Category Archives: National Weather

First images from new Landsat satellite capture northern Colorado Front Range

For four decades Landsat satellites have beamed back amazing pictures of the Earth from their perch far above the planet’s surface.  The latest craft in the series was launched last month and among the first images it captured were pictures of the area around Fort Collins and the Galena Fire burn scar.

The Landsat Data Continuity Mission took to space on February 11 to continue the joint program between NASA and the USGS.  This latest spacecraft has some of the highest resolution imagery devices of any Earth-observing satellite and will allow the agencies to monitor the natural and human processes taking place on the planet.

This week NASA released some of the first images from the new craft including its ‘Image of the Day’ from the Earth Observatory program on Thursday.  The photos capture the northern Colorado Front Range in natural color and one showing wavelengths of light not seen by the human eye.  The city of Fort Collins is clearly seen as is the Galena Fire burn scar west of Horsetooth Reservoir.

Below the images are further explanation from NASA.

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Made with reflected red, green, and blue light, the image from the Landsat Data Continuity Mission shows Fort Collins as the human eye would see it. (NASA)
landsat2.jpg
The image from the Landsat Data Continuity Mission shows the Fort Collins area in wavelengths of light not usually visible to people. Plants are green, city areas are purple, snow is pale blue, and bare earth is tan-pink. . (NASA)

From NASA:

On March 18, 2013, the newly launched Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) began to send back images of Earth from both of its instruments—the Operational Land Imager (OLI) and the Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS). This view of Fort Collins, Colorado, is among the satellite’s first images.

The images above are close-up views from the OLI sensor at its maximum resolution of 15 meters per pixel. The top image displays natural color, while the second image blends shortwave infrared, near-infrared, and green wavelengths (LDCM bands 7, 5, 3). The close-ups were cropped from larger Landsat scenes (downloadable beneath each web image) that show where the Great Plains meet the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains in Wyoming and Colorado.

“The first OLI and TIRS images look great right out of the box,” said Jim Irons, LDCM project scientist. “I have waited a long time to view the first LDCM images and I could not be more impressed with their appearance.”

Made with reflected red, green, and blue light, the top image shows Fort Collins as the human eye would see it. The city is a gray grid surrounded by the curving roads and brown yards of residential neighborhoods. White clouds cast black shadows on the ground below. Land freshly burned in the Galena fire is charcoal black—just slightly darker than the dark green coniferous forest to its west.

The second image shows Fort Collins in wavelengths of light not usually visible to people. Plants are green, city areas are purple, snow is pale blue, and bare earth is tan-pink. This combination of visible and infrared light reveals features of the landscape not otherwise visible. For example, irrigated parks, yards, and golf courses are bright green in this image, but brown in natural color. The Galena Fire burn scar is dark red and easy to distinguish from its surroundings.

The Landsat Data Continuity Mission was launched on February 11, 2013, to continue the four-decade-long Landsat record of Earth’s landscapes. LDCM represents an evolutionary advancement in technology from previous Landsat sensors, collecting more data daily and with greater fidelity. The imagers also include two new bands to improve the view of clouds and near-shore waters.

LDCM’s normal operations are scheduled to begin in late May 2013, after the instruments have been calibrated and the spacecraft has been fully checked out. At that time, NASA will hand over control of the satellite to the U.S. Geological Survey, and the satellite will be renamed Landsat 8.

Read more about LDCM and its imagery in the NASA story: A Closer Look at LDCM’s First Scene.

 

 

NASA Image of the Day captures powerful Nor’easter set to slam northeastern U.S.

Two powerful winter storms are set to collide over the northeastern United States today in what could be a record-breaking weather event.  Many locations including Boston and New York City will see blizzard conditions in what some are calling a potentially historic event.

Parts of New England will be measuring snow in feet when this storm is finished and it is possible many locations will see their biggest snows on record.  NASA satellites captured an amazing image this morning of the region as the storms begin to arrive – see below.

NASA says, “The satellite image, captured at 9:01 a.m. EST, shows clouds associated with the western frontal system stretching from Canada through the Ohio and Tennessee valleys, into the Gulf of Mexico. The comma-shaped low pressure system located over the Atlantic, east of Virginia, is forecast to merge with the front and create a powerful nor’easter. The National Weather Service expects the merged storm to move northeast and drop between two to three feet of snow in parts of New England.”

Related:

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A massive winter storm is coming together as two low pressure systems are merging over the U.S. East Coast. A satellite image from NOAA's GOES-13 satellite on Feb. 8 shows a western frontal system approaching the coastal low pressure area. (NASA) Click the image for a larger view.

America comes together to celebrate National Weatherperson’s Day

Today, February 5th, we celebrate one of our nation’s most important holidays – National Weatherperson’s Day. In what is truly a very revered occasion, we take time out to honor those men and women who bring joy to schoolchildren when they announce a snow day, are the bearers of bad news when severe weather is about to strike and are prognosticators second only to Jimmy the Greek in their ability to read a crystal ball.  Read more about this auspicious occasion on Examiner.com.

Weather and Inauguration Day: Mother Nature can play a role in the swearing in

President Barack Obama will be sworn in for his second term today and while the weather looks to cooperate for the ceremony on the steps of the Capitol, that hasn’t always been the case. Mother Nature has impacted previous Inauguration Days and most famously led to the death of a president.  Read the rest of this story on Examiner.com

Artist's depiction of March 4, 1841 and William Henry Harrison's inauguration. Harrison contracted pneumonia on a wet and cold day would die 30 days later. Learn more at the link. (Library of Congress)
Artist's depiction of March 4, 1841 and William Henry Harrison's inauguration. Harrison contracted pneumonia on a wet and cold day would die 30 days later. Learn more at the link. (Library of Congress)

Weather Geek Stuff offers holiday deals on gifts for weather enthusiasts

Weather Geek Stuff is a great place to shop for gifts for weather enthusiasts, weather geeks and weather lovers.

Not everyone gets excited about blizzards, tornadoes, hurricanes and other types of extreme weather but many folks out there are passionate about Mother Nature.  Weather Geek Stuff is an online shop just for those whose hearts race with the thrill of severe weather and they are offering special deals on Black Friday and through the first part of the holiday season.

From now through December 10th Weather Geek Stuff is offering 15% off all orders over $50.00.  If you have a weather geek, weather diva or storm chaser on your shopping list – or maybe you just want to get yourself a gift – now is the time to buy.  Simply enter the coupon code SHOPUP at checkout to receive your discount.

Weather Geek Stuff is an online store that provides a host of clothing items and novelties just for weather buffs.  From the store’s custom ‘Weather Geek’ and ‘Weather Diva’ logoed merchandise to items imprinted with amusing weather warnings signs as well as Skywarn storm spotter logos, there is something there sure to please any weather lover.

Weather Geek Stuff’s merchandise was shown on the Weather Channel as a recommended gift so you know the quality is good.  Stu Ostro, Weather Channel’s Senior Director of Weather Communications even sports a ‘Weather Geek’ t-shirt on his Facebook page and Twitter profile.

Kids and dogs aren’t left out of the weather fun either.  There is a wide variety of clothing items sized just right for the little ones from babies to bigger kids.  Canine companions as well can get shirts and bowls emblazoned with a weather-related logo.

The selection goes far beyond clothing too.  Water bottles, clocks, mugs, bags and other novelties are part of the store’s offerings.  For the tech types, cases for iPhones and iPads are available.  New products this season include flasks, drink mixers, mouse pads, cases for the Samsung Galaxy S3 and much more.

Be sure to head over to WeatherGeekStuff.com and get that holiday gift today for your favorite weather geek. 

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Weather Geek Stuff is owned and operated by the same folks that run ThorntonWeather.com.  We provide ThorntonWeather.com as a no-cost service to the community and use the minimal amount of money made from Weather Geek Stuff to support the costs of running this website and the associated equipment.  So remember, if you have a weather buff on your shopping list, by buying from Weather Geek Stuff you are supporting ThorntonWeather.com!

Will the weather determine the next president?

Weather – The true determining factor of who will be president?
Weather – The true determining factor of who will be president?

We oftentimes hear about how weather can affect voter turnout but is there truly a link?  If there is, who does it benefit – Republicans or Democrats?  Studies seem to indicate that what might be thought of as an urban myth is indeed true.

In 2005, political science researchers Brad Gomez, Thomas Hansford and George Krause completed the first comprehensive study on the correlation between weather and voter turnout.  Their paper, “The Republicans Should Pray for Rain:  Weather, Turnout, and Voting in U.S. Presidential Elections” confirmed the conventional wisdom that weather does affect voter turnout, bad weather benefits Republicans and most interestingly, two presidential elections in the last 60 years may have had different results had the weather been different.

Looking back at presidential elections from 1948 to 2008, the study takes into account the weather in 3,000 U.S. counties.  They in turn looked at key areas of the nation and how weather, good and bad, affected voter turnout.  In the end, the study determined that precipitation is the key weather condition to affect voter turnout.

Continue reading Will the weather determine the next president?

Green Bay TV parodies replacement referees with ‘replacement weather guy’

An arguably botched call by replacement referees during Monday night’s football game between the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks is now being parodied by a Titletown television station. The ‘replacement weather guy’ made an appearance during NBC26’s Tuesday morning news taking a jab at the NFL.  Read the rest of this story on Examiner.com and watch the hilarious video.

A 'replacement weather guy' in Green Bay does a poor job following the Packers' loss at the hands of replacement referees.
A 'replacement weather guy' in Green Bay does a poor job following the Packers' loss at the hands of replacement referees. Click to watch the video. (YouTube / NBC26)

Severe weather threat forces President Obama’s acceptance speech indoors

President Barack Obama’s acceptance of his party’s nomination for reelection Thursday has been moved indoors to Charlotte’s Time Warner Cable arena. Democratic National Convention organizers said the threat of severe weather was the reason for the move from the planned outdoor venue. Read the rest of this story on Examiner.com

In memory of Neil Armstrong, one of our nation’s greatest explorers

July 21, 1969 - Neil Armstrong works on the moon. It is perhaps fitting that this is the only photo of Armstrong on the surface of the moon. The quiet man is one of the United States' greatest explorers and performed his mission for country, not for self.
July 21, 1969 - Neil Armstrong works on the moon. It is perhaps fitting that this is the only photo of Armstrong on the surface of the moon. The quiet man is one of the United States' greatest explorers and performed his mission for country, not for self.

We returned home from a weekend of camping to the news that Neil Armstrong has passed away and I am surprised by the lack of news coverage of the loss of this great American hero. His name will forever be mentioned in the annals of history along with other great explorers like Columbus, Polo, Lewis & Clark, Cook and Hillary.

On his return from the moon he could have had anything he wanted – politics, fame, riches. Instead he chose to return to his native Ohio and teach aerospace engineering at the University of Cincinnati.

Clearly Armstrong was a great man who believed he was serving a greater good, his nation. He did not go to the moon for himself or for fame or glory.

I shed a tear tonight for Neil Armstrong, one of our nation’s greatest quiet heroes.

May he rest in peace and may one day our nation find the will to continue on the path which he and so many of his predecessors put us on.

Tropical Storm Isaac expected to become hurricane, second storm becomes Tropical Storm Joyce

Rains from Tropical Storm Isaac have been lashing Puerto Rico and forecasters are expecting the storm to become a hurricane before hitting Hispaniola. Trailing Isaac is another storm system that has just been named Tropical Storm Joyce. Read the rest of this story on Examiner.com including the latest satellite imagery and forecast tracks.

Satellite imagery shows Tropical Storm Isaac and Tropical Storm Joyce.
Satellite imagery shows Tropical Storm Isaac and Tropical Storm Joyce. (NOAA)