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Last Answer on December 24, 2019

Hello. I would like to know the cause of all of the abnormal January 2019 rain and freezing temperatures in Yuma Az. and the area this year. Neither is normal for this area even during the dead of winter. What is the cause of this?

Msully

Asked by Msully53 almost 6 years ago

Hi. Thanks for the question. "Abnormal" or "normal" is a tricky question sometimes. I usually prefer to use "average" since that is a closer description of what is used in the climate data. Specific to your question, this year is one where the overall patter is favoring storm systems, developed and driven across the country by the jet stream, moving in to the desert southwest from the Pacific, and the cooler weather is caused by that same pattern favoring cooler air toward Yuma.

544 Votes

Hi, weather teacher here. My students ask me this question, and I've tried researching to no avail. When naming clouds, how come sometimes the root comes before the name and sometimes after (example: nimostratus vs. cumulonimbus)

Asked by Melinda about 6 years ago

Excellent question, and honestly I don’t have an answer, but I know who does. Check out the Cloud Appreciation Society. They will know, and if they don’t they will like the question enough to find out. Let me know! https://cloudappreciationsociety.org/

544 Votes

Cozad Nebraska has generally been logged as the "meridian city" or near the 100th meridian where the dry arid air meets the eastern humid air. I understand over years this point has moved to the east because of clinate change. Where is that point now

Asked by Njk over 6 years ago

I'll admit to not being familiar with that term. I'll ask the other members of the podcast I co-host called WeatherBrains. Thanks!

544 Votes

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

Asked by Caleb about 5 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!

541 Votes

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Has there ever been a hurricane named Connor

Asked by Connor over 5 years ago

Hi, Conner. Here is a link to information about hurricane names, including a link to retired names. If a storm has a high impact the World Meteorological Organization will remove a name from a list. https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutnames.shtml

540 Votes

Is there a name for the period of silence between the lightning strike and the thunder clap?

Asked by Shane Chuvalas almost 6 years ago

Great question! Not that I know of. The delay in hearing thunder is because light travels faster than sound. The lightning causes the air to heat and expand rapidly and that shockwave is the thunder. The visible flash gets to you faster. If you were standing right next to the bolt (not recommended) you would see and hear at the same time. Thanks!

538 Votes

I live in SW Mo why when they call for 12” of snow we get a trace or nothing but when they call for a trace we get 12”?

Asked by Tommy almost 6 years ago

Hi, Tommy. Winter weather forecasting is pretty difficult. I'm guessing your question might be at least a little exaggerated. The foundation of any forecast is the weather balloons that are launched twice a day around the world. That, and other data, are fed into computer programs that model the behavior of the atmosphere. Since weather balloon launch sites are pretty far apart unseen effects can creep in and affect the forecast. In some cases a storm track shift of just a few miles can change snowfall amounts in a given spot pretty dramatically.

537 Votes

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Hello. I would like to know the cause of all of the abnormal January 2019 rain and freezing temperatures in Yuma Az. and the area this year. Neither is normal for this area even during the dead of winter. What is the cause of this?

Msully

Hi, weather teacher here. My students ask me this question, and I've tried researching to no avail. When naming clouds, how come sometimes the root comes before the name and sometimes after (example: nimostratus vs. cumulonimbus)

Cozad Nebraska has generally been logged as the "meridian city" or near the 100th meridian where the dry arid air meets the eastern humid air. I understand over years this point has moved to the east because of clinate change. Where is that point now

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

Also on Jobstr...

Has there ever been a hurricane named Connor

Is there a name for the period of silence between the lightning strike and the thunder clap?

I live in SW Mo why when they call for 12” of snow we get a trace or nothing but when they call for a trace we get 12”?

TV Meteorologist

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Hello. I would like to know the cause of all of the abnormal January 2019 rain and freezing temperatures in Yuma Az. and the area this year. Neither is normal for this area even during the dead of winter. What is the cause of this?Msully

Hi, weather teacher here. My students ask me this question, and I've tried researching to no avail. When naming clouds, how come sometimes the root comes before the name and sometimes after (example: nimostratus vs. cumulonimbus)

Cozad Nebraska has generally been logged as the "meridian city" or near the 100th meridian where the dry arid air meets the eastern humid air. I understand over years this point has moved to the east because of clinate change. Where is that point now

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

Also on Jobstr...

Has there ever been a hurricane named Connor

Is there a name for the period of silence between the lightning strike and the thunder clap?

I live in SW Mo why when they call for 12” of snow we get a trace or nothing but when they call for a trace we get 12”?

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Hello. I would like to know the cause of all of the abnormal January 2019 rain and freezing temperatures in Yuma Az. and the area this year. Neither is normal for this area even during the dead of winter. What is the cause of this?

Msully