WeatherNation Meteorologists

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<h1>THE MUGGY MIDWEST:&nbsp;</h1>As temperatures soar across the Midwest, the regional phenomenon of “corn sweat” is making matters worse from a humidity perspective.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Midwest is already dominated by humid Gulf air, but with the addition of corn sweat, the dew point continues to climb past seasonal averages. The higher the dew point, the more moisture there is in the air.&nbsp;Once dew points surpass 75 degrees, it’s considered oppressive. Many locations across the Midwest are expected to see dew points reach as high as the mid-70s over the next few days.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/08/sweatycorn-1724791062349.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>WHAT IS CORN SWEAT:&nbsp;</h1>“Corn Sweat” is technically considered the process of evapotranspiration. That’s when plants absorb moisture through their root systems, use the water to create food for themselves, and then release water vapor once the process is complete. And corn can produce a lot of water vapor.&nbsp;&nbsp;<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1682101032367603717" src="https://x.com/NWSSiouxFalls/status/1682101032367603717"></div>According to NWS Sioux Falls, just one acre of corn releases 3,000 – 4,000 gallons of water each day. That means states like Illinois which have around 12 million acres of corn (which is about twice the area of New Jersey) can produce upwards of 48 billion gallons of water each day. That’s nearly 73,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools every day.&nbsp;Corn sweat isn’t a bad thing though. It can be a sign that crops are growing to their fullest potential, said Talon Becker, University of Illinois Extension commercial agriculture educator to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://agdaily.com">agdaily.com</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;Despite the name, all plants go through this process, not just corn. Additional research is now showing that in some cases, soybeans, another staple Midwest crop, contribute more moisture than corn does.&nbsp;&nbsp;So, the next time you’re wiping sweat from your brow during another oppressive Midwestern summer day, just know it could be the crops just letting you know they’re growing well.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Alana Cameron

What Exactly Is "Corn Sweat"?

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Alana Cameron was born and raised in Canada in the city of Mississauga, just outside of Toronto. Alana is the oldest of 4 siblings, all close in age, and grew up playing outside with them in all types of weather. After graduating high school, Alana moved to study at the University of British Columbia in Kelowna for a year before transferring to Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia where she completed a Bachelor of Science in Physics and Atmospheric Science. Upon completion, Alana moved back to Toronto where she completed a post-grad degree in Meteorology at York University. After her post-grad, she went on to complete another post-grad in Broadcast Journalism - TV News at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario. During her final year of studies she had the privilege of interning with the best in the business in Canada at The Weather Network. Once she finished her internship, she got the call from small-town Denison, Texas where she accepted a job as an on-air meteorologist at KTEN-TV, right in tornado alley, covering severe weather from Sherman/Denison (North Texas) to Ada (Southern Oklahoma). After the most active tornado season Oklahoma had seen in May 2019 (105 tornadoes!) Alana is excited to join WeatherNation to cover weather all across the nation. If you're interested in following her on social media she can be found @alanacameronwx!

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CONNECTICUT - Torrential rainfall led to catastrophic flooding in portions of Long Island and southwestern Connecticut this past weekend. Rainfall started the evening of Saturday, August 17th and rainfall totals continued through Monday, August 19th. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/08/Screenshot 2024-08-20 133011-1724182281058.png">The National Weather Service of New York, NY reported rainfall totals between 6-10"+ across southwestern Connecticut and into New York, with totals of over a foot in the city of Oxford, Connecticut from Saturday through Monday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/08/Screenshot 2024-08-20 133018-1724182274643.png">This amount of rainfall led to a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://portal.ct.gov/governor/news/press-releases/2024/08-2024/governor-lamont-declares-state-of-emergency-in-response-to-severe-flooding?language=en_US">State of Emergency being declared by Governor Ned Lamont </a>in response to the severe flooding in Connecticut. This has been declared in hopes of expediting the resources needed for clean-up efforts and infrastructure damage. Governor Lamont also confirmed in a press conference Monday the following:<ul><li>2 fatalities were confirmed in Oxford, CT after their vehicles were swept away in flood waters</li><li>Over 100 evacuated</li><li>Numerous water rescues</li><li>Flash flood emergencies issued <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://x.com/NWSNewYorkNY/status/1825296556083581169">Saturday</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://x.com/NWSNewYorkNY/status/1825432625705779522">Sunday</a></li></ul>Here are some of the frightening scenes in Oxford, Connecticut on Sunday where the heaviest rainfall totals occurred.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1825533175906341192" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/1825533175906341192"></div>As of Tuesday, August 20th clean up efforts are still underway across Connecticut and New York.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1825895572483494112" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/1825895572483494112"></div>

Connecticut Flooding - State of Emergency Declared

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Rob grew up in South Florida, where daily afternoon storms and hurricanes piqued his interest in meteorology early on. That interest was fostered by his teachers and his father, who one time brought him onto the roof of their home to watch a funnel cloud move through the Everglades several miles away. Years of filmmaking and tv production in high school gradually pushed him toward broadcast meteorology at Florida State University, where he joined and eventually led the student run daily weather show. After graduating with a Bachelors of Science in Meteorology, he began his career at KESQ in Palm Springs, California before heading to KFSN in Fresno and WLOS in Asheville, North Carolina. He has covered a diverse array of extreme weather events, including haboobs and flash flooding in the desert, extreme snow in the Sierra, hurricanes, and Appalachian ice storms. He also enjoys telling stories and reporting about weather issues.

Connect with Rob on <a href="https://twitter.com/WxRobBradley">Twitter</a>

Rob Bradley

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The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/meteors-meteorites/perseids/">best meteor shower of the year</a> is expected to peak this weekend! The Perseid meteor shower often producers high numbers of meteors and coincides with warm to mild temperatures, making it one of the most satisfying to take in.2024 shouldn't be an exception as the waxing crescent moon will set early enough to allow for excellent conditions.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/08/Screenshot 2024-08-10 113148-1723311247808.png">The peak this year is expected Sunday night into Monday morning, with the best conditions before sunrise on Monday the 12th. Over 50 meteors an hour could be visible under ideal conditions. To reach ideal conditions, find a place far from city lights (light pollution) and give yourself plenty of time to watch. It typically takes 15-20 minutes for eyes to fully adjust to the darkness. Meteors will appear to originate in the Northeast, near the constellation Perseus (hence the name), but try to watch as much of the sky as possible. Bring a lawn chair and some refreshments to make yourself comfortable (bug spray too!).<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/08/Screenshot 2024-08-10 105518-1723308964726.png">Cloud cover may be an issue for some areas in the Midwest, but the South and West Coast look favorable for clear skies. Happy meteor hunting!<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/08/forecast-1723383037607.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>

Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks Overnight

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Typhoon Gaemi (Kemi) is impacting Tawain this week with torrential rainfall leading to widespread flooding and strong winds. According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, "Typhoon Gaemi made landfall along the northern coast of Taiwan on [July 24th], after completing a rather wild counter-clockwise loop along the east coast of Taiwan during the preceding 12 hours."<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1816146458191749152" src="https://x.com/iCyclone/status/1816146458191749152"></div>While the loop of the storm is unusual, it is not unheard of, it has happened in the past in 1960 with Typhoon Shirley, Mary in 1965, Sarah in 1989, and most recently with Typhoon Sinlaku in 2008. This is research from scientists<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/mwre/146/5/mwr-d-17-0208.1.xml"> Hsu and team in (2018).</a> This can happen when "the environmental flow is distorted or impeded by the Taiwan topography, thereby modifying the TC structure" according to the study. Below is a figure from the research highlighting the center tracks that have rotated around before, like Gaemi.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/07/GTRc8t9agAA4TlN-1721856886757.png">The storm will continue to move to the west through the next few days, bringing heavy rain to mainland China as it continues to weaken. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center forecasts Tropical Cyclones across the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans and was established in 1959 and manned by Navy and Air Force personnel to alert the Department of Defense to potential tsunami threats across the globe.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/07/2024-07-24 15-15-29-1721855848815.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Where you are in the world determines what your tropical names are; typhoons are another name for hurricanes and occur in the far western Pacific Ocean.<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/s2oA3SvCex0" start="0"></iframe></div>

Lucy Bergemann

Typhoon Gaemi Displays Unusual Spin Over Taiwan

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Artist's concept of the NOAA Gulfstream G550. (Image credit: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation)The Hurricane Hunter fleet is getting an upgrade. NOAA announced Tuesday, July 16th, that it is awarding a 106 million dollar contract to Gulfstream Aerospace Company for a fully modified G550 aircraft that will measure the atmosphere around hurricanes and tropical storms starting in 2028. The aircraft is the second that NOAA has purchased from Gulfstream since 2019, with the first G550 to be delivered and operational in Spring 2025. The pair of new aircraft are replacements to the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.omao.noaa.gov/aircraft-operations/noaa-hurricane-hunters">NOAA Hurricane Hunter fleet</a>, the Gulfstream IV-SP, operational since 1996. The Gulfstream IV-SP can, "fly high, fast and far with a range of 4,000 nautical miles and a cruising altitude of 45,000 ft., paint[ing] a detailed picture of weather systems in the upper atmosphere surrounding developing hurricanes." The aircraft also support a range of atmospheric missions, especially those over open waters where sensing of weather conditions is lacking. <div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1813271122076705247" src="https://x.com/NOAA_HurrHunter/status/1813271122076705247?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet"></div>Other aircraft in NOAA's hurricane aircraft fleet include two Lockheed Martin P-3 Orions which fly directly into hurricanes to measure the atmospheric composition. The three NOAA aircraft, together with the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.403wg.afrc.af.mil/About/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/192529/53rd-weather-reconnaissance-squadron-hurricane-hunters/">United States Air Force (USAF) 53rd Weather Reconssiance Squadron</a> based out of Biloxi, MS measure hurricanes and tropical storm conditions throughout the tropical season to bring valuable information to forecasters on land about storm strength, wind speed and motion. According to NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D., “These new state-of-the-art aircraft will greatly enhance NOAA’s ability to gather data critical to hurricane research and forecasting, atmospheric river research and forecasting, climate studies, and other missions.” Sensors on the new Gulfstream 550 include a tail-mounted Doppler Radar System and will be able to fly at an altitude 6,000 feet higher than their predecessor. Better measurement from these aircraft will help forecasters improve intensity and track forecasts as well as provide the public with longer forecast lead times ahead of the storm.

New Aircraft Set to Join Hurricane Hunter Fleet

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If you had the feeling the start of the summer season has been busy from a weather standpoint, you'd be correct. NOAA and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://Climate.gov">Climate.gov</a> have released their <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.climate.gov/news-features/features/us-climate-summary-june-2024">summary for June</a> including major weather events and additions to the Billion Dollar Disasters. In June, 4 new <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/billions/">Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters</a> were added to 2024, bringing the year-to-date total to 15 disasters. According to NOAA, the four confirmed billion-dollar disasters "include[e] two hail events that impacted Texas and Colorado at the end of April and end of May, respectively, one severe weather event that impacted the central, southern, and eastern U.S. in mid-May and a tornado outbreak that impacted portions of the Central U.S. in mid-May.&nbsp;<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/07/billions-1720813584259.png"> Additional possible billion-dollar disasters from June and July are as follows:<ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Central Severe Weather</a>: Hail storms, high wind and tornadoes impact several central states on June 12-13.</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/a-foot-of-rain-leads-to-river-flooding-in-the-plains">High Plains and Midwest Flooding</a> in Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/over-2-million-without-power-in-texas-from-hurricane-beryl">Hurricane Beryl</a> in late June and early July. Beryl became the earliest Category 5 storm ever on record and the first Category 4 hurricane in the Atlantic Basin ever in June. </li></ul>The month of June was also extremely toasty with an average temperature in the lower 48 of 71.8°F, 3.4°F above average. This makes June 2024 the second warmest June in 130 years of record keeping. There were heat waves in the Southwest, Great Lakes, and Northeast. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/07/us-climate-summary-june-temperature-anomalies-2024-07-11-1720813584257.png">Other notable weather events during June included the deadly South Fork Fire that forced the evacuation of the entire town of Ruidoso, NM, and claimed two lives. The fire was started by lightning. Tropical storm Alberto impacted far south Texas and northern Mexico with heavy rainfall, storm surge and damaging winds. According to NOAA, "Some Texas communities saw nearly three times their June average for rainfall over 48 hours from Tropical Storm Alberto, including the Gulf Coast-area city of Rockport, Texas, which received 9.97 inches of rain from the storm; its June average is 3.66 inches. Similarly, Alice, Texas, received 6.57 inches of rain—nearly triple its June average of 2.32 inches."The Lone Star State had its fair share of busy weather in June; early in the month huge hail struck the state. On June 2nd a hailstone over 6.25 inches in diameter hit the Texas Panhandle — this could be the new state record for largest hail diameter.

June Weather Recap: Active Start to the Summer

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The Dog Days of Summer officially began on July 3rd and continues through August 11th and is typically used to describe the most oppressive stretch of the summer in the Northern Hemisphere. However, you may be surprised to learn where it originated for the answer.&nbsp;We look to the stars during this time of the year, the sun occupies the same region as Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky. Sirius is part of the constellation Canis Major giving it the nickname of the "dog star", derived from the Greek word for scorching. The star is so bright that the ancient Greeks and Romans believed it gave off heat and added notable amounts of energy to the sun's warmth.&nbsp;&nbsp;On July 23 Sirius is in perfect synchrony with the sun. The "Dog Days" of summer classify the 20 days before and after this alignment, and the period typically turns out to be the hottest stretch of the summer. The extra heat has nothing to do with added energy from Sirius. In fact, because of how far away the star is its energy contribution is only about one billion of what the sun provides!<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/m0K-EW7IBAQ" start="0"></iframe></div>If you're looking to protect your actual dogs (and cats) from the heat, here are a few tips to help our four-legged friends stay safe during the blistering heat.&nbsp;&nbsp;While pet paws are built to withstand tough walking surfaces, summer temperatures can make the ground too hot for walks. At an air temperature of 80 asphalt heats up to over 115 degrees. Opt for walks in the early morning hours or after sundown when the sidewalks are cooler. If you can’t wait, walk your pup on grassy surfaces or invest in booties to protect your pet’s feet.&nbsp;The inside of a car can also climb to over 100 degrees in just 10 minutes. Don’t leave your furry friend in the car and always look before you lock!If you’re thinking about giving your pet a summer haircut to ditch their winter coat, you might think again. According to veterinarian Dr. Barb Cardwell, “shaving is a no-no. You never want to shave your dog down to the skin. Now you can certainly trim them and decrease some of the fluff but the fur that they have is there for a reason and even the thicker coated breeds will trap a layer of cooler air at the surface of the skin and for about a half an inch or so from that surface outward that will help them maintain a cooler body temperature."&nbsp;It’s important to know the signs of overheating. If your pet displays any symptoms, move them to a cooler space and consult a vet immediately. Keeping your pets cool with plenty of fresh water and time in the shade or A/C will help both of you enjoy the summertime season.&nbsp;

Dog Days of Summer Underway

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The James Webb Telescope is celebrating two years of scientific operations with an incredible new image of two galaxies interacting 326 million light years away! We spoke to the project scientist for James Webb, Amber Straughn, Ph.D., about what Webb the image and what else Webb has discovered. <div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JfyWt0RD6Tw" start="0"></iframe></div> Webb, the world's largest and most powerful space telescope, was launched in 2021, but first began operating on July 12th, 2022, after the telescope unfolded from its compact launch fold, taking many months to calibrate its advanced tools. Since becoming operational, James Webb has been peering farther into space and time then previously possible, helping NASA unlock early mysteries of the universe. By looking farther and farther away from earth, James Webb peers through time due to the delay of light reaching earth from galaxies billions of light years away. This helps scientists see what the universe looked like during it's earliest stages of formation and expansion. This includes Webb's most recently released image of galaxies swirling around one another. Here is NASA's description of this incredible new image: "The distorted spiral galaxy at center, the Penguin, and the compact elliptical at left, the Egg, are locked in an active embrace. This near- and mid-infrared image combines data from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) and MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument), and marks the telescope’s second year of science. Webb’s view shows that their interaction is marked by a glow of scattered stars represented in blue. Known jointly as Arp 142, the galaxies made their first pass by one another between 25 and 75 million years ago, causing “fireworks,” or new star formation, in the Penguin. The galaxies are approximately the same mass, which is why one hasn’t consumed the other." A video breakdown of the image with incredible insight has been released to accompany the image. You can watch that below:<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SQ2jLnq_Gj8" start="0"></iframe></div> For more information about the image and the James Webb Space Telescope, visit the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://science.nasa.gov/missions/webb/vivid-portrait-of-interacting-galaxies-marks-webbs-second-anniversary/">James Webb mission page</a>.

Jesse Kelley

James Webb Telescope Celebrates 2 Years of Operations with a New Image of Distant Galaxies

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The Aurora Borealis may be visible tonight for those in the far northern latitudes of the United States, along the Canadian border. Auroras are ribbons of brilliant light that usually appear around the northern latitudes when charged particles from the sun hit Earth's magnetic field. The particles shed energy as they collide with our atmospheric gasses, giving the aurora a spectacular glow of colors. Aurora Borealis is seen away from our poles and over the northern latitudes during stronger solar events. The aurora was visible in New York on Thursday night and will be again tonight!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/06/aurora-1719610488503.jpg">Earlier Friday there was a level 4 out of 5 geomagnetic storm impacting the Earth, but due to the daylight hours across the eastern hemisphere, we did not get to see impacts from an aurora. Geomagnetic conditions have decreased to a level 1 for tonight. A G1 geomagnetic storm can lead to weak power grid fluctuations, minor satellite impacts, and impacts on migratory animals. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/06/spwx-1719610433065.jpg">According to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, "The increased geomagnetic activity was in response to the arrival of a coronal mass ejection (CME) that departed the Sun on June 25th. The CME was associated with a large filament eruption and analysis indicated a possible Earth arrival as a glancing blow today. Indeed, a disturbance in the solar wind was observed by an observation satellite one million miles from Earth at 5:12am EDT. This was the leading edge of the CME and when it arrived at Earth, geomagnetic conditions quickly intensified and eventually reached G3 levels. The G3 Warning is in effect until 5:00pm EDT [Friday]."<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1806697729248182470" src="https://x.com/NWSSWPC/status/1806697729248182470"></div>So how are the conditions for viewing what is left of the geomagnetic storm? There will be a decent amount of cloud cover over the Great Lakes and Dakotas limiting viewing. The best opportunity for clear skies will be through Montana and northern Idaho. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/06/aurora forecast-1719610266920.jpg">

Aurora Visible Friday Night in North America

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Did you know, that National Sunglasses Day is Thursday, June 27th? This is held every year by the Vision Council, a leading advocate for the optical industry to encourage people to wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Just as you wear sunscreen to protect your skin from harmful UV rays, sunglasses protect your eyes from damage. You can participate in the celebration by posting a selife with your shades on and including the hashtag #NationalSunglassesDay.According to the Vision Council, UV rays "can have damaging long and short-term impacts on vision and quality of life." Sunglasses not only protect your eyes from UV rays but also can protect them during outdoor physical activities. According to The National Institute of Health’s National Eye Institute, "30,000 sports-related eye injuries in the United States each year require a trip to the emergency room [and] Almost 90 percent of eye injuries are preventable with proper eye protection."<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1803839669869650385" src="https://x.com/opticalindustry/status/1803839669869650385"></div>For when you may need your Sunglasses, join WeatherNation for the latest forecasts covering coast-to-coast weather conditions!

National Sunglasses Day - Thursday, June 27th

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Mission Success! The GOES-U Satellite had a successful launch aboard SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket Tuesday, June 25th. The two-hour launch window opened at 5:16 PM ET, and with a 10 minute weather delay, liftoff occurred at 5:26 PM ET from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/06/VO_062524_RSE_CAPE CANAVERAL, FL_LIFT OFF ON GOES-U_NASA_JK_E062524-1719362902325.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>This is the fourth and final satellite to launch in NOAA's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite R (GOES-R) series. The launch team confirmed the satellite’s solar array panels have deployed, and GOES-U is operating under its own power.&nbsp;&nbsp; After about two weeks, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/noaas-goes-u-heads-to-orbit-for-historic-mission">GOES-U will reach orbit more than 22 thousand miles above Earth and will be renamed GOES-19</a>. It will then take about a year to test and confirm instrumentation before shifting to the GOES-East position and replacing GOES-16 over the eastern half of the United States. GOES-16 will remain a backup satellite.&nbsp;&nbsp;Together with GOES-18 over the western U.S., the two satellites will cover half the planet: from the west coast of Africa to New Zealand. They will provide real-time updates of weather and atmospheric conditions in as little as 30 seconds. &nbsp;<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wtxna3nAk6s" start="0"></iframe></div>Technology onboard GOES-U will gather data for hurricane track and intensity forecasts, early warning of severe storms, fire detection, sea surface conditions and much more. It has the same six instruments as the previous four GOES satellites but one new instrument too. GOES-U is equipped with the first operational compact coronagraph to help detect space weather and aid in early warnings for Earth impacts.&nbsp;&nbsp;<ol><li>Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI): &nbsp;Primary on-board instrument for monitoring Earth's weather, ocean, and environment. &nbsp;</li></ol><ol start="2"><li>Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM):&nbsp;operational lightning mapper to help with lightning detection and intensification of storms &nbsp;</li></ol><ol start="3"><li>X-ray Irradiance Sensors (EXIS):&nbsp;provide imaging of the sun and detection of solar flares&nbsp;</li></ol><ol start="4"><li>Solar Ultraviolet Imager (SUVI)&nbsp;</li></ol><ol start="5"><li>The Space Environment In-Situ Suite (SEISS)&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ol><ol start="6"><li>Magnetometer&nbsp;</li></ol><ol start="7"><li>Compact Coronograph (NEW): will help detect coronal mass ejections and forecasters at the Space Weather Center with space weather impacts to Earth, it works by creating a total solar eclipse (as viewed by the chronograph) to observe the Sun's outer atmosphere.</li></ol>All Satellites were built for a 10-year operational capability with additional time for “backup” operations, carrying us into the 2030s. NOAA and NASA are already in development of the next satellite series, GeoXO, Geostationary Extended Observations. The GeoXO project will “provide new and improved observations of the atmosphere, weather and ocean to help address emerging environmental issues, respond to the effects of Earth’s changing climate, and improve forecasting and warning of severe weather and hazards” according to NOAA. &nbsp;

GOES-U Weather Satellite Successfully Launches

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Above - The High-Altitude LiDAR Atmospheric Sensing System. Photo Credit: Honeywell<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rBvAsT28SEc" start="0"></iframe></div>Laser Beams into the sky. Sounds pretty cool, right? Thanks to a partnership between <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weather.gov/news/242201-weather-forecasting">NOAA and Honeywell</a>, this technology could be a new tool for weather forecasting. &nbsp;Honeywell has developed The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://aerospace.honeywell.com/us/en/about-us/press-release/2024/04/honeywell-partners-with-the-national-weather-service-to-deploy-new-weather-observation-technology">High-Altitude LiDAR Atmospheric Sensing System, or HALAS</a> for short. This ground-based weather system uses laser pulses to measure wind speed, direction, humidity, and temperature up to 100 thousand feet above Earth’s Surface.&nbsp;&nbsp;According to Honeywell, the system works by staring into the atmosphere, "almost like staring when you look at the stars at night, the further you stare bogs down the more you see, we can gather information for five minutes, and it depends on our sample, our sample duration, but it's about reading to the point of the atmosphere. Now for certain key parameters, we can take a single point or a single shot in the sphere and read those those variables. For wind speed direction, we do need to triangulate that and average that over a period of time. But it comes from anywhere from five minutes up to a sampling up to an hour. What fits the need, and what the unique use cases are."To forecast weather, initial observations are input into the models. The model data output will only be as good as those initial conditions, and sometimes those are hard to come by, especially when considering the upper layers of the atmosphere. It’s the same reason Hurricane Hunters fly into the eye of a storm for data... better observations mean better model forecasts.&nbsp;Right now, the National Weather Service uses weather balloons, launched twice daily from 122 offices across the country. The balloons cost about $250 each and only showcase a limited profile of the atmosphere.&nbsp;That’s where the new technology comes in with the goal to provide more rapid upper-air observations, especially during rapidly changing weather patterns. The project, still in its initial research phase, has a single sensing station in Sterling, VA, used in partnership with the NWS team in Baltimore.&nbsp;Their meteorologist Jordan Gerth says "The weather service is going to continue to collect the observations that we have today as we approach new technology in a colossal way and determine exactly how we're going to integrate that to maximize the warnings and forecasts that we provide to the public." The job at NWS Sterling (Washington D.C.) is to look "at how this particular system and this capability can be integrated into that so that we have the most robust weather observing architecture or observations in this country.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If the two-year project is successful, expansion of the HALAS system to additional areas of the country will be possible. Honeywell says they are working towards a network of the HALAS systems installed throughout the continental U.S. as well as global partners to run and turn the data into usable insights for models 24/7.

New Technology Uses Lasers to Measure the Atmosphere

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Karissa is the Director of On-Air Operations at WeatherNation. Karissa grew up loving math and science, but really fell in love with Meteorology while attending the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. After two summers of storm chasing in the central plains, she knew that it was the career path for her. Standing in front of a thunderstorm and feeling the cool outflow knock her over was an experience she will never forget. After two years at COD, she transferred to Metropolitan State University of Denver. Karissa graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Science in Meteorology. Her high school and college speech and meteorology professors were extremely supportive and pushed her to succeed. Before joining the WeatherNation team, she previously worked as the Morning Meteorologist at KCAU-TV in Sioux City, Iowa and at WMBD-TV in Peoria, IL. She recently was part of a National Edward R. Murrow award winning team for breaking news for their coverage of the EF-4 tornado in Washington, Illinois. In her free time, Karissa enjoys cooking and trying new foods. She is a self proclaimed 'TV Junkie' who can get into just about any show. She is a die hard Chicago sports fan who loves attending professional sporting events.

Karissa Klos

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El Niño is over. The powerful El Niño/Southern Oscillation (or ENSO) phase that impacted US Weather conditions through the winter and spring has now transitioned. On Thursday June 13, NOAA's Climate Prediction Center reported that we have now entered into ENSO Neutral conditions.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1801238092617335117" src="https://x.com/NWSCPC/status/1801238092617335117"></div>The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is an oscillating climate pattern involving changes in the temperature of waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. Sea surface temperatures (SSTs) over a large swath of the tropical Pacific Ocean can warm or cool anywhere from 1°C to 3°C from normal. El Niño marks above-average sea surface temperatures, while La Niña marks below-average water temperatures. ENSO Neutral means that SSTs are near normal., meaning we are neither in an El Niño or La Niña phase.ENSO Neutral conditions tend to bring the Polar Jet stream farther south, bringing in cooler air for the northern tier of the country. The southern half of the country generally sees warmer than average temperatures, with a wetter pattern in the southeast. This is most amplified during the fall months, but some influences can be felt into the summer too. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/06/Screenshot20240613101308png-1718295194050.png">The forecast for ENSO conditions could have major implications going into the heart of hurricane season. NOAA anticipates the development of La Niña conditions this summer, citing <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.shtml">"the persistent below-average subsurface ocean temperatures and changes in the tropical atmospheric circulation."</a>RELATED ARTICLE: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/noaa-releases-forecast-for-2024-atlantic-hurricane-season">NOAA Predicts Above Average 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season</a>Before 2023, La Niña conditions contributed to three years of overly active hurricane seasons; starting with the record breaking 2020 Atlantic season. La Niña conditions lead to less wind shear in the Atlantic, allowing tropical systems to develop and strengthen. Into the heart of hurricane season, La Niña is forecast to be in full swing. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/06/Screenshot 2024-06-13 102809-1718296107099.png">It will likely continue into the Northern Hemisphere winter of 2024-25. Signals/impacts from ENSO are usually more prominent during winter with cooler than average conditions in the northern tier of the country while it is warmer and drier for the southern part of the continental U.S.. A wetter pattern is more likely for the PNW and Midwest. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/06/la nina-1718316432637.jpg">

El Niño Over, La Niña On Track For Fall

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April and May were historically active months across the central and eastern U.S. for severe weather. There have been 915+ confirmed tornadoes since the start of the year - the fourth most active year to date since 1950 following 2011, 2019, and 2008. In the April-May period alone we have seen over 700 confirmed tornadoes and that number is rising as more tornadoes are confirmed from "report" status to "official tornado" with a ranking. This is the second most active April-May period ever, after 2011.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1798355203655450843" src="https://x.com/NWSSPC/status/1798355203655450843"></div>Tornado reports are any public report of a potential tornado or tornado damage, usually reported on the day of a storm. Reports do not directly correlate to tornadoes at a 1:1 ratio - the same tornado can have multiple damage or sightings. The National Weather Service must individually confirm each potential tornado and rank it on the EF scale of EF-0 to EF-5. According to the SPC, "Historically, for every 100 preliminary tornado reports, at least 65 tornadoes are confirmed.".As of June 4, 2024 there are 915+ confirmed tornadoes YTD and the number is rising as additional tornadoes are confirmed. There have been 402 confirmed tornadoes in May, but a total of 560+ tornado reports. Still, even after tornado confirmation and "data cleaning", we are looking at a historically active year.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/06/confirmed -1717606038335.jpg">The graph below compares tornado reports to an average number of tornadoes year to date. We had a relatively average start to the severe season - in January, February and March our year-to-date tornado reports were sitting at 163 and typically we see around 155 by the end of March. Things really took off in April though with 200 more tornado reports than typical by the year to date. In May, a similar situation with year-to-date tornado reports sitting at 1114 on May 31st, nearly double the average of 606 tornadoes. According to NOAA, "during April, there were 384 preliminary tornado reports. This was more than double the 1991-2020 average of 182.4 tornadoes for the month of April, the second-highest April count on record, and the most tornadoes reported since April 2011."<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/06/YTD VS 2024-1717604362773.jpg">Some of the more impactful tornadoes included two EF-4 tornadoes in Oklahoma and one<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/storm-threat-pushes-into-midweek"> EF-4 in Greenfield, IA</a>. The first EF-4 to hit Oklahoma was on the evening of April 28th in <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/more-destructive-tornadoes-touch-down-in-oklahoma">Marietta</a>. It was one of 33 tornadoes that occurred that evening. The second occurred on the evening of May 6th ripping a 39-mile path northwest of Tulsa, OK through the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/tornadoes-tore-through-the-plains-monday">town of Barnsdall</a> during a "High Risk" day. The "high risk" is the highest level of severe weather outlook the storm prediction center can issue. They typically occur 1-2x/year and we have had two High-Risk days in 2024 and one in 2023. Every single day in May, there was a level 2 or higher severe weather risk, with most days seeing a level 3 or higher threat.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/06/CALENDAR-1717604362769.jpg">

Report: 2024 one of the Top 5 Most Active for Tornadoes

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Did you know that in even an air temp of 65° the inside of a car can quickly heat to near 100° in just a matter of minutes? It is never a good idea to leave your pet in a hot car and in some states there are laws against it. We all know to "look before you lock" and never to leave a child in a hot car, but it is equally important to raise awareness that we should never leave our furry friends in hot cars either. According to the Humane Society, "High temperatures can cause irreparable organ damage and even death."<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/06/car temps-1717607176884.jpg">Here are tips from the Humane Society on what to do if you see a pet left in a hot car:<ul><li>Take down the car's make, model and license plate number.</li><li>If there are businesses nearby, notify their managers or security guards and ask them to make an announcement to find the car's owner. Many people are unaware of the danger of leaving pets in hot cars and will quickly return to their vehicle once they are alerted to the situation.</li><li>If the owner can't be found, call the non-emergency number of the local police or animal control and wait by the car for them to arrive. In several states, good Samaritans can legally remove animals from cars under certain circumstances, so be sure to know the laws in your area and follow any steps required.</li></ul>According to a study done by the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.animallaw.info/topic/table-state-laws-protect-animals-left-parked-vehicles">University of Michigan College of Law in 2023</a>, "31 states have&nbsp;laws that either prohibit leaving an animal confined vehicle under dangerous conditions or provide civil immunity (protection from being sued) for a person who rescues a distressed&nbsp;animal from a vehicle." Many states REQUIRE you to have already attempted to locate the owner or reach out to law enforcement BEFORE attempting to save the animal or only protect law enforcement officers. 20 states prohibit leaving a pet in a hot car AND offer immunity to the rescuer, but again, the rescuer doesn't mean anyone, in some states it can ONLY be a law enforcement officer or veterinarian. Depending on the state the consequence for leaving a pet in a hot car can range from a fine to a felony Those states are (in orange on map below):<ul><li>Arizona</li><li>California</li><li>Colorado</li><li>Delaware</li><li>Illinois</li><li>Maine</li><li>Maryland</li><li>Massachusetts</li><li>Minnesota</li><li>Nevada</li><li>New Jersey</li><li>New York</li><li>North Carolina</li><li>North Dakota</li><li>Rhode Island</li><li>South Dakota </li><li>Vermont</li><li>West Virginia</li></ul>11 states have laws that offer immunity for the rescuer of the animal - again check with your specific state on who qualifies as a "rescuer" and at what point (pre-post 911 call or attempt to locate an owner). They are (in yellow on the map below): <ul><li>Connecticut</li><li>Florida</li><li>Indiana</li><li>Kansas</li><li>Louisiana</li><li>Ohio</li><li>Oregon</li><li>Pennsylvania</li><li>Tennesse</li><li>Virginia</li><li>Wisconsin </li></ul>Check with your local laws before you may find yourself in this situation. And if your state doesn't yet have a law prohibiting leaving pets in parked cars, you can take action by calling local representatives and proposing a change.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/06/SPECIFIC LAWS-1717610799988.jpg">

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THE MUGGY MIDWEST: As temperatures soar

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New Aircraft Set to Join Hurricane Hunter Fleet

Artist's concept of the NOAA Gulfstream G550.

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GOES-U Weather Satellite Successfully Launches

Mission Success! The GOES-U Satellite had a s

New Technology Uses Lasers to Measure the Atmosphere

Above - The High-Altitude LiDAR Atmospheric S

El Niño Over, La Niña On Track For Fall

El Niño is over. The powerful El Niño/Souther

Report: 2024 one of the Top 5 Most Active for Tornadoes

April and May were historically active months

States with Laws to Protect Pets in Hot Cars

Did you know that in even an air temp of 65°

What Exactly Is "Corn Sweat"?

THE MUGGY MIDWEST:&nbsp;As temperatures soar

Connecticut Flooding - State of Emergency Declared

CONNECTICUT - Torrential rainfall led to cata

Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks Overnight

The best meteor shower of the year is expecte

Typhoon Gaemi Displays Unusual Spin Over Taiwan

Typhoon Gaemi (Kemi) is impacting Tawain this

New Aircraft Set to Join Hurricane Hunter Fleet

Artist's concept of the NOAA Gulfstream G550.

June Weather Recap: Active Start to the Summer

If you had the feeling the start of the summe

Dog Days of Summer Underway

The Dog Days of Summer officially began on Ju

James Webb Telescope Celebrates 2 Years of Operations with a New Image of Distant Galaxies

The James Webb Telescope is celebrating two y

Aurora Visible Friday Night in North America

The Aurora Borealis may be visible tonight fo

National Sunglasses Day - Thursday, June 27th

Did you know, that National Sunglasses Day is

GOES-U Weather Satellite Successfully Launches

Mission Success! The GOES-U Satellite had a s

New Technology Uses Lasers to Measure the Atmosphere

Above - The High-Altitude LiDAR Atmospheric S

El Niño Over, La Niña On Track For Fall

El Niño is over. The powerful El Niño/Souther

Report: 2024 one of the Top 5 Most Active for Tornadoes

April and May were historically active months

States with Laws to Protect Pets in Hot Cars

Did you know that in even an air temp of 65°

THE MUGGY MIDWEST: As temperatures soar