An altimeter is an instrument that measures air pressure and uses that to determine the altitude of an object with respect to a fixed level. Before we get into the details, we need to review the history of pressure measurement. A barometer is used to tell us the pressure of the air at a particular location. Galileo was puzzled about …
Several people have asked about the upcoming winter season and whether they should get ready for snow or prepare for another mild winter. The last three winters were very mild with temperatures well above normal and almost no significant snow. Our last big winter storm was Jan 2022 when around 12” of heavy wet snow blanketed the region. This was …
Basin Map Courtesy of Randy Thomas. Consensus seems to agree that the Upper part of Lake Anna is defined as the area above the Splits. This border is from just below Rose Valley to the State Park. The Middle is from the Splits to around the Power Plant, and the Lower is below the Power Plant. The Watershed (see map) …
Now that we are solidly into the Fall Season, the next question is when will our first frost or freeze occur? The term “frost” is used in describing the process of ice accretion or deposit upon things outside when the air temperature drops to or below freezing (32 deg F or 0 deg C). Frost is basically the cousin of …
Autumn Equinox (Fall) officially arrived on September 22 this year. Our first taste of Fall actually arrived in August with the passage of the remnants of Hurricane Debby, which changed the overall pattern over the eastern US and ended the summer heat, putting a dent in the drought. This pattern change was a little earlier than usual and helped contribute …
The NFL and NCAA Football seasons have finally begun. It seems like an eternity waiting to watch your favorite team hit the field for another year of excitement or the agony of defeat. Although many teams have covered stadiums, there are several that still play in the elements. Weather can play a huge role in the outcome of games. Snow, …
The term “Dog Days” is used during the normally hottest time of year in the Northern Hemisphere. This usually lasts from early July through the middle of August. It started a bit earlier than usual this summer. The period of 20 days either side of the conjunction of Sirius and the sun is called the “Dog Days”. The origins, of …
July into August are the hottest months of the year. Temperatures frequently peak in the 90s. On rare occasions, we experience temperatures at or above 100 degrees F. When high humidity is combined with the heat it can make for uncomfortable, and possibly dangerous, conditions. Heat-related illnesses and deaths can vary in the US every year. When we have prolonged …
Starting Friday temperatures in the mid to upper 90s will be common through the weekend. Some increase in humidity will also occur. There is a small chance we could hit 100 on Sunday. The combination of heat and humidity will support heat indices, or what it feels like, in the lower 100s. The heat index is scientifically based on a …
The 2024 forecast is calling for an “above-normal” hurricane season, which, unfortunately, doesn’t give us any specific intel about where they will make landfall. As the Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1, the National Hurricane Center has released the names for this season’s tropical storms, including Alberto, Beryl, Chris and Debby, just to name a few. Hurricanes can bring …
