Archives
Categories
WeatherGuys Links
Category Archives: Meteorology
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
Comments Off on Is that photo of circular lightning?
Comments Off on Is that photo of circular lightning?
What were those flying saucer-shaped clouds?
Thunderstorms rolled through Madison between 8:30 and 9 a.m. Thursday May 16th. Stunning “flying-saucer” clouds accompanied the dark skies of the leading edge of the storm. These dark, protruding clouds are “shelf clouds.” The clouds look like a shelf and … Continue reading
Category: Meteorology, Phenomena, Uncategorized
Comments Off on What were those flying saucer-shaped clouds?
Comments Off on What were those flying saucer-shaped clouds?
What is the Beaufort scale?
The Beaufort scale is a method of estimating wind speed based on the general condition of the surface of a large body of water with respect to wind waves and swell.
It is based on observation of sea state rather than accurate wind measurements. This scale allows sailors to estimate the wind speed just by observing the state of the sea surface. Continue reading
What is a cyclone?
A cyclone is a general term for a weather system in which winds rotate inwardly to an area of low atmospheric pressure.
For large weather systems, the circulation pattern is in a counterclockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere and a clockwise direction in the Southern Hemisphere. Continue reading
Why was there a reddish tint in the snow this month?
On April 11, there were widespread reports and photos of dust residue on vehicles and tan/brown-colored snow in parts of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska.
The origins of these residues can be traced back hundreds of miles to Arizona, Texas and New Mexico. Continue reading
Category: Meteorology, Severe Weather
Comments Off on Why was there a reddish tint in the snow this month?
Comments Off on Why was there a reddish tint in the snow this month?
