Book Read Free

It's Raining Fish and Spiders

Page 11

by Bill Evans


  Types of Winter Precipitation

  In winter, one of the hardest things for a weather forecaster to do is to figure out what type of precipitation there will be. In most cases winter storms bring more than just snow. Only in the coldest months in the northernmost reaches of the country is the precipitation usually all snow. Over much of the country, depending on local geography and the flow of just a little warm air, precipitation can vary from snow, sleet, or freezing rain (which causes many more automobile accidents than snow). Sometimes it is hard for forecasters to say exactly what is going to fall from the sky in winter because it’s not just snow.

  Other Kinds of Ice

  Frank Picini

  There is always confusion when it comes to the names of the types of ice falling from the sky. Many people confuse sleet with hail. The difference is easy to remember: sleet in winter and hail in summer. But when it comes to ice and its classifications, not even scientists can agree.

  Snow makes up seven of the ten kinds of frozen precipitation in the international classification system. The others are graupel, hail, and ice pellets or sleet. Official weather observers in the United States use the term ice pellets rather than sleet, as sleet is defined differently throughout the world. Here you can see the differences.

  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Department of Commerce

  Wind Chill!

  Whenever you hear the words “wind chill,” it’s because the cold winds are cranking outside. Wind chill is actually how skin feels when exposed to bitter winter winds. Updated in 2001 by the National Weather Service, the Wind Chill Temperature Index uses science, technology, and computer modeling to derive the Wind Chill Chart, which lets you know how it really feels outside.

  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Department of Commerce

  The chart is based on the model of a human face, with wind blowing at an average height of 5 feet (the average height of an adult human face) and measures temperature against wind speed. Wind chill is computed using modern heat transfer theory (heat loss from the body to its surroundings during cold and breezy or windy days). Impact from the sun is not factored in as that may increase wind-chill temperatures by 10° to 18°F (-12° to -8°C). Wind chill can only be figured for temperatures at or below 50°F (10°C) and wind speeds above 3 mph.

  * * *

  Oh My, I Can’t Feel My Fingers!

  Coldest Temperatures Recorded in Each State

  * * *

  You’ve Got to Be Kidding Me—Antarctica!

  You want to talk about extremes, Antarctica is the land of extremes! It is the coldest, windiest, and highest continent anywhere on Earth! The lowest temperature ever recorded on the planet was -128.6ºF (-89.2°C), was measured at the Russian research station of Vostok, near the South Pole, at an elevation of 11,220 feet. That’s the same height as the Wasatch Mountains in Utah.

  United States Antarctic Program, National Science Foundation; Photographer: Jerrod Clausen

  Bill Adler; used by permission.

  Bill Adler; used by permission.

  Antarctica has an average elevation of 7,544 feet (2,300 meters) above sea level. Even though it is covered in ice, it receives almost the least amount of rainfall of any place in the world, getting just slightly more rainfall than the Sahara Desert. Despite the snow and ice, Antarctica is the largest desert on Earth.

  On July 4, 2003, a remote-recording weather station located on Queen Maud Land in eastern Antarctica reported an air temperature of -94°F (-70°C) and a wind speed of 75 mph. The resulting wind chill of -150°F (-101°C) is perhaps the coldest ever recorded anywhere. It’s difficult to even imagine how a human could endure such extreme conditions!

  Bill Adler; used by permission.

  * * *

  How Low Can It Go?

  Antarctica

  Antarctica

  -128.6°F (-89.2°C)

  Vostok

  coldest official temperature in the world, on July 21, 1983

  The Arctic

  Greenland

  -86.8°F (-66°C)

  Northice

  North Pole

  -59°F (-51°C)

  North Pole

  Asia

  Russia

  -90°F (-68°C)

  Verkhoyansk

  Mongolia

  -72°F (-58°C)

  Uvs Lake

  Afghanistan

  -64°F (-53°C)

  Sharak

  China

  -62.1°F (-52.3°C)

  Mohe

  Turkey

  -50°F (-46°C)

  Karakose

  Korea

  -46°F (-43°C)

  Chungangjin, N. Korea

  Japan

  -42°F (-41°C)

  Asahikawa, Hokkaido

  Iran

  -33°F (-36°C)

  Bijar and Saqquz

  India

  -24°F (-31°C)

  Leh

  Lebanon

  -9°F (-23°C)

  Yammoune

  Pakistan

  -8°F (-22°C)

  Sakardu

  Taiwan

  -1°F (-18°C)

  Yushan North Peak

  Iraq

  0°F (-18°C)

  Mossul

  Syria

  4°F (-16°C)

  Al Qamishi

  Israel

  6°F (-14°C)

  Mount Avital

  Jordan

  7°F (-14°C)

  Shoubak

  Saudi Arabia

  12°F (-11°C)

  Turuyfa

  Burma

  21°F (-6°C)

  Haka

  Kuwait

  21°F (-6°C)

  Kuwait City

  Sri Lanka

  25°F (-4°C)

  Nuwara Eliya

  Laos

  26°F (-3°C)

  Xiang Khoang

  Thailand

  28°F (-2°C)

  Doi Inthanon

  Vietnam

  28°F (-2°C)

  Muong Bu

  Hong Kong

  32°F (0°C)

  Victoria Peak

  Oman

  32°F (0°C)

  Hibra

  Yemen

  32°F (0°C)

  Sanaa

  Bangladesh

  33°F (1°C)

  Jalpaiguri

  Indonesia

  34°F (1°C)

  Mount Pangrango

  Qatar

  34°F (1°C)

  Doha

  Malaysia

  36°F (2°C)

  Cameron Highlands

  Bahrain

  37°F (3°C)

  Manama

  United Arab Emirates

  37°F (3°C)

  Sharjah

  Philippines

  37.5°F (3.1°C)

  Baguio

  Cambodia

  46°F (8°C)

  Val d’Emeraude

  Maldives

  64°F (18°C)

  Male

  Brunei

  65°F (18°C)

  Bandar Seri Bagawan

  Singapore

  65°F (18°C)

  Paya Lebar

  North America

  Canada

  -81.4°F (-63°C)

  Snag, Yukon

  United States

  -79.8°F (-62°C)

  Prospect Creek, AK

  Mexico

  -18.5°F (-28°C)

  Los Lamentos

  Cuba

  32°F (0°C)

  Havana Airport

  Europe

  Russia

  -68.8°F (-56°C)

  Pechora

  Sweden

  -63°F (-53°C)

  Vuoggatjalme

  Norway

  -62°F (-52°C)

  Karasjok

  Finland

  -61°F (-52°C)

  Kittilä and Pokka

  Armenia

  -51°F (-41°C)

  Paghakn

>   Estonia

  -46°F (-43°C)

  Jõgeva

  Latvia

  -46°F (-43°C)

  Daugavpils

  Yugoslavia (former)

  -45°F (-43°C)

  Igman, Bosnia Herzegovina

  Czech Republic

  -44°F (-42°C)

  Litvínovice

  Switzerland

  -43.2°F (-41.7°C)

  La Brevine

  Poland

  -42°F (-41°C)

  Siedlce

  Slovakia

  -42°F (-41°C)

  Viglas-Pstrusa

  France

  -41.5°F (-40.8°C)

  Mouthe

  Bulgaria

  -38°F (-39°C)

  Trun

  Romania

  -37°F (-38°C)

  Bod

  Iceland

  -36.4°F (-38°C)

  Grimsstadir and Modrudalur

  Germany

  -36°F (-37°C)

  Hull

  Italy

  -36°F (-37°C)

  Livigno

  Austria

  -35°F (-37°C)

  Sonnblick

  Hungary

  -31°F (-35°C)

  Gorombolytapolca

  Spain

  -28°F (-33°C)

  Estany Gento

  Denmark

  -24.2°F (-31.2°C)

  Horsted

  Belgium

  -22.2°F (-30.1°C)

  Rochefort

  Greece

  -18°F (-28°C)

  Ptolemaida

  Great Britain

  -17°F (-27°C)

  Braemer and Altnaharra

  Netherlands

  -17°F (-27°C)

  Winterswijk

  Albania

  -16°F (-27°C)

  Sheqeras

  Luxembourg

  -12°F (-24°C)

  Wiltz and Clemency

  Ireland

  -2°F (-19°C)

  Markree Castle

  Portugal

  3°F (-16°C)

  Penhas da Sude

  Holy See

  19°F (-7°C)

  Vatican City

  Cyprus

  21°F (-6°C)

  Nicosia

  Azores

  37°F (2.8°C)

  Santa Cruz

  South and Central America

  Argentina

  -38°F (-39°C)

  Pato Superior V alley

  Chile

  -26°F (-32°C)

  Ollague

  Bolivia

  -15°F (-26°C)

  Uyuni

  Peru

  -13°F (-25°C)

  Imata

  Brazil

  7°F (-14°C)

  Cacador

  Guatemala

  12°F (-11°C)

  Labor Ovalle

  Uruguay

  12°F (-11°C)

  Melo

  Costa Rica

  16°F (-9°C)

  Mount Chirripo

  Ecuador

  17°F (-8°C)

  Romerillos

  Paraguay

  19°F (-7°C)

  Prats Gill

  Venezuela

  19°F (-7°C)

  El Aguila Peak

  Colombia

  20°F (-7°C)

  Bogotá

  Honduras

  31°F (-0.5°C)

  La Esperanza

  Panama

  36°F (2°C)

  Bajo Grande

  El Salvador

  45°F (7°C)

  San Salvadore

  Belize

  52°F (11°C)

  Belize City

  French Guiana

  54°F (12°C)

  Saul

  Guyana

  60°F (16°C)

  Mazaruni

  Suriname

  60°F (16°C)

  Paramaribo

  * * *

  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Department of Commerce

  * * *

  Who Gets the Most Snow in the United States?

  STATE

  SNOWFALL IN INCHES

  LOCATION

  Alabama

  5.3

  Valley Head

  Alaska

  551.5

  Thompson Pass

  Arizona

  243.0

  Sunrise Mountain

  Arkansas

  16.2

  Gravette

  California

  470.7

  Soda Springs

  Colorado

  435.6

  Wolf Creek Pass

  Connecticut

  106.8

  Norfolk

  Delaware

  19.6

  Wilmington

  Florida

  0.4

  Milton Experiment Station

  Georgia

  6.6

  Clayton

  Hawaii

  0

  (Sorry!)

  Idaho

  283.5

  Mullan Pass

  Illinois

  47.7

  Antioch

  Indiana

  76.6

  South Bend

  Iowa

  43.8

  Dubuque

  Kansas

  46.0

  McDonald

  Kentucky

  46.4

  Benham

  Louisiana

  1.9

  Plain Dealing

  Maine

  118.5

  Phillips

  Maryland

  95.9

  Oakland

  Massachusetts

  85.0

  West Cummington

  Michigan

  235.8

  Herman

  Minnesota

  108.5

  Pigeon River Bridge

  Mississippi

  4.9

  Cleveland

  Missouri

  25.5

  Bethany

  Montana

  305.5

  Kings Hill

  Nebraska

  62.2

  Harrison

  Nevada

  241.0

  Marlette Lake

  New Hampshire

  315.4

  Mount Washington

  New Jersey

  39.8

  Sussex

  New Mexico

  164.9

  Red River

  New York

  226.7

  Old Forge

  North Carolina

  57.8

  Grandfather Mountain

  North Dakota

  56.5

  Bowman

  Ohio

  97.0

  Chardon

  Oklahoma

  31.6

  Boise City

  Oregon

  529.9

  Crater Lake

  Pennsylvania

  121.6

  Corry

  Rhode Island

  55.5

  North Foster

  South Carolina

  8.7

  Caesars Head

  South Dakota

  193.0

  Lead

  Tennessee

  55.5

  North Forester

  Texas

  23.9

  Borger

  Utah

  516.3

  Alta

  Vermont

  222.0

  Mount Mansfield

  Virginia

  51.8

  Burkes Garden

  Washington

  680.0

  Rainier Paradise Ranger Station

  West Virginia

  157.8

  Terra Alta

  Wisconsin

  138.7

  Gurney

  Wyoming

  285.0

  Belcher Ranger Station

  * * *

  * * *

  How High Can It Climb?—Snowfall Records<
br />
  SNOWFALL IN INCHES

  LOCATION

  POPULATION

  203.4

  Truckee, CA

  13,800

  179.8

  Marquette, MI (airport)

 

‹ Prev