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.
- Being mindful of recent changes in the USA’s federal policy has made one thing very clear…if China want to be the new world leader in a green economy and fighting climate change, the crown is there for their taking…and America made it easy for them to be number one.
- Climate and economic conditions have an irrevocable link. Taking that into consideration, how is it possible that climate change could turn the American dream on its head?
- Several severe weather events across the USA in 2025 have damaged or destroyed thousands of home and businesses, injured many, and killed dozens. No thanks to the current presidential administration, the help from FEMA and other government agencies that is badly needed is no where in sight.
- Recent severe weather and tornado events in the USA caught many drivers by surprise. Here’s an informative read on what you need to know about driving in severe weather, high winds, or dust storm conditions.
- AI could have a dramatic influence on weather forecasting. Here’s a good read on one new example of how this could change the forecasts many of us depend on. In spite of the recent accuracy, there will be many years of refining and trials by fire before this can replace even a small part of the current forecasting process.
- Lighting is one of our atmosphere’s most fascinating and enigmatic phenomenons. New studies have now shown the connection between lightning many of us frequently see and gamma rays.
- 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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