SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30th
by: Tim Tender

Here's the deal... 2006 is coming to an end and 2007 is right around the corner (less than 27 hours away as I write this). It's time for the year in review!

We've dealt with flooding, extreme hot and cold temperatures, and even a few tornadoes. It's been a year of ups and downs in terms of precipitation, too. We went from having a drought watch issued in early April to having it lifted a couple of months later. Soaking rains flooded the state and the drought watch was lifted on June 30th. The state average precipitation should be around 37.4 inches. This year, the state average was 45.4 inches, with a good portion of that coming the second half of the year. Locally, however, Johnstown, Altoona, and State College all finished below their yearly averages. Have a look at the numbers below...

Johnstown:
Average: 43.5"
Actual: 39.8"

Altoona:
Average: 38.7"
Actual: 32.8"

State College:
Average: 39.6"
Actual: 32.8"

Counties in a SURPLUS in 2006: Clarion, Elk, Forest, Clearfield, Westmoreland, Indiana, Centre, and Jefferson Counties in a DEFICIT in 2006: Blair, Cambria, Huntingdon, Bedford, and Fulton

Snow was minimal across the Alleghenies this year. Many locations saw less than 10 inches of snow over the last 12 months. Here's the snow breakdown for a couple of select cities...

Johnstown:
2005: 108.4"
2006: 46.3"

Altoona:
2005: 51.5"
2006: 7.6"

State College:
2005: 54.5"
2006: 8.8"

DuBois:
2005: 60.1"
2006: 18.2"

Now let's talk temps...

For the most part, the monthly average temperatures across the region were warmer than normal. There was one location that I found that was cooler than average. That was Johnstown. Here's a breakdown of the highs, lows, and departure from normal for select cities in the viewing area...

Johnstown:
Hi: 90 / Lo: -2
Departure from Avg: -3.5

Altoona:
Hi: 91 / Lo: 4
Departure from Avg: +0.8

State College:
Hi: 93 / Lo: 6
Departure from Avg: +2.9

DuBois:
Hi: 90 / Lo: 0
Departure from Avg: +1.4

Clearfield:
Hi: 91 / Lo: 2
Departure from Avg: +4.6

On a personal note, I have been here for a year and a half now. When I moved here, I was told that I was going to be snowed in through the winter. I have yet to see it! A lot of people are going to be mad at me, but I am issuing a challenge. This challenge is to Mother Nature... I WANT A MAJOR SNOWSTORM BY THE END OF THIS WINTER SEASON. In the next 365 days, we'll see if Mother Nature can live up to the challenge. We'll also see what other weather events will make history in 2007!

Have a happy and safe new year...
Tim Tender

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14th
by: Tony Martin

QUESTION FROM VIEWER: I AM FROM LONG ISLAND AND RESIDE IN INDIANA COUNTY. IN STRONGSTOWN AND MY QUESTION IS WHERE IS, AM I, AND WHAT IS A SNOWBELT REGION AND WHERE IS THE SNOWBELT REGION? Thanks, Raphael Ortiz

Hello Raphael,

West Central PA's snow belt is generally north of I-80, closer to the Great Lakes. Lake effect snow bands usually move into Forest, Clarion and Elk counties in our viewing area. Occasionally, like last week, some bands make it as far south as the Laurel Highlands around Johnstown, Somerset, Ebensburg and Indiana.

Thanks for the question.
Meteorologist Tony Martin

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9th
by: Tim Tender

A rare planetary sight will be visible for the next 5 days or so. In order to see the sight, however, you'll need to be up awfully early. From now through the 14th, you'll have the rare opportunity to see three planets together in the pre-dawn sky... more specifically 6:30AM!

The three planets you'll see are Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter. As you can see on the graphic within the article, Mars will be to the right, while Mercury will be over top of Jupiter on the left. To see these, you'll have to look in the SouthEast sky in the pre-dawn hours. To see Mars, you'll need a pair of binoculars, but Mercury and Jupiter should be visible to the naked eye.

Keep reaching for the stars,
Tim Tender

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26th
by: Tim Tender

I was leaving Thanksgiving dinner at home and my uncle asks "Are you doing a hunting forecast this year?" I replied with a "yes, and don't worry, I'll make sure to give wind direction and wind speed." He said "What about the barometer, whether its falling or rising?" He insisted that the pressure was important, so I decided to look it up. Even though I'm not an avid hunter, the answer made sense.

The article I read (on 23mm.com) mentioned that both the wind direction and the tendancy of the barometric pressure are important. The barometer guages pressure. High pressure normally means good weather with clear skies. Low pressure leads to enough upward motion to allow for the formation of clouds, and eventually precipitation. Deer can sense the change in pressure and adjust their feeding habits because of it. When the pressure is rapidly falling, deer will feed earlier. According to the website, this is the perfect time to go deer hunting.

The wind, more specifically the wind direction, also plays a major role in deer hunting. Deer have an incredible sense of smell and there aren't many ways to get past that fact. Luckily, the wind can help you. The best thing to do while hunting is the have the wind at your face. If the wind is at your back, your scent will be carried in the direction you are travelling, and ultimately in the direction of the deer. If it is at your face, you might have to deal with a little chill, but your scent will trail behind you.

So how can you find the pressure and the current wind speeds? Well, before you head out to the woods, log on to WJACTV.com/WEATHER and scroll down. On the left hand side, you'll see a drop-down box with various local cities. Click your city and hit "GO." This'll bring you to a page with current weather information. You can also watch WJAC-TV's Weather Plus for the latest weather conditions!

If you get any monster bucks, take a snapshot and send it in to weather@wjactv.com. We'd love to see it!

Happy Hunting, Good Luck, and Stay Safe,
Tim Tender

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24th
by: Tim Tender

Just a quick blog update to announce our new slideshows on the website. You can find them on the sidebar to the right! With the holidays coming, and the start of winter, we have created a Holiday Decorations Slideshow and a Winter Scenes Slideshow. Send in your pictures of your holiday decorations, the 10 foot tree in your front yard (decorated, of course), the Griswold-style house with enough lights to cause a blackout in other parts of the neighborhood, or anything else you can think of. We also want to see your 'Winter Wonderland' pictures.

Look for your pictures on Channel 6 News, Channel 6 Weather Plus, and right here on the website.

Happy Holidays,
Tim Tender

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20th
by: Tony Martin

QUESTION FROM VIEWER: When does our snow season start and what's the potential for major storms? Thanks, Raphael Ortiz

Hello Raphael,

West Central PA's snow season usually kicks off in November and lasts through March. This year, we did get some snow in October which happens occasionally.

With a weak to moderate el nino, our winter can be as snowy as 02-03, or as warm and dry as 94-95. The next few weeks will set the table for the rest of the winter, but as of right now it looks to be cooler and snowier than last year!

Thanks for the question.
Meteorologist Tony Martin

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19th
by: Tim Tender

In the last couple of days, we've reported about the lines of people waiting for the new game consoles. Playstation 3 and Nintendo's Wii came out within two days of each other. Who knew that weather was going to be such an issue for those waiting in line...

On Friday, the Playstation 3 came out across the nation. Across the Alleghenies, people, or better yet, devoted game enthusiasts, braved the elements for days just to get a coveted game system. Little did these people know, weather was going to get a bit extreme! On Thursday, we had tornado warnings in several counties and severe severe thunderstorm warnings, too. Hopefully those game enthusiasts had their umbrellas!

On Saturday night and Sunday morning, Nintendo fans, myself included, braved the cold just to get their hands on the new Nintendo Wii. Late Saturday night, there were about 30 of us lined up outside of the Circuit City in Richland. The catch... we knew that there were 16 consoles on hand at the time! We were told that 15 more were on the way, but we weren't positive! Temps were in the low 30s and the winds were light to moderate. Needless to say, our toes were frozen. While under the stars, I was hoping to see the Leonid Meteor Shower, but the clouds were hanging tough. The good news is that everyone who waited in line got their Wii.

On a personal note, I have to say thanks to all the people there for keeping it fun and interesting while we waited over 7 hours! Believe it or not, the night actually went kinda fast and even though it was freezing, it was kinda fun!

Hope you find everything you want for the holidays...
Tim

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12th
by: Tim Tender

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation often goes unthanked for the job that they do each winter. We all cry and moan because the roads are slick and we have trouble getting back and forth to work. Think of where you live... the Alleghenies. PennDOT does the best they can when it comes to bad roads in the winter.

While searching the internet, I found myself on the PennDOT website. I found some interesting facts about how they prepare for the winter. Let's play the numbers game... (all numbers taken directly from PennDOT's Guide to Winter)

16: SNOW BLOWERS

2,250: TRUCKS, PLOWS, AND SALT SPREADERS

5,000: POTENTIAL PLOW EMPLOYEES

95,554: TOTAL LANES PENNDOT PLOWS

793,400: TONS OF SALT USED IN THE LAST 5 YEARS

$168,000,000: AMOUNT SPENT ON WINTER MAINTENANCE IN THE LAST 5 YEARS

For more incredible numbers, check out PennDOT's Guide to Winter by clicking HERE. You'll need Adobe Reader to access it. (most computers have this!)

It's definitely worth taking 5 minutes to look at this 'survival guide' to winter. PennDOT did a great job of detailing what to do if you have to go out in a storm, what you should keep in your car, even how to shovel your driveway so that it doesn't get plowed back in. A lot of helpful stuff courtesy of PennDOT.

One of the coolest parts of the guide is the page explaining 'What to Expect from PennDOT when Winter Weather Hits.' It describes how they plow interstates, expressways, major roadways, and minor roadways when we encounter various accumulation levels.

Again, kudos to PennDOT for publishing this guide. It is definitely worth checking out.

Let it snow, Let it snow... you know the rest...
Tim

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5th
by: Tim Tender

QUESTION FROM VIEWER: How much acid is in the rain in Indiana County? In my science class, we are studying acid rain and I was wondering what percent of acid is in the rain where I live. Thx. Brianna Woods

Brianna, thanks for the question. I had to do a little digging for this one. I found a website, however, that lays everything out. The website, just in case you want to check it out, can be found by clicking HERE. The website is the USGS Acid Rain Website. Here's what it says...

Acid rain, as defined by the USGS is "acid precipitation," or "the deposition of acidic components in rain, snow, fog, dew, or dry particles. For example, Normal Rain, or 'Clean' Rain should have a pH level of 5.6. A lower pH indicates that there is more acid in the precipitation. Here's how the country measures up. (Keep in mind that these are approximate numbers based on the map on the website listed above.)

Pennsylvania: 4.3

Florida: 4.7

California: 5.4

Wyoming: 5.5

Illinois: 4.5

Washington: 5.3

An added tidbit... Think of where most of our nations historic buildings are. They are located in the Northeast, or in the area with the lowest pH values (most acidic). Too much acid can actually cause damage to buildings, much like what is happening in Europe.

Brianna, thanks again for the question. Remember to keep sending those questions to weather@wjactv.com. We'll answer them right here on the Severe Weather Team Blog. You may even hear your questions answered on WJAC-TV's Weather Plus!

Keep the questions coming...
Tim

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27th
by: Tony Martin

Hard to believe, but here we are at the end of October already! This weekend, Daylight Savings Time ends and its the last weekend before Halloween! Where does time go?

For the trick or treaters this year, Halloween Tuesday will be quite a bit warmer than its been. Especially after this weekend's weather! If you have any light-weight decorations outside, you may want to bring them in. Winds will gust as high as 50 MPH this weekend, plus rain will change to snow on Saturday as colder air moves back in. Gotta love October!

Be careful on the roads this weekend and early next week with the kids going out and about for some candy!

Have a good weekend and stay dry!,
Tony

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21st
by: Tim Tender

My first school visit of this season starts out with a long haul. After being told it was only 45 minutes from Johnstown, I was surprised to find that Moshannon Valley School District was a good 1.5 hours away. Alright, enough cryin'... the visit was a blast! The kids of the K-4 class were great. They were all very attentive and great artists. We drew clouds, the sun, rain, snow, and even tornados! Then, we made our own shaving cream clouds. I have to thank my two volunteers who helped me build the BIG, BIG thunderstorm clouds! Thanks again to the students and teachers for letting me come in on Wednesday. What a way to kick off the school visit season!

As promised, pictures are on the web! Look for the Moshannon Valley School Visit Pics on the sidebar and click on the link. For now, I only have seven pictures. I'm still waiting for some to be sent from the school.

If you want one of us to visit your school, send an e-mail to weather@wjactv.com. There's also a link on the website to get more information. Hope to see you in the classroom!

Keep on learnin',
Tim

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15th
by: Tim Tender

QUESTION FROM VIEWER: Hi guys, I know you already answered this question, but it was a while ago. Now that we've had our first cold snap of the year, what are your thoughts on this winter? Thanks, Mike Jones, Nanty Glo

Thanks for the question Mike. For the answer to this question, you're going to have to tune in at 5, 6, and 11 PM on November 2nd for our official Wintercast 2006-2007. Until then, I'll give you a little something to think about, courtesy of the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (or NOAA). Here's what they're thinking for the winter...

Looking at the map produced by NOAA, it looks like we have a decent chance of a milder than normal winter. Take a look for yourself HERE. The map shows us being at a 33% chance of being warmer than the norm. As far as precipitation goes, NOAA has us in a toss-up for above normal, near normal, and below normal precipitation. This really doesn't tell you much of anything. You can look at the map HERE to see that and the rest of the country.

For the rest of the Winter Outlook for 2006-2007, click HERE. Hopefully this holds you over until November 2nd, when we give our official 2006-2007 Wintercast!

Remember to keep sending those questions to weather@wjactv.com. We'll answer them right here on the Severe Weather Team Blog. You may even hear your questions answered on WJAC-TV's Weather Plus!

Think warm thoughts... unless you like snow!
Tim

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4th
by: Tony Martin

It seems like the warm weather over the past couple of days is going to take a backseat again by Thursday. So, if you have some outside work to do, maybe this afternoon wouldn't be a bad idea! We've had some frost already, so this could be our Indian summer this year. We'll get some warmer days again this weekend.... but as we all know it's not going to last very long in October.

As some of you know, my wife and I had a pretty intense remodeling job going on all summer (we needed some extra bedrooms!) and it's just about done! We're keeping our fingers crossed for some warm, dry weather for about the next week or so. If we only had connections with the weatherman....

Have a good week!...
Tony

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19th
by: Tim Tender

QUESTION FROM VIEWER: Hi. It seemed like this summer was a lot cooler than normal. It seemed like I only got to use my swimming pool a handful of times. Was this a normal summer? Thank you in advance for the response. Michael C.

Michael, thanks! The National Climatic Data Center actually has the answer to this question. According to the NCDC, the average temperature through June, July, and August was 69.2 degrees Fahrenheit. This equals a near-normal summer season. The way the NCDC breaks is down is simple. They have recorded all of the temperatures over the past 112 years, from 1895 through 2006. Our 'near normal' ranking means that the average temperature over those three months was not one of the 37 warmest or 37 coldest on record.

Let's compare our summer to that of Nevada. The average temperature in Nevada was 72.9 degrees. Although that does not sound that warm, it was officially their warmest summer on record. In fact, most of the West saw temperatures that were well above normal.

Switching gears now, we'll look at the total precip for June, July, and August. After a very dry period for the first half of the year, we saw one of our wettest summers over the past 112 years. Our state, on average, picked up 16.7 inches of rain. This ranks in the top 11 wettest summers.

Want to figure out which summers were the warmest and which winters were the coldest? Check out the CLIMATE AT A GLANCE. This is a cool resource that gives you precip and average temps for all seasons and months within the past 112 years!

Remember to keep sending those questions to weather@wjactv.com. We'll answer them right here on the Severe Weather Team Blog.

Until next time...
Tim

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19th
by: Tony Martin

QUESTION FROM VIEWER: When the winds are light at my house, why does it sometimes sound like the winds are much stronger and faster higher up? I notice this a lot, especially in the winter. Thanks, Roger B.

That's a good question, Roger. The winds are usually deflected away from the surface, especially in the winter when there's snowcover. The sounds you are probably hearing are the slightly higher winds moving through the higher trees in your area, perhaps making a roaring sound. Winds will increase with height, and peak out with the jet stream, which is thousands of feet up in the atmosphere.

Remember to keep sending those questions to weather@wjactv.com. We'll answer them right here on the Severe Weather Team Blog.

Have a good week...
Tony

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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17th
by: Tim Tender

Airplanes impact our weather... It's something you really don't think about on a daily basis, but it happens. This fact was proven on the days following September 11th. Climatologists were able to study the skies and the weather sans air traffic. Between September 11 and September 14, 2001, all air traffic across the country was grounded. In that period, scientists found out some valuable information.

In that period, it was found that the days were warmer and the nights were cooler. Compared to a 30-year average, the diurnal temperature range over those days was larger by about 2 degree Fahrenheit. The diurnal temperature range is the difference between the high and low temperature for a specific day.

How and why does this occur? Airplanes create contrails, or makeshift clouds that can last for up to six hours. These contrails can actually alter the temperature patterns by acting like clouds. Clouds act like a shield from the sun during the day and act like a blanket at night. Essentially, during the day these clouds shield the earth from the sun's energy, keeping us cooler. At night, we don't lose as much heat because these clouds act like insulation.

During the period between September 11 and 14, we had no contrails. This meant warmer daytime highs and cooler nighttime lows.

For more on this topic, check out Science Daily by clicking HERE.

Don't forget that you can send weather-related questions to weather@wjactv.com. We'll answer them right here on the Severe Weather Team Blog.

Until next time...
Tim

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5th
by: Tim Tender

QUESTION FROM VIEWER: I don't really want to think about it yet, but do you have any early predictions for the winter? Will it be colder or warmer than normal? What about snowfall? Thanks alot, Amanda T.

Amanda, thanks for the question...

I really don't want to think about the winter yet either. Lucky for us, the Old Farmer's Almanac has!

According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, our winter is expected to be colder than normal. The good news however is that snowfall is expected to be near normal. The almanac also states that our coldest times of the year will be in mid to late December, mid January, and early in February. It also mentions that our snowiest months will be December, February, and early March.

There is some good news, however! The almanac mentions that spring will come early! We'll just have to wait and see what Phil has to say about that!

Check out the Old Farmer's Almanac by clicking HERE.

Amanda, thanks again for the question. Keep the questions coming.

Remember to send those questions to weather@wjactv.com. We'll answer them right here on the Severe Weather Team Blog.

Think warm thoughts...
Tim

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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3rd
by: Tim Tender

Now that Ernesto is just a memory, we can look back and figure out just how much rain fell in the Alleghenies. On average, we picked up anywhere from 2 to 4 inches of rain from Friday night through Sunday morning. Here's how each county faired in terms of rainfall.

Bedford County:
Everett - 3.19"
Saxton - 3.07"

Blair County:
Altoona - 2.70"
Williamsburg - 2.63"

Cambria County:
Patton - 3.25"
Ebensburg - 1.85"

Camberon County:
Sinnemahoning - 2.60"
Emporium - 2.20"

Clearfield County:
Ansonville - 2.56"
Morrisdale - 2.08"

Elk County:
Ridgway - 2.01"
Wilcox - 1.69"

Huntingdon County:
Entriken - 2.75"
Huntingdon - 2.47"

Somerset County:
Laurel Summit - 3.06"
Meyersdale - 2.27"

The rain did cause some minor flooding in the area. Penns Creek overrun its banks, topping flood stage, which is 8 feet. The creek ended up reaching 8.31 feet. A flood warning was issued by the National Weather Service on Saturday night for Penns Creek. Check out the graph on the National Weather Service website by clicking HERE. For the full report from the National Weather Service, click HERE. Included in the report is a graphic showing the rain totals, the surface map from September 1st (the Friday before Ernesto arrived), the Penns Creek flood stage graphic, and other information on Ernesto.

Until next time...
Tim

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23rd
by: Tim Tender

QUESTION FROM VIEWER: I live down near Washington DC and I see, often, on the news how Johnstown always seems to be 10 degrees cooler than the surrounding areas. Could you tell me why that is? Thanks, David.

David, thanks for the question...

One of the major reasons for this is the elevation. For example, the Johnstown-Cambria County Airport in Richland Township, where Johnstown's weather observations are taken, is at 2,284 feet. According to the Official Tourism Site of Washington DC, the highest elevation in Washington is 390 feet, while the lowest is right at sea level. That's a big difference!!! You may be asking, "why does this matter?" As the elevation increases, the temperature drops. When you compare DC to Johnstown, you can see why the temperature is always significantly cooler.

The science behind it is quite simple... it has to do with pressure and density of air particles. The higher the elevation, the lower the pressure. Less pressure results in less density. Put all this together, and you get slower-moving particles at higher elevations, along with cooler temperatures. Flip this around, and the opposite is true. At lower elevations, you have more pressure and the air is more dense. Particles moving faster leading to warmer temperatures. For example, the lowest elevation in North America occurs at Death Valley. The record high temperature there is 134.7 degrees. The elevation of Death Valley is 282 feet BELOW sea level.

Think of the particles in terms of people at a rock concert. When you get a lot of people in a room, it starts to get really warm.

David, thanks again for the question. Keep the questions coming.

Until next time...
Tim

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 15th
by: Tim Tender

It was a wet morning across the Alleghenies with a cold front that worked through in the pre-dawn hours. Rainfall totals helped to put a little bit of a dent in the drought-like conditions. Here's how much we picked up (according to the Automated Flood Warning System, or AFWS):

Westmoreland County:
Rachelwood - 2.52"
St. Boniface - 1.28"

Cambria County:
Chickaree - 2.64"
Martindale - 2.36"
Westmont - 2.23"

Clearfield County:
Ansonville - 1.15"
Decatur Twp. - 0.84"

Centre County:
Smullton - 0.56"
Woodward - 0.52"

Huntingdon County:
Butler Knob - 0.32"

Somerset County:
Pot Ridge - 0.48"
Forward - 0.28"

Elk County:
Lamont - 0.72"
Glen Hazel - 0.44"

Clarion County:
Fryburg - 0.56"
Corsica - 0.52"

As of now, we are still under for the year. For a look at some of the maps, click HERE.

Until next time...
Tim

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 10th
by: Tim Tender

It has been a while since my last update, but things have been a little busy around here. We debuted the new weather banner and the new look last Friday. I'm still cleaning up all the old graphics, putting them in the trashcan... or the recycle bin on Windows! There sure are a lot of old graphics to take care of.

Things to look for in the next couple of weeks:

... School Visits - The Severe Weather Team will be traveling across the Channel 6 viewing area visiting classrooms with students of all ages. If you'd like us to visit your school, have your teacher log on to the website and submit the form! When we come to visit, we'll take plenty of pictures and post them on the website!

... More Pictures and Slideshows - We'll have more pictures coming as we have a lot going on through the month of August across the Alleghenies. From school visits to local appearances, we'll do our best to take pictures, and maybe even video. Then, we'll put that on the Severe Weather Team Blog.

... Behind the Scenes - I know it's been a link for about 4 months or so, but we'll finally post some "behind the scenes" pictures of the Severe Weather Center. Captions and pictures of the team, the technology, and everything else that makes the Severe Weather Team tick will be exposed.

A lot of information can be found on the Severe Weather Team Blog. Log in often to find out what's going on.

Until then, how about a recap of the weather for the weekend of August 11th? Things are looking good with plenty of sunshine and temps on the pleasant side. The only damper to the weekend won't come from any rain, but from bitter temperatures on Saturday morning. Overnight lows into Saturday will be in the upper 40s to lower 50s. The record low is 44 degrees. We should stay clear of that, but it will sure be cold for this time of year. The rest of the weekend will make up for it!

Enjoy the Weekend!...
Tim

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TUESDAY, JULY 25th
by: Tony Martin

After getting a nice break from the high humidity, it's coming back! Warmer temperatures will make the pools very crowded again by the middle to latter part of this week, but that's how July should be, right? The higher humidity may cause some problems with those who have respiratory troubles, but it will not be as bad as last week. We also have to be on the lookout for severe weather over the next few days. Other than that, enjoy yourself outdoors... hard to believe it's the end of July already!

Since it's been relatively dry over the past two weeks, the weatherman is going to have a roof on his house this week!

Have A Good Week!...
Tony

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FRIDAY, JULY 14th
by: Tony Martin

Things have been pretty damp as of late, with showers and thunderstorms just about everyday! Not the greatest weather for doing anything outdoors. But that is changing, starting this weekend. If you have a pool, or planned on going to a pool, this weekend will be a good one! Temperatures by Sunday will be approaching 90, and even exceeding 90 in some spots by Monday and Tuesday. There also seems to be quite a bit of construction around the area, and the weather will finally cooperate for that too, but it will be just a little on the warm side!

Have A Good Weekend!...
Tony

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FRIDAY, JULY 7th
by: Tim Tender

It's been a while since we've updated this. Things have been pretty busy around the Severe Weather Center. We are working on some great new graphics that we hope to debut in the next month or so. There is still a lot to do before the big debut. That, along with the severely active weather that we've had over the past couple of weeks have kept us all pretty busy.

Is it just me, or does this summer seem to be a bit cool compared to what we're used to seeing? Other than Memorial Day weekend, temps have been hovering a few degrees below normal all summer long. Hopefully we can break that trend, as people are itching to get back in the pools and to the area lakes.

We will give it a shot this week, as temps are expected to be a degree or two above normal, with the exception of Monday. This weekend also looks to be pretty nice with sunshine and temps in the lower to mid 80s across the entire region.

What about the rest of the summer? STAY TUNED!

Don't forget to send in your pictures to weather@wjactv.com. Comments, questions, and suggestions are always welcome, too. We love to hear from you... especially when you tell us how weather affects YOU and what you do!

Have A Great Weekend!...
Tim

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TUESDAY, JUNE 20th
by: Tony Martin

Where is June going?!? Here we are at the last full day of Spring already, and Thunder In The Valley is just around the corner! Weather wise, it will be summer-like, with temperatures in the 80s with some humidity. There's also the risk of a few pop-up thunderstorms, but they will be scattered through Saturday, maybe a little more widespread for Sunday. Enjoy it.... the fourth of July is almost here too!

Have A Good Week!...
Tony

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SATURDAY, JUNE 17th
by: Tim Tender

A little bit of information...

Hurricane season is in gear and here's the website to get some information on all the cyclones that barrel towards the United States. Log on to the NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER. There is all kinds of information on the website, including information on why the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center believe that it is going to be an active year for tropical systems.

Also, the first day of Summer is just about here! Here's some information about the season... The official name is the 'Summer Solstice." The word solstice means 'sun stands still' in Latin. It appears that the sun is at the same height (or standing still) in the sky for several days in a row. The longest day of the year occurs on June 21st at 8:26 A.M. EDT. For more on the Summer Solstice, click HERE.

That's it for now...
Tim

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FRIDAY, JUNE 2nd
by: Jim Burton

I had a great time at Cochran Auditorium Thursday evening as I was invited by the Johnstown Alumni Association to emcee the Gary Pucket / B.J. Thomas concert. Both artists and their backing musicians gave a fantastic proformance singing their biggest hits dating back to the 60s and 70s. The Johnstown Alumni Association hopes to bring more well known acts to the area in the future. The newly-renovated auditorium at Johnstown High School is a great place to see a show. Thanks again to the JAA for letting me be a small part of an entertaining evening.

Jim

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FRIDAY, JUNE 2nd
by: Tim Tender

History...

A lot has happened in the weeks surrounding Memorial Day. A lot of history has happened!

1998: On June 2nd, 1998, an outbreak of tornadoes hit the Pittsburgh metro and the areas surrounding Johnstown. One tornado actually touched down on Mount Washington, over the city of Pittsburgh. Another tornado moved through Somerset County. Three hours later, another tornado, which eventually turned out to be an F4, crossed the path of the one before causing major devastation to Somerset County in the town of Salisbury. When it was in Somerset County, the second tornado was an F3 in intensity.

1985: On the Memorial Day weekend, an outbreak of tornadoes devastated parts of Northwestern Pennsylvania, including Erie, Crawford, and Mercer Counties.

2002: On June 1st, 2002, a line of thunderstorms moved through and caused some devastation. One place that was affected was Kennywood Park, in West Mifflin. Officially ruled a microburst, the storm knocked down a pavilion that housed 'The Whip' killing one and injuries many more. Many people, including my brother, who as there at the time, thought that it was a tornado that hit Kennywood; however, the National Weather Service ruled otherwise.

1889: On May 31st at 4:07 PM, a devastating wave 75 feet high rolled down the Conemaugh Valley and destroyed Johnstown after the Southfork Dam collapsed. "The Great Johnstown Flood" occured on this date! It is still considered one of the worst natural disasters to hit the United States. After all was said and done, 2,009 people died in this tragedy.

That's enough history for now... Hope you enjoyed the trip down memory lane!

Tim

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TUESDAY, MAY 30th
by: Tony Martin

We got to enjoy one of the warmest and driest Memorial Day weekend's in quite some time. We'll reach the peak of this warmup today, and then start to slide off to seasonal as we head towards the weekend thanks to a cold front. Natural fireworks are likely Wednesday and Thursday as this cold front passes through. By the way, seasonal temperatures are in the lower to mid 70s for day-time highs, and low to mid 50s for night-time lows. Overall, we'll have some good weather for outdoor projects...... such as gardening or remodeling, like yours truly!

Oh, it looks like we're done with the frost, too!

Have a good week...
Tony

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MONDAY, MAY 29th
by: Tim Tender

Today, I aired a statistic that talked about 90 degree days. I mentioned that Altoona, State College, and DuBois had all seen temps in the 90s last year, but Johnstown officially had not seen a high in the 90s since the late 90s. Logistically, this statement is correct. The National Weather Service observations prove that we have not seen 90 degrees in Johnstown since the 1990s. However, you need to keep in mind that the official reporting station for Johnstown is not in the city. It is in Richland at the airport.

While the city of Johnstown may have had days over 90 degrees, the airport, where the official temperature is recorded, has not hit 90 degrees in over 6 years.

Tim

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FRIDAY, MAY 26th
by: Jim Burton

I had to pleasure of speaking to a Laurel Highlands Community College Class Thursday, May 25th, the topic was public speaking. Rick Shepard teaches the class and we talked about the skills used speaking to groups of people vs. skills used in television broadcasting. The class had many questions about getting over stage fright and the fear of making mistakes. It all comes down to being comfortable with yourself and enjoying the people you're speaking to. On Friday, May 26th, I spoke to the residents of Patriot Manor in Somerset. The conversation centered on local weather and how our mountain ridges influence forecasting. I'll be out in the community next week...might even show up in your hometown. Have a happy and safe Memorial Day Weekend.

Jim B.

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TUESDAY, MAY 23rd
by: Tony Martin

If it's going to get cold, we might as well break a record or two, right? Johnstown broke a record this morning at 32, smashing the old one of 36 set back in 1929. We will warm up this week, and there will be a noticeable difference starting today. Our plants will get a break from the frost after tomorrow morning, and enjoy highs in the 70s from Wednesday onward. Get ready to use the lawn mower every other day over the next week or so! I know I will be!

Have a good week. We deserve some warm, sunny weather!
Tony

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SUNDAY, MAY 21st
by: Tim Tender

It's not everyday that we have a chance to break a record... especially one that is almost 100 years old. We have that chance tonight! The old record of 32 degrees was set back in 1907. The expected low tonight is 35 degrees. If we don't break it tonight, we have a chance to break the record again tomorrow night. The record low for May 23rd is 36 degrees and was set in 1929. Tuesday's early morning low temperature is forecast to be 36 degrees.

What can lead to cooler temperatures overnight? Well, first we have cloud cover. Less clouds means more heat can escape. Second, we have winds. Lighter winds allow for cooler temperatures. Mix these two together, and we might just break that record. Cross your fingers!

Until Next Time,
Tim

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FRIDAY, MAY 19th
by: Jim Burton

I was out speaking to the public again this week. Had a lovely time at the First Christian Church in Somerset Thursday, May 18th. Had the pleasure of addressing about 25 wonderful folks about weather and climate in the Laurel Highlands. Friday I was honored to speak at the graduation ceremony for the Somerset IU8 students. The event was held at the Somerset Quality Inn where we had a great time with the students, their parents and teachers. Everyone enjoyed a nice noon luncheon before we all hugged and said good-bye. Best wishes to all!

Sincerely,
Jim

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TUESDAY, MAY 16TH
by: Tony Martin

The same storm system that's responsible for the flooding in New England is giving us some very beneficial rains yet again today. We'll finally start to break out of this pattern just in time for the weekend and get a little more sunshine back into the area. By that time, we'll all have grass about 2 feet high thanks to all the rain! The longer range features a nice warmup for the end of the month, and the unofficial start of Summer!

Enjoy the rain while we have it, you never know what could happen during the dog days of Summer...

Tony

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FRIDAY, MAY 12TH
by: Tim Tender

We did pick up some much needed rainfall across the Alleghenies over the last couple of days. A couple of days ago (May 7th), Somerset County was down over 5 inches so far for the year. Now, we are have less than a 5 inch deficit. We picked up a good bit of rain over the last couple of days. Some local areas picked up almost an inch and a quarter of rain:

• Johnstown: 1.12"
• Altoona: 0.91"
• State College: 0.76"
• DuBois: 1.23"

We also had a visit from Melina and Ann to the Severe Weather Center today. Melina, who is in 6th grade, was checking out the possibilities of becoming a broadcast meteorologist. She and her mom came into the studios and had the opportunity to see how the show was put together, how the green screen works, and how we build all the maps that we use on the air... plus much more! Some of the graphics that you saw on the air today were actually built by Melina! Thanks for coming in... hopefully all your questions were answered!

Until next time,
Tim

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FRIDAY, MAY 12TH
by: Jim Burton

My latest school visit was at the newly renovated Chestnut Ridge Middle School in Bedford County. I was invited to speak to the students about television by the PTO president. Chestnut Ridge has an impressive closed circut video system where students get a hands-on education in basic television production. I had the pleasure of co-anchoring the morning announcments with the students. My deep thanks for Barbara D. and the faculty for a pleasant morning.

I just might pop up at your school soon.
Jim

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MONDAY, MAY 8TH
by: Tony Martin

Welcome back from Cinco de Mayo weekend!

Things got off to a gray and damp start across parts of the region today, with chilly temperatures. If you like the sunshine and warm temperatures, Tuesday and Wednesday will be your days of the week. But for those of us who are waiting for some beneficial rains, Thursday will bring us our first real chance of significant rains in quite some time. Good news for the gardeners and those of us who are getting brown lawns and wilted pants already!

Have a good week, talk to you soon!
Tony

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FRIDAY, MAY 5TH
by: Tim Tender

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Checking the National Weather Service website at www.weather.gov today, I noticed a link about the drought watch in effect for the entire Alleghenies region. I clicked on it and was surprised just how much of a deficit we are experiencing. The DROUGHT WEBSITE of the National Weather Service has some pretty cool graphics that describe just how much of a deficit we are seeing. For a look at some of the maps, click HERE. An example of the deficit is Somerset County, where in the last 365 days, we are down 12.7 inches below the normal precip! I don't normally say this, but let's hope for some rain.

Until next time,
Tim

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FRIDAY, MAY 5TH
by: Jim Burton

I was invited to spend the afternoon at the Agency For The Blind in Somerset Thursday, May 4th. Visually impaired men and women are employed there making products for the state such as office file folders and orange warning flags for highway construction zones. To gain a better understanding of what daily life is like to a sightless person, I was blindfolded and attempted to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and pour a soft drink into a cup. I met the challenge and completed the task but it gave me a true understanding of how we take such simple daily chores for granted. There are wonderful products available to assist people with diminished site. Another case of advancing technology enhancing quality of life.

Jim

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TUESDAY, MAY 2ND
by: Tim Tender

Today, Tony Martin and I were at North Star Windfest. We had a great time talking about the wind and what goes on behind the scenes of Channel 6 News. The principal, all the teachers, and the students were all very accomodating and gave us a cake and other gifts. (By the way, the cake was excellent and everyone in the production department really appreciated it!) A special thanks to 'The Windmaster' and all the students from the senior class for the warm welcome.

The questions asked by the 3rd and 5th graders were all good. Asking everything from how commercials work to how fast winds are in tornadoes to how we get the weather on the green wall, the students learned alot about the weather.

Thanks again to North Star School District.

Look for pictures coming soon...

Until next time,
Tim

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TUESDAY, APRIL 25TH
by: Tim Tender

Today I had the opportunity to visit Stonycreek-Shanksville Elementary School. A great bunch of teachers and students were there to greet me. While at the school, we talked about the weather... what causes it, what you see in the sky, and what it takes to put a forecast together.

I had some volunteers come up to help me out and they did great. They helped me by demonstrating cloud types and by simulating how we get a lot of information thrown at us when creating a forecast.

We had so much fun with the Pre-K, K, 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades that we did it again with the 2nd grade group.

All and all, it was a blast! Thanks again to the students, teachers, and all the staff at Stonycreek-Shanksville Elementary School for inviting us to their school.

Stay tuned... pictures are on the way soon!

Next week we head to North Star for WindFest!

Tim

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