WKU Meteorology

Happy Friday everyone! Western Kentucky University’s final week is this upcoming week and then so will be graduation! So watch out for graduation traffic and students moving out. This week should be a another week of warm temperatures and sunny skies. We are less than a month out from Memorial Day weekend. Let us take a look at the forecast for the week ahead.

Friday, April 26th (Night): Clear skies with a temperature cooling to a low of 71°F. Winds will be light and variable.

Saturday, April 27th: The day will be partly cloudy with a high of 82°F. As the evening approaches, expect the temperature to cool to 64°F under partly cloudy skies. Winds will be from the SSE at 10 to 20 mph.

Sunday, April 28th: Sunshine and clouds mixed during the day, with the temperature reaching a high of 84°F. The night will see clear skies with a few passing clouds, cooling down to 67°F. Winds will be from the S at 5 to 10 mph.

Monday, April 29th: The morning starts mostly cloudy with scattered thunderstorms developing later in the day. The high will be around 83°F. Rain and thunderstorms will continue into the night, with an early rain leading to thunderstorms developing late, cooling to a low of 62°F.

Tuesday, April 30th: Showers in the morning will give way to partly cloudy skies in the afternoon. The temperature will rise to a high of 79°F. The night will be mostly clear with a low of 57°F. Winds will be light and variable.

Wednesday, May 1st: The day will start with a few clouds, otherwise mostly sunny, reaching a high of 86°F. The night will remain mostly clear with a low of 61°F. Winds will be light and variable.

Thursday, May 2nd: Partly cloudy skies with a stray shower or thunderstorm possible. The high will be around 86°F. Overcast skies with showers at times during the night, with a low near 66°F. Winds from the S at 5 to 10 mph.

Friday, May 3rd: Scattered thunderstorms throughout the day, with a high of 78°F. Winds will be from the SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.

Today’s Forecast

Good morning and happy Wednesday! I hope everyone has had an amazing week so far and enjoyed the lovely weather. Today will be a beautiful day with a high of 71 and a low of 44. Tomorrow will be another beautiful day with highs in the lower 70s and lows in the lower 50s. Friday will bring in some clouds with a small chance for some showers. Highs will be in the mid 70s and lows will be in the mid 60s. This weekend will be nice and breezy with highs in the lower 80s and lows in the upper 60s.

Recent Wild Weather

Earlier this week one of the wealthiest cities in the entire world, Dubai, would amass a years worth of rainfall in just 12 short hours! Dubai on average gets somewhere around 5.12 inches of rainfall yearly, although those numbers have been steadily creeping up over the past several years. On Tuesday, a record 5.59 inches of rain had fallen. In footage, residents can be seen riding jet-skis through the flooded streets and high-end Rolls-Royce’s being swept away in the currents. Experts are now arguing what is behind this massive and unusual weather event. The debate is focused on two culprits: cloud seeding and climate change. Cloud seeding is a weather modification concept that attempts to draw more rain out of a cloud than it would naturally. Aircraft fly through existing clouds injecting tiny particles, like silver iodide, with the goal of creating more water or ice droplets. According to meteorologists at the NCM there were six or seven cloud-seeding flights just before the rainfall event occurred. This is fueling the controversy from that side of the argument. Other scientists say climate change, in general, is responsible for more intense and more frequent storms, droughts, flood and wildfires around the world – and is likely the cause of this recent wild weather event.

Wild Weather this Day in History’

For this week’s look at wild weather in history we will visit a location that is over 3,000 miles away from Bowling Green, KY. That’s right… we are headed to Alaska, more specifically, to a city named Juneau. Juneau is the capitol of Alaska and has around 31,000 residents. The summer months in Juneau sees temperatures averaging out in the lower 60s with July being the hottest month. The city normally sees 21  days, or so, a year above 69 degrees. These readings can range from May all the way until September. On this day in history, April 24th, the earliest recording of 70 degrees would occur. Since the start of accurate record keeping at the airport, Juneau has averaged nineteen 70 degree days per year. In 1973, there were only two. In 2004, there were 42.

I hope everyone has an amazing rest of the week and enjoys the nicer weather before the possibility for a wet and stormy next week!

Sources: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/18/climate/dubai-floods-what-we-know.html https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/dubai-flooding-cloud-seeding-weather-b2530740.html https://www.juneauempire.com/news/juneau-hits-70-degrees-for-the-first-time-in-2017/

Happy Friday everyone! After a hot and sunny week, we return to cooler temperatures. Today was Western Kentucky University’s Earth Day festival with a lot of local vendors, I hope you were able to come out to see it. Monday is the actual Earth Day with some other local events being held this weekend or Monday. We are quickly approaching the 150th Kentucky Derby and NFL Draft night! Anyways, let us take a look at the forecast for the week ahead.

Friday, April 19th (Night): Cloudy skies early will give way to partly cloudy skies after midnight. The temperature will cool to a low of 45°F. Winds will be light and variable.

Saturday, April 20th: The day will be mostly sunny with a high of 64°F. As the evening approaches, expect the temperature to cool to 41°F under mostly cloudy skies. Winds will be light from the NNW.

Sunday, April 21st: Cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later in the day. The temperature will reach a cool high of 62°F. The night will be clear with a low of 35°F. Winds will be light from the N.

Monday, April 22nd: Expect sunny skies throughout the day with a high of 66°F. The night will be mostly clear with a low of 42°F. Winds will be light and variable.

Tuesday, April 23rd: Intervals of clouds and sunshine with a high of 73°F. As the evening approaches, expect the temperature to cool to 53°F under partly cloudy skies. Winds from the SSW will be noticeable at 10 to 20 mph.

Wednesday, April 24th: The day will have intervals of clouds and sunshine with a high of 71°F. The night will clear to partly cloudy skies with a low of 46°F. Winds will be light from the NNW.

Thursday, April 25th: Partly cloudy skies throughout the day with a high of 71°F. The night will continue partly cloudy with a low of 52°F. Winds will be light from the E.

Friday, April 26th: The morning will have a few showers, then clouds lingering in the afternoon with a high near 74°F.

Today’s Forecast

Good morning and happy Wednesday! I hope everyone has had a great week so far and has been surviving the heat! Today will be another rainy and stormy day with higher winds. Temps will remain in the mid 80s and lows will be in the lower 60s. Storms currently aren’t looking to hold too much of a severe threat, but the small chance for some strong convective storms to pop up is a possibility. Looking at tomorrow, it will be mostly sunny with higher chances of rain as we go into the night. Highs will be in the mid 80s and lows will be in the upper 50s. As this cold front continues to push through, Friday will be the last of the rainy days. Temps continue to cool down as we go into this weekend with highs in the lower 60s and lows in the mid 40s.

Recent Wild Weather

Last Wednesday, April 10th, an EF2 tornado struck the small town of Slidell, LA just outside of New Orleans. The 9-mile-long tornado was so strong, with it’s 120 mile an hour damaging winds, that it completely ripped apart metal buildings and beams. It also ripped roofs off of homes and businesses before finally dying off. A local officer who was caught out in the tornado in his patrol car says he couldn’t see anything with all the debris flying through the air around him. Afterwards, he described the scene as how it looks after a bomb goes off. There were shattered windows, downed trees, and debris littering the streets as far as the eye could see. “It was just total devastation … just catastrophic loss of property,” officer Rodney West, recalled.

Wild Weather this Day in History

On this day in weather history we can just roll it back one year to April 17, 2023 when West Palm Beach, Florida would receive record amounts of rainfall. In just a 24 hour period a record-breaking 4.97 inches of rainfall fell. That record beat out a century-old record on April 16, 1893 of 1.97 inches. Along with the rain was tropical force wind gusts, booming thunder, and unbelievably, even sprinkles of dime to quarter-size hail. Flights were being delayed, as well as, school days being prolonged to wait for the peak of the storm to pass.

I hope everyone has a great rest of the week and stays dry as this cold front begins to push through our area!

Sources: https://www.foxweather.com/extreme-weather/slidell-louisiana-officer-hero-tornado-surrivor https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/2023/04/17/record-rainfall-in-west-palm-beach-but-is-it-enough-to-end-drought/70121207007/

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you enjoyed the solar eclipse whether you saw the partial or full eclipse, it was a unique experience that we will not be seeing again in the USA until 2045. The cloud layer broke up so we could see sun peaks throughout the day. In other news, Jackson’s Orchard is open for the year! So make sure to stop by for some flowers or local produce! Just note that they don’t have any apples yet but they will be ready soon! Let us take a look at the forecast for this wonderful weekend ahead.

Tonight, April 12th: The skies will be clear with a low of 57°F.

Saturday, April 13th: The day will be clear and sunny with a high of 73°F. As the evening approaches, expect the temperature to cool to 57°F under slightly cloudy skies. Winds from the SSW will be noticeable at 10 to 15 mph.

Sunday, April 14th: Mostly sunny conditions will prevail, though occasional clouds may appear. There’s a slight chance of a rain shower as temperatures rise to 79°F. Strong SW winds will be blowing at 15 to 25 mph. Nighttime temperatures will decrease to 60°F under mostly clear skies.

Monday, April 15th: The morning will see partly sunny skies with clouds increasing later in the day. A stray shower or thunderstorm could occur, with temperatures peaking at 82°F. The night will be mostly cloudy with a low of 62°F.

Tuesday, April 16th: The skies will be overcast with a high near 77°F and increasing winds at 10 to 20 mph from the SSE. Rain is expected to start in the evening, with showers possibly intensifying to steady rain and potential thunder. Nighttime conditions will be warmer with a low of 65°F and strong winds from the south.

Wednesday, April 17th: Expect variable cloudiness with scattered thunderstorms, including the potential for strong gusty winds. The high will reach 79°F with SW winds at 15 to 25 mph. The chance of rain is significant at 60%. The weather will clear up at night, cooling to a low of 54°F.

Thursday, April 18th: Sunny skies mixed with a few clouds are expected, along with a slight chance of a rain shower. The high will reach 78°F. The evening may bring scattered thunderstorms, cooling to a low of 55°F.

Friday, April 19th: The day begins with morning showers, transitioning to partly cloudy skies in the afternoon with a cooler high of 64°F. NNW winds will blow at 10 to 15 mph, with a 40% chance of rain.

See you all next week!

Today’s Forecast

Good morning and happy Wednesday! I hope everyone has had an amazing week so far and has managed to stay dry! With a hazardous weather outlook currently issued by the National Weather Service, multiple waves of rain will continue throughout our area until Friday. Minor issues of flooding are possible, as well as, isolated strong to severe storms overnight. The main threat of these storms are strong winds and heavy rain. Today highs continue to stay in the lower 70s with lows in lower 60s. Tomorrow the rain will continue to cool things down slightly with highs in the upper 60s and lows in the upper 40s. Luckily, heading into this weekend we start to see those sunny skies reappear. Friday will be sunny, but breezy with highs in the lower 60s and lows in the mid 40s. Warming up, Saturday and Sunday will be beautiful sunny days with highs in the mid 70s and lows in the upper 50s.

Recent Wild Weather

Well, I couldn’t ignore the biggest topic of the week when sitting down to write my “Wild Weather Wednesday” blog entry. The 2024 solar eclipse is in the books, and it certainly brought all the feels from all different parts of the country. There were many people along the path of totality that had beautiful clear views, and there were others that saw nothing but clouds. I was fortunate enough to make a nearly two hour drive from campus to just outside of Evansville, Indiana with a group of my meteorology friends to view the eclipse in totality. It did NOT disappoint. Being in the path of totality with a clear view of the eclipse is a feeling that can’t really be described. Just one of those “you had to be there” kind of moments. Reports coming from the National Weather Service say that in Evansville, Indiana the length of totality was just over 3 minutes and the temperature dropped 7 degrees during the height of the eclipse. I personally witnessed this, as well as, the streets lights coming on and the birds going silent. It’s such a unique experience that I think everyone should have at least once in their lifetime. This is the second time I have experienced a total solar eclipse, due to the fact that the 2017 eclipse’s path (when I was just a freshman in high school) went straight over my hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee. It was actually at 99% totality, but we still had a very similar experience as to what I had on Monday. I feel blessed to have experienced this not once, but twice, in my 21 years of life. For those that didn’t get a clear view of the eclipse this time around you will have to wait another 20 years for the next one to cross the United States. In 2044 and 2045 solar eclipses will make their way across the US, with the 2045 eclipse crossing the most states of these two; spanning from California all the way to Florida. Now if you don’t want to wait it out you can always go international as the next total solar eclipse will occur on August 12, 2026 crossing over the northern half of Spain. So, as the famous Spanish quote goes “Que sera sera”… what will be will be!

Wild Weather this Day in History

For this wild weather Wednesday day in history we will, ironically, look back on an event labeled by residents and meteorologist alike as “Terrible Tuesday”. On April 10, 1979 an F4 tornado ripped through Wichita Falls, Texas. It killed 43 residents and caused 300 million dollars worth of damage. This particular outbreak of tornadoes is also referred to as “The Red River Valley Tornado Outbreak”. There were 61 confirmed tornados over the span of a 38 hour period with the Whichta Falls tornado being the highest rated on the Fujita scale. This outbreak spanned across the Midwestern and Southern United States eventually taking the lives of 58 people and injuring 1,927 others. This storm system also triggered the notable 1979 Easter Flood in Jackson, Mississippi resulting in one death. The evacuation of 15,000 residents, and 500 million dollars in damages.

I hope everyone keeps dry and has an amazing rest of the week!

Sources: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/local/2024/04/08/pictures-of-the-total-solar-eclipse-in-evansville-indiana/73192199007/ https://www.weather.gov/oun/events-19790410

Today’s Forecast

Good morning and happy Wednesday! I hope everyone managed to stay safe from any storms that came through yesterday! As this storm system continues to push through, there are some slight chances for rain throughout today, as well as, a possible thunderstorm, and winds with occasional strong gusts. Thunderstorms are not expected to be severe if one were to pop up. With the recent passing of a cold front, temperatures will be cooler with a high of 54 and a low of 38. With storms finally starting to move out, tomorrow will be mostly cloudy with the continuation of some gusty winds. Highs will be in the upper 40s and lows will be in the mid 30s. Going into this weekend temperatures will begin to warm back up and skies will be sunny.

Recent Wild Weather

Along the coastline,  running alongside the English Channel, some unsuspecting Easter beach strollers were about to get a big surprise. An unstable cliffside was about to collapse only about 50 metres from where they were walking. Video footage captured the moment the cliff collapsed on Good Friday. Omar El-Haj, the witness who filmed it, said: “As soon as I zoomed in the cliff began to collapse. Dorset Council warned other walkers to beware a “greater risk of landslides of rockfalls”. Since January, there have been several rockfalls along the West Bay. Despite the many warnings and dangers.. people continue to walk the cliffs up above and the beaches down below.  Talk about walking on the wild side. Cliffs collapse for many different reasons. While the most common reason is weathering, there are other factors to consider, such as water crashing against the cliff face, what the cliff is made of, and the climate of the area. Softer materials, such as clay are more likely to collapse than harder materials like granite. Bad weather naturally erodes the foundations of a cliff, and can cause it to collapse. See the link below to watch the video of the cliff collapse caught on tape.

Wild Weather this Day in History

It was 1964 in Wichita Falls, Texas when the first live television pictures of an F5 tornado were about to be broadcast on t.v. The storm was moving through the city destroying nearly everything in it’s path, including 225 homes. The twisters would travel 5 to 6 miles before eventually dying out. Before this deadly storm came to an end it would be responsible for taking the lives of 7 individuals and injuring 111 more! Damage estimates exceeded $15 million in total. Click below to watch the video of the first tornado put on live broadcast.

I hope everyone has an amazing rest of the week and enjoys this beautiful weekend that’s in store.

Sources: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/04/02/walkers-take-lives-their-hands-edge-unstable-dorset-cliffs/#:~:text=An%20unstable%20cliff%20collapsed%20onto,crashing%20into%20the%20English%20Channel https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/fb-5350325/What-causes-cliffs-collapse.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOkB0lQlnwo https://www.weather.gov/abr/This_Day_in_Weather_History_Apr_03#:~:text=A%20tornado%20raced%20through%20Guin,persons%20and%20injuring%20500%20others

Today’s Forecast

Good morning and happy Wednesday! I hope everyone has had an amazing week so far and has been able to stay dry from the rain. A beautiful rest of the week is in store with sunny skies and warm temperatures. Today will be mostly sunny with a high of 57 and a low of 33. Warming up, tomorrow will be sunny with a high of 61 and a low of 39. Moving into this weekend, the trend continues with beautiful weather. Friday will be sunny with a high of 69, Saturday with a high of 75, and Sunday with a high near 75.

Recent Wild Weather

On Monday in Grindavik, Iceland two natural phenomenon were occurring at the same exact time, and it was all caught on a time-lapse video by Marco Di Marco of the Associated Press. The Fagradalsfjall Volcano began erupting in January sending lava rushing towards the town of Grindavik. It continued erupting into January and is still erupting as of today. It has slowed down in intensity, but it still managed to put on quite the show Monday as it was caught syncing up with the Northern Lights beautiful show of colors in the night sky. The largest series of earthquakes in Iceland (more than 20,000) are believed to be responsible for the offset of these recent back-to-back volcanic eruptions. In November, Grindavik’s 3,800 people were evacuated after these dangerous series of earthquakes. These earthquakes are responsible for opening large cracks in the earth causing the offset of the eruptions. The town was evacuated again in February as they began building walls to protect the town from lava. Iceland is also well-known for its dazzling display of Northern Lights. Due to Iceland’s position in the Auroral Zone, it’s no surprise that the volcanic eruptions may eventually sync up with the Northern Lights. The Northern Lights can be viewable seven to eight months per year. You can click the link below to see the time-lapse of this dangerously beautiful event.

Wild Weather this Day in History

As we look back this week on wild weather this day in history we will remember the lives of those lost on the Alexander L. Kielland oil platform. On March 27th, 1980 a storm system would push it’s way into the Norwegian waters of the North Sea. In this location 123 crew members of the oil platform would become fatalities in one of the worst offshore disasters since World War II. The submersible drilling rig had 212 people on board as misty rain and heavy winds would cause the waves to reach 12m high. This watercraft would’ve been able to sustain itself in such a storm, except for the fact that it already contained a pre-existing fatigue crack. As the waves crashed and the rig bounced around on the water crew members recall feeling a ‘sharp crack’ followed by ‘some kind of trembling’. Within seconds, the platform tilted between 35 and 40 degrees and would eventually capsize into the ocean after the last cable holding it together snapped.  A total of 89 people survived thanks to the platform’s lifeboats and rafts. Two 12-man rafts were thrown from Edda (another platform) and rescued 13 people. Seven men were taken from the sea by supply boats and seven swam to Edda. In response to the Alexander L. Kielland disaster and based on the investigation findings, the Norwegian Maritime Directorate obligated redundancies of stability and structural strength and life-saving equipment for offshore oil drilling platforms.

I hope everyone has an amazing rest of the week and enjoys the sunshine and warm temps as a beautiful rest of the week is in store!

Sources: https://safety4sea.com/cm-alexander-l-kielland-norways-worst-offshore-disaster/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMc0xzbBpNU

Happy Wednesday everyone! It’s almost April and soon the April showers will begin! Yay! We exchange cold weather for rainy weather. The model trend for the next week is showing a lot of rain. So the whole April showers bring May flowers is true. Let us take a look at the forecast ahead.

Wednesday, March 27 – Night
Partly cloudy skies with a low of 31°F grace the evening, accompanied by a light breeze, setting the stage for a tranquil night in Bowling Green.

Thursday, March 28 – Day
Expect a sunny day with temperatures peaking at 61°F, complemented by a gentle north-northwest wind.
Night: Clear skies dominate as the temperature falls to 39°F, ensuring a calm and starry night.

Friday, March 29 – Day
The day brings partly cloudy skies and a high of 70°F, with southwest winds adding a brisk touch.
Night: A few clouds at 53°F with a steady south-southwest wind, maintaining a mild nocturnal ambiance.

Saturday, March 30 – Day
A mix of sun and clouds with a warm high of 76°F.
Night: Evening clouds increase, with temperatures gently resting at 58°F, under a light southwestern breeze.

Sunday, March 31 – Day
Anticipate a blend of clouds and sun, with a slight chance of showers, high near 78°F. The southwest wind continues to prevail.
Night: Cloudy conditions at 63°F, with a soft south-southwest wind ensuring a stable night.

Monday, April 1 – Day
Cloudy skies with a chance of stray showers or thunderstorms, reaching a high of 79°F. Winds from the south-southwest signal an active day.
Night: Scattered thunderstorms are likely, with a 60% chance of rain and a low of 63°F, under a moderate southwestern breeze.

Tuesday, April 2 – Day
Showers and thunderstorms become more prevalent, with a high of 66°F and a robust west-southwest wind.
Night: The likelihood of early showers decreases, leaving a cooler low of 42°F and a gentle northwestern wind.

Wednesday, April 3 – Day
Scattered showers in the morning become cloudy skies in the afternoon, with a high of 56°F.

Today’s Forecast

Good morning and happy Wednesday! I hope everyone has had an amazing week so far and has been enjoying the sun and warm temps! Today, expect another sunny and warm day with highs in the lower 70s and lows in the mid 50s. Tomorrow will be partly sunny with a very slight chance of showers in the afternoon. Highs will be in the mid 70s and lows will be in the low 60s. Moving into Friday, showers are likely, but temps will remain in the lower 70s, decreasing to the upper 40s into the night. A beautiful weekend is in store with sunny skies and temps remaining in the mid to lower 60s.

Recent Wild Weather

This week in wild weather Charlston, South Carolina has seen record-breaking amounts of rainfall. The National Weather Service in Charleston reported that 3.63 inches of rain doused downtown Charleston on Saturday alone, shattering the one-day record of 1.43 inches set all the way back in 1948. The downpour also coincided with the coastal cities morning high tide making matters even worse. The Charleston Fire Department has been in rescue mode responding to numerous incidents in which vehicles were becoming trapped in the flood waters. The fire  department is also helping to relocate people that had been trapped in those vehicles and flood waters to safe locations. Local businesses and homeowners are experiencing major property damage including busted windows and collapsed roofs. Charleston is already a very rainy city surpassing the national average in both rainfall and sunshine. The city’s annual precipitation comes to roughly 48 inches, as compared to the standard 38 inches in the United States. They are currently seeing a couple of dry days in the forecast with more rain expected to move in on Friday!

Wild Weather this Day in History

Over the span of 4 days in 1953, March 12-15, a widespread tornado outbreak occurred. At least 23 tornadoes were confirmed with the strongest one being recorded as an F4. According to the Fujita Scale, F4 tornados cause damage such as: whole frame houses leveled, leaving piles of debris; steel structures badly damaged; trees debarked by small flying debris; and cars and trains thrown/rolled considerable distances. This classification of a deadly tornado struck O’Brien, Texas on Friday the 13th. The death toll reached 21 people with 72 others being injured. Damages were estimated at $6.835 million. Just think about how much damage that must have been in 1953 to reach that high of an amount of money. The same day, a destructive F3 tornado killed one and injured eight in Bradley, Oklahoma. 1953.

I hope everyone has an amazing rest of the week and enjoys the sun and warm temps before we see some rain come back into our area!

Sources: https://time.com/6899395/charleston-south-carolina-record-rainfall-flood-waters/ https://www.weather.gov/abr/This_Day_in_Weather_History_Mar_13