Category Archives: Meteorology

Did spring come early this year?

Posted on March 23, 2020 by WeatherGuys Editor

Astronomically, spring occurs when the sun’s rays strike the equator at noon at an angle that is directly overhead.

This particular time varies from year to year due to variations in Earth’s orbit about the sun. In the Northern Hemisphere, the vernal, or spring, equinox (“equi” meaning “equal,” and “nox,” “night”) occurs sometime between March 19 and 23, but often on March 20 or 21. Continue reading →

Category: Climate, Meteorology, Seasons

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Will spring temperatures affect the COVID-19 outbreak?

Posted on March 16, 2020 by WeatherGuys Editor

The COVID-19 outbreak continues to expand across the U.S. and globally. What happens when spring and warmer weather arrives?

Some viral respiratory diseases, such as influenza, are seasonal, and cases decrease in the spring and summer. However, we do not know what to expect from the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Continue reading →

Category: Meteorology, Phenomena, Weather Dangers

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Is water everywhere?

Posted on February 3, 2020 by WeatherGuys Editor

Evidence of the presence of water in our atmosphere is ubiquitous.

Water occurs in the Earth’s atmosphere in all three of its phases — solid (snow and ice), liquid (rain and dew) and gas (invisible water vapor). Continue reading →

Category: Climate, Meteorology

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How did 2019 weather align with climate trends?

Posted on January 22, 2020 by WeatherGuys Editor

Government scientists concluded that the globally averaged temperature for 2019 was 1.71 degrees above the 20th-century average. This is the 43rd consecutive year that the global temperature was above the 20th-century average.

This was the second-highest since record keeping began in 1880 and was just 0.07 degrees less than the record value set in 2016. Nine of the 10 warmest years have occurred since 2005, and the five warmest years have occurred since 2015. Continue reading →

Category: Climate, Meteorology

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What is a fire cloud?

Posted on January 21, 2020 by WeatherGuys Editor

With the raging fires in Australia, you may have heard news reports of pyrocumulus, or fire clouds.

In Latin, pyro means “fire” and cumulus means “pile up.” Cumulus is a type of cloud that is common in Wisconsin, particularly in summer. Cumulus clouds are those puffy white clouds with tops that have a cauliflower appearance. Continue reading →

Category: Meteorology, Phenomena, Severe Weather, Weather Dangers

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