Northern Lights Venturing South
When you think of the Northern Lights, you probably think of those “aurora-hunters” braving the cold in Alaska in hopes of viewing such a dazzling light display; after all, they are called the Northern...
View ArticleThe Soggy Ring of Fire
“And it rains, rains, rains, That ring of fire, that ring of fire.” If you love country music, the Ring of Fire is the burning love of Johnny Cash. If you are into weather, it’s the type of weather...
View ArticleROAR! The Monsoon with an Attitude!
July is the time of desert miracles. From Southern California to Western Texas, the wet season arrives and the desert blooms. The afternoon thunderstorms drench the soil and thirsty plants blossom....
View ArticleDouble Roar! The Monsoon with Attitude Clobbers California
Last week I blogged about the Southwestern Monsoon. It started early and was running strong. The desert was blossoming and it was reaching out and watering the Southern Plain States. I also warned that...
View ArticleFire Rainbows and Fire Tornadoes
South Carolina reported seeing a "fire rainbow" on August 16, 2015. Then two days later, a "fire tornado" swirled through the skies over Idaho. Nature never ceases to surprise (and delight) us! What...
View ArticleEl Niño Weather and Wolves
For the first time in 91 years, wild wolves are in California. Scientists told people to expect many things from El Niño — rain, snow, floods, and landslides. Who knew it would also bring a pack of...
View ArticleEl Niño: Giant Pacific Hurricanes on Parade
This is the only time on record that a parade of giant Category 4 hurricanes is strolling through the Pacific. Here in the continental US, El Niños make us happy. The event means fewer Atlantic...
View ArticleSunny Skies and Black Death: A Plague Warning from the CDC
Don’t you just love the news! The latest warning is that—with warm sunny days and enough rain to break the drought in most of the West—we face increased risk from bubonic plague . . . the Black Death!...
View ArticleNot Just Weather Lore: Bears in the Backyards
Mom! There’s a bear in the backyard! Californians are beginning to learn why their state flag has a bear on it. If they had listened to Native American folklore, California residents would not be so...
View ArticleTwinkle, Twinkle: Satellites and Earth Lights
One of the joys of working with weather is that I also work with satellite pictures. We have all seen the local weather forecasters showing satellite pictures of approaching rains and storms. But most...
View ArticleZombie Tropical Storms Hit Alaska
At the same time that South Carolina was awash with flooding because of a passing hurricane, another state was actually hit by the stormy remnants of a different hurricane. It was—wait for it—Alaska!...
View ArticleHalloween is Pumpkin Weather for Zoos!
It’s getting close to Halloween. Time to give a pumpkin to—to a polar bear. Isn’t it obvious? Even polar bears like Halloween pumpkins. Credit: Detroit Zoo As autumn comes, the changing weather is...
View ArticleFirst Snow: Polish the Skis and Snowboards
November opened with cool temperatures and good snow in the West. That whoop you are hearing is all the crazy skiers and snowboarders who cannot wait to plummet down the mountains at 30+ miles an hour....
View ArticleWeather Folklore: What Leaves, Squirrels, Apples and Flowers Predict about...
I sometimes wonder why I am in the climate business. According to folklore, those leaves you have to rake up will tell you all you need to know about winter. Are your chrysanthemums really pretty? Get...
View ArticleThe Wonder of Our Oceans
Tornadoes roar across the USA. Giant earthquakes rip Indonesia (8.7 on the Richter scale), Mexico (7.0), Gulf of California (7.0) and the Oregon coast region (5.5).Nations brace for giant tsunami waves...
View ArticleSurviving Winter Travel Weather!
Hello Almanac readers, Do you know what Old Farmers really do in the winter? They travel to agricultural conventions. The harvests are over, hotel rates are low, and crop conventions allow them to see...
View ArticleThe Coldest Day of the Year?
It’s December—time for the longest night of the year. With so little warming sunlight, it will be the coldest day of the year. Right? Right, California, your coldest days are in December! Wrong,...
View ArticleThe Twelve (Types of) Rainbows of Christmas
♪On the twelfth day of Christmas, My true love gave to me: Twelve shiny rainbows . . . . ♫ Just in time for Christmas, scientists have discovered that there are twelve types of rainbows! On December...
View ArticleNew Year’s Day Weather Folklore
Happy New Year! We are facing a new year, ripe with possibilities. Will it be stormy and difficult or sunny and full of hope? Ask the scientists who helped create this year’s Old Farmer’s Almanac...
View ArticleWhat a Stuffy Nose Teaches Us About the Heat Wave
Are you celebrating winter with the dreaded common cold? It may be miserable, but it is showing you something about the weather. Just as your stuffed nose blocks relief and makes your sinuses swell...
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