J.B’s Journal 8/12/11
If that title seems strange–well, it is. I am starting this new feature today but, don’t worry, it will not appear that often and certainly not on days when there is heavy weather traffic. I love to write. I have been in weather over 55 years (and longer than that if I count high school days when I was assigned to report weather to my 9th grade science class. This “outlet” will let me tell some stories from way back when we did not even have radar and many of the “tools” of today.. Also the story of our trip to Rogers Pass, Mont. I have tried to keep Molly stories off the blog after she was killed (murdered) but Monday morning, I will post a poem that was written by a very nice lady at Amerex Corp., near where we live. and worded as if Molly wrote it and dedicated it to the us and I. Yes, I shed some tears. Now to today’s stuff:
STORY NO. 1: WHEN DESERT WEATHER GOES CRAZY
Thanks to J.C. Zannis for sending me this story..I have always been interested in the city of Arica, Chile in the north desert of that country where it takes 50 years to accumulate even one inch of rain. This summer, (winter there) as much as three feet of snow fell in the mountains. Dry riverbeds became torrents trapping tourists. Windstorms knocked over big trees and damaged numerous roofs. .Soldiers helped rescue 400 people including busloads of foreign visitors trapped in snow drifts and 50 mph winds. This is only part of the story but you get the general idea..
STORY # 2″ WHAT HAPPENED TO THUNDERSHOWERS:?
Back in the “early days” 40s, 50s. 60s, we rarely heard the term “thunderstorms” in weather forecasts. It was all “showers and thundershowers”. Now, that term is rarely, if ever used. Why? I don’t know the answer.
Future stories will include my only live interview on NOAA Weather Radio. You will recognize his name immediately., a story of a lady that drove a long way to tour our NOAA Weather Radio “Station” and how I once got in deep trouble because of one sentence I wrote in a weather story.. Also one night when some big hailstorms were approaching Birmingham when we had no radar, but yet we did!
A FEW WEATHER BY THE NUMBERS
* 97 was the high as DFW Airport yesterday breaking a long string of 40 something days with highs over 100. Wichita Falls almost escaped with an even 100 and Little Rock had a “cool” 78!
* 66 was the low this morning in the North Alabama locations of Black Creek, Valley Head and Cullman. We may have a cooler night over the weekend.
I promise that future posts of this item will not be this long!
Category: Alabama's Weather