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NOAA: EARLY AND INTENSE TORNADO SEASON COULD BE RECORD

Direct from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: 

This year may set records for tornadoes and tornado-related deaths. “We have already seen more than 115 tornado-related deaths, making this the deadliest tornado season since 1998,” said Greg Carbin, a meteorologist at NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center  in Norman, Okla.

 

“It is only the third time since the 1974 super tornado outbreak that there have been more than 100 tornado-related deaths during a single tornado season in the U.S.,” added Harold Brooks, a research meteorologist at NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory also in Norman. “In 1998 and 1984 there were 132 and 122 tornado-related deaths, respectively — 2008 will likely equal or exceed that record.”

NOAA: U.S. HAS 36TH COOLEST SPRING ON RECORD

Direct from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration:

The March-May spring season was the 36th coolest  on record for the contiguous United States,  according to an analysis by NOAA’s National  Climatic Data  Center in Asheville, N.C. Separately, last month ended as the 34th coolest May for the contiguous United States, based on records dating back to 1895.

   

The average spring temperature of 51.4 degrees F was 0.5 degree F below the 20th century average. The average May temperature of 60.3 degrees F was 0.7 degree F below the 20th century mean, based on preliminary data.

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK, MAY 25-31

This week is Hurricane Preparedness Week across the country, from May 25-31.  NationalWeatherOnline.com would like to take a moment to remind one and all that the best time to prepare for a potential hurricane strike is early in the season, before any threat is present.  This is especially true for those who would like to obtain flood insurance, as there is usually a 30 day turnaround before a policy can be executed.  For more information about National Hurricane Awareness Week, click here.

NOAA PREDICTS NEAR OR ABOVE NORMAL ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON

Direct from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration:

NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center today announced that projected climate conditions point to a near normal or above normal hurricane season in the Atlantic Basin this year. The prediction was issued at a news conference called to urge residents in vulnerable areas to be fully prepared for the onset of hurricane season, which begins June 1.

NOAA: JASON-2 SATELLITE DATA TO HELP NOAA TRACK GLOBAL SEA LEVEL

Direct from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration:

A new satellite set to launch next month will monitor the rate of sea-level rise and help measure the strength of hurricanes, according to a leading NOAA scientist.

NOAA PREDICTS BELOW NORMAL CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE SEASON

Direct from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration:

NOAA’s Central Pacific Hurricane  Center in Honolulu expects three to four tropical  cyclones in the central Pacific basin in 2008, a slightly below average  season.

FEWER HURRICANES, GREATER INTENSITY ONE POSSIBILITY FOR FUTURE CLIMATE, SAYS NOAA

Direct from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration:

A new model simulation of Atlantic hurricane activity for the last two decades of this century projects fewer hurricanes overall, but a slight increase in intensity for hurricanes that do occur. Hurricanes are also projected to have more intense rainfall, on average, in the future. The findings are reported in a study by scientists at NOAA's Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory in Princeton, N.J.,  scheduled to be published online on May 18 in Nature Geoscience.

NOAA: U.S. HAS COOL APRIL, GLOBAL TEMPERATURE RANKED 13TH WARMEST ON RECORD

Direct from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration:

This past month was the coolest April in 11 years for the lower 48 United States, and fell into the lowest twenty-five percent of all Aprils based on records going back to 1895, according to an analysis by NOAA’s National  Climatic Data  Center in Asheville, N.C

The average April temperature, 51 degrees F, during April was one degree below the 20th century mean, and was the 29th coolest, or 86th warmest, based on preliminary data.

The combined average global land and ocean surface temperatures for April ranked 13th warmest since worldwide records began in 1880.

TORNADOES 101 - ALL ABOUT TWISTERS

Given the tornado outbreaks this year, and more disturbingly the number of deaths resulting from these storms, we here at National Weather Online felt this reminder disseminated from the National Weather Service was certainly worth posting in its entirety:

Directly from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration:

Tornadoes 101

 

What is a tornado?

A tornado is  a narrow, violently rotating column of air that extends from the base of a  thunderstorm to the ground.

Where do tornadoes come from?

Tornadoes  come from thunderstorms.

Where do tornadoes occur?

Tornadoes can occur whenever and wherever conditions are right! Tornadoes can occur in every state in the United States, on any day of the year, and at any hour. They also occur in many other parts of the world, including Australia, Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America.

Where is Tornado Alley?

Tornado Alley is a nickname for an area that has more tornadoes than other parts of the U.S. The area that has the most strong and violent tornadoes includes eastern South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, northern Texas, and eastern Colorado. 

How much advance warning can  forecasters give us before a tornado strikes?

The current average lead-time for tornado warnings is 13 minutes. NOAA Research is working to increase tornado warning lead-times much further.

What is the difference between a  tornado watch and a tornado warning?

A Tornado Watch means tornadoes are possible in your area. Remain alert for approaching storms. The NOAA Storm Prediction Center issues tornado and severe thunderstorm watches.

A Tornado Warning means a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar – time to take cover! Your local National Weather Service office issues tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings. http://www.nws.noaa.gov/

How many people are killed by  tornadoes each year?

Tornadoes  kill about 60 people each year, mostly from flying or falling debris.

How many tornadoes hit the US each year?

About 1,200.

What is the EF-Scale?

The Enhanced  Fujita Scale rates tornadoes by the damage they cause. Tornado categories are from EF0 to EF5. The EF-Scale takes into account variables such as building type, structures, and the sizes of trees.

Tornado Safety

What you need to know NOW!

Listen to  NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards or commercial radio/television for tornado warnings and instructions. If you hear a "Tornado Warning" seek safety immediately.

Indoors:

• Abandon mobile homes — they are not safe       even when tied down. Go to a designated shelter
• Go to a basement or interior room on the lowest floor (bathroom or closet without windows, under stairs). Get under a sturdy piece of furniture.
• Cover yourself with a mattress or blanket
• Put bicycle helmets on kids
• Put on sturdy shoes
• Put infants in car seats (indoors!)
• If you have time, gather prescription       medications, wallet and keys.
• DO NOT open your windows!

In a vehicle:

• Leave the vehicle for sturdy shelter or drive       out of the tornado’s path
• DO NOT hide under overpasses — they provide no       shelter
• Lie flat in a ditch (last-resort).

Outdoors:

• Find a culvert or cave.
• Find something to hang onto.
• Lie flat in a ditch.
• Cover your head.

See our  severe weather safety page for more information!

Tornado Research

What is known?

The most destructive and deadly tornadoes occur from supercells — which are rotating thunderstorms with a well-defined radar circulation called a mesocyclone.

What don’t we know?

NOAA scientists at the National Severe Storms Laboratory are working to understand the origins of tornadoes in thunderstorms. This knowledge will help the NWS improve warnings for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms.

Does NSSL do things like they showed  in the movie Twister?

The movie Twister was based upon NSSL’s work in the mid-1980s using a 55-gallon drum equipped with weather sensors. It was called TOTO (TOtable Tornado Observatory). NSSL tried for several years to put it in the path of an oncoming tornado, but had minimal success. It did not have the sensors that fly up into the tornado, like in the movie.

To learn more:

The Severe Weather Primer, FAQ’s and more:
  The Storm Prediction   Center's   Tornado FAQ
  NOAA Watch Severe Weather

DEAN, FELIX AND NOEL RETIRED FROM LIST OF STORM NAMES

Direct from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration:

The names Dean, Felix, and Noel, three of the most devastating storms of the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season, were retired by members of the 30th Session of the World Meteorological Organization's Regional Association IV Hurricane Committee during its annual meeting in Orlando, Fla.