Weather Roller Coaster

The weather this winter has been somewhat of a roller coaster with its ups and downs. According to Steven A. Ackerman and Jonathan Martin from the University of Wisconsin Madison's department of atmospheric and oceanic sciences, temperatures have not been normal this winter. In November of 2014, temperatures were on average 6.1 degrees cooler than usual. A mild December with temperatures 5.8 degrees above normal followed. And now with January almost over, temperatures have again been below average. It has been 20 years since a cold season has "flipped from below normal to above normal" the writers claim. There is a chance that this winter could be one of those years.

http://host.madison.com/news/local/ask/weather-guys/ask-the-weather-guys-how-unusual-is-our-roller-coaster/article_74422138-1ede-5097-b2f4-915e2562b2ce.html

All About Earthquakes

Of course we hear about major earthquakes in places like Alaska and Hawaii, but do we know what actually causes an earthquake? An earthquake occurs when two slates of earth pass one another. It can also be referred to as the fault or fault plane.

 

 A smaller earthquake also known as a foreshock can also occur. Seismographs measure earthquakes. It is a fact that scientists cannot predict earthquakes and scientists are unsure if weather affects the fact an earthquake has occurred.

Earthquakes are more common than you may think. Everyday earthquakes occur. There are many ways you can prepare for an earthquake here is a list of some ways to be safe if an earthquake occurs:

•   Repair any damage in your walls

•   Brace hanging light fixtures

•   Move into the open (do not stand by buildings)

•   Locate safe places outdoors

Have disaster supplies on hand

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kids/eqscience.php

Deadly Storm in Western United States

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/01/us-usa-weather-idUSKBN0K911L20150101

Two people died on a wind-thrashed California island, and scores of motorists were left stranded on snow-swept mountain roads farther inland as winter storms chilled much of the Western United States on New Year's Eve, officials said on Wednesday.

High winds also toppled a tree onto a home overnight in the Northern California town of Redding, killing a woman and injuring a child, a fire official said.

Icy roads in west Texas led to nearly 130 traffic accidents in the city of Midland, with almost 200 more wrecks in nearby Odessa. Revelers in many parts of Texas were likely to brave bitter cold as they ushered in 2015, including in San Antonio, where up to 60,000 people were expected for the state's biggest New Year's Eve bash.

A harbor patrolman working to secure loose vessels was killed when he jumped overboard as his boat neared a shoal and he ended up crushed against the rocks. His body was later recovered, along with the remains of a man believed to have died when his boat was torn loose and broke apart overnight, Avalon Fire Captain John Meffert said.

Northeast gets hit with Ice Storm.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/19/us/weather-freezing-rain/

   After a weekend of Winter Ice Storms hitting the East Coast, parts of Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Pennsylvania have been effected. This has caused about 216 car accidents over the weekend as well. Weather is expected to hit hard monday as well.

 "Freezing rain and snow glazed roads across the Northeast, leaving as many as six dead, more misery awaits Monday.  States such as Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and western Massachusetts are expected be be hit more".

One person died in Maryland. Four confirmed dead in Pennsylvania.  Vermont's expected to get hit the hardest with snow, with  3-7 inches.

Oklahoma Wildfires Cause Major Grief

On Sunday January 18, Thirteen wildfires broke out all throughout central and eastern Oklahoma. They had to close Interstate 35 and evacuate people from their homes. In Oklahoma, their are certain weather conditions that cause wildfires to break out. The relative humidity can fall as low to twelve percent causing these fires. This can also cause droughts around the Oklahoma area creating serious weather effects.

In this article, it mentions how wildfires are not uncommon when it comes to Oklahoma. They actually said that this wildfire happened the same time last year. Oklahoma citizens have to go through a bunch of grief when it comes to fires, because they may lose their important position. People also may get stuck in their houses or jobs because of the fires. People need to be aware how dangerous these fires really are due to weather.

Link:http://www.weather.com/safety/wildfires/news/oklahoma-wildfires-evacuations-interstate-35

Icy Roads Resulted in Nine Deaths

This winter, January 18th, there have been deadly car crashes because of icy roads. People that have been driving for a long time know how scary the roads can truly be. In some cases though, the icy roads overtake the driver. There is also new teen drivers who are inexperienced and do not know how to drive in bad weather conditions. The Northeast has had nine deadly car crashes. No matter what your car will not corporate when it comes to the ice. Your brakes will go out and you will not be able to steer your car.

In Connecticut, an 88 year old lady died in a car crash. They said they are not sure what the true cause of the crash is, but their was terrible icy roads. In Michigan, a lady lost control of her jeep wrangler and ran into a tree. In New York, there was a 20 car accident in the Bronx. In Pennsylvania, a man was also killed in a pileup on the interstate.

People really need to understand the serious consequences that can happen by driving in icy and snowing conditions. Even if people are not driving recklessly, they can still be seriously hurt. Especially if they are older or inexperienced drivers, then they need to either learn to drive in the snow. Serious accidents happen every year in the snow and people need to made more aware of the deadly outcomes that can occur.

Link:http://www.weather.com/news/news/icy-roads-pennsylvania-new-york-new-jersey-connecticut-new-England

First major U.S. storm of 2015 to deliver 'variety of hazardous weather'

The week of January 5, 2015 was said to be the start of the first huge storm in the U.S. The storm was headed for Texas and was expected to bring everything from snow to even tornadoes. West Texas was going to get heavy flurries on the 3rd, almost 6 inches. Over 50 million people took advisories for the storm on that Saturday.

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http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/03/us/weather/

"A swath of wintry precipitation is forecast from the Plains to the Great Lakes and Mid-Atlantic on Saturday, while severe storms and heavy rain are possible in parts of the Gulf Coast into the mid-South," the service added.

More than half the country is to be whipsawed by a front moving up from the Gulf on Saturday and then by another down from Canada on Sunday, the service said.

A Saturday storm is expected to deliver rain and thunderstorms from the lower Mississippi Valley to the Northeast. That moisture is expected to translate to snow in the upper Great Lakes and the Northeast. On Sunday, that rain is projected to intensify to a heavy downfall over the Mid-Atlantic coast and southern New England, the service said.