Pretty excited up there, as usual. The Cumulus and Stratocumulus clouds began filling in yesterday, and some shed ice/snow virga in the late afternoon. With that a few drops of rain (melted snow, of course) plopped down on Catalina. In case you missed those drops, here they are. Also, here are a few shots of… Continue reading Sprinkles! (coded as “RW- -” if you are keeping a weather diary!) (Its not drizzle!)
Category: Cumulus clouds
Story time: They said they couldn’t exist, but we found some anyway (extra giant raindrops)
While waiting for the chance of rain mid-week next week, I thought I would tell another science story… How me and Doc Hobbs got into the Guinness Book of World Records Rain drops bigger than about 5 mm in diameter (only about 0.2 inches) are thought, mainly through lab experiments, to break up into smaller drops… Continue reading Story time: They said they couldn’t exist, but we found some anyway (extra giant raindrops)
“(the reviewers)… are still unconvinced by these controversial claims.” A science story.
Alternate titles, choose one or all: 1) The story of APIPs (Aircraft-Produced Ice Particles) 2) They said it couldn’t be done, but they did it anyway 3) ‘An embarrassment for the airborne research community’–Dr. John Hallett, 2008 OK, “baby I’m bored” with the lack of clouds and precip, and so I thought I would share my boredom… Continue reading “(the reviewers)… are still unconvinced by these controversial claims.” A science story.
The most interesting clouds–technical discussion ahead; skip now if you have a headache
Well, to me, anyway, those flat, thin ones yesterday (Stratocumulus, and Cumulus fractus, humilis, mediocris, if you want some names). The thicker versions of these clouds were shedding ice and snow but weren’t very cold and that’s what made them interesting. Take a look. If your eye is calibrated you can see that light snow… Continue reading The most interesting clouds–technical discussion ahead; skip now if you have a headache
An icy 0.06 inches Catalina dessert
Like most people, I like dessert, especially if its precip in the desert. Yesterday’s “graupelly” fall of little ice ball showers weren’t expected, a surprise entree. Even the local model run by the U of AZ weather department on their “Beowulf Cluster” of computers had the showers staying to the north. So as a weatherperson,… Continue reading An icy 0.06 inches Catalina dessert
Cumulus with Stratocumulus; hold the ice
Mr. Cloud-maven person hasn’t said much about clouds lately, which is kind of ironic since he deems himself a “cloud maven” and not much more. Rather, he has been obsessing about POSSIBLE storms in AZ 15 days away which is kind of futile anyway. So, as an excuse to show more cloud photos from that… Continue reading Cumulus with Stratocumulus; hold the ice
“…goin’ down in the first round”
As Muhammad Ali might say, referring to the Climate Prediction Center’s three month outlook that was for dry conditions in Arizona from November to January. So, the first round, November into early December, has delivered quite a punch against drought with another 0.40 inches here in Catalina last night. Our December total is already 0.82… Continue reading “…goin’ down in the first round”
Ken might be bringing leftovers on Thanksgiving Day
Kenneth, that spinny thing with the eye hole, shown in this 24 h loop feasting on the warm waters about 500 miles south of Cabo, seems inclined to drop in late on Thanksgiving Day with his leftovers. How rude and wonderful at the same time! Most of you (2 of 3 the three people who… Continue reading Ken might be bringing leftovers on Thanksgiving Day
Likable model runs continue; one of the best overnight!
Tired of being dry? Tired of having dry washes? Tired of seeing dust raised on your gravel road? Maybe too much dust on your late model car? Maybe you’ve been thinking about wanting some more humidity and cloud cover with RAIN to make to make you lose that feeling of fatigue and boredom? Well, then… Continue reading Likable model runs continue; one of the best overnight!
The Tucson storm passes by Catalina like so many other September storms
With continuous thunder and threatening skies for Catalina, the mammoth Tucson storm that dropped a record 2.83 inches for the wettest day ever in September at the International Airport passed by Catalina early yesterday afternoon. Here’s what a fraction of it looked like (using a bad ISO setting, darn it). Also at the TUS AP… Continue reading The Tucson storm passes by Catalina like so many other September storms