Meteor STORM! -- Celestial Fireworks!

Catch a shooting star?  Make a wish, it might just be your lucky day!

This Memorial Day Weekend may set the stage for a possible "Meteor Storm" early on Saturday morning.  Earth has NEVER encountered this particular meteor shower before from Comet 209P/Linear which is expected to flare into the Camelopardalis meteor shower!  Comet 209P/Linear was originally discovered in 2004 and very recently had its orbital path disturbed by the planet Jupiter just enough to place earth's orbit in the path of the comets tail of dust and debris this weekend. 

This first of its kind encounter has scientist both anxious and uncertain on if this event will sizzle or fizzle.  The amount of shooting stars depends on the unknown amount of debris of dust that remains in the comets tail from prior orbits hundreds of years ago.  Some experts are predicting a show of "Celestial Fireworks" with several hundred meteors per hour!  Pictured below is the expected path of earth through the comet debris zone early on Saturday morning.  The expected peak viewing will be from 2 AM to 4 AM on Saturday morning. 

 
Here are some details you need to know:

 

Here is more information from and a great read from www.space.com

Meteor Shower Sizzle or Fizzle

 

Better yet, the weather looks more than exceptional Saturday morning!  A perfect 10 for viewing the shooting stars. Clear skies, cool and crisp with temperatures falling back into the upper 40s! Set your alarm and wake up for this one, you won't be alone gazing at the shooting stars.

Boating Safety -- Severe Weather Threatens Lake Erie

Would you be prepared it a storm of worst case struck while you were on the waters of Lake Erie?  It can and will happen again, that is a guarantee.  July 4th, 1969 a massive and powerful windstorm know as a Derecho blasted Lake Erie and the shore with winds to 100 mph.  This storm shattered the evening as thousands prepared for fireworks on the lake.  This storm capsized over 100 boats and killed 18 people in Ohio -- many of which drowned.

Lake Erie has already claimed the lives of 4 boaters this year, please take a few moments to review some of these safety tips before you do any boating this year.  Are you prepared?

2014 National Safe Boating Week
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US Coast Guard
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The National Weather Service Safe Boating
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Storm Prediction Center: About Derechos
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About the Ohio Fireworks Derecho -- July 4th, 1969

"During the afternoon of Friday, July 4, 1969, thunderstorms formed over southeast Lower Michigan (MI). As these storms moved southeastward during the early evening, a strong derecho evolved over extreme southeastern Michigan (MI) and Lake Erie (LE). The derecho then roared southeast across northern and eastern Ohio (OH) and western Pennsylvania (PA) during the next few hours. The hourly positions of the gust front (associated with multiple bow echoes) are shown in Figure 1 above. Winds gusted to 104 mph in Toledo ("T"), and reached 100 mph in the Cleveland ("C") area. In towns and cities near Lake Erie, many people were in parks getting ready to watch the Independence Day fireworks. Also for the occasion, many small boat owners had anchored their craft just off the Lake Erie shore line to watch the fireworks. As the derecho passed, many thousands of trees were blown down, including 5000 in Toledo alone. In the fireworks areas near the south shore of Lake Erie, eight people were killed by falling trees and over 100 boats were overturned, with three persons drowned. A total of 18 people were killed as a result of the derecho winds in Ohio."  -- Storm Prediction Center

Click here for more information about the Ohio Fireworks Derecho

May 18th, 2014 Sunday Night Weather Hangout

At 8:30 pm Sunday Night, Meteorologist Ryan Wichman will host his weekly 'Weather Hangout' on Google+.

The show takes questions from Ryan's Facebook and Twitter pages to answer and gives a summary of the forecast for the week ahead. If you are on Google +, be sure to add Ryan's page HERE. A live stream of the show will be offered here, with a video replay shortly to follow after the conclusion.

 

May 11th, 2014 Sunday Night Weather Hangout

At 8:30 pm Sunday Night, Meteorologist Ryan Wichman will host his weekly 'Weather Hangout' on Google+.

The show takes questions from Ryan's Facebook and Twitter pages to answer and gives a summary of the forecast for the week ahead. If you are on Google +, be sure to add Ryan's page HERE. A live stream of the show will be offered here, with a video replay shortly to follow after the conclusion.

May 4th, 2014 Sunday Night Weather Hangout

At 8:30 pm Sunday Night, Meteorologist Ryan Wichman will host his weekly 'Weather Hangout' on Google+.

The show takes questions from Ryan's Facebook and Twitter pages to answer and gives a summary of the forecast for the week ahead. If you are on Google +, be sure to add Ryan's page HERE. A live stream of the show will be offered here, with a video replay shortly to follow after the conclusion.

 

A Volatile Week In Weather

After a relatively quiet start to the 2014 severe weather season, tornadoes wreaked havoc on more than half a dozen states with countless dollars in damage, 200+mph winds and more fatalities still being added to the final tally. 

Seven deadly tornadoes. Picture courtesy SPC.

At least seven fatal tornadoes touched down, among others, resulting in up to a dozen deaths at a time. 

April 27th, 2014 @ 6:25pm CST. Picture courtesy SPC.

The April 27th tornado in Pulaski County, Arkansas, moving through the city of Vilonia, killed 15 people. It was originally assessed as an EF-3 tornado, but was later upgraded to an EF-4 when the scope of the damage and loss of property was fully calculated. 

Over 150 homes destroyed in Vilonia, AK. Picture courtesy Reuters.

The Little Rock, AK suburb of Vilonia after being hit by an EF-4 tornado. Picture courtesy Reuters.

According to the Storm Prediction Center, there were a total of 33 deaths over the course of three days. 

2014 Fatalities by State: AL:2 AR:15 IA:2 MS:10 NC:1 OK:1 TN:2

2014 Fatalities by Circumstance: In Home:1 In Manufactured Home:6 Outside:0 In Building:0 In Vehicle:2 Unknown:24

HISTORY TO REPEAT ITSELF?

In 2011 and 2012 combined, there were over 15-hundred weather-related fatalities. Both seasons started with deadly severe weather as early as January and February. 

Because this season started so late, doesn't mean it will be any less volatile. It does, however, mean that with nearly half of the severe weather season over for some parts of the nation, the number and frequency of severe storms has already been significantly reduced. 

April is historically the most active severe weather month. Picture courtesy NBC News.

The current average lead-time for tornado warnings is 13 minutes. While the National Weather Service and NOAA researchers are working to increase warning lead-times, preparation and expectation can keep you safer with a less than 15 minute warning window. 

To be prepared for severe weather, you must be aware of community alerts and weather systems. Know your source of information. Will you be alerted by a family member? A phone app? Your weather radio? What if you're not at home?

These are the questions you need to be asking yourself and addressing with your family before severe weather strikes. Don't be reactive-- be proactive. 

A few final tips:

• Talk about your severe weather plan with your family
• Practice it! 
• Check and change the batteries in your weather radio
• Keep a safety kit in the basement, including:
• Shoes
• Change of clothing for each family member
• Food
• Water
• Things to keep your mind occupied; books, games, cards, etc.