Ask a TV Meteorologist anything

326 Questions

Last Answer on December 24, 2019

What was your worst day on the job?

Asked by Sam over 7 years ago

Hmmm...any day with tornadoes is interesting. Severe weather is always fascinating to watch but the idea of loss of life always lingers in the back of your mind. Thanks for the question, Sam.

794 Votes

Why does a river overflow when it should be emptying into the sea?

Asked by Glen almost 7 years ago

You might get a better answer from a hydrologist, Glen. Water does continue to empty into the ocean, or a lake. The overflow occurs when the water running into the river is greater than what is flowing out. The incoming water can come from creeks and streams and heavy rain. Thanks!

792 Votes

Why is it that the hours of 2 or 3 p.m. the hottest times of our day

Asked by t417 over 6 years ago

For the most part the sun doesn't directly heat the air. It heats the ground which then reradiates that energy in the form of longer wave radiation which heats the air. The strongest heating occurs midday when the sun is highest in the sky. At that point the sunlight is traveling through the least amount of atmosphere as opposed to earlier or later in the day. So there is a short lag between maximum sun angle and the time is takes the air to heat up. Thanks, Tommy. Hope that makes sense.

790 Votes

Do you think Meteorologists sometimes over react when sever weather or something is coming?

Asked by asdklj about 7 years ago

Yup. Some do. ;)

790 Votes

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Okay the NWS and the SPC and other independent networks keep getting stuff wrong here in SW MO! Yesterday there was a slight risk of sever storms and today it is GT and from 40% down to 20%! Something similar happend last week. What the hell?!

Asked by DJ about 7 years ago

Often times changes like that come because the outlook on a given day is highly dependent on what happens during the day or days before. A small variation in the specific way storms develop and behave can mean a big change in the development hours later or the next day. Another explanation includes the somewhat large distance between twice daily weather balloons. A lot of things can go undetected between them. Thanks, DJ!

788 Votes

What are the 6 elements of the atmosphere?

Asked by Darinesha White about 7 years ago

Hi, Darinesha. Not sure exactly what you are asking. If you mean the gases that make up the atmosphere you might do a web search. The two highest concentrations are nitrogen and oxygen and a list of other things including water vapor. Thanks!

784 Votes