WEATHER: You like it or not

New Website!

2010-03-16T09:32:00.002-05:00

Hello Readers!

Just wanted to let you know that WeatherBank, Inc has a new website now up and running!

www.weatherbankinc.com

I hope you will take a look at the new pages, browse our personal & commercial services and contact us if you have any questions!

Also, check out how we have helped other businesses... in our solutions tab! We look forward to hearing from you.

-Weathergirl, WeatherBank, Inc.

2010-01-20T12:57:00.002-06:00

“Weather you like it or not’s” FaceBook page has been getting a lot of questions this week! Which is very exciting! I hope they continue in the weeks and months to come!

A fan recently asked: what is freezing fog?

To demonstrate what freezing fog is, here is the definition of fog:
Fog is tiny water droplets suspended in the atmosphere at or near the surface of the earth, reducing horizontal visibility. It is created when the temperature and the dew point of the air have become the same, or nearly the same.

Now, freezing fog is:
The term used when fog is present and the temperature in the air is below 0 (Celsius).

I hope that this was a sufficient answer for you; I have all this information and nowhere to put it! Keep your questions comin readers! I’m here to answer your weather questions, no matter what type,

WEATHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT!
Thanks!
-Weathergirl

Light & Fluffy, or Heavy & Wet?

2010-01-12T11:36:00.003-06:00

Hello again readers, and passers-by!
I was recently asked on our facebook page… (Which you are more than welcome to become a fan of)

"Why is snow sometimes light and powdery and other times heavy and wet?"

I have asked around, and researched this mystery myself, and here are the basics of what I have discovered about types of snow.

The consistency of the snow is heavily based on the temperature of the atmosphere and surface while the snow is falling. When the air is cold, both aloft, and at the surface, snow tends to be light and powdery. (This is great for skiers and snowboarders!) When the air is warmer, the ice crystals tend to be clump together which makes the snow denser and heavier.(Wet, dense snow is hard to shovel, but great for making snowmen!) Meteorologists need to know what type of snow will fall, because they need to be able to tell people what to watch out for. Whether it be slush, ice, or snow drifts on the roadways.

Hope this answers your question! Keep ‘em coming!

2009-12-15T15:09:00.003-06:00

As promised… Winter Survival Tips and Tricks

ON THE ROAD…
FIRST you should always warm up your vehicle before driving in the winter. Revving a chilly engine causes more wear, and a heated car with clear windows is much safer and much more comfortable to drive.

Annoying icy windshield? To help loosen a solid sheet of ice, keep a box of fine grain salt with you. Pour the salt on it and rub it in. Give it a few minutes, then scrape.
Prevention: Icy windshields are a pain and unsafe. Prevent them with these tips: place a large, piece of cardboard, large garbage bags taped together, or the mats from your car over the windshield, and secure under the wipers. Windows will be ice free.

Missing ice scraper: In this case try using the edge of a credit card, or a longer, and strong kitchen tool.

Frozen Locks… you can get lock deicer, but where do you usually keep that? In the car right? Try these tips:

Warm the key with a match or lighter, then thaw your way into the frozen lock; or put the key in as far as it will go, then burn a piece of twisted paper near the lock.
Prevention: when you lock the car, cover the locks with thin magnet strips. Remove them for frost-free locks when you are ready to go.

To remove the salt from your car: Place a short lawn sprinkler underneath the car and run it for half an hour, OR, take frequent trips to the car was to prevent build-up.

Getting Stuck: rocking the car doesn’t work, try these tips: keep a couple of asphalt roof shingles, carry coffee cans filled with salt and sand, boards, canvas, or an old rubber bathmat. You can use tree branches or your interior floor mats for traction.

For safety’s sake: Check all your fluids, wires, and plugs, including washer fluid and very importantly, the radiator’s antifreeze. Check tires for traction and proper inflation.

Emergency kit essentials (God forbid anyone get stuck):
Lock deicer,
Washer fluid,
Jumper cables,
Markers or flairs,
Gloves,
A blanket,
Snack foods,
& water.

There is a lot more information out there than on this post, if you wish to look further into surviving the winter… glance at this handbook: http://dma.mt.gov/des/library/wshandbk02.pdf

ON YOU:
You know you have winter issues like static hair or red nose… here is how to remedy these things:

FLYAWAY HAIRS-spray static guard on a hairbrush and brush through hair

ROUGH ELBOWS-exfoliate 2x a week, and use creams or Vaseline to moisturize

FLAKY FACE-avoid products that contain alcohol and use a gentle and use a rich moisturizer several times a day (if possible)

RED NOSE-you must create a barrier between your nose and the sun… sun block. Or just wait until you get indoors and press a warm cloth on the tip for a few minutes. It should fade.

DRY HANDS-every time you wash your hands, they get drier and drier… the key is too keep them moisturized! You can even wear thick lotion to bed with cotton gloves. The moisture will absorb better.

DRY EYES-start wearing sunglasses that protect from both UVB and UVA rays, you could also use non-medicated eye drops as often as you need to.

I hope you all will be careful on the roads this winter and keep those flyaway’s down! And if you have extra comments or have a question about winter survival… let me know! Thanks, readers!
-Weathergirl

a storms a-brewin!

2009-12-08T12:00:00.002-06:00

Road closures, subzero wind chills, feet of snow! I know you all have heard... but this month will be the DECEMBER TO REMEMBER!

Why?
Because parts of the country that don't usually get much snow... are getting rocked with snow and ice over the next few weeks. Due to cold fronts from Canada colliding with moisture from the Gulf Coast. "PERFECT STORM" to quote my boss...

So beware of slick roads... ice storms, and heavy snow! People have already had serious injuries, and even been killed by this winters weather. DONT GET STUCK not knowing whats "coming down" in your area.

Tune in later for a winter survival advice!

If you want all the dirt on the storm where you live, call us to get free online access to our information! We look forward to hearing from you! 405-359-0773

-Weathergirl

2009-12-02T14:06:00.002-06:00

Hello Everyone!

Happy December, the beginning of WINTER has begun! We had our first semi-cold day today in Edmond, Oklahoma.

Now is the time to post questions about winter weather! We have a couple already answered... about the snow belt and thundersnow... but what do you want to know?

Fun facts about historical blizzards?
Weird winter weather related factoids?
Or ANYTHING ELSE from any other season!

I'm here to cater to your curiosity! Ask away!

-Weathergirl

DONT FORGET! We are also on facebook. become our fan! And if you are a client... be sure to tell us how WeatherBank, Inc has helped forecast your sales! If you would like to become a client, give us a call for a free consultation! 405-359-0773 or 1-800-687-3562

Thunder Snow!

2009-11-13T13:20:00.002-06:00

Hello readers!
I recently was asked our first forecasting question! Ah, Alice... is one of my dear friends and she wants to see some serious winter weather; She lives in St. Louis, MO and that really isn’t really the place for serious winter weather. She specifically asked about thunder snow, and how likely it would be for her to see it this year… this is what I said:

For those who may not now, thunder snow is a winter thunderstorm with the precipitation being snow as opposed to rain. Variations could be sleet as opposed to rain.
Thunder snow usually takes place in regions with extremely intense cold fronts causing huge vertical development right at the frontal boundary.

During my research, which you must do to understand and forecast any type of weather, I went back through the last 10 years of November to February periods and retrieved hourly weather data. Here is what I found: St. Louis has not one occurrence of thunder snow in the last decade. Not one in over 29,000 hours of data!

The chance of you seeing thunder snow is highly unlikely. You may want to move to a more mountainous region where cold fronts with large vertical extent are more common place, then you may see some thunder snow. Living in St. Louis with its mild temperatures that can drop quickly to winter weather… you can definitely count on having an icy winter.

Thanks for reading! I’m looking forward to answering more of your questions!

Note:
If you are a business owner and would like to forecast your sales… CALL WEATHERBANK. (405) 359-0773 We are helping companies all over the US cut down on cost, managing risk, planning sales and advertising strategies, and much more! We will help your business, WEATHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT!

And if you are already a client… become a fan of “weather you like it or not” on Face Book and share how we have helped you be successful!

Snow Squall? Snow Belt?

2009-11-09T08:25:00.001-06:00

Hello,
It’s getting to be that time of year… close to the end… snowy & cold here is some “flakey” information for you. ;)

Just kidding, it’s true.

I was recently asked what causes snow squalls and what are snow belts, here are the answers!

Just to clarify, the Snow Belt is not an event, it is a place. The Snow Belt is a north eastern region of the United States, generalized around the Great Lakes. This is one area where heavy snow is common.

Also in this region, where the reader lived (northeastern Ohio) snow squalls are common. A snow squall (also known as lake effect snow) is sudden heavy snow with strong winds and sometimes referred to as whiteout. Which is obvious why visibility would be poor in this event. It is like a blizzard, but on a smaller scale and localized. These are caused by cold air passing over warmer water. (These bodies of water, usually the Great Lakes, rarely freeze and hold summer heat for a while into winter) The wind picks up moisture and heat from the water, and has to drop it somewhere. The down wind shore… on the shore, it is all of a sudden SNOW.

Now, as far as the snow curtain… precipitation of any kind doesn’t happen everywhere at the same time, not even in the same city. Much like you can see where it is/is not raining in the distance… the same with snow.

Hope you are enjoying the blog! Thanks for reading, and remember, I'm here at your disposal so ask away! It’s as simple as can be! What do you want to know!?

I'm answering WEATHER U LIKE IT OR NOT!

Tornados!

2009-11-04T11:10:00.004-06:00

I was recently asked why tornados tend to take the same path?

We see that tornados do follow similar paths year after year… but they CAN happen any where. They usually happen in the central United States, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, and Texas. Agricultural areas… WHY?

Tornados need three things to form: moisture in the air, (for thunderstorm development) which those areas have otherwise crops wouldn't grow. They also need heat (for a lifting mechanism) and the change in the temperature, and finally, wind shear (typically a low level jet; shears cause rotation in the vertical, which is translated to horizontal rotation eg: tornadoes)

All conditions are met in agricultural areas, like the central US. That’s why tornadoes seem to follow the same path… their conditions are optimal. However, tornados can occur anywhere! Also in Europe, and SE Asia. They have been known to climb the Appalachian mountains, and be present in Yellowstone National Park, and cross rivers!

Believe it or not, it is possible for a tornado to strike the same area, even the same town more than once. A town in Kansas got hit on the same day, three years in a row. 1916, 1917, 1918. And once a church in Arkansas got hit three times in one day! So, there you have it. That’s why it seems tornados follow the same path, the follow the weather conditions, like we do!

Hope you have enjoyed the blog so far! Thanks for reading remember, I'm here at your disposal so ask away! Its as simple as can be! What do you want to know!?

I'm answering WEATHER U LIKE IT OR NOT!

I have an answer!

2009-10-30T08:52:00.003-05:00

Hello! If you are just joining us, here is what this BLOG is doing for you! Answering your weather questions... weather its about:
The destruction of an F5 tornado?
The place in the US that lightening strikes most?
What a Tsunami really looks like from the air?T
he damage from hail, or huge forest fires?
Or as simple as where hurricanes get their names?

The effects these events can produce are tremendous, and somewhat impressive!I want to fill this page with what YOU want to know about what goes on within the clouds anywhere around the world.

We all have to live with the weather, no matter where we are; we may as well get the facts that are most interesting and pictures the news may not show. Follow my blog, and I will tell you what you want to know, WEATHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT!

Recent question: Is there such thing as heat lightning?

Thank you for your question, with a couple meteorologists here at my fingertips; I would like to share with you that….

NO there is no such thing as heat lightning. It is not lightning produced from excessive heat, which is what is commonly thought. It is just lightning from a storm in the distance. And usually occurs during hot summer months. It looks and sounds, (silent) the way it does because of how far it is away from you, the sound waves dissolve before they reach your ears. If you got closer, it would be like regular storm surrounded lightning. Heat lightning may sometimes appear reddish because the atmosphere has a tendency to distribute light on blue end of the light spectrum. This is the same as seeing a red sunset.

I hope that cleared up your curiosity on heat lightning and perhaps spurred up some more questions.

Keep them coming. Remember you can even ask to see hurricane pictures, for details of a tornado, or ANYTHING ELSE! I will get you an answer, WEATHER you like it or not. Thanks readers!

Start HERE!

2009-10-28T15:18:00.002-05:00

There are many things we don’t understand, and a lot of things that keep us perplexed and amused. Weather is one of them. What makes storms so interesting?
Is it the destruction of an F5 tornado?
The place in the US that lightening strikes most?
What a Tsunami really looks like from the air?
The damage from hail, or huge forest fires?
Or as simple as where hurricanes get their names?
The effects these events can produce are tremendous, and somewhat impressive!

I want to fill this page with what YOU want to know about what goes on within the clouds anywhere around the world.

We all have to live with the weather, no matter where we are; we may as well get the facts that are most interesting and pictures the news may not show. Follow my blog, and I will tell you what you want to know, WEATHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT!

See you around!

Looking forward to answering your questions!