Weather by the Numbers 4/18/08
* 1 is how many severe weather warnings has been issued in the USA so far today. (since midnight) That does not count winter weather stuff. The last Tornado Warning was around 7 last evening–issued by NWS Dallas/Fort Worth. A slight risk is still in place today and overnight for SE Louisiana, including Baton Rouge and New Orleans, the south half of Mississippi and the SW corner of Alabama including the Mobile area, Around 10:30 this morning the main line of thunderstorms (not sharply defined) was near the Mississippi River. Lightning activity has gone steadily downhill.
* 8 was the Lower 48 USA lowest temperature this morning at Yellowstone Lake inside Yellowstone National Park. The elevation of the surface of Yellowstone Lake is 7,733 feet and it is surrounded by higher elevations. With cold air drainage, it can get “cold as the blazes” on winter nights. That is another paradox in the English language. Shouldn’t “blazes” imply very hot?
* 13 below zero was the coldest in Alaska this morning at Barrow on the north coast.
* 98 was the USA high yesterday at Laredo, along the Rio Grande. Used to be several 100,000 watt AM radio stations just over the Rio Grande in Mexico. Their power was not governed by the FCC and they could be heard in Alaska at night. Remember XEG? They played country music and had ultra long commercials usually about pills and cure-all ointments, etc.
* 73 was the contrast in temperature across Texas in the last 24 hours–from that 98 in Laredo yesterday afternoon to a low of 25 this morning at Dalhart, in the NW part of the Panhandle. U.S. Highways 54, 87, 385, all come together there. Stopped there one day at an old garage to gas up for about 25 cents a gallon. Some old-cogger ranchers were sitting around playing dominoes with their cowboy hats on. I sat on a nail keg for about 20 minutes to hear some great “Blue Norther” stories. My impatient family did not like that.
* 1,000 acres was how much land area consumed by a raging wild fire 18 miles south of Dumas, in the Texas Panhandle. It was finally brought under control early Tuesday night. NWS in Amarillo said that the fires showed “extreme fire behavior.” (Translation: scary, scary, scary.) The fires were caused by high winds and very low humidity,
* 70 was the high in Portland yesterday as Maine finally starts to warm up. The high in Caribou was 47. Interesting terminology used by the Crown Weather Service describing tonight’s forecast for Caribou: “A mix of stars and clouds.” Reminds me of old temptations when I was still in the NWS. I came semi-close several times, on a clear night with a full moon to say, “Mostly moonie tonight.” opposite of “mostly sunny” in daytime. Never got up enough nerve (not nearly enough) If I had, blood pressures would be peaking in Fort Worth and Washington.
* 8 inches is the current snow depth in Caribou after getting 198 inches this winter. They will surely break the 200 inch mark.
* 6 miles is how long a two-foot thick layer of river ice is being held at bay behind the Caribou Dam. Ice jams can cause serious flood problems in the spring in the cold country.
* 70 is how many times your heart will beat in the next 60 seconds. During that same minute, your bone marrow will produce 180 million blood cells and destroy the same amount. This information from a great 400-page book, “BODY–The Complete Human” published by National Graphic. Of course I had to order a copy, that is one of my 300 weaknesses.
* 1 is now many 6-packs of frosted brown sugar cinnamon pop tarts that I have had this week. I limit myself to that sin only three times each year. Unfortunately this 6-pack vanished before my birthday.
* 24 inches (up to) is how much new snow is forecast for parts of West Montana over the weekend. This includes the town of Chinook. That is a great weather name. A Chinook wind fascinates me no end. Yellowstone Park will also get a lot of snow. (or Jellystone Park if you grew up watching Yogi Bear) Don’t tell anybody but I watched Yogi a lot after getting grown.
FINALLY: This has absolutely nothing to do with weather–zero, zilch. But I wanted to pass along No. 7 of a Dog’s Ten Commandments: “Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I have teeth that could easily crush the bones in your hand and yet I choose not to bite you!”
Out of here…
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