WKU Meteorology

Today’s Forecast

Happy Wednesday and happy first Meteorological day of Spring! As we go into the month of spring, the season of storms, WKU will participate in the statewide tornado safety drill. At 9:07 am, WKU will test its emergency communications network, including the outdoor warning speakers. Today will be mostly sunny throughout the day, with a high near 78. As we go into this evening expect a chance for some showers and thunderstorms. Thursday will be mostly cloudy with a chance for scattered showers after noon and a high near 67. As we go into Thursday night expect more showers and some possible chances of thunderstorms.

Recent Wild Weather

Remember a few weeks ago when I introduced you to Horsetail Fall in Yosemite? Well, this past week visitors were interrupted by a massive rockslide near Horsetail Fall. While rockslides aren’t uncommon in this location, they usually aren’t this large or this loud. The rockslide lasted for around 20 seconds in total and it was stated that even the people in the valley heard the rumbling of the boulders falling from the 3,000 ft high El Capitan rock formation. Footage was captured by artist and sculptor Alex J. Wood, who told that the noise from the fall was “thunderous”. Rockslides are caused when rainstorms, erosion, earthquakes, fires, etc. cause the soil and dirt to break up, causing the Earth to slide down. Rockslides can be catastrophic, but luckily, no one was hurt and after 24 hours all roads and trails have been safely reopened. The rockslide did not affect the firefall’s glow and you can still make the trip to Yosemite to see this wonderful phenomenon.

Wild Weather this Day in History

On March 1, 2007 a deadly EF-4 tornado struck Enterprise, AL. This tornado caused 9 fatalities and is the only EF-4 or stronger tornado to hit the NWS Tallahassee County warning area. This tornado was only one of many different tornadoes that went through the south that day. Beginning midday Thursday, March 1 through early morning Friday, March 2, the NWS office in Tallahassee issues 57 warnings (35 tornado, 19 severe thunderstorm, 4 special marine). Two of these tornadoes turned out deadly, for a total of 15 lives lost.

Have an amazing rest of the week and remember to stay weather aware as the season for severe storms amps up!

Source: https://www.weather.gov/tae/event-20070301 https://nypost.com/2023/02/23/footage-shows-rockslide-at-el-capitan-in-yosemite-national-park/

Good morning, folks, and happy Friday!

Today’s Forecast

For today, you can expect some cooler conditions than we have had the past couple of days. Highs will peak around 50 degrees, and there will be mostly cloudy skies. For tonight, clouds increase as rain chances build overnight, and temperatures will be in the mid 40s. A bit of a downgrade from the weather the past couple days for sure!

What to Watch For

This weekend is going to feature plenty of rain chances, starting tonight and persisting through Monday. This rain does not present any serious flooding risk, however some areas are still saturated from the last soaking rains. Highs on Saturday will be mild in the mid 50s, while highs for your Sunday look to be in the low 60s. Early next week we look to dry out and see peeks of sun as temperatures rise by mid week.

Weather Fact!

Everyone knows not to eat the yellow snow, but have you ever heard of brown snow? On this day in 1936, brown-colored snow fell across New Hampshire and Vermont, and brown rain was reported in New York. Experts at the time claimed that the brown color came from dust storms in the Great Plains. (NWS)

Luckily no brown snow here! Have a great weekend everyone 🙂

Today’s Forecast

Good morning, and happy Wednesday! As we go into today, we will be nearing record high temps! Clouds will increase throughout the day with a high near 80. A wind advisory will go into effect at 10am and last until midnight. Winds of 20-25 mph along with gusts of over 40 mph are expected. As we go into the evening expect showers and some isolated storms. A hazardous weather outlook has also been issued by the National Weather Service, as some of these storms could be strong to severe. As we go into Thursday, rain and storms will leave the area leaving us with a sunny, breezy, and hot day. A high of 81 and gusts of up to 26 mph are expected. Thursday night will be mostly cloudy with a low of 38.

Recent Wild Weather

During last Wednesday’s severe weather outbreak, upward lightning was captured near Memphis, Tennessee. In a video posted by the Weather Channel, you could see the lightning crawl upwards towards the sky, instead of coming out of the cloud downwards like normal. Some studies believe that upward lightning starts at the top of tall objects and then moves upward into a storm cloud. During a study on upward lightning, Tom Warner and his colleagues have captured 776 naturally occurring lightning flashes, 41 of them being upward lightning. They found that upward lightning usually occurs when there is a nearby positive cloud-to-ground flash. This electric field change causes an upward positive leader to initiate from a tall object or building. The shape of the tall object or building and enhancement in the electrical field make this upward lightning bolt form.

Women in Weather Making History

“The National Weather Service has issued thunderstorm and tornado watches for decades, but one had never been sent by a woman, until Wednesday.” As last Wednesday’s severe weather outbreak caused crazy, upwards lightning, it was also a day of firsts. Elizabeth Leitman has worked at the Norman, Oklahoma NWS center since 2010. She is one of only two women among the 22 full-time forecasters at the Storm Prediction Center, and has only ever known of 5 other women who have worked in the same center. By 1pm., Leitman knew conditions were becoming favorable for severe storms and after looking at radar, satellite, and observational data and talking to colleagues, she wrote up her first draft of the watch. For 2 hours she watched the size and scope of the storm, led a conference call with other offices responsible for counties within the watch area, and then told a colleague to “take a picture. It’s my first watch.” and hit send, issuing the watch. It was posted 15 minutes before the end of her shift and she followed it with a tweet stating that she was the first woman to issue a watch.

Have an amazing rest of the week and finally enjoy some warm temperatures!

Sources: https://www.rmets.org/metmatters/what-upward-lightning https://weather.com/storms/severe/video/upward-lightning-caught-on-camera-near-memphis https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/18/us/elizabeth-leitman-storm-watch.html

Happy President’s Day! I hope you are enjoying this week of warm weather! And for some, a three-day weekend! Let’s take a look at the warm and sunny week ahead.

Monday Night: A low of 42 degrees with partly cloudy skies.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy skies with a high of around 64 degrees.

Tuesday Night: Cloudy with a passing rain shower and with a low of 55 degrees.

Wednesday: Cloudy skies with a very high of 76 degrees.

Enjoy this warm weather! Spring is still exactly a month away and it already feels like it! Also, if you have a pollen allergy, keep an eye on the tree pollen its levels are increasing.

Good morning, folks, and happy Friday!

Today’s Forecast

After a rather warm week, today is going to be quite a shock to the system. Today you can expect much cooler temperature with highs in the upper 30s and lows tonight in the low 20s. At least today will be drier than yesterday!

What to Watch For

For your weekend you can expect a rebound in temperatures. Saturday will be cloudy, but temperature will rise into the lower 50s. Overnight, temperature cool into the mid 30s with clearing skies. For Sunday, highs will push 60 and skies will be clear. Enjoy the improved weather this weekend! Looking ahead to next week, temperatures will warm back into the 70s by mid week, but it comes at the expense of increased rain chances.

Weather Fact!

Yesterday here in Bowling Green was a soaker! Yesterday’s 24-hour rain total of 1.95″ was the most so far this year, and the greatest total since August 28th, 2022 when we saw 2.04″ of rain. (KY Mesonet)

Have a great (and drier) weekend everyone 🙂

Today’s Forecast

Good morning, and happy Wednesday! I hope everyone is having a great week so far and getting prepared for some possible severe weather. As the wind advisory expired early this morning, that is not the last we will see of the wind, rain, and storms. Today will be unseasonably warm with a high of 76 and a low of 62. We can expect a breezy and mostly cloudy day with some sun shining through occasionally. As we go into late Wednesday night/early morning Thursday, we can see some showers and thunderstorms start to pick up. These storms will continue throughout the day until sometime Thursday afternoon. A few storms may be strong to severe with chances of heavy rain, gusty winds, and even some chances for hail. A first alert weather day has been declared for Thursday. Temperatures start out warm, but as the storm passes through temperatures will drop to the lower 40s and 30s.

Recent Wild Weather

This week begins peak season for Yosemite National Park’s famous firefall to be seen in all its glory. Each year from mid to late February Horsetail Fall, sitting at 1,575 feet in the Yosemite Valley, takes on the look of a fiery waterfall. What causes this phenomenon you may ask? When the setting sun hits the waterfall at just the right angle, it gives the illusion that the waterfall is on fire. However, this isn’t the only condition that has to be met in order for this to occur. The weather must be in full cooperation. In addition to the sun’s angle being perfect, you will also need the sky to be absolutely clear to make way for the sun to come in and hit the water. You will also need a significant amount of precipitation to give the waterfall good flow. Luckily, 2023 has brought record breaking amounts of snow and rain to California. It’s the perfect setup to get this “firefall” glowing! It has become such a popular event for nature lovers and photographers that reservations are now being required. This year’s peak dates for viewing this phenomenon are February 10th-27th with a viewing time between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. as the sun is setting. Park temperatures this time of the year in Yosemite average between 28°-53°.

Wild Weather this Day in History

Well, snow, snow, and more snow! So, instead I’d like to take this moment to recognize one of the greatest astronomers, physicist, and engineers to ever live! Galileo di Vincenzo Bonaiuti de’ Galilei (commonly referred to, simply as, Galileo) was born on this day in history, February 15th, 1564. Galileo was an Italian mastermind, responsible for many discoveries and inventions that helped propel the scientific world forward. Among the many inventions he is responsible for, he invented the thermoscope, now the modern thermometer. Galileo’s original design was a device that could show changes in temperature in a liquid-filled tube. The different liquids rise and fall as the temperature changes. These thermoscopes have once again become popular, and you may have seen on and didn’t even realize it. Happy birthday Galileo!

Have an amazing rest of the week, and make sure to stay up to date with your latest weather conditions!

Source: https://www.weather.gov/abr/This_Day_in_Weather_History_Feb_15

Happy Monday and happy Valentine’s Day! I hope you remembered a gift for that special someone, and for everyone else, we get a gift of warmer temperatures! This also might be a good time to go watch, “Forecasting Love and Weather” on Netflix. I hear good things about it but I haven’t gotten around to watching it yet. Now on to the forecast.

A Wind Advisory is in effect from 7pm Tuesday until 7am Wednesday for wind gusts up to 50mph possible.

Monday Night: A low of 37 degrees with partly cloudy skies.

Tuesday: A cloudy day with a high of around 66 degrees. Winds are 10-20mph with gusts up to 40mph, so bring in those small items.

Tuesday Night: The wind does not die down during the night. Scattered rain showers in the evening before becoming partly cloudy overnight.

Expect severe weather possible on Thursday.

Good morning, folks, and happy Friday!

Today’s Forecast

After a crazy windy day yesterday, you can expect calmer conditions for your Friday. High temperatures today will top out around 50, as winds diminish greatly from yesterday. For tonight, partial clearing will occur allowing for temperatures to drop into the upper 20s.

What to Watch For

Sunny skies and temperatures in the 50s will tell the story of this weekend’s weather, as only a slight chance of showers exists for Saturday night. Enjoy the mild and relatively calm weekend! Looking ahead to next week, temperatures will continue to warm throughout the week, even pushing 70 by Wednesday. We will keep an eye on rain chances for you Tuesday as well.

Weather Fact!

Yesterday in Bowling Green was the windiest day by average wind speed since March 30th, 2022. With an average wind speed of 17.8mph yesterday, it is the windiest day of 2023 so far. Looking back to 2022, only one other time (besides March 30th) was there a windier day, where on February 17th the average winds were 19.6 mph. (KY Mesonet)

Hopefully that is all for the strong winds this year, I almost lost my hat yesterday!! Have a great weekend everyone 🙂

Today’s Forecast

Good morning and happy Wednesday! I hope you are having a great week so far and finally enjoying some warmer weather. As we go into today, make sure you grab your rain jacket on the way out! Today will be mild with rain, some of which could be heavy, throughout the day. Temperatures will stay in the 50s and 60s with calm winds. Going into early morning Thursday, we will see the wind and rain pick up, but eventually die back down around 7-8 am. The remainder of Thursday will stay in the 50s and 60s with gusty winds before cooling off later into the night.

Recent Wild Weather

Have you ever witnessed a loud boom that sometimes comes with slight shaking in the middle of Winter? If you have, you may have experienced what is known as an ice quake, also known as cryoseism. This is a seismic event that is caused by sudden drops in temperature where the ground goes from wet to frozen. When the water underneath the ground continues to freeze, it expands and applies pressure on the soil until the ground begins to crack frost and/or ice. Sometimes, when the frost or ice cracks, it causes a loud boom to be heard and sometimes even shaking occurs, replicating an earthquake. With the recent cold blast of air in parts of New England, specifically New Hampshire, these ice quakes have been reported of happening.

Wild Weather this Day in History

34 years ago, on February 8th 1989, a freak snow storm struck Los Angeles, California. This snow storm came with howling winds and temps below zero, along with the threat to crops and causing major freeways and schools to shut down all the way from the beaches of Malibu to the desert around Palm Springs. Different locations throughout California saw anywhere from 6 to 16 inches of snow. At least one death was associated with the cold and another was caused by a wreck from frozen roads. This storm was caused due to an upper level low pressure system off the coast mixing with an “Arctic Express” high pressure system that had settled over the Rockies. The National Weather Service issued many different snow advisories and winter storm warnings, as an end to this storm was not predicted.

Have an amazing rest of the week, and try to stay dry!

Source: https://www.weather.gov/abr/This_Day_in_Weather_History_Feb_08

Happy Monday everyone! Did anyone watch the new and improved Pro Bowl games? On Groundhogs Days, Phil saw his shadow Thursday morning after leaving his burrow in Punxsutawney. That means the country can expect below-average temperatures for the next six weeks if you believe the legend of Phil’s weather-predicting abilities. Anyways enough of the long-term weather, what is the forecast for the next few days?

Monday Night: Partly cloudy as more clouds move in. Low of 46 degrees.

Tuesday: Cloudy all day with a chance of some rain showers. High of 65 degrees and winds 10 to 20mph.

Tuesday Night: Cloudy all night with a low of around 47 degrees.

We can expect these warmer temperatures to stay around for at least the short and rain returns on Wednesday, but no snow in the foreseeable future.