Skywarn

There is a volunteer group of storm spotters, trained to document specific information that is vital for Meteorologists to study evolving weather events. These weather events may show signs that they could become a severe storm or maybe even a Tornado.  These storms need to be identified and documented by trained weather spotters, this way multiple sources of information are sent to the local NWS office.   These storm reports are called in to the National Weather service, where Meteorologists combines these reports with doppler radar data.

Skywarn started in the 70's as a national volunteer program, that has helped the NWS to provide more accurate and early storm warnings to the general public.

The author, (Me) has completed the basic course and will work to provide reports to the NWS office in Mt. Holly, New Jersey.  I will be documenting flooding, storms, storm damage and snowfall amounts.

NPP Status Update

Before I wrote about the mission launch on Oct. 28th, soon after the satellite reached it's final orbit.  After review, the satellite passed it initial stages and soon it's instruments were operational.

Earlier Nasa reported that the NPP Satellite had captured it's first hi resolution image on Nov. 21st.
This image was taken by one of the five instruments on board.

Image credit - NASA - http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/NPP/news/viirs-firstlight.html

 

The one instrument called VIIRS, (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite), which can detect fog at night just by reflected moonlight.  There is word that this may be able to further enhance early warning for fog alerts.  The imaging system will measure cloud and aerosol properties, ocean color, sea and land surface temperature, ice motion, fires and Earth's albedo.  Albedo is the fraction of sunlight reflected by the moon, or also known as moonlight. The NPP satellite is a big step from the satellites used back in the early eighties.

The Schuylkill River at Norristown PA

The National Weather Service issued a Flood Warning last night and indicated that the  Schuylkill River reached flood stage as of 5:30 AM this morning. 

This chart shows that at 10:30 AM, the river reached one foot over flood stage and at 11 AM it had started to rain again as I write this.  At this point it is considered minor flooding, still please use caution when driving today.

Attached here is the link with the Flood Stage chart and a Map.

http://water.weather.gov/

Flood Watch

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood watch for our entire area.

 

Counties include;   Montgomery County, Northern Chester Co., Berks, Lehigh, Northampton and Bucks County.

Please be aware that flash flooding can occur on roads from tonight into tomorrow afternoon.  Please use caution when driving, fallen leaves can cause storm drains to clog causing flooding on some roads.


Consider ourselves lucky, parts of Vermont and Main are expected to get 6-10 inches of snow.

Record Rain & NPP Update

Record for rainfall achieved at 1pm today for Philly area, it is the most it had rained since 1996.   New York also broke it's record today for yearly rainfall.  The National Weather service had issued a statement that more rain will fall into the night.


Latest update for Nasa's NPP satellite, first image from NPP's  ATMS Channel 18 data. (shown below)

 The image above shows low level water vapor, tropical storm Sean is visible in this image.

ATMS stands for "The advanced Technology Microwave Sounder, which is one of 5 high-tech climate measuring instruments on board the spacecraft.  Nasa has stated that the satellite is functioning perfectly, and will review data from the other 4 sources by mid December.   NOAA director Dr. Uccellini has stated that NPP will improve weather forecasts by 5 to 7 days in advance of what was normally calculated.


I want to thank NOAA and Nasa for providing information online, which is found at; http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/NPP/news/first-light.html