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326 Questions

Last Answer on December 24, 2019

As a teacher, I looked up from the playground to a cloudy sky. straight above were to clouds counter rotating. I called the weather service and they said it was a common benign occurrence but had no name for the phenomenon. Is there a name for it?

Asked by Robert Zachary over 6 years ago

I'll side with the National Weather Service on this one, having not seen a picture. They would have been more aware of the conditions at the time you called. My guess would be you might have seen some sort of wind maximum that created a vortex one either side. A loose example would be the wave of a boat. Thanks!

798 Votes

Also have you ever been featured in a blooper?

Asked by 56 over 6 years ago

I think only at the Christmas party. It was so long ago I can’t remember the blooper. Merry Christmas!

797 Votes

Is this your dream job or something that you never saw yourself doing unitll you did it?

Asked by Caleb over 6 years ago

Was very interested in the sky as a kid but never really thought it was a career until I was in my 20s. Always loved broadcasting and started in radio. Became friends with another television meteorologist who got me started in a college meteorology program and the more I learned the more I liked. So, broadcasting yes. Meteorology came later. Thank for asking, Caleb. Hope you're doing (or will do) something you love!

797 Votes

What’s the difference between a hurricane and a superstorm?

Asked by Hope about 6 years ago

Good question, Hope. Superstorm isn’t a scientifically recognized meteorological term, most likely a media creation at some point. Hurricane has a definition in the American Meteorological Society Glossary: A tropical cyclone with 1-min average surface (10 m) winds in excess of 32 m s-1 (64 knots) in the Western Hemisphere (North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and in the eastern and central North Pacific east of the date line). Thanks!

The name is derived from "huracan," a Taino and Carib god, or "hunraken," the Mayan storm god. For a more complete discussion, see tropical cyclone.

796 Votes

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What do you think would be something that if you or someone else who does the same job do that would get them instantly fired?

Asked by asdklfj almost 7 years ago

Pretty broad and complicated question. Not one that I can really answer. Termination criteria I’m sure varies from company to company.

796 Votes

Can the NWS issue watches or is that only something the storm prediction center can do?

Asked by Donovin about 7 years ago

Great question. A tornado or severe thunderstorm watch will come from the Storm Prediction Center, often in consultation with local offices. A hurricane watch will come from the National Hurricane Center and winter weather and flood watches will come from local offices. Thanks, Donovin!

795 Votes

After a severe thunderstorm yesterday I noticed that a bunch of mature trees in the road median had their bark removed on one side. There had been constant lightening and very high wind. What could have caused this tree damage? It looks bad.

Asked by Wendie almost 7 years ago

Lightning could certainly have been the cause. When it strikes it heats the sap and air extremely high and fast. That boils the sap and expands the air and can blow off the bark. Best guess without seeing pictures!

795 Votes

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TV Meteorologist

Ask me anything!

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As a teacher, I looked up from the playground to a cloudy sky. straight above were to clouds counter rotating. I called the weather service and they said it was a common benign occurrence but had no name for the phenomenon. Is there a name for it?

Also have you ever been featured in a blooper?

Is this your dream job or something that you never saw yourself doing unitll you did it?

What’s the difference between a hurricane and a superstorm?

Also on Jobstr...

What do you think would be something that if you or someone else who does the same job do that would get them instantly fired?

Can the NWS issue watches or is that only something the storm prediction center can do?

After a severe thunderstorm yesterday I noticed that a bunch of mature trees in the road median had their bark removed on one side. There had been constant lightening and very high wind. What could have caused this tree damage? It looks bad.

TV Meteorologist

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

As a teacher, I looked up from the playground to a cloudy sky. straight above were to clouds counter rotating. I called the weather service and they said it was a common benign occurrence but had no name for the phenomenon. Is there a name for it?

Also have you ever been featured in a blooper?

Is this your dream job or something that you never saw yourself doing unitll you did it?

What’s the difference between a hurricane and a superstorm?

Also on Jobstr...

What do you think would be something that if you or someone else who does the same job do that would get them instantly fired?

Can the NWS issue watches or is that only something the storm prediction center can do?

After a severe thunderstorm yesterday I noticed that a bunch of mature trees in the road median had their bark removed on one side. There had been constant lightening and very high wind. What could have caused this tree damage? It looks bad.

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