Category Archives: Meteorology

New book from Jonathan Martin of The Weather Guys delves into the origins of modern meteorology

The technology that allows us to know the temperature, humidity and chance of precipitation on an hourly basis is something on which we’ve come to expect and rely. But ever wonder how the technology of predicting the weather came about?

UW-Madison professor Jonathan Martin, one of the writers of the State Journal’s “Ask the Weather Guys” column, answers that question in his new book “Reginald Sutcliffe and the Invention of Modern Weather Systems Science,” which came out March 15. He’ll be discussing the book during a virtual event through Mystery to Me bookstore later this month. Continue reading

Category: History, Meteorology

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What should I know about the spring equinox?

The spring equinox — also called the vernal equinox — marks the beginning of the spring season in the Northern Hemisphere and the autumn season in the Southern Hemisphere.

This year the equinox arrived at 4:37 a.m. Saturday. Continue reading

Category: Meteorology, Seasons

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Has March been a bit unusual so far?

It has been a fairly benign first two weeks of March for those of us in southern Wisconsin.

Through the first 11 days of the month, we have averaged 6.2 degrees above normal. In fact, in the nearly three weeks since Feb. 22 — when we had this season’s maximum snow depth of 16 inches in Madison — we have averaged the same 6.2 degrees above normal. Continue reading

Category: Climate, Meteorology, Seasons

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How severe was the Northern Hemisphere winter this year?

Today is March 1 so the meteorological winter (December-January-February) is over.

The areal extent of air colder than minus 23 degrees at about 1 mile above the ground throughout December through February is one way of comparing the severity of the Northern Hemisphere winter from one year to the next. Continue reading

Category: Climate, Meteorology, Seasons

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How is the ice cover on the Great Lakes?

Until this recent frigid arctic air outbreak, the Great Lakes were experiencing one of the mildest winters on record National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) monitors and reports on the ice coverage of the Great Lakes. NOAA reports total coverage … Continue reading

Category: Climate, Meteorology, Phenomena, Seasons, Uncategorized

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