Messages

1381

Hurricane Central / Re: Hurricane Shary

« on: October 30, 2010, 10:55:42 PM »

Until the NHC downgrades it in post-season analysis, I'm going to continue to call it a hurricane.

1382

Weatherscan Discussion / Re: Weatherscan Topic

« on: October 30, 2010, 08:20:50 PM »

Ski is back

Eastern New England Weatherscan: Winter Ski Addition

So interesting how the "Weather Safety Tip" in the "Ski & Snow" forecast is about severe thunderstorms. 

1383

Hurricane Central / Re: Hurricane Shary

« on: October 30, 2010, 08:18:54 PM »

Shary is now a hurricane with winds of 75 mph as of 5 AM EDT.  It won't last too much longer as it heads harmlessly into the open Atlantic.

Looks like someone at the NHC wants to run up the # of hurricanes to me   

If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's probably a duck.

Should a hurricane be conveniently ignored simply because it's not bothering land, is tiny, and extremely short-lived?  Are we to count only the Katrinas, Andrews, and Hugos?

1384

IntelliStar 2 Discussion / Re: IntelliStar 2 Beta Launch

« on: October 30, 2010, 01:05:44 AM »

2.) Is there a version of the almanac that has record temps instead of moon phases like on the IS?

I personally haven't seen it in any of the videoclips I've encountered so far.  Either it hasn't been implimented yet, or it simply wasn't included in the HD Star.  Personally, I prefer the temperature information to the moon information.  The SD Intellistar in my area uses only the temperature page.  I haven't seen a moon phases page in years and years, actually!

3.) Have there been any bugs?

There was a videoclip posted somewhere (in this forum, maybe?) with a couple of visible bugs.  Since this is new technology still in the beta stage, I'm sure it's guaranteed that there will be bugs.

1385

Hurricane Central / Re: Tropical Storm Tomas

« on: October 30, 2010, 01:01:24 AM »

That means only two names left (Virginie and Walter)! This has been an interesting season.

It has been.  As I said not too long ago, it really wasn't until September when I stopped thinking that the predictions for this season were wrong.  After all, June and July were especially quiet months (though this isn't too far away from normal), and August wasn't particularly spectacular.  I remember thinking that the only way this could turn out to be the banner year they were predicting would be if September was absolutely madcap, which it was... and October, too.

Will this year have to start using the Greek alphabet again like in 2005?  I doubt it, but if I have to give a prediction, I'd say Alpha is at least a possibility: 40%.  Down to 20% for Beta, but that's it.

1386

General Weather Chat / Re: Severe Weather Threat: Tuesday, October 26th

« on: October 28, 2010, 09:37:24 PM »

Oh, and here is the AMAZING satellite image of this storm. Isn't it impressive? 

Broken link.  From the URL you provided it looks like you're trying to address in image in your gmail account.

1387

Programming and Graphics / Re: TWC Revamp: Strong Chance Of Less Weather Coverage

« on: October 28, 2010, 12:24:34 AM »

The part that changes a topic that is always constantly occurring and becoming argumentative 

Since when does "bunny" = Eric ? 

1388

Programming and Graphics / Re: TWC Revamp: Strong Chance Of Less Weather Coverage

« on: October 27, 2010, 07:03:00 PM »

NBCU is destroying The Weather Channel. 

I completely agree... even though it appears such sentiments are frowned upon here.

1389

Everything Else TWC / Re: TWC Getting Back Into Weather?

« on: October 26, 2010, 12:09:31 PM »

Once upon a time, each cable network had its own distinct identity and its own reason for being.  Roughly 10-15 years ago, they started to slowly meld into a little bit of the same thing on each network, with just a hint of what previously made each network unique.

For example, "Sci Fi" is now "SyFy" to downplay its previous focus on science fiction.  "The Learning Channel" is now "TLC," and its programming is now lacking in anything that could be termed "learning."  "ABC Family" keeps the word "Family" in its name because it is contractually obligated to do so, but that's where anything "Family" begins and ends.  Fox News and MSNBC are no longer news organizations, but "analysis and opinion" networks, although only MSNBC openly states that.  Basically, it's only ESPN that hasn't changed its focus over the decades.

1390

Programming and Graphics / Re: TWC Revamp: Strong Chance Of Less Weather Coverage

« on: October 26, 2010, 12:05:50 PM »

Just as long as there's still music, and Local on the 8s, that's fine with me.

That's what Weatherscan is for.  Does Weatherscan, which offers constant local weather, replace The Weather Channel?  Not even close.  The two compliment each other, not compete with or replace each other.

1391

Forecasting / Re: Ask The Weather Expert!

« on: October 26, 2010, 01:26:36 AM »

Bombogenesis (pronounced "bomb-o-genesis") is the term for a mid-latitude cyclone that rapidly deepens and intensifies at an extreme rate.  A low has to drop at least 24 mb in a 24-hour period to qualify, which means a deepening rate of at least 1 mb per hour.  Atmospheric conditions have to be almost ideal to allow for air to converge into the low, rapidly ascend, and escape out of the low much faster than the air coming in at the surface to replace it for the pressure to drop so quickly.  The more proper term for the formation and intensification of any cyclone is cyclogenesis, but bombogenesis is just the extreme version of it.

   Thanks - that's an excellent definition!

1392

Programming and Graphics / Re: TWC Revamp: Strong Chance Of Less Weather Coverage

« on: October 25, 2010, 09:08:36 PM »

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!   

1393

Hurricane Central / Re: Tropical Depression 19

« on: October 20, 2010, 11:57:20 PM »

If Tropical Depression #19 is able to intensify in the western Caribbean, it'll be given the name of Richard.  It might be worth pointing out that there's only five names remaining on the 2010 list right now.  This depression doesn't appear to be a threat to the United States at this time, but Central America could be seeing a lot more rain soon.

I doubt this year is going to be like 2005 when the Greek alphabet had to be used, but certainly any season that makes it to "R," or even close, is quite a busy one!  And it's amazing how quiet the start of the season was, considering that all of the forecasts were for a very busy season.  Even I started to have my doubts!  I began thinking that the only way the season could be considered "above average" would be a huge explosion of storms later on... and that's just what happened!

1394

Programming and Graphics / Re: Ask TWC Your Questions

« on: October 20, 2010, 05:59:20 PM »

According to the observations log, the problems began at 12:35 on Tuesday, with a brief recovery until the Jupiter-style readings returned... and then stopped altogether.

19   15:15   NW 938   270.00   Partly Cloudy and Windy   SCT070   61   32         29.91   NA         
19   13:55   W 1281   10.00   Partly Cloudy and Windy   SCT070   61   32         29.93   NA         
19   13:35   W 1055   230.00   Fair and Windy   CLR   61   32         29.94   NA         
19   13:15   NW 1283   10.00   Fair and Windy   CLR   59   32         29.95   NA         
19   12:55   W 13   10.00   Fair   CLR   59   32         29.95   NA         
19   12:35   NW 1055   10.00   Partly Cloudy and Windy   SCT055   55   32         29.96   NA

1395

Programming and Graphics / Re: Ask TWC Your Questions

« on: October 20, 2010, 05:57:55 PM »

OT for a sec but Christina brought it up. Monroe Custer Airport is actually down atm and that report is from yesterday at 3:15 PM ET 

I just noticed that on the NWS website. Something must be wrong with the instruments over at MCA. Also, local news/weather stations are reporting nothing under Monroe.

Yeah, I'd call that a malfunction! 

This is what the NWS location page says:

Monroe, Custer Airport
Lat: 41.94   Lon: -83.43   Elev: 617
Last Update on Oct 19, 3:15 pm EDT
Not a Current Observation

Partly Cloudy and Windy

61 °F
(16 °C)   
Humidity:   34 %
Wind Speed:   NW 938 MPH
Barometer:   29.91"
Dewpoint:   32 °F (0 °C)
Visibility:   270.00 mi.