Category Archives: Examiner.com

Tornado outbreak hits seven states, kills at least 18 in the South

A screen capture from video shot by a civilian drone shows the devastation caused by a tornado in Mayflower, Arkansas. (YouTube / briandjin2)
A screen capture from video shot by a civilian drone shows the devastation caused by a tornado in Mayflower, Arkansas. (YouTube / briandjin2)

Tornado activity in the United States had been at record low levels before this weekend. Mother Nature came roaring back to life Sunday however spawning a deadly outbreak of twisters with more expected Monday.

The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center accumulated reports of 31 tornadoes Sunday although the actual number will likely be less once analyzed. Seven states including Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Mississippi reported twisters.

Hardest hit were the towns of Mayflower and Vilonia near Little Rock, Arkansas. Entire sections of the towns were reduced to their base building materials as the twisters struck late in the day Sunday.

Read the rest of this story on Examiner.com

Video: Los Angeles news anchors scramble under desk during earthquake

Location map of the epicenter of the magnitude 4.4 St. Patrick's Day earthquake in Los Angeles.A magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck the Los Angeles area Monday morning in the pre-dawn hours. While a relatively minor quake, it was strong enough to rattling residents and send morning TV news anchors under their desks.

According to the US Geological Survey (USGS) the quake was centered 6 miles west of Beverly Hills and at a depth of 5.3 miles. Occurring at 6:25 a.m. local time, a light aftershock of magnitude 2.7 was recorded at 7:23 a.m.

Residents stretching from Mission Viejo to the south and Oxnard to the north reported feeling the initial temblor. Beyond waking residents that were still sleeping and grabbing the attention of those already awake, initial reports indicate no significant damage.

Television stations were in the middle of their morning broadcasts when the quake hit.

KTLA news anchors Chris Schauble and Megan Henderson reacted quickly announcing that they were feeling the quake. The two acted appropriately and dived under their anchor desks for the short duration of the quake.

Video from the station shows the overhead lights shaking and Henderson noting that dust or ceiling material was falling down.

Massive 104 car pileup on icy roads in Denver kills one, injures dozens

An accident on icy roads south of Colorado Springs resulted in a vehicle rollover and was one of three significant multi-vehicle accidents on I-25.Icy roads Saturday morning led to a massive 104 car pileup on Interstate 25 through central Denver killing one person and injuring 30.

The chain reaction accident began just before 11:00 a.m. near University and Downing on the northbound side of the interstate. Cars, unable to stop on the ice and snow covered highway, began piling up.

One woman was killed in the accident. Her name is currently being withheld. The woman’s vehicle struck the back of a semitrailer, peeling the roof back as it lodged under the trailer.

Thirty people were injured and transported to area hospitals including Denver Health, St. Anthony’s and Swedish Medical Center. Among the injured were adults and children.

Read more about his incredible accident and check out the photos and video on Examiner.com

Arctic chill breaks cold temperature record in Denver

Denver set a record cold maximum temperature for February 5.With a large, cold air mass settled in across much of the nation’s midsection, weather records are bound to fall. In the Mile High City the record for coldest high temperature for the date was not just broken but smashed.

The so-called high temperature for the day was 1 degree below zero in Denver. This shattered the previous coldest high temperature for February 5 of 5 degrees set in 1989 and years prior.

Overnight temperatures Tuesday night into Wednesday morning dropped to a bone-chilling 19 degrees below zero as measured at Denver’s official weather station at Denver International Airport. Daytime provided little relief as the mercury remained stubbornly below zero.

Here in Thornton we fared slightly better with a daytime high temperature of 2 degrees above zero.  Our low temperature this morning was a nasty cold 12.6 degrees below.

With temperatures Wednesday night expected to plunge to 10 below or lower, a Wind Chill Advisory has been issued for much of northeastern Colorado including Denver. Wind chill temperatures of 25 below will be possible.

This type of cold comes with it the very real danger of hypothermia and frostbite. Area residents need to exercise extreme caution and avoid prolonged exposure. Pets as well need to be remembered and their time outside should be limited.

Weather may be the ultimate wildcard in deciding outcome of Super Bowl XLVIII

A crew member works to remove snow from MetLife Stadium, which will host Superbowl XLVIII next month, on January 22, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
A crew member works to remove snow from MetLife Stadium, which will host Superbowl XLVIII next month, on January 22, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Getty Images)

Mother Nature and the potential she has to impact Super Bowl XLVIII is a hot topic as the game draws nearer. No matter what happens in the contest between the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks, it is almost certain the game will be the coldest NFL championship ever played and possibly the snowiest.

With the game still more than eight days away, weather forecasts are less than certain about what conditions will be on game day. However a look at historical statistics from the National Weather Service for the New Jersey / New York area provide some clues.

Using 1981 to 2010 climate averages, the normal high temperature for February 2 as measured at Newark is 40 degrees. The average low is a chilly 25 degrees.

The coldest kickoff temperature in Super Bowl history occurred on January 16, 1972. Played at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, the temperatures at the start of that game was a chilly 39 degrees on the field.

Given that, it is pretty certain this will be the coldest Super Bowl in history.  It could also be the first to have snow fall on the field and freezing rain and wind are other hazards the teams may have to contend with.

Read more about the potential for weather to impact the game on Examiner.com

Historical Super Bowl temperatures, conditions and weather extremes

People walk in New York’s Times Square as snow falls during the rush hour January 21, 2014. Snow on the field is a possibility for the first time in Super Bowl history.
People walk in New York’s Times Square as snow falls during the rush hour January 21, 2014. Snow on the field is a possibility for the first time in Super Bowl history. (Getty Images)

Super Bowl XLVIII will be the first NFL championship game played outdoors at a cold-weather location. Looking back at the history of previous sites for the event, much milder weather than what will likely be seen at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey this year has been the rule.

Over the past 47 Super Bowl’s, the average on-field temperature at kickoff has been 66.5 degrees. The contests that have been played at northern latitudes have previously been in domed stadiums helping to keep that average up. That is a luxury the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks won’t enjoy.

It is highly likely that this year’s Super Bowl between the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks will be the coldest on record and possibly the first to have snow fall on the field.

How would that compare to weather extremes experienced during other NFL championship games?  Find out in the story on Examiner.com

Weather Channel says manmade climate change a factor in dispute with DirecTV

In its fight to stay on the air on DirecTV, The Weather Channel has said that the need to push the global warming theory is a driving factor.
In its fight to stay on the air on DirecTV, The Weather Channel has said that the need to push the global warming theory is a driving factor.

Tuesday morning 20 million subscribers to DirecTV found The Weather Channel missing from their viewing options. The weather network has cited its need to sound the manmade climate change alarm as one of the reasons it needs to be available to the satellite provider’s subscribers.

Some have said that global warming and manmade climate change will bring an increase in “extreme weather” events.

David Kenny, chairman and CEO of The Weather Company, said in a statement today, “This reckless move by DIRECTV will have an impact on our role as part of the national safety and preparedness fabric of our country at a time when the volatility and frequency of weather events seems to be increasing.”

While not overtly mentioning climate change, the implication is there.

Read more about how TWC plans to spread the word about manmade climate change on Examiner.com