You may have heard weathercasters saying that December 1 is the beginning of meteorological winter. However, the calendar says winter starts on December 21. Why are there two dates?
Meteorogical vs Astronomical winter
December 1 is called the beginning of meteorological winter because we often...
Winter precipitation is on its way. Rain, snow, sleet, and freezing rain are all potential types of precipitation. Rain is liquid water, while the other three are frozen at the end of their atmospheric journey.
So, if snow, sleet, and freezing rain are all frozen water, what’s the difference?...
We all have been hearing about the mega-drought occurring in the west. California has been hard hit, with many of its lakes at record lows. Water managers in that area always hope for a good winter precipitation season to replenish some of the water that is sorely needed. While most of the moisture...
Forecasting day-to-day weather and predicting what climate will be five years or 50 years from now have very different outcomes. Both processes use most of the same land, water, and sea parameters, but the range for climate forecasts can also vary due to human activity. For climate forecasts,...
As we move through August, some folks will reference it as being the “dog days.” What are they talking about?
We associate these “dog days” with hot weather. But it does not refer to living dogs being uncomfortable in the heat. Instead, the term is associated with a bright star called...
We tested your knowledge last month. Did you pass the test?
True or False: Due to the Greenhouse Effect, the earth takes in more heat from the sun than it gives off.
FALSE: What greenhouse gases do is slow the release of heat. If the earth really...
It's scorching outside. Stay inside and take our most recent weather quiz.
T or F: Due to the Greenhouse Effect, the Earth takes in more heat from the sun than it gives off.
An increase in temperature the higher you go in the atmosphere is called a ____ ____.
The eye of a hurricane...
It’s summer. It’s baseball season. Millions of people attend Major League games, just waiting for their favorite hitter to knock one into the seats. Fans contend with afternoon games that may be hot and muggy or just simply hot. I once went to a Rangers game while attending a...
Earth’s atmosphere, while it appears to go forever, is actually a very thin layer of air. Technically the atmosphere reaches out for thousands of miles, but over half of the atmosphere is within 4 miles of the earth’s surface. Think about driving 4 miles- it’s not very far. By the...
I don’t know about you, but this April was not what I was expecting or hoping for. Many days were 5 to 20 degrees below average, and below freezing temperatures occurred even during the last week of the month. How can we have such a cold spring when we are increasing global temperatures? ...