Messages

46

Everything Else TWC / Re: Weather Porn

« on: September 26, 2010, 01:15:13 PM »

In the classic years OCMs didn't make casual references to "gutter" humor or sexual orientation. That's been more of a modern trend. Contrast the video posted or Stephanie's comments awhile back about Mike Bettes "drinking his own urine" to what I thought was a humorous comment made by Carl Parker yesterday during a tropical update when he was referring to the spaghetti models of Matthew: He said it looked like a "sea urchin". That's more like what you would hear back in those days (e.g. Dave Schwartz). Of course that was during a time when the Weather Channel was focused more on serious weather broadcasting than on the current 'Weather-tainment' thing.

47

General Weather Chat / Re: Weather Photo Thread

« on: September 23, 2010, 07:08:28 PM »

These photos were taken yesterday. Showers & scattered thunderstorms hopscotched their way through my area in the evening but didn't produce much rain.

48

General Discussion / Re: The Front Porch

« on: September 22, 2010, 06:47:36 PM »

Why does my calendar say the first day of fall is tomorrow?

I just looked online...fall doesn't officially start until 11:09 ET.

The 23rd would be the first full 24 hr. day of the autumnal equinox. What makes 2010 different is that a full moon will coincide with it. First time since 1991.

49

General Weather Chat / Re: 2011 Edition of the Farmer's Almanac & Winter Outlook

« on: September 20, 2010, 12:06:51 AM »

It's been quite dry here as well since late July with no rainfall relief in sight. This dry spell is definitely turning to drought.  The outlooks are indicating average precipitation here but it remains to be seen.

50

Local Forecast / Re: Song ID request Jan 1988

« on: September 19, 2010, 11:06:44 PM »

Awesome, thanks Matt! Somehow I overlooked the video when browsing. I thought the artist sounded familiar. The song Route 101 has been used occasionally.

51

Local Forecast / Song ID request Jan 1988

« on: September 19, 2010, 03:52:57 PM »

Can anyone name the LF tune below from Jan 1988? It didn't appear on playlists of the time that I know of. A lot of songs didn't back then. Thanks in advance.

52

General Weather Chat / Re: Tornado hits New York City area!

« on: September 17, 2010, 09:09:46 PM »

Still radar image of the NYC thunderstorm event.

53

Everything Else TWC / Re: Blooper Thread

« on: September 17, 2010, 08:56:25 PM »

YWT was having a few issues this morning. First pic was a text typo. Oops. The second (NE headlines) doesn't quite make sense. The southern forecast was "scattered T'storms across southern" .... where? The Football Forecast high temp for Saturdays Seattle game looks innocuous until Mike Bettes corrects it by saying the games' high will be 59°.

54

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: September 17, 2010, 06:31:18 PM »

You know better than to think weather happens on the weekend!

According to the program schedule it doesn't.   

55

Hurricane Central / Re: Hurricane Central 2010

« on: September 17, 2010, 05:49:09 PM »

The 2010 Atlantic season may seem like a dud to most people in the United States, but it's officially an above normal season already despite that we still have over two months to go.  We've had 11 tropical storms and 6 hurricanes to this point, which is exactly at the normal climatology values.  We're only supposed to have 2 major hurricanes in a normal season, but we've already had 5 so far.  What's really impressive is that 4 of those 5 major hurricanes reached Category 4 intensity. 

Seems there's a tendency by the general public to judge a tropical season by the number of landfalls. A busy season doesn't equate landfalls nor does a slow season mean no major impact. So far this year, the coastal U.S. has been spared. One of the slow seasons (1992) delivered one of the most memorable and expensive hurricanes on record: Andrew.

56

Local Forecast / Re: When Did Your Older STAR Get Upgraded To The IntelliStar?

« on: September 07, 2010, 06:29:56 PM »

It was early 2004, February I believe... I really didn't pay much attention because I confused the two stars at first since they had the same background.

Yeah, that's why I can't really remember exactly when mine was upgraded either. At first, the only difference I noticed was that more narration was added.

The only changes made here at the time were the Doppler radar (with the countdown hours) plus the LDL went to a solid black background. Other changes were made as the IntelliSTAR continued to update.

57

General Weather Chat / Re: Pennsylvania: May 31st curse

« on: September 06, 2010, 03:23:55 PM »

On May 31st, 1998 a confirmed F3 tornado touched down in Berks County during a severe thunderstorm in the evening. The F2 tornado mentioned earlier also was reported in NE Phila. (June 1st). There was an F0 reported in Willow Grove, not sure if it was the same one. At the time, the severe storms were reported by PECO to be the second worst in terms of power outages and there was an estimated 7000 lightning strikes occurring within one hour.

The days surrounding May 31st seem to be severe prone as well. On May 29th, 1995 there was an F0 tornado near Norristown, golf ball size hail in the Royersford/Pottstown area north of Phila and baseball size hail in northern Chester County according to storm reports.

58

Local Forecast / Re: When Did Your Older STAR Get Upgraded To The IntelliStar?

« on: September 06, 2010, 10:06:24 AM »

Norristown area IntelliSTAR upgrade:

Comcast
Willow Grove / N. Phila Airport
021895
Feb 10, 2004

59

Programming / Re: Tropical Update maps

« on: September 06, 2010, 09:18:32 AM »

Thanks everyone. Glad you like them!  . Here's yet another .... from a global perspective.

60

Everything Else TWC / Re: Blooper Thread

« on: September 05, 2010, 12:48:57 PM »

Sorry for this late post. I've been away for a few days.

The 60 second forecast was having issues overnight Aug 31st. In the northeast/upper midwest 32° reports cropped up in 3 Philadelphia locations and one at ... San Diego, MI?
On the southern map, looks like an early season arctic outbreak is heading to the Gulf region at 3 more Philadelphia locations plus Houston.