2008: The Year of Tornadoes

More severe weather rolled through the southeastern United States this weekend. A few weak tornadoes were reported, but thankfully nothing too severe. If you were watching WDBJ this weekend, you may have seen these strong storms showing up on SkyTracker7 Radar.

After the deadly outbreak of tornadoes earlier this month in states like Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana and Missouri, I found some staggering tornado data from the Storm Prediction Center.

So far in 2008, there have be 291 tornadoes (preliminary number). By this point in 2007, there had only been 73 tornadoes. 59 were in the book this time in 2006. 43 were recorded by this point in 2005. We're obviously running ahead of schedule!

2008 tornadoes have claimed 65 lives so far. Most of these have been in Tennessee (31). Most of the deaths occurred in mobile homes (38). The 65 deaths in just two months is hard to imagine, because that's only 16 less fatalities than the entire year of 2007, only 2 less than the entire year of 2006, and it's almost twice as many as in 2005.

With this in mind, remember, Virginia can have tornadoes. We average 7 per year. 65 people have been killed in Virginia tornadoes since 1916. Now is the time to prepare. As always, stay with SkyTracker7 weather for the most updated information.

Bring on the heat (and humidity)

It happens every year about this time. A point I want to get outdoors without having to put on a sweater, coat or even a jacket. No gloves. No hot chocolate. A point I want 70 degree overnight low temperatures. 90% humidity. Dewpoints around 70! Scattered afternoon thunderstorms. Maybe even an excessive heat warning thrown in for good measure. Baseball. Swimming. Fishing. A point I even want to (dare I say it) mow. That time of year happened today. While I'll soon get tired of mowing my yard on a diagonal cut, pulling weeds from my wife's flower beds, nightly watering of her flowers, and 70 degree overnight low temperatures; right now, I'm ready! My wife and I have already made an outdoor assessment of "to-do" jobs to our house this year. We decided the shutters must be painted, and we (I) have to stain our decks. Again, I can't wait! So I say, forget Valentine's Day - I'm officially ready for spring... even summer! Bring it on! (Pictured above: Our son, Parker, mowing with his bubble-making mover last summer. Note his concentration as I teach him how to mow on a perfectly neat diagonal line. I'll have him making a checker-board pattern within a few years!)

Forget "Super Tuesday"

Some know today as "Super Tuesday" - others know it as "National Weatherman's (Weatherperson's) Day"! It's amazing how many people really know about this day set aside to "honor" us meteorologists. I use the word "honor" loosely. While making my daily rounds about town today, I heard the age-old joke, "You guys are the only people who can be wrong 100% of the time and still keep your job!" But seriously, it was all in good fun, and I think most viewers appreciate our efforts. Here's a few lines from a loyal WDBJ viewer who took the time to email today after she learned it was National Weatherman's Day.

"...I thank you for your role on the WDBJ 7 weather team. You are the best team in Virginia!!! I admire your tenacity even as you report from less that ideal locations and conditions. As I approach my 80th birthday, I have seen many weather conditions, some stormy, some very pleasant. The writer who said that "everyone talks about the weather but no one does anything about it" surely had it right. Thanks for keeping us informed about what we can expect."

Curious, I decided to jump on-line today to learn about more of these less known holidays. There are hundreds, it seems, so let me just mention a few that popped out for the month of February.

2/5 National Weatherman's Day
2/8 Laugh and Get Rich Day
2/14 Valentines Day (Please note: Valentine's Day also shares its day with "National Condom Day"..... seriously!)

Fun In The Snow!

Thursday's snow allowed for some fun after a long day at work. For Christmas, Robin Reed and his wife gave Parker a snowman kit. There was only one stipulation - email the Reed's pictures of Parker's snowman. We didn't have to wait long for the first snow of the year. We measured 4-inches in our yard. Hope you enjoyed the snow. We we're quite pleased with the forecast in the SkyTracker 7 Forecast Center. The timing of the system was good, the snowfall amounts verified, and our coverage was solid. Could there be more wintry weather on the way this weekend... stay tuned!!!

Weather... Unplugged!

We take weather very seriously at NEWS7, but thankfully, we don't take ourselves to such an extreme. NEWS7 videographer Steve "Doc" Claris and I headed out to Salem today to shoot the January almanac. While we were there, we shot this "tag" with the intention of putting it on my blog, however, my news director isn't totally against editing it into the actual almanac that airs January 1! Stay tuned to see if I use it, or go with a slightly "safer" ending. Remember, we're in "prediction, not production" so there will be days the forecast is B-O-T-C-H-E-D! Enjoy! --Jay

Last School Visit Of 2007!

Last week (12/20) I made a quick trip up to Rockbridge County to speak with the fourth and fifth graders at Effinger Elementary School about weather. It was a beautiful drive up to Lexington, and then back into Collierstown. While most students would be too excited about the upcoming winter break to pay attention to a guest speaker, Mrs. Wheeler's students were a captive audience. They asked great questions and seemed genuinely interested in weather and broadcasting. Effinger wraps up my school visits for 2007, but there's more to come in '08. I've logged over 900 miles in my travels to local schools since October, and talked with almost 700 students during that time. It's great to get out of the station and talk about weather whenever time allows! Special thanks again to Effinger for a great trip... I'll see you again in late February for Read Across America Day! (Pictured: Jay with Melanie Falls, EES principal)

Great Last Minute WX Gifts!

Each year, I usually end up with a weather gift of some kind. Last year it was a book titled "HURRICANE WATCH - Forecasting The Deadliest Storms On Earth." This year I put in for another book called "Railroads and Weather" published by the American Meteorological Society. Two years ago my sister came up with a creative idea. She had my initials stitched on a neck tie with clouds, rain and lightning bolts flying all around it. Only one problem - on TV the stitching seems like the sewing machine was drinking too much eggnog. Many years ago my parents bought me one of those "Complete Idiot's Guide to Weather" books. It's still in my desk drawer. One year it was a NOAA weather radio. A "must have" for a meteorologist, and something everyone should have. It alerts the public of approaching storms. It tells a sleeping meteorologist at 2:30 in the morning to get to work! Handheld anemometers and a variety of home weather stations are also good gift ideas. Someone in Meteorologist Brent Watts' family gave him a "scoop" of some sort last year that you stick in the snow and it makes perfect snowballs! On the other extreme, Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner tried to order a snow making machine a few years ago. There are many, many "last minute" weather gifts out there if you're still trying to wrap up your gift buying for someone special. Hope the above entry may be of some assistance! --Jay