Catalina/Sutherland Heights gets its own hourly predicted weather from the U of AZ

On this station plot map for the Tucson area, generated by the University of Arizona’s Hydro and Atmospheric Sciences Department, now has a point for little Catalina/Sutherland Heights!   Check it out.  Sample map below.  Now you can see how our predicted weather varies with those points around us over the next few days.  How great… Continue reading Catalina/Sutherland Heights gets its own hourly predicted weather from the U of AZ

“Peru’s Niño”

I thought you’d like to read this (Peru’s Niño), forwarded to me by Niño expert, Nate M.   Pretty incredible to read about what is happening down there in the wake of the Big Niño of 2015-16,  which really turned out to be more of a couch potato in terms of weather production in the Great… Continue reading “Peru’s Niño”

Catalina WY progress report; Cal WY update, too, since I grew up in Cal

I thought you’d like to see this: Doesn’t look promising for much rain here in Catalina in March, however.  No rain in sight through the next 10 days at least. Let’s check our 7 inches with what’s happening upwind, say, in CALIFORNIA, and see if there’s been any drought relief there, through February,  via the… Continue reading Catalina WY progress report; Cal WY update, too, since I grew up in Cal

Thunderblasts after midnight awaken sleeping Catalinans with 50 mph winds, graupel, and R++; latest storm total now 1.38 inches!

In case you don’t believe me that over an inch fell, this digital record from Sutherland Heights with writing on it: Probably a little more to come, too.  Got some blow damage, I’m sure.  Will be looking for roof shingles around the yard today. And, as everyone knows from their favorite TEEVEE weatherperson, “New Storm… Continue reading Thunderblasts after midnight awaken sleeping Catalinans with 50 mph winds, graupel, and R++; latest storm total now 1.38 inches!

“Deception at its finest”….a study in cloud perspective

I am sure that many of you saw this last evening: While I hate to embarrass cloud acolytes, here’s the simultaneous satellite view, courtesy of our Banner University of Arizona Weather Department: As Einstein wrote, “Things are not always as they seem.” Q. E. D. Now, for the snow report …from the Lake Tahoe area… Continue reading “Deception at its finest”….a study in cloud perspective

Sunrise, sunset colors drench Gatalina, AZ; Cal storms reach epic proportions

We’re often confused with the California island, Catalina, and even places in Spain.   Google “Catalina” and see if I am lying again. Oh, maybe that was Catalonia, SP… Nevertheless, isn’t it time to think about a new name for our “Census Designated Place”, Catalina?  In fact, at one time, each Catalina island and our… Continue reading Sunrise, sunset colors drench Gatalina, AZ; Cal storms reach epic proportions

Some optical stuff; some holey stuff

Once again we had a brief period of optical fireworks, as a rare “circumzenithal arc” developed overhead of Catalina in some Cirrus strands.  Hope you saw it and bragged about it to your less observant friends.   After saying that, follow it up in a moment of feigned reflection,  speaking to no one in particular, with… Continue reading Some optical stuff; some holey stuff

Yesterday, one of these went over (“the rest of the story”)

First, the background, precursor shot: Then this, looking straight up when CMP first noticed it because he wasn’t paying attention: A few minutes  later, as it moved away: What happened?  How cold were these Altocumulus clouds? (Answers printed upside down below). There were more, off in the distance, too. Here are a few more shots… Continue reading Yesterday, one of these went over (“the rest of the story”)

Altostratus opacus virgae transitions to Altocumulus during day! Storms to bring rain!

What a day for cloud maven juniors and me, too, watching the Altostratus opacus (but sometimes “translucidus” cuz you could see where the sun was) become Altocumulus!  It happens pretty often and is the result of lowering, and warming of the cloud tops, but I need to generate some excitement on an otherwise somewhat dull… Continue reading Altostratus opacus virgae transitions to Altocumulus during day! Storms to bring rain!

Summer-like storm surprises with frequent thunder and a half inch of rain in 18 min

Here are the latest 24 h totals, ending this morning the 23rd at 3 AM AST from your Pima County ALERT gauge network.  Our own amount over this period is embedded  for comparison purposes: Gauge         24         Name                        Location     ID#             hours     —-     —-       —-        —-       —-         —-       —————–            ——————— Catalina Area     1010          0.71     … Continue reading Summer-like storm surprises with frequent thunder and a half inch of rain in 18 min