Spring/Summer 2013
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Serving Residents of Northeast Kansas Since 1878 The Topeka Tiller N A T I O N A L SPRING/SUMMER 2013 W E A T H E R VOLUME 7, ISSUE 1 S E R V I C E Summer Temperatures Pose Heat Dangers T O P E K A , KANSAS By Jenifer Bowen, Forecaster and Chad Omitt, Warning Coordination Meteorologist After temperatures were below As the summer season commences trucks, vans and SUV's. normal for a good portion of the it is very important to review safety INSIDE THIS spring season over northeast Kansas, precautions to protect yourself and Since 1998 there have been at least a total of 560 of these needless ISSUE: the National Climate Prediction your family from the heat. Center (CPC) is expecting a warmer Hyperthermia is a tragic yet real tragedies. than normal summer. Based on the danger that threatens children and The studies show that these latest Three-Month Outlook issued the elderly each year during the incidents can occur on days with relatively mild (i.e., ~ 70 degrees F) on June 20th (Figure 1), much of summertime. A look back at 2 northeast Kansas has a 33-40% temperatures and that vehicles can reach life-threatening temperatures Winter 2012- probability of average temperatures Hyperthermia occurs when the body very rapidly. Just imagine the danger 2013 being above normal from July produces or absorbs more heat than through September. In terms of it can dissipate which leads to heat when the outside air temperatures precipitation, the CPC sees stroke. Heat stroke is an acute exceed 100 degrees. precipitation trending towards having condition of hyperthermia that is Severe Weather 2 equal chances of being above or caused by prolonged exposure to The following is a web site that is Awareness Day below normal for the summer season excessive heat and/or useful in highlighting the tragic consequences of leaving children at West Ridge (Figure 2). In other words, the humidity. Tragically, this can occur unattended in cars during hot spells Mall upper level pattern does not favor a when a child is left inside of a vehicle in the summertime heat. ggweather.com/heat/index.htm dry or wet pattern thus far. Changes 2 To date there have been 10 As we continue to deal with the coming to So far this June, high temperatures have been near to just slightly above deaths in 2013 of children due to summertime heat here in Kansas, spotter training normal especially heading towards hyperthermia (heat stroke) from please remember: the final weeks of June. Readings in being in hot vehicles. Children and pets should the lower to middle 90s F have been Last year there were a total of never be left unattended in How social 4 common with normal highs typically at least 32 such fatalities in the vehicles under any media is helping in the middle to upper 80s F for this United States due to hyperthermia circumstances. This is to spread time of year. after they were left in hot cars, especially true during warm weather Info Emergency 7 alerts sent to your mobile phone Coop 8 Corner Are you ready 9 for the hot seat warning simulator? Figure 1. National Climate Prediction Figure 2. National Climate Prediction Center’s Center’s Three-Month Temperature Outlook Three-Month Outlook on Precipitation Probabili- on probabilities of average temperatures ties from July through September. Issued on June being above or below normal. Valid from July 20, 2013. Summer Heat through September. Issued on June 20, 2013. continues Page 3 Winter’s Slow Start and Wild Finish P A G E 2 By Brian Barjenbruch, Senior Forecaster To the snow lovers across to receive a snowfall greater several locations with measured northeast Kansas, it may have than 5 inches. Temperatures snowfall rates as high as 3.7 inches seemed like winter would never were also warmer than normal in a single hour! Numerous arrive. Depending on your throughout the November accidents and stranded vehicles location, there were only 2 to 3 through January period. When were reported, prompting the snowfalls greater than an inch the cold and snowy weather closure of almost every interstate through the first half of pattern finally began, it was highway in Kansas. February. Late December did impressive in both intensity and provide some noteworthy duration. The next significant winter storm winter weather with 1 to 4 rolled into northeast Kansas later inches of wind driven snow, a The first major snowstorm of the same week. A very tight brief period of near-zero the year affected the entire area gradient in snowfall amounts led visibility, and a storm system on February 21st with anywhere to sharply different results, February 21st: 9.9” of snowfall at that deposited anywhere from 1 from 4 to 14 inches of snow, depending on location. For to 7 inches of snow on New and even higher amounts in instance, Manhattan received only the Weather Service office Year’s Eve. However, the vast parts of central Kansas. two inches of snow while less majority of the area had to wait Thunder snow, a relatively rare than 100 miles Winter until the second half of February phenomenon, was reported in away in Osage continues Page 4 2013 Spotter Training By Chad Omitt, Warning Coordination Meteorologist Every year, the National Weather Service in Topeka presents spotter talks which are open to the general public. Presentations are typically 1-1.5 hours long, and are given by a meteorologist from our office. Figure 1 (right) shows a shelf cloud feature. The shelf cloud is Figure 1 caused by the process of downdraft and outflow. Shelf clouds often precede the gust Spotter training this past year again focused front or leading edge of strong winds on storm structure and accurate associated with lines of storms called squall identification of important cloud features lines (Figure 1). associated with supercell thunder- storms. Figure 2 shows some of the more important features associated with a classic Spotter Training continues Page 6 Severe Weather Awareness Day By Audra Hennecke, Forecaster By early March, much of 9, 2013, was designated as Weather Awareness Week, northeastern Kansas was “Severe Weather Awareness the National Weather Service feeling the full effects of winter Week.” Severe Weather Topeka forecast office hosted as two large winter storms Awareness Week provided a the third-annual Severe had brought several inches of good opportunity for state- Weather Awareness Day on snow to much of the region in wide discussion on important March 2 at the West Ridge late February. At the National topics such as how to be Mall in Topeka, KS. Weather Service, the winter prepared and stay aware Chad Omitt presenting a weather months are spent not only during severe weather events, The Severe Weather forecasting for winter weather where to seek shelter during a Awareness Day was a great safety talk at West Ridge Mall but also preparing for the tornado warning, and what opportunity to reach out to upcoming severe weather items ought to be included in a the public and to educate season. Across the state of disaster kit. In addition to the them on several aspects of Kansas, the week of March 3- state-recognized Severe severe Awareness Day continues Page 6 THE TOPEKA TILLER VOLUME 7, ISSUE 1 P A G E 3 Summer Heat Continued... or hot weather when car interiors can reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes. Unfortunately, cars can even reach dangerous temperatures in a matter of minutes on relatively mild days (Figure 4). NEVER leave children or pets unattended in a vehicle, not even for a minute. Figure 4. Heat tragically kills people every year, especially in a car. In the past dozen years over 450 children have died from hyperthermia after being left in or gaining access to unattended cars! This figure shows how quickly 80 degrees F outside can turn into over 123 de- grees F in a matter of an hour. Figure 3. Vehicular hyperthermia- related deaths May 27-31: A Violent Week of Severe Weather By Jenifer Bowen, Forecaster Severe weather across northeast Kansas pattern. No serious injuries occurred with Throughout the region that week, severe this season could have been summed up this tornado however over 100 head of weather caused an unprecedented amount into one week. Various weather cattle were lost. Damage to local structures of damage from Nebraska through phenomena from flash flooding to large hail lead to a rating of EF3, however local radar Oklahoma where multiple significant and tornadoes impacted portions of the data suggested wind speeds may have tornadoes occurred. Spring 2013 was a clear area from May 27-31st. The week began on exceeded 160 mph. Along with tornadoes, testament to the power that mother nature Monday (May 27th) when an isolated hail to the size of grapefruit and widespread can evoke. Severe weather is possible any supercell thunderstorm produced an EF-2 flash flooding were reported. Highest time of the year which is why preparing for tornado near Marysville in Marshall rainfall total was 6.41”called in by a spotter these types of events is most crucial to the County. Fortunately, no one was injured 4 miles west southwest of Woodlawn in safety of you and your family. with extensive damage reported to a local Nemaha County. Another round of storms dealership Additional heavy thunderstorms on Wednesday produced damaging winds later that evening brought 5”+ of rain in Shawnee County. Tuesday (May 28th) was the most violent day of the week in terms of weather with two significant tornadoes that were observed.