Your Port In The Storm

Good afternoon!  I received this email, late last week and wanted to share, because I thought it might be of interest beyond the viewer who submitted it.  I will leave his email and name out of the mix in respect to his privacy, but what a great question it was.  So, many thanks! 

John Smith,  

 Thanks for the kind words!    Hope you had a great weekend …   Okay, there are a couple of things at play here.  First, the dark gray you noted on the bottom of a cumulus cloud is water or droplets of water.  They collect near the bottom due to gravity.    Now, the flat part is related to something else and happens on days when no precipitation is at play … After a recent rain, the leftover water on the ground will evaporate easily and create scattered, cumulus clouds.  But, in an overall fair or dry pattern, the air is sinking from above.  The sinking air gets squeezed due to higher pressure near the ground, dries out, and we get clear skies/sun.  Ultimately, the clouds have a flat or pankcake shape to them where the sinking air and the evaporation meet.    Hope this helps, jp

Hi Jeff,   Enjoy the show in the morning.  The whole crew does a great job….evening shift better watch out.    Anyways, I’ve always wondered why the white puffy clouds, I think they’re cumulus, appear to be flat and dark gray on the bottom?  I see this all the time.  

John Smith

Good morning!  There’s been some time since we’ve last blogged.  Clearly, with Facebook and Twitter, the masses, you, West Michigan, are going there to communicate, share pictures, ideas, connect, and ultimately relate.  Myself included, have neglected this very blog as I follow your traffic and jump on the train.  Understandably so, it’s important to provide a variety of platforms for information consumption.  That is what today’s world is all about … it applies to TV too, we have choice, so much choice than we’ve ever had before.  Hundreds of channels, this site, that site, this blog, that blog.  The way to approach the prolific number of choices is to meet you on every single one and let you decide what’s best.  What’s easiest, in the palm of your hand, your Blackberry or ifone, could be just that.  But it doesn’t have to be, and that’s why choice, your choice is such a beautiful thing. 

Alright, pontificating aside … August is so young with today just the 2nd day of often one of the hottest time of the year.  Guess what???  It’s no surprise, we all know this, we’re coming off of a fairly hot July.  Just to add some texture to your (probably) highest energy bill of the year … we hit 90° or hotter 7 times right here in Kalamazoo.  But if you factor in the following, nearly half of the month takes on imagery of a sweating runner, a cool, glass of ice water, drops readily sliding down the rim thanks to the ice putting up just a wee fight against the heat.  Here’s what we’re factoring in … 6 days of highs of 88 or 89 (again, in Kalamazoo) renders basically 1 out of every 2 days feeling hot and uncomfortable. 

You can see the data below … the first is the breakdown in Kalamzoo (the differences, to your right, are all positive and that shows how much warmer we were than average or the typical July in West Michigan). 

And for Grand Rapids, the situation is the same, but marked specifically by much warmer overnights and associated mornings.  The lows at Gerald R. Ford’s International were nearly a touchdown higher. 

Good morning!  I got a great email from a viewer on the differences between humidity and dew point.  Sure, we hear a lot about humidity, but the dew point is probably fuzzier.  I will include the entire exchange below …

Charlie,

no problem!

when it’s real hot and humid, we love to talk abou out the dew point.  but first, let’s address humidity, which we reference on a more regular basis.  humidity is a function of temperature.  so, as the temperature changes, humidity will change.  it can be 50 degrees and quite humid.  likewise, like today it will be humid and we’ll be near 90. 

the dew point physically measures how much water is in the air.  it’s not dependent on any other variable.  the most simple explanation is the temperature at which condensation will form.  i.e. fog or haze or really any kind of precipitation.  when the dew point hits 60 degrees, it’s usually the dividing line between comfortable air and sticky air.  anything in the 60s is uncomfortable, like right now.  by this evening and tonight, our local dew points will rise toward 70, ridiculously muggy or humid! 

hope this helps,

jp

---

From: Charles
Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 2010 8:59 AM
To: Porter, Jeff
Cc: Charles
Subject: A question

                                Jeff:

                                   I don’t remember if I asked you this question but I can’t tell the difference between the Dew Point and Humidity. Please explain as simply as possible. Thanks. Charlie.

Good morning!  This photo comes courtesy of a viewer to which we owe many thanks.  The clouds just above are called shelf clouds.  They form in a very interesting marriage from two of the main processes within a thunderstorm.  First, warm, moist air rises and is really the main fuel for any thunderstorm.  Second, cooler air spills out from the top of a storm, known as the downdraft or part of it.  Where these two dissimilar types of air collide is the starting of the shelf formation you see in the photo.

Good morning!  It’s been nearly a month since the last post.  Sure, many of us are coming off of (hopefully) a long Holiday weekend, but this Holiday at Your Port in the Storm has just been too long.  With that said, we’re still in the midst of a very foggy morning drive.  Please note the DENSE FOG ADVISORIES for Berrien, Cass counties until 9 AM.  While the National Weather Service missed the boat here and should have picked up on the Northern Indiana issuance, it’s really neither here nor there.  If you haven’t left yet for work or school or whatever the destination, it’s going to be tricky for probably the next hour.  It’s the absolute worst up and down the Lake Shore, those communities have been at zero (you can’t see much at all) for the last several hours.  So, please take it easy this morning and remember your stopping distance, because this is the type of morning you’re liable to come up on another vehicle with very little notice.  You’ll see the visibilities from 8:30 AM on your left … Thanks to the very strong early June sun angle, we’ll improve rapidly and by 10 AM should be much, much better throughout West Michigan.  Even with that said, it’s going to take longer in some pockets, because sometimes fog gets trapped in the nooks and crannies of the area.  That’s just the way it goes .

I also want to take this opportunity to address tonight’s and tomorrow’s thunderstorm threat.  Yesterday’s thunderstorms are still fresh on our minds because of the rainfall, the damage, and for a few of us, a lack of power.  Another potent thunderstorm threat is already brewing for after midnight and through your Wednesday morning drive.  The STORM PREDICTION CENTER (a collective brain trust, if you will, of meteorologists that study and assess storm potential/severity 24/7) has already highlighted West Michigan as being under the gun in the next 24 hours: http://www.spc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/outlook/day1otlk.html.  The thought is that a massive thunderstorm complex will be ongoing in Iowa and Wisconsin this evening and then trek eastward to northern Indiana and southern Michigan.  Depending on how well it holds together, we could see damaging winds and large hail if the integrity of the complex survives as it motors east.  The timing will not be great, because we’ll all be trying to get back to work and school.  Keep it right here, on-air, and online at wwmt.com as we get closer to this 2nd storm event.

Good morning!  Yes, rain is in your forecast today.  Yes, it will look like rain for a time.  Yes, parts of the area will see measurable rain.  Connecting the dots between these statements reveals anything but a robust weather  maker.  We’ve been following today’s system for awhile, but even in its model depiction from just yesterday to today, it has withered like a rose past its prime.  The rain is attached to a cold front now shoving into the Lower Peninsula on some gusty westerly winds.  However, and it’s a big however, the associated rainfall is wholly unimpressive.  Today’s rainfall amounts per the morning weather model runs were as follows: Kalamazoo: 0.01″, Battle Creek: 0.01″, Grand Rapids: 0.02″.  These amounts are almost not even worth mentioning.  Ultimately, you might see a little rain between now and early afternoon.  It’s not impossible to even hear a little thunder, but don’t expect to have much to show for this system in the rain department.  It will truckload in a chilly night tonight with lows in the lower 40s and a coolish day tomorrow (for early May) with highs just past the 60-degree mark.  Afternoon highs in early May are usually closer to 70°. 

Let’s fastforward to Friday’s weather maker, a completely different animal altogether.  The forecast rainfall amounts are situated just to your right.  All week long this storm has been billed as more organized, stronger, and wetter.  The track of the storm, ever crucial, is even more crucial today, because it runs from Chicago to north of Kalamazoo.  In spring and summer, lying south of the storm track is more likely to engender thunderstorms and possibly severe weather.  In the last few days, the track has been jumping all over the place from the above mentioned alley to farther south in Northern Indiana.  We’ll have a much clearer idea as we get closer to its arrival, but it’s safe to keep Friday in the back of your mind as it’s likely to get rocky.  The strength of this system is further evidenced by the markedly cooler temperatures for Mother’s Day weekend including just the 40s Saturday afternoon (that’s it!).  We also have chances of frost Saturday night and Sunday night.

Good morning!  We hope this finds you well whether joining us via your cell phone, blackberry, home PC, or even at work!  Cold air continues to pour into West Michigan right now.  It’s coming from Canada on northeasterly winds; you may have felt some of those breezes already on your way to work or school.  The end result is underperforming temperatures later today.  Highs won’t even be close to 60 degrees, more like the middle 50s.  If you think this unusual for late April, you’re right!  Normal afternoon highs are in the mid 60s; the depth of this cold air is significant.  What’s more significant is how cold we’ll be tonight once our winds relax and the sun sets.  It is for this reason all of West Michigan is under a FREEZE WATCH.  You can see that WATCH just to your right. 

The WATCH basically says this: a period of several hours of near or below freezing temperatures is likely, areas of frost are also possible, and all sensitive vegetation could be damaged.  At biggest risk is our lovely blossoms that adorn West Michigan these days.  Those beautiful blossoms are decoration on many fruit trees, which we don’t want to see harmed.  So, here’s how we get around this … if you have any plants or flowers at home in your yard, maybe on the porch, bring them inside tonight before you go to sleep.  You can always cover them with a sheet or blanket, but remember to take them off tomorrow morning.  Farmers, growers, and anyone with agricultural interests are well aware of the measures needed to preserve their crops.  Those need to be taken tonight.  If this feels a little like deja vu, you’re also right.  It was only 9 days ago when we bottomed out at 32 degrees in Kalamazoo.  Grand Rapids made it down to 34 that morning.

Good morning!  It’s been awhile since my last post, so let’s get right to it.  We’ve been battling near freezing temperatures and patchy frost since last Saturday night.  After a reprieve this morning, another shot of cold air is poised to head our way.  A front will blow through West Michigan today with nothing more than a little cloud cover.  It never really had a lot of moisture to it, and likewise, we won’t see any rain.  However, it does have plenty of cool temperatures that we’ll feel as soon as tonight. 

In anticipation of another rough night for growers, anyone with agricultural interests, and maybe just your backyard plants and flowers, the National Weather Service has already issued a FREEZE WATCH for Oceana, Newaygo, and Mecosta counties.  The WATCH is just a precursor to what will likely be widespread FREEZE WARNINGS and FROST ADVISORIES.  Further, this may be the coldest night and associated morning since Sunday morning when Kalamazoo bottomed out at 31° and Grand Rapids 33°.  The FREEZE WATCHES are just to your left. 

Good morning!  If yesterday’s 76 in Kalamazoo and the tied record of 78 in Grand Rapids are any indication of what’s headed our way, more records will be tied or broken today and tomorrow.  Let’s get right to the details, today’s record in Kalamazoo is 80 degrees from 1986.  In Grand Rapids, the record is a more attainable 77 degrees from 1946.  Because today’s pattern is very similar to yesterday’s, we’ll be heating the same air or the same airmass.  It’s easier to warm air that’s already been worked over.  We’re forecasting 80 degrees on the nose for today’s high.  So, it’s probably safe to expect more record highs later today.  Remember, you can tune in to Meteorologist Wes Callison for the specifics on our afternoon highs temperatures on News Channel 3 Live at 5 PM!

Good morning!  I hope you have a great weekend!  As cold as it is right now and will be throughout this Friday, warmer temperatures are right around the corner.  We’re currently under the control of a cold high pressure right on top of the Lake Superior.  It moves rather rapidly to northern New England tomorrow.  This is significant because it means we’ll be able to tap into the warmer winds on the western side of the high.  Air flows clockwise around high pressure, and today we’ll see initially a northerly wind.  By tomorrow, that same clockwise flow becomes southeasterly for us and impart warms us back into the middle 50s.  That’s roughly 4 degrees above average. 

Let’s focus on the second part of the weekend … the issue of rain has been something the models have been grappling with for days.  Even right now, 48 hours out, those models are still at odds on how to resolve Sunday’s pattern.  In the early morning model runs, Kalamazoo was slated for roughly 1/4″ of rain, while Grand Rapids came in much lighter with about 5 hundredths.  A sneak peak at the mid morning updates was basically an argument toward a drier scenario with Kalamazoo checking in with about 1/10″ and Grand Rapids completely dry.  The big sticking point is whether two pieces of energy come together.  If they did, we’d see rain, and if not, we’d miss out on yet another system.  Look for updates on News Channel 3 Live at noon as more data comes into Severe Weather Center 3.