Archives
Categories
WeatherGuys Links
Monthly Archives: January 2015
Can you explain the difference between black ice and gray ice?
The term ‘black ice’ refers to two conditions: a new layer of ice on water, which appears dark in color because the ice is transparent and so we see the deep water below, or as a layer of clear ice on a roadway, which makes for hazardous driving conditions.
In both cases the ice is not black but transparent, and therefore shows the color of the underlying surface. Continue reading
Category: Meteorology, Seasons, Weather Dangers
Comments Off on Can you explain the difference between black ice and gray ice?
Comments Off on Can you explain the difference between black ice and gray ice?
How unusual is our roller coaster winter?
It doesn’t take an exceptional attention span to realize that this year’s cold season (starting in November) has been very changeable.
November was 6.1 degrees colder than normal, then December was surprisingly mild (5.8 degrees above normal). As of Thursday — mid-month — January has been 8.5 degrees below normal. Continue reading
Are the Great Lakes’ water levels normal?
For the first time in about 25 years, the water level of the all the Great Lakes is above normal. Lakes Superior, Michigan and Huron are about 5 inches above the long term average.
This ends a 15-year period where lake levels have been below historic averages. Continue reading
What rare weather event did we experience last month?
Madison’s overnight low temperature of minus 3 on Dec. 28 was a relatively rare event, all things considered.
As we all know, the temperature dipping below zero in winter is not unusual. But it doesn’t usually happen without snow on the ground, and there are good reasons for that. Continue reading
Category: Meteorology, Seasons
Comments Off on What rare weather event did we experience last month?
Comments Off on What rare weather event did we experience last month?
