Thursday, April 30, 2015

Weather Quiz


Glen Echo Park, MD (April 22, 2015)

 
True or False.  April will be the first month of 2015 to be warmer than average in the Nation’s Capital.
 
 
Answer to Weather Quiz question from April 18.
 
True.  95 degrees is the hottest temperature on record in the Nation’s Capital during the month of April and it’s occurred four times.  The most recent occurrence was on April 17, 2002.

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Where did Maryland's Strongest Tornado on Record Occur?


The Track of La Plata's Tornado (April 28, 2002)   Source: NWS

Many longtime residents of the Mid-Atlantic Region will remember the strongest tornado on record in the state of Maryland occurred 13 years ago today.  That’s when an F4 tornado claimed five lives and caused over $100 million in damage in the town of La Plata.  This particular tornado had a track of over 60 miles and reached its highest intensity as it passed through La Plata.  The town of La Plata is in Charles County in southern Maryland.

April 28, 2002 was the second day of a two-day severe weather outbreak that saw a total of 36 tornadoes from Nebraska to Tennessee to the Mid-Atlantic Region.  One of the lessons learned from this severe weather outbreak is that while there were appropriate severe weather watches and warnings in effect, not everyone got them in time.  Since April 27 and 28 fell on a Saturday and Sunday in 2002, many people were out and about on a typical spring weekend. 

 
The National Weather Service and local media outlets did a stellar job of communicating the latest watches and warnings to the public in advance of the tornado in La Plata – and elsewhere.  However, with so many people out and about, not everyone knew storms were coming until they arrived in their neighborhood.  In the years since then, smart phones and social media have evolved a great deal giving the National Weather Service and local media outlets more tools to keep the public apprised of the latest weather developments.    

There was another severe weather outbreak that occurred seven years ago today on April 28, 2008.  A total of 23 tornadoes touched down in southeastern Virginia and North Carolina.  Fortunately, there were no fatalities but 200 injuries were reported from a tornado that passed through the town of Suffolk, Virginia.  Although social media and smart phones were better in 2008, then during the La Plata tornado, they weren’t at the level they are today.  Multiple weather apps are currently available for your mobile devices that can alert you to any pending dangerous weather, even if you’re away from your TV or radio.  That wasn’t possible in 2002. 

Or on June 2, 1998.  That’s when the Maryland’s previous strongest tornado occurred (prior to the La Plata tornado) when an F4 tornado touched down in Frostburg, MD.  Although it was also an F4, it wasn’t as strong as the La Plata tornado.  It’s also important to note that the Fujita Scale – used to measure tornado intensity – was updated in 2007.  The Fujita Scale is now known as the “Enhanced Fujita Scale,” so all tornadoes are now classified as an “EF0” to an “EF5” instead of an “F0” to an “F5.”  Both the La Plata and Frostburg tornadoes would be ranked as "EF5" tornadoes on the updated or "Enhanced" Fujita Scale.  

Whatever the weather may be, it’s important to remember the lessons of the La Plata tornado and remain informed of the latest weather conditions regardless of where you may be.  Fortunately, social media and your mobile devices both make that easier today.

Sunday, April 26, 2015

Changeable Spring Weather in the Nation's Capital


Gaithersburg, Maryland

The Nation’s Capital has experienced some diverse weather so far this spring.  Meteorological spring runs from March 1 through May 31, so the spring is nearly two thirds complete as the final week of April begins.  During just the last week, there has been a full spectrum of weather in the Mid-Atlantic Region with weather characteristic of both early March and early June

The high temperature on April 18 was 84 degrees at National Airport which was its warmest temperature since last September.  Two days later it was 82 degrees which is the average high for June 7.  Meanwhile, yesterday’s high temperature in Washington, D.C., was only 53 degrees.  That’s the average high temperature on March 7 so to experience a temperature change – that normally takes 3 months – in less than a week makes it tough for outdoor enthusiasts. 

Most of April has seen above average temperatures in the Mid-Atlantic Region, but the final week of the month will continue to feature cooler than average weather.  That helps illustrate the importance of waiting until early May to plant sensitive vegetation when the danger of frost has passed.  Low temperatures flirted with the freezing mark yesterday in Baltimore where the low temperature was 33 degrees while yesterday’s low temperature at Dulles Airport was 35 degrees.

Last month saw the reverse trend in the Nation’s Capital with March starting much colder than average.  Nearly 5” of snow fell in Washington, D.C., on March 5 which set a record for the date.   According to the National Weather Service, the high of 30 degrees on March 6 was barely greater than half the average high temperature of 52 degrees.  The colder than average weather that much of the United States experienced last month did have a silver line as it helped reduced the amount of severe weather that occurred in March.

By comparison, outdoor enthusiasts were thrilled with the significantly warmer than average weather that occurred during the first three weeks of April.  The Cherry Blossoms reached their peak bloom along the Tidal Basin a week later than average because of the colder than average winter.  But that helped residents and tourists alike appreciate their splendor that much more.  Despite the colder than average final week of April, this month will still finish warmer than average.  When the hazy, hot and humid weather of summer arrives, Washingtonians will fondly remember the cooler than average weather this final week of April has featured.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

How Earth Day Improves Lives


Earth Day Festivities 2015, Union Square, New York
Today is the 45th annual Earth Day and there are various “green” events going on both locally and nationwide to promote a more sustainable and environmentally friendly lifestyle.  The first Earth Day took place in 1970 and it was such a success that it’s grown ever since as more people recognize the importance of a cleaner environment. By 1990, Earth Day became an international phenomenon and is currently celebrated in more than 175 countries.  In 2009, the United Nations declared April 22 to be “International Mother Earth Day.” 

This past weekend there was a huge event downtown on the National Mall that promoted environmental awareness and the importance of “living green.”  Some of the musical acts included Mary J. Blige, No Doubt, Usher, Fall Out Boy among others.  Sustainable living can make both good economic and environmental sense.  Adopting a green lifestyle can mean: (1) developing cleaner, alternative energies, thereby reducing society’s consumption of fossil fuels; (2) recycling more and consuming less; and (3) making our homes and businesses more energy efficient.

In recent years, the cost of gasoline has increased and has even reached $4 a gallon at times.  Although, gasoline costs less now than it did a year ago, fuel prices typically increase during the spring and summer months.  Public interest in and demand for alternative energy sources (e.g. electric, solar, wind power) has soared.  Unlike solar and wind energy, oil and coal are finite resources that pollute. 

As the cost of fuel has increased, sales of larger, less fuel efficient vehicles have declined in the United States, while the demand for more fuel efficient cars has increased.  More people that have access to mass transit are taking it to minimize time spent in traffic and reduce the amount of money spent on fuel.   New York’s Metropolitan Transit Authority recently said “…ridership grew 2.6% to 1.751 billion customers in 2014. Some 5.6 million customers rode the subway on an average weekday and 6 million customers on an average weekend.”  In addition, The Business Council for Sustainable Energy noted the consumption of gasoline in the United States is “down 8.6% since 2005.”

Recycling reduces pollution by preventing waste and lowering the need for natural resources.  Recycling metals, plastics and glass also provide new building materials at a fraction of the cost.  In 2003, for example, 54 billion aluminum cans were recycled, saving the energy equivalent of 15 million barrels of crude oil -- America’s entire gas consumption for one day.  Reusing old supplies, like plastic bags, is also beneficial since it keeps toxic materials out of landfills.

Similarly, homes can be made more energy efficient in a variety of ways.  One of the easiest things people can do is use more energy efficient appliances.  They are often marked with the “Energy Star” logo, meaning they are certified by the government as energy efficient.  Also, Compact Fluorescent Light or “CFL” bulbs consume less electricity and last much longer than traditional light bulbs.  Some people prefer the energy efficient “LED” bulbs (LED stands for “light-emitting diode.”) since they don’t require any time to warm up and immediately reach their full brightness once turned on.  Although CFL and LED bulbs both cost more in the store than the traditional incandescent bulbs, it’s important to realize that they last much longer than their older counterparts.  The money people save in the long run on their energy bills by using CFL or LED bulbs outweigh their higher sticker price.

Although Earth Day is only once a year, living green is something that’s easy to do all year long.  By reducing waste and recycling, as well as generating less pollution from transportation and energy production, sustainable living can be a win-win strategy.

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Do April Showers Cause Flooding?


The Potomac River
Although yesterday was the warmest day so far in 2015 in the Nation’s Capital (84 degrees), April can also feature inclement weather.  In fact, yesterday was the fourth anniversary of some severe flooding in Georgetown.  During the spring, the combination of snowmelt west of town and appreciable rainfall can sometimes combine to create localized flooding.  Such was the case in April 2011.

It’s quite common for rivers and streams to run a little higher during the spring as the Appalachian Mountain snowpack gradually melts west of the Nation’s Capital.  When heavy rain and thunderstorms add to the volume of water, than the water levels invariably rise in area streams and creeks.  On April 16, 2011, there was a severe weather outbreak in the Mid-Atlantic Region, with four confirmed tornadoes in Maryland and northern Virginia.  Fortunately, they were weak tornadoes and caused only minor damage.  However, the thunderstorms also brought appreciable rainfall with more than half an inch falling in the Nation’s Capital and more than that north and west of downtown. 

The heavy rainfall north and west of town took a day to flow into the Potomac River and travel downstream before it reached the banks of Georgetown.  The National Weather Service reported that the Potomac River rose above flood stage in places just west of Georgetown, such as Little Falls, where the river reached a crest of 11.9 feet – almost two feet above the flood stage of 10 feet.  The Potomac River crested at 22.5 feet at Harper’s Ferry, which was above the 16 foot flood stage. 

Since Georgetown is right on the water, occasional flooding is expected and safeguards are in place.  The Georgetown Harborfront, for example, is a popular spot for boaters to dock their boats so they could dine al fresco along the quay.  However, the protective wall wasn’t in place four years ago and some flooding resulted.  All the damage was repaired and the lessons were learned, so such an event shouldn’t happen again.

Over four inches of rain fell at National Airport during the last week of April 2014 and no significant flooding occurred downtown.  That helps illustrate the importance of proper preparation and timely forecasts.  A significant amount of rain is on tap tonight and tomorrow across the Mid-Atlantic Region.  The potential also exists for some intense thunderstorms tomorrow afternoon with the Storm Prediction Center calling for a “slight risk” of severe weather in the DC Metro Region.  So it’s important to listen to your favorite meteorologists for the latest forecasts so you can take steps to ensure your safety.  My colleagues on the WUSA9 weather team are an example of a good place to turn for the latest weather forecasts in the Nation’s Capital.

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Weather Quiz


Great Falls, MD  - April 2010



True or False.  It has been as hot as 95 degrees in the Nation’s Capital during the month of April.




Answer to Weather Quiz question from April 6.

Virginia averages the most tornadoes of the four states according to NOAA.  In a typical year, these states average the following number of tornadoes.

1.      Virginia – 18
2.      Pennsylvania – 16
3.      Maryland – 10
4.      West Virginia – 2