2016 Summer in Review

Fall Precipitation Outlook
The Climate Prediction Center is forecasting below normal precipitation across the Deep South and Southeast with above normal precipitation across Montana.

Fall Temperature Outlook
The Climate Prediction Center is forecasting above normal temperatures across most of the United States.

2016-2017 Winter Outlook
NOAA's official winter forecast won't come out until October, but we have finally wrapped up one of our strongest El Nino’s in recorded history. We have started to make a transition into a La Nina-like state. However, most model guidance has substantially backed off on the prospect of a moderate to strong La Nina developing by this winter and is now more in line with a weak La Nina evolving with time.

The 2017 Farmers’ Almanac forewarns that exceptionally cold, if not downright frigid weather will predominate over parts of the Northern Plains, Great Lakes, Midwest, Ohio Valley, the Middle Atlantic, Northeast, and New England this winter. The Farmers’ Almanac’s long-range weather predictions also suggest shots of very cold weather will periodically reach as far south as Florida and the Gulf Coast. In contrast, milder-than-normal temperatures will prevail over the Western States.
 

Know the Lingo: Here are a few weather definitions.
 

Why do leaves change color?
During the spring and summer the leaves have served as factories where most of the foods necessary for the tree’s growth are manufactured. This food-making process takes place in the leaf in numerous cells containing chlorophyll, which gives the leaf its green color. Along with the green pigment are yellow to orange to red pigments as well. Most of the year these colors are masked by great amounts of green coloring. But in the fall, because of changes in the length of daylight and changes in temperature, the leaves stop their food-making process. The chlorophyll breaks down, the green color disappears, and the yellow to orange to red colors become visible and give the leaves part of their fall splendor. The best time to enjoy the autumn color would be on a clear, dry, and cool day.
 

Why do we have more sunlight in the summer than winter?
You might not have noticed this, but the Earth tilts over slightly. If you have a globe at home or in school, you can see that the line between north and south poles, that goes through the center of the Earth, isn’t vertical. It’s actually tilting over by about 23 degrees. In our summer, the north pole is pointing towards the Sun so the Sun rises and sets roughly from due east to due west. In winter, the Earth is on the other side of the Sun so the North Pole is pointing away from the Sun. This means the Sun rises and sets more towards the southeast and southwest. You might notice this as you look out of the window. Think back to how high in the sky the sun was during the summer. Compare this to where the sun is during the winter and you’ll see it’s much lower down towards the horizon. Because the sun is lower down on the horizon, there’s less time for it to travel between horizons. There’s less distance for it to travel so the sun rises later and sets earlier meaning there’s less daylight.
 

When does the hurricane season end?
The Atlantic hurricane season is from June 1st to November 30th. The Eastern Pacific hurricane season is from May 15th to November 30th. 

 

What is frost?
Frost is white ice crystals that form on a surface, like the ground or leaves of a plant. Frost is created when the air temperature drops below freezing and the water vapor in the air freezes into ice crystals.

Why do we have seasons?
As the Earth spins on its axis, producing night and day, it also moves about the Sun in an elliptical (elongated circle) orbit that requires 365 1/4 days to complete. The Earth’s axis is tilted at 23.5 degrees and is why we have seasons. When the Earth’s axis points towards the Sun, it is summer for that hemisphere. When the Earth’s axis points away, winter can be expected.

Weather Jokes: