Comments

1. Rob (Whitesboro):

   

   NWS even confirmed a tornado right in the middle of the Bronx yesterday. That’s pretty rare. We gotta be close to around 20 tornadoes that hit the state in the past two years.

   Posted July 26th at 9:50 PM

2. Becky (West Leyden):

   

   Long range models indicate that the warmth will stick around through most of August at least. This year is definitely an old fashion Summer.

   Posted July 27th at 12:39 AM

3. Becky (West Leyden):

   

   Did anyone hear about the giant hailstone that fell Friday the 23. Some people feel this is a record breaking hailstone. The old record was set in Aurora, Nebraska in 2003. that hailstone was seven inches in diameter with a circumference of 18.75 inches. The one that fell Friday in Vivian, South Dakota is eight inches in diameter and a circumference that’s almost 19 inches.

   The NWS in Aberdeen, South Dakota has the pictures

   http://www.crh.noaa.gov/news/display_cmsstory.php?wfo=abr&storyid=55671&source=0

   Posted July 27th at 12:57 AM

4. Debbie :

   

   Was the tornado worse because it was near water? F2 is very unusual for us. Do we have any bad storms coming this week?

   Posted July 27th at 8:55 AM

5. Becky (West Leyden):

   

   It’s 76/64 here.

   Debbie,
   At this time the severe weather potential looks low this week.

   Before, I answer your question I will give you a little thunderstorm / tornado background. The conditions over southwest NY were very favorable for severe thunderstorm development. There were very high CAPE, dewpoints, and wind shear values. CAPE determines the updraft strength. Wind shear is the change of wind speed and or direction with height and determines storm character (There are four type of thunderstorms : single cell, multicell cluster, multicell line (squall line, and Supercell. The supercell is always severe, whereas the others can be non-severe or severe) . In case you don’t know about the two types of wind shear; directional shear and speed shear. If the wind near the ground is coming from the SW whereas higher up the wind is coming from the NW, is an example of directional shear. An example of speed shear would be the wind getting stronger the higher up go. Both are needed for tornado development. However, of the two speed shear is the most important because it causes the air to start to roll like a cylinder. Sometimes the strong up and down drafts of a severe thunderstorm can cause this cylinder to tip down toward the ground possibly resulting in a tornado. The other day Adam, said the bulk Richardson Numbers (BRN) were around -20. The BRN is an index that assesses the balance between CAPE and wind shear in a thunderstorm environment. Numbers between -20 and – 45 are very conducive for supercell development. Now back to your question, while the proximity to a large body of water like Lake Ontario can enhance convection. It really doesn’t have any effect on tornado development, at least that I’m aware of. Most EF2-EF5 tornadoes form from supercell’s. This is the reason NYS doesn’t see too many EF3-EF5 tornadoes is because the Northeast is not an area that see that many supercell’s.

   Posted July 27th at 12:57 PM

6. Becky (West Leyden):

   

   that is affect not effect … while the proximity to a large body of water like Lake Ontario can enhance convection. It really doesn’t have any affect on tornado development

   Posted July 27th at 1:28 PM

7. Sar:

   

   Jill are we expecting severe weather tonight?

   Posted July 28th at 7:58 AM

8. Working in Utica:

   

   Looks like SPC has us in the slight risk for severe weather tonight. 2% chance for tornadoes.

   Posted July 28th at 9:07 AM

9. Debbie:

   

   Does Whitesboro look like they can see severe weather tonight or tornadoes?

   Posted July 28th at 10:57 AM

10. Bill Kardas (WKTV):

    

    No reason to worry about tornadoes tonight Debbie.

    Posted July 28th at 11:02 AM

Add a Comment