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Did weather play a role in D-Day?
Friday marked the 70th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Europe and the beginning of the end of Nazi tyranny and murder in World War II. A perfect combination of full moon (for nighttime aerial navigation purposes), low tide (so that German mines in Brittany would be exposed) and light winds were necessary to give the invasion any reasonable chance of success.
Thus, days on which the tides and phase of the moon were optimal were known some weeks in advance. As late May arrived, it became increasingly clear that choosing among those optimal days for invasion would depend crucially upon the weather and the ability to make an accurate forecast of weather conditions.
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Category: Meteorology, Severe Weather, Weather Dangers
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Who controls the tornado sirens?
The sirens around Dane County are not just for warning about tornadoes.
Although tornado warnings are by far the most common cause for the sounding of the alarm, the sirens are used for other hazards. Continue reading
Category: Meteorology, Severe Weather, Weather Dangers
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How do I prepare for severe weather?
Severe weather can happen at any time and anywhere. Your best protection is to be prepared.
Last week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) sponsored the National Severe Weather Preparedness Week. Throughout the week, they organized groups and activities that highlighted the importance of preparing for severe weather before it strikes. They pointed out that being prepared for severe weather doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. The most important step is to have a plan for what you and your family will do when severe weather strikes. Continue reading
Did Wisconsin just have a heat wave?
Wisconsin experienced a small heat wave July 16-19, when heat indices around the state reached above 100 F.
The heat index, or apparent temperature index, indicates how hot it feels. When our bodies get hot, we cool down by sweating. It is not the sweating that cools our bodies; it is the evaporation of the sweat. If the air has a high humidity, then the rate of evaporation is reduced. This hampers the body’s ability to maintain a nearly constant internal body temperature. When the temperature is high and the relative humidity is high, the heat index is high and it seems hotter than it really is. In these cases, the heat index is greater than the actual temperature. Continue reading
How is Smoke from a Wildfire in Minnesota Affecting Wisconsin Weather?
On Tuesday a large part of our state either saw or smelled smoke from a raging wildfire in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in northern Minnesota. The smoke was particularly easy to detect in the northern parts of Wisconsin . . . Continue reading
Category: Weather Dangers
Tags Dangers, Phenomena, Wind
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Tags Dangers, Phenomena, Wind
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