Ramblings of a Graduate Student

Day 211: In Preparation of the Upcoming Heatwave

pmarsh — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 02:39:24 +0000

As I mentioned last night, a substantial heatwave is forecast to grip a large portion of the country beginning this weekend and lasting into next week. Local National Weather Service (NWS) offices across the southern United States have already issued Heat Advisories or Excessive Heat Warnings in preparation. If you live across the southern half [...]

Day 210: Heatwave Returning

pmarsh — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 04:38:46 +0000

AUTHOR’S NOTE: Mr. Chad Cowan captured an amazing photograph of the record producing thunderstorm discussed in last night’s blog post. I have added this photograph to the end of last night’s blog post. I encourage you to take a look! You can go to that post by clicking here. Note, this photograph is reproduced with [...]

Day 209: Overview of Thunderstorm Producing Record Hailstone

pmarsh — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 04:20:44 +0000

During the evening of 23 July 2010, Vivian, South Dakota experienced a severe thunderstorm no homeowner would enjoy; the thunderstorm packed winds estimated to be in the 110-120 miles per hour range. If that wasn’t problem enough, the thunderstorm was also producing hail that measured over 8″ in diameter and 18.5″ in circumference. (Anecdotal reports [...]

Day 208: Long Squall-Line

pmarsh — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 04:00:03 +0000

Tonight a mid-level low continues to aid development of showers and thunderstorms across northern Texas. Additionally, a second mid-level low spins across the central Gulf of Mexico. Both of these lows are tropical in origin, which decreases the large-scale threat of severe thunderstorms across the aforementioned areas. (This is for reasons I won’t explain tonight [...]

Day 207: Tropical Rains in the South

pmarsh — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 03:08:54 +0000

The mid-to-upper-level trough that was responsible for keeping Tropical Storm Bonnie at bay last week has continued to move around the southern periphery of a strong subtropical ridge located over the southeast United States. This has allowed the trough to move from the central Gulf of Mexico northwestward into northwest Texas. This tropical (short)wave trough [...]

Day 206: Outflow Galore

pmarsh — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 02:14:55 +0000

The hot weather across the southern United States, combined with the presence of ample low-level moisture and a weak surface boundary, led to the development of scattered clusters of showers and thunderstorms. Several of these clusters developed in and around the Oklahoma City metro area. Because the mid-to-upper-level wind shear was rather anemic, individual thunderstorms [...]

Day 205: “Oh Bring Back My Bonnie to Me…”

pmarsh — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 02:49:54 +0000

As discussed over the last few days, Tropical Depression Bonnie continues to struggle to survive in a very hostile environment. Today, Bonnie gave up the fight; officially dropping below tropical depression strength. Hence it is fitting to conclude the first verse of the Scottish Folk Song, “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean”. As I discussed [...]

Day 204: More Rain for Southern Wisconsin

pmarsh — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 04:04:49 +0000

Last night about this time, the meteorological community was abuzz discussing then Tropical Storm Bonnie. However, since last night Tropical Storm Bonnie made landfall in the Miami, FL vicinity and has subsequently weakened to Tropical Depression. Because Tropical Depression does not appear to be very noteworthy at the moment (in fact, @ryanvaughan has described Bonnie [...]

Day 203: “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean…”

pmarsh — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 04:06:22 +0000

Last night, I mentioned several factors that were inhibiting the development of a tropical depression/storm near the Bahamas. If you read that post before going to bed, I can only imagine your surprise this morning when the National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued a special forecast update (above). Last night the probability of development was 40%, [...]

Day 202: Update on Invest 97L

pmarsh — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 03:45:22 +0000

For those of you who don’t routinely keep up with the happenings of the National Hurricane Center (NHC), you might be a little baffled by my choice of title tonight. “Invest 97L” is the official designation of the tropical (short)wave trough (orange dashed line below) I’ve been discussing on this blog the past few evenings; [...]