StormBuster OnLine

 National Weather Service Albany Joins the Net

 Hurricane Season Arrives

Renowned Hurricane Forecaster, Dr. William Gray has released his forecast for the 1996 hurricane season. It calls for ten named storms, including six hurricanes, two of which he predicts will be major. Major hurricanes are defined as having sustained winds of at least 116 miles an hour (category 3 on the Safir Simpson Scale).

Last April, Dr Gray predicted 12 named storms, including six hurricanes, two which would be major. The actual 1995 hurricane season was one of the worst on record, producing 19 named storms, including 11 hurricanes of which five were major storms. Dr Gray will revise his 1996 forecast in August.

Here's a list of the names selected for the Tropical Storms and Hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico during the 1996 Hurricane season:

Arthur           Bertha        
Ceasar           Dolly
Edouard          Fran        
Gustav           Hortense
Isidore          Joesephine    
Kyle             Lili
Marco            Nana         
Omar             Paloma
Rene             Sally          
Teddy            Vicky
Wilfred

 Thunderstorms Can Be Lethal

by Hugh W. Johnson IV

Spring and warm weather is finally here! After a long cold winter in Eastern New York and Western New England, many folks will be heading outdoors to play golf, to go boating or just lay in the sun. While warm weather may bring a smile to many faces, it also brings the increased chance of thunderstorms.

Severe Thunderstorms, which contain wind gusts over 57 mph, large hail, or Tornadoes are the most dangerous storms, but they are not the only storms that should be heeded. Lightning generally kills more people each year than high wind or hail from a thunderstorm.

Lightning is present in one form or another during all thunderstorms. There are four types of lightning; cloud to cloud, in-cloud, cloud to air, and cloud to ground. Thunder is the sound that results from the rapid heating and expansion of air that surrounds the lightning.

While thunder itself is basically harmless, lightning definitely is not. The heat generated from lightning is greater than that of the surface of the sun. The electrical output from lightning is greater than that of most transformers. Lightning can strike several miles away from its source, within the thunderstorm. There have been several cases of lightning killing people underneath a clear sky, in situations where lightning strikes from thunderstorms over 10 miles away.

With all this in mind, it is imperative for all of us to be a little weather wise this summer, especially if outdoors. A great idea is to bring along a battery operated NOAA Weather Radio so you can hear up to the minute weather information. Short Term Forecasts, which are highly specific forecasts that pinpoint locations and tracks of thunderstorms are one set of forecasts that are broadcast on NOAA Weather Radio.

Always keep an eye to the sky, especially on those hot humid days when thunderstorms may quickly develop. Do not wait until the rain starts. Once you hear thunder, it is time to seek shelter inside a sturdy place. If caught out in an open field, it is best to lay low. Stay away from any tall objects. If you feel your hair stand on end, lightning is about to strike you. At this point, the best procedure is NOT to lie flat, but crouch down on the ground with your head between your legs. This will tend to guide the high voltage from the lightning strike around you and, not into your body.

You are ready to enjoy the summer! Remember, however to carry that NOAA Weather Radio with you!

 1996 Spring Skywarn Training Classes Were a Big Success

by John Quinlan
The National Weather Service at Albany, NY conducted 18 SKYWARN Spotter Training Sessions during March and April of 1996. They were held in each county within NWSFO Albany s County Warning Area. During the Spring of 1996, staff at NWSFO Albany, NY trained more SKYWARN Spotters than at any other time in the station s history. A total of 576 SKYWARN Spotters were trained this spring compared with 401 SKYWARN Spotters trained during Spring of 1995 which represents an increase of nearly 44 percent. We are in the process of mailing SKYWARN Spotter Identification Cards to all of those who attended the Spring 1996 SKYWARN Spotter Training Sessions. If you attended a session and you have not received a card by July 15, contact Dick Westergard at the National Weather Service.

 Winter Weather Review
Seasonal Climate Series

by Tom Janus

Spring got off to a slow start; it seemed as if Old Man Winter just wouldn't die! Snow flurries fell as late as May 12 in Albany. February was warmer, drier, and less snowy than normal. March and April returned to the colder and wetter than normal trend that characterized most of this past winter.

February gave the region a chance to dry out after the floods of January. Precipitation for February at the Albany County Airport totaled 1.49 inches, which was 0.78 inches below normal. Snowfall totaled 5.8 inches, less than half of the normal 14.1 inches for the month. The only real snowstorm of the month was an Alberta Clipper system that brought a total of 5.1 inches of snow to Albany over four days, (February 14 - February 17). The storm produced icy road conditions that caused numerous traffic mishaps and one fatality in Clifton Park.

The most damaging weather of the month was produced by dangerous winds. On February 24, a intense storm hit the region with winds averaging 25 to 50 miles per hour with many gusts in excess of 55 miles per hour and higher. Gusts of 72 miles per hour were recorded by National Weather Service cooperative observers in Rensselaerville and Platte Clove. Wind blew off a barn roof in Berne, and demolished a garage in Troy. Numerous trees and electric lines came down.

Temperatures during February averaged 25.2 degrees Fahrenheit; 1.7 degrees above normal. The highest temperature recorded at Albany was 51 degrees on February 21. The lowest was 1 degree below zero on February 19. Daily mean temperatures were 14 to 20 degrees above normal from February 20 to 25.

In March, Old Man Winter returned from vacation! 20.3 inches of snow fell during the month, that was 9.6 inches above normal. However, total precipitation, rain and melted snow totaled 2.10 inches, or 0.83 inches below normal. At the end of the first week of March a storm tracked through Pennsylvania and then redeveloped off the Virginia coast. This system dropped a total of 17.3 inches of snow on Albany from March 5 to 8. This was the only notable snowstorm of the month. From March 9 to 31, only 0.7 inches of snow fell.

March was chilly, with a mean temperature of 31.0 degrees or 3.3 degrees below normal. The warmest day was on March 25 when the temperature reached a balmy 66 degrees. The temperature dropped to zero on March 10.

April was wet to say the least.! Total precipitation at the Albany County Airport was 6.34 inches, or 3.35 inches above normal; more than twice the normal for the month. One storm was right on the heels of another, as measurable precipitation fell on 15 of April's 30 days. A total of 1.1 inches of snow fell from a nor'easter on April 7 and 8. At higher elevations, accumulations ranged from 3 to more than 6 inches. This was the only measurable snow of the month at the Albany County Airport.

Then the rain came. A series of low pressure systems travelling through the Great Lakes to the Atlantic coast dumped a total of 3.26 inches of rain on Albany for the period of April 13 to 16. Showers and thunderstorms on April 22 - 24 brought a three-day total of 1.19 inches. Some places had heavy downpours, like 1.5 inches in 90 minutes in Rotterdam. On April 29 and 30, another major storm dumped 2.02 inches on Albany. There were 6 days during the month with 1/2 inch or more rainfall, and 2 days with more than an inch. These heavy rains swelled creeks and rivers, causing localized flooding.

The cloudy, cool, and damp trend continued into May, and precipitation amounts were again above normal. For May 1 through May 15, temperatures averaged 4.5 degrees below normal for each day, and precipitation averaged 1.91 inches above normal. There were snow flurries on May 12. That weekend, 2.47 inches of rain washed out Albany's Tulip Festival.

 The Super Seven

The National Weather Service Office here in Albany has some of the newest meteorological technology available. Tools like the WSR-88D Radar, new GOES satellites and other remote observing platforms. These new pieces of technology gives us a tremendous amount of data about atmospheric conditions. However, we still do not have all the information we need about conditions at the ground, this is where the Skywarn Spotter network helps us.

Skywarn Spotters are asked to report any occurrence of severe weather to your Skywarn EC, Skywarn Net Controller or directly to us at the National Weather Service. These reports are of tremendous importance to us since they firmly tell us what the weather is like at the ground and aid us in understanding what we are seeing on our radar and satellite images.

During the Spring and Summer convective season there are seven events in which we ask you to call us and make a report. Most importantly, remember that if you are not sure whether or not to give us a call, call us. We would much rather receive more phone calls than no phone calls at all. You can call us toll-free at 1 - 800 - 342 - 4511 in New York and 1 - 800 - 833 - 9880 in Vermont, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

If you see any of the following seven types of events, please call:

1. Tornadoes, Water Spouts, Funnel Clouds and Wall Clouds.
2. Damaging Winds that down trees, large limbs and power lines as well as any that cause property damage.
3. Hail of any size
4. Lightning that cause property damage, personal injury or death.
5. Flooding, Ice Jams, Bankfull Rivers or Streams.
6. Measured Rainfall that exceeds 1.5 inches in a 4 hour period.
7. Any other event that you feel may help us determine the severity of storms.

 Family Disaster Plan

by Dick Westergard...WCM

With the release of the movie, "Twister," we have seen a surge of interest by the public in what people should do to protect themselves and their families from nature's most violent storms. The 1995 Memorial Day tornadoes in our region demonstrated that tornadoes can happen here.

Letters to newspapers and broadcasters in mid May from your WCM emphasized creating a "Family Disaster Plan." I reminded people that the sturdiest part of a home is the basement and it's one of the best places to take cover. As Skywarn Spotters and Emergency Managers, you all know that the best way to be aware of tornado warnings and other severe weather events is through NOAA Weather Radio.

If Emergency Managers, or Skywarn groups, would like to offer disaster planning assistance to schools or other institutions in your area, your WCM is available to help with ideas and general planning information. Call Dick Westergard at 518-456-5807.

 Call for Monthly Precipitation Data