America’s newest polar-orbiting satellite roared into orbit this morning, setting the stage for enhanced weather data NOAA scientists will use to develop life-saving severe weather forecasts days in advance.

The NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) satellite was launched from Vandenberg Air Force, Calif., at 2:48 a.m. PDT aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket. At approximately 3:45 a.m. PDT, the spacecraft separated from the Delta II to the delight of NOAA and NASA officials.

NPP is a NASA Earth-observing satellite and features five new instruments that will collect more detailed information about Earth’s atmosphere, land and oceans.  NASA will use NPP as a research mission, while NOAA will use the data for short and long-term weather forecasting and environmental monitoring.

“This year has been one for the record books for severe weather,” said Dr. Jane Lubchenco, under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “The need for improved data from NPP and the next generation satellite system under development by NASA and NOAA has never been greater.  They will enhance our ability to alert the public with as much lead time as possible.”

In 2011, data from polar-orbiting satellites like NPP allowed emergency managers and communities to prepare for severe weather events . Five days before a destructive and deadly tornado outbreak in Alabama and parts of the Southeast in April, NOAA forecasters were able to see the early atmospheric signs of the storm system developing and issue timely warnings.

NPP will orbit Earth every 102 minutes, flying 512 miles above the surface, monitoring atomospheric conditions below. The first of the NPP data will become available in about 90 days and begin replacing data from the NOAA-19 satellite in the afternoon orbit, passing over the United States during full daylight hours.

NPP is also the bridge that links NOAA’s current polar-orbiting satellites to the next generation of advanced spacecraft called the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS), which is currently set to launch in late 2016, pending funding. NPP will test how the new instruments perform before they are formally added to the JPSS satellites. NOAA’s Satellite Operations Facility in Suitland, Md., will process and distribute the data from NPP.

The originally planned launch of JPSS has been setback due to delays in funding over the past couple of years. This means there will be a data gap between the time NPP begins to degrade from the harsh space environment and the time JPSS is succsessfully placed into operation. The length of that gap depends on future years funding and the agency remains optimistic that current year Congressional support will carry over into a final appropriation and outyear funding.

Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, assistant secretary of commerce for environmental observation and prediction and NOAA deputy administrator, hailed the successful launch of NPP as a credit to the long-standing partnership between NOAA and NASA.

“This partnership works,” Sullivan said. “For more than 40 years, we have worked together fielding observation satellites to provide the nation with critical environmental intelligence to protect lives and livelihoods.”

This October marks the 10 year anniversary of the deadly October 24th 2001 tornado outbreak which spawned 10 tornadoes across our area of northern Indiana, southwest lower Michigan and Northwest Ohio. Two people died during this event and numerous others were injured. Early warnings and proactive measures helped save countless lives.

A summary of the October 24th, 2001 event, including damage surveys and a timeline of events can be found on National Weather Service webpage at
Click Here…

The Fall months provide a secondary severe weather season across our area. While Spring and early Summer are considered the prime time for severe weather outbreaks, Autumn can also see significant severe weather episodes. As a matter of fact, the largest and deadliest tornado outbreaks over the last 30 years have occurred in the Fall. The two strongest tornadoes to occur in our County Warning Area (CWA) of northern Indiana, southwest lower Michigan and northwest Ohio since 1980 have been EF4 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. Both of these strong tornadoes occurred in Van Wert Ohio, one on November 10th, 2002, and the other on February 18th, 1992.  Since 1980, there have only been 7 fatalities from tornadoes in our CWA. However, 6 of these 7 occurred in the months of October and November. This proves you need to be ready for severe weather and tornadoes in any month!

Since 2001, there have been other significant October tornado events. Nappanee Indiana saw an EF3 tornado occur in the late evening on October 18th, 2007. This tornado moved through the eastern half of the town, destroying many homes and businesses. Fortunately there were only minor injuries. On October 26th, 2010, an outbreak of 13 tornadoes occurred across the KIWX CWA. While the number of tornadoes exceeded those of the October 24th, 2001 event, the damage rating associated with these tornadoes were not as high. All 13 tornadoes in the 2010 event were rated EF0 (5) or EF1 (8). No strong tornadoes (EF2 or higher) occurred. Despite the large number of tornadoes, no fatalities were recorded. More information on this event can also be found on National Weather Service website at
Click here…

Take this time to review your plan of action in the event of severe weather. Remember to be prepared and pay attention to Hazardous Weather Outlooks leading up to a severe weather event, Severe Weather Watches issued hours before the event, and Severe Weather Warnings when severe weather is imminent or occurring. Don’t take warnings for granted, take them seriously.

• To provide observational meteorological data, usually consisting of daily maximum and minimum temperatures, snowfall, and 24-hour precipitation totals, required to define the climate of the United States and to help measure long-term climate changes
• To provide observational meteorological data in near real-time to support forecast, warning and other public service programs of the NWS.

Click on link below to watch the countdown. Values updated by 5am from previous days precipitation…

Click Here…

I got an email today about getting ready for home ready for winter weather. It’s a good reminder that winter is just around the corner and will be here before we know it. Take a look at this message, there might be some tips you find useful.

Verbatim:

As a meteorologist, you are trusted by your viewers to give them trustworthy weather tips.  As an addition to your forecasts coming up this winter, below are some roof tips that would work well when talking about preparing for colder days.  Please let us know if you would like to include these in your segments:

As the winter months approach, our homes first measure of protection against rain and snow is the Roof. GAF, North America’s largest Roofing Manufacturer, offers these tips for how to get your roof ready for the cold winter.

1. Start off by checking the roof framing structure to make sure it is not compromised. Visually scan the roof for any sagging or uneven areas.
2. Inspect the gutter systems to make sure they are not clogged with branches, leaves, or other debris.
3. Make sure that gutters are fastened properly and are tight and secure so that they don’t cause overflow and build-up or fall off the fascia board.
4. Check the valleys of the roof to ensure that they are also free and clear of debris that can add weight to the roof and also act as a barrier to rain and snow.
5. Metal flashing should also be used around roof vents, pipes, skylights, and chimneys. One of the most common causes for roofing leaks is due to problems with flashing.
6. Walk around to carefully inspect the shingles on the roof – look for curling edges, missing granules, etc.

Regards
Kay Kelly

The following reference table will give an idea as to when the
first freezing temperatures might occur... based on several years
of climatological data... at each of the listed locations.

In the table that follows there are three columns which give the
average date when the temperature first reaches 32 degrees in the
fall... the date on which chances are one in ten that a freeze
will have occurred... and the date when the chances are nine in
ten that a freeze will have occurred.

location       ave date 1st   32f in one year   32f in nine years
                 fall 32f        out of ten         out of ten

bowling green      oct 13          sep 29             oct 27
defiance           oct 9           sep 24             oct 23
findlay            oct 14          sep 30             oct 28
lima               oct 10          sep 24             oct 26
montpelier         oct 6           sep 20             oct 22
toledo             oct 12          sep 25             oct 28

bucyrus            oct 8           sep 22             oct 24
elyria             oct 18          oct 5              oct 31
norwalk            oct 13          sep 28             oct 27
oberlin            oct 8           sep 22             oct 24
put-in-bay         nov 4           oct 21             nov 18
sandusky           oct 27          oct 24             nov 10
tiffin             oct 16          oct 2              oct 31

ashtabula          oct 25          oct 8              nov 12
chardon            oct 14          sep 24             nov 2
cleveland          oct 29          oct 13             nov 14
hiram              oct 18          oct 1              nov 4
painesville        oct 31          oct 18             nov 14
warren             oct 5           sep 24             oct 16
youngstown arpt    oct 14          sep 29             oct 28

bellefontaine      oct 11          sep 26             oct 25
greenville         oct 4           sep 23             oct 15
kenton             oct 7           sep 21             oct 23
sidney             oct 8           sep 23             oct 24
springfield        oct 21          oct 7              nov 3
urbana             oct 6           sep 17             oct 24

circleville        oct 11          sep 28             oct 25
columbus           oct 17          oct 2              nov 2
delaware           oct 6           sep 25             oct 18
lancaster          oct 6           sep 24             oct 18
london             oct 7           sep 25             oct 10
marion             oct 9           sep 21             oct 26
marysville         oct 9           sep 25             oct 24
newark             oct 8           sep 23             oct 23
washington c.h.    oct 19          oct 5              oct 31

ashland            oct 11          sep 30             oct 23
coshocton          oct 8           sep 26             oct 21
fredericktown      sep 30          sep 16             oct 14
mansfield          oct 17          oct 4              oct 30
millersburg        oct 7           sep 24             oct 20
plymouth           oct 10          sep 24             oct 25
wooster            oct 6           sep 24             oct 17

akron-canton arpt  oct 18          oct 2              nov 4
cadiz              oct 15          oct 3              oct 26
canfield           oct 1           sep 19             oct 13
steubenville       oct 21          oct 7              nov 3

cincinnati         oct 27          oct 12             nov 12
dayton             oct 20          oct 5              nov 4
hamilton-fairfield oct 11          sep 28             oct 24
hillsboro          oct 20          oct 5              nov 4
milford            oct 11          sep 27             oct 24
wilmington         oct 12          sep 28             oct 24
xenia              oct 13          sep 30             oct 25

chillicothe        oct 15          oct 1              oct 29
gallipolis         oct 10          sep 29             oct 22
ironton            oct 23          oct 9              nov 5
jackson            oct 2           sep 18             oct 16
portsmouth         oct 24          oct 10             nov 6
waverly            oct 8           sep 28             oct 19

athens             oct 1           sep 19             oct 13
barnesville        oct 3           sep 22             oct 14
caldwell           oct 7           sep 22             oct 22
cambridge          oct 4           sep 22             oct 16
marietta           oct 14          oct 4              oct 24
mcconnelsville     oct 11          sep 29             oct 24
new lexington      oct 4           sep 21             oct 16
zanesville         oct 6           sep 23             oct 18

While the table above concerns itself only with the first
recorded freezing temperature in fall... we must add that frost
can occur any time national weather service temperatures of 36
degrees or less are recorded.  the reason for this apparent
anomaly is that official temperature readings are taken at an
elevation of five feet above ground... but the temperature at
ground level may be colder.

On typical fall nights when frost occurs... the temperature at
the five foot level may read 36 degrees while the temperature at
ground level is actually the 32 degrees needed to form frost.



There are only two times of the year when the Earth’s axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the sun, resulting in a “nearly” equal amount of daylight and darkness at all latitudes. These events are referred to as Equinoxes.The word equinox is derived from two Latin words – aequus (equal) and nox (night). At the equator, the sun is directly overhead at noon on these two equinoxes.  The “nearly” equal hours of day and night is due to refraction of sunlight. or a bending of the light’s rays that causes the sun to appear above the horizon when the actual position of the sun is below the horizon.  Additionally, the days become a little longer at the higher latitudes (those at a distance from the equator) because it takes the sun longer to rise and set.  Therefore, on the equinox and for several days before and after the equinox, the length of day will range from about 12 hours and six and one-half minutes at the equator, to 12 hours and 8 minutes at 30 degrees latitude, to 12 hours and 16 minutes at 60 degrees latitude.

For more on the seasons, click here…

On Tuesday, NOAA’s National Weather Service released its final assessment report on the May 22 tornado that struck Joplin, Mo. The report identifies best practices and makes recommendations to help save more lives during future violent tornadoes. Most importantly, the assessment emphasizes that people must be prepared to take immediate action when a warning is issued.

“The tornado that struck Joplin offers important lessons about disaster preparedness,” said National Weather Service Director, Jack Hayes, Ph.D. “Tragically, despite advance tornado outlooks, watches and warnings, 159 people died and more than 1,000 were injured. At NOAA we will do all we can – working with our partners throughout the weather enterprise and emergency management – to reduce the impact of similar disasters.”

Within days of the tragedy, Hayes sent an assessment team to Joplin to examine warning and forecast services provided to the community, warning communications, community preparedness and the public’s response to tornado warnings.

The team determined that a number of factors contributed to the high death toll. Through interviews with more than 100 Joplin residents, the team found that societal response to warnings is highly complex and involves a number of factors, such as risk perception, overall credibility of warnings and warning communications.

The report includes a number of key recommendations:

• Improve warning communications to convey a sense of urgency for extreme events. This will compel people to take immediate life-saving action;
• Collaborate with partners who communicate weather warnings to develop GPS-based warning communications, including the use of text messaging, smart phone apps, mobile communications technologies, in addition to upgrades to the Emergency Alert System and NOAA Weather Radio;
• Collaborate more throughout the weather enterprise to ensure that weather warning messages sent via television, radio, NOAA Weather Radio, local warning systems such as sirens – are consistent to reduce confusion and stress the seriousness of the threat; and
• Continue to increase community preparedness.

Hayes directed National Weather Service staff to move forward to implement the recommendations as soon as possible. The high death toll from the tornado was also catalyst for the August 17 launch of “Weather-Ready Nation”. Building a Weather-Ready Nation will require the efforts of the entire weather enterprise – the National Weather Service, the private weather industry, emergency managers, partners and academia – to provide better information to the public so that they can make better decisions to save lives and livelihoods.

This was the single deadliest tornado in U.S. history since modern record-keeping began in 1950. Rated EF-5 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, this mile-wide tornado was the largest and most powerful type, and it traveled 22 miles on the ground.

A collaboration announced today uses NOAA research and data to help the insurance industry anticipate and react to storm damage, saving time and money.

The alliance between Atmospheric and Environmental Research (AER) and the NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) supports the research and development of operational weather risk management solutions for insurance and other industries affected by severe storms.

For more on this click here…