Wes' Weather World

Track Tropical Systems On Google Maps, Google Earth

Wes Hohenstein — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 01:53:35 +0000

This month we have watched Edouard bump into the Texas coast, Tropical Storm Fay rain on Florida for a week and now we are watching Hurricane Gustav strengthen in Caribbean and head for the Gulf of Mexico.

For each of those storms, the National Hurricane Center has monitored, tracked and forecasted an official storm path that many weather watchers, including meteorologist, use. One of the many tools that goes into the final forecast track is a group of computer models…a group that you can find access to on the internet…but not like this.

There is now a site that will help you automatically plot all the computer models on Google Earth or Google Maps. There are more than twenty different models that you can plot up and view and it can get a little cluttered if you are not careful. But, there is not much that looks bad and is not made easier by Google.

One important thing to remember when looking at computer models is that it’s best not to pick one model out because it’s right or wrong….or because the result is good or bad for you…but it’s good to look at trends. Follow the models over a 24 hour period or a few days and see what the trends are. The great thing about these computer models is that a system doesn’t have to be a depression or named storm to show up on the site. This means if there is a tropical wave out there…most likely you can track where the computer models think it’s going to go before the National Hurricane Center starts issuing offical track guidance.

Check out the site here and follow the official track of tropical systems here.

Enjoy!

This Olympic Vault Did NOT Win A Gold Medal

Wes Hohenstein — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 04:41:35 +0000

We’ve seen some great performances at this year’s Olympics in Beijing. The following video is not an example of one of those great performances.

This video actually has a personal history for me. Growing up, the local sports segment on the evening news had a weekly bloopers segment. It truly was must see TV! Anyway…the introduction video of this weekly segment had some of the all time great sports bloopers, like the baseball outfielder going back on a fly ball and crashing through the wall.

There was also this video clip in the intro. I finally found it on YouTube and thought it was timely during the Olympics. Don’t worry; no one was hurt (permanently) during the filming of this vault.

Two Major Forecasters Call For More Hurricanes

Wes Hohenstein — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 13:55:07 +0000

More hurricanes than we first thought…that’s the general idea from two leading hurricane forecasters. Last week the NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center in association with the National Hurricane Center and Dr. William Gray and his team at Colorado State University changed their original 2008 hurricane outlook to include more tropical activity the rest of the 2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

Dr. William Gray and his team from Colorado State have raised their total predicted named storms from 15 to 17. The reason they have raised their seasonal forecast numbers is because of a very active early tropical cyclone season and more favorable hurricane-enhancing sea surface temperature and pressure patterns in the tropical Atlantic. Here are the rest of their numbers…

Two days later, the government came to the same conclusion. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration now projects an 85 percent probability of an above-normal season…up from 65 percent in May. Their original forecast in May called for 12 to 16 named storms, 6 to 9 hurricanes and 2 to 5 major hurricanes. Now, they are calling for 14 to 18 named storms, 7 to 10 hurricanes and 3 to 6 major hurricanes.

So far this year, five named storms, including two hurricanes have formed. And we haven’t even reached the peak of the season…that happens August, September and October!

President Wants $17 Million For Hurricane Forecasts

Wes Hohenstein — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:44:44 +0000

President Bush and his administration have asked Congress for $17 million to help improve hurricane forecasts. Originally slated for a mere $4 million, the Bush Administration has raised that number to $17 million in hopes of accelerating improvements to hurricane forecasting.

Some of their goals include improving hurricane track AND intensity forecast accuracy by twenty percent by 2013 and extending the lead time for hurricane forecast out to day 7 (instead of the current forecast out to day 5). The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Hurricane Center also hope to take that money to get more observation data from the ocean and get better computer model guidance which all will help in getting better forecasts during hurricane season.

In case you are worried that $17 million is too much, think of this: The total budget of the government is about $3 TRILLION, so $17 MILLION is a very, very, very, very small amount. Also consider that more than fifty percent of the U.S. population lives near the coast…coastline that could get hit with a hurricane. Fifty percent of the U.S. population is 150 million…so spending this money for improved hurricane forecasts is a no brainer.

U.S. Gymnastics Team Tumbles To North Carolina After Olympics

Wes Hohenstein — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 21:57:19 +0000

Fresh off their silver and bronze medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, members of the women’s and men’s gymnastics team will perform in Raleigh, North Carolina this October.

The country’s most celebrated gymnasts including reigning World Champion Shawn Johnson, 9-time World Championship medalist Nastia Liukin, 2005 All-Around World Champion Chellsie Memmel, and Olympic medalist Morgan Hamm will join Paul Hamm, Shannon Miller, Blaine Wilson and the U.S. gymnastics team for The 2008 Tour of Gymnastics Superstars.

Tickets for the Sunday, October 19^th event at the RBC Center are on sale now and are available through all Ticketmaster locations, ticketmaster.com, by calling 919-834-4000 and at the RBC Center Box Office. Prices range from $29.50-$79.50.

The 2008 Tour of Gymnastics Superstars will offer fans a unique opportunity to see some of their favorite gymnasts perform live in an extraordinary sports and music extravaganza. In addition to medal-worthy athletic routines the show will feature songs from the Walt Disney Records’ Disney Girlz Rock 2 CD and live performances from teen sensations Jordan Pruitt and KSM.

Paul Hamm recently had to resign his position on the team to recover from multiple injuries but he continues training and looks forward to the opportunity to get back out there and do what he loves. Hamm will be reunited with his teammates from China and fans will get a chance to see them do what they do best.

Don’t Eat North Carolina Beach Sand

Wes Hohenstein — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:20:41 +0000

The World took a trip to Fort Fisher State Recreation Area on the coast of North Carolina this past weekend with the family, dog and six month old baby. While this isn’t our first time at the state park, it is for the baby.

One of the reasons we love Fort Fisher is because you can drive right up on the beach to the water AND you can bring your dog. We also love Fort Fisher because the sand tastes soooo good…

And just so Zoe, our 3 year old yellow lab, doesn’t feel left out…here is a picture we will be submitting to Canine Illustrated for their annual swimsuit issue.

Weatherman Gets Snake Stuck In Pants

Wes Hohenstein — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:52:57 +0000

I’m sure this is one thing that was not in the forecast for this Iowa weatherman.

Kurtis Gertz is a meteorologist for KCCI in Des Moines, Iowa. The station was doing their show live from the Iowa State Fair, which, from this point on will be know for it’s frisky snakes!

Yet another reason you should always have on clean underwear…check out the video below…

Now Look Where You Can Advertise

Wes Hohenstein — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:03:44 +0000

It’s bad enough that airline ticket prices are going up and a bottle of water at the airport costs $17…but now they are just throwing it back in our faces.

While traveling back in June I ran across this in the security line…

They are now selling advertisement on the bottom of the bins that you put your laptop and shoes in before sending them down the belt and through the x-ray machine.

Well, now comes word that airlines are selling advertisement on your tray table and your ticket stub.

How long until an airline will actually put advertisement on the outside of the airplane??? Will they go the way of NASCAR and have 57 sponsors on the outside of the plane??? As long as the price of my ticket stops going up…I say bring it on!