Monthly Archives: June 2019

What is the hurricane forecast for this year?

A hurricane is a tropical storm over the Atlantic Ocean basin. The official hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. But that doesn’t mean all hurricanes have to occur during that time period. Indeed, we have already had … Continue reading

Category: Uncategorized

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Has this been an unusually dreary spring?

With astrological summer set to begin on Friday morning at 10:54 a.m., it seems like a good time to consider the nature of this seemingly dreary and cold spring that we have just endured.

Almost no one will disagree that this year has had a memorably bad spring, not only locally but around the nation as widespread flooding has put elements of the agricultural sector well behind their normal schedules. Continue reading

Category: Climate, Meteorology, Seasons

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Is that photo of circular lightning?

When we see a flash of lightning, it looks as though it forms all at once.

However, a lightning bolt is actually produced in many steps. The bolt occurs so quickly that it looks like a single brilliant flash, but high-speed photography can reveal several distinct bolts. Continue reading

Category: Meteorology, Phenomena, Severe Weather

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Why was the sky hazy on Thursday and Friday?

There have been large forest fires in northern Alberta, Canada, and the smoke has drifted over the Midwest, including Wisconsin.

Smoke can cause the sky to appear hazy, even if the smoke is high above the ground. The smoke scatters sunlight to make the sunlight diffuse and grayish. When the smoke is thick, it can cause brilliant red sunsets and sunrises, as it did on Thursday. When light beams interact with particles suspended in air, the light can be scattered or absorbed. Continue reading

Category: Phenomena, Weather Dangers

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