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Tag: Wisconsin

  • National Weather Service cuts back weather balloon launches

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    The National Weather Service (NWS) announced that it is eliminating or reducing weather balloon launches across multiple offices around the country. This comes in response to NOAA layoffs and a lack of staffing necessary to continue regular launches.

    What You Need To Know

    • The National Weather Service is cutting back its weather balloon launches

    • Data from weather balloon launches helps improve model forecasts

    • Less data could harm forecast accuracy for severe, winter and tropical weather


    The NWS launches weather balloons twice daily from more than 100 upper air sites across the United States, Caribbean and Pacific Basin. These balloons reach up to 100,000 feet in the atmosphere with a radiosonde attached to each balloon.

    A radiosonde is an instrument that measures atmospheric data, including temperature, dew point, relative humidity, barometric pressure and wind speed and direction. The weather data that a radiosonde collects is just one piece of the puzzle that goes into weather models to help improve forecasts.

    A press release from the NWS confirmed that it is temporarily suspending all weather balloon launches in Omaha, Neb., and Rapid City, S.D. due to a lack of Weather Forecast Office (WFO) staffing, effective immediately.

    Along with eliminating launches from those two locations, the NWS is reducing its weather balloon launches down to one flight per day from multiple other sites, including Aberdeen, S.D., Grand Junction, Colo., Green Bay, Wis., Gaylord, Mich., North Platte, Neb. and Riverton, Wyo.

    These cuts come in addition to NWS announcements earlier this year that it was reducing weather balloon launches in Albany, N.Y. and Gray, Maine because of staff shortages.

    The NWS offices in Boulder, Colo. and Tallahassee, Fla. aren’t launching balloons because of a nationwide helium shortage, and the weather balloon facility on Morris Island in Chatham, Mass. has suspended launches because the facility has been closed due to coastal erosion.

    Bay News 9 Chief Meteorologist Mike Clay says, “these weather balloons may not seem important, but they are the basis for all the forecasts seen on apps, TV, everything from all weather sources. The more the better, we don’t need less data.”

    “It might be hard to understand, but a weather balloon launched in Montana can help us forecast where a hurricane in the Caribbean might go,” Mike Clay adds.

    It’s too soon to determine the impacts, but the reduction in launches across the Midwest and Great Plains is particularly concerning this time of year, as spring severe weather season ramps up in the coming months.

    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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  • The weather’s impact during baseball season

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    The 2025 Major League Baseball season is underway, and just like any outdoor sport, the weather can have an impact.

    What You Need To Know

    • Temperatures play a key role in the movement of a baseball

    • Baseballs don’t travel as far during the colder months of the season

    • Warmer temperatures can add more distance to the flight of a baseball



    Most notably, rain and sometimes snow can lead to weather delays. But the temperature can affect the sport more than you would think.

    The air temperature has an impact on the movement of a baseball over the course of the season.

    At the start of the MLB season in late March and early April, temperatures can be in the 30s and 40s at the time of the first pitch, especially for the teams playing in the northern U.S.

    Baseballs hit during this time of the year don’t travel as far because of the cooler temperatures.

    A ball struck in early April may be a pop fly, but in May or June, the same ball could be a home run and it’s all because of colder air being denser than warm air.

    So when a batter hits a ball during colder temperatures, the baseball has to push through more air molecules which act as resistance, causing the ball to travel shorter distances compared to the warmer months.

    This is great for pitchers, but can also prevent some batters from getting into a good rhythm at the beginning of a long season.

    Heading into the middle of the season, temperatures get warmer. That typically favors the batters more compared to the colder months.

    The warmer air is less dense, so there is less resistance, allowing for baseballs to travel further, leading to more base hits and home runs.

    Whether you’re watching a game at home or attending one in person, keep in mind how the air temperature can influence the trajectory of the baseball, especially early in the season.

    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 Ramel Carpenter

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  • Cherry blossoms have an interesting history in the nation’s capital

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    Spring is here and everyone’s favorite flowering trees are painting the nation pink, as cherry blossom season continues across the country.

    What You Need To Know

    • There are many cherry tree types
    • The Yoshino Cherry tree is the most popular
    • Cherry blossoms are not native to the United States


    The vibrant blooms draw sizable crowds each spring to Washington D.C., where they are most famously recognized.

    While there are many types of cherry trees, the Yoshino Cherry Tree is the most popular and known for its white-pink blossoms and almond smell in the spring.

    (Spectrum News/Carl Brewer)

    History

    Though Yoshino Cherry Trees are well known, cherry blossoms are not native to the United States. The cherry trees were a gift from the Japanese to Americans. The cherry tree symbolizes human life and exemplifies the revolution of Japanese culture, according to the National Park Service.

    However, the first gift of cherry trees had some issues. The first group of cherry trees arrived in 1909. The trees were inspected by scientists from the Department of Agriculture. They found that the trees had an infestation of bugs and root gall. President Taft approved the destruction of the trees in January of 1910. This led to the passing of the Plant Quarantine Act of 1912 and a second shipment of trees.

    (Spectrum News/Carl Brewer)

    The second shipment of trees was much better! On March 26, 1912, over 3,000 cherry trees arrived in Washington, D.C. While 12 varieties of cherry trees were sent, the majority of the trees were of the Yoshino Cherry variety. The next day, Helen Taft and the Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese Ambassador, planted two Yoshino cherry trees on the northern bank of the Tidal Basin. 

    From that point, more cherry trees were planted each year. In 1935, the first “Cherry Blossom Festival” occurred, and it became an annual event in subsequent years.

    The best time to see cherry blossoms in D.C.

    Cherry blossoms are certainly being seen across Washington, D.C.

    When 70% of the Yoshino Cherry blossoms are open, that’s considered the peak bloom date. According to the National Park service, peak bloom could last several days. This year, the expected peak bloom will be this weekend through Monday (March 29th-31st).


    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 Britney Hamilton

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  • Eggs, shadows and daylight: Equinox fact and fiction

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    Everybody knows you can balance an egg on the equinox, the day with 12 hours of light across the planet… right?

    What You Need To Know

    • You can balance eggs and brooms any day

    • Daylight is close to 12 hours, but not exactly

    • As fall begins in one hemisphere, spring begins in the other


    There are various theories surrounding the equinox, which happen every year in March and September. Let’s separate fact from fiction. 

    Balancing eggs and brooms: Fiction

    Have heard that you can balance an egg only on the equinox? 

    Try it on a day other than the equinox. You’ll find that you can do it then, too! It just takes the right egg and a bit of patience.

    The egg-balancing myth swept over to brooms, which spread wildly thanks to social media. Like eggs, you can balance a broom with stiff, straight bristles any day of the year. There’s no exceptional, mysterious gravitational pull during the equinox that will balance your egg and/or broom.

    A moment, not a day: Fact

    The equinox happens when the sun passes the “celestial equator,” the imaginary line in the sky above the Earth’s equator. It’s just a moment in time. For example, the spring equinox for 2025 is at 5:01 a.m. While we observe the equinox as the first day of spring or fall, it’s just an instant.

    12 hours of daylight worldwide: Fiction

    No, there’s not exactly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night around the globe on the equinox. We have more than 12 hours of daylight on the equinox. The date when daylight and nighttime are both closest to exactly 12 hours falls a few days before the spring equinox and a few days after the fall equinox.

    So, why isn’t it exactly 12 hours? There are a handful of reasons, but two stand out. First, sunrise and sunset are when the very top-most tip of the sun–not the middle–crosses the horizon. Second, our atmosphere bends sunlight, so we see the sun a little longer than we “should,” so to speak.

    “Equal night”: Fact

    It’s understandable why some think the equinox means 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night. The word “equinox” translates to “equal night”. It comes from the Latin word aequinoctium–“aequi” meaning equal, and “nox” meaning night–according to Mirriam-Webster.

    If you want to impress your friends (or maybe just make them roll their eyes), you can mention the equilux (“lux” coming from Latin for “light”). That’s the date when day and night are equal lengths, although a true equilux is pretty rare.

    No shadow at noon: Fiction

    For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, our shadow will be shortest on the summer solstice when direct sunlight reaches the northernmost point of its annual journey. A person’s shadow disappears only where the sun is directly overhead, which isn’t anywhere close to home on the equinox.

    Opposite seasons: Fact

    What we call the fall equinox in the Northern Hemisphere is the spring equinox in the Southern Hemisphere. It might be hard to imagine, but our friends on the other side of the planet enjoy spring from late September through late December as the Earth’s tilt gives them increasingly direct sunlight.

    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 Britney Hamilton, Meteorologist Justin Gehrts

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  • Spring begins at a different time every year, and this is why

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    Cue the warmer temperatures, rain showers and blooming flowers–spring is almost here!

    What You Need To Know

    • Meteorological spring and astronomical spring have different meanings

    • Astronomical spring usually begins on March 20 in the United States

    • The calendar date and time for March’s equinox fluctuates

    • The amount of time Earth takes to revolve around the sun plays a role in when a season begins


    Meteorological spring always begins on March 1 and runs through May 30. It’s a three-month season which makes it helpful for analyzing data and seasonal trends.

    You’re probably more familiar with the “first day of spring” that shows up on the calendar. It’s also known as astronomical spring, March equinox, spring equinox or the vernal equinox. So, does spring always begin on the same calendar date and at the same time?

    The beginning of spring varies year to year. Spring begins on March 19, 20 or 21. Why the variation in dates? Believe it or not, it has to do with the Earth’s revolution around the sun.

    The Earth takes about 365.25 days to complete a revolution around the sun. A normal year has 365 days. That extra quarter of a day (about six hours) is part of the reason the vernal equinox fluctuates by about six hours every year.

    Fun fact: The extra quarter of a day is also why we have a leap year every four years.

    Until 2048, the March equinox will happen on March 19 every leap year. In between the leap years, the March equinox will occur on March 20.

    What about March 21? Time zones outside of the United States have had a March 21 equinox this century. However, the U.S. mainland won’t have a vernal equinox on March 21 at all in the 21st century!

    Spring 2025 runs from March 20 until June 20. Summer begins on June 20, 2025. Enjoy this transitional season before the heat and humidity move in for an extended stay!

    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 Britney Hamilton

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  • Total lunar eclipse will occur Thursday night for the U.S.

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    A total lunar eclipse will occur for all of North America Thursday night.

    What You Need To Know

    • A total lunar eclipse will take place Thursday night into Friday morning

    • All of North America will have the chance to see it

    • The last total lunar eclipse on Earth was in 2022


    A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth orbits between the sun and the moon. As a result, the Earth casts its shadow onto the full moon. Unlike a solar eclipse, you do not need any equipment or special glasses to view the total lunar eclipse.

    Often called the Blood Moon

    During the eclipse, the Earth casts its dark shadow onto the moon. This is known as the umbra. As a result, it creates a reddish hue. That is why the total lunar eclipse is often referred to as the blood moon.

    Areas that will see the lunar eclipse

    Leah Tiscione/Sky & Telescope

    Here is a look at the timeline of the total lunar eclipse in EDT. The greatest portion of the eclipse will occur around 3 a.m.

    The question is, will the sky be clear enough to see it where you live? It looks cloudy for much of the west coast and Rockies. However, the sky will be clear for most of the Midwest with the exception for the Upper Midwest.

    Some clouds will be possible in the south and also along the northeast coast from Washington, D.C. to Boston.

    Be sure to check it out, because the next total lunar eclipse won’t occur in the United States until March 3, 2026. The best areas to view that will be in the west.

    Will skies stay clear for the total lunar eclips? Check your forecast here.

    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 Alan Auglis

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  • Heat alerts are changing

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    The National Weather Service (NWS) is simplifying and renaming its heat alerts ahead of the summer to make understanding of watches and warnings easier.

    Excessive Heat Watches will be renamed to Extreme Heat Watches.

    Excessive Heat Warnings will be renamed to Extreme Heat Warnings.

    No changes will be made to the Heat Advisory.

    NWS believes that the name change from ‘excessive’ to ‘extreme’ will improve communication and messaging that hazardous heat is dangerous. 

    This name change also aligns the terminology with Extreme Cold Watches and Warnings, which were implemented before this winter.

    These changes are already in effect, so you can expect to see them this summer.

    It’s part of the National Weather Service’s Hazard Simplification Project.

    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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  • POLL: Cancel daylight saving time or stay on it permanently?

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    It’s that time of the year when we set the clocks forward one hour, changing to daylight saving time and taking away an hour of our sleep this weekend. 

    This brings up the conversation of why not just stay on daylight saving time year round? 

    Vote in Live Poll: Cancel daylight saving time or stay on it permanently?

     

    Why we change the clocks twice a year

    The United States began the concept of daylight saving time in 1918, during World War I, to save fuel. By advancing one hour ahead, coal-fired energy would assist the war effort rather than that hour at home.

    Standard time returned following the war and continued until World War II. After World War II, some states and cities kept daylight saving time, creating various time zones within regions. Frustrated with no uniform time, the public pushed Congress to pass the Uniform Time Act in 1966.

    This established that daylight saving time would begin the last Sunday in April and end the last Sunday in October.

    In 1987, it extended to include the first Sunday in April and end on the last Sunday in October.

    Part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the modern daylight saving time begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November.

    This current time shift began in 2007.

    Not everyone participates

    Hawaii doesn’t take part because of its location. With not much variation throughout the year between sunrise and sunset, it made little sense to switch the clocks. 

    Only the Navajo Nation in Arizona observes daylight saving time. The rest of the state exempted itself in 1968. 

    They cited the heat as their reason for opting out, adding that if they switched the clocks ahead one hour, the sun would not set until 9 p.m. in the summer, limiting nighttime activities.

    Current legislation

    The Department of Transportation oversees daylight saving time and all the country’s time zones. 

    According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), “Federal law allows a state to exempt itself from observing daylight saving time, upon action by the state legislature, but does not allow the permanent observance of DST.”

    Twenty states have enacted legislation or passed resolutions to provide for year-round daylight saving time, but await federal approval.

    Fifteen states actively have legislation as of Feb. 2025 that would end daylight saving time and stay on standard time year-round. Those states are:

    • Arkansas
    • California
    • Idaho
    • Indiana
    • Kansas
    • Kentucky
    • Nevada
    • New Jersey
    • North Dakota
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • South Dakota
    • Utah
    • Washington
    • West Virginia

    However, none of these pieces of legislation have passed and are all marked ‘pending,’ so the switch back to daylight saving time this weekend is inevitable.

    Sunshine Protection Act

    On March 15, 2022, the U.S. Senate voted unanimously in favor of the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent, meaning Americans would no longer have to change their clocks twice a year to account for the time change. 

    While the Senate passed the bill, nearly three years later it remains stalled in the House and has not been signed into law by President Trump.

    In fact, Trump is quoted as saying the opposite. In a post he wrote on his social media in Dec. 2024, “The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn’t! Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our Nation,” he wrote.

    The future

    For now, legislation to observe daylight saving time year-round remains pending.

    Other states will continue to perform case studies and collect data to see if this shift is beneficial in saving energy, helping improve health and reducing crime.

    And so we will advance our clocks forward one hour this Sunday and then on Nov. 2, 2025, we will change the clocks back one hour, returning to standard time.

    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 origin of the saying ‘in like a lion, out like a lamb’

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    The saying “March in like a lion, out like a lamb” is popular folklore, but is there any truth to this? And where did this saying come from?

    What You Need To Know

    • The first known reference to the saying is in 1732

    • There are possible links to astronomy

    • March is typically more active at the beginning of the month


    While the origins of this proverb aren’t quite clear, there is a reference to it in a 1732 volume of proverbs by English author Thomas Fuller. After that, it was in farmer’s almanacs.

    Some think it has links to astronomy with the locations of the constellations Leo (lion) and Aries (ram or lamb). At the start of the month, Leo is on the eastern horizon at sunset and at the end of the month, Aries is on the western horizon at sunset.

    Month of March meteorologically

    March itself is a transitional month, going from winter to spring. 

    It’s not uncommon for the beginning of the month to feature big storm systems, including snow and even severe weather. By the end of the month, milder weather spreads over much of the country.

    However, this is not always the case and can vary.

    The saying talks about balance. If the month comes in active, like a lion, it should go out docile, like a lamb. Or, if it comes in docile, it should go out active. Yet, meteorologically speaking, that doesn’t always happen.

    Other popular folklore masquerading as long-range weather forecasting includes the woolly bear caterpillars and their prediction of winter. 

    While most folklore is just that–lore–some hold water for short-term forecasting. 

    For example, “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky in morning, sailors take warning,” is a useful rule of thumb. 

    Other March folklore

    According to the Farmer’s Almanac, here are some other March-related sayings:

    • “A dry March and a wet May; fill barns and bays with corn and hay.”
    • “As it rains in March, so it rains in June.”
    • “March winds and April showers, bring forth May flowers.”
    • “So many mists in March you see, so many frosts in May will be.”

    Will your early March forecast be lion or lamb like? Click here for your local weather.

    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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  • Meteorological spring vs astronomical spring: What is the difference?

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    As March rolls around every year, so does meteorological spring. Jump ahead a few weeks and suddenly astronomical spring begins.  

    What You Need To Know

    • Meteorological seasons are different from astronomical seasons

    • This is done for more consistency and record-keeping

    • Meteorological seasons are counted by full months


    So, what is the difference? Simply put, astronomical spring relates to the position of the earth in relation to the sun, while meteorological spring relates to the warming temperatures from March through May. For meteorologists and climatologists, spring begins March 1. Below, we will define why that is and how it may be more accurate to represent the seasons.  

    Astronomical spring

    People have observed seasonal changes around them (temperatures, color of leaves, animal migrations, etc.) for thousands of years. The natural rotation of the earth around the sun each year forms the basis of the astronomical calendar.  

    Seasons are defined by Earth’s tilt and the sun’s alignment over the equator. During the vernal equinox, the Earth passes directly over the equator. After the equinox, the northern hemisphere will see more daylight than darkness until the summer solstice.  

    Because earth’s travel around the sun takes 365.24 days, an extra day is needed every fourth year, called a Leap Year. This extra day causes the exact day of the equinoxes and solstices to vary. In addition, the elliptical orbit of the earth results in different lengths of astronomical seasons.  

    These changes make it difficult to achieve consistent data collection and compare seasons from one year to the next. Because of this, meteorological seasons came to be.

    Meteorological spring

    Meteorological seasons are split into three-month groups based on the annual temperature cycle and the calendar. Winter includes the coldest months of the year and summer has the warmest months.  

    Both spring and fall are transitional, where temperatures are rising (spring) or falling (fall). Meteorological observing and forecasting led to the creation of these seasons, and they are more tied to the monthly calendar we all use today than the astronomical seasons.  

    The consistency of the three-month seasons allows meteorologists and climatologists to more easily calculate seasonal statistics. This, along with monthly statistics, is very helpful for agriculture and commerce throughout the year.  

    Overall, meteorological seasons provide a simple, more common-sense way to describe temperature changes over the course of the year.

    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 Ian Cassette

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  • History-making meteorologist: The story of Charles E. Anderson

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    Charles E. Anderson paved the way for diversity in atmospheric sciences, starting with being a weather officer for the Tuskegee Airmen. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Charles E. Anderson was the first African American to earn a PhD in meteorology

    • Anderson served as the weather officer at several Army Air Force bases

    • He worked at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and North Carolina State University for decades

    One of Anderson’s most notable and recognized accomplishments in his lifetime was being the first African American to earn a PhD in meteorology. 

    This was no easy feat, and in doing so, opened a door for a more inclusive and diverse world of meteorology.

    Anderson’s background

    His background to getting his PhD in meteorology is quite interesting. 

    In 1941, Anderson earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Lincoln University.

    Shortly after, he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps where he was sent to study meteorology at the University of Chicago. It was there where he earned his master’s degree in meteorology in 1943.

    While serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps, Anderson was stationed as a weather officer in Tuskegee, Ala. Some of you may know of the Tuskegee Airmen that Anderson was a part of.

    He spent some time after as a squadron weather officer, training other fighter pilots.

    Listen to him share his experiences in the Air Corps:

    In 1960, Anderson received his PhD in meteorology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

    After receiving his PhD, Anderson served as the Director of the Office of Federal Coordination in Meteorology in Environmental Science Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

    Finally in 1966, Anderson was hired as a Professor of Meteorology at the University of Wisconsin. Although he started in this position, Anderson wore many hats during his time in Madison.

    From becoming the Professor of Afro-American Studies and Chairman of the Meteorology Department to being promoted to Associative Dean in 1978, he spent over two decades teaching young Wisconsinites the importance, science, and mechanics of meteorology. 

    Anderson finished his career at North Carolina State University as a professor in the Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, retiring in 1990.

    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 Brooke Brighton

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  • Atmospheric rivers are becoming more common

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     Atmospheric rivers can bring days of rain to California and the western U.S., leading to widespread flooding and even landslides.

    What You Need To Know

    • These large channels of water can be over 300 miles wide and 1,000 miles long

    • They can cause major beach erosion along the west coast of the U.S.

    • They can produce over 100 inches of snowfall in less than a week



    Atmospheric rivers are becoming more common over recent years for the western U.S.

    What are atmospheric rivers?

    (NOAA)

    An atmospheric river is a large plume of moisture that is transported by tropical winds. These large channels of water can get over 300 miles wide and can stretch to over 1,000 miles long. They can occur all over the world at any time of the year but are more common from December through February.

    Impacts

    A view of the hillside from the beach after a San Clemente house collapsed because of landslides after heavy rain. (Spectrum News/Rae Williams)

    In southern California, the atmospheric river events can be beneficial by providing a majority of their yearly rainfall but they can also be quite hazardous with the risk of flooding and landslides.

    Earlier this month, San Francisco recorded nearly 3 inches of rain in a single day breaking an old record set back in 1887.

    Similar to hurricanes, these events are rated on a scale 1 to 5 to measure their intensity, which has allowed for better planning by local agencies over the last few years according to the Northwest Climate Hub.

    Atmospheric river events in the western U.S. are mostly known for bringing rain, but they’re also responsible for heavy snowfall from the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the Cascade Mountains in the Pacific Northwest.

    Previous events in 2024 brought 6 to 8 feet of snowfall in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. That amount of snowfall typically contributes to drought relief in the area, which is dry for a good portion of the year.

    Climate change

    Unfortunately, with a warming climate, atmospheric rivers will become stronger and more common in the U.S. A warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture, which will allow for these storms to become larger and stronger in the years to come.

    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 Ramel Carpenter

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  • A snowy winter for some while others are searching for snow

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    There is no doubt about it, this winter has been cold at times. With that, has come quite a bit of snow for parts of the country that normally don’t see it.

    What You Need To Know

    • Some parts of the country are well above average with snowfall

    • The south has seen much more snow than normal

    • Parts of the Northeast and Midwest are below average


    The Gulf Coast has been the most recent place with accumulating snow. Although not unheard of, it is rare to see this type of event in any year. Places like Houston, New Orleans, Pensacola and southern Georgia all saw snow last week.

    Florida smashed its all-time previous snowfall record of 4 inches for the state. New Orleans also beat its record snowfall since 1895.

    People stop to take pictures at Jackson Square as snow falls in New Orleans, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

    Take a look at some of the snow totals compared to the average for select southern cities. Most of these areas do not record a seasonal average snowfall, since snow is so rare. In fact, seeing snow all the way to the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico may be considered a once-in-a-lifetime event.

    Many Gulf coastal areas are exceeding their neighbors to the north in terms of seasonal snowfall. In some cases, it is almost double the amount of snow so far this season.

    The snow this season shown on this map shows there is a void in snow for Iowa and Nebraska. Some areas have seen less than 1 inch of snow in these areas. Every single state this season has seen at least some snow. That is pretty incredible!

    Source: NOHRSC

    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 Alan Auglis

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  • The snowiest day in every state

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    Snow can happen anywhere in the U.S., even in the south. But extreme snow that gets measured in feet? Those types of totals aren’t so common. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Alaska and Colorado have the snowiest 24-hour periods on record


    • The March 1993 “Storm of the Century” holds three states’ record snowfall


    • January may not see record snowfall very often, but holds the most record low temperature days


    Snowiest on record

    Alaska is not only home to the lowest temperature ever recorded in the U.S., but also holds the 24-hour snowfall record. On Feb. 9. 1963, a whopping 78 inches of snow fell at Mile 47 Camp in southern Alaska. That probably doesn’t come as a surprise.

    The only other states that have surpassed 60 inches of snowfall in a 24-hour span are Colorado, California and Washington. What do all those records have in common? They all occurred in the mountains at higher elevations of at least 7,000 feet. 

    Elsewhere, the Northeast and the Western U.S. are the only regions that have experienced 40 inches or more of snowfall in 24 hours.

    Florida and Hawaii round out the bottom of the list as the only two states that have never seen a foot of snow. Florida just recently broke its snowfall record, more than doubling the previous record with 9.8 inches in Milton.

    Hawaii’s 24-hour snowfall record is 6.5 inches in 1936, more than 23 years before it even became a U.S. state. 

    Extreme snow does not directly correlate with extreme cold

    When you look at every state’s record low temperature, half of them are in January. You might think that January would also hold the most 24-hour snowfall records, but that isn’t the case.

    Only six 24-hour snowfall records have happened in January, coming in behind February, December and March. 

    So, why do more big snows happen when it’s not as cold outside? There are a few reasons, but the main one is moisture.

    While January may be the coldest month with more frequent snowfall since temperatures are more likely to be below freezing, colder air can’t hold as much moisture as warm air.

    Later in winter and early in spring, temperatures are warmer than in the middle of winter. With warmer temperatures there are fewer snow storms, but when it happens temperatures are likely to be close to freezing, meaning the air can hold more moisture than bitter cold air, producing more snow under the right conditions.

    We can take older records with a grain of salt… or a flake of snow

    This part is where it gets a little tricky. While a lot of things in the weather world have remained constant for decades, snowfall measurement is not one of them.

    Not only have snowfall measuring techniques changed over the years, but we have to rely on people to measure snowfall, not automated devices, which can lead to inconsistencies.

    Nowadays, we measure snowfall on snow boards, and we take measurements every six hours. That practice became the standard in the 1950s, but later at some observation sites.

    Before that, early observers only took measurements every 12 or 24 hours, sometimes on the ground without a snow board. Another method was measuring the liquid after the snow melted, then applying a 10:1 snowfall ratio, which is no longer done anywhere. 

    Here is how you can measure snow at home. 

    Even though some of the older reports may have used different methods, NOAA’s State Climate Extremes Committee (SCEC) has reviewed and accepted all the records.

    What are some of the notable records? Alabama, North Carolina and Tennessee’s 24-hour snowfall records were all set during the 1993 “Storm of the Century.”

    That powerful cyclone not only led to those snowfall records, but produced extreme cold, high winds, deadly tornadoes and devastating storm surge that brought impacts from Canada to Honduras.

    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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  • LIVE CAMERAS: Winter storm brings snow across the South

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    Winter Storm Warnings are in effect.

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    Spectrum News Weather Staff

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  • Ohio State wins College Football Playoff championship

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    ATLANTA — Instead of crying over another collapse, Ohio State can celebrate another national title after holding off a Notre Dame comeback bid Monday night to walk away with a nailbiter of a 34-23 victory over the Fighting Irish.

    Will Howard hit big-play receiver Jeremiah Smith for 56 yards on a late third-and-11 to lock down a game that had been a laugher, then turned into something else.

    Trailing 31-7, Notre Dame scored two touchdowns and two 2-point conversions to make it a one-score game late in the fourth quarter.

    The Irish stopped Ohio State on the first two plays of the next drive and used their timeouts. But on third down, Howard found Smith in single coverage on the right sideline and dropped his best pass of the season into the hands of the second-team All-American.

    “They were running man coverage and I said, ‘Hey, I’m gonna let this loose and let him make a play on it,’” Howard said.

    It set up a field goal that started the celebration in earnest (and helped Ohio State cover the 8 1/2-point spread at BetMGM Sportsbook). And it closed out a seven-week climb from the depths of a program-shaking loss to 20-point underdog Michigan to the top of college football after this, the debut of the sport’s 12-team playoff.

    Ohio State will bring its sixth “natty” and first since the 2014 season back to the Horseshoe in Columbus.

    “It’s a great story about a bunch of guys who have just overcome some really tough situations, and with the point where there’s a lot of people that counted us out (they) just kept swinging and kept fighting,” Buckeyes coach Ryan Day said.

    Howard, a transfer-portal success story from Kansas State, threw for 231 yards and two scores, but nothing will beat the pass to Smith with everything on the line.

    The receiver, who had been bottled up by Texas in the semifinals then fairly quiet for most of this game, finally got loose for the kind of play he’s been making all year. He finished with five catches for 88 yards.

    Ohio State scored touchdowns on its first four possessions, then added a field goal on its fifth.

    When Quinshon Judkins (100 yards, 11 carries, three TDs), a transfer from Mississippi who highlighted Ohio State’s judicious use of the ever-growing portal, busted a 70-yard run to set up the score that made it 28-7, this game looked over.

    It wasn’t, and now Irish coach Marcus Freeman will have to answer a few tough questions — one about the failed fake punt in the third quarter that turned into a field goal for a 31-7 lead; the other about sending Mitch Jeter in for a short field goal attempt while down 16 and facing fourth-and-goal from the 9. It might have looked like a better call had Jeter’s kick not clanged off the left upright.

    Really, though, Ohio State was the better team. The Buckeyes outgained Notre Dame 445 yards to 308. Howard completed his first 13 passes and never really got stopped. Ohio State punted a grand total of once.

    The Buckeyes rolled through four games in the new, expanded playoff — what great timing for Ohio State, which didn’t even play for the Big Ten title — by an average score of 36-21.

    Ohio State was seeded eighth in the tournament, but the seedings were pretty much meaningless. The worse seed won every game in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, and the Buckeyes dominated in this title-game showdown of No. 7 vs. No. 8.

    It puts to rest, for now, any angst about that 13-10 Michigan loss in November — Ohio State’s fourth straight in the series — that ended with a brawl after Wolverine players tried to plant a flag at midfield. The whole scene left a lot of folks, both in and out of Buckeye circles, thinking Day, in his sixth season, had outlived his usefulness on a campus that hadn’t tasted a title in a decade.

    Instead, he’s on a list of title-winning coaches with Urban Meyer, Jim Tressel, Woody Hayes and Paul Brown. Also, Day’s .873 winning percentage is third among coaches with 50-plus games — one spot behind none other than the Notre Dame legend Knute Rockne, himself.

    College football still has never had a Black coach win the national title. Freeman was trying to become the first.

    Instead, another kind of history. This marked the first time the Big Ten has taken back-to-back titles since 1942. Last year’s champion was Michigan, which was sitting home watching this one, but still played a special role in a Buckeyes redemption story hardly anyone saw coming.

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    Associated Press

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  • History of Inauguration Day weather

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    Inauguration Day 2025 is shaping up to be a cold one in our nation’s capital. However, more notable weather has occurred, as we swear in our nation’s leaders.

    What You Need To Know

    • Inauguration Day used to be in March

    • Only a handful have seen temps below freezing

    • Rain is historically more common than winter weather



    While the presidential inauguration dates back to 1789, official weather records for Washington, D.C. go as far back as Ulysses S. Grant’s second inauguration in 1873. That still gives us weather information for 38 inaugurations.

    Weather history

    The inauguration also used to happen on March 4, but changed to January 20 in 1937, with the second inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

    Snow isn’t usually a big concern, for the most part. Six inaugurations had measurable snow, and the last one was in 2001. Measurable precipitation in general – snow or rain – has happened on 15 of the 38 inaugurations since 1873. Just a trace of rain was measured on Inauguration Day for Joe Biden in 2021.

    Five inaugurals had a high of 32 degrees or colder, while 10 had a high of 50 degrees or warmer. It’s worth noting that four of those mild ones happened since the inauguration date changed to January 20.

    Since weather is an important part of daily life, there are unofficial weather records for earlier inaugurations, as compiled by the National Weather Service toward the bottom of this page.

    Inauguration weather records

     

    Noteworthy inauguration weather

    One of the earliest and most tragic instances of inaugural weather is the swearing in of William Henry Harrison. It was a cold and blustery day, with the new president giving a 100 minute address, and riding a horse without a hat or overcoat. While history can’t confirm the cause, this may have contributed to the shortest presidency on record.

    In a story just as tragic, President Franklin Pierce was also sworn in on a wintry day, with continual snow for most of the day. It came down so heavily that the crowd gathered for the festivities dispersed. Abigail Fillmore, first lady to the outgoing president Millard Fillmore, caught a cold because of the weather. This developed into pneumonia and she died at the end of March.

    John F. Kennedy’s inauguration day in 1961 was a cold one, but that wasn’t the only issue. A snowstorm blanketed the nation’s capital with eight inches of snow the day before through the morning of.

    The snowy weather for William Howard Taft’s inauguration in 1909 forced the event to be moved to the Senate chambers of the U.S. Capitol, rather than the usual spot on the East Portico.

    Taft and Roosevelt make their way to the Capitol through the snowy streets of Washington, D.C. in 1909. (Library of Congress)

    Taft and Roosevelt make their way to the Capitol through the snowy streets of Washington, D.C. in 1909. (Library of Congress)

    It wasn’t snow, but a washout that put a damper on FDR’s second inauguration. Sleet and freezing rain was recorded in the morning, switching to all rain in the afternoon. The president rode in an open car with a half-inch of water on the floorboards. During the inaugural parade, the rain continued, contributing to the wettest inauguration on record. 

    This year’s forecast

    While a historic weather day isn’t in the cards for this year, colder-than-average temperatures are expected with the possibility of some light snow in the pre-dawn hours of Monday. Temperatures will only be in the 20s during the afternoon.


    President-elect Donald Trump will take the oath of office from inside the Capitol Rotunda on Monday due to forecasts of intense cold weather.

    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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  • 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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  • Prescribed burns: Fighting fire with fire

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    Have you ever heard the expression “fighting fire with fire?” In its most literal sense, it can describe the practice of igniting prescribed fires to prevent future wildfires.

    We rarely think of fire as a good thing, but in this case, it is.

    What You Need To Know

    • Prescribed fires help maintain healthy forests and prevent future wildfires

    • The U.S. Forest Service ignites about 4,500 prescribed fires each year

    • Firefighters use natural barriers, control lines and pretreatments to control the flames


    A prescribed fire is a planned, low-intensity fire conducted by a team of trained professionals under specified weather conditions to restore health to ecosystems that depend on fire.

    Not only do prescribed fires reduce hazardous fuels that destructive wildfires feed on, but they could slow large wildfires and diminish their severity in the future.

    The goal? To restore and maintain healthy forests across the U.S.

    The U.S. Forest Service established a 10-year Wildlife Crisis Strategy to increase forest health treatments across the country. The Forest Service conducts these burns nationwide. While most of the focus is on treatment in the Western U.S., the plan includes forests in the South, Midwest and Northeast.   

    According to U.S. Forest Service Spokesperson Shayne Martin, “a healthy forecast is capable of self-renewal following drought, wildfire, beetle outbreaks, and other forest stresses and disturbances—much as a healthy person stands a good chance of recovering from a disease or injury.”

    The process

    The U.S. Forest Service conducts prescribed fires during the fall, winter and early spring. The weather has to be suitable for a prescribed fire, to ensure the safety of the crew and surroundings.

    Since dangerous fire weather is low humidity and gusty winds, the ideal conditions for a prescribed burn include high humidity and calm winds to lessen the threat for a prescribed fire going out of control. 


    During the prescribed fire, firefighters will use natural barriers, control lines and pretreatments to control the flames. The U.S. Forest Service says they routinely coordinate prescribed burning with the state or local air quality regulatory agency or state forestry agency to ensure that the smoke remains manageable.

    Along with the protection that prescribed fires provide for the land and people who live around it, it can also provide benefits for animals.

    Prescribed fires can provide forage for game and remove unwanted species that threaten the native species. It can also improve the habitat for threatened and endangered species.

    When things go wrong

    The benefits of prescribed fires far outweigh the negatives.

    On average, the U.S. Forest Service says that about 4,500 prescribed fires are lit every year, treating about 1.3 million acres across the National Forest System.

    Shayne Martin said, “almost all prescribed fires—99.84%—go according to plan. However, we cannot underestimate how destructive prescribed fire escapes can be.”

    Last spring, an escaped prescribed fire in New Mexico ended up becoming the largest and most destructive wildfire in state history.

    Satellite imagery of smoke plumes from the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire (right) and the Cerro Pelado Fire moving east during a wind event on April 29, 2022. (NOAA/GOES 16)

    The Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire burned more than 341,000 acres in New Mexico after two separate wildfires merged.

    The Hermits Peak fire began when the U.S. Forest Service lost control of a prescribed burn on April 6, 2022. Later in April, it merged with a holdover fire from prescribed pile burn in January in Calf Canyon.

    The two fires burned into each other during a time of dangerous fire weather with strong winds a low humidity, allowing them to combine into one. 

    This case was an extreme outlier, and the U.S. Forest Service strives to continue to use prescribed fires as a key management tool that is necessary to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire and improve the resiliency of forests.

    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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  • The ways wildfire smoke affects your health

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    Wildfires do a great deal of damage not only to the environment but also to our health.

    What You Need To Know

    • Wildfire smoke can penetrate deep into the lungs

    • It can even get into your circulatory system

    • The smoke can also affect our pets

    • There are a few things you can do to protect your health

    What’s in wildfire smoke?

    Wildfire smoke isn’t just a mix of gases. It also contains burnt material from plants, building material, and anything else the fire burns.

    (Pixabay)

    Some particles are so small, they can penetrate deep into the lungs, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency states they can even get into our circulatory system.

    Wildfire smoke affects the entire body

    Smoke from wildfires can affect your health in many ways.

    The CDC says it can cause:

    • Coughing
    • Trouble breathing
    • Asthma attacks

    And wildfires don’t just affect the lungs. It can also cause:

    • Headaches
    • Fast heartbeat
    • Stinging eyes
    • Chest pains
    • Tiredness

    The people most prone to these effects are older adults, children, pregnant women and people with respiratory and heart conditions.

    (Pexels/Vlada Karpovich)

    However, everyone should be cautious, especially when Air Quality Alerts go into effect for your area.

    Pet risks

    Smoke affects not only people. It can also harm your pets.

    According to Dr. Colleen Lambo, a veterinarian with The Vets, your furry friend can also experience the same respiratory issues.

    Smoke can lead to coughing, difficulty breathing and even wheezing, so take care of your pets just as you would yourself. 

    What you can do to protect your health

    There are a few things you can do to help protect yourself. 

    Pay attention to your local weather and alerts that go into effect.

    Stay indoors as much as possible if the smoke is thick in your area and use an air filter to make sure the air in your home stays clean. 

    Wearing a mask will protect your lungs if you have to go outside, filtering out harmful wildfire smoke particles.

    Don’t use a vacuum as it can stir up dust in your house, and avoid burning anything that could pollute the air more, such as candles.

    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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