Greetings to all and thanks so much for visiting. Across much of the USA severe weather activity is on the increase. We’re also starting a multi-day severe weather stretch, so please stay very weather aware. This is May and in most years, the peak of tornado activity. Your tornado safety information will be posted again this week along with a reminder on lightning and flash flood safety. I’m resumed posting on the Tornado Quest Threads account, so visit our social media page to check it out along with other Tornado Quest social media platforms. This week I’ve got several thought provoking science reads, the updated weekly US Drought Monitor, and a reminder to check your NOAA weather radio. Let’s get started.
- A scenario like this shouldn’t be happening in the 21st century. Unfortunately, the USA is now no longer a leader in cutting edge advancements in public health.
- If you’re like me, you pay close attention to the packaging of items you purchase. To complicate matters, the recycled plastic labels on some items may be misleading.
- Have you ever wondered why stars twinkle? Read this engaging article and find out why stars flicker in our night skies.
- Solar flare activity has been on the increase as of late. There could be more on the way and it’s affects on our daily lives can’t be denied.
- Is climate change making your every day life more challenging or difficult? If you think it isn’t, read this. Hopefully it’ll give you pause to reconsider.
- The USA’s corn belt is essential to the food supply and economy of America and many other countries that buy our corn. Climate change, along with government cutbacks, could cause dramatic fluctuations in the stability of these essential agribusinesses.
- Weather experts across the board are issuing stark and ominous warnings that the recent cuts in National Weather Service staff and duties puts all Americans at risk.
- How do airborne particles of life have an affect on rainfall in your area? Read this and find out.
- While on the topic of airborne particulate matter, wildfire smoke carries a myriad of health hazards. A recent study has shown a startling number of people around the globe that have been subject to this dangerous smoke in the 21st century.
- If you live in a region prone to severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, you need to watch this excellent video presentation from the National Weather Service in Norman, OK on seasonal readiness for severe weather and tornadoes. It goes into extensive detail on many facets of severe weather forecasting that will help many folks increase their appreciation of just how hard the task of a meteorologist is and the lengths they go to in order to make their forecasts easy for the general public to understand.
- Are you interested in weather and would you like to take part in contributing to weather and climate data archives as a citizen scientist? Check out the CoCoRaHS project! Your daily precipitation reports, even when no precipitation has occurred, are part of very important weather data forecasting models and data archives! Every single daily report, even if you get no precipitation, counts and is important!
- Another way you can help with weather reports as a citizen scientist is with the free mPING app! Your reports go directly to the National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman, OK! Even just a few reports help meteorologists with research…and your one report does count!
- Here’s your weekly reminder to check your NOAA weather radio’s operation and its batteries. NOAA has a comprehensive page on NOAA weather radio…a feature of the National weather Service in the USA that has saved countless lives.
- Here’s the latest update on the US Drought Monitor. Across much of the contiguous USA, drought conditions have improved across the Ohio valley and mid to lower Mississippi valley regions. Many states west of the Mississippi River have seen some relief as well as small parts of the east coast. Extreme to exceptional drought conditions continue to persist from Texas west to to southern California. The latest fire weather outlooks can be found at the Storm Prediction Center website where they are updated daily.
SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY
Please note; Much of the preceding information may not be available/updated in the future due to unnecessary firings en masse at NOAA and the National Weather Service.
THUNDERSTORMS, TORNADOES, AND LIGHTNING…NATURES MOST VIOLENT STORMS
TORNADO SAFETY FROM NOAA’S STORM PREDICTION CENTER
THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TORNADOES FROM NOAA’S STORM PREDICTION CENTER
HOW TO BUILD AN EMERGENCY KIT – INFORMATION COURTESY READY.GOV
That’s a wrap for this week! Thanks for stopping by! See you next Saturday!
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