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  • A short history of daylight saving time

    A short history of daylight saving time

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    Twice a year, most of the U.S. adjusts to time moving forward in the spring and back again in the fall. But where did the crazy idea of “shifting time” come from?

    What You Need To Know

    • Daylight saving was first put to use during World War I

    • The U.S. was once in daylight saving time for over three years during World War II

    • Some want to go to daylight saving time year-round

    Benjamin Franklin gets some credit for the idea of daylight saving time, though his recommendation was a joke.

    In a letter to the editor of the “Journal of Paris,” Franklin jokingly recommended the people get out of bed earlier in the morning to minimize the use of candles and lamp oil. He never mentioned setting clocks back or forth.

    (Erica Roman)

    In 1895, George Hudson, an entomologist from New Zealand, came up with the modern concept of daylight saving time. He proposed a two-hour time shift so he could have more after-work hours of sunshine to go bug hunting in the summer.

    Hudson suggested moving clocks ahead two hours in October and then a two-hour shift back in March.

    In 1905, William Willett, a British builder, suggested moving clocks ahead 20 minutes every Sunday in April and then setting them back every Sunday in September. That’s eight time changes every year!

    First use of daylight saving time

    It was during World War I that daylight saving time was first practically used.

    In 1916, locations within the German Empire set clocks ahead one hour to use less power for lighting and to save fuel for the war effort.

    Many other countries soon followed and after the war ended, they all went back to standard time.

    Daylight saving time in the U.S.

    In the United States, daylight saving time was first used in 1918, when a bill introduced the idea of a seasonal time shift. It lasted seven months before the bill was repealed.

    During World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt re-established the idea of daylight saving time. It was called “War Time.”

    War Time began in Feb. 1942 and lasted until the end of Sept. 1945.

    In 1966, the Uniform Time Act of 1966 established the idea of regulating a yearly time change. Daylight saving time would begin the last Sunday in April and end the last Sunday in October.

    (Pexels)

    During the 1973 oil embargo, the United States Congress ordered a year-round period of daylight saving time to save energy. The period ran from Jan. 1974 to April 1975. The plan did little to save energy and lost popularity. In Oct. 1974, the U.S. switched back to standard time.

    From 1987 through 2006, daylight saving time started the first weekend in April, running through the last weekend in October.

    In 2007, the start and end of daylight saving time shifted again. That year, it began on the second Sunday in March and it ended on the first Sunday in November, which has been the case ever since.

    The future of daylight saving time

    In recent years, some have pushed to make daylight saving time last year-round. Several states have passed legislation to make this law.

    I guess “time” will tell if we see year-round daylight saving time in the future.

    (iStock)

    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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    Chief Meteorologist Gary Stephenson

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  • Weather Explained: Lightning safety

    Weather Explained: Lightning safety

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    By

    Spectrum News Weather Staff

    Nationwide


    PUBLISHED 10:00 AM ET Mar. 01, 2024
    PUBLISHED 10:00 AM EST Mar. 01, 2024

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    Spectrum News Weather Staff

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  • Warren Washington: Climate adviser to 6 presidents

    Warren Washington: Climate adviser to 6 presidents

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    Jimmy Carter. Ronald Reagan. George H. W. Bush. Bill Clinton. George W. Bush. Barack Obama.

    You’ve heard of each of those presidents, but you probably haven’t heard of Warren Washington, the scientist who advised all of them on Earth’s climate. It’s no wonder; he also helped develop one of the first climate models.

    What You Need To Know

    • Warren Washington was the second African American to get a PhD in meteorology

    • He helped develop the earliest global climate models

    • The U.S. government awarded Washington the National Medal of Science in 2010

    Washington was a pioneer in more than just weather and climate. He was just the second African American to get a doctorate in meteorology, earning his PhD from Penn State in 1964.

    Warren Washington standing next to a CRAY supercomputer in 1980. (UCAR)

    To put that in perspective, a report from the American Institute of Physics says that only 14 out of the 740 students to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in atmospheric science as recently as 2015 were African American.

    From the 1960s onward, Washington studied the Earth’s climate system, building simulations that got more detailed as computers became more powerful. Early climate models were crude and slow.

    “We weren’t able to go faster than the actual weather. We actually plowed on because what happened was computers got faster and faster,” he told NASA in a 2016 interview.

    But, as computers got faster, Washington and his colleagues added more detail into the climate models.

    Output from an early climate model in the late 1960s. (UCAR)

    Washington used those computer models to experiment with various scenarios, tweaking the amount of carbon dioxide and other gasses to see what the different outcomes would be.

    This is routine today. Scientists want to know what to expect if we do nothing to limit greenhouse gas emissions or suddenly stop all of it or something in between.

    Washington earned many accolades and awards for his decades of work. In 2010, the country awarded him the National Medal of Science, the U.S. government’s highest scientific honor. He’s also been recognized for his efforts to increase diversity in atmospheric sciences.

    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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  • George Washington Carver’s legacy is more than peanuts

    George Washington Carver’s legacy is more than peanuts

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    Peanuts–that may be what George Washington Carver is best known for, but that was just one part of his work. Arguably more important? He was an advocate of sustainable agriculture before the concept even had such a name.

    What You Need To Know

    • Carver tried to change farming practices in the South

    • He considered the whole picture of crops, soil and weather

    • Carver’s largest true legacy may be in sustainable agriculture

    Carver was the first Black student admitted to the Iowa Agricultural College, now known as Iowa State University. He went on to be an educator and researcher at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama from 1896 to 1943.

    He even took weather observations there for over 30 years as part of a “cooperative observers” program, which the National Weather Service still uses today.

    George Washington Carver’s daily weather reports for February 1923. (NOAA Central Library Data Imaging Project)

    Carver knew the issues that Southern farmers faced. He encouraged efforts that went against the grain of agricultural science at the time, according to Mark D. Hersey, a historian at Mississippi State University. His efforts didn’t result in much change then, but he was certainly on to something.

    “They were farseeing–and many of the things he called for became vital threads in what came to be known as the organic agriculture movement in the mid-20th century… in essence, Carver was a prophet of sustainable agriculture,” says Hersey. 

    Instead of growing only cotton, Carver recommended crop rotation that included peanuts so those crops could replenish the soil’s nutrients.

    Carver’s holistic approach also encouraged composting manure, rather than simply adding chemical fertilizers. This was a cheaper solution that also made the soil more resistant to erosion, Hersey adds. The South gets deluges that drop a few inches of rain in a day, which can wash away the dirt and leave behind ruts.

    Photograph of erosion in one of Carver’s bulletins, published in 1908. (Tuskegee Experiment Station Bulletin No. 11/U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Library)

    In one of the many bulletins he wrote, Carver noted some farmers’ belief that the moon influences the weather, along with other superstitions. He said to focus instead on actual conditions, since he knew seeds need some number of frost-free days and a certain soil temperature. 

    “My work is that of conservation,” Carver believed. We still hear echoes of that work a century later in sustainable farming.

    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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  • DaNa Carlis’ role at the National Severe Storms Lab is a historic homecoming

    DaNa Carlis’ role at the National Severe Storms Lab is a historic homecoming

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    Dr. DaNa Carlis is breaking barriers as the first African-American to lead NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) in Norman, Oklahoma.

    The laboratory studies severe weather, from tornadoes to winter weather. The National Weather Service uses their research to warn us and keep us safe from disruptive weather events.

    What You Need To Know

    • DaNa Carlis is the first African-American to be named NSSL director

    • Carlis co-founded NOAA’s Diversity and Professional Advancement

    • He holds three degrees from Howard University

    • One of his top priorities is to increase the engagement between the underserved communities and the NSSL

    Historic accomplishment

    NOAA appointed Carlis to the role in January 2023. Carlis is the first Black man named as a lab director.

    We spoke to the NSSL director in 2023 about his historic appointment, his future for the NSSL and how he plans to inspire more Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) in meteorology.

    “It feels amazing! I am humbled by the opportunity to serve in this capacity as director of the National Severe Storms Laboratory,” said Carlis, describing his accomplishment.

    A few years ago, the NSSL Director didn’t think he’d be taking this path in his career. However, he said he was striving for an opportunity to be a leader of science within NOAA.

    Carlis is excited to inspire the next generation of science leaders.

    “I’m looking forward to continuing to uplift others with the BIPOC community that can serve in this capacity. It’s been a passion of mine to help and develop the next generation workforce,” said Carlis.

    Over his 20-year career, Carlis led efforts to advance diversity, equity and inclusion within NOAA. He’s the co-founder of NOAA’s Diversity and Professional Advancement Working Group (DPAWG).

    Eight members of NOAA’s Diversity and Professional Advancement Working Group in 2023. Clockwise from the top left: Vankita Brown, John Moore, Terence Lynch, Maddie Kennedy, DaNa Carlis, Lonnie Gonsalves, Ashley Turnbull, and Janae Elkins. (NOAA)

    Carlis knows how big of a deal it is to be the first African-American to lead this agency.

    “I’m a firm believer that there are more talented people than me out there that will deserve this opportunity and probably have deserved it in the past. So, that I’m the first is humble… but you know I got to continue to strive for change and NOAA is right behind me in terms of diversity, inclusion and equity in our senior leadership ranks,” Carlis told Spectrum News.

    NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D. supports Carlis’ mission. Spinrad gave this statement in a news release: “NOAA is fortunate to have a leader with deep scientific expertise and the strong skills to elevate diversity, equity and inclusion into all aspects of NSSL’s culture.”

    Back to his roots

    The role is a homecoming for Carlis, who grew up in Tulsa. Carlis is happy to be back in his home state and doing what he loves.

    “I am going to full circle, returning to my roots of being in Oklahoma…. I have kept myself grounded on who I am and where I come from,” said Carlis.

    The Tulsa native says his upbringing made him the man he is today.

    The NSSL director credits his mentors with sparking his passion for science.

    “It was mentors that really drew me in and after that first course in atmospheric science I fell in love with it because it was so applicable to people’s everyday lives,” Carlis recounted.

    He also takes great pride in graduating from Howard University, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Washington D.C.

    “The main thing that really helped me… that I really needed was the support system. I needed to believe in me, I needed to be supported by people that was going to help raise me up and make sure and hold me accountable for being excellent, being a high achiever… that’s what Howard University gave to me,” Carlis told us.

    Bright future

    “I got to go in and learn the organization. So, I’ll sit back and listen for a few months and try to figure out… where we need to improve weather that is on the business side or science and technology side,” said Carlis.

    The severe storms lab is a busy place, with its PERiLS project, radar improvements, field campaigns and much more.

    The NSSL director says his mission for the agency is to meet their goals and make sure they’re successful. One of his priorities is to increase the engagement between the underserved communities and the NSSL.

    “The integration of social science and physical sciences like in meteorology and atmospheric is going to be really key to us being able to engage and serve those folks that are from underserved communities even better,” said Carlis.

    In addition, Carlis thinks this is an opportune time for aspiring meteorologists to get into the field. He has this advice for them.

    “I would love to see more African-American, Black meteorologists or just BIPOC meteorologist coming into this field because it just such a gratifying field of work that we do because of the impact that we have on people’s lives… so we need you.”

    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 Keith Bryant

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  • Honoring a pioneer in broadcast meteorology, June Bacon-Bercey

    Honoring a pioneer in broadcast meteorology, June Bacon-Bercey

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    In honor of Black History Month, we are taking the opportunity to look back on and celebrate the life and work of meteorologist June Bacon-Bercey.

    A woman of many “firsts,” Bacon-Bercey broke many barriers and paved the way for others, particularly for women and African Americans in meteorology. 

    What You Need To Know

    • June Bacon-Bercey broke many barriers as an African American woman in science 

    • She was the first African American female degreed broadcast meteorologist

    • She established a scholarship in the late 1970s from game show winnings

    • The American Meteorological Society renamed an award in her honor

    Noted as the first African American and first female degreed broadcast meteorologist, Bacon-Bercey is considered a pioneer in the field of meteorology. Born in 1928 in Wichita, Kansas, ever since she was a kid, she knew she wanted to follow a path of math and science.

    In 1954, she became the first African American female in the United States to earn a bachelor of science degree in meteorology from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).

    According to her official biography provided by her daughter, Dail St. Claire, when she arrived at UCLA, a counselor suggested she major in home economics instead of meteorology.

    Bacon-Bercey once said, “when I earned an ‘A’ in thermodynamics and a ‘B’ in home economics, I knew my decision was the right one.”

    Her biography also states that her career extended well beyond television weather. Before retiring from a position at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in 1993, she held positions as a weather forecaster, weather analyst, radar meteorologist, aviation meteorologist, broadcast journalist, public administrator and educator.

    She had a lasting impact on the field of broadcast meteorology, especially during a time when weather broadcasts within local newscasts were considered more entertainment-based than science-focused.

    June-Bacon Bercey on set at WGR-TV in Buffalo, N.Y. (Courtesy: Dail St. Claire)

    In 1972, she became the first African American and first female to earn the AMS Seal of Approval for Excellence in Television Weathercasting. 

    Her daughter recalled the day that her mother got the news of this accomplishment. “She was beaming. We sat down over tea, as she often did with me to discuss life matters. Upon sharing the significance of the Seal, she said, ‘no greater honor can come to me than earning the respect of my colleagues.’”

    This came after joining WGR-TV in Buffalo, New York, in 1970, where she became the chief meteorologist after just four months at the station. This was a remarkable feat for the era.

    Nearly five decades later, a 2018 study published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society revealed that only 8% of chief meteorologists are female. 

    Bacon-Bercey became a role model to many African American aspiring meteorologists, including Janice Huff, Chief Meteorologist at WNBC in New York.  

    “When I was a child, I never saw anyone who looked like me delivering the forecast on television, so I never thought of broadcasting as an option for a future career. I wanted to be a scientist and work behind the scenes, and I was on my way to doing just that. Then I learned of June Bacon-Bercey, and I was certain that any and all things were possible,” said Huff.

    Alan Sealls, Chief Meteorologist at WPMI-TV in Mobile, Alabama also has been moved by the life of Bacon-Bercey. He described her as “a woman who likely opened doors for women, African-Americans, and degreed meteorologists in broadcast meteorology.”

    Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd, Director of the Atmospheric Sciences Program at the University of Georgia who served as the second African American president of the American Meteorological Society, shared his appreciation for Bacon-Bercey. “I cannot imagine the struggles that Mrs. Bacon-Bercey faced as she trailblazed on behalf of women and people of color,” he said.   

    Women’s issues and racial equality were of the highest importance to Bacon-Bercey. She helped launch the AMS Board on Women and Minorities in 1975, which continues to operate to this day. It was renamed the Board on Representation, Accessibility, Inclusion, and Diversity (BRAID) in 2020.

    In 1977, it wasn’t weather, but her music knowledge that awarded her $64,000 on the game show “The $128,000 Question.” She used her earnings to launch the June Bacon-Bercey Scholarship through the American Geophysical Union (AGU) for women pursuing careers in meteorology and atmospheric sciences.  

    She felt the scholarship could help women become meteorologists. “I was discouraged from becoming a meteorologist. If women feel they have some money behind them, it might be better,” she stated according to her official biography.

    AGU offered this scholarship from 1978 to 1990. It became reestablished in 2021 through the generosity of her daughter, Dail St. Claire, and other family and friends.  

    June Bacon-Bercey speaking at a luncheon. (Photo Courtesy: Dail St. Claire)

    Bacon-Bercey also funded the meteorology lab at Mississippi’s Jackson State University (JSU) in 1980. At the time, JSU was the only historically black university or college with a meteorology program in the United States. 

    Janice Huff remarked on her achievements. “She showed great strength and determination to study in a field where there were so few who looked like her. She persevered despite the odds against her, and for that, I am eternally grateful.”

    Bacon-Bercey passed away in July 2019 at the age of 90. Her legacy will live on for generations to come through the American Meteorological Society’s (AMS) June Bacon-Bercey Award for Broadcast Meteorology.  

    The AMS renamed the Award for Broadcast Meteorology in her honor. Since 1977, this award has annually recognized broadcast meteorologists “for sustained long-term contributions to the community through the broadcast media, or for outstanding work during a specific weather event.”

    Since its inception, three Award for Broadcast Meteorology recipients have been female. By honoring Mrs. Bacon-Bercey’s legacy, women and minorities might be encouraged to strive for this award and submit future nominations. 

    Her daughter, Dail St. Claire, reflected on this honor. “My family and I are grateful to the AMS for honoring my mother, June Bacon-Bercey. There is no greater honor for an on-air meteorologist to serve the public. The field of meteorology will one day fully represent the rich diversity of all people.”

    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 Maureen McCann

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  • Mae C. Jemison: The first African American woman in space

    Mae C. Jemison: The first African American woman in space

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    Becoming an astronaut is hard enough, but one woman overcame obstacles to become the first African American woman in space.

    What You Need To Know

    • Jemison wanted to study science from an early age

    • She first studied medicine before starting a career at NASA

    • She went to space in Sept. 1992

    • After NASA, she accomplished many more things

    Early life accomplishments

    Born in the 1950s, Jemison would let nothing stop her from becoming one of the most accomplished African American women in history.

    She was born in Decatur, Ala. but grew up in Chicago, and from a very early age, she knew she wanted to study science.

    She worked hard and graduated from high school when she was just 16. At that early age, she traveled across the country to California to attend Stanford University.

    Being one of the few African Americans in her class, she experienced racial discrimination from students and teachers, but that didn’t stop her from graduating with two degrees in four years, one in chemical engineering and one in African American studies.

    Jemison didn’t start her career in space. She first attended Cornell Medical School, where she got her doctorate in medicine and practiced general medicine.

    Her talents also didn’t stop in science. Jemison is fluent in Japanese, Russian and Swahili. She used this and her medical studies to her advantage and joined the Peace Corps in 1983 to help people in Africa for two years.

    Jemison with the rest of the Endeavour Crew in 1992. (AP Photo/Chris O’ Meara)

    On to space

    After the Peace Corps, Jemison opened her own private practice as a doctor, but not too long after, she decided she wanted to go to space, something she had wanted to accomplish for a long time.  

    Jemison applied for the astronaut program at NASA in 1985. Unfortunately, NASA stopped accepting applications after the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded in 1986.

    Jemison tried her luck again in 1987 and was one of the 15 people chosen out of 2000 applicants. Nichelle Nichols, who starred as Uhura in the original Star Trek series, recruited her. Jemison later starred in an episode of the series after being a fan since childhood.

    In Sept. 1992, she joined six other astronauts on the Endeavor for eight days, making her the first African American woman in space. On her mission, she made 127 orbits around the Earth.

    Mae C. Jemison on board the Endeavour in 1992. (Photo by NASA)

    After NASA

    Jemison left NASA the year after she went to space and accomplished many more things.

    She started her own consulting company, became a professor at Cornell, launched the Jemison Institute for Advancing Technology in Developing Countries, created an international space camp for teens and much more.

    She currently leads 100 Year Starship through DARPA, United States Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which works to ensure humans will travel to another star in the next 100 years.

    With all her accomplishments, it’s no surprise Jemison was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame, the National Medical Association Hall of Fame and the Texas Science Hall of Fame.

    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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  • Most powerful laser in the world could lead to cancer treatment

    Most powerful laser in the world could lead to cancer treatment

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    A University of California, Irvine professor is being tasked to help design the most powerful laser in the world.

    Franklin Dollar, a professor of physics & astronomy at UCI, is part of the effort to build the laser called the EP-OPAL (Optical Parametric Amplifier Lines).

    What You Need To Know

    • A UC Irvine Professor is helping contribute to building the most powerful laser in the world

    • The laser could lead to breakthroughs in cancer treatment and space science

    • Physicists will build the laser at the University of Rochester


    The National Science Foundation awarded an $18-million grant to build the laser at a university in New York. EP-OPAL will house it at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics at the University of Rochester.

    The laser will open the door for more research in astrophysics and the medical field, from telescopes to medical imaging.

    EP-OPAL could also develop radiation techniques to help treat cancer patients.

    Plus, it could lead to new developments in nuclear physics, particle acceleration and quantum mechanics.

    The instrument has two separate 25-petawatt lasers and will fire in a millionth of a billionth of a second.

    Dollar’s team will focus on particle acceleration and light sources.

    I talked to Dollar’s team about the laser and how he’s mentoring the next generation of plasma physicists. Watch the video above to see more.

    Franklin Dollar, assistant professor of physics and astronomy (Photo by Steve Zylius/UCI)

    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 Keith Bryant

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  • Most powerful laser in the world could lead to cancer treatment

    Most powerful laser in the world could lead to cancer treatment

    [ad_1]

    A University of California, Irvine professor is being tasked to help design the most powerful laser in the world.

    Franklin Dollar, a professor of physics & astronomy at UCI, is part of the effort to build the laser called the EP-OPAL (Optical Parametric Amplifier Lines).

    What You Need To Know

    • A UC Irvine Professor is helping contribute to building the most powerful laser in the world

    • The laser could lead to breakthroughs in cancer treatment and space science

    • Physicists will build the laser at the University of Rochester


    The National Science Foundation awarded an $18-million grant to build the laser at a university in New York. EP-OPAL will house it at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics at the University of Rochester.

    The laser will open the door for more research in astrophysics and the medical field, from telescopes to medical imaging.

    EP-OPAL could also develop radiation techniques to help treat cancer patients.

    Plus, it could lead to new developments in nuclear physics, particle acceleration and quantum mechanics.

    The instrument has two separate 25-petawatt lasers and will fire in a millionth of a billionth of a second.

    Dollar’s team will focus on particle acceleration and light sources.

    I talked to Dollar’s team about the laser and how he’s mentoring the next generation of plasma physicists. Watch the video above to see more.

    Franklin Dollar, assistant professor of physics and astronomy (Photo by Steve Zylius/UCI)

    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 Keith Bryant

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  • Most powerful laser in the world could lead to cancer treatment

    Most powerful laser in the world could lead to cancer treatment

    [ad_1]

    A University of California, Irvine professor is being tasked to help design the most powerful laser in the world.

    Franklin Dollar, a professor of physics & astronomy at UCI, is part of the effort to build the laser called the EP-OPAL (Optical Parametric Amplifier Lines).

    What You Need To Know

    • A UC Irvine Professor is helping contribute to building the most powerful laser in the world

    • The laser could lead to breakthroughs in cancer treatment and space science

    • Physicists will build the laser at the University of Rochester


    The National Science Foundation awarded an $18-million grant to build the laser at a university in New York. EP-OPAL will house it at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics at the University of Rochester.

    The laser will open the door for more research in astrophysics and the medical field, from telescopes to medical imaging.

    EP-OPAL could also develop radiation techniques to help treat cancer patients.

    Plus, it could lead to new developments in nuclear physics, particle acceleration and quantum mechanics.

    The instrument has two separate 25-petawatt lasers and will fire in a millionth of a billionth of a second.

    Dollar’s team will focus on particle acceleration and light sources.

    I talked to Dollar’s team about the laser and how he’s mentoring the next generation of plasma physicists. Watch the video above to see more.

    Franklin Dollar, assistant professor of physics and astronomy (Photo by Steve Zylius/UCI)

    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 Keith Bryant

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  • Finding a love for all seasons

    Finding a love for all seasons

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    Mother Nature, flowers and candy could be your recipe for finding a love for all seasons or Valentine’s Day.

    It is that time of the year, when romance is in the air. But can the weather, or even the season, spark love? Or do less than ideal conditions dampen love’s flame and blow it out? 

    What You Need To Know

    • Cuffing season is the time between September and November

    • The “turkey drop” is when you breakup with someone after Thanksgiving

    • Some consider gloomy or cold weather romantic

    • Talking about the weather is not a good conversation starter

    We talked to celebrity matchmaker and dating expert Alessandra Conti, co-founder of Matchmakers In The City in Beverly Hills.

    We chatted with her about how the time of season and weather might influence someone’s dating behavior.

    Cuffing season

    Autumn may be the best season to ‘fall’ in love. Many people refer to the fall as cuffing season for couples.

    Conti says cuffing season is the time between September and November. She told us during those months the weather gets colder and people want to find love for the holidays.

    “Everyone wants love for the holidays. Especially leading up to the holidays, that’s when people who are normally single want to be in relationships,” Conti told Spectrum News.

    The matchmaking maven says her business is booming during cuffing season for people wanting to find love just in time for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

    “[People] will usually fast track something that they maybe did not consider in the summertime.”

    The cuffing part comes in as people just wanting to find a partner for the colder months and just come together during that time.

    The turkey drop

    Though cuffing season runs through November, it might be the best opportunity to breakup with someone.

    Conti says the day after Thanksgiving is the time when couples break apart. The celebrity matchmaker calls it the “turkey drop.”

    “You can see it in tons of celebrity couples, that right after Thanksgiving so many couples breakup,” Conti said.

    She said couples like Harry Styles and Olivia Wilde broke up during that time too, among other couples.

    Conti says a lot of couples “turkey drop” right after Thanksgiving.

    A new year for love

    We are a month into the new year and finding that special someone is top priority for some singles. When a new year begins, Conti says people are deliberate about wanting to find love.

    “While cuffing season is over, it’s the new year season, which is people desiring to find that partner,” Conti told us.

    As far as other seasons like spring and summer, she says business doesn’t experience that same uptick in clientele during the winter and fall months.

    Like cuffing season, there is also the something known as a summer fling. A summer fling is between May and September.

    “You see more casual dating during the summertime because that’s more of the weather vibe. It’s sunny out, everyone is relaxed… there’s not that deep longing for connection because it’s freezing cold outside and you want to be cuddling with someone indoors,” Conti said.

    Heartbreak weather

    Now let’s talk about how the weather could lead you to heartbreak or romance.

    Conti laments many dates get cancelled because of bad weather.

    “It is really sad, but a lot of people do if it’s raining. We have experienced that people will cancel a date if it’s raining… even if it’s through a matchmaker.”

    She notes that people really don’t enjoy driving in the rain to go on a date. However, she has one important piece of advice if there is rain or snow in the forecast for a date.

    “My advice to anyone considering in canceling a date if it’s raining or snow… Don’t, you are self sabotaging yourself!,” exclaimed Conti.

    The dating expert said this sabotaging equates to flakiness. She says you have to follow through on the plan.

    “You need to make a shift and make a change. If that means going on an ice skating date, go for it… if that means leaving your house when it’s drizzling outside, go for it!” exclaims Conti. 

    Love is in the air

    The ideal weather for date ranges from person to person. Some like sunny and while others enjoy overcast skies.

    Talking with Conti, she says colder weather might actually be more romantic.

    “I actually think a little colder for a date, actually quite romantic, as long as you are indoors… it’s very cozy. So get a really cute winter jacket and enjoy,” she said.

    Conti might be right about colder weather, because one of the greatest Christmas songs “Let It Snow!” is a romantic song about a couple getting cozy during a blizzard (even though the songwriters wrote it in the summer).

    It all comes down to the people’s preference.

    “I don’t think cold weather is bad for a date. I think it’s cozy. If it’s a little rainy outside, it makes your indoor experience more special and romantic. Use it to your advantage,” Conti told Spectrum Networks. 

    Forecasting romance

    The perfect weather for a date may be in April, if you are Miss Rhode Island from the movie “Miss Congeniality.”

    But for others, it could be something else. We talked to our Spectrum News meteorologists and digital weather team about their ideal weather for date. Watch their responses.

    No matter what season you’re in, you have to be intentional about finding love and being in the moment.

    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 Keith Bryant

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  • Rain soaked one of the most important marches to equality

    Rain soaked one of the most important marches to equality

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    During one of the most trying times in America, the Southeast’s weather did not help the ongoing battle for justice.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Selma to Montgomery march in Alabama occurred in 1965

    • It was an effort to register more Black voters in the South

    • Heavy rain soaked the protestors

    What was the Selma to Montgomery March?

    The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a huge achievement that ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination based on race, color, religion and sex.

    It helped strengthen the voting rights of African Americans in the South, but even so, many southern states continued to deny African Americans their right to vote.

    On Feb. 18, 1965, a peaceful protest for voting rights in Marion, Ala. turned deadly when white segregationists attacked the group. An Alabama state trooper shot an African American protester, Jimmie Lee Jackson.

    In response, Martin Luther King Jr. organized a march from Selma to Montgomery in Alabama to shed more light to what was happening to the Black community and help their voting rights.

    Martin Luther King Jr. leads supporters to the voter registration drive in the rain.

    The beginning of the march

    The event began on March 1, 1965, with a voter registration drive. Pouring rain soaked the supporters and led to ponding on the roadways and sidewalks.

    Even these miserable conditions couldn’t stop the movement, as thousands of people prepared for the drive with raincoats, umbrellas and rain boots. This laid the foundation for one of the most important marches during the civil rights movement.

    On March 7, the march to Montgomery from Selma began and lasted over two weeks. This was because state troopers and segregationists tried to stop the protesters several times, leading to brief pauses in the march.

    On March 15, President Lyndon B. Johnson showed his support for the march, and military personnel led the protesters the rest of the way, finally completing the march on March 25.

    A big win for racial equality

    After all of their hard work, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It guaranteed the right to vote for all African Americans in every state.

    Southern states could no longer use literacy tests to stop African Americans from voting.

    The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is one of the greatest pieces of civil rights legislation in American history. It provided another way for the voice of the Black community to be heard.

    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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  • Israel-Hamas war: Latest updates

    Israel-Hamas war: Latest updates

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    Get the latest updates on the war between Israel and Hamas.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Guion “Guy” Bluford: The first African American astronaut

    Guion “Guy” Bluford: The first African American astronaut

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    Guion Bluford was one of the most influential people in the space community, becoming the first African American to fly in space.

    What You Need To Know

    • Guy Bluford was the first African American to fly in space

    • He started his career as a pilot in the Air Force

    • He became an astronaut for NASA in 1979

    Bluford became intrigued with flying at a very early age. By high school, he knew he wanted to become an aeronautical engineer.

    Early life

    After getting his college degree, Bluford joined the Air Force and received his pilot wings in Jan. 1966 at the early age of 24.

    He soon became an instructor pilot and eventually entered the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology, where he received his master’s degree in 1974 and a doctor of philosophy degree in aerospace engineering in 1978.

    Upon his graduation in 1974, he worked in the Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory as a deputy until he was promoted to branch chief of the Aerodynamics and Airframe Branch.

    These successes led to his selection to the NASA astronaut program in 1978.

    It’s safe to say he never lost sight of his childhood dreams.

    Becoming a legend

    Guion stands on the launch pad with his crew weeks before his first mission in August of 1983. (AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)

    After a year of training in the astronaut program, Bluford became an official astronaut in Aug.1979.

    Only four years later he flew his first mission aboard STS-8 on Aug. 30, 1983.

    His first trip to space was quick but came with many accomplishments, developing techniques for nighttime operations and deploying the Indian National Satellite.

    After 145 hours in space, the crew returned to Edwards Air Force Base on Sept. 5.

    Over the next 10 years, Bluford became the second, third and fourth African American in space, logging over 688 hours.

    After NASA

    In 1993, Bluford left NASA and retired from the Air Force to become the Vice President and General Manager of the Engineering Services Division of NYMA Inc., in Greenbelt, Maryland.

    After several more high-end jobs, he went on to become the President of Aerospace Technology in Cleveland, Ohio, a job that he still holds today.

    Bluford never stopped learning and pursuing the next level of his career. A brilliant man in the space and engineering community, Bluford became a leader and role model for many African Americans.

    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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  • Moon mountain named in honor of Melba Mouton

    Moon mountain named in honor of Melba Mouton

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    Few humans can say they were a part of the mission that allowed astronauts to land on the moon in 1969. Only the prestigious can claim they have a mountain in their name – not on earth, but on the moon.

    Melba Roy Mouton is now one of the handful of scientists and mathematicians that do.

    What You Need To Know

    • Melba Mouton was an accomplished Black mathematician and computer programmer for NASA from 1959 to 1973

    • Despite being a minority, her strong leadership skills and willpower allowed her to excel in a groundbreaking career

    • One of Mouton’s biggest successes includes her contributions to the Apollo 11 Moon landing

    • NASA recently named a mountain on the moon in honor of her

    While Melba Mouton was not one of the “hidden figures” unveiled and featured for their success at NASA during the late 1950s and 1960s, her story is no different. As a Black female working in a prominently male-dominated field, she too faced the brutal reality of discrimination.

    Yet, her relentless determination and curiosity allowed her to overcome obstacles. All of which lead her to become a prominent leader as a mathematician and computer programmer in the Space Race era.

    The life of Melba Mouton

    Melba Mouton was born in the late 1920s and spent much of her childhood in Virginia during the difficult times of the Great Depression and Word War II. Despite this, she still pursued her passion for math.

    She attended the historically Black college, Howard University, earning both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in mathematics.

    Mouton began her NASA career at the Goddard Space Flight Center in 1959. By the early 1960s, she worked as a lead computer programmer for the Mission and Trajectory Analysis Division’s Program Systems Branch, to compute where spacecraft were in orbit and their trajectories.

    This eventually put her as the head mathematician, helping to track the Echo 1 and 2 satellites.

    (Photo by NASA)

    NASA awarded Mouton the Apollo Achievement Award for all of her contributions toward the famed Apollo 11 mission, that allowed astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to first step foot on the moon (while third crewmember Michael Collins piloted the command module).

    Ending her career at NASA as the Assistant Chief of Research Programs for the agency’s Trajectory and Geodynamics Division, Mouton finally retired in 1973. Years later, doctors diagnosed Mouton with brain cancer and she passed away in 1990 at age 61.

    What’s in a name

    On Feb. 15, 2023, NASA announced they would name a mountain on the moon after Mouton in honor of all her accomplishments during her time at the agency. With all mountains on the moon referred to as mons, “Mons Mouton” is now the official name of the lunar mountain near the South Pole.

    Naming a mountain, or any other topographic features, on the moon isn’t as easy as you think. NASA can only suggest potential names, but it does not have the final say in determining whether the name is confirmed.

    Only the International Astronomical Union (IAU) can approve a name and there’s a designated committee that handles that: the Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN).  

    The WGPSN has certain guidelines it must follow when accepting and choosing a name, whether it be a mountain on the moon or any other astronomical object. To view the set of rules they must abide by, click here.

    According to NASA, the IAU declared that the name for lunar mountains must reflect “scientists who have made outstanding or fundamental contributions to their fields.”

    Given all her accomplishments in the field, it makes sense that the name Mouton was a strong candidate, and thus, approved by the IAU.

    The future of Mons Mouton

    Since Mons Mouton has a relatively flat top, NASA claims it is one of the potential landing spots for Artemis III, the first manned mission to the moon, scheduled in 2026.

    Although Mons Mouton will first serve as the location for NASA’s Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) mission set to happen later in 2024. 

    Please be sure to check out the tribute video NASA put together honoring Melba Mouton, while discussing its plans for Mons Mouton as a potential landing and research site on the moon.

    Whether Mons Mouton is the selected landing site for the Artemis III mission or not, the gesture of honoring one of NASA’s greatest scientists comes full circle. With all her efforts to get us to the moon, it is only fitting that her name and her legacy earn a spot among the stars.

    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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  • Weather Explained: Groundhog Day

    Weather Explained: Groundhog Day

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    Groundhog Day is arguably the biggest weather holiday of the year. On Feb. 2 each year, Punxsutawney Phil emerges from his burrow at Gobbler’s Knob in Pennsylvania. Thousands of people gather around, curious to know if Phil sees his shadow.

    As the legend has it, when Phil sees his shadow, it means there are six more weeks of winter ahead of us. No shadow indicates an early spring.

    Phil has forecast the weather on Groundhog Day for more than 120 years. But as it turns out, he isn’t that good at his job.

    Watch the video above to see how many times he’s gotten the forecast wrong and find out how we came to rely on Phil in the first place.

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    Meteorologist Nick Merianos

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  • Smoke rising from home was steam generated by thousands of pot plants, Maine cops say

    Smoke rising from home was steam generated by thousands of pot plants, Maine cops say

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    A search warrant revealed “approximately 2,500 marijuana plants” inside the home, Maine officials say.

    A search warrant revealed “approximately 2,500 marijuana plants” inside the home, Maine officials say.

    Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office photo

    A concerned citizen’s report of smoke at a home in southern Maine turned awkward when firefighters discovered it was steam generated by thousands of marijuana plants.

    Closer inspection revealed the single-family home was being used as a massive pot farm, with an estimated 2,500 plants lined up under specialized gardening fixtures, photos show.

    That comes to nearly one marijuana plant per square foot, based on Realtor.com records.

    The discovery was made around 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 31, at a home on Auburn Road in Turner, officials said. Turner is about 105 miles southwest of Bangor.

    Investigators say a caller “reported seeing smoke coming out of the eves of the garage,” the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

    “A deputy arrived on scene along with Turner Fire-Rescue personnel and upon investigating it was determined that the smoke the citizen saw was actually steam generated from a large quantity of marijuana plants growing inside the residence,” the sheriff’s office said.

    “It was initially estimated that there were approximately 500 marijuana plants as well as items related to the growing of marijuana including grow lights, chemical fertilizers, dehumidifiers, and propane heaters were seen.”

    A search warrant raised that estimate to 2,500 plants, officials said.

    There is no record of a marijuana operation license for the site, “or any license issued to the homeowner who is from Massachusetts,” the Maine Office of Cannabis Policy told investigators.

    The plants were seized by deputies, and investigators are looking into whether the operation might be related to similar “illegal marijuana grows” found in Lincoln, Kennebec and Somerset counties, officials said.

    The four-bedroom home is 3,244 square feet and was built in 1890 on a lot that is just over half an acre, Realtor.com reports.

    Mark Price is a National Reporter for McClatchy News. He joined the network of newspapers in 1991 at The Charlotte Observer, covering beats including schools, crime, immigration, LGBTQ issues, homelessness and nonprofits. He graduated from the University of Memphis with majors in journalism and art history, and a minor in geology.

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  • Meteorologist or imposter: Probing groundhogs’ precision

    Meteorologist or imposter: Probing groundhogs’ precision

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    Are our rodent friends really as accurate as they think?

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    Meteorologist Zach Covey

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  • NHC is making changes to the cone of uncertainty this year

    NHC is making changes to the cone of uncertainty this year

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    The National Hurricane Center (NHC) will experiment with some tweaks to the way the cone of uncertainty is presented this hurricane season. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Inland tropical watches and warnings will be shown on an experimental map with the cone

    • The cone will still be present over the watches and warnings

    • The usage of the cone and alerts will not change

    Instead of just displaying watches and warnings at the coast, the NHC will distribute display all tropical watches and warnings through inland areas in a new graphic on their website.

    “The absence of displaying those warnings inadvertently gives the impression that it’s all clear in the more inland locations,” says Deputy Director of the National Hurricane Center, Jamie Rhome. 

    Here is a look at what the new experimental cone will look like.

    For reference, here is what the traditional cone of uncertainty looks like.

    Eagle Researchers Work to Better Communicate Uncertainty in Hurricane Forecasts | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Newsroom

    Studies have shown that it is common for people to misinterpret the cone of uncertainty.

    For instance, according to a study by Colorado State University, people perceive the widening of the cone toward the end of the forecast period to mean that the storm will be getting bigger.

    In reality, widening the cone is just communicating a greater degree of uncertainty as to where the center of the storm will pass. It is independent of the size or intensity of the storm. 

    The NHC hopes to reduce misinterpretation with a new look to the cone, and this new experimental graphic is a step in that direction.

    “I suspect we will have to make other changes in the realm of hurricane risk communication as time marches on,” says Rhome. “we want to move people off the cone and onto the hazards.”

    Other changes could come to the cone in the future, but the National Hurricane Center wants feedback from professionals and the public before going any further. 

    “That’s what this experimentation is about, to start a discussion and open up a forum and a venue for people to talk to us about what changes need to be made in hurricane risk communication,” says Rhome. 

    Even with slight changes to how the cone is displayed, the meaning of the cone of uncertainty, along with tropical watches and warnings, will not change. 

    The traditional, operational cone of uncertainty will continue to be distributed by the NHC. The new, experimental, graphic will be available on the National Hurricane Center Website. 

    2024 storm names

    Here’s a look at the list of names for the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season. 

    No description available.

    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 Kyle Hanson

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  • Surviving avalanches: What you need to know

    Surviving avalanches: What you need to know

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    This time of year, snowboarders and skiers head to some of the most popular snow summits across the country. However, snowy natural disasters called avalanches can become a concern. 

    What You Need To Know

    • An avalanche is a mass of snow moving down a slope

    • Someone in the victim’s party triggers 90% of avalanche incidents

    • The natural disaster kills about 30 people in the U.S. yearly

    According to the National Weather Service, an avalanche occurs when there’s a rapid flow of snow down a hill or mountainside.

    Avalanches happen suddenly and “occur during or just after snowstorms on slopes between 30 and 45 degrees.”

    Also, look out for Avalanche Watches and Warnings from the Weather Service.

    The NWS says 90% of avalanche incidents become triggered by someone in the victim’s party.

    They also kill about 30 people a year in the U.S.

    So far this year, avalanches have killed four people; in California, Wyoming, Idaho and Colorado.

    Placer County sheriff vehicles are parked near the ski lift at Palisades Tahoe where avalanche occurred on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, in Tahoe, Calif. (AP Photo/Andy Barron)

    There are resources people can use to get avalanche safety training and spot potential avalanches.

    One resource there is the NWS and Avalanche.org.

    Here’s a breakout of avalanche safety tips and warning signs.

    Remember, stay vigilant and safe during avalanches and be aware of the signs when you’re on the slopes. 

    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 Keith Bryant

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