Channeling Oz
The weather, she is a bit spooky today. I grew up in the Midwest, and even though I haven't lived there in years, apparently I've still got a sixth sense about tornadic activity. Although the weather forecast involved nothing but rain and more rain this morning, I stepped out the door and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Why?
Well, it's like this. It was warm and extremely humid today. But instead of being still as a mouse, the air was stirring with a constant breeze of 15-25 miles per hour. Looking upward, I saw towers of cumulous clouds speeding by overhead. The clouds were scooting by from south to north, while the wind on my cheeks was clearly coming from the west to southwest. This is not good. Not good at all. These are the conditions that give rise to rotating thunderstorms, which in turn spawn tornados.
I went about my business today trying to console myself with the fact that this is not Illinois. It's New Jersey, and tornados are rare beasts here. The ones that form tend to be weak and short-lived. We made it to dinnertime without even a clap of thunder, despite the heavy feel of the day. Still, things felt unsettled to me.
I checked this and this and what do you know? It seems a tropical disturbance is headed right over our heads tonight. Then I found Special Weather Statement in my inbox:
...VERY HEAVY FLOOD PRODUCING RAINS, AND NOW THE THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...
THE REGION HAS BEEN UNDER A FLOOD THREAT FOR SEVERAL DAYS, AND NOW THERE IS A THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS, AND POSSIBLY ISOLATED TORNADOES.
PERSONS LIVING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS SHOULD CONTINUE TO PAY VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR THE POSSIBLE ISSUANCE OF ADDITIONAL WARNINGS AND/OR ADVISORIES. MOTORISTS ARE REMINDED TO REFRAIN FROM DRIVING INTO FLOOD WATERS. FLOWING WATER CAN CARRY VEHICLES AWAY OR TURN THEM OVER, OR EVEN WASH ROADS AWAY. NEVER DRIVE THROUGH FLOOD WATERS.
BE SAFE AND TURN AROUND, DON'T DROWN.
SOME OF THE SMALLER STREAMS MAY BEGIN TO FLOOD DURING THE NIGHTTIME HOURS SO IT IS SUGGESTED THAT YOU INSURE THAT YOUR VEHICLE IS AWAY FROM A QUICKLY RISING STREAM.
A TROPICAL FEED OF MOISTURE HAS BEEN STREAMING NORTHWEST FROM THE BAHAMA ISLANDS RESULTING IN FLOODING ALONG FLASHY STREAMS AND IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN AFFECTING THE LARGER RIVERS OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS. ADDING TO THE POTENTIAL OF MORE HEAVY RAIN, AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IS AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE OFF THE SOUTHERN NORTH CAROLINA COAST.
THIS LOW WILL MOVE NORTH DURING THE DAY AND UP THROUGH THE DEALWARE VALLEY BY TOMORROW AFTERNOON.
THE ATMOSPHERE WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY MORE UNSTABLE AND SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF STRONG STORMS AND POSSIBLY EVEN TORNADOES LATE THIS EVENING INTO THE MORNING HOURS ON WEDNESDAY.
At least I'm not imagining things. I guess I'll have to keep thinking dry basement thoughts. And I'll keep reminding myself that New Jersey doesn't get strong tornados.
Well, it's like this. It was warm and extremely humid today. But instead of being still as a mouse, the air was stirring with a constant breeze of 15-25 miles per hour. Looking upward, I saw towers of cumulous clouds speeding by overhead. The clouds were scooting by from south to north, while the wind on my cheeks was clearly coming from the west to southwest. This is not good. Not good at all. These are the conditions that give rise to rotating thunderstorms, which in turn spawn tornados.
I went about my business today trying to console myself with the fact that this is not Illinois. It's New Jersey, and tornados are rare beasts here. The ones that form tend to be weak and short-lived. We made it to dinnertime without even a clap of thunder, despite the heavy feel of the day. Still, things felt unsettled to me.
I checked this and this and what do you know? It seems a tropical disturbance is headed right over our heads tonight. Then I found Special Weather Statement in my inbox:
...VERY HEAVY FLOOD PRODUCING RAINS, AND NOW THE THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...
THE REGION HAS BEEN UNDER A FLOOD THREAT FOR SEVERAL DAYS, AND NOW THERE IS A THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS, AND POSSIBLY ISOLATED TORNADOES.
PERSONS LIVING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS SHOULD CONTINUE TO PAY VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR THE POSSIBLE ISSUANCE OF ADDITIONAL WARNINGS AND/OR ADVISORIES. MOTORISTS ARE REMINDED TO REFRAIN FROM DRIVING INTO FLOOD WATERS. FLOWING WATER CAN CARRY VEHICLES AWAY OR TURN THEM OVER, OR EVEN WASH ROADS AWAY. NEVER DRIVE THROUGH FLOOD WATERS.
BE SAFE AND TURN AROUND, DON'T DROWN.
SOME OF THE SMALLER STREAMS MAY BEGIN TO FLOOD DURING THE NIGHTTIME HOURS SO IT IS SUGGESTED THAT YOU INSURE THAT YOUR VEHICLE IS AWAY FROM A QUICKLY RISING STREAM.
A TROPICAL FEED OF MOISTURE HAS BEEN STREAMING NORTHWEST FROM THE BAHAMA ISLANDS RESULTING IN FLOODING ALONG FLASHY STREAMS AND IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN AFFECTING THE LARGER RIVERS OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS. ADDING TO THE POTENTIAL OF MORE HEAVY RAIN, AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IS AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE OFF THE SOUTHERN NORTH CAROLINA COAST.
THIS LOW WILL MOVE NORTH DURING THE DAY AND UP THROUGH THE DEALWARE VALLEY BY TOMORROW AFTERNOON.
THE ATMOSPHERE WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY MORE UNSTABLE AND SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF STRONG STORMS AND POSSIBLY EVEN TORNADOES LATE THIS EVENING INTO THE MORNING HOURS ON WEDNESDAY.
At least I'm not imagining things. I guess I'll have to keep thinking dry basement thoughts. And I'll keep reminding myself that New Jersey doesn't get strong tornados.
posted by Liesl at
9:43 PM
2 Comments:
I have similar abilities to detect snow :-).
Send those dry basement thoughts this way as well please....
Gah. I hate the rain. So much for my dreams of a sun-filled summer outdoors with the kids.
By
chichimama, at Wednesday, June 28, 2006 6:32:00 AM
Ooh, tornados. I grew up in Delaware and only witnessed one, and a baby one at that.
By
Piece of Work, at Wednesday, June 28, 2006 5:57:00 PM
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