![]() ![]() “Now we have a strong indication that there is vigorous interaction between thermal patterns generated by the Gulf of Mexico and the weather moving over it. As soon as the storms got to the edge of the warm water over the Gulf Stream, they formed rotating columns of air of the type that sometimes precede tornadoes. Using the new radar to track thunderstorms in Florida, weathermen in November and December saw small storms moving off the coast. “That puts the forecaster in a pretty tight spot.” “Every time I put out a warning that closes down the federal work force, it costs the government $43 million,” he said. There was some muttering, but the radar correctly showed that the snow would end earlier than expected.įew weather forecasters take snow as seriously as does Belville at the Sterling facility. After a January snowstorm in the Oklahoma City area, McCarthy said the radar “pinpointed very accurately which areas would receive moderate and light amounts of snow.” Based on the data he was receiving, he decided not to let some of his staff leave early. Friday predicted that with the new radar, “we’re not going to be crying wolf as much as before.”Īlthough the radar has been proved accurate in estimating rainfall, weather experts still aren’t sure how it will do with snow.īut they are optimistic. The national average of tornado false alarms is about 60%, but at Norman, it has fallen below 35%. Without NEXRAD, the National Weather Service’s average warning time is about six minutes between the time a twister touches down and it slashes into an area. “The lead time for tornado warnings has averaged 19 minutes,” Dennis McCarthy, Norman’s head meteorologist, said. In Oklahoma, the Doppler is pinpointing tornadoes more quickly and accurately and with fewer false alarms. “This was the first time a storm of this type was ever captured by radar, and, needless to say, the data are in great demand now.” Weather overview for Los Angeles (Los Angeles County, California, United States): detailed weather forecasts, 14 days trend, current rain/snow radar, storm tracking, current observations, satellite images, model charts and much more. “Before, the best we could have given was an hour’s notice,” said James Belville, head meteorologist at Sterling. Those tracking a January storm that slammed into Maryland and Delaware with hurricane force were able to warn people around Washington, D.C., of high winds and heavy rains eight hours in advance. The three Dopplers now in service have impressed forecasters. Each of them will “see” clearly weather 125 miles away, and up to 200 miles in less detail. By 1996, a network of 175 NEXRADs, to cost about $437.5 million, should be scanning the sky from national weather stations, military installations and Federal Aviation Administration facilities.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |