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Tag: App Winter Science

  • Prolonged snow coverage leads to areas of snow mold

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    Winter snowfall is beginning to melt and the artic air that gripped the eastern two-thirds of the country has retreated.

    What You Need To Know

    • Parts of the Midwest, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic experience prolonged snow coverage this winter

    • This type of fungus thrives in cooler conditions

    • Ways to keep snow mold away include mowing grass short in the late fall


    However, this temperatures shift and rapid thawing has lead to an unwelcome sight across many lawns: snow mold.

    Prolonged snow coverage

    A snow event on Jan. 24 to 26 brought snow and ice to regions of the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. Following the winter weather, arctic air surged south, keeping much of the region snow- and ice-covered.

    Another system Jan. 31 to Feb. 2 brought snow to the Mid-Atlantic, with areas like Charlotte, N.C. picking up just under a foot of snow. Like its predecessor, this storm was followed by bitter cold, leaving snow-covered ground in areas that don’t see flakes every winter.

    Snow mold

    If you start to notice odd circular patches or web‑like areas on your lawn, with pink or grayish discoloration, you might have snow mold. 

    Snow mold develops on a lawn in St. Charles, Mo. after prolonged snow during the winter. (Spectrum News/Stacy Lynn)

    According to Cardinal Lawn’s Lawn Disease Library, snow mold or snow rot is a type of fungal lawn disease that forms from sustained snow cover or wet leaves. It is most visible in spring after snow melts, but sometimes it is observed in winter after a big snowfall and then a thaw.

    Any grass exposed to cold temperatures and snow cover can be affected, and if left untreated, the lawn may suffer damage. 

    This fungus thrives in cold, damp conditions, damaging individual blades as well as the crown and roots. It often appears as gray circular patches or pink, web‑like growth. The pink type is the more severe fungus and does not need snow cover, as it proliferates when the grass is wet and temperatures are below 45 F.

    While most lawn diseases are associated with warm weather, TruGreen’s lawn care tips note that snow mold only occurs on actively growing winter grass in cooler weather and can persist up to 60°F if air and soil remain moist. Spores can be spread by wind or splashing rain, moving the disease from one part of the lawn to another.

    Prevention

    Although it’s impossible to completely prevent, some fall planning might help keep it at bay. TruGreen recommends mowing your lawn short before the grass goes dormant, 2 to 2.5 inches. Shorter grass is less likely to mat down.

    It’s best to avoid nitrogen fertilizer in late fall and make sure your soil drains properly to prevent excess moisture. Late summer or fall aeration can help break up the plant material that exists between the soil and the grass. 

    During the winter, don’t let the snow pile up. Those large piles that were created from clearing driveways and sidewalks need to be spread out and shortened. Any piles that take long to melt could be potential breeding grounds for the fungus.

    Repair

    Snow mold may happen despite best efforts. Ways to treat it include raking the matted grass, which adds circulation and helps to stimulate new grass growth. If your grass still doesn’t appear healthy, consult a lawn care company.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Stacy Lynn

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  • The earliest sunset isn’t on the winter solstice

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    The winter solstice will occur at 10:03 a.m. ET on Dec. 21 this year, and even though the day of the winter solstice is the shortest of the year, the latest sunrise and earliest sunset do not occur on this day.

    What You Need To Know

    • The solar day impacts sunrises and sunsets

    • A solar day is longer near the winter solstice

    • The sun rises later in the winter and sets later



    Understanding a solar day

    Solar noon is when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky. The time from one solar noon to the next solar noon is called a solar day.

    The length of a solar day changes throughout the year because of the tilt and position of the Earth. Because of this, a solar day can be more than or less than 24 hours depending on the time of the year.

    The problem is that we count our days as exactly 24 hours. So, with the solar day being more than 24 hours near the winter solstice, this means solar noon will occur at a later time each day. The sun will also rise later and set later.

    If the sun is setting later each day before the solstice, that means the earliest sunset has already happened.

    Since the sun also rises later each day, this means the latest sunrise has yet to occur. The latest sunrise will happen a few weeks after the official start of winter.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

     

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    Spectrum News Weather Staff

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  • It’s time to spin your ceiling fan the other way

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    If you have a ceiling fan, turn it on and look up at it. Which direction are the blades spinning? If they’re going counterclockwise, it’s time to change direction.

    What You Need To Know

    • Clockwise-turning fans circulate warm air around

    • Counterclockwise-turning fans give a cooling breeze

    • Changing the fan’s spin direction can lower your energy bill

    • Get the most out of your fan with the right size and position

    You may have noticed that your ceiling fan blades have slight angles. There’s a reason for that! They’re designed to move the room’s air a certain way, depending on which direction the fan is spinning.

    Which way?

    In the summer, a counterclockwise-spinning ceiling fan will push air down and out, creating a small cooling breeze.

    In the winter, a clockwise-spinning ceiling fan on low-speed will draw up the air and circulate it so that it mixes. Warm air rises, so it’ll make use of the warmer air that’s hanging above your head.

    To change your fan’s spin direction, check the manual to make sure you do it correctly. Most likely, the switch is on the body of the fan fixture or inside the light globe. If your fan has a remote or wall panel, check for a fan direction button there.

    This little trick of running your ceiling fan the right way can also lower your energy bill. Since your fan is returning warm air down, you may find yourself turning your thermostat down.

    Is your fan doing its best work?

    One other note: make sure your ceiling fan is right for the room.

    Ceiling fan blades work best when they’re 10 to 12 inches below the ceiling, 7 to 9 feet above the floor and at least 18 inches away from walls.

    Fans with a diameter of 44 inches or less are good for circulating rooms up to 225 square feet. Larger rooms should use larger fans, often 52 inches or bigger.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Spectrum News Weather Staff

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  • It’s time to spin your ceiling fan the other way

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    If you have a ceiling fan, turn it on and look up at it. Which direction are the blades spinning? If they’re going counterclockwise, it’s time to change direction.

    What You Need To Know

    • Clockwise-turning fans circulate warm air around

    • Counterclockwise-turning fans give a cooling breeze

    • Changing the fan’s spin direction can lower your energy bill

    • Get the most out of your fan with the right size and position

    You may have noticed that your ceiling fan blades have slight angles. There’s a reason for that! They’re designed to move the room’s air a certain way, depending on which direction the fan is spinning.

    Which way?

    In the summer, a counterclockwise-spinning ceiling fan will push air down and out, creating a small cooling breeze.

    In the winter, a clockwise-spinning ceiling fan on low-speed will draw up the air and circulate it so that it mixes. Warm air rises, so it’ll make use of the warmer air that’s hanging above your head.

    To change your fan’s spin direction, check the manual to make sure you do it correctly. Most likely, the switch is on the body of the fan fixture or inside the light globe. If your fan has a remote or wall panel, check for a fan direction button there.

    This little trick of running your ceiling fan the right way can also lower your energy bill. Since your fan is returning warm air down, you may find yourself turning your thermostat down.

    Is your fan doing its best work?

    One other note: make sure your ceiling fan is right for the room.

    Ceiling fan blades work best when they’re 10 to 12 inches below the ceiling, 7 to 9 feet above the floor and at least 18 inches away from walls.

    Fans with a diameter of 44 inches or less are good for circulating rooms up to 225 square feet. Larger rooms should use larger fans, often 52 inches or bigger.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Spectrum News Weather Staff

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  • When will it snow? It depends where you live

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    The days are getting shorter, and temperatures are falling. Now that we’re heading toward winter, many parts of the country are going to begin to see snow in the forecast for the first time in months.

    Even though winter doesn’t begin until December, the first snow can arrive much earlier depending on where you live.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Mountain West usually gets snow before anywhere else

    • Interior New England and the Great Lakes also see snowfall earlier than most areas

    • If it snows in the Southeast, it normally comes after New Year’s



    The primary factors that influence your local snowfall climatology are elevation and latitude. High elevations, like the Rockies, are much more favorable environments for wintry weather than anywhere else in the continental U.S. Some parts of the Rockies could receive snow in all 12 months of the year.

    Of course, that’s not the case for everyone else. Aside from elevation, how far north do you live? Do you live off the eastern shores of the Great Lakes and get lake-effect snow? Do you see a milder maritime air mass from the Pacific, or a continental polar air mass from Canada? 

    The map below gives a good idea of when you can expect the first measurable (>0.1″) snow where you live based on the 1981-2020 U.S. climate normals.

    The map shows the ‘median,’ or average date of the first snowfall. This is when you could expect the first snow to arrive during a ‘normal’ year. Of course, every year is different, but this should give you a good idea of when to get the winter clothes ready. For an even better idea, you can check your local forecast.

    Snow in the Northeast usually arrives before winter does on the calendar, especially in the mountains. Interior New England the Adirondacks, usually sees the first snowflakes falling around early November, with the rest of New England seeing snow before Thanksgiving.

    Coastal areas might lag a little behind the rest of the Northeast since the temperatures run a bit warmer, but it only takes one Nor’easter to deliver the first snow for everybody.

    Great Lakes

    Aside from the Rockies and some other high elevations, the Great Lakes are among the earlier areas to see snow, especially near Lake Superior. When you combine arctic air and moisture over the warm Great Lakes early in the season, the lake-effect machine can pump some big snow totals onto the southern and eastern shores of the Great Lakes.

    Parts of Michigan, Wisconsin, Upstate New York and northwest Pennsylvania are the lucky recipients of lake-effect snow that can arrive as early as October or November.

    Midwest

    The Upper Midwest and Northern Plains see strong cold fronts move in from Canada during the late fall and winter with bitter cold Arctic air that can dump feet of snow, but that’s not usually until later in the season. The first snow? The Dakotas and Minnesota usually get some snowfall in early November.

    Further south, in states like Iowa, Illinois, Ohio and Missouri, it can be a bit later, around or after Thanksgiving as we get into December.

    Northwest/Rockies

    The Rocky Mountains, Cascades and other high elevations across the Mountain West are the snowiest places in the U.S., some of which could see snow year-round. This is why some of the best ski resorts in the world are in states like Colorado, Utah and Montana. Snow usually starts falling by October, with the foothills and lower elevations seeing snow by November.

    The coastal parts of Washington and Oregon in the Pacific Northwest don’t see much snow until later, usually by December. The Pacific Ocean keeps areas west of the mountains much warmer, and much wetter with rain lasting into winter.

    Southwest

    If you’re expecting snow in the Southwest, elevation is an important factor. There are parts of Southern California, northern Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada where the high elevations and mountains see plenty of snowfall, some as early as late November or December. But a lot of the Southwest doesn’t see any, especially in California outside of the mountains.

    In Texas, the Panhandle could get some wild weather by late November or December, but further south into central Texas and the Gulf Coast, the snow chances are few and far between.

    Southeast

    Parts of the Southeast, especially in the Appalachians, could get snow in late November or December. States like Kentucky, North Carolina, Arkansas, Virginia and North Carolina usually get a few good snows per winter, maybe even before changing your calendar.

    If you live anywhere else in the Southeast, especially Florida and along the Gulf Coast, the first time you see snow depends on when you buy a plane ticket! Big snows are much rarer once you get south of I-10. Other parts of the Deep South are lucky to see one or two snows per year, but it usually arrives in January or February.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Reid Lybarger

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  • Here comes the polar vortex, but what exactly is it?

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    January usually brings the coldest air of the season to much of the country, and this year has seen its fair share.  

    What You Need To Know

    • A polar vortex is not always responsible for the cold

    • Satellites can recognize a polar vortex event before the cold arrives

    • Climate change could enhance polar vortex events


    Whenever that mercury dips, the term “polar vortex” gets thrown around and inserted into conversations.

    But what is this phenomenon, and is this the reason for the chill this month?

    Polar vortex explained

    “The polar vortex is a core of extremely cold air that typically remains near the poles,” explains Spectrum News NY 1’s Chief Meteorologist John Davitt. “During the winter, shifts in the jet stream can send this arctic air spilling far to the south, bringing dangerously cold conditions.”

    Although it is not a new term, the media propelled it into the mainstream. “The polar vortex exists all year, but it’s winter when it gets stronger and larger. The lack of daylight during the winter months helps to build the pool of extremely cold air that makes up the polar vortex.” He adds the reason for the name has to do with the word vortex itself. “The word vortex refers to the counter-clockwise flow of the air.” 

    Within this area, frigid surface air typically remains near the pole throughout the winter. However, every few years, these fast westerlies weaken. The protective barrier around the cold air collapses, allowing warmer air to move north into the polar region and cold air to be pushed south into the mid-latitudes–places like the United States.

    This cold air can situate itself in the mid-latitudes for an extended period and that’s what is expected to happen Friday through midweek next week. 

    Polar vortex event of Feb. 2021

    Remember the extreme cold that unfolded in Feb. 2021? That was because of the polar vortex. 

    Several weeks before the cold ushered into the U.S., satellites tracked the warming in the stratosphere, showing the weakening in the vortex. 

    This cold air ushered as far south as Mexico and broke records all over the United States in February. Parts of Texas recorded their lowest readings in over 100 years, and with this cold came an immense strain on the power grid. 

    The polar vortex and climate change

    “The impacts of climate change on the polar vortex are complicated,” says Davitt. Climate change usually indicates a warming world; however, a warming world could enhance the polar vortex, thus pushing colder air south. But, experts expect a gradual easing in the intensity of the cold.

     Here’s the thinking… “The arctic air that makes up the polar vortex typically remains locked in place near the poles by fast-moving jet stream winds. When the jet stream winds weaken, this is when the polar vortex and its bitter cold surge south.”

    He adds that it is climate change that causes the jet stream to weaken. “The strength of the jet stream winds is related to the difference in temperatures between the air at the equator and the air at the poles. The larger the temperature difference, the faster the winds.”

    In a warming world, the temperature difference between the poles and the equator becomes less, giving way to weaker jet streams. “Weaker jet streams mean that the polar vortex is more likely to slide south at times, bringing arctic air and dangerous conditions.” With a warming Arctic region, more extreme and unusual weather patterns are in the realm of possibility. 

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Stacy Lynn

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  • Your trees in the winter: Dead or dormant?

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    There is a different type of beauty during the winter. After months of seeing the luscious summer greenery and vibrant fall foliage, the colors fade and snow blankets the landscape in white.

    But what happens to trees after shedding their leaves and becoming covered in snow or ice for the winter? Are they dead or dormant?

    What You Need To Know

    • Not all trees are equally resistant to cold


    • Shedding leaves for the winter is a survival tactic


    • Trees’ dormancy is like an animal hibernating

    Trees have survival instincts just like people and animals. Depending on the type of tree, it will either shed its leaves or have protective measures to survive the winter without losing any of its greenery.

    Deciduous trees

    In the fall, deciduous trees shed their leaves as a protective measure to prepare for the upcoming winter cold. Deciduous trees include oaks, maples, birches and willows, and any other tree you see losing leaves during autumn.

    Losing leaves allows the tree to spend less energy in the winter. Instead of spending energy protecting its leaves during a cold and dry winter, it can protect itself, conserving moisture in the tree’s trunk, which keeps it from drying out.

    A person stands by a frozen pond during snow fall on in London. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

    Winter also produces powerful storms with strong winds. Without leaves, wind can blow through trees and branches easier without drag, meaning less stress on the tree.

    Even though trees can look dead in the winter, they’re probably just dormant. The dormancy period begins in the fall when leaves changes colors and fall off the trees and lasts through all of winter. 

    In the spring, trees come out of dormancy, reverse the internal processes, and begin growing leaves again.

    Evergreen trees

    Evergreen trees don’t shed their leaves or needles every winter like deciduous trees, hence the name ‘evergreen’. Instead, the leaves and needles have a waxy coating called cutin that helps protect the tree during the winter.

    Evergreen trees include fir, spruce and pine trees, which also make up the most popular Christmas tree types.

    Christmas trees laden with freshly fallen snow are displayed for sale at Boston Hill Farm, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019, in North Andover, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

    Christmas trees laden with freshly fallen snow are displayed for sale at Boston Hill Farm, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019, in North Andover, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

    The ground freezes in the winter in colder climates and trees can’t draw water through their roots anymore. The cutin helps prevent water loss during winter, which allows the tree to survive cold temperatures more easily.

    So, instead of the leaves acting as a liability and strain on the tree, evergreen leaves are their biggest assets. Evergreen trees don’t go completely dormant because of their natural protection.

    Our team of meteorologists dive deep into the science of weather and break down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Reid Lybarger

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  • Christmas trees need good weather to ‘stand in splendid beauty’

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    O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, how lovely are your branches… as long as the weather stays off the naughty list.

    What You Need To Know

    • Christmas trees do well in moderate weather

    • Trees are more susceptible to drought early on

    • Harmful fungi grow in very wet conditions

    • Tree farmers may have to adjust their practices as climate changes

    Farmers grow Christmas trees in all 50 states. Unlike most crops, they’re not planted and harvested all in one season. It takes years for a tree to become ready, which can help fend off the problems of damaging weather.

    Growing trees

    Christmas trees are often spruces, pines or firs. Not surprisingly, farmers grow them in places where the climate allows them to have their best chance at becoming mature.

    The details vary from place to place, but trees generally do best with moderate temperatures, plentiful (but not excessive) rainfall and no extreme cold or heat.

    Damaging weather

    Like most crops, Christmas trees don’t like drought. Farmers who grow seedlings typically have to do quite a bit of irrigation, according to Doug Hundley from the National Christmas Tree Association.

    Irrigation isn’t as necessary once they’re about 12 inches tall and transplanted into fields, he adds, although they’re still vulnerable for the first year or two and will need some help during dry spells.

    In this photo taken Nov. 8, 2011, David Barfield checks one of his saplings at his Christmas tree farm in New Caney, Texas. Only a handful of the 500 saplings planted survived the drought. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)

    Because these trees are a crop that can take ten years or longer to become ready for harvest, losses from drought usually don’t take as much of a toll as they would for single-season crops like corn or soybeans. Instead of losing 20% of an entire crop, farmers could confine their losses to just 20% of the younger trees, while the established trees survive.

    Excessive rainfall can harm any tree, though. “We always think that drought is the great enemy. But in all agriculture, rain and flooding and oversaturation of the soil does just as much damage as droughts do,” says Hundley.

    Wet conditions are good for fungi–which are bad for trees. They can kill the roots of a tree or cause needle cast, which is a disease that makes the older inner needles turn brown and fall off.

    Needle cast on a spruce tree. (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources)

    These trees can face damage from out-of-season frosts and freezes. Those can damage or kill new growth, sometimes putting those trees back a year, even when farmers can prune the problem spots.

    Extreme heat can ruin new growth, too. Hundley says the Pacific Northwest lost 5% to 10% of marketable trees after its heat wave in June 2021.

    Climate change

    Farming practices are adapting as conditions change over the years. To deal with the increase in precipitation in the eastern U.S., Hundley says some farmers are planting trees farther apart or pruning them differently to allow better airflow.

    He also gives a specific example. “We grow a fir that’s native to only about a dozen mountain tops in the southern Appalachians. They grow naturally at about 6,000 feet. We can grow them on production farms, but only down to about 3,000 feet elevation. If you go lower than that, it becomes too warm, and the soil does not drain as well in flat land and they’re very susceptible to root rot.

    “So, as the planet warms, we’re going to have to move up the hill, possibly, or we’re going to have to use alternative conifers that are used to warmer climates.”

    Be green

    Hundley says that farmers replace the trees as they come out and make an effort to disturb the soil as little as possible. Integrated pest management also lets them avoid using pesticides.

    He also encourages people who buy real Christmas trees to recycle them if their community offers such a service. Often, the trees are chipped into mulch.

    This Jan. 14, 2013 photo shows free mulch strewn in Prospect Park in Brooklyn, N.Y., available for residents to take home and use in urban backyards. The mulch comes from Christmas trees that are collected and recycled in a program run by the New York City Department of Sanitation and the New York City Parks Department. The city collects about 150,000 trees each year and uses the mulch in parks, playing fields and community gardens in addition to making some of it available for personal use. (AP Photo/Beth J. Harpaz)

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Justin Gehrts

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  • ‘Sudden stratospheric warming’ can drive arctic outbreaks. Here’s how

    ‘Sudden stratospheric warming’ can drive arctic outbreaks. Here’s how

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    You’ve almost certainly heard of the polar vortex. But what about “sudden stratospheric warming,” a weather term that’s started making the rounds on social media? They’re related to one another, and they can play a big role in winter weather.

    What You Need To Know

    • Not all our weather happens near the ground

    • Atmospheric waves sometimes break on the polar vortex, making it weaken

    • A weaker polar vortex sometimes makes air far aloft descend and quickly warm

    • These events can cause arctic outbreaks



    The polar vortex

    First, a quick review of the polar vortex. The one we care about lives in the stratosphere, the second-lowest layer of the atmosphere. The stratosphere is above where most of our weather happens, starting about 6 miles above the ground and reaching up about 31 miles.

    That polar vortex forms in the fall as polar nights get longer and temperatures turn colder. In the spring, it breaks down as daylight returns and temperatures become more balanced.

    Polar temperatures in the stratosphere are very cold in the winter, but turn relatively warm in the summer. (NOAA)

    But something else can make it break down during the winter, waves in the atmosphere. That’s where sudden stratospheric warming comes in.

    Sudden stratospheric warming

    The atmosphere has waves, just like the ocean. After all, it pretty much is an ocean… just made of air, not salt water. These waves rise up and down, and sometimes they’ll break and crash on the polar vortex, weakening it.

    What happens if the vortex weakens enough? Its winds can reverse direction, causing cold air in the stratosphere to descend and quickly warm. And that’s where the name “sudden stratospheric warming” comes from.

    “Sudden” doesn’t mean it happens out of the blue, completely unexpectedly. And “warming” is relative, since we’re still talking temperatures that are way below zero.

    Polar vortex temperature centered on 2022, when a sudden stratospheric warming event happened. (NOAA)

    Cold air outbreaks

    Forecasters try to get a sense of whether sudden stratospheric warming might happen because it can give clues about weather patterns a few weeks away.

    Instead of a stable swirl keeping the arctic air bottled up, the polar vortex is knocked off-kilter, coming off the North Pole or splitting into a couple pieces. The frigid air mass sometimes spills southward, although it doesn’t always dump into North America. It can just as easily hit Europe or Russia.

    Major sudden stratospheric warming events happen once every winter or two on average, according to NOAA. These can cause big cold air outbreaks, although not every cold wave can lead to sudden stratospheric warming.

    It also turns out that El Niño can cause sudden stratospheric warming events–and polar vortex breakdowns–because of how it influences the pattern of waves in the jet stream in the late winter.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Justin Gehrts

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  • How you can calculate the wind chill this winter

    How you can calculate the wind chill this winter

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    Winter means cold, and winter plus wind equals colder! The term to describe the combination of wind and cold is “wind chill.”

    What You Need To Know

    • The “feels-like” temperature in winter is known as the wind chill

    • Wind chill is calculated based on the air temperature and wind speed

    • Frostbite is a danger when we have extremely cold wind chills

    How does wind chill work?

    First, understand that our bodies lose heat through convection.

    When we are outside and there is little to no wind, the air temperature is the same temperature we feel. There’s little to no difference between the two.

    In the example below, the outside temperature is 20 degrees, and it feels like it because a layer of that heat remains around our body to help us stay warm.

    When it is windy, the moving air breaks up the insulating warm layer. This wind helps to speed up the heat loss and makes the body feel much colder outside.

    Add in a 20 mile per hour wind to an outside temperature of 20 degrees, and it doesn’t feel like 20 degrees anymore. Instead, the wind chill is only 4 degrees!

    Calculating the wind chill

    The wind chill temperature is calculated based on the temperature and wind speed. Check the chart below to determine the wind chill and how long it takes to get frostbite.

    At the top of the chart you’ll find the air temperature, and on the left is the wind speed. When you line up those two factors, where they meet is the wind chill.

    Ways to stay warm

    Frostbite happens when body tissue freezes; your hands, feet, and nose usually freeze first. Your body protects your vital organs by cutting circulation to those extremities and focusing it on the most important places.

    We’ve fought wearing jackets since we were kids, but one of the easiest ways to keep yourself safe from frostbite or hypothermia is by dressing appropriately. Wearing layers and cover all exposed skin (including fingers, toes, ears, nose and so on).

    How you fuel your body can also help you stay safe. Stay hydrated because that increases your blood volume, which in turn helps prevent frostbite. 

    Avoid caffeine and alcohol. Caffeine constricts your blood vessels, which prevents the warming of your extremities. Alcohol reduces shivering, which is the body’s attempt to keep you warm.

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    Meteorologist Robyn King

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  • Why is salt used on roads in the winter?

    Why is salt used on roads in the winter?

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    We all know that road crews and plows work hard to keep roads clear and safe for drivers this time of year. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Road crews use salt on roads and other surfaces in the winter

    • Salt lowers the freezing point of water, which prevents ice from forming 

    • Salt loses its effectiveness once the temperature falls below 15 degrees

    In addition to clearing snow and ice from roads, plows also put down a lot of salt on roads and other surfaces this time of year. 

    The usual freezing point of water – the temperature at which water freezes and becomes ice – is 32 degrees. So if there’s precipitation (snow, sleet, or freezing rain) and the ground is 32 degrees or colder, ice will form on streets and other surfaces. 

    So, why use salt on roads and other surfaces? It’s simple – salt lowers the freezing point of water, which prevents ice from forming. 

    Interesting fact: road salt is simply rock salt, which is table salt in its natural form. 

    The big difference is that the table salt that we use goes through a long purification process, while rock salt does not. As a result, rock salt still has impurities and that’s why it’s brownish or gray in color. 

    (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

    Can salt become less effective if it gets too cold? Generally, salt loses its effectiveness once the temperature falls below 15 degrees.

    When temperatures are that cold, the salt simply can’t get into the structure of the frozen water or ice to start the dissolving and melting process. Therefore, salt is much less effective or not effective at all when temperatures are bitterly cold.

    Road crews sometimes try other methods, even beet juice.

    When wintry weather hits, be careful, take your time and stay safe on the roads – especially when temperatures are cold enough to keep road treatments from doing their thing.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Carrie Cheevers

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  • The most sustainable and cost-effective ways to heat your home

    The most sustainable and cost-effective ways to heat your home

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    Winter just began, and the coldest days of the season are on the horizon. Through much of the country, many will reach to their thermostats to crank up the heat… some places more than others.

    It’s important to know what options work best when it comes to heating your home.

    What You Need To Know

    • A large portion of the country needs to heat their homes in the winter

    • Most American homes are heated by a furnace, boiler or heat pump

    • Electricity and natural gas are the most common fuel sources

    The methods of how we heat our homes range from clean and green to the kind that literally cause smoke to rise out of a chimney.

    However, the most sustainable and cost-effective way to heat a home is subjective. The answer varies from one place to another and comes down to what type of fuel sources are most accessible in that location.

    Weather and climate play a role, too. Colder regions favor certain methods over others and vice versa.

    It all stems from the fuel source

    Electricity and natural gas are, by far, the most common heating fuel sources in the U.S. Other sources include propane, wood and oil.

    According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey, about 25% of households in the U.S. rely solely on electricity to heat their homes. Electric heating systems are typically the most eco-friendly, but they often come at a higher cost.

    Of course, it’s hard to pin down exact amounts, since energy prices vary by location and fluctuate over time.

    Electric heating is more suitable across the southern U.S., where winters are usually milder and the demand for heating isn’t as high. Using this fuel source across the northern half of the country where it gets and stays colder for longer can send electricity bills soaring.

    In 2022, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) stated that natural gas was 3.4 times more affordable than electricity, which is why it might be the better option for heating homes in some parts of the country. The EIA’s 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey reported over 50% of households in the U.S. used natural gas to heat their homes.

    Even though it might come with a slightly bigger carbon footprint, natural gas is far more cost-effective for many Americans, especially for those living in colder climates such as the Midwest and Northeast.

    (American Gas Association)

    The American Gas Association (AGA) claims that annual energy costs for an all-electric home using a cold-climate heat pump can be roughly 37% higher than a home using natural gas as its source of heating, cooking and drying clothes.

    A home heating oil delivery truck climbs a snow-covered road in the Northeast on Feb. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)

    On the national scale, oil is not nearly as common as natural gas or electricity. Yet, it was once the most popular fuel in the Northeast, where it is still used in roughly 20% of homes. However, this source of heating is not as environmentally friendly and is often more expensive than electric and natural gas heat.

    The most common heating systems

    The DOE says that most Americans use either a furnace or boiler to heat their home. Both systems can be fueled by natural gas, oil or electricity, but differ in how they provide heat to dwellings.

    The biggest difference between the two is that furnaces heat air, while boilers heat water.

    Over the years, these systems have been improved to be more energy efficient. To see how efficient each furnace or boiler is, the DOE examines its annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE).

    The AFUE is essentially a percentage measuring how much fuel gets converted to heat. The higher the percentage, the more efficient the furnace or boiler is.

    1.) Furnaces:

    Most modern homes use a central furnace, which burns a fuel source (either oil or gas) to heat air.

    Technician works on a furnace. (Photo by Natalie Sopyla)

    The heated air then flows through a series of ducts, where it is released through vents in each room. Cooler air in the room is then sucked back through a return vent, then it goes back into the furnace to be reheated.

    This method of heating is fast and energy efficient, which is why most households use it.

    2.) Boilers:

    Radiators and baseboard heaters in older homes provide heat via a boiler. Hot water or steam travels through pipes in the home. When the hot water reaches the radiator or baseboard unit in each room, it releases its heat. The cooled water then flows back to the boiler to be reheated. 

    (Pexels)

    Since water takes longer to heat than air, this method can take longer for a home to reach the desired temperature, and might not be seen as the most efficient way to heat a home.

    That aside, boilers are usually better for people who suffer from indoor allergies, as furnace or forced air systems can blow around dust and pollen particles.

    3.) Heat pumps:

    Heat pumps are becoming more common and provide heat to the majority of homes in the Southeast. This system runs on electricity and does not require a fuel source to provide heat, which can significantly cut electricity costs compared to an electric furnace or boiler.

    Serving as both an air conditioning system and a heating system, heat pumps move warm air out and allow cooler air to flow back into a home during the summer. These systems work in reverse when it gets cold outside, and cooler air is pumped out and warmer air pumped in.

    While heat pumps are energy efficient and work well in milder climates, they are not the best option for areas that experience frequently temperatures below 40 degrees. They simply will struggle to provide enough heat, requiring the need for a secondary heating system.

    Secondary sources of heat

    Residences in colder climates will sometimes need a secondary source to generate heat, especially those that rely on heat pumps as their main system.

    To raise the temperatures up a few degrees, some people use space heaters or wood-burning stoves or fireplaces.

    (Pexels)

    These options are good at providing supplemental heat, but aren’t the best and most sustainable choices to heat a home by themselves.

    Each may be enough to heat one room, but you would need multiple fireplaces, wood-burning stoves or electric space heaters to heat an entire home. If the home is large, you could even need more than one in each room!

    Along with the additional costs associated with plugging in multiple space heaters or purchasing wood to burn, these methods come with fire hazards and can increase indoor pollutants, possibly outweighing their benefits.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Shawnie Caslin

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  • Short day, long night: The winter solstice explained

    Short day, long night: The winter solstice explained

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    It’s December, there’s a chill in the air, and more places are seeing snow. With the days getting shorter and the nights longer, the transition to winter is apparent. 

    The winter solstice marks the official start of winter, which will take place on Thursday this year.

    What You Need To Know

    • The winter solstice is a time and not a day

    • This year, the solstice will occur at 10:27 p.m. ET on Dec. 21

    • The solstice is when the Northern Hemisphere’s tilt away from the sun is at its maximum

    The tilt of the Earth

    The tilt of the Earth to the sun is the reason we have our seasons. Believe it or not, the Earth is closer to the sun during our winter.

    It’s Earth’s tilt that gives us our season.

    During the winter solstice, the Northern Hemisphere is at its maximum tilt away from the sun, putting the sun at a lower elevation.

    We also get the shortest day and longest night of the year on the winter solstice.

    This year, our winter solstice occurs at 10:27 p.m. ET on Dec. 21.

    If you’re not a fan of the shorter days, don’t worry. After Dec. 21, the days gradually get longer until the summer solstice on June 20, 2024.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Shelly Lindblade

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  • Christmas tree syndrome: Why your allergies may flare up

    Christmas tree syndrome: Why your allergies may flare up

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    If you notice more sniffles and worsening allergy symptoms this time of year, you may suffer from “Christmas Tree Syndrome,” according to the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

    What You Need To Know

    • Pine pollen may cause sneezing inside your home

    • Mold spores are also a possible culprit

    • Artificial trees can also cause allergies to flare

    • Some types of live trees are better than others for allergies

    If you notice more allergy and asthma symptoms with a live tree in the house, pine pollen is most likely the problem. Otherwise, experts warn that mold spores could grow on your Christmas tree.

    In a 2011 study published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, researchers took samples from their own Christmas trees and discovered more than 50 kinds of molds.

    (Pixabay)

    Allergies and asthma symptoms aren’t just caused by real trees, either. Even those who opt for a fake Christmas tree could still feel ill.

    If not properly stored in your basement or attic, dust and mold can accumulate or grow on the branches, aggravating symptoms.

    Combating the issue

    According to the American Christmas Tree Association, shaking out and hosing off real trees before bringing indoors can reduce allergy and asthma symptoms in some people. Although you’ll want to let the tree dry off before transferring indoors.

    Since drying off can take a while, experts claim you can use a dry air compressor to speed up the process.

    Using an air purifier and taking down the tree the day after Christmas can also reduce exposure to any mold spores that are still present on the tree.

    Those who decide on an artificial tree should also thoroughly dust and wipe down its branches to remove any allergens before putting up and taking down. This can also apply to any other indoor decorations you decide to put up, too.

    Once the holidays are over, place the tree and its components in an air-tight container and avoid storing it in a cardboard box. Cardboard is an ideal breeding ground for molds to grow on, which could spread to your tree.

    (iStock)

    Provided pollen is your biggest trigger, choosing a fake tree would probably be your best bet. However, if you are dead-set on putting up a live Christmas tree, experts recommend trying a fir, spruce, or cypress.

    Two popular suggestions for those with allergies or who are sensitive to tree scents are the White Fir and Leyland Cypress.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Katie Walls

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