Violent Tornado Parameter
The Storm Prediction Center released a new composite severe weather parameter in 2018, known as the Violent Tornado Parameter, or VTP. In order to better understand VTP, it is helpful to first consider the...
Category: Weather 101
Supercell Composite Parameter
Multiple variables are important to consider when it comes to supercell thunderstorm development. The Supercell Composite Parameter (SCP) was created to factor three important ingredients to determine how favorable an environment is to produce supercells. SCP...
U.S. Tornado Days Per Year
The United States has a greater frequency of tornadoes than most other counties. For many factors, the vast majority of tornadoes occur east of the Rocky Mountains across the continental U.S. Although the central...
Connecticut’s Tornado Season
I decided to take a look back and see where the average “tornado season” falls for this area. Where frequency is the running 10-day daily frequency of a tornado between 1950-2013 The months with...
What is a Heat Wave?
What exactly is a heat wave and why can it be dangerous? In the United States, to be considered an official heat wave… The air temperature must reach 90°+ at a location for three...
RadarScope App
The app costs $9.99, but it is definitely worth it. I was a bit skeptical at first to dish out that kind of money. Honestly, I’ve never bought any app, period, and most apps are...
Striking Lightning Facts
What comes first, lightning or thunder? The lightning itself actually causes thunder, so they occur at the same time. Since the speed of sound is slower than the speed of light, we usually do...
Dangers of Forecasting with MOS
In a nutshell, MOS is a model that gives at-a-glance forecasts for specific locations. Although it’s an easy way to make a forecast, MOS has many known biases and issues. Bullet points… MOS has...
What is a Severe Thunderstorm?
Most know what a thunderstorm is, but what exactly is a severe thunderstorm? Thunderstorms are often accompanied by heavy rain, lightning, strong winds and even hail or tornadoes on occasion. Once a thunderstorm becomes strong enough,...
Early Spring Tornadoes in Connecticut
Severe weather season doesn’t really get going until June and July in the Northeast, but tornadoes have formed in Connecticut during April and May… Earliest Tornado on Record: On April 26th, 1961, an F1...
How Common is April Snow?
Just how common is snow in the spring? Well, March is typically a snowy month in terms of total snowfall, but once you get into late March and April, snowfall averages decrease dramatically. Average...
Last Frost and the Growing Season
As the spring season carries on, warm weather eventually gives way to the start of the growing season. Here are some key facts about gardening weather in Connecticut… Average last frost in Connecticut: April 26th...
Hot Spring Stats
April is the first full month of spring and it has had it has had plenty of hot days around Connecticut. The following stats are from Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Conn. Hottest...
Long Island Sound in the Spring
As the weather warms up, so does the Sound. There is a noticeable delay or lag in how ocean temperatures rise…Let’s take a look at the ocean temperatures and their affects, with the focus...
Common Myths About Snow
Let’s dive into some common misconceptions about snow and clear it all up… One common myth is that the ground can be too warm for snow to accumulate. This has been easily proven wrong,...
Does Cold Weather Make You Sick?
Does the cold weather make people sick? The simple answer is actually no. It’s a commonly believed myth that cold weather makes people sick. The truth is that cold weather does not directly cause...