about what the equivalent time/sweat ratio is on the treadmill. I'm guessing 45 minutes of elliptical fun per bag of sunchips. Just a guess.
Truth be told, I find myself craving more starch in the winter than I typically do in the summer. Is this because of some evolutionary legacy where I feel I need to fatten up to protect myself from the harsh cold outdoors? Or is it because cold air warrants some sort of comfort and we all know that one of the most popular sources of comfort can be food! Oh and let’s not forget about all those holiday treats where we are practically encouraged to stuff ourselves with sugary treats for three weeks straight in December. As daunting as the task may be, there are ways to avoid a drastic winter size change.
First and foremost, I joined a gym just a few blocks away so that I would never be able to use the excuse that the gym is too far away. Whether or not you have a gym in your workplace or in your neighborhood, not only is it a nice escape from the cold, but once you’re there, there’s nothing to do but workout. Exercise is great because it means that you can still eat your grandmother's cookies, mom’s banana cream pie and your aunt’s sweet potato casserole all at the same sitting (although I don’t recommend this as a regular meal).
But going to the gym is nothing new, especially in a city like New York where I live. The gym has become a part of people's day like lunch and dinner. What can change however in the winter is how much time we spend outdoors. In the spring and summer when it’s warm outside, it is a pleasure to stay active outdoors. When it’s cold, it is so tempting to curl up on the couch with a big bowl of something (I go for popcorn) and watch television until the eyes start to close and it’s time for bed.
What I’ve learned is that the more time I spend outdoors, the more active I stay. And the key to enjoying your time outdoors in the cold weather is dressing for it, which means layers and (gasp) a hat. Some people don’t like the gym and if that’s the case, outdoor activity can be just as rewarding physically and mentally. I recently went ice skating at Rockefeller Center and was surprised at not only how much fun it was but what a good workout it provided as well.
I am going to avoid suggesting low-calorie foods as an option because I really believe that with the right amount of exercise you can eat whatever you want, within reason of course. Now back to my Sunchips :-)
---Baring It All (Gary Archibald, Weathercaster) January 19, 2007 | 5:17 p.m. ET OK, I haven’t any hair… kind of by choice (made some 15 years ago – primarily because I could tell that the receding hairline was a primal sign of impending chrome-dome-hood). Michael Jordan was also making a super-stellar impact on the world of sports and fashion. Young boys and men wanted to be him, wanted to look like him. I know, I know, there’s only one MJ. However, like the seemingly incomparable Mr. Jordan, I could actually say that I was bald by choice. Just like Mike, I was brave enough to bear the elements in the buff, at least from the shoulders up.
I’m sure that
His Airness has an impressive selection of hats, chapeaus, toques, berets, baseball caps, all designed to keep the cranium shielded from the cold. I suggest a similar investment for the follicle-challenged.
Note: an estimated 80-85% of one’s body heat is lost through the head. I know what it feels like to be caught outside in the dead of winter without a hat. That’s not wise whether you have beautiful full flowing locks like supermodel Cindy Crawford or are sporting a perfectly shining cylindrical noggin like the late great stage and film actor Yul Brynner.
The ice storm of 1998 that crippled Montreal, Quebec, Canada is a case in point. I was in Montreal with some of my college chums on a leisurely break two days prior to the frigid onslaught. The last night we were in Montreal, the wind chill dropped to –35 to -40 CELSIUS – that’s approximately –15 F!! I could sense that things were changing drastically weather-wise as I stood on the street in downtown Montreal without my hat and felt the deep freeze; it’s the coldest I have ever felt, accentuated by the fact, foolishly so, that I was ill-equipped or prepared to be outside under the circumstances. My head felt like it was going to explode, quite literally.
Street sounds – cars honking their horns, the drone of footsteps along the sidewalks – all seemed to echo. A sharp, piercing headache ensued. I knew that I needed some protection so I found a street vendor selling hats and bought one on the spot. That purchase was driven by necessary survival, not personal style or fashion.
Fortunately, we were on our way back to Toronto by the time the storm hit. Furthermore, I did not succumb to pneumonia.
By the way, this gigantic ice storm struck southeastern Ontario east toward southern Quebec and then onwards to parts of the Maritimes in Canada. Millions of residents were left in the dark for weeks and immobile for days, the result of huge ice build-up taking out power lines and transformers, damaging trees, homes and making roadways impassable. Moreover, it was a deadly storm too, claiming the lives of 30 people. It’s a sobering reality to consider what a deep cold, penetrating, and catastrophic system can do to a region and its people.
I will never get caught in the cold again with out the proper outfit and recommend the same for all bald or not. Dress for the elements from top to bottom, from head to foot.
I’ll leave you on a lighter note, with this to consider: we bald men can still dress it up with a little flair, some style, a chic touch. Shop around – try a few winter looks on for size. Think function and protection first – your head is out there, literally. Get a second and third opinion from your wife or girlfriend or buddy, for example. And, finally, like Mike, make it your own; put your signature on it. I’m the first one to say that I’m proud of showing off the dome. But there’s nothing "cool" about catching the flu. Wrap up the cranium for winter. Protect the goods. Set a fashion trend? Perhaps.
Baldies rule.
Happy Winter!
---My First Winter: Bring It On (Talia Bluth, Weather Plus Producer) January 19, 2007 | 10:00 a.m. ET First, allow myself to introduce ... myself. I was born and raised in Sacramento, California.
OK, that's all you really need to know.
The real point is that other than my college days in Los Angeles I spent the last quarter-century living in a valley where it gets hot (but there's no humidity) and it gets cold (but there's no snow). However, those days are done and I'm now living in big, bad New York City! A city where everything is extreme. From the streets ... to the skies.
Yes, my friends, this will be my first "real" winter.
As it turns out that fact is a fascinating topic for everyone who discovers I'm fresh meat. My people out West sit back at a comfortable 3000 mile distance and anxiously await my reaction to the horrors they imagine ahead. But it's the New Yorkers who offer the most passionate opinions. Ever since I came here in June I've heard this: "Just wait for winter, then we'll see how much you like it!" I can see the glee in their eyes as they anticipate my downfall. Another Californian bites the dust! Well, they don't know who they're messing with.
Or do they?
Let's look at the facts. I can't deny I've been lucky so far. Here it is the middle of January and I am only now dealing with my first true snow day. (My
actual first snow experience was a quick, but exciting, flurry on the 10th.) I left my house at 5:30 this morning and I can tell you my sleepiness vanished when I was welcomed by a beautiful, soft snowfall. The city had never looked so peaceful. I was instantly in love. However, my enthusiastic smile was not matched by my fellow subway riders. In fact, they likely thought I was a little "off".
When I emerged from underground the scene was a quite different. I was now outside the Port Authority Bus Terminal, a decidedly less peaceful place, and weather had changed its tune as well.
Alas,
lesson number one: Snow falling softly on the ground: beautiful
Wind blowing wet snow in my uncovered face: not so much
But I didn't let that get me down. In fact, I only got more excited when I arrived to the MSNBC studios and saw the snow everywhere.
So here's where I'm at right now with the New York winter. On a scale of 1 (
miserable and resentful) to 10 (
ecstatic and optimistic):
10! (Come on, its my first day)
I'll keep you posted on how I'm handling it all. Should be interesting as the extended forecast has temperatures not breaking the 30s for days ... and days ... and days.
Better get some snow boots!
-Talia
P.S. I have seen the snow plenty of times, I've just never lived in it. My snow experiences have been limited to Lake Tahoe weekends or trips to visit my relatives in Connecticut.
---Jeff and The Snowman (Jeff Ranieri, Meteorologist) January 18, 2007 | 1:30 p.m. ET A trip to my desk upstairs is rare in the world of Weather Plus, or any network, as the studio is really where you do most of the work or research. Today, was a bit different as I headed upstairs to work on some housekeeping items. At my desk, the usual awaits me including a thirsty plant that is still somehow alive after two years and a calendar still flipped on November!
After fixing the calendar and logging on to the computer, something else was literally looking at me and reminded me of our weather. It's my Florida snowman, a must have for every meteorologist! It was a memento from a trip home to Florida back in 2001 as I have it marked on the bottom.
I grabbed the snowman globe and gave it a good shake to stop the piercing black eyes from staring at me from the bottom of the globe and I started to laugh. The top hat, broom, pipe, eyes and carrot nose spun furiously. It was almost as if I was holding a voodoo globe of sorts for our weather.
SLIDESHOW: Jeff and The SnowmanAt second glance, I even thought about putting it in the freezer for a second to possibly help give us a proper winter... that's if it does have any voodoo powers. I decided against this because there are no freezers. The second thought? Studio A where it's always freezing, but it's all warmed up by now. The best option though, with the current weather, may be to bring Frosty to a slow boil . After coming back to reality, I decided to end my crazy thoughts and just reflect on how ridiculous the weather change has been lately.
A search of the facts is almost hard to believe. In New York City alone over the past month and a half, temperatures were above normal for over 25 days. In fact, one of the warmest days for much of the East happened in January. This is generally a time when the coldest temperatures are around. The warmest day for most in the East was January 6th with a balmy 72 degrees in Central Park! Yesterday, Central Park only reached 29. This warmth and then extreme cooling of late was attributed by many experts to the El Nino pattern.
And just like my sudden shakes of the snow globe and rare visits to my upstairs desk, Mother Nature is much the same. Unpredictable visits and sudden pattern changes can shake us up really well just like Frosty. Even with the best forecasting tools, some mystery will remain. I'm still wondering if the snow globe has voodoo powers????? I do promise you one thing, I won't put it in the freezer and will leave it just how it was made.
Now, Frosty is back on the desk with one eye sunk to the bottom and looking back.
---Met Mailbag (Gary Archibald, Weathercaster) January 18, 2007 | 12:45 p.m. ET Met Mailbag is your chance to have a Weather Plus Meteorologist answer your weather question. Each Thursday, our NBC Weather Pulse Blog will publish the answers to questions you send us. This week's question was answered by NBC Weather Plus Weathercaster
Gary Archibald.
Question: What makes a storm an ice storm instead of snowstorm?
Submitted by B. Ritland, Story City, Iowa Answer: Thanks for sending in the question about one of the most treacherous types of winter storms!
A few ingredients are required for an ice storm to form. First, a moist, warm layer of buoyant air must sustain itself over a region of colder air lying at the surface.
IMAGES: Icy BranchesSecond, ground level temperatures must maintain a steady, freezing or sub-freezing value. Precipitation in the form of snow, ice pellets, or sleet will then fall from clouds above into the warm layer of air and essentially melt into water particles. The water vapor or droplets that result freeze on contact as they fall further still onto the terrain and all surrounding objects.
That's why in an ice storm, anywhere from a fraction of an inch to several inches can form on trees and power lines and coat roads. Ice storms in general can be dangerous to entire communities because of the potential to impede or make travel dangerous on the ground and in the air, cause widespread damage to property, and cause major power outages.
---Best-Dressed For Winter? (Jeff Ranieri, Meteorologist) January 17, 2007 | 11:49 a.m. ET A very familiar list to many came out last week. This list is from "Mr. Blackwell", who rates stars on their dress. As we were doing the entertainment segment on MSNBC the day the list came out, we learned Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears and Paris Hilton all make the top five worst-dressed. My concern now is not for the stars but for you, the weatherplus.com weather junkies.
I got to thinking about how myself a Meteorologist has even had to search for the right clothes for the day as the weather has gone from warm to mild, to cool, to mild, then cold. It even threw me off this morning in New York City as I was trying to think where in the closet my warm winter accessories are and do they match??? I spent a couple minutes pushing through my tiny closet to find them (it's like finding gold when you get up early in the morning and every second counts). When I did the "A-ha" and had the goods in my hand, I looked back and my closet was a mess.
The point is, this weather lately may be leaving your closet in a mess. If you organize in these crazy weather times by season or long sleeve, short sleeve and jackets it could save you a ton of time in the morning. I have never bought into the idea of a highly organized closet with shelving units but I might just have a new project on my hands for this weekend!
---Global Warming Vacation (Bill Karins, Meteorologist) January 16, 2007 | 6:07 p.m. ET My Global Warming vacation is over just in time for the heart of winter.
It’s my first day back after a nice (okay: great) 10-day vacation. I’m will forever call this my Global Warming vacation because I’ve officially crossed the line. I’m a skeptic by nature and I’ve always straddled the line regarding Global Warming, but the warm weather on my vacation even had me asking what is going on.
I started with a family trip (10 in all) up into the Adirondacks of Upstate New York. My niece and nephews from Arizona were visiting and I promised them a winter wonderland of sledding, skiing and ice-skating. Great uncle I am -- the grass was green and the lake looked swimmable. I picked a dandelion from the front lawn, for Pete’s sake! I even saw a bee looking for pollen.
In the Adirondacks a snowmobile is more important in the winter than a car, but with the ground bare, who needs one! Almost every driveway had a snowmobile sitting in the mud with a For Sale sign attached. It was 57 degrees on our last day and we all went for a hike to the top of a mountain. I was wearing only jeans and a tee shirt on January 7th in Upstate New York.
The end of my vacation took my wife and me to beautiful South Florida for the first time. I originally thought we would need a couple of days to thaw out from the frozen North but we had already started our tans in New York.
So how does this play into my "Global Warming Vacation"? South Beach was empty and very affordable. (A term not used often on South Beach.) My airline tickets were nearly half-price and my hotel on the beach was 2/3 off. All thanks to the warm weather up and down the East Coast so far this winter.
No one needed to escape from the brutal winter weather.
I didn’t expect to swim in the cool Atlantic waters, but thanks to a mild Dec./Jan. in South Florida, the ocean was plenty warm for me. We went swimming four days in a row.
I leave you with a picture of a future Meteorologist who will one day bring you your forecast: my nephew Tyler. Maybe I’m a good uncle after all.
---Lightning Strikes Twice (Kristen Cornett, Meteorologist) January 16, 2007 | 2:29 p.m. ET I watched a really interesting documentary on the History Channel last night. It told the story of the devastating 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. Over 3000 people died, if not in the earthquake, then from the massive fire that engulfed the city afterwards.
Some of the most interesting points included the fact that in the rush to re-build the city, many building codes were ignored. It's only been buildings built in the last 50 or so years that have followed those codes. Another concern is the fires that could erupt due to the ruptured gas lines in another earthquake. There are many buildings built of wood that would burn quite easily. Experts claimed that an earthquake of similar strength to the one in 1906 would be catastrophic and multiple thousands of deaths could result.
One of the men interviewed commented how the great cities of Europe like Paris and London are built in geologically sound locations but there are also ruins in Europe and the Middle East, like Petra and Pompeii. It appears lessons were learned there and thus there was no rebuilding. This got me thinking. The U.S. is too young of a country to have ruins ... but say 500 years from now, San Francisco lay in ruins from a massive earthquake. Tourists would undoubtably flock to the area and ask, "Why did they ever build here?" Why do we? Obviously Americans are a resilient people and that's one of the great things about this country. But when it is a matter of "when" and not "if," why do we bother?
The same goes for New Orleans. Don't misunderstand me, I love that city. But it's a scientific fact that there will be another massive hurricane strike. And with the city below sea level, it will likely be another catastrophe. I've seen the news reports, and while some rebuilding is being done pursuant to building codes (homes raised on stilts for instance), there are many in the worst affected areas that are not. Why?
Just my two cents ...
---Weather Warriors (Jackie Meretsky, Meteorologist) January 15, 2007 | 10:41 a.m. ET Something that has always fascinated me about Americans is the overwhelming resilience of the people. The way that Americans react in the face of trauma or adversity is almost unbelievable considering the stresses we face on a daily basis. From personal health issues to national wars, there’s an optimism in the USA that is unparalleled anywhere else in the world.
When it comes to severe weather, we the people (wink, wink) get blasted on any given year with a plethora of tornadoes, hurricanes and snowstorms that devastate homes, neighborhoods, cities and counties and take lives. So this begs the question, why do people continue to live and rebuild in severe weather prone regions? Is it just a question of loving where you live? Or is this more of a socio-economic issue? I think that there are elements of truth and validity in both of these possibilities.
People who live in Tornado Alley are fully aware that tornadoes pose a potential danger to them. Texas has more tornados than any other state in the country and Oklahoma has the most dangerous with prevailing F4’s and F5’s. With that type of severe activity, you would think that people would run for the hills -- perhaps the Appalachian mountain chain! On the contrary, Texas has a booming population of well over 20 million people and incidentally has some of the fastest growing cities in the country.
Now for the optimism: People protect or at least try to protect themselves with storm cellars and underground shelters. Some areas have tornado sirens to warn people of an oncoming system. Building codes in tornado-rone areas require that new buildings have strong roofs and a foundations that are tethered to the structure. This combination of personal protection and state-enforced protection is supposed to put up a solid defense to Mother Nature's wrath, but time and time again homes are crushed and people die.
Which leads me to my next point. If you continue to live in a place that is potentially dangerous, you must really really love where you live so much so that it outweighs the fear posed by the danger OR you have no other choice which could be due to financial limitations or some other obligation which prevents you from leaving.
People who live in hurricane-prone states like Florida, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi face the same fears as folks in Tornado Alley. Hurricane Katrina was the costliest and one of the most deadly hurricanes to strike the US ever with an estimated $81 billion in damage and over 1800 lives lost. There has been widespread debate on many societal and political levels about the levee system in New Orleans. Did the state know that the city was so vulnerable? If the state was aware of the potential dangers of the levee system, were residents of New Orleans made aware of this? If residents were in fact aware that in the event of a major hurricane their city could literally drown, then why have they chosen to stay there? Why would New Orleans be constructed in the first place if it was so prone to flooding?
It will be interesting to see if and how the demographics change in New Orleans post-Katrina. If I was one of the unfortunate residents of the Big Easy who lost my home, the only way I would return no matter how much I loved the city was if I knew that a new levee system could protect my home no matter what category hurricane struck. And even then, I would be skeptical. However, I have never lived in a region prone to life-threatening severe weather so I am purely speculating as to how I would react. What I do know is that where I live, New York City, there are a number of fears I am confronted with on a daily basis as residents of any big city are. Because of my love of the city, I choose to stay optimistic and remain resilient under times of stress (like folks in Tornado Alley), whether it’s a not being able to hail a cab when it’s pouring rain or worrying about a terrorist threat. Optimism and resilience: as American as Tornado Alley.
---Someone has found the key, will it open the door to winter conditions???(Jeff Ranieri, Meteorologist) January 12, 2007 | 7:00 a.m. ET I Started up at my usual early morning hour of 3am and I had good reason to believe another cold day was awaiting much of the nation today. I even left my jacket on this morning as the studio was super chilly, until the studio lights cranked on which are like big heaters.
Ok, back on track.
I started looking at the maps and it was very obvious that the cold air is moving down, what a sight!
After looking over the forecast models and the latest watches and warnings it's clear we are under major changes. The cold air may actually be more of a trend than a spurt. The key to unlocking a longer period of cold air is all in the jet stream.
In a situation like this morning the jet stream is one element I will always look over. If you find the Northern branch of the jet stream swinging well to the south you will find your jackets, gloves, hats and scarf's all coming out of storage probably for good. Remember, the northern branch of the jet stream holds the cold artic air to the North and when this heads south, brrrrrrrrrr watch out.
The Northern branch of the jet stream will continue to influence parts of the nation all the way into next week. So, it's not only the West feeling winter but it looks like the Midwest will finally get some frigid temps with some snow in the future. As for the East...it will get colder and near normal after the weekend.
Even though the jet stream has been unkind to those of us that want winter it's a tool that I always use. I love to look at this first when I start my day to see how the patterns may shape this week and next week's weather and then go into my daily forecast maps. I guess you could say It's almost like looking at a national map when you head out on a road trip. First, you probably look to see where you will end up and then you look in close on the map to find out where the next rest stop will be located. That's almost how I do my forecasting. Although, I'm a bit luckier than travelers since the bathrooms are always in the same spot.
Maybe the person with the key to the cold air has been in the bathroom this whole time???
Jeff Ranieri
---Met Mailbag (Kristen Cornett, Meteorologist) January 11, 2007 | 11:45 a.m. ET Met Mailbag is your chance to have a Weather Plus Meteorologist answer your weather question. Each Thursday, our NBC Weather Pulse Blog will publish the answers to questions you send us. This week's question was answered by NBC Weather Plus Meteorologist
Kristen Cornett.
Question: Is there such a thing as 'tornado season'? If so, when is it?
Submitted by Steve Tice, Mobile, Ala. Answer: Tornado season is the period where we typically or historically see the most tornado activity in a particular area as it varies from region to region.
SLIDESHOW: TornadoesWe tend to see the majority of tornado activity in the U.S. from late winter into mid summer. There is a general northward shift in the season during this time.
VIDEO: Click Here For Video Met Mailbag AnswerThe peak period in the Southern Plains is during May and early June but on the Gulf Coast where you are Steve, it is earlier during the spring. In the northern plains and upper midwest, it is June or July. It is very important to remember though, tornadoes can and have occurred any time of the year as long as the conditions are right!
---A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To New Jersey (Kristen Cornett, Meteorologist) January 10, 2007 | 6:25 p.m. ET A weird thing happened on the way to work today. You've probably read
Jeff's blog on the snow but I had a slightly different experience.
I was on the bus on my way to work. Since I live in Manhattan and work in New Jersey, we take the Lincoln Tunnel. The weather was sunny and dry as we left Manhattan and entered the tunnel.
Now I don't know how long the tunnel is or even how long we were in it, but I can't imagine it was more than 2 minutes. I started to doze off a bit and then I heard the bus driver very loudly proclaim just as we exited the tunnel, "Well what on earth happened here?!?!?!?"
I assumed there must have been a bad accident and perked up. It was snowing like mad! The visibility was greatly reduced. A girl across the aisle from me called a friend on her cell phone to see if she saw the snow too.
Now I know it's not a big deal -- it's just snow, right? But we hadn't seen a flake so far this season and to have such hugely different conditions on either side of that tunnel was pretty cool!
I looked around and was able to see lots of blue sky through those flakes, so it was pretty clear that this was a small little squall that came through.
I kind of laughed at myself for thinking this was such a cool little phenomenon. See, I've never understood when people ask me, "Why does it rain at my house and not at my neighbor's sometimes?" It seems so obvious to me. That rain cloud, or in this case, snow cloud, has to have a beginning and ending somewhere. I mean it doesn't cover the whole globe, right? I always giggle to myself when I get that question but here I was, awestruck by that same sort of question: "Why is it snowing on the Jersey side of the tunnel and not the New York side?" I guess weather really never does cease to amaze.
---It's Snow Weird!!! (Jeff Ranieri, Meteorologist) January 10, 2007 | 10:23 a.m. ET There is a buzz going around here in New Jersey. There's not only a buzz but a *flurry* of activity here at the Weather Plus headquarters in New Jersey.
I was sitting at my desk in the studio when I heard the word SNOW! I had just mentioned on the air that we may see a flurry or two in New York City and the surrounding areas and low and behold we got some.
The chance was small today but enough cold air and leftover moisture provided for about a 5 minute snow shower. This was worthy of what I like to call a "Weather Break". I must tell you there is never food or smoking involved just a good excuse to get away from the desk and enjoy the outdoors. I grabbed my producer Talia and we ran outside to stand in the snow.
SLIDESHOW: Jeff Ranieri Loves The Snow!The true weather geek came out in all of us on the Weather Plus crew, including another producer of our's, Hannah, as we rushed outside. I felt like I was 10 as it brought back a feeling of youth and lots of happiness. I think some of the big smiles on our staff and the rest of MSNBC also came from the fact that we have had over 30 days with above-normal temperatures and no snow until today.
Who would have thought a little weather like snow could do so much!
So if you have snow, sun,
or even clouds, take a break and get away from your desk for a few and look around. The best thing about all of this entertainment is the fact that it happens everyday and is free, courtesy of Mother Nature.
-Jeff Ranieri
---Winter Finally Rearing Its Head? (Anthony J. Franzese, Weather Producer) January 10, 2007 | 7:38 a.m. ET It will finally get below freezing here in New York City for the first time since December 4th. A cold wave? Yeah right. I checked the average low in New York for this date: 26 degrees. It won’t get much lower than that this week.
It’s been a record, mild winter so far in a lot of the East, so today's little cold snap is really just a return to reality here. Even Canada has been much warmer than normal, where ski resorts in Ontario recently closed for the first time ever
due to an unprecedented snow drought.
Is winter poised for a comeback? Well if you’re in the East, probably not for a while. For
real cold, you have to look way north. Check out these expected lows in Alaska Wednesday morning: Anchorage: –14, Fairbanks: -42, Ft. Yukon -50. Yes that's pretty darn cold, even for Alaska!
Will that frigid air make its way into the lower 48 states? All indications are a good chunk of it will break off and plunge southward. The jet stream is going to take a big dip over western North America later this week and into this weekend. This could set the stage for a big time cool down in the Southwest and places as far south as Las Vegas and Los Angeles could see near-freezing temperatures by Friday and Saturday morning, with snow possible in the nearby hills.
I would also watch the Four Corner states for more heavy snow, particularly in Colorado. Avalanches could once again make headlines as this region has seen more than its fair share of snow.
But if you’re an East Coaster looking for a snowstorm in the next 5 days…as New Yorker’s might say, “Fuggetaboutit!” That jet stream riding high to the east means more mild temperatures, though places a bit farther north could see a bit of the white stuff by the end of the weekend.
---Winter Without The Snow And Ice Isn't Winter For A Canadian! (Gary Archibald, Weathercaster) January 9, 2007 | 7:19 p.m. ET It’s easy for me to recollect the most dynamic winter weather when I was growing up in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Some of my fondest memories growing up are situated in the cold crisp beautiful Canadian outdoors.
As a kid, one expected to winters to be active; Canadians are active people, especially during the winter season. We love the snow. That’s not to say that we don’t like the warmer climate in spring and summer -- which by the way can be just as dry or humid or volatile, and just as dynamic as any weather pattern across the North American continent ranging from Atlantic hurricanes to mesoscale convective complexes over the Great Lakes to Chinook winds ... but I digress.
I did mention that we Canadians love the winter season – snow, ice, winds, et al, right? We love it! We enjoy playing hockey on frozen ponds and lakes, snowmobiling through rural trails, downhilling the Rocky mountain ranges and cross-country skiing the white-blanketed Plains. And don’t forget the joy, the elation for many to be able to make snowmen, snow angels, have a light-hearted and good-natured snowball fight. This is the kind of stuff we live for in winter!
I remember my big brother flooding the ice in our backyard, creating a mini ice rink where some of the most intense ice hockey that a four-year old has ever played was recorded on Super 8 film! Yes, there I was freezing my little toes off in subzero temperatures, with my hockey stick, helmut, and laced-up in my Bauer skates (a special Christmas gift, by the way). Canadian kids play hockey from sun-up to sundown – in the middle of a blizzard even. It just doesn’t matter.
A lack of snow especially in Southern Ontario this winter has put a damper on making memories like the one I just mentioned for many Canadian children. But despite the lack of snow, winter lovers in Canada and across the USA will find a way. You can still play hockey indoors in an arena, although nothing beats skating on a pond on a crisp winter day with that strong northerly wind blowing in your face.
There are several weeks left in this winter season, more than enough time for a cold polar jet to descend upon the North American continent. Meaning: there will be snow. There will be ice. There will be blusterly cold winds. The temperatures will eventually drop to normal values, and perhaps below norms - and then this transplanted Canadian weathercaster will feel even more at home amongst my warm and mild friends here in the USA.
Happy Winter!
---Kissing And Telling On The Today Show (Jeff Ranieri, Meteorologist) January 3, 2007 | 6:53 p.m. ET You never know what you're going to get or who you will meet! That is exactly the mindset I have whenever I fill in on the "Today Show." I thought I would give you some insight on how adventurous it really is out on the Plaza in New York City.
Today there was a decent-sized crowd with some cool temperatures in the morning, definitely not the kind of cold that will keep people from coming and seeing how the "Today Show" is produced live.
I was a bit tired this morning as I was coming off a vacation and couldn't get to bed the night before. All of that goes away though, and the word 'tired' does not exist once you step out into the crowd. An energy comes from the spectators that is unexplainable as they want to get a piece of the action and be on TV.
As I headed out for my one of my 8:00 hour hits I did as I usually do and scanned the crowd, looking for an interesting story. I found a married couple to start with who were great and seemed very much in love. We chatted and then I tossed to the local forecast (this is where it gets tricky). In general, as I continue talking about the weather and listen to time cues, I like to find another element to end the weather hit. I only have 25 seconds before the show comes back on national TV.
So I was checking out the crowd ... thinking ... thinking some more ... and I spotted a person holding a poster with big red lips!!! Perfect! I headed over while I was wrapping up my thoughts, since we would be back on national TV any second. The person holding the poster happened to be the same woman who wanted a kiss in the 7:00 hour. I decided to reward her for her patience, and gave her a kiss on-air.
Was it on the cheek?
Click here to find out!Matt Lauer of course had some fun with me on this one and thought we should just put my cell number on the today show headline crawl! Maybe that would help in the dating department???? Ha!
This is just a small slice of the life of a weather guy filling in on one of the most amazing morning shows produced live everyday. If you liked that, check out the Today Show tomorrow as I will be filling in again!
And remember, if *I* never know what to expect, it is sure to make for some good -- or at least interesting -- television!
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