Scientists at Columbia University’s International Research Institute for Climate and Society recently reviewed 30 years of data. The team researched patterns between short-term climate trends and incidents of tornadoes. Two parameters were determined between rain, wind and monthly tornado activity. Rain that accompanied strong updrafts was paired with winds that spin updrafts produced the most tornadoes. … Continue reading →

Even though Hurricane Season 2012 doesn’t officially start for 17 days, the National Hurricane Center located a non-tropical low Monday near the Azore Islands. The Federal Aviation Administration has approved applications for 25 universities to fly drones in U.S. airspace. Unmanned aircraft were originally developed by the military to advance spying and later bombing applications. With … Continue reading →

In the old days, attempts to locate water was called dowsing. A dowsing rod, divining rod or witching rod was used. As noted in a previous column, the rod was a Y-shaped twig that supposedly jumped upon above-ground contact with a water source. My grandfather would whittle the rod to show us its benefits. However, we … Continue reading →

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms that have done so much for us kids. Our mom, now known as Grandma Shirley, carried out Dad’s directives before he went to work. During the summer, it was daily chores and an afternoon for sports-related activities or trips to the pool. Autumn meant leaves that needed to be raked and … Continue reading →

Since 2006, beekeepers have been puzzled by the vast depletion of their colonies. Some have diminished 30 percent. Previous ideas targeted mites and viruses for the reduction. NBC Nightly News reports that a new clue is being considered. Honeybees pollinate crops and are as fundamental to food production as water or sunlight. Springtime discoveries have found an unusual … Continue reading →

Dew is water that condenses onto grass and other ground objects. Numerous folktales depict the magical qualities of dew. Dew has been used as a lotion for itchy eyes, skin diseases and strengthening sickly children. It is believed to heal gout and sharpen eyesight, especially if collected from the leaves of fennel. For beauty … Continue reading →

Violin makers in the 17th and 18th centuries crafted instruments known for their superior quality. As noted in a previous column, those crafted by Antonio Stradivari are the most sought after. Stradivari lived in Cremona, Italy, from 1644 to 1737, an era known as the Little Ice Age and Maunder Minimum due to reduced solar activity. … Continue reading →

Scientists at the University of Hawaii-Manoa and NOAA’s Pacific Tsunami Warning Center believe commercial ships could assist in providing warnings for potentially deadly tsunamis. Commercial shipping lines traverse the Pacific basin and could initiate global coverage around areas of the Earth that produce tsunamis. All ocean-going vessels are equipped with high-accuracy GPS and satellite communications, and … Continue reading →

More than a million people visit the Galleria dell’ Academia in Florence, Italy, yearly to view the 17-foot masterpiece of Michelangelo Buonarroti’s biblical shepherd, David. As noted in a previous column, over the years weather has caused some damage to the 505-year-old statue. In 1512, lightning struck its base. Weather has not been the … Continue reading →

A year ago, we were anticipating the record rise of the Mississippi River. The National Weather Service posted this item. In 1543, Hernando de Soto experienced a 40-day flood near what is now Memphis. In 1788, a hurricane caused flooding which also marked the arrival of Acadian settlers at Fort Bute, Manchac and Baton Rouge. Another … Continue reading →

Apogee and perigee refer to the distance from the Earth to the moon. The furthest point from Earth is apogee; the closest point is perigee. Tonight’s perigee is the closest this year and will be 30 percent brighter than the average full moon and 14 percent larger. In addition, your coastal interests Sunday morning will find … Continue reading →

In 2011, the world’s wind farms produced 238 gigawatts of electricity at any given moment, 21% higher than 2012. The Global Wind Energy Council predicts that by the end of 2016, nearly 500 gigawatts of electricity will be generated. Four of the world’s largest wind farms are in Texas. State University of New York at Albany researchers analyzed … Continue reading →

Along with Wednesday’s flooding on Essen and Acadian, lightning sparked house fires in Comite Hills and Jefferson Park. Entergy reported 6,600 outages; 1,500 Demco customers were affected. Years ago, much to the irritation of my brother Kevin, Cindy Bridge would call her cat home. She would holler, with her speech impediment, “Miiiiidnight, time for din-oar, (dinner)” at which … Continue reading →

Our state climatologist, Barry Keim, is a faculty member in the Department of Geography and Anthropology at LSU. By operating the Louisiana Climate Office, Dr. Keim and his staff provide a host of services to governmental entities and residents. Each month, his office compiles a comprehensive climate report for Baton Rouge and the state. As we … Continue reading →

Our weather watchers Tracy Blocker, Diane Berthelot and Davis Hotard shared pictures of an interesting weather phenomenon that occurred Friday afternoon. They witnessed a “sundog.” For many centuries, traditional weather forecasters used sundogs as an indicator of rain. Water vapor above 50,000 feet freezes and forms ice crystals. The frozen crystals act as prisms. When sunlight … Continue reading →

A salute to Raising Cane’s and its commitment not only to the community but in developing entrepreneurs. Lemonade stands are popping up all over because of their guidance. With summer 53 days away, Raising Cane’s fresh-squeezed lemonade is great year round. More than 76,000 pounds of lemons are squashed daily, and we did the same when we were … Continue reading →

Around 300 A.D. a father was so enraged when his daughter converted to Christianity, he beheaded her. As noted in a previous column, following the decapitation he was killed by lightning. His daughter was anointed Saint Barbara Dioscorus, the patron saint of lightning victims. British military officer, Maj. R. Summerford while on the battlefield in Flanders in February … Continue reading →

I thought of my Mom last weekend while planting tomatoes in patio pots. In Pennsylvania, my grandfather would “turn over” the garden with a shovel until he was convinced to let Mr. Hollenbeck “disc it up” with his tractor. As noted in a previous column, Mom prepares for one of her first … Continue reading →

Participation in storm chasing has increased for aspiring meteorologists and was certainly nonexistent in the 1880s. However, the growth of photography technologically and in subjects photographed increased after the Civil War. On Aug. 28, 1884, a picture of a tornado, captured by F.N. Robinson in the Dakota Territory, was once believed to be the first twister … Continue reading →

Before 1865, scientists denied the existence of meteorites even though farmers reported hot rocks falling from the sky. On Sunday, residents in two states reported streaks in the sky and thunderous booms, verifying an earthbound asteroid had zipped through space. The loud bangs quickly turned to sonic booms with a few Californians reporting they could feel … Continue reading →

Years ago, our skiing adventures in western Pennsylvania included Seven Springs Ski Resort. Seven Springs remains the premier skiing location from … Continue reading →

Research suggests that sea-level rise is evident in Tahitian corals. Scientists at Oxford University believe a Bolling warming event occurred 14,650 to 14,310 years ago. During the Bolling warming, the high latitudes of the Northern hemisphere increased 15 degrees over tens of decades. Dating evidence for Tahitian corals find the sea-level rise was constrained … Continue reading →

In addition to tides, sunny warm days are the key ingredients in salt farming. Continuing our Saturday column, salt farmers, known as “paludiers,” collect the gourmet of all salts for use in restaurants worldwide. Once a gate traps the sea water, clay walls promote slow evaporation. Seepage leads to shallow pools and the appearance of the salt. Salt … Continue reading →

Salt farming depends on the weather and for French artisan farmers; it’s a labor of love. As noted in a previous column, the wind and the heat of the sun creates a high tide in Guerande, France; an area of marshy meadows, also known as the “Cote Sauvage.” Europeans have harvested salt from the earth in this place … Continue reading →

The Nenana Ice Classic began in 1917 by bridge builders crossing the Tanana River near Fairbanks, Alaska. As noted in a previous column, when the river froze, work stopped and speculation as to an ice break began the wagering. Cash prizes are awarded to those who guess the exact minute the ice broke. Last year, it … Continue reading →

On April 18, 1927, the Great Flood of Louisiana spurred the creation of our existing levee system. Imperfect engineering and shoddy construction has caused the collapse of several dams, and the Johnstown Flood of 1889. As noted in a previous column, on May 16, 1874, 138 people died due to poor construction and a dam break … Continue reading →

Because of the Titanic disaster, the International Ice Patrol was established and later became the U.S. Coast Guard. Its original assignment was monitoring the presence and movement of icebergs in the Atlantic and Arctic oceans. Just before midnight on April 14, 1912, Titanic struck one of nearly 1,000 icebergs previously reported in the frigid waters … Continue reading →

The jet stream is a river of air between 25,000 and 35,000 feet above the Earth’s surface, carrying 140-mph winds. When the polar jet stream and the subtropical jet stream collide over the ocean, enhanced weather events occur elsewhere. The subtropical jet stream is a high-altitude band of wind tracked at 30 degrees north latitude that … Continue reading →

The lack of rainwater prevents needed water for many parts of the world. Locally, experts are suggesting industry located within the chemical corridor utilize water from the Mississippi River rather than freshwater aquifers for industrial applications. Studies indicate 80 percent of the developing world’s health problems are related to contaminated water, with 1.2 billion people unable … Continue reading →

“Weather News” is just that, as I gather weather stories from sources including “The Almanac of The Infamous, The Incredible, and Ignored.” On April 14, 1912, before the Titanic hit an iceberg, the Rev. Charles Morgan, of Winnipeg, fell into a fitful sleep filled with frantic voices and crashing waves. He heard the hymn, “For Those in Peril … Continue reading →

In our younger days, vegetable gardening wasn’t a hobby; it was an assignment. As noted in a previous column, fruits and vegetables planted and harvested were consumed during the cold months. Today, the task is a hobby that my brother Kevin enjoys. He shared with me and his son Spencer how he “put in the garden” as our … Continue reading →

It’s Friday the 13th and on this date in 1871, renowned French scientist Camille Flammarion was writing “L’Atmosphere” when a strong wind gust blew open the window near his desk. As noted in a previous column, in seconds the whirlwind shuffled his manuscript onto the street. The manuscript was transported through the rain to Lahure’s printing … Continue reading →

Bob Fredericks was our high school biology teacher and a good one. Our senior year, advanced biology class included an assignment of collecting 50 species of insects and 50 species of wild flowers. Butterfly nets were provided along with a Ball jar laced with formaldehyde to capture the bugs. Darryl Smialek made the task easier by … Continue reading →

On this date in 1925 remnants of a limestone ball shattered near Bleckenstad, Sweden. As noted in a previous column, Lund University researchers found fossilized marine shells and animal particles resembling a trilobite. On April 11, 1983, a 100-pound ice block smashed onto the pavement in Wuxi, China. “The Almanac of the Infamous, the Incredible and … Continue reading →

Meteorologist Dave Nussbaum reported on our noon news broadcast that Metro Airport reported record heat for the month of March. Our average temperature was 68.7 degrees, which topped the average high of 68.3 recorded in 1945. For the Baton Rouge area, last month also represented the third warmest on record and the 16th wettest on record. … Continue reading →

It’s a time of year for assisting those in need and as noted in previous columns, we’re completing our “Fill a Prescription for the Needy” campaign. Over the past 40 days, and since 1999, more than $500,000 has been collected for the St. Vincent de Paul Pharmacy. “Fill a Prescription for the Needy” is … Continue reading →

Happy Easter. For your Easter services this morning, the official sunrise will be at 6:45 a.m. As noted in a previous column, weather journals will occasionally refer to the tugging, twisting, global wind patterns that include the “westerlies,” the “trade winds” and appropriately for today, the “easterlies.” The weather for your Easter egg hunts and other … Continue reading →

A tradition in the Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches includes dying hardboiled eggs. Eggs that are dyed red represent the blood of Christ shed on the cross. The hard shell of the egg symbolizes the sealed tomb of Christ. Cracking of the hard egg symbolizes Christ’s resurrection from the dead. Our Easter egg hunts in western Pennsylvania were … Continue reading →

Passover begins at 7:27 p.m. and moonrise occurs at 7:41 p.m. For many years, astronomers have determined a full moon by calculating the percentage of illumination. Tonight’s full moon will have 99.7 percent illumination. One school of thought suggests “light” was needed for the Jewish people to leave Egypt, in darkness, and begin their journey out … Continue reading →

Wednesday’s column noted an example of “wind setdown,” when strong winds blow over water, shifting the water body downward and dropping the water level on the upwind shore. Weatherwise Magazine identified an episode of “wind setdown” in 1882 when Major-Gen. Sir Alexander B. Tullock was surveying coastal areas of the Red Sea. His experience was … Continue reading →

Weatherwise magazine reports “wind setdown” occurs when strong winds blow over water for an extended period of time, shifting the water body downward. As noted in a previous column, this downward shift causes a low-angle tilt and the upwind, shore water level drops. Here’s an excerpt about the Red Sea. “As the … Continue reading →

The “April showers” were certainly evident Monday with episdoes of “April hail.” Early-month storms include an episode on April 2, 1958, when New England recorded one of its worst coastal storms. As noted in a previous column, beaches from Cape Cod to Portland reported 50 feet of erosion and miles of seawalls and bulkheads demolished; the … Continue reading →

Major League Baseball began last Wednesday with the Seattle Mariners and the Oakland Athletics at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. As noted in a previous column, an old classmate verified the difficulties of cold weather and baseball. Bob Haine, our star pitcher, had a great fast-ball; throwing a no-hitter our senior year with the Riverside Panthers, … Continue reading →

We’re 11 days into the spring season and after a record warm start for some, we can’t rule out colder weather and snow up north. On this date, 24 years ago, Myron L. Ace and eight of his friends were enjoying their induction into the Guinness Book of World Records. As noted in previous columns, Myron and … Continue reading →

The last time I missed work was three years ago when I broke my foot. On Sunday and Monday I was bedridden with the “chills ’n’ sweats” for what appeared to be flulike symptoms, even after I had the proverbial flu shot. Dr. Ryan Boone and Dr. Edmund Vinci zeroed in on the diagnosis, which was … Continue reading →