September is National Preparedness Month… Are you Ready?  Click here for details.

 
I was having a tough time coming up with something to talk about in this week’s blog post.  I mean the weather has been wonderful this week and it has been more difficult to focus.  Even while I sit here and type this post, I can’t help but wish I was outside enjoying the end of summer.  By the way, summer officially comes to an end on Tuesday September 22nd.

Speaking of summer, with the exception of July when temperatures were just a hair under the average, the summer has been decidedly mild since May.

So far, the first 3 days of September have been about 3 degrees cooler than average, June was also almost 3 degrees cooler.  So if these first 3 days are any indication, summer is going to end very much like it has been…

Anyway, I have shared some weather jokes with you in the past… Perhaps I will share a few of my favorite weather books in the future.  For now here is one of my favorite weather poems.  Please take some time to enjoy the rest of your summer.

Weather Together

There are holes in the clouds
where the sun peeks through,
Patches of sky,
scraps of blue,
It’s raining rain
and bits of ice
bounce down like
tiny grains of rice.
This weather together
changes by the minute
And I can hardly wait
to walk out in it!
            Lillian M. Fisher

For more poems like this click here…

The tropical weather season has kicked up a bit. Tropical Storm Claudette, the third storm of the Atlantic hurricane season and first named Atlantic storm to hit land, moved ashore along the U.S. Gulf coast on Monday. Claudette, which formed early Sunday morning, hit the coast near the eastern end of Santa Rosa Island, just southeast of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, at 1:10 AM.

The first Hurricane of this year’s Atlantic season is reving up.  This storm is named Bill.  To track Bill and other Tropical Weather Systems click here…

The July 2009 temperature for the contiguous United States was below the long-term average, based on records going back to 1895, according to a preliminary analysis by NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C.

The average July temperature of 73.5 degrees F was 0.8 degrees F below the 20th century average. Precipitation across the contiguous United States in July averaged 2.90 inches, which is 0.14 inches above the 1901-2000 average.  For More Click Here…

Coppertone Girl (1953)

Hi Doug–

Do you know what Toledo‘s UV index is today, or what the number actually means? Your viewers might be interested to learn how the UV index is calculated and how to protect themselves from sun damage.

 The UV index is calculated each day by computers at the Environmental Protection Agency to figure out—for each ZIP code in the nation—the likelihood of sun damage, taking into account a number of variables like the sun’s position in the sky and regional cloud cover. The figure represents the risk when the sun is at its peak position on any given day.  Coppertone’s website offers a user-friendly source for finding out what the UV index in your neighborhood is: Click Here

 Here is a helpful chart from to help decipher the UV index scale, which runs from 1 to 11 (and sometimes higher than 11):  

 While it is important to wear sunscreen daily, a higher UV index means everyone should take extra precaution to help prevent sunburn and other types of skin damage that can result from UV exposure. These suggestions from Dr. Tom Meyer, PhD, fellow in suncare research and development at the Coppertone Solar Research Center can help your readers/viewers and their families stay sun-safe this summer—and all year round:

 1.  Cover up and Seek Shade. When the UV index is 3 or higher, the National Foundation for Cancer Research stresses that it’s even more important to use an SPF of at least 15, sunglasses, and a wide-brimmed hat, as well as UV protective clothing. A UV index over 8 indicates high risk—it’s best to stay out of the sun between the peak hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

 2.  Pack a sunscreen appropriate for young children. When relaxing with your family outdoors, be sure to bring along a tear-free product like Coppertone® Water BABIES® Pure and Simple, which contains no oils, fragrances, or dyes. Also choose a product that stands up to the “active kid test”—make sure it’s waterproof and offers both UVA and UVB protection, since both types of rays can cause damage.

 3. Be aqua aware. Summertime and water fun go hand in hand, but it’s important for parents to remember that the sun’s rays can bounce off water, making the risk of sunburn while swimming—especially when the UV index is moderate or above—especially high. Even though a sunscreen may be labeled waterproof or water resistant, make sure to reapply after swimming, sweating, or toweling off.

 4. Keep kids hydrated. Drinking more water when spending time in the sun helps to keep the body and skin hydrated. No matter what the UV index, tossing a water bottle into your kids’ beach bags or backpacks is a good idea for parents.

 If you are interested in speaking to Dr. Meyer or learning more about Coppertone products, please contact me at achesney@psbpr.com or 212-752-8338.

 Best,
Anne Chesney for Coppertone

July was significantly cooler than normal across the region. It ranked in the top 10 coldest July’s on record at most of the climate stations in northern Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania. The weather patter in July was more reminiscent of January with a northwest flow persisting for most of the month. The jet stream, or the river of air some 20 to 30 thousand feet above us, was from the northwest. This northwest flow pulled in frequent cool air masses from Canada. Each reinforcing cool air mass was ushered in by a cold front which also brought regular rounds of showers. In a typical July, the jet stream is often from the southwest and brings in very warm air masses. This July was also unusual in the absence of any hot air. Most areas topped out with a maximum temperature for the month only in the mid 80s. It is unusual not to reach the 90s in July. A persistent weather pattern is not that unusual though. It is common for the jet stream to get “locked into” a flow pattern based on global weather systems. Eventually the pattern will shift and we will find ourselves in a more seasonable pattern or perhaps a warmer than normal pattern.

NWS Cleveland Climate page: Click Here

Records date back to 1874 for Erie
                                  1897 for Youngstown
                                  1871 for Canton-Akron, Cleveland, and Toledo
                                  1916 for Mansfield

As I rest in my apartment after a 10-day trip to Myrtle Beach with some close friends, I find myself locked out of my work email and timesheet program.

So much for getting back in the groove.

Anyway, here are some cool pictures of a storm that moved through while we were down there — but didn’t ruin our vacation.

(more…)

This week the Stormtracker weather team unveiled it’s new outdoor forecasting facility, the “FOX Toledo Stormtracker Weather Patio.”  We will utilize this space daily in rain, sunshine even snow. Check out the virtual tour of our new forecast facility below.

Tonight we held our second Midland All Hazards Weather Radio campaign promotion.  Bruce Slusher, Larry Whatley and I were at the Point Place Kroger store from 3 to 6pm this afternoon.  We got to meet several members of the community and also sold and programmed over 24 radios. 

I want to say thanks to the management of the Point Place Kroger Store for having us out and making us feel comfortable while we were there.

For those of you who purchased a radio or are considering doing so.  I have attached a instructional video on how to program in your county code.  Just click on the link below.

Click Here…