WHAT`S WITH THE WEATHER

{ N O V. 6 , 2 0 1 2 }
ClassroomConnections
DESERET NEWS
INSIDE
Weather facts Your Meteorologists
Forecasting Weather activities
WHAT’S WITH THE
WEATHER ?
This educational insert presents
the many aspects of weather, what
determines the weather and why.
The KSL meteorologists have the
answers and more. Meet the weather
team–Kevin Eubank, Lynae Miyer and
Grant Weyman–as they explain the
exciting world of weather.
THE SCIENCE
OF
weather
The
weight
of air
During storminess, the air weighs less, so we call
it low pressure. At other times, when the skies
are clear and blue, the air weighs more, so we
call that high pressure.
A barometer measures how heavy the air is or
how much pressure the air is exerting. The rise or
fall of the barometric pressure helps us to know
the kind of weather approaching.
Utah
weather
Frontpiece to
“Lezioni accademiche
d’Evangelista
Torricelli”,
published in 1715.
WIND
UTAH SNOW continued from page 2
Spring is the windiest time of year for the
Wasatch Front and most of Utah. Local winds
blowing down the Wasatch Front canyons from
the east are called “canyon winds.” These
winds can occur at any time but are most
common November through May. Peak gusts
have been as high as 120 mph. The strongest
winds occur over the mountain peaks.
of Utah where snow and water measurements are taken. In
the old days, workers strapped on snowshoes and hiked for
miles to take readings. Today, many of the sites report
electronically over the internet to a central collection
agency. When needed, workers can fly to a site in a
helicopter and check a measurement or repair equipment.
The greatest amount of water in northern Utah
accumulates in the mountains above Ogden where a
weather station called Ben Lomond averages 42 inches of
water in the snow by mid-April each year. In southern Utah,
the greatest accumulation is 26 inches of water in the
mountains east of Cedar City. Since most lower valley
locations only get 10 to 15 inches of rain during an entire
year, the large amount of water in the mountains is the
lifeblood of the state.
All the melting snow in the mountains makes for a lot of
streams and rivers in the state. On its own, the water would
run either into the Great Salt Lake, where it would turn to
saltwater, or into the Colorado River. In order to efficiently
use the precious moisture that comes into Utah, we have
built reservoirs and dams to catch and hold that water so
we can use it in the summer. Dams also catch any rapidly
melting snow that would otherwise cause floods.
LIGHTNING
Lightning is most common during the warm season. The Wasatch Front records
about 40 days each year with lightning, and 30 of those days occur between May
and September.
FOG
The most likely dates for fog to form in the valleys of northern Utah are between
Dec. 10 and Dec. 25 and from Jan. 15 to Feb. 10.
HEAT
The Wasatch Front averages 54 days a year with temperatures of 90 degrees or
higher and five days with 100 degrees. The average date of the first day with a
temperature of 100 degrees is July 5.
HAIL
Academics from as long ago as ancient Greek
times were fascinated by weather and the
atmosphere. But meteorology, the scientific
study of weather, did not come about until the
17th century in Italy, when instruments were
invented that measured changes in the
temperature of the air, its barometric pressure
or weight and its amount of moisture. Around
1600, the astronomer and mathematician Galileo Galilei made
the first thermometer. Forty years later Evanelista Torricelli, one
of Galileo’s first students, developed the first practical barometer — proving the existence of air pressure. Under the patronage
of Grand Duke Ferdinand II, many scientists and artists shared
ideas as members of the Academy of Experiments in Florence,
Italy. It was here that sensitive instruments were first created
specifically to observe the weather — leading the way
to today’s scientific weather forecasts.
The Wasatch Front receives an average of seven days of hail each year. Utah
hailstones are normally only the size of a pea. The most frequent time for hailstorms
is in the spring. However, the largest hail usually falls during summer thunderstorms
when, on rare occasions, hail as big as 2 inches in diameter has fallen.
SNOW PACK
Air doesn’t
seem very
heavy, but if
you took all of
the air above a
postage stamp,
it would weigh
about 15
pounds.
3
THE SCIENCE
OF
weather
The
weight
of air
During storminess, the air weighs less, so we call
it low pressure. At other times, when the skies
are clear and blue, the air weighs more, so we
call that high pressure.
A barometer measures how heavy the air is or
how much pressure the air is exerting. The rise or
fall of the barometric pressure helps us to know
the kind of weather approaching.
Utah
weather
Frontpiece to
“Lezioni accademiche
d’Evangelista
Torricelli”,
published in 1715.
WIND
UTAH SNOW continued from page 2
Spring is the windiest time of year for the
Wasatch Front and most of Utah. Local winds
blowing down the Wasatch Front canyons from
the east are called “canyon winds.” These
winds can occur at any time but are most
common November through May. Peak gusts
have been as high as 120 mph. The strongest
winds occur over the mountain peaks.
of Utah where snow and water measurements are taken. In
the old days, workers strapped on snowshoes and hiked for
miles to take readings. Today, many of the sites report
electronically over the internet to a central collection
agency. When needed, workers can fly to a site in a
helicopter and check a measurement or repair equipment.
The greatest amount of water in northern Utah
accumulates in the mountains above Ogden where a
weather station called Ben Lomond averages 42 inches of
water in the snow by mid-April each year. In southern Utah,
the greatest accumulation is 26 inches of water in the
mountains east of Cedar City. Since most lower valley
locations only get 10 to 15 inches of rain during an entire
year, the large amount of water in the mountains is the
lifeblood of the state.
All the melting snow in the mountains makes for a lot of
streams and rivers in the state. On its own, the water would
run either into the Great Salt Lake, where it would turn to
saltwater, or into the Colorado River. In order to efficiently
use the precious moisture that comes into Utah, we have
built reservoirs and dams to catch and hold that water so
we can use it in the summer. Dams also catch any rapidly
melting snow that would otherwise cause floods.
LIGHTNING
Lightning is most common during the warm season. The Wasatch Front records
about 40 days each year with lightning, and 30 of those days occur between May
and September.
FOG
The most likely dates for fog to form in the valleys of northern Utah are between
Dec. 10 and Dec. 25 and from Jan. 15 to Feb. 10.
HEAT
The Wasatch Front averages 54 days a year with temperatures of 90 degrees or
higher and five days with 100 degrees. The average date of the first day with a
temperature of 100 degrees is July 5.
HAIL
Academics from as long ago as ancient Greek
times were fascinated by weather and the
atmosphere. But meteorology, the scientific
study of weather, did not come about until the
17th century in Italy, when instruments were
invented that measured changes in the
temperature of the air, its barometric pressure
or weight and its amount of moisture. Around
1600, the astronomer and mathematician Galileo Galilei made
the first thermometer. Forty years later Evanelista Torricelli, one
of Galileo’s first students, developed the first practical barometer — proving the existence of air pressure. Under the patronage
of Grand Duke Ferdinand II, many scientists and artists shared
ideas as members of the Academy of Experiments in Florence,
Italy. It was here that sensitive instruments were first created
specifically to observe the weather — leading the way
to today’s scientific weather forecasts.
The Wasatch Front receives an average of seven days of hail each year. Utah
hailstones are normally only the size of a pea. The most frequent time for hailstorms
is in the spring. However, the largest hail usually falls during summer thunderstorms
when, on rare occasions, hail as big as 2 inches in diameter has fallen.
SNOW PACK
Air doesn’t
seem very
heavy, but if
you took all of
the air above a
postage stamp,
it would weigh
about 15
pounds.
3
weather
ON DEMAND
KSL Weather online:
Find a variety of different
features on the weather
page. Get a “microcast”
for any area in Utah, see forecast videos and
maps, and even check out the weather cameras
around the state. You’ll also be able to find the air
quality forecast, check the Utah ski/snow report
and download a KSL Weather screensaver.
Meteorology
W
IS THE SCIENCE OF
THE ATMOSPHERE
eather forecasting is a prediction of what the
weather will be like in an hour, tomorrow or next week.
Weather forecasting involves a combination of computer models, observations and a knowledge of trends and patterns. By using these methods,
reasonably accurate forecasts can be made up to seven days in advance.
Get your current weather forecasts from KSL TV, KSL.com or download
the KSL Weather app for your smartphone.
Kevin Eubank
Chief Meteorologist
Kevin Eubank is the chief meteorologist for
KSL 5 News. His love of meteorology came
from watching his dad, Mark, forecast the
ever-changing weather conditions of Utah.
Kevin was born and raised in Bountiful, Utah,
and graduated from the University of Utah in
Broadcast Meteorology. He’s a member of
both the American Meteorological Society and
the National Weather Association. Kevin loves
the outdoors! He mountain bikes, wakeboards
and loves to snowboard in the Utah powder.
He lives in Bountiful with his wife and four kids.
Download the KSL
Weather App for your
smartphone at ksl.com
4
W H AT ’ S W I T H T H E
W E AT H E R ?
LYNAE MIYER
Meteorologist
Lynae Miyer is the newest member of the
KSL Weather team and the face of KSL Junior
Weather Specialists. She grew up in Central
Texas with plenty of hot weather and severe
thunderstorms. In fact, it was her initial fear of
severe storms that got her interested in weather
and eventually led her to become a meteorologist. Lynae fell in love with Utah while on a
geology trip she took in college and
is excited to explore the wonders of
nature in the great state of Utah and to
forecast real winter weather. Lynae is a
member of the American Meteorological
Society and has earned the AMS Seal
of Approval. She was born and raised
in Waco, Texas; graduated from Baylor
University and is engaged to be married!
GRANT WEYMAN
Meteorologist
Grant Weyman joined the KSL Weather team in 1999. He
studied meteorology with the U.S. Government Graduate
School and has an has an American Meteorological Seal of
Approval. When Grant was in high school he worked as a DJ
at Quincy University and as a crew member of the local NBC
station. He dreamt of becoming the next Steven Spielberg
and his film pursuits lead him to music and composing, as
well as DJing at University of Southern California. He graduated with a degree in Music. His start in music eventually
led to television and finally to KSL TV as a meteorologist.
He still likes to cling to his DJ roots by including music in his
forecasts. Grant and his wife have two daughters. They enjoy
family adventures—especially to the beach!
WEATHER HISTORY
A
ccording to the American
Meteorological Society, “Meteorology is the science of the
atmosphere.” The word has its origins in the
Greek language. The word “meteoron” means
something that happens high in the sky. A
meteorologist is a person with specialized
education “who uses scientific principles to
explain, understand, observe or forecast
Earth’s atmospheric phenomena and/or
how the atmosphere affects the earth and
life on the planet.” KSL’s meteorologists
are weather specialists who all became
fascinated with the field of meteorology
for different reasons.
WEATHER SATELLITES are used to
photograph and track large-scale
air movements. Then meteorologists
compile and analyze the data with
the help of computers.
Computers developed in
the 1950s could “crunch”
the complex data used in
weather forecasting. THE
FIRST COMPUTERIZED
24-hour weather forecast
was put out in 1950 by
U.S. scientist John von
Neumann.
5
weather
FACTS
weather
QUICK
The lowest pressure reached
by a hurricane was Hurricane
Wilma at 882 mb or 26.05
inches of Mercury in October
of 2005. Wilma had wind gusts
of 175 mph.
The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 was
estimated to have wind speeds of 200 mph!
The deadliest hurricane in US history was
the Galveston TX hurricane of 1900. 8,000
deaths were attributed to this storm.
100
Where did the meteorologist stop
for a drink on the way home from
a long day in the studio?
The nearest IS OB AR!!
80
70
50
40
What’s an IS OB AR?
Isobars are lines of equal
atmospheric pressure drawn on
a meteorological map. Each line
passes through a pressure of a
given value. Isobar lines may
never cross or touch.
30
10
0
D
I
20
D
U
O
Y
I was terrified of thunderstorms
and especially tornadoes when
I was a little girl.
I decided I wanted to be a TV meteorologist when I was 8 years old.
I love animals! I have a gray cat
named Sophie and a yellow lab
named Lilly.
I have a major sweet tooth. When I was
growing up my dad would call me “candy
bones” and would often tell me bones would start
to break if I didn’t eat healthy foods.
A WINTER STORM WATCH means
conditions are favorable for winter
conditions.
A WINTER STORM WARNING means the
storm is imminent, happening or will
happen soon.
The most snow ever recorded in one
season in SLC was 117.3 inches in
1951-52.
I love to eat ice cream when
it’s very cold outside.
I love thunderstorms. Not the little wimpy
ones, but the ones with heavy rain, loud thunder, the knock–the–power–out kind of
storms that leave you saying, “Wow!”
The average amount of snow is 57.5
inches.
The least amount of snow in a season
was 16.6 inches in 1933-34.
The coldest day in Utah was -69F in
Peter Sink on Feb 1, 1985. The coldest
day in Salt Lake was -30 on Feb 9th,
1933.
White Christmas? There’s a 46% chance
of 1 inch (or more) of snow on the
ground on Christmas Day.
6
W
th
th
U
W
bu
H
W?
O
KN
WEATHER
FACTS
Growing up I hated the weather. My
dad was a weatherman and
everywhere I went people
called me snowbank and
asked if I was going to be a
weatherman. It wasn’t until
went to college that I
realized how cool the
weather really was.
Kevin Eubank
W H AT ’ S W I T H T H E
How do you spot a happy
motocyclist in fair weather?
He’s got bugs on his teeth.
90
60
Utah
COLD
weather
JOKES
W E AT H E R ?
I
Lynae Miyer
weather
FOLKLORE
games
What happened to that cow
hat was lifted into the air by
he tornado?
UDDER disaster.
What’s worse than raining
uckets?
HAILING taxis!
When clouds look like chicken scratches
or mare’s tails it will soon rain.
High clouds indicate fine weather will
prevail; lower clouds mean rain.
Smoke that curls downward and lingers
means a nearing storm.
Roosting birds indicate a storm, because
thinning air is harder to fly in.
If the rooster goes crowing to bed, he’ll
certainly rise with a watery head.
A warm November is the sign of a bad
winter.
If the woolly worm’s (a type of caterpillar)
head is more black than colored, the
coldest part of the winter will come in the
first months of winter.
If fruit trees bloom in the fall, the weather
will be severe the following winter.
If the first snow falls on unfrozen ground,
expect a mild winter.
What do you call
it when it rains
chickens and
ducks?
Foul (FOWL)
weather.
What did the
snowman say
when he got lost?
We’re in the
middle of
SNOWHERE .
What happens
when it rains cats
and dogs?
You have to be
careful not to step
in a POODLE .
What would you
get if you crossed
a werewolf with a
snowball?
FROSTBITE
-
If animals have an especially thick coat of
fur, expect a cold winter.
When squirrels bury their nuts early, it will be
a hard winter.
Hornets’ nests built in the top of trees
indicate a mild winter is ahead; nests built
close to the ground indicate that a harsh
winter is coming.
If you hear an owl hoot in the daytime, a
storm is approaching.
When clouds look like rocks and towers, the
earth will be refreshed by showers.
WILD WEATHER
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
Use the clues below to complete this wild weather crossword puzzle.
1
3
2
My favorite canyon to
hike in is Millcreek
Canyon. It is close by
and we can take our
golden retriever along!
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
My wife
and I have two
daughters-- ages
15 and 11. Both of
them are musicians,
they play piano. My
oldest daughter is in a
musical this year for
her high school and our
youngest daughter plays
volleyball for her school.
Grant Weyman
cific Oce
14
15
ACROSS
1. A hurricane that forms in the Pacific Ocean.
DOWN
2. A mass of tiny drops of water in the sky.
1. Another word for tornado.
5. Water that freezes on the ground in a storm.
3. A result of little or no rain.
10. The bright flash of light during a thunderstorm.
4. These lumps of ice cam be as big
9. Dust devils usually
as baseballs.
start here.
6. A cloud at ground level.
12. Water drops that fall
7. The wind that blows over the
to earth.
Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia.
11. A huge storm that forms over the ocean.
13. A violent storm with swirling, funnel-shaped winds.
14. Frozen water vapor that falls to earth as flakes.
15. The center of a hurricane.
8. When this erupts, it
can change the weather
all over the world.
7
weather
All thunderstorms produce lightning and are dangerous. If
you hear the sound of thunder, then you are in danger from
lightning. Lightning kills between 75 to 100 people each year
and being outdoors in the most dangerous place to be.
What is temperature?
The St. Petersburg Times is one of nearly 1,000
U.S. newspapers
offeringis“aa living
textbook,’’
the daily
Temperature
degree
of hotness
or coldnewspaper,
to
teachers
and
students.
The
NIE
program
ness the can be measured using a thermomalso a classrooms
measure of
how
fast the atoms
provides eter.
TampaIt’s
Bay-area
with
newspapers
and
molecules
of asupport,
substance
are moving.
curriculaand
for students,
teacher
classroom
activities
Temperature
measured
in degrees
and a library
of resourceismaterials
– at no
cost to theon the
teachers.Fahrenheit, Celsius and Kelvin scales.
Our mission is to support the educational communities
Why
you
see your
of the Tampa
Baycan
area by
promoting
literacybreath
and
readership
while we
make a difference in the
when
itscontinue
cold tooutside?
lives of countless students by providing up-to-the-minute
When the moisture in your breath hits
resources.
cold air, a little cloud or fog is
The St. Petersburg Times NIE
program
invites
formed.
Since
cold air cannot
businesses, organizations andhold
individuals
underwrite
as muchtowater
as warm
the moisture
in your
breath
the classroom delivery of the air,
St. Petersburg
Times
through
whenexposure
it hits the cold
our sponsorship program. Youcondenses
will gain great
air and
forms
intoyou
a little
to students, families and teachers.
Most
of all,
will cloud.
It’s impossible to name the
be helping to prepare our future work force by improving
exact temperature, but you can
reading and thinking skills. Reading increases vocabulary,
see your breath at around 45
writing skills and knowledge of
the world
around us.
degrees
Fahrenheit
and below.
For information about the Times
NIE
program,
Try it out sometime!call
727-893-8138 or 800-333-7505, ext. 8138, or visit
tampabay.com/nie. Like us on Facebook at Facebook.
com/StpeteNIE, and follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com/
StpeteNIE.
LIGHTNING SAFETY
QUESTIONS
IF YOU’RE OUTDOORS:
IF YOU’RE INDOORS:
Weather, weather, everywhere
Keep an eye at the sky. Look for darkening skies, flashes of lightning, or
increasing winds. Lightning often proceeds rain, so don’t wait for the rain to
begin. If you hear the sound of thunder, go to a safe place immediately.
Avoid water. It’s a great conductor of electricity, so do not take a
shower, wash your hands, wash
dishes or do laundry. Do not use
The best place to go is a sturdy building or a car, but make sure the winelectric equipment
like computers
Weather
is
all
around
us.
Weather
is
what
barometric
pressure,
temperature
and wind
dows in the car are shut. Avoid sheds, picnic areas, baseball dugouts and
and
appliances
during
a
storm.
the air isbleachers.
like in any one place at any one
conditions in a given location. Weather is
away
from windows
and also
doors, affect
time. How
hot
orshelter
coldaround
is the
Howfrom
much
by theStay
sun.
Other
factors
If there
is no
you,air?
stay away
trees. Crouchfueled
down in the
and
stay
off
porches.
open area,
keeping twice is
as far
as far as it isweather,
tall. Put your such as friction, or resistance,
dampness,
or moisture,
in away
the from
air?a tree
How
feet air
together
and placeHow
your hands
over your
ears to
minimizebetween
hearing dam-the land and sea; the rotation
fast is the
moving?
heavily
does
the
age
from
thunder.
SOMEONE
IS of
STRUCK
air press on the earth?
of Earth; andIFthe
shifting
wind. These
BY LIGHTNING:
If
you’re
with
a
group
of
people
stay
about
15
feet
from
each
other.
Weather is what happens in the air from
cycles and forces create complex and everCall for help.
Call 9-1-1 is
or send
Stayminute.
out of water.
It’s aweather
great conductor
electricity. Swimming,
wading, patterns.
minute to
The
canof change
changing
Weather
the way water
for
help
immediately.
The
injured
snorkeling
and scuba
are not
safe. Also, don’t
a lot within
a very
shortdiving
time,
especially
in stand in puddles.
changes in the
air.
person does not carry an electrical
Stay away
clotheslines,
and drop your backpacks
Florida. Avoid
For metal.
example,
it from
may
rain forfences
an hour
Without water,
there
be them.
no clouds,
charge,
so it is would
okay to touch
because they often haveand
metalthen
on them.
become
rain, snow, thunder or fog. In fact, weather
If you’re playing an outdoor
activity,and
wait at
least 30
sunny
clear.
affects our lives and all things on Earth, plays
minutes after the last observed
lightning strike
or thunder. a big part in our lives and affects many of the
Weather
is what
we hear about on
things that we do.
the television news
Sources: United States Environmental Protection Agency and
throughout the
ThinkQuest
day or see online
This publication incorporates the following
or read about in Can you tell the temperature by
Sunshine State Standards:
the newspaper.
Science: SC.3.N.1.1-7; SC.3.N.3.1-3; SC.4.N.1.1-8;
listening to the chirping of a cricket?
Weather includes
SC.5.N.1.1-6; SC.5.N.2.1-2; SC.5.E.7.3-7;
daily changes in Yes! The frequency of chirping varies according
Language Arts/Reading: LA.3.1.4.1-4 LA.3.1.5.1-2;
to the temperature. To get a rough estimate of
precipitation (rain),
LA.3.1.6.1-10; LA.3.1.7.1-8; LA.3.2.2.1-4; LA.3.3.1.1-3;
The effects
of natural
disasters
the temperature
in degrees
Fahrenheit,
count the
LA.3.3.2.1-2; LA.3.3.3.1-4; LA.3.3.4.1-6; LA.3.4.2.1-2;
Weather
and
natural
disasters
affect
our37.
daily lives,
number
of
chirps
in
15
seconds
and
then
add
LA.3.5.1.1; LA.3.5.2.1; LA.3.6.1.1; LA.3.6.3.1-2;
The number
youand
geteconomy.
will be anMany
approximation
of occur
health
natural disasters
LA.3.6.4.1; LA.4.1.4.1-3; LA.4.1.5.1-2; LA.4.1.6.1-10;
the
outside
temperature.
only
in
certain
parts
of
the
world,
but
their
occurrences
LA.4.1.7.1-8; LA.4.2.2.-2; LA.4.3.1.1-3; LA.4.3.2.1-3;
can have an impact on the lives of those who have
LA.4.3.3.1-4; LA.4.3.4.1-6; LA.4.4.2.1-2; LA.4.5.1.1;
the drama and tragedy
LA.4.5.2.1-5; LA.4.6.1.1; LA.4.6.3.1-2; LA.5.1.4.1-3;
What isnota experienced
wind chillfirsthand
factor?
accompanying these events. Use the St. Petersburg
LA.5.1.5.1-2; LA.5.1.6.1-11; LA.5.1.7.1-8; LA.5.2.2.1-4;
Working together
To find out Times
what the
you disasters
are, round during the
toWind
keepChill
trackisofwhere
natural
LA.5.3.1.1-3; LA.5.3.2.1-3; LA.5.3.3.1-4; LA.5.3.4.1-5;
The meteorologists and reporters at Bay News 9 work your wind speed and the air temperature to the nearest
next month. Keep a natural disaster journal. In your
LA.5.4.2.1-2; LA.5.5.1.1; LA.5.5.2.1-2; LA.5.6.3.1-2
every day to get the weather and community news to 5. Then find each of those on the table at www.weatherjournal, identify each disaster and
location. Create
wizkids.com/temperature-windchill-chart.htm
thatitswill
you so you can be prepared. Check out the information
tell you what
the
Wind
Chill
is.
A
Wind
Chill
Warning
NIE staff
a chart listing all of the natural disasters. Choose a
about them on Baynews9.com and watch them on
is issued when the wind chill temperature is forecast
Jodi Pushkin, manager, [email protected]
disaster that did not happen in your area and make a
to be -25° or lower. A Wind Chill Advisory is issued
the air. What skills, interests and knowledge does a
Sue Bedry, development specialist, [email protected]
list of
some
of the ways
in which
Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
when the wind
chill
temperature
is forecast
to beyou or other people
successful
reporter
5, coordinator,
has some fun
sledding at Storm Mountain Park
in Sandy,
Utah. or meteorologist have? Using news between -10°
Carolyn Emma
Mantell,Porter,
account
[email protected]
to -24°.
in your
community would be affected by this particular
articles in the St. Petersburg Times as models, write
kind of disaster. Write a brief essay outlining the
W H A T ’ S W I T H T H E W E A TaH
E R ?of these skills in the form of a short news
summary
Credits
disasters and how they affect communities. Share
article.
Written by Jodi Pushkin, NIE manager
your information with your class.
Learning with
the Times
Learning with
the Times
8
Designed by Stacy Rector, Times staff
weather
CURRENT EVENTS
SUPERSTORM SANDY
“The Storm of the Century”, “Frankenstorm”, “Superstorm Sandy”—there’s a reason this hurricane received
so much attention and so many nicknames.
What looked to be a quiet end to the 2012 hurricane
season changed quickly when Sandy developed into
a Category 1 hurricane the final week of October. At
first, tropical forecast models plotted a turn to the right,
taking it away from land and into the chilly northern Atlantic waters, but within a few days, a different scenario
began to emerge—one that would push the tropical
system into the eastern US seaboard and potentially, a
direct hit on New York City.
Meanwhile, a very cold air mass was moving through
the Midwestern US and heading toward the east coast.
Just an ordinary fall cold front but on this occasion, it
was a date with weather destiny.
High pressure ahead of the cold front served to guide
Hurricane Sandy along the coastline and eventually
right into the heart of the mid-Atlantic and through the
most populated areas of the entire United States.
Hurricane Sandy made landfall near Atlantic City,
New Jersey around 8 p.m. on Monday, October 29, with
maximum sustained winds of 80 miles per hour. High
tide combined with a 13 foot storm surge paralyzed
New York City with flooded streets, buildings and
subway systems. Rainfall records were broken in many
states. All three airports in Washington, DC, reported
new rainfall records with many areas seeing up to 8
inches of rain as the storm continued its push inland.
Just a few hundred miles from the battered coastline,
cold Canadian air was invading Tennessee, Kentucky,
West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Moisture from the
tropical storm collided with cold air to produce snow
totals rarely seen for October. Upwards of two feet of
snow were recorded in Davis, West Virginia.
The unique weather events that led up to this “Superstorm” will make it unforgettable and definitely one for
the record books!
— KSL Meteorologist Lynae Miyer
People, some waving to those on dry ground, are rescued by boat in
Little Ferry, NJ, Oct. 30, 2012 in the wake of superstorm Sandy.
AP Photo/Craig Ruttle
A
hurricane is a huge storm! It can be up to 600 miles across
and have strong winds spiraling inward and upward at speeds of 75
to 200 mph. Each hurricane usually lasts for over a week, moving
10-20 miles per hour over the open ocean. Hurricanes gather heat and energy
through contact with warm ocean waters. Evaporation from the seawater increases their power. Hurricanes rotate in a counter-clockwise direction around
an “eye” in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise direction in the Southern
Hemisphere. The center of the storm or “eye” is the calmest part. It has only
light winds and fair weather. When they come onto land, the heavy rain, strong
winds and large waves can damage buildings, trees and cars.
STORM SURGE Storm
surges are frequently the most devastating element of a hurricane. As a hurricane’s winds spiral around and around
the storm, they push water into a mound
at the storm’s center. This mound of water
becomes dangerous when the storm
reaches land because it causes flooding along the coast. The water piles up,
unable to escape anywhere but on land as
the storm carries it landward. A hurricane
will cause more storm surge in areas
where the ocean floor slopes gradually.
This causes major flooding.
AP Photo/CHARLES SYKES
A parking lot full of yellow cabs is flooded as a result of
superstorm Sandy on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012 in Hoboken, NJ.
9
KID’S ACTIVITIES
take the WORLD
WEATHER QUIZ
Test your knowledge
1 A thermometer is a device used to measure
_________________?
11 True or false? The lowest recorded temperature on Earth of
2 Stratus, cirrus, cumulus and nimbus are types of what?
3 What country experiences the most tornadoes?
12 Balls or irregular lumps of ice that fall from clouds (often
89.2 °C (−128.6 °F) was recorded at Vostok Station, Antarctica.
4 True or false? A rainbow is a spectrum of light that appears
when the Sun shines onto water droplets in the air.
during thunderstorms) are known as what?
13 An avalanche features the rapid descent of __________?
14 True of false? The most rain fall ever recorded in one year
(Cherrapunji, India) is more than 30 meters.
5 Blizzards feature low temperatures, strong winds and heavy
15 What is the name of a weather instrument used to measure
________________?
atmospheric pressure?
6 Breeze and gale are common terms used to describe the
16 An anemometer is used to measure what?
speed of what?
7 Earth’s recent temperature rises which have been linked to
human activity is known as global ____________?
8 True or false? The highest recorded temperature on Earth of
57.8 °C (136 °F) was recorded in Tirat Tsvi, Israel.
9 What is the name of a scientist who studies weather?
10 What is the driest desert on Earth, the Sahara, the Kalahari
17 At what temperature is Centigrade equal to Fahrenheit?
18 Trying to predict the weather is known as weather
____________?
19 The area of central USA that features many tornadoes is
known as Tornado ________________?
20 True or false? You see lightning and hear thunder.
or the Atacama?
Source: www.sciencekids.co.nz/quizzes/weather.html
Answers on page 11
HURRICANE WORD PUZZLE
1
______________ your house to make it warm inside.
Utah
2 snowpack
That big, gray ___________ in the sky is full of rain.
Jan. 14, 2008
Highest
DRAINAGE AREAS
3
4
5
6
7
9.
8
Lowest
PERCENT
Bear____________.
River
93%
We live on planet
1.
1.
Weber/Ogden Rivers 110%
A3.hurricane is3.aProvo
veryRiver
strong __________.
104%
4.
4. Duchesne River
105%
In a hurricane, the _______ blows
really hard.
5. Price River
5.
110%
Southeastern Utah at 160%
During winter,6.temperatures
the North Pole are _________________.
7. Sevier River
139%
6. cause big ______________ on the ocean’s surface.
7.Hurricanes
8. Escalante River
74%
8.
9. Virgin River
153%
The GOES see bad weather coming and can ____________ us.
2.
2.
A calm “hole” in the center of a hurricane is called its __________.
Source: spaceplace.nasa.gov/weather-words/
10
W H AT ’ S W I T H T H E
W
CR
weather
SOURCE: KSL Weather Center
9
W
CR
H
U
R
R
I
C
A
N
E
W E AT H E R ?
Use
Answers to puzzle and quiz on page 11
DO YOU WANT TO BE A KSL JUNIOR WEATHER SPECIALIST?
Hey teachers and 4th graders! Take a peek into real-life weather forecasting and
meet a KSL meteorologist in person with the KSL Junior Weather Specialists program.
Lynae and KSL have partnered with Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum to offer a
unique weather program that will give kids an interactive experience learning the ins
and outs of weather forecasting, turning ordinary students into KSL Junior Weather
Specialists!
For more information or to sign up for the KSL Junior Weather
Specialists program, please visit our website at juniorweather.ksl.com.
Can’t make it to the museum? Then sign up for KSL
Junior Weather Specialists On the Go to have one of
our meteorologists—Lynae, Kevin or Grant—visit your
school in person!
Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Clouds blanket Little Cottonwood Canyon in the rain.
MICHAEL BRANDY, DESERET NEWS
A snowy day in Salt Lake City.
Credits
This educational section from the Deseret News’ Newspapers in
Education program was designed by Lou Ann Reineke with assistance
from KSL Meteorologists Kevin Eubank, Grant Weyman and Lynae
Miyer. The project was under the direction of Cindy Richards, Newspapers in Education director, with special thanks to Jennifer Reid and
Pami Ostmark, KSL Salt Lake Broadcast Group. Resources provided
by www.weatherwizkids.com.
Lightning icon on page 7: Adam Whitcroft from the Noun Project
Hurricane word puzzle answers: 1. HEAT, 2. CLOUD, 3. EARTH, 4. STORM, 5. WIND, 6.
COLD, 7. WAVES, 8. WARN, 9. EYE
Weather Quiz answers: 1. Temperature, 2. Clouds, 3. USA, 4. True, 5. Snow, 6. Wind,
7. Warming, 8. False (Al ‘Aziziyah, Libya), 9. A meteorologist, 10. The Atacama Desert,
11. True, 12. Hail stones, 13. Snow, 14. False (25.4 meters), 15. A barometer, 16. Wind
speed, 17. -40 degrees, 18. Forecasting, 19. Alley, 20. True
RAVELL CALL, DESERET NEWS
Wild Weather crossword puzzle answers: ACROSS 1. Typhoon, 2. Cloud, 5. Ice, 10.
Lightning, 11. Hurricane, 13. Tornado, 14. Snow, 15. eye; DOWN 1. Twister, 3. Drought,
4. Hailstones, 6. Fog, 7. Monsoon, 8. Volcano, 9. Desert, 12. Rain
Farmington Junior High students fight the
wind as they walk outside before school.
11
{ N O V. 6 , 2 0 1 2 }
ClassroomConnections
DESERET NEWS
WHAT’S WITH THE
WEATHER
KSL Weather Specialists:
We’ve got you covered
By Kevin Eubank
U
tah has some of the most diverse weather in
the country. We get crazy wind, pounding rain, wild
thunderstorms and heavy snow and that can all happen in a single day! From the towering peaks
of the Wasatch Mountains to the red rock deserts of Southern Utah, the KSL Weather Team is
committed to providing the most accurate and reliable forecasts in the state.
The KSL Weather Team utilizes the latest in technology to forecast the ever changing conditions of Utah.
KSL Vortex is a state of the art radar program that allows us to analyze the atmosphere and accurately
forecast where severe weather is and where it’s going next. The KSL Weather App delivers up to the
minute weather forecasts, severe weather alerts and allows you take control of the most powerful
weather radar in the state, Vortex.
We live, work and play among the greatest weather
on earth; and we absolutely love forecasting it for you!
Kevin Eubank
Grant Weyman
Lynae Miyer
The KSL Weather Team
Kevin Eubank
LYNAE MIYER
GRANT WEYMAN
14
W H AT ’ S W I T H T H E
W E AT H E R ?
15