Category Archives: Meteorology

More April snow?

The snow showers that visited our area on Thursday afternoon represented the fourth time snow had been in the air in Madison this month of April.

These showers were associated with the development and passage of a strong and sprawling cyclone that brought blizzard conditions to a number of locations in North Dakota and Montana from Tuesday night into Thursday. The town on Glenburn, North Dakota, received 30.5 inches of snow as of Thursday morning, with 30 to 36 inches variously reported around Minot. Continue reading

Category: Meteorology, Seasons, Severe Weather

Comments Off on More April snow?

What was that stuff that fell on Wednesday and Thursday?

Last Wednesday and Thursday many locations in southern Wisconsin experienced snow squalls in which the falling precipitation was momentarily quite intense.

This event was an example of shallow convection — as opposed to the deep convection of summertime thunderstorms. Continue reading

Category: Meteorology, Seasons, Severe Weather

Comments Off on What was that stuff that fell on Wednesday and Thursday?

Where in the U.S. are the most weather warnings issued?

Certain meteorological conditions may pose threats to life and property. Under these conditions, the National Weather Service (NWS) issues advisories, weather watches and weather warnings.

A weather watch informs us that current atmospheric conditions are favorable for hazardous weather. When the hazardous weather will soon occur in an area, a warning is issued. Weather watches and warnings are issued for a wide variety of hazardous weather, including tornadoes, hurricanes, severe thunderstorms, winter storms, high wind speeds and flooding. Continue reading

Category: Meteorology, Severe Weather

Comments Off on Where in the U.S. are the most weather warnings issued?

Is it Spring Time?

Spring marks the transition from winter to summer. In astronomical terms, the date that marks the spring in the Northern Hemisphere is the vernal equinox. This year the spring equinox occurred on at 10:33 a.m. Sunday. This is the first … Continue reading

Category: Climate, Meteorology, Seasons

Comments Off on Is it Spring Time?

Is mathematical pi used in meteorology?

The ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter is a constant value. The size of the circle does not matter; this ratio is always the same value and is called pi.

The existence of this constant was known by the Babylonians and the Egyptians dating back to at least 2000 B.C. The numerical value is represented by the Greek letter for p, or π. Continue reading

Category: History, Meteorology

Comments Off on Is mathematical pi used in meteorology?