Archive for July, 2009

Flash Flood Watch

Thursday, July 30th, 2009
FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
827 PM EDT THU JUL 30 2009

INZ073>075-080-KYZ089>097-OHZ077>079-311200-
/O.NEW.KILN.FF.A.0002.090731T0027Z-090731T1200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
RIPLEY-DEARBORN-OHIO-SWITZERLAND-CARROLL-GALLATIN-BOONE-KENTON-
CAMPBELL-OWEN-GRANT-PENDLETON-BRACKEN-HAMILTON-CLERMONT-BROWN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…VERSAILLES…LAWRENCEBURG…
RISING SUN…VEVAY…CARROLLTON…WARSAW…BURLINGTON…
INDEPENDENCE…ALEXANDRIA…OWENTON…WILLIAMSTOWN…FALMOUTH…
BROOKSVILLE…CINCINNATI…MILFORD…GEORGETOWN
827 PM EDT THU JUL 30 2009

…FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM EDT FRIDAY…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WILMINGTON HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST INDIANA…NORTHERN
KENTUCKY AND OHIO…INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS…IN
SOUTHEAST INDIANA…DEARBORN…OHIO…RIPLEY AND SWITZERLAND.
IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY…BOONE…BRACKEN…CAMPBELL…CARROLL…
GALLATIN…GRANT…KENTON…OWEN AND PENDLETON. IN OHIO…
BROWN…CLERMONT AND HAMILTON.

* UNTIL 8 AM EDT FRIDAY

* SHOWERS AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA
  TONIGHT INTO EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. SOME OF THE SHOWERS AND
  THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. WITH THE
  GROUND ALREADY SATURATED ACROSS MUCH OF THE REGION DUE TO
  RAINFALL OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS…THE ADDITIONAL RAIN MAY CAUSE
  FLASH FLOODING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT FLOODING OF SMALL STREAMS, CREEKS
AND OTHER DRAINAGE AREAS IS POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA.
PEOPLE IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD KEEP AN EYE ON THE WEATHER AND BE
PREPARED FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION SHOULD HEAVY RAINS AND FLOODING
OCCUR OR A FLASH FLOOD WARNING BE ISSUED.

LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL MEDIA FOR LATER UPDATES
ON THIS SITUATION.

Emerald Ash Borer Confirmed in Five New Ohio Counties

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

Emerald Ash Borer Confirmed in Five New Counties
Agriculture Department Adds Ashland, Richland, Summit,
Greene and Morrow Counties to Quarantine

REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (July 28, 2009) - Ohio’s Emerald Ash
Borer quarantine was expanded today by the Ohio Department
of Agriculture to include five new counties. Ashland,
Richland, Summit, Greene, and Morrow counties were added
to the quarantine, which helps slow the spread of the ash
tree-killing insect by prohibiting the movement of all
hardwood firewood and ash tree materials.

U.S. Department of Agriculture officials confirmed the
positive identification of specimens collected in each of
the counties. Ashland, Richland, and Summit county
specimens were taken from the purple traps placed across
Ohio by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. The Greene
County specimen was retrieved by an Ohio State University
Extension agent, and the Morrow County specimen was
obtained following a tip from a U.S. Department of
Agriculture employee. These findings mark the first known
infestations in each of these counties.

Since Emerald Ash Borer was first discovered in Ohio in
2003, the department has placed 50 counties under
quarantine. The quarantine makes it illegal to transport
ash trees, parts of ash trees, and all hardwood firewood
from any quarantined county into a non-quarantined county
without a compliance agreement from the Ohio Department of
Agriculture. Ohio’s quarantine map is also available at
the department’s Web site. Violators of this quarantine
may face fines up to $4,000. Due to a federal quarantine,
it is also illegal to take these items from the state of
Ohio.

Firewood dealers, businesses, or woodlot owners interested
in marketing and transporting ash trees or firewood from
quarantined areas can do so only with a
department-approved compliance agreement.  These
agreements stipulate handling practices that mitigate the
artificial spread of Emerald Ash Borer.

Ash trees infested with Emerald Ash Borer typically die
within five years. The pest belongs to a group of metallic
wood-boring beetles. Adults are dark green, one-half inch
in length, one-eighth inch wide, and fly from early May
until September. Larvae spend the rest of the year beneath
the bark of ash trees and leave D-shaped holes in the bark
about one-eighth inch wide when they emerge as adults.

For information on the Emerald Ash Borer, compliance
agreements, firewood restrictions, purple traps, and
quarantine updates, call 1-888-OHIO-EAB.

- 30 -

Media Contact: Kaleigh Frazier, Public Information
Officer, 614-728-6211

 


Severe storms are possible Saturday afternoon and evening

Friday, July 24th, 2009

Severe storms are possible Saturday afternoon and evening.  Click here and here for details.

Cool July Temperatures Across The Region

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009

The average temperatures across the region for July are running five to six degrees below normal.   To date — Cincinnati and Dayton have the coldest July on record.  Read more here.

Wonderful, soaking rainfall

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009

Yesterday’s rainfall was soaking and beneficial across the entire Cincinnati metro area.  Below are cooperative rainfall totals from the CoCoRaHS network.  These totals are 24 hour totals and may not reflect the storm total rainfall.  For example, I recorded 0.20 inch at my Cheviot 0.9 SSE location before the Wednesday morning 7:00 AM observation time, so my storm total rainfall is actually 1.13:

Local Cooperative Observations

Issued by NWS Wilmington, OH

Current Version | Previous Version | Text Only | Print | Product List | Glossary On
Versions: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

000
SXUS51 KILN 231312
LCOILN

COCORAHS PRECIPITATION SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
911 AM EDT THU JUL 23 2009

COCORAHS PRECIPITATION REPORTS
THESE REPORTS ARE CONSIDERED SUPPLEMENTAL AND UNOFFICIAL
VALUES ARE FOR THE PREVIOUS 24 HOURS ENDING AROUND 7 AM LOCAL TIME

.B ILN 0723 E DH07/PP/SF/SD/SW
:
:COCORAHS PRECIPITATION REPORTS IN SOUTHEAST INDIANA
:
:                                               SNOW   SNOW  WATER
:                                        PCPN   FALL  DEPTH  EQUIV
:
INDR2   : AURORA 1.4 SW            *   : 1.23 /  MM /   MM /   MM
INDR3   : AURORA 3.9 W             *   : 1.21 /  MM /   MM /   MM
INDR6   : LAWRENCEBURG 5.6 NNW     *   : 1.33 /  MM /   MM /   MM
INDR7   : MOORES HILL 5.7 SSE      *   : 1.36 /  MM /   MM /   MM
INDR8   : MOORES HILL 0.3 SE       *   : 1.44 /  MM /   MM /   MM
INFR2   : BROOKVILLE 2.0 E         *   : 1.04 /  MM /   MM /   MM
INOH1   : AURORA 3.6 SSE           *   : 1.10 /  MM /   MM /   MM
INOH2   : RISING SUN 4.1 WSW       *   : 0.91 /  MM /   MM /   MM
INRP4   : OSGOOD 4.1 NE            *   : 1.01 /  MM /   MM /   MM
INWN2   : RICHMOND 0.9 SE          *   : 1.30 /  MM /   MM /   MM
INWN4   : CENTERVILLE 0.3 N        *   : 1.19 /  MM /   MM /   MM
:
:COCORAHS PRECIPITATION REPORTS IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY
:
:                                               SNOW   SNOW  WATER
:                                        PCPN   FALL  DEPTH  EQUIV
:
KYGL1   : GLENCOE 3.8 NNE          *   : 0.98 /  MM /   MM /   MM
KYKN1   : PARK HILLS 0.6 NE        *   : 0.57 /  MM /   MM /   MM
:
:COCORAHS PRECIPITATION REPORTS IN SOUTHWEST OHIO
:
:                                               SNOW   SNOW  WATER
:                                        PCPN   FALL  DEPTH  EQUIV
:
OHBT1   : HAMILTON 4.7 E           *   : 1.15 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHBT6   : WEST CHESTER 2.9 SE      *   : 1.18 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHBT7   : TRENTON 0.7 SE           *   : 1.36 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHCH2   : URBANA 1.3 SSW           *   : 1.50 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHCK1   : SPRINGFIELD 1.1 NNW      *   : 1.91 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHCM2   : GOSHEN 1.2 SW            *   : 0.97 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHCN1   : PORT WILLIAM 6.1 W       *   : 1.79 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHCN4   : WILMINGTON 5.4 SSW       *   : 1.18 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHCN5   : MARTINSVILLE 2.0 E       *   : 1.00 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHDL2   : WESTERVILLE 4.0 N        *   : 1.41 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHDR1   : BRADFORD 2.3 NW          *   : 0.75 / 0.0 /  0.0 / 0.00
OHFR2   : DUBLIN 3.2 ENE           *   : 1.81 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHFR10  : WESTERVILLE 0.2 WNW      *   : 1.32 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHFR12  : UPPER ARLINGTON 2.4 NNW  *   : 1.38 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHHM3   : WYOMING 1.2 NW           *   : 1.16 / 0.0 /  0.0 / 0.00
OHHM4   : CLEVES 2.7 NNW           *   : 1.05 / 0.0 /  0.0 / 0.00
OHHM5   : CHEVIOT 0.9 SSE          *   : 0.93 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHMM2   : PIQUA 3.4 SE             *   : 1.14 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHMY4   : CENTERVILLE 1.7 WSW      *   : 1.77 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHMY5   : FARMERSVILLE 1.7 E       *   : 1.24 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHMY6   : CENTERVILLE 1.4 SW       *   : 1.29 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHMY8   : WEST ALEXANDRIA 4.2 ENE  *   : 1.47 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHPB1   : EATON 1.0 N              *   : 1.41 / 0.0 /  0.0 / 0.00
OHRS1   : CHILLICOTHE 3.7 S        *   : 0.83 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHSC1   : SCIOTODALE 1.2 W         *   : 0.75 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHSC3   : NEW BOSTON 0.4 SW        *   : 0.03 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHSH1   : SIDNEY 5.3 NE            *   : 0.91 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHSH2   : LAKEVIEW 2.6 NE          *   : 0.68 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHSH4   : ANNA 3.1 NNW             *   : 0.94 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHSH5   : HOUSTON 0.5 SE           *   : 0.81 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHUN1   : MARYSVILLE 1.5 NNE       *   : 1.73 /  MM /   MM /   MM
:
.END

$$


Drought-buster; watering tips and ideas

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009

For those who have not benefited thus far from the scattered showers of the past week, a generalized and generous rainfall appears to be on tap for today into this evening.  By the time all is said and done, most of us will see one inch with isolated two inch plus amounts possible.  But wait, there’s more!   :-)

 

Another disturbance will produce scattered showers and thunderstorms tomorrow.  But wait, there’s more!   :-)

This weekend, another front will approach producing a good chance of more widespread rainfall Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning.

This pattern is atypical for summer in Cincinnati, but no less welcome.  Some areas of town remained quite dry, with Buggy Joe Boggs reporting to me the “Boggscape” was becoming parched.

After this rain passes, don’t forget to monitor conditions for future watering needs.  Remember, the CoCoRaHS network is wonderful for monitoring rainfall closer to your neighborhood.  As we saw recently, this can be quite variable.

In the Cincinnati area, in areas with clay soil, it is best to water one to two inches at a time, once every seven to ten days in the absence of rainfall. This schedule should be adjusted to account for variations in temperature, natural rainfall, exposure of individual plants and the water needs of individual plants. Do not locate plants together if their water needs are dis-similar.

http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/iln/digital/OHZ077afm.htm

http://www.cocorahs.org/

http://www.cocorahs.org/ViewData/ListDailyPrecipReports.aspx

http://arbordoctor.com/tools.html

Cold air funnels and isolated severe storms possible

Monday, July 20th, 2009

Cold air funnel clouds are possible in the relatively cold, unstable air mass in place over the Ohio valley today, along with isolated heavy downpours, small hail and an isolated severe storm.  Cold air funnel clouds are relatively weak rotations that develop in a relatively cold air mass.  They are weaker than normal funnel clouds and rarely reach the ground.  However, it is something to be aware of today since they can occasionally reach the ground and cause damage.  Cold air funnels occurred Sunday in Indiana.

Localized rainfall…

Sunday, July 19th, 2009

I began my watering program this week for the first time this year as drought stress was beginning to show itself. Last night, after a day which broke the record for the coolest July 18 high in Cincinnati history, dark clouds developed late and radar indicated some isolated showers.

During the evening, the skies grew dark here and radar indicated a small shower moving slowly into my part of the county. This developed into a small complex of showers which essentially sat in place for three hours pouring rain down on my dry yard. When all was said and done, I had 0.82 inch in my rain gauge. I guess I can turn off the water for a while!

I must be living right!

I checked the radar estimated precipitation and it showed appreciable rainfall over a very small area, and it did not indicate anything as heavy as what I measured. Very localized.  Could this be what CoCoRaHS was set up to detect?

It will be interesting to see if there are any other reports of decent rainfall
since there are other CoCoRaHS sites near mine but outside what appeared to be the heavier rain area.

Update:  As expected, this was a highly localized event:

COOPERATIVE STATION REPORTS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
1009 AM EDT SUN JUL 19 2009

                TEMPERATURES  CURRENT      24 HR
LOCATION        MAX MIN 7AM   WEATHER      PRECP
__________________________________________________
INDIANA………
ALPINE                                      0.04
BROOKVILLE      72  53  62                  0.00

KENTUCKY……..
NAPOLEON        75  54  54   PARTLY CLOUDY  0.00

OHIO…………
BELLEFONTAINE    69  51  57                 0.00
BUCKEYE LAKE                                0.20
CHEVIOT          70  55  56                 0.80
CINCY-FERNBANK   71  56  61  MOSTLY CLOUDY  0.00
COLMBS VLY CRSS  72  55  57                 0.03
HUNTSVILLE       73  52  55  PARTLY CLOUDY  0.01
JEFFERSONVILLE                                 T
KINGS MILLS                                 0.00
LAURELVILLE                                 0.00
MIAMITOWN        72  56  59                 0.41
NEW CARLISLE                                0.00
NEWARK           81  53  53  PARTLY CLOUDY     T
SPRINGFIELD                                 0.00
SPRINGFIELD 2    70  59  60  CLOUDY         0.00
ST PARIS                                    0.02
UTICA                                       0.03
VERSAILLES                                  0.03
WAVERLY          74  56  58  SUNNY          0.00
WILMINGTON       69  56  59  CLOUDY         0.02

KENTUCKY MESONET STATIONS (WWW.KYMESONET.ORG)
__________________________________________________
SITE     STATION              MAX / MIN / 24 HR
ID       LOCATION             TEMP/ TEMP/ PRECIP
__________________________________________________
CRRL     CARROLLTON 2 E        71 /  54 / 0.00
SWON     OWENTON 5 E           69 /  53 / 0.00

COCORAHS PRECIPITATION SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
911 AM EDT SUN JUL 19 2009

COCORAHS PRECIPITATION REPORTS
THESE REPORTS ARE CONSIDERED SUPPLEMENTAL AND UNOFFICIAL
VALUES ARE FOR THE PREVIOUS 24 HOURS ENDING AROUND 7 AM LOCAL TIME

.B ILN 0719 E DH07/PP/SF/SD/SW
:
:COCORAHS PRECIPITATION REPORTS IN SOUTHEAST INDIANA
:
:                                               SNOW   SNOW  WATER
:                                        PCPN   FALL  DEPTH  EQUIV
:
INDR3   : AURORA 3.9 W             *   : 0.00 / 0.0 /   MM /   MM
INOH1   : AURORA 3.6 SSE           *   : 0.00 / 0.0 /   MM /   MM
INWN2   : RICHMOND 0.9 SE          *   :    T /  MM /   MM /   MM
INWN4   : CENTERVILLE 0.3 N        *   :    T /  MM /   MM /   MM
:
:COCORAHS PRECIPITATION REPORTS IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY
:
:                                               SNOW   SNOW  WATER
:                                        PCPN   FALL  DEPTH  EQUIV
:
KYGL1   : GLENCOE 3.8 NNE          *   : 0.00 / 0.0 /   MM /   MM
:
:COCORAHS PRECIPITATION REPORTS IN SOUTHWEST OHIO
:
:                                               SNOW   SNOW  WATER
:                                        PCPN   FALL  DEPTH  EQUIV
:
OHBT2   : BECKETT RIDGE 3.9 NW     *   :    T /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHBT7   : TRENTON 0.7 SE           *   : 0.00 / 0.0 /   MM /   MM
OHCK1   : SPRINGFIELD 1.1 NNW      *   : 0.00 / 0.0 /   MM /   MM
OHCN4   : WILMINGTON 5.4 SSW       *   : 0.03 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHDL2   : WESTERVILLE 4.0 N        *   : 0.21 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHFR2   : DUBLIN 3.2 ENE           *   : 0.07 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHFR8   : NEW ALBANY 2.8 SSE       *   : 0.19 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHFR10  : WESTERVILLE 0.2 WNW      *   : 0.10 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHFR12  : UPPER ARLINGTON 2.4 NNW  *   : 0.05 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHHM3   : WYOMING 1.2 NW           *   : 0.04 / 0.0 /  0.0 / 0.00
OHHM4   : CLEVES 2.7 NNW           *   : 0.04 / 0.0 /  0.0 / 0.00
OHHM5   : CHEVIOT 0.9 SSE          *   : 0.82 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHHM9   : WHITE OAK EAST 0.9 E     *   : 0.22 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHMY4   : CENTERVILLE 1.7 WSW      *   : 0.02 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHMY5   : FARMERSVILLE 1.7 E       *   : 0.04 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHMY6   : CENTERVILLE 1.4 SW       *   : 0.03 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHPB1   : EATON 1.0 N              *   : 0.00 / 0.0 /  0.0 / 0.00
OHRS1   : CHILLICOTHE 3.7 S        *   : 0.01 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHSH1   : SIDNEY 5.3 NE            *   : 0.13 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHSH4   : ANNA 3.1 NNW             *   : 0.03 /  MM /   MM /   MM
OHUN1   : MARYSVILLE 1.5 NNE       *   : 0.08 /  MM /   MM /   MM
:

Bastardi Says Snowiest in Over 5 Years NYC to D.C.

Thursday, July 16th, 2009

According to AccuWeather.com’s Chief Meteorologist and Expert Long Range Forecaster Joe Bastardi, cooler-than-normal weather this summer in the Northeast could point to a cold, snowy winter…

Read more…

El Niño Arrives; Expected to Persist through Winter 2009-10

Tuesday, July 14th, 2009

NOAA scientists have announced the arrival of El Niño, a climate phenomenon with a significant influence on global weather, ocean conditions and marine fisheries. El Niño, the periodic warming of central and eastern tropical Pacific waters, occurs on average every two to five years and typically lasts about 12 months.

Read more here.