Weather Tidbits

Weather Tidbits: Mast Years For Oak Trees

We'll be discussing mast years for oak trees in this edition of Weather Tidbits. If you have an oak tree in your yard, you may have noticed that some years the tree will drop more…

Weather Tidbits: The Forecast Cone of Uncertainty

We'll be discussing the National Hurricane Center's forecast cone of uncertainty in this edition of Weather Tidbits. The cone of uncertainty represents the probable track of a tropical cyclone's center. The size of the cone…

Weather Tidbits: Tropical vs Non-Tropical Cyclones

We'll be discussing the difference between tropical and non-tropical cyclones in this edition of Weather Tidbits. The two cyclones have different structures. Tropical cyclones, like hurricanes, feature a warm core. At the center, subsidence, or…

Weather Tidbits: Drought Categories

We'll be discussing drought categories used in the drought monitor maps in this edition of Weather Tidbits. The drought monitor map is made from more than just precipitation deficits. It considers but are not limited…

Weather Tidbits: What is "Corn Sweat"?

We'll be discussing "corn sweat" in this edition of Weather Tidbits. Corn sweat is just a term referring to the process known as evapotranspiration. Evapotranspiration is the release of water vapor from plant leaves. All…

Weather Tidbits: Relationship Between Hurricanes & Upwelling

We'll be discussing how hurricanes can upwell water and thus cool the sea surface temperatures in this edition of Weather Tidbits. Hurricanes churn up the waters in a big way, especially if the hurricane is…

Weather Tidbits: The Coriolis Force

We'll be discussing the coriolis force in this edition of Weather Tidbits. The coriolis force is an apparent force that deflects the path of air or an object due to the rotation of the Earth.…

Weather Tidbits: African Easterly Jet

We'll be discussing the African Easterly Jet in this edition of Weather Tidbits. The African Easterly Jet is a part of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone, and extends off of the west coast of Africa. The…

Weather Tidbits: Eyewall Replacement Cycle

We'll be discussing the eyewall replacement cycle in this edition of Weather Tidbits. This is a process in which the existing eyewall in a hurricane is eroded and replaced with a new eyewall. This is…

Weather Tidbits: The Waffle House Index

We'll be discussing the Waffle House index in this edition of Weather Tidbits. This is an informal metric to determine the effect of a storm, usually a hurricane. The Waffle House has a reputation for…

Weather Tidbits: Storm Safety Kit

We'll be discussing the importance of a storm safety kit and what you should have in it in this edition of Weather Tidbits. A storm safety kit helps prepare you and keep you safe in…

Weather Tidbits: Dew Point vs Relative Humidity

We'll be discussing the difference between dew point and relative humidity in this edition of Weather Tidbits. Both of these weather parameters describe moisture in the air, but represent very different values. The dew point…

Weather Tidbits: Waterspouts

We'll be discussing waterspouts in this edition of Weather Tidbits. There are two kinds of waterspouts. Tornadic waterspouts and fair-weather water spouts. Tornadic waterspouts are associated with severe thunderstorms and have similar characteristics to land…