Good morning everyone!

Well, it’s official.  El Nino is back, and there’s good news and bad news when it comes to this weather phenomenon.   El Nino is basically the warming of the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean waters that can affect weather patterns across the world.   This happens every two to five years, and can last up to 12 months.    What does that mean for us here in the U.S.?   Well, in the summertime, El Nino can bring damaging winter storms in California, increased storms over the southern U.S.    When the water is warming in this region, that can lead to a decrease in ocean “productivity” meaning weather patterns that can decrease the amount of nutrients in the ocean that get “churned up” and help the marine food chain…the fishing industry can be greately affected during an El Nino Year.

The good news is El Nino can help suppress the intensity and number of hurricanes in the Atlantic Basin as well as bringing much needed rain to desert southwest, less wintry weather over the north and a reduced risk of Florida Wildfires. 

If you want to read more about El Nino, you can click on here.

And of course, something many of us cannot forget when we hear the phrase “EL NINO” is the hilarious Chris Farley sketch a few years back on Saturday Night Live which I’ve found courtesy of UTUBE!

Hey everyone

Hope you’re having a great week so far.  I wasn’t off yesterday – I worked the “late shift”  (Prime Time), and due to the MJ coverage, I had a pretty easy evening.  I did watch the Memorial Service which I thought was very well organized and just the right length.  There was a lot of speculation that it might turn into a “circus”, but it was just the opposite, and tastefully done.

A pretty quiet weather week, which I am thankful for!  (Especially here in the northeast where we’ve been enjoying spectacular weather aside from a few hit or miss showers yesterday).  It’s still hot across the south, and thanks to a stubborn frontal boundary draped across the southeast from the Carolinas back into the Central Gulf States, strong to severe storms will continue to bring heavy rain, the possibility for hail, damaging winds and or isolated tornadoes.   There’s also the risk for nasty storms from the Intermountain West into the Northern Plains this afternoon.  Wet weather is also keeping the umbrellas in business over the Upper Midwest, Ohio River Valley and the Northern Plains.

I’ll check in a little later to see what you guys are chatting about.  I tried to respond to your comments the other day, but WordPress was cranky, and not letting me in!

JD

One of our faithful bloggers Cathy sent in some pretty impressive cloud formations out of Iowa taken by her Mom, Ruth back in 2006.  Awesome stuff!

Here’s the latest Mason pictures courtesy of Momma Tracy!  3 months old…He is gorgeous!

Bill sends us some great pictures he took a week ago out of PA.  Here’s what he wrote:

Hey Janice, I just return from a week long visit with my Dad at his place in Selinsgrove, Pa. The weather was good through Sunday June 29 then it took a turn for the worse. I did take some pictures which I’ll share here. On Saturday, June 27 I was treated to a beautiful sunrise and the Amish neighbors had a barn raising.

Hello everyone

Well, we had probably one of the nicest 4th of July weekends in terms of weather in recent memory.  Lots of sunshine, and warm temperatures without the humidity.   I had my little Matthew in Central Park for most of the afternoon  yesterday.  We had a picnic, and then watched some really great street dancers grooving to Michael Jackson music!  Matt was facinated with their moves!  Perhaps I will have a little dancing machine to keep me company on the dance floor!

We should see improved weather this week across the Northeast for the most part.  Still stormy across the south as a frontal boundary acts as a focus for showers and thunderstorms throughout the day from the southeast back into Texas and along the Gulf.

There’s also the chance of strong to severe storms for the Rockies and the Northern High Plains.  Otherwise, a pretty quiet start to the workweek.

I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July Weekend!  As you can see in my earlier post, I had to work Friday and Saturday, but had some company with me over the weekend   Matthew is starting to get used to a lot of camera time these days!

I’ll take a peak to see if any of you have sent in some pictures for me to post – otherwise, I will get to some of your comments later on this morning!

Have a great day everyone! ( I couldn’t resist posting this picture I took last week of my little man in his surfing outfit!)

Janice

Hi everyone.  I had to work today, so my husband brought my little guy in to see mom.  He was very tired by the time we got to do the weather, and that’s why he’s a little upset… but you can see a little smile at the very end of the clip…Happy 4th of July everyone!

Wow.  Apple is blaming the weather for its overheating new iPhone!  Yikes!   Will weather people be hounded for this as well???

“i” report – you decide!

Read HERE!

Hi everyone!

I was up before the rooster this morning to do Fox and Friends weather.   I’m here until 2 today – on my second cup of coffee.

Thanks for all the great advice about feeding Matthew solids.  I guess mom should’ve picked a more “FUN” vegetable to start him with other than GREEN BEANS!  You’d think I would’ve picked something that I would actually enjoy eating!  HAHA.  The good news is my nanny tried to feed him sweet peas yesterday, and he seemed to like those, so I’m optimistic that he may start to like his veggies.  I went out and bought some sweet potatoes, squash and carrots yesterday to add to his repertoire.  So fun. 

So what are you guys up to this 4th?  BBQ?  Pool Party?  Fireworks?  Tell me what you’re up to!  I’ve got to work tomorrow afternoon as well, so let me know your plans.

Weatherwise, I read that New York had the 2nd wettest June on record with over 10 inches of rain.  The northeast has been water-logged — however, it looks like we have some sunny days ahead as we head into the weekend and into next week.

It’s hot across the south with temperatures hitting the century mark with heat indices in the 105-110 degree range across the Arklatex into southern Mississippi.

Showers and thunderstorms could spark today and tomorrow across the Plains and into the Midwest, but I don’t think any one are will be a total washout.   The Northwest is also dealing with the heat this weekend with temperatures 10-15 degrees above average in some spots. 

I asked my husband to take a picture of Matthew in his 4th of July finest this morning, so here is my little all-American boy for you to enjoy!