WKYC's Fair Weather Fans Blog

Earth Gauge: Heaviest Rainstorms Now Even Heavier

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:57:00 +0000

CLEVELAND -- Here is today's Earth Gauge look at how our local weather impacts the environment for Thursday, July 9th.

In Brief: Extreme rainfall events became more extreme over the second-half of the 20th century.

In terms of total annual rainfall, most of the United States became "wetter" over the 20th century. Most of this increase, however, is being expressed in "extreme" rainfall events, which are now more frequent and even more extreme than they were in the 1950s.

In the upper-midwest, for example, the amount of rain that falls during the heaviest one percent of rainy days has grown by 31 percent over the last 50 years.

While more moisture is generally good for the region's agriculture and wildlife, the general trend of more rainfall happening during extreme events has corresponded to more frequent and longer periods when no rain falls. The longer soil goes without moisture, the less absorptive it is when the rains finally return.

Heavy rainfall also causes much greater amounts of soil erosion (soil loss to streams and ultimately the ocean) than moderate events do. In some locations, increases in rainfall severity can cause the amount of soil erosion to grow exponentially.

(Sources: Groisman, PY and Knight RW. "Prolonged Dry Episodes over the Conterminous United States: New Tendencies Emerging during the Last 40 Years." Journal of Climate 21 (2008): 1850-1862 and National Weather Service: Climate Prediction Center. U.S. Temperature and Precipitation Trends: Annual. Accessed Online 3 July 2007 and Trenberth, K et al. "The Changing Character of Precipitation." Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, September 2003: 1205-1217 and Easterling, D et al. "Observed climate variability and change of relevance to the biosphere." Journal of Geophysical Research 105 (2000): 101-120 and Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States, Thomas R. Karl, Jerry M. Melillo, and Thomas C. Peterson,(eds.). Cambridge University Press, 2009.)

News: El Nino Conditions Return To Affect Weather

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:30:00 +0000

WASHINGTON -- El Nino's back. Government scientists say the periodic warming of water in the tropical Pacific Ocean that can affect weather around the world has returned.

The Pacific had been in what is called a neutral state. But forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration say the sea surface temperature climbed to 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit above normal along a narrow band in the eastern equatorial Pacific in June.

In addition, NOAA's Climate Prediction Center said temperatures in other tropical regions are also above normal.

In general, El Nino conditions are associated with increased rainfall across the east-central and eastern Pacific and with drier than normal conditions over northern Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines.

A summer El Nino can lead to wetter than normal conditions in the intermountain regions of the United States. In an El Nino year there tend to be more Eastern Pacific hurricanes and fewer Atlantic hurricanes.

Source: The Associated Press

Earth Gauge: Cooling Off

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:33:00 +0000

CLEVELAND -- Here is today's Earth Gauge look at how our local weather impacts the environment for Tuesday, July 7th.

Energy use often rises during the summer months while we're trying to stay cool.

The Midwest is the second least-populated area in the U.S., but has the second highest energy consumption per person - Ohio ranks 25th out of all states for total energy consumption per person!

Regardless of your energy use, there are easy ways to save energy - and money - this summer.

No Cost: Close shades and drapes during the day to keep warm sun rays out - especially on south-facing windows. If you use a window air-conditioner, place it in a north-facing or shaded window to increase efficiency.

Low Cost: Clean or replace air filters each month - dirty filters reduce air-conditioner efficiency. Lower A/C costs and cool more efficiently by running your ceiling fan counter-clockwise. Remember to turn fans off in empty rooms - fans cool people, not rooms.

(Sources: Center for Environment and Population. "U.S. Population, Energy & Climate Change." Available from: www.cepnet.org; Energy Information Administration. "Energy Consumption by Source and Total Consumption per Capita, Ranked by State, 2006." http://www.eia.doe.gov/; Flex Your Power. "Cooling Tips." http://www.fypower.org/res/tools/energy_tips_results.html?tips=cooling; Energy Star, http://www.energystar.gov/)

Hot July 4th Fireworks Tempered By Cooler Temperatures

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:18:00 +0000

By Frank Macek

CLEVELAND -- If you thought the 4th of July was cooler than normal this year, you weren't alone.

Temperatures on Saturday in Cleveland reached just 72 degrees at Hopkins Airport, making it one of the coolest holidays in the last 30 years.

Lingering clouds and a wind from the northwest helped to keep temperatures down. However those working in the yards and gardens had little to complain about.

This year was the second in a row to only have a 4th of July high of 72 degrees.

Weather buffs would have to go back to 1997 to find a cooler holiday. That year, the high was 68 degrees. Typically, temperatures average in the lower 80s for the first part of the month.

Meteorologists have suggested our cooler weather may be due in part to the eruption of a volcano in Russia in June. This, combined with a northern jetstream that has lingered over the lower Great Lakes this summer, has also contributed.

Since 1900, the hottest 4th of July in Cleveland was 98 degrees in 1990, while the coolest was just 65 degrees in 1909.

July 4th, 2009, also marked the 40th anniversary of damaging storms that blew in off Lake Erie on July 4, 1969. Those storms caught many Clevelanders off guard.

The National Weather Service office in Detroit, who had superior weather radar at the time, was reprimanded for failing to alert the Cleveland weather service office of the impending storms.

Several people died across the area, especially along the Lake Erie shoreline.

June 2009 In Review: Drier Than Normal

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:12:00 +0000

By Frank Macek

CLEVELAND - June 2009 will go down in the books as a rather stormy start to summer.

Despite a northern jetstream that was further south than normal during part of June, the final look at the month showed our temperatures ranged from an average high of 77.2 degrees to an average low of 58.9 degrees

This was a half degree above the 30 year normal for the Greater Cleveland area.

Our highest temperature occurred on June 25th when the mercury sizzled to 92 degrees at Cleveland Hopkins. The morning of June 4th started the chilliest at 42 degrees.

In the rain gauge, the area wound up drier than normal this year as some drought warning signs begin to emerge. Abnormally dry conditions stretched from just southeast of Cleveland, through the center of the state to near Cincinnati.

We finished the month at 2.68 inches of rain, or 1.21 inches below normal. Since January, we are about 1.67 inches of rain drier than usual.

Severe weather occured mainly south of Cleveland on June 17th where a tornado touched down near Smithville in Wayne County, though Cleveland saw almost an inch of rain. And storms revisited the same areas on June 19th, again with heavy rainfall of .44 inches on the date.

The Cleveland area itself saw severe weather on June 25th with winds gusting to 62 m.p.h. at the airport. These storms brought down many branches, some trees and power lines across the area.

June ended with flash flooding mainly east of the city of Cleveland where some areas away from the city reporting two to as much as 3.5 inches of rainfall over a 24 hour period on June 30th.

To view the complete climate summary for the Cleveland area for June: CLICK HERE

Rainfall Reports: 6/30 to 7/1/09

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:32:00 +0000

The following are 2 day rainfall reports from the National Weather Service Office in Cleveland for June 30th thru July 1st, 2009:

********************STORM TOTAL RAINFALL*******************

LOCATION              RAINFALL    COMMENTS
                      (INCHES)

PENNSYLVANIA

...ERIE COUNTY...
   ERIE 6 SE              5.63    COCORAHS OBSERVER
   ERIE 5 SW              5.59    COCORAHS OBSERVER
   GREENFIELD TWP         3.18    SPOTTER
   ERIE AIRPORT           2.31    NWS ASOS

OHIO

...ASHTABULA COUNTY...
   CONNEAUT               2.19    OHIO STORMS GAGE
   NEW LYME               1.43    OHIO STORMS GAGE

...CUYAHOGA COUNTY...
   RICHMOND HEIGHTS       3.41    COCORAHS OBSERVER
   MAYFIELD               2.56    OHIO STORMS GAGE
   EUCLID 3 NE            2.04    COCORAHS OBSERVER
   FAIRVIEW PARK          1.23    COCORAHS OBSERVER

...GEAUGA COUNTY...
   NOVELTY                3.70    SPOTTER

   CHESTERLAND            3.36    OHIO STORMS GAGE
   GEAUGA EMA OFFICE      2.60    OHIO STORMS GAGE
   CHARDON                2.48    COOP OBSERVER
   MONTVILLE              2.32    COCORAHS OBSERVER
   SOUTH RUSSELL 2 W      1.69    COCORAHS OBSERVER

...LAKE COUNTY...
   WILLOUGHBY HILLS       2.62    COCORAHS OBSERVER
   KIRTLAND 1 SW          2.00    COCORAHS OBSERVER
   WILLOUGHBY HILLS 1NNE  1.67    COCORAHS OBSERVER
   PAINESVILLE            1.00    COCORAHS OBSERVER

Our special thanks to the National Weather Service, their cooperative observers and spotters, COCORAHS volunteers and automated gages operated by the Ohio State Emergency Management Agency.

Storm Reports: 6/25/09

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:33:00 +0000

The following are storm reports from the National Weather Service Office in Cleveland for June 25, 2009:

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0845 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MALVERN                 40.69N 81.18W
06/25/2009                   CARROLL            OH   LAW ENFORCEMENT
            TREES DOWN BETWEEN ROUTE 43 AND ROUTE 9

0845 PM     TSTM WND DMG     NEW PHILADELPHIA        40.49N 81.44W
06/25/2009                   TUSCARAWAS         OH   LAW ENFORCEMENT
            TREES DOWN COUNTY WIDE

0845 PM     TSTM WND DMG     COSHOCTON               40.26N 81.85W
06/25/2009                   COSHOCTON          OH   LAW ENFORCEMENT
            TREES DOWN COUNTYWIDE

0828 PM     TSTM WND DMG     SANDUSKY                41.46N 82.71W
06/25/2009                   ERIE               OH   PUBLIC
            TREES DOWN.

0827 PM     TSTM WND DMG     BEACH CITY              40.65N 81.58W
06/25/2009                   STARK              OH   PUBLIC
            LARGE BRANCHES BROKEN

0825 PM     HAIL             CANTON                  40.81N 81.37W
06/25/2009  E0.75 INCH       STARK              OH   PUBLIC

0812 PM     HAIL             SANDUSKY                41.46N 82.71W
06/25/2009  E1.00 INCH       ERIE               OH   TRAINED SPOTTER

0808 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CANTON                  40.81N 81.37W
06/25/2009                   STARK              OH   TRAINED SPOTTER
            POWER LINES DOWN BY THUNDERSTORM WINDS AT WHIPLE AND
            20TH.

0808 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 SW CANTON             40.76N 81.44W
06/25/2009                   STARK              OH   TRAINED SPOTTER
            DUG OUT FROM BASEBALL FIELD BLOWN ONTO FAIRCREST ST SW
            NEAR I-77

0803 PM     HAIL             BELLVILLE               40.62N 82.51W
06/25/2009  E0.75 INCH       RICHLAND           OH   AMATEUR RADIO

0800 PM     TSTM WND GST     MEYERS LAKE             40.81N 81.42W
06/25/2009  E70.00 MPH       STARK              OH   TRAINED SPOTTER
            ESTIMATED 70 MPH THUNDERSTORM WIND GUST.

0742 PM     HAIL             MANSFIELD               40.76N 82.53W
06/25/2009  E0.75 INCH       RICHLAND           OH   AMATEUR RADIO

0730 PM     TSTM WND DMG     WADSWORTH               41.02N 81.73W
06/25/2009                   MEDINA             OH   TRAINED SPOTTER
            SEVERAL TREES DOWN BY THUNDERSTORM WINDS

0720 PM     HAIL             PLAINFIELD              40.21N 81.72W
06/25/2009  E1.25 INCH       COSHOCTON          OH   PUBLIC

0707 PM     TSTM WND DMG     DOVER                   40.52N 81.47W
06/19/2009                   TUSCARAWAS         OH   LAW ENFORCEMENT
            LARGE LIMBS DOWNED POWER LINES.

0700 PM     HAIL             CONESVILLE              40.19N 81.89W
06/25/2009  E1.00 INCH       COSHOCTON          OH   PUBLIC

0657 PM     HAIL             3 W TOLEDO              41.66N 83.64W
06/25/2009  E0.75 INCH       LUCAS              OH   TRAINED SPOTTER

0656 PM     HAIL             7 SSW COSHOCTON         40.17N 81.90W
06/25/2009  E1.25 INCH       COSHOCTON          OH   TRAINED SPOTTER

0656 PM     HAIL             6 WSW HOLLAND           41.59N 83.82W
06/25/2009  E1.00 INCH       LUCAS              OH   TRAINED SPOTTER

0654 PM     HAIL             7 SW COSHOCTON          40.19N 81.94W
06/25/2009  E1.75 INCH       COSHOCTON          OH   TRAINED SPOTTER
            VIRGINIA TWP.

0650 PM     TSTM WND DMG     GRAFTON                 41.28N 82.03W
06/25/2009                   LORAIN             OH   LAW ENFORCEMENT
            FEW TREES DOWN BY THUNDERSTORM WINDS.

0650 PM     HAIL             TOLEDO                  41.66N 83.58W
06/25/2009  E0.88 INCH       LUCAS              OH   TRAINED SPOTTER

0645 PM     HAIL             COSHOCTON               40.26N 81.85W
06/25/2009  E0.50 INCH       COSHOCTON          OH   TRAINED SPOTTER

0641 PM     HAIL             GARFIELD HEIGHTS        41.42N 81.60W
06/25/2009  E0.75 INCH       CUYAHOGA           OH   AMATEUR RADIO

0643 PM     HAIL             WESTLAKE                41.45N 81.93W
06/25/2009  E0.75 INCH       CUYAHOGA           OH   TRAINED SPOTTER

0640 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CLYDE                   41.31N 82.98W
06/25/2009                   SANDUSKY           OH   LAW ENFORCEMENT
            SEVERAL TREES DOWN.

0635 PM     TSTM WND DMG     FREMONT                 41.35N 83.11W
06/25/2009                   SANDUSKY           OH   LAW ENFORCEMENT
            A FEW TREES,LARGE LIMBS AND POWERLINES DOWN.

0631 PM     TSTM WND GST     CLEVELAND               41.48N 81.68W
06/25/2009  M62.00 MPH       CUYAHOGA           OH   ASOS

0627 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 SE LINDSEY            41.39N 83.18W
06/25/2009                   SANDUSKY           OH   TRAINED SPOTTER
            TREE DOWN OFF RT 590

0620 PM     HAIL             WESTLAKE                41.45N 81.93W
06/25/2009  E0.75 INCH       CUYAHOGA           OH   PUBLIC

0620 PM     HAIL             WESTLAKE                41.45N 81.93W
06/25/2009  E0.75 INCH       CUYAHOGA           OH   PUBLIC

0615 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CASTALIA                41.40N 82.81W
06/25/2009                   ERIE               OH   TRAINED SPOTTER
            NUMEROUS LARGE BRANCHES DOWN

0615 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CASTALIA                41.40N 82.81W
06/25/2009                   ERIE               OH   TRAINED SPOTTER
            NUMEROUS LARGE LIMBS DOWN

0600 PM     TSTM WND DMG     BELLEVUE                41.28N 82.84W
06/25/2009                   SANDUSKY           OH   TRAINED SPOTTER
            SEVERAL 6 TO 8 INCH BRANCHES DOWN BY THUNDERSTORM WINDS.

0600 PM     TSTM WND DMG     6 N FREMONT             41.44N 83.11W
06/25/2009                   SANDUSKY           OH   TRAINED SPOTTER
            NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN

0600 PM     TSTM WND DMG     6 N FREMONT             41.44N 83.11W
06/25/2009                   SANDUSKY           OH   TRAINED SPOTTER
            NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN

0554 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 ENE PORT CLINTON      41.53N 82.87W
06/25/2009                   OTTAWA             OH   EMERGENCY MNGR
            NUMEROUS TREES DOWN

0545 PM     TSTM WND DMG     OAK HARBOR              41.51N 83.15W
06/25/2009                   OTTAWA             OH   TRAINED SPOTTER
            NUMEROUS TREES DOWN

0544 PM     TSTM WND DMG     PORT CLINTON            41.51N 82.94W
06/25/2009                   OTTAWA             OH   PUBLIC
            SEVERAL TREES DOWN

0540 PM     TSTM WND GST     SANDUSKY                41.46N 82.71W
06/25/2009  M68.00 MPH       ERIE               OH   TRAINED SPOTTER

0455 PM     HAIL             4 SW ANDOVER            41.57N 80.62W
06/25/2009  E1.75 INCH       ASHTABULA          OH   LAW ENFORCEMENT
            GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL AT SR 11 AND 322

0357 PM     HAIL             5 SE WEST SALEM         40.92N 82.04W
06/25/2009  E0.75 INCH       WAYNE              OH   PUBLIC

0357 PM     HAIL             WEST SALEM              40.97N 82.11W
06/25/2009  E0.75 INCH       WAYNE              OH   PUBLIC

0340 PM     HAIL             AURORA                  41.31N 81.34W
06/25/2009  E0.75 INCH       PORTAGE            OH   TRAINED SPOTTER

0323 PM     HAIL             MANTUA                  41.28N 81.22W
06/25/2009  E0.75 INCH       PORTAGE            OH   PUBLIC

0240 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 E BRUNSWICK           41.25N 81.76W
06/25/2009                   MEDINA             OH   PUBLIC
            LARGE TREE BRANCHES DOWN IN HINCKLEY

0237 PM     HAIL             BRUNSWICK               41.25N 81.82W
06/25/2009  E0.88 INCH       MEDINA             OH   AMATEUR RADIO
            303 AND LAUREL ROAD

0234 PM     HAIL             BRUNSWICK               41.25N 81.82W
06/25/2009  E1.00 INCH       MEDINA             OH   PUBLIC

0229 PM     HAIL             2 W BRUNSWICK           41.25N 81.86W
06/25/2009  E0.88 INCH       MEDINA             OH   NWS EMPLOYEE

Lightning Safety Awareness Week: When lightning roars, go indoors

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:28:00 +0000

CLEVELAND -- June 21st through June 27th is Lightning Safety Awarness Week.

Many lightning deaths and injuries occur during the summer months and during the afternoon hours when both lightning and outdoor activities reach a peak.

Being outdoors when thunderstorms are nearby involves risk, and certain locations are worse than others.

Lightning death statistics:

48 percent occurred in open fields, ball parks, playgrounds, etc.
23 percent occurred under trees
12 percent involved water-related activities
7 percent were driving farm or other heavy equipment
6 percent happened on the golf course

While no one can completely eliminate the risk of being struck by lightning, you can greatly reduce your risk of becoming a lightning casualty.

Plan ahead. If thunderstorms are forecast, consider canceling or postponing outdoor activities so that you avoid a potentially dangerous situation.
Monitor the weather conditions. Watch the sky for any signs of an approaching storm, particularly if you need a long time to get to a safe place.
If the sky looks threatening, seek safety inside. If a building isn't nearby, seek safety in a hard-topped metal vehicle for at least 30 minute after the last bolt of lightning.
If caught outdoors, you should avoid: 1) objects like tall trees and poles, 2) anything that conducts electricity, 3) full body contact with the ground (makes yourself as small a target as possible).

For additional information about lightning or lightning safety, you can visit the National Oceanic andn Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) lightning safety awareness website:

www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov

---
Our special thanks to Gary Garnet and the team at the National Weather Service office in Cleveland for this information.

Tornado Touchdown Confirmed In Wayne County

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:06:00 +0000

SMITHVILLE -- The National Weather Service has confirmed a tornado touched down in Wayne County last Wednesday, June 17th around 7:30 p.m.

The EF0 tornado was confirmed on Monday by the National Weather Service's storm survey team.

The path was intermittent and lasted for about 4 miles near Smithville in Wayne County.

The storm team observed a garden shed destroyed and two dozen trees snapped along the storm path.

The path was also evident in crop fields.

An EF0 tornado has winds between 65 and 85 miles per hour and is the weakest classification on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. The scale is used to correlate wind speed and storm damage.

Storm Reports: 6/20/09

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:10:00 +0000

The following are storm reports from the National Weather Service Office in Cleveland for June 20, 2009:

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1235 AM     HAIL             SANDUSKY                41.46N 82.71W
06/20/2009  E0.75 INCH       ERIE               OH   LAW ENFORCEMENT

Storm Reports: 6/19/09

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 22:50:00 +0000

The following are storm reports from the National Weather Service Office in Cleveland for June 19, 2009:

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1125 PM     TSTM WND DMG     FREMONT                 41.35N 83.11W
06/19/2009                   SANDUSKY           OH   LAW ENFORCEMENT
            SOME TREES AND WIRES DOWN.

0707 PM     TSTM WND DMG     DOVER                   40.52N 81.47W
06/19/2009                   TUSCARAWAS         OH   LAW ENFORCEMENT
            LARGE LIMBS DOWNED POWER LINES.

0700 PM     TSTM WND DMG     10 NW CARROLLTON        40.68N 81.23W
06/19/2009                   CARROLL            OH   EMERGENCY MNGR
            TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN IN MAGNOLIA.

0640 PM     TSTM WND DMG     NAVARRE                 40.72N 81.52W
06/19/2009                   STARK              OH   PUBLIC
            COUPLE OF TREES DOWN.

0630 PM     HAIL             KILLBUCK                40.50N 81.98W
06/19/2009  E0.75 INCH       HOLMES             OH   PUBLIC

0630 PM     TSTM WND DMG     10 W MILLERSBURG        40.55N 82.11W
06/19/2009                   HOLMES             OH   LAW ENFORCEMENT
            A FEW TREES DOWN.

0630 PM     HAIL             GLENMONT                40.52N 82.09W
06/19/2009  E0.75 INCH       HOLMES             OH   TRAINED SPOTTER

0620 PM     TSTM WND DMG     SHREVE                  40.68N 82.02W
06/19/2009                   WAYNE              OH   LAW ENFORCEMENT
            SOME TREES DOWN.

0620 PM     TSTM WND DMG     WOOSTER                 40.82N 81.93W
06/19/2009                   WAYNE              OH   LAW ENFORCEMENT
            SOME TREES DOWN IN THE AREA.

0600 PM     TSTM WND DMG     JEROMESVILLE            40.80N 82.20W
06/19/2009                   ASHLAND            OH   TRAINED SPOTTER
            MANY TREES AND WIRES DOWN. ROOF DAMAGE TO ONE STRUCTURE.

Storm reports, damage still being tallied from Wednesday's storms

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 01:34:00 +0000

By Frank Macek

CLEVELAND -- Severe weather reports continue to be received by the National Weather Service in Cleveland and Pittsburgh who are responsible for monitoring the weather over northeast and east central Ohio where Wednesday's storms occurred.

A number of funnel cloud reports were added by the Weather Service on Thursday from the storms that rolled through the southern fringe of the Channel 3 viewing area Wednesday night.

None of the funnel clouds apparently reached the ground.

New reports and Weather Service on-site surveys on Thursday showed a downburst brought a tree down on a camper and damaged a porch roof when winds were estimated at 80 to 100 m.p.h. near Winesburg in Holmes County. Another downburst occurred in Wayne County bringing down a number of trees in Orrville.

Another round of severe weather is expected Friday through Saturday morning, so keep up to date on the latest conditions and warnings from WKYC and WKYC.COM.

If you have any photos from Wednesday's storms, please send them to us: CLICK HERE TO UPLOAD

For an updated list of storm reports on our Fair Weather Fans Blog: CLICK HERE

Severe storms bring high winds, flooding

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:51:00 +0000

By Frank Macek

CLEVELAND -- Wednesday's storms brought extremely heavy rains and high winds to portions of the southern Channel 3 viewing area.

A tornado watch was issued for areas south of Canton through 10 p.m. after high humidity and warm temperatures created the perfect ingredients for severe thunderstorms.

The National Weather Service issued a number of tornado warnings for Tuscarawas, Carroll, Stark, Wayne and Holmes Counties. However, no reports of tornado touchdowns have been received after Doppler radar indicated rotation in a few of these storms, especially in Tuscarawas County.

Law enforcement did report several trees down in Mount Eaton in Wayne County around 8 p.m. In Columbiana County, trees were downed in Salem and Leetonia around 5:20 p.m.

Large hail was also observed in Holmes County northeast of Winesburg earlier in the night.

The Ohio Turnpike had to be closed from the Warren exit to the Niles-Youngstown exit after power lines fell across the roadway during thunderstorms that moved through this area.

Two waves of heavy storms brought rainfall totals of two to three inches, especially in Tuscarawas and Carroll County and in Mahoning County where flood warnings were in effect for a period of time.

Expect quieter weather on Thursday, with another chance of thunderstorms on Friday.

Storm Reports: 6/17/09

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:05:00 +0000

The following are storm reports from the National Weather Service Office in Cleveland for June 17, 2009:

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1000 PM     FLASH FLOOD      3 N ROSWELL             40.52N 81.35W
06/17/2009                   TUSCARAWAS         OH   LAW ENFORCEMENT
            ROAD FLOODING

0920 PM     FLASH FLOOD      SALEM                   40.90N 80.85W
06/17/2009                   COLUMBIANA         OH   EMERGENCY MNGR
            CUNNINGHAM ROAD CLOSED DUE TO FLASH FLOODING.

0900 PM     TSTM WND DMG     DENNISON                40.40N 81.33W
06/17/2009                   TUSCARAWAS         OH   LAW ENFORCEMENT
            TREES DOWN

0845 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     TRIADELPHIA             40.05N 80.63W
06/17/2009                   OHIO               WV   TRAINED SPOTTER

0815 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     6 NE ST. CLAIRSVILLE    40.14N 80.82W
06/17/2009                   BELMONT            OH   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
            NEAR THE TOWN OF COLERAIN

0812 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MOUNT EATON             40.69N 81.70W
06/17/2009                   WAYNE              OH   LAW ENFORCEMENT
            SEVERAL TREES DOWN

0751 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MOUNT EATON             40.69N 81.70W
06/17/2009                   WAYNE              OH   NWS STORM SURVEY
            2 UPROOTED TREES. 3 SNAPPED TREES. NUMEROUS LARGE LIMBS
            DOWN.

0730 PM     DOWNBURST        ORRVILLE                40.85N 81.77W
06/17/2009                   WAYNE              OH   TRAINED SPOTTER
            TREES DOWN IN TOWN.

0720 PM     TSTM WND DMG     SMITHVILLE              40.86N 81.86W
06/17/2009                   WAYNE              OH   NWS STORM SURVEY
            4 LARGE LIMBS DOWN. CORN CROP LEANING OVER.

0648 PM     TSTM WND DMG     LODI                    41.03N 82.01W
06/17/2009                   MEDINA             OH   TRAINED SPOTTER
            MULTIPLE TREES DOWN SOUTH OF LODI ALONG RTE 42.

0635 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     4 W NEW PHILADELPHIA    40.49N 81.52W
06/17/2009                   TUSCARAWAS         OH   TRAINED SPOTTER

0620 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CARROLLTON              40.58N 81.09W
06/17/2009                   CARROLL            OH   LAW ENFORCEMENT
            TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN.

0543 PM     HAIL             3 NE WINESBURG          40.64N 81.65W
06/17/2009  E0.88 INCH       HOLMES             OH   TRAINED SPOTTER

0537 PM     DOWNBURST        5 W WINESBURG           40.61N 81.79W
06/17/2009                   HOLMES             OH   NWS STORM SURVEY
            MULTIPLE TREES DOWN. DAMAGE TO PORCH ROOF. LARGE TREE
            DOWN ON CAMPER. SHINGLES OFF A ROOF. WINDS ESTIMATED AT
            80-100 MPH.

0537 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 W WINESBURG           40.61N 81.79W
06/17/2009                   HOLMES             OH   TRAINED SPOTTER
            VINYL SIDING PEELED OFF. WINDOW BLOWN OUT.

0536 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     5 W WINESBURG           40.61N 81.79W
06/17/2009                   HOLMES             OH   TRAINED SPOTTER
            MULTIPLE FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTS IN MOUNT HOPE AREA FROM 536
            PM EDT TO 540 PM EDT.

0530 PM     HAIL             BELOIT                  40.92N 81.00W
06/17/2009  E0.88 INCH       MAHONING           OH   PUBLIC

0520 PM     TSTM WND DMG     LEETONIA                40.88N 80.76W
06/17/2009                   COLUMBIANA         OH   EMERGENCY MNGR
            TREES AND WIRES BLOWN DOWN.

0520 PM     TSTM WND DMG     SALEM                   40.90N 80.85W
06/17/2009                   COLUMBIANA         OH   EMERGENCY MNGR
            TREES AND WIRES BLOWN DOWN.

0415 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     4 E SHERRODSVILLE       40.49N 81.17W
06/17/2009                   CARROLL            OH   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0345 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     SHERRODSVILLE           40.49N 81.24W
06/17/2009                   CARROLL            OH   TRAINED SPOTTER

0340 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     LEESVILLE               40.45N 81.21W
06/17/2009                   CARROLL            OH   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0340 PM     TSTM WND DMG     STRASBURG               40.60N 81.53W
06/17/2009                   TUSCARAWAS         OH   LAW ENFORCEMENT
            TREES DOWN.

New Feature: WKYC Beach Conditions And Advisories

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 22:23:00 +0000

CLEVELAND -- WKYC is pleased to offer a new page webpage called "Beach conditions and advisories."

During the summer months, selected public beaches along Lake Erie are sampled for E. coli bacteria.

The presence of this bacteria in beach water is a good indicator of pollution that could be potentially harmful to swimmers.

When the amount of bacteria in the water exceeds state standards, beaches are posted with signs that advise against swimming.

Our new page will allow you to view current sample results to determine the risks for swimming.

You can find the link on our main weather page, the weather drop down menu or CLICK HERE

Rip Current Awareness Week: Rip Currents Break The Grip

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 02:23:00 +0000

CLEVELAND -- June 7th through 13th is Rip Current Awareness Week.

Rip currents are not undertow or riptides. These are obsolete terms.

In some areas, people have used the term undertow to describe the combination of being knocked down, pulled out and submerged due to a lack of swimming ability and or lack of knowing what to do to escape.

This is where the myth formed that a rip current pulls you under water. A rip current pulls you out to open water...not under.

Many people ask how rip currents result in the drowning of swimmers. Drowning deaths occur when people pulled offshore are unable to keep themselves afloat and swim to shore. This may be due to any combination of fear, panic and exhaustion - or lack of swimming skills.

Rip currents are the greatest surf zone hazard to all beachgoers. They can sweep even the strongest swimmer out to sea. Rip currents are particularly dangerous for weak and non swimmers.

Rip currents are formed when waves break near the shoreline, piling up water between the breaking waves and the beach.

One of the ways that this water returns to sea is to form a rip current - a narrow Jet of water moving swiftly away from shore - roughly perpendicular to the shoreline.

The greatest safety precaution you can take is to recognize the danger of rip currents and always remember to swim at beaches with lifeguards present.

Listen to NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards for the latest nearshore marine forecast and listen for rip current threat forecasts before heading to the shores of Lake Erie.

Be sure to visit the National Weather Service on the web at http://www.weather.gov/cleveland for the latest rip current forecasts at area beaches

Read more on the rip current safety web page at www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov.

---

Courtesy: National Weather Service

News: Midges return for their annual invasion

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:47:00 +0000

By Frank Macek

CLEVELAND -- Call them midges or muckleheads. One thing is for sure, those pesky bugs are back in full force.

Experts say the annual midge invasion is one of the largest they've seen in recent years along the Lake Erie shoreline where swarms of the bugs ebb and flow inland with the wind.

And those same winds are taking them further south of the shoreline then normal this year to the suburbs and into surrounding counties.

Those who study the midges say they can't explain the increase this year. The Greater Cleveland area has seen slightly warmer and drier conditions during the month of May that may have helped.

Often mistaken for mosquitoes, midges do not bite.

With a lifespan of less then a week, they often disappear as quickly as they arrive.

More from Channel 3 Weather: Get forecast e-mails, iAlert text messages or e-mails, Find Channel 3 Weather on Facebook or Watch the latest forecast from Channel 3 News

News: Storms Destroy Buildings, Flood Roads

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:46:00 +0000

DERBY -- Storms with high winds and hail have turned several barns and at least one garage into piles of lumber in central Ohio's Fairfield County.

National Weather Service meteorologist Ken Haydu says Tuesday's damage was centered in Derby, 20 miles southeast of Columbus.

Straight-line winds of up to 60 mph were recorded along with hail as big as tennis balls. Haydu says there was an unconfirmed report of a tornado elsewhere in the county, in a field in Madison Township.

The Fairfield County sheriff's office says there were no reports of serious injuries.

Flash flooding and power outages were the problems Tuesday evening across southern Ohio, from Cincinnati to Marietta.

Utilities still had more than 3,000 customers out Wednesday morning.

More from Channel 3 Weather: Get forecast e-mails, iAlert text messages or e-mails, Find Channel 3 Weather on Facebook or Watch the latest forecast from Channel 3 News

May in Review: Warmer & Drier Than Normal for 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 01:24:00 +0000

CLEVELAND -- The month of May 2009 turned out hotter and drier than normal across northeast Ohio this year.

That's the conclusion after looking back on May 2009.

Few Clevelanders would complain by the lack of excitable weather during the month. Skies were clear to partly cloudy for 24 out of 31 days.

Our usual severe weather season which runs from April through June continued unusually quiet both here and across much of the country. The only stormy weather occurred during the final days of the month with heavy rain on May 26th, 27th, 28th and 29th.

According to WKYC meteorologist Betsy Kling, the country had the fewest number of severe weather watches put in effect by the National Severe Storms Forecast Center since May 1992.

Temperatures ranged from 85 degrees on May 21st to a frigid morning low of 34 degrees on May 18th. Many areas, especially away from lake erie and to the east of Cleveland, saw frost.

After some very warm weather in April, May saw no 90 degree weather this year. The mean average was 60.0 degrees or 1.5 degrees above the normal.

Clear skies also brought less rain to the Cleveland area than normal. At Hopkins, the rain bucket only filled to 2.35 inches, or 1.15 inches below normal.

For 2009, we are running a deficit of .43 inches below the average yearly rainfall of 14.58" through May 31st. Last year, we already tallied 20.74" of rain by this time.

And one thing everyone was happy about: no snow was recorded at the airport during May. That will officially put our seasonal tally to bed at 80.0 inches of snow - not even close to being one of the top snowiest winters.

Storm Reports: 6/1/09

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 02:06:00 +0000

The following are storm reports from the National Weather Service Office in Cleveland for June 1, 2009:

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1110 PM     TSTM WND DMG     10 SE RAVENNA           41.06N 81.11W
06/01/2009                   PORTAGE            OH   PUBLIC
            SEVERAL DOWNED TREES IN ATWATER.

1047 PM     HAIL             OLMSTED FALLS           41.37N 81.90W
06/01/2009  E1.00 INCH       CUYAHOGA           OH   NWS EMPLOYEE

1018 PM     HAIL             MEDINA                  41.14N 81.87W
06/01/2009  U0.75 INCH       MEDINA             OH   PUBLIC

1018 PM     HAIL             2 NW AKRON              41.10N 81.55W
06/01/2009  U0.88 INCH       SUMMIT             OH   PUBLIC
            0.88 INCH HAIL BATH OHIO

1015 PM     HAIL             SPENCER                 41.10N 82.12W
06/01/2009  E0.75 INCH       MEDINA             OH   PUBLIC

1015 PM     HAIL             AKRON                   41.08N 81.52W
06/01/2009  E1.25 INCH       SUMMIT             OH   PUBLIC

1005 PM     HAIL             HAYESVILLE              40.77N 82.26W
06/01/2009  E0.88 INCH       ASHLAND            OH   LAW ENFORCEMENT

1005 PM     HAIL             SAVANNAH                40.97N 82.36W
06/01/2009  E0.88 INCH       ASHLAND            OH   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0950 PM     TSTM WND DMG     POLK                    40.95N 82.21W
06/01/2009                   ASHLAND            OH   LAW ENFORCEMENT
            NUMEROUS TREES DOWN

0935 PM     HAIL             6 SW SHREVE             40.62N 82.10W
06/01/2009  E0.75 INCH       HOLMES             OH   AMATEUR RADIO

0928 PM     TSTM WND DMG     EDISON                  40.56N 82.86W
06/01/2009                   MORROW             OH   LAW ENFORCEMENT
            TWO TREES DOWN

0910 PM     TSTM WND DMG     NEW WASHINGTON          40.96N 82.85W
06/01/2009                   CRAWFORD           OH   PUBLIC
            TREE DOWN ON HOUSE AND SEVERAL LARGE LIMBS DOWN.

News: 2 Low-Level Tornadoes Touch Down In SW Ohio

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:48:00 +0000

WILMINGTON, Ohio -- The National Weather Service has confirmed that two tornadoes touched down at sparsely populated sites in southwest Ohio over the weekend.

Weather service meteorologists at the Wilmington station observed one tornado with their own eyes Saturday, from their office windows. The twister that touched down two miles south of Wilmington was of the lowest category, and no damage was reported.

Another similar tornado touched down near Bethel, southeast of Cincinnati. No significant damage was found during a survey of the area.

Heavy rain and high winds swept through several counties on Saturday. An apartment complex roof was damaged in Loveland, northeast of Cincinnati, and moviegoers in nearby Milford were asked to gather in the hallways of a multiplex.

Source: The Associated Press

Storm Reports: 5/29/09

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Sun, 31 May 2009 00:24:00 +0000

The following are storm reports from the National Weather Service Office in Cleveland for May 29, 2009:

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0858 PM     TSTM WND DMG     10 SE RAVENNA           41.06N 81.11W
05/29/2009                   PORTAGE            OH   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREE DOWN.

0900 PM     TSTM WND DMG     15 SE RAVENNA           41.01N 81.04W
05/29/2009                   PORTAGE            OH   PUBLIC

            LARGE LIMB DOWN.

Storm Video from Elyria & Cleveland on 5/28/09

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Fri, 29 May 2009 01:07:00 +0000

ELYRIA: Thursday's storms blew the roof of the Glorious Assembly Apostolic Church in Elyria.

CLEVELAND: Heavy downpours here in Cleveland caused flooding under this overpass along Holton. At least one car was spotted driving through the water.

Storm Reports: 5/28/09

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Thu, 28 May 2009 19:07:00 +0000

The following are storm reports from the National Weather Service Office in Cleveland for May 28, 2009:

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1240 PM     TSTM WND DMG     ELYRIA                  41.38N 82.11W
05/28/2009                   LORAIN             OH   PUBLIC

            CHURCH ROOF BLOWN OFF WINDS ESTIMATED 60 MPH

0101 PM     HAIL             ELYRIA                  41.38N 82.11W
05/28/2009  M0.75 INCH       LORAIN             OH   TRAINED SPOTTER

0101 PM     HAIL             ELYRIA                  41.38N 82.11W
05/28/2009  M0.75 INCH       LORAIN             OH   TRAINED SPOTTER

Another day of thunderstorms dumps heavy rain on northern Ohio

noreply@blogger.com (Frank Macek) — Thu, 28 May 2009 01:57:00 +0000

CLEVELAND -- Another round of showers and thunderstorms brought some minor damage and flooding rains to the area for a second straight day.

A warm and sticky afternoon made ideal conditions for heavy rains, thunder and lightning across many areas of northeast Ohio on Wednesday.

The first round of storms brought total rainfall amounts of up to 4 inches in Sandusky and Ottawa Counties where flash flood warnings were posted throughout much of the evening.
Weather watchers in the Port Clinton area reported knee high water in that city. Magruder Hospital had to close its main entrance as flood waters got too deep.

Another area of storms moved through the Cleveland area with some minor damage in Westlake where a tree was reported down, in North Olmsted with limbs down on wires, in North Mentor in Lake County with a small tree down and another fell in Painesville also in Lake County.

3/4" hail was reported in the Kent area with a third batch of storms that moved through Summit and Portage Counties.

The rain also delayed the start of Indians vs. Tampa Bay game at Progressive Field for 1 hour and 55 minutes.

WKYC Meteorologist Betsy Kling says another round of showers and thunderstorms will occur on Thursday as a cold front nears the state.

Once it passes, we'll have a nice looking weekend ahead.

Check out weather photos, video and storm reports on our weather page: www.wkyc.com/weather

TODAY'S STORM REPORTS MAP