A Meteorologist Wrote This Afternoon "Something" -- My Least Favorite Term in Tropical Meteorology As I Wrote Two Days Ago Since that clump of clouds might turn into "something," what might it be? Tricycle? Restaurant? Painting? I really wish meteorologists would speak/write, "tropical storm" or "tropical depression" when they are talking about developing tropical weather and stop this silly dancing around.  As I wrote earlier this week, we don't worry about tropical weather system on this blog until they are seven days from reaching the United States. We don't try to create worry to get clicks. And, when there is a looming storm, we will clearly communicate about it. 

I was getting a haircut this afternoon and the 2024 Olympics' Opening Ceremony was on live (2:30pm in Wichita is 9:30pm in Paris). It was generally sickening.  NBC will show this in prime time this evening and I wanted to give you fair warning as to what to expect. Below are three screen captures. And, in a trend that I hoped died two decades ago, there were multiple mimes. NBC's Mike Tirico praised French "culture" multiple times through this travesty.  So, watch if you wish but I thought you might wish to know before you expose children to it.  P.S. I'm watching the great Chariots of Fire  this evening (which I taped several days ago) in stead of the putrid opening ceremonies. 

Since April, there have been three Southwest Airlines (SWA) flights that have had serous drops in altitude that, at least as far as the media I have seen, no one seems to be tying the three together.  The first was off the Island of Kauai on April 11.  The plane was headed to the Lihue Airport. The radar shows solid thunderstorms in the area. According to news reports, in addition to the thunderstorm-caused turbulence, the flying pilot pushed the control column down and the plane dropped 400 feet. The thunderstorms are so widespread, one can question whether the plane should ever have taken off from Honolulu. It is against FAA regulations to fly into a thunderstorm , in addition to the thunderstorms appearing on the National Weather Service's radar (below), it would have clearly showed up on the pilot's own radar.  The second was under clear skies outside of Oklahoma City.  Air traffic control had to contact the SWA crew and ask them to check their altitude.  On Approach to Tam

Yale's Climate Connections is one of Big Climate's mouthpieces (public relations organizations) that is lavishly funded to help you and me but -- especially -- politicians believe in scary global warming.  This latest article wonders (almost hopes) we have some catastrophic disaster that would -- finally, at last -- make people get really concerned about global warming. The fact that the public has been nearly drowned in both global warming science and nonsense for the past 36 years (!!) hasn't produced the results they want (nearly complete control of trillions of dollars of resources and an assault on our First Amendment rights) doesn't discourage them. They have plenty of money and time -- after all, this is what they get paid for.  The problem is that the weather is less bad than it was ~100 years ago. Consider these United States records: Worst flood in U.S. history?  1927 Worst tornado?  1925 Worst heat and dust storm?  1931-1936 Worst hurricane by strength: 1938

I'm going to try to give you some impressions without spoilers.  Liked the movie; the three others in our party liked it more than I. I suspect that was because I was influenced by the too-many scientific errors. There's not much chemistry between Kate and Tyler, the two leads.  Kate and Tyler are probably the two worst storm chasers in history. I can't explain why without spoiling parts of the movie but I suspect you'll figure out what I mean.  Twisters  was probably the least impressive IMAX movie I've seen. Normally, I love IMAX but it didn't seem to be more vivid or exciting than I suspect it would on a regular screen. That said, the special effects are terrific.  A movie theatre (for the same reasons as a non-reinforced gym) is a terrible place to shelter during a tornado. The roof can too easily collapse.  Hope Reed Timmer and Pecos Hank received payment for the use of their characters.  I give the movie  three out 🌪️🌪️🌪️ of four funnel clouds. Trivia i

We do not  attempt to make hurricane forecasts more than seven days into the future and, generally, we do not really focus on them until they are about five days out. That is plenty of time to take protective action. The "there's 'something' [hate that term] off the African coast that might do something  in about two weeks," broadcast by The Weather Channel and others is lame and stirs apprehension -- plus, those forecasts are often wrong.  We will do a fine job (just look back at our forecast that had Houston the area of concern for Hurricane Beryl before the NWS) covering hurricanes and tropical storms and give you plenty of time to react. If it costs me "clicks" and advertising revenue, so be it. It is never our goal to frighten people. 

I cannot believe I have to write this again but, In the Eye of the Storm's  derecho episode shows drivers pulling under a bridge -- and, in this case, getting away with it without injury., This is a terrible idea. People have been killed doing it. Please don't!! P.S. I am seeing Twisters  tonight. I'll have some brief comments tomorrow. 

Bad News: The yellow area has a significant risk of wind gusts of 65 mph or stronger.  Excellent News The models go out to August 3 and, as of now, there's nothing to indicate a tropical storm will form that day or the next; which is as far as I care to speculate. 

Now, Big Climate wants to “geoengineer” our climate. This is an incredibly dangerous activity but, evidently, the Biden/Harris Administration is all for it. The risk of “unintended consequences” is high.  The story is here .  What do I mean by "unintended consequences"?   Here’s a recent example. In the 2010’s, it was decided that the sulfur used in the fuel for oceanic shipping fuels had to be eliminated. Via treaty, in 2020, the new fuels were adopted worldwide. And, guess what?  The new, cleaner, fuels are contributing to global warming and making our world hotter.   This was the opposite of the intended effect. See headlines below: So now, even though we have vast gaps in our understanding of the earth-atmosphere-ocean system, we are dumping toxic chemicals into the ocean to "fix the climate." Here's the very basic question: how do we determine the climate has been "fixed"?  By what metric? Temperatures? Number of storms? What? Climate scientists r

In Europe, they are closing solar panel manufacturing plants that were opened just three years ago. You'll find the details here .  Remember: today's global warming movement isn't about saving the planet. It is about money and power. 

Given all of the confusion, this is more important than ever!!

I agree: the constant, unscientific nagging of climate alarmists certainly makes the days seem  longer! But The Guardian  means it literally.  Global warming: Is there anything it can't do?!

His letter... Parting thought: seems like an actual  insurrection. 

Below is a Amazon's AI-generated review from all of the purchasers' comments: It is a great book. To learn more, go here . Happy Reading!!

And, wasn't this hurricane season supposed to be an early one? While Beryl was the earliest Cat 5 in history, what is occurring in this forecast-to-be-unprecedented hurricane season is .... nothing.  While August and September are, climatologically, the worst months hurricane seasons, this forecast -- which runs to July 27 -- would have been unexpected to the "sky is falling" climate alarmist crowd. 

... so I DVR'd Discovery's  Eye of the Storm  about the 2023 Rolling Fork MS Tornado. That was a terrible EF-4 intensity storm that killed 17 people. A number of those who perished were in a mobile home park. There was some unusual video of this tornado that was online right after, so I was looking forward to the documentary.  Unfortunately, the presentation was marred by the "no warning" canard. Above is a screen capture (they were showing the tornado approaching).  The most unusual video online immediately after the storm showed what appears to be two separate lights (autos with their lights on?) apparently rotating around the tornado. My guess is there were at least 100 feet above the ground. I was hoping they would analyze this unusual video and explain the source of the lights. They didn't, at least not to my satisfaction.  While I generally recommend the documentary, if you would like the true story with regard to the excellent forecasts and warning for Roll

There is the likelihood of a damaging wind event over the High Plains after 4pm. Here's the color code: Yellow has a significant risk of wind gusts of 60 mph or stronger.  Red has an enhanced  risk.  Hatching = wind gusts of 75 mph or stronger.  There is the potential for power failures. Please follow me on Twitter @usweatherexpert  for updates this afternoon and evening. 

With the opening of Twisters today, we weather geeks will be out in force for the next few weeks.  "Doctor Rick" is trying to keep things under control.  😉  The first time I took Kathleen out on a date, she initially would not go out on a second because "all I did was talk about weather." Too bad Dr. Rick wasn't around in those days.  Until the excitement of Twisters  and the Progressive commercial have diminished, it is probably best to ignore us. 

I'm just sick at the news that the great Bob Newhart has passed away at the age of 94.  There's no way I can summarize his incredible life and career in this small space. While I've seen his comedy concerts a couple of times, I only spoke (briefly) with him once. That was in the parking lot of NBC Los Angeles the day after Johnny Carson passed away in 2005. I was setting up KNBC-TV's Storm Hawks for their weather operation. Bob had been asked to appear on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno  and his limo pulled up right in front of me. Bob got out and we exchanged a few words about Carson's passing and he went in to the studio.  Johnny and Bob were an almost magical combination. If you have a few minutes, watch these hilarious interactions. Bob, thank you for a lifetime of laughs!!

"This is the Worst [ever] Event to Hit the City of Rome"                   -- Governor Kathy Hochul Tornado damage in Rome, NY. Photographer unknown, via Twitter and NWS. An EF-2 intensity tornado struck Rome, NY yesterday afternoon  without an advance warning from the National Weather Service. Based on my analysis, a warning should have been issued before it touched down in the city at 3:25pm EDT. Unfortunately, the warning was issued -- at best -- at 3:25 (zero lead-time) and may have been as late as 3:28pm ( negative three minutes lead-time). The National Weather Service's (NWS) published lead-time goal is 13 minutes.  In addition, a severe thunderstorm watch -- as opposed to a tornado watch -- was in effect.  At least four tornadoes actually occurred. As I have expressed on numerous occasions: if that NWS believes multiple tornadoes are going to occur, they should issue a tornado watch. A severe thunderstorm watch does not get the attention received by a tornado watc

... this is what we like to see!!!

You knew global warming alarmists couldn't resist.  "Twisters" publicity shot According to an article in Nature ,  the new movie Twisters  comes out Friday and mostly "gets the science right" about tornadoes and climate change. I have not seen the movie yet (really looking forward to it) and so I am relying on the Nature article to clarify the science.  Tornado Alley Has Shifted to the Southeast Where the Threat is Higher Due to Mobile Homes and Other Factors. This is old news. How old? 49 Years!  In 1975 , Dr. Ted Fujita, along with co-authors Allen Pearson and David Ludlum, documented that tornado alley "shifts," primarily from the Great Plains to the Southeast. Their data went back to 1916. So far in 2024, the Great Plains have had a big tornado year with the Southeast much below normal. Phased Array Radar.  This is not used in real time. It is a research test product and have been in test mode at the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) almost

When Frank Sinatra sang his classic, Summer Wind , I don't believe this is what he had in mind.   Again today, we have multiple areas where damaging thunderstorm-generated winds are forecast to occur.  There are already thunderstorms in the yellow area from Kansas City and points east. Power failures have already occurred.  The rest of the yellow areas are where severe wind-producing thunderstorms will occur later today. The red area in the Northeast has an enhanced  risk of damaging winds.  There are still people in Texas without power from Hurricane Beryl ten days ago.  Northern Illinois was hard hit from last night's derecho.  Electric crews are being stretched to the limit with restorations these days. 

John Kerry, former "climate czar" for President Biden, who is fond of telling us we need to cut our use of petroleum products  , has been caught -- again-- behaving in a breathtakingly hypocritical manner.  Mr. " I don't own a private plane " Kerry, as he usually does, took one of his wife's  private jets all the way to -- get this -- India for a wedding of the son of an oil billionaire!   The story is here .  Keep in mind that Mr. Kerry could have flown to India in first class on Emirates Airlines, for example, for far less money in total luxury and privacy as they have private first class cabins (below). They even have on-board showers and a private lounge! Kerry, like Al Gore, Oprah, Bill Gates, and so many of the global warming zealots, is a hypocrite. While they have carbon footprints the size of Alaska, people like Gates want us to eat bugs and force us to purchase expensive, inconvenient electric vehicles -- not to mention giving up many of our free

Yellow area has an enhanced  risk of tornadoes -- some may be strong. Brown = significant risk of tornadoes. Tornado watch till 1am for much of this area.  -- out of date as of 8pm -- The amber is a tornado watch until 1am. It includes Chicago, Peoria and South Bend. In addition to tornadoes the NWS is forecasting widespread wind gusts of 90 mph.  --- info below still valid as of 7pm --- A derecho has formed in Iowa with tornadic supercells out ahead. Multiple tornado and high wind warnings are out as of 5:30pm.  Tornado Threat The yellow is an enhanced  risk of tornadoes and it would not surprise me if some of them turn out to be strong. Northern Illinois is the area I've been concerned about since the midday update (see below, if you wish). The brown area has a significant risk of tornadoes.  Damaging Wind Forecast With a derecho in progress, it is important to understand the color codes: Purple = high  risk of wind gusts of 75 mph or stronger.  Red = enhanced risk  of wind gusts