Dan’s Blog
Tornado Winds Being Underestimated?
In a new effort to answer this question, researchers at the NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory have published a study in the August issue of Monthly Weather Review comparing tornado intensity estimates determined by damage and by weather radar. Their conclusion is...
Deadly Maui Wildfire: Death Toll 111 and Rising
The scenes from the Maui wildfire, in particular Lahaina, are absolutely devastating. As of August 17th, the ferocious fire that consumed nearly the entire city of Lahaina had claimed over 111 lives with up to 1,000 people still missing. The nearly 2,200 acre blaze...
World Record Water Temperature?
A stagnant ridge of high pressure this Summer has brought relentless heat to not only Texas, but much of the Deep South including Florida. In fact, the heat has been so intense in the Sunshine State that the near shore waters have reached temperatures that feel more...
Drought Conditions Getting Worse
As of mid-July, the rainfall deficit for the Dallas-Fort Worth area has reached 7”....that’s 7 inches BELOW normal rainfall. So far, DFW Airport has recorded only 14.50” of rainfall. Our average rainfall by this time is usually 21.50”. So, it should come as no...
The Dreaded Heat Index
You’ve probably heard the saying, “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity!” Well, through the first several weeks of Summer in North Texas it’s been BOTH! Persistent southerly breezes have brought in a constant fetch of Gulf moisture into North Texas, and consequently...
Oh Hail No! Record Hailstone for North Texas!
On the evening of June 15, 2023, several huge hailstones like the one pictured above, fell in and near Sanger in Denton County. One hailstone measured a whopping 5.9” in diameter and weighed in at nearly 1 pound. That set a new record for the largest hailstone to ever...