News: Beets are Akron's answer to slippery winter roads

By Eric Mansfield

AKRON -- The City of Akron is turning to a vegetable, to keep its roads free from ice and snow. They hope the new mix will be a sweet solution to slipping and sliding.

Akron leaders think beet juice, added directly to road salt is the solution to frightful winter roads. "Normal salt brine, we stop using at about 17 degrees, because you'll take a chance on it freezing at that point. With this you can use it to a minus 60 degrees," says, Public Works Manager, Paul Barnett.

More effective de-icing means crews don't have to spread as much salt, which most years tops 52,000 tons. Still, beet juice might taste sweet, but taxpayers will pay a sour price for it.

"This stuff runs $2.60 a gallon, less than a gallon of milk, less than a gallon of gas but it's still really expensive," says Barnett.

But don't get too excited too quickly. The City of Akron only has four of these special trucks that can carry the beet juice meaning you won't see it on your neighborhood streets. The city will be very selective on where they apply it.

It's good for the roads and good for the environment and again, good up to minus 60 degrees, that's a combination that's certainly hard to beat. Akron has ordered 4,000 gallons of the beet solution, at a cost of just over $10,000. City crews won't use it, until the temperatures drop below 17 degrees.

VIDEO FEATURE:
*To watch Eric's package: CLICK HERE

Latest winter outlook calls for a warmer and wetter winter

CLEVELAND -- The National Weather Service continues to predict a warmer, but wetter winter for us. In fact, this winter could become the warmest on record.

The Climate Prediction Center remains confident in predicting above average temperatures for much of the country, including Ohio.

However, most of Ohio will see a "wetter than normal" season. Whether this is in the form of snow or rain remains to be seen.

According to the National Climatic Data Center, it's been the warmest year in the northern hemisphere since record keeping began 127 years ago.

On average, temperatures are more than a full degree above normal and if the trend holds through this winter it could break the record for the warmest year ever set in 2005.

"La Nina strengthened during October, making it even more likely that the United States will see below-average precipitation in the already drought-stricken regions of the Southwest and the Southeast this winter," said Michael Halpert, deputy director of the Climate Prediction Center.

"Recent sea surface temperatures indicate we have moderate La Nina conditions in place over the equatorial Pacific which we expect to continue into early 2008."

On average for December 2007 through February 2008, the Climate Prediction Center forecasts the following:

*Temperatures are expected to be above average in the Mid-Atlantic states and southern sections of the Northeast in response to the long-term warming trend. La Nina favors drier than average conditions along the mid-Atlantic coast. As always, snowfall for the region will depend on other climate factors, which are difficult to anticipate more than one to two weeks in advance.

*The drought-plagued Southeast is likely to remain drier than average due to La Nina, while temperatures are expected to be above average.

*In the Great Lakes and Tennessee Valley, temperatures and precipitation should both be above average.

*The south-central Plains should see drier-than-average conditions and warmer-than-average temperatures. Above-average temperatures are also expected in the Central Plains. The northern Plains has equal chances of above-, near-, or below-average temperature and precipitation.

*In the Northwest, there are equal chances for above-, near-, or below-average temperatures. Precipitation should be above average in much of the region due to La Nina.

*Much of California is anticipated be drier than average in response to La Nina, while there are equal chances of above-, near-, or below-average temperatures.

*Drought conditions are expected to persist in the Southwest due to La Nina, and temperatures are likely to be above average.

*Northern Alaska is expect to be milder than average, while the rest of Alaska has equal chances of above-, near-, or below-average temperatures and precipitation.

*In Hawaii, precipitation is expected to be above average with above average temperatures in the western Islands. The eastern islands have equal chances of above-, near-, or below-average temperatures

NOAA will announce its Spring Outlook in March 2008.

To read more of the report and view graphics of the Climate Center predictions, see our "related links."

VIDEO FEATURE
*To watch a report from NBC's Jay Gray: CLICK HERE

Meanings behind full moon names

CLEVELAND -- Saturday night is the "Full Beaver Moon" of November. How do moons get their creative names?

To answer this question, we turned to the pages of the Old Farmers Alamanc which explains that full moon names actually date back to Native Americans, of what is now the northern and eastern United States.

The tribes kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring full Moon.

Their names were applied to the entire month in which each occurred. There was some variation in the Moon names, but in general, the same ones were current throughout the Algonquin tribes from New England to Lake Superior.

European settlers followed that custom and created some of their own names. Since the lunar month is only 29 days long on the average, the full Moon dates shift from year to year.

November's full moon is called the "Full Beaver Moon" as it was the time of the year to set beaver traps before the swamps froze, to ensure a supply of warm winter furs.

Another interpretation suggests that the name Full Beaver Moon comes from the fact that the beavers are now actively preparing for winter.

It is sometimes also referred to as the Frosty Moon.

You can read more about the meanings behind the full moon names in the Old Farmers Almanac, CLICK HERE

Weather Photos: Snow in Maple Heights - 11/23/07

Submitted By: Shane (Channel 3 Photographer)
Caption: Snowy Pictures from Maple Heights - 11/23/07





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*If you would like to submit a weather photo: CLICK HERE
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Weather Photos: Snow in Cuyahoga Falls - 11/23/07

Submitted By: Brian Heath (WKYC Weather Warrior)
Caption: Pictures from 8:30 AM in Cuyahoga Falls after a snowy night - 11/23/07





RELATED LINKS:
*If you would like to submit a weather photo: CLICK HERE
*To upload weather video: CLICK HERE
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Weather Photo: Snow in Pierpont - 11/23/07

Submitted By: Janice in Pierpont
Caption: 11 inches of snow and counting - 11/23/07



Caption: A 12" ruler, showing only 1" left - 11/23/07



RELATED LINKS:
*If you would like to submit a weather photo: CLICK HERE
*To upload weather video: CLICK HERE
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Weather Photo: Sleet - 11/15/07

Submitted By: Dianne Struger in Chagrin Falls
Caption: My back deck and shed in Russell Twp - 11/15/07



RELATED LINKS:
*If you would like to submit a weather photo: CLICK HERE
*To upload weather video: CLICK HERE
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*To sign up (for free) to become a WKYC "Weather Warrior" observer on Facebook: CLICK HERE

Weather Photo: Sleet - 11/15/07

Submitted By: Jen in Eastlake
Caption: Picture of first sleet of the year on the deck! 11/15/07



RELATED LINKS:
*If you would like to submit a weather photo: CLICK HERE
*To upload weather video: CLICK HERE
*To view our gallery of weather photos: CLICK HERE

*To sign up (for free) to become a WKYC "Weather Warrior" observer on Facebook: CLICK HERE

Winter Weather Awareness Week: Safety Tips for Home

As part of Winter Weather Awareness Week, we take a look at the safety tips for your home:

Every home should have a disaster supplies kit: a battery-operated radio, flashlight, matches, extra batteries and an extra set of house and car keys. Have an ample supply of wood for the fireplace and plenty of nonperishable foods that can be eaten without heating. Keep bottled water and juices on hand in case your power and water supplies are interrupted.

Other items to include in the kit are prescription medicines and nonperishable infant formula, especially if there is a chance that roads will be impassable.

Remove dead tree branches. Ice and snow, combined with winter winds, can cause limbs to snap.

Clean gutters. Snow and ice can build up quickly, especially if your gutters are clogged with debris. When thawing begins, water from melting ice has nowhere to drain and can back up under your roof and eaves, causing water damage to walls and ceilings. Consider buying screens to keep your gutters debris-free.

Check your homeowner's insurance policy to make sure coverage is adequate for the type of winter weather in your area. Learn what is excluded from the policy.

Make sure auxiliary heaters and fireplaces are adequately maintained and serviced. Many fires related to auxiliary heating sources are preventable through simple maintenance. Before installing a wood-burning stove, check with local fire officials as to codes and proper installation techniques. Do not store kerosene in a non-approved container or in your home and be sure to keep alternative heat sources from flammable materials (walls, curtains, etc.).

During winter, drain pipes if your power goes off or if you plan an extended stay away from home. To drain, turn off the water heater and main water supply, open all faucets in the house and drain the system by keeping the valves open. Drain all toilets by holding the lever down until the tank empties.

If well water is used, the pump's electric switch should be shut off and the pressure tank and system should be drained.

News: Watch for dried out Christmas trees

by Jeff Maynor
WKYC.COM

CLEVELAND -- The drought that's affected southern states is having an affect on Christmas trees coming to market in northeast Ohio. North Carolina is the second-leading producer of Christmas trees behind only Oregon. "The trees may be a little shorter this year, and while most growers try to keep their trees well-watered, some may be drier than usual," said Jill Morgan of Lowe's Greenhouse in Bainbridge Township.

Morgan said the best way to test a cut tree for dryness is to hold a branch in one hand and, with the other hand, grasp the branch and pull along the branch to the end.

"If you see a handful of green needles, either in your hand or on the ground, you want to go on to a different tree," she said. Lowe's and many other area dealers get their Frasier Fir trees from tree farms in Portage County, not affected by the southern drought.

Prices for this popular variety will range between $50 and $100 for standard sizes, up to $300 for trees 16 feet and taller. The most popular Christmas tree variety here is also the most reasonably-priced. Scotch pine trees are selling in the $25 to $50 price range.

Brown needles near the trunk of a Scotch pine are not a concern Morgan said. "Just shake them off. This variety of tree has some dead needles near the trunk that are not a sign it's dried out"

Once you've selected a Christmas tree.....make a fresh diagonal cut across the end of the trunk to allow better water absorption, and give it plenty of water.

One fire prevention officer recommends a "mixed drink" for trees. "Some people mix soda pop with the water to get sugars up into the tree," said Chris Stacey of the Bainbridge Township Fire Department. "This will help keep your tree nice and moist."

To watch video of Jeff's story: CLICK HERE

Winter Weather Awareness Week: Lake effect snow

Just What Is Lake Effect Snow?

Long after the passage of cold fronts across the region, the relatively warm waters of the Great Lakes often create convective instability in an otherwise stable, arctic or polar continental airmass. So while other parts of the northeastern U.S. are clearing up after a recent cold frontal passage, Great Lakes communities wait for the lake effect snow machine to fire up!

How Does It Form?

Basically there are a couple of main ingredients that you need to produce lake effect snow. The first is a relatively warm body of water (aka Great Lake). The second ingredient is a source of cold air. In the Great Lakes Region, that source comes from the high latitudes of North America where arctic airmasses often "spill southward" over those warm bodies of water. Heat and moisture from the warm lakes rises into the "modified" arctic air where it then cools and condenses into snow clouds. The prevailing wind direction through the depth of the snow clouds third ingredient) determines where the snow will occur.

Where Can It Occur?

Lake Effect Snows describe mesoscale convective snow events that occur in the Great Lakes Region. However, common sense would suggest that these types of snowstorms should occur wherever you get cold air "channeling" across a warm body of water. We have indicated some of the other locations on Earth where these snows occur, including such diverse places as the Great Salt Lake in the U.S., parts of Japan, Korea and Scandinavia to name a few.

The Lake Effect Seasons

"Lake Effect" weather does not only occur during the Fall and Winter. The Great Lakes influence the local climate throughout the entire year. There are many positive impacts that the lakes have on the area climate. Winter snows are a boon to the local skiing industry, which boasts some of the best slopes in the east. At other times of the year the moderating effects of the marine climate allow for the cultivation of excellent fruit and vegetable crops, and the cooling effects of the lakes during the summer months provide a natural air conditioner to the region.

Where at the Snowbelts?

The primary snow belt can receive from 60 to more than 100 inches of snow each season. The snowbelt includes the eastern half of Cuyahoga County abnd Geauga, Lake and Ashtabula counties. Some cites in the snowbelt include: Euclid, Bedford, Solon, Lyndhurst, Ashtabula, Jefferson, Conneaut, Andover, Chardon, Burton, Chesterland, Chagrin Falls, Madison, Painesville, Mentor, Willoughby & Kirtland.

The secondary snow belt will get about 40 to 80 inches each winter. This includes the western Cuyahoga County, Lorain & Medina counties, and the northern sections of Summit, Portage and Trumbull counties (usually North of the turnpike). Cities included in this area: Cleveland, Bay Village, Westlake, Lorain, Strongsville, Oberlin, North Ridgeville, North Olmsted, Brook Park, Medina, Broadview Heights, Brecksville, Brunswick, Twinsburg, Hudson, Aurora, Garrettsville, and North Bloomfield.

To read more, CLICK HERE

Winter Weather Awareness Week: Types of winter storms

As part of Winter Weather Awareness Week, we take a look at the various storms and types of precipitation with winter weather.
Winter weather usually means one of the following types of precipitation:

FREEZING RAIN - Rain that freezes upon contact with a cold surface & creates a glaze of ice.

SLEET - Solid grains of ice formed from rain that freezes before reaching the ground. These pellets tend to bounce upon contact and may accumulate enough to cover the ground, even to depth of several inches.

SNOW - Precipitation of snow crystals, mostly branched in the form of six-pointed stars. It usually falls steadily for several hours or more. Qualifiers, such as occasional or intermittent, are used when a steady, prolonged (for several hours or more) fall is not expected. Its intensity is based on visibility.

SNOW SQUALL - An intense fall of accumulating snow, reducing visibility significantly and often accompanied by increased winds.

GRAUPEL - Graupel (also called snow pellets) refers to precipitation that forms when supercooled droplets of water condense on a snowflake, forming a 2-5 mm ball of rime ice; the snowflake acts as a nucleus of condensation in this process. The term is derived from German "Graupel" meaning the same. Graupel does not include other frozen precipitation such as snow or diamond dust.

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TYPES OF WINTER STORMS: (Through winter, these are the main type of winter storms that effect Northeast Ohio)

LAKE EFFECT - this type of storm is usually associated with strong N to NW winds of a low pressure system that passes the state. Moisture is picked up by the winds moving across the warmer lake, forced upward as the air moves onshore at higher elevation, condenses, freezes and falls as snow. This type of storm usually deposits larger amounts of snow over the higher terrain east and sometimes south of the City of Cleveland in what is called "the snow belt."

PANHANDLE HOOK (or "panhandle hooker") - an infrequent storm which occurs in the United States (usually during the late fall, through winter and into the spring months when southwesterly jet streams are most prevalent). Panhandle hooks account for some of the most memorable and deadly Midwestern blizzards, snowstorms and tornado outbreaks on record. The name is derived from the region of surface cyclogenesis in the Texas and klahoma "panhandle" regions.

ALBERTA CLIPPER: (or a "Canadian Clipper") - a fast moving low pressure area which generally affects the central provinces of Canada and parts of the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes regions of the United States. Most clippers occur between December and February, but can also occur occasionally in the month of November. Alberta Clippers take their name from Alberta, Canada, the province from which they appear to descend, and from clipper ships of the 19th century, one of the fastest ships of that time.

DELTA LOW: a big snow producing storm which develops over the Mississippi Delta and heads northeast, tracking up the spine of the Appalachian Mountains. Depending on the track, large accumulations can occur from the super saturated air.

Winter Weather Awareness Week: Wind chill index

As part of Winter Weather Awareness Weather, we take a look at the dangers of wind chill.

What is Wind Chill Temperature?

*It is the temperature it "feels like" outside and is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by the effects of wind and cold. As the wind increases, the body is cooled at a faster rate causing skin temperature to drop. Wind Chill does not impact inanimate objects like car radiators and exposed water pipes, because these objects cannot cool below the actual air temperature.

What does this mean to me?

*The NWS will inform you when Wind Chill conditions reach critical thresholds. A Wind Chill Warning is issued when wind chill temperatures are life threatening. A Wind Chill Advisory is issued when the wind chill temperatures are potentially hazardous. These hazardous wind chill temperatures could lead to life-threatening situations, if caution is not exercised.

When are Wind Chill Warnings and Wind Chill Advisories issued?

*The National Weather Service issues wind chill advisories when the wind chill temperature reaches -10 degrees F to -24 degrees F for more than a few hours with winds of 10 mph or greater. Wind chill warnings are issued when wind chill temperatures reach or exceed values of -25 degrees F and colder for more than a few hours with winds of 10 mph or greater.

The wind chill temperature index:

*Uses wind speed calculated at the average height of the human body's face (five feet), instead of 33 feet (the standard anemometer height).
*Incorporates modern heat transfer theory (the body loses heat to its surroundings during cold and windy days).
*Lowers the calm threshold to 3 mph.
*Uses a consistent standard for skin tissue resistance.
*Assumes the worst case scenario for solar radiation (clear night sky).

You can download a copy of your own wind chill chart. CLICK HERE

Winter Weather Awareness Week: Winter weather terms

As part of Winter Weather Awareness Weather, we take a look at some of the important winter weather terms and what they mean.Here is a list of the "official" terminology you'll hear in statements issued by the National Weather Service on TV regarding winter weather events:

WATCHES: (the potential exists for a significant or dangerous weather event & is usually issued between 12 and 48 hours before an event)

*Lake Effect Snow Watch - issued when there is a potential for a significant lake effect snow event.

*Winter Storm Watch - alerts the public to the potential for heavy snow, significant icing or a combination of these events.

*Blizzard Watch - alerts the public to the potential for blizzard conditions.

*Wind Chill Watch - issued when there is a potential for dangerous wind chill values.

*High Wind Watch - issued when there is the potential for dangerous winds.
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WARNINGS: (a significant or dangerous weather event is imminent & is usually issued 6-18 hours prior to the event)

*Winter Storm Warning - issued when a combination of heavy snow, heavy freezing rain, heavy sleet or blowing and drifting snow is expected to occur.

*Heavy Snow Warning - issued if the event will be entirely heavy snowfall. (Criteria: approximately six inches of snow is expected in 12 hours or less -or- eight inches or more of snow in 24 hours or less across Northern Ohio.)

*Lake Effect Snow Warning - issued for the snow-belt of Northeast Ohio when lake effect snow is expected to accumulate to six inches or more in 12 hours or less, or eight inches of snow in 24 hours or less.

*Blizzard Warning - issued for sustained or gusty winds of 35 mph or more and falling or blowing snow creating visibilities below one-fourth mile. These conditions usually persist for at least three hours.

*Ice Storm Warning - issued if the event will be entirely ice accrual. (Criteria: ice accumulation of one-fourth inch or more from freezing rain and damage expected.)

*High Wind Warning - issued for when sustained winds will be 40 mph or greater for at least one hour, or any gust of wind expected to be 58 mph or greater.

*Wind Chill Warning - issued for dangerous, life-threatening wind chills below minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit.
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ADVISORIES: (highlight weather conditions that are less serious than a warning and are usually issued 6-18 hours prior to the event.)

*Winter Weather Advisory - issued for the any combination of accumulations of snow, freezing rain, freezing drizzle or sleet that will cause significant inconvenience and moderately dangerous conditions.

*Blowing Snow Advisory - issued when visibilities from blowing snow will be reduced to a quarter mile or less.

*Lake Effect Snow Advisory - issued when four to five inches of snow is expected to fall over the snow belt of Northeast Ohio in 12 hours or less.

*Snow Advisory - three to five inches in 12 hours or less is expected.

*Snow and Blowing Snow Advisory - issued for a combination of snow and blowing snow.

*Freezing Rain Advisory - issued for freezing rain or freezing drizzle: any accretion or accumulation up to one-fourth inch.

*Dense Fog Advisory - issued when widespread fog will reduce visibility to one-fourth mile or less.

*High Wind Advisory - issued when sustained winds are expected to be 31 - 39 mph for at least an hour, or any wind gust between 46 and 57 mph.

*Wind Chill Advisory - issued when wind chill temperatures are expected to be 10 to 24 degrees below zero for an extended period of time.

Winter Weather Awareness Week: Record winters

CLEVELAND -- As part of Winter Weather Awareness Weather, we take a look at Cleveland's record setting winters.

Cleveland's Top 5 Snowiest Winters
2004-2005: 117.9 inches
1995-1996: 101.1 inches
1981-1982: 100.5 inches
2002-2003: 95.7 inches
2003-2004: 91.2 inches

Cleveland's Top 5 Least Snowiest Winters
1918-1919: 8.8 inches
1889-1890: 14.9 inches
1890-1891: 20.9 inches
1931-1932: 21.4 inches
1894-1895: 22.3 inches

Earliest measurable snowfall:
10/2/2003: .3 inches
10/2/1974: .1 inches

Latest measureable snowfall:
5/10/1997: .2 inches
5/10/1902: .6 inches

Latest Snowfall:
5/20/02: Trace

Monthly Average Snowfall at Cleveland Hopkins
January: 17.2 inches
February: 14.2 inches
March: 10.7 inches
April: 2.5 inches
May: .1 inches
June - September: 0 inches
October: .4 inches
November 5.1 inches
December: 13.1 inches
Normal Yearly Average: 63.3 inches

To view more records for Cleveland, Akron, Youngstown, Toledo and Mansfield: CLICK HERE

Courtesy: National Weather Service/Cleveland

Climate change could diminish drinking water

COLUMBUS , Ohio -- As sea levels rise, coastal communities could lose up to 50 percent more of their fresh water supplies than previously thought, according to a new study from Ohio State University.

People who live near the coast could lose up to 50 percent more of their fresh water supplies than previously thought, due to sea-level rise from global warming.

Scientists had assumed that, as saltwater moved inland from rising seas, it would penetrate underground only as far as it did above ground. However, this new research found that a zone of mixed, or brackish, water can extend 50 percent further inland underground than it does above ground. Like saltwater, brackish water isn't safe to drink because it causes dehydration.

"Most people are probably aware of the damage that rising sea levels can do above ground, but not underground, which is where the fresh water is," reports study author Motumu Ibaraki, an earth sciences professor at Ohio State. Ibaraki says the coastlines that are vulnerable include some of the most densely populated regions of the world: Almost 40 percent of the world's population lives less than 40 miles from the coast.

And it's not just an international concern...Here in the USA, areas along the East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico -- especially Florida and Louisiana -- are most likely to be affected as sea levels rise.

You can read more of the study from OSU: CLICK HERE

Courtesy: USA Today & Ohio State University

9 months after record snowstorm, hospitals report spike in births

ELYRIA, Ohio (AP) -- Hospitals in northeast Ohio are reporting a surge in baby births this week.

And hospital staff are doing the math and theorizing that last February's record snowstorm is behind the births.

The storm that took place nine months ago forced most couples to cancel their Valentine's Day plans and stay indoors.

At the Women and Children's Center in Lorain, three babies normally are delivered in a day. But hospital spokesman Patrick Crowley says that on Wednesday, six babies were born and another eight arrived yesterday.

At EMH Regional Medical Center in Elyria, Nurse Manager Tina Bowker says 22 babies have been born since Tuesday.

She says most of the new mothers and fathers tell a common story about how they spent the blizzard.

To watch video of this story: CLICK HERE

News: Higher fares for Thanksgiving travel this year

Thanksgiving is just two weeks away...and the rush is on to finalize travel plans. If you haven't booked a flight already, brace yourself for prices higher than this time last year.

Driving won't be cheap either, thanks to rising fuel costs.

NBC reporter, Leanne Gregg reports from Denver: (Clik "Play" to watch)

News: Surf's Up Cleveland Style!

By Carole Sullivan

EDGEWATER PARK -- A dozen local surfers took on gale force winds and big waves on Lake Erie. Our cameras spotted a growing group at Edgewater Park in Cleveland.

The surfers say this is just the beginning of the winter surfing season in Cleveland and the colder the better. One man boasted of being a part time weatherman and tried to explain how the air speed and water temperature affects the waves.

The group is not part of an official club, but just people with like interests who flock to the Erie shore for a taste of the surf they love. Some claim Tuesday's winds produced the best surf in years.

To watch video of Carole's package, double click on the "play" button on the media player below:

Video: The Wonderful World of Cleveland

Cleveland has so many beautiful sights and sounds. We'll be adding new video for you to enjoy as we help prove to the world that Northeast Ohio is the "Best Location in the Nation."

If you can't see the video below, CLICK HERE

News: Nasty weather leads to cleaner air for Northeast Ohio

The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency or NOACA tells us that all this nasty weather we are having is actually good for the environment.

According to NOACA Environmental Planner Amy Wainright, "NOACA reports that the cold air, wind, rain, and snow may dampen some spirits, but those conditions have cleared our air pollution. The summer's hot ozone season has ended, and fine particulates are in the 'Good' range this week."

For hourly monitor readings, you can always visit www.noaca.org

Enjoy our first snow!

News: October Warmth for Northeast OH/Western PA

October was warm across Northern Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania. According to the National Weather Service Office in Cleveland, this is how we fared for the month:

CLEVELAND
*3rd warmest October on record at 60.2 degrees. The warmest October on record is 61.4 degrees in 1947.
*On the 8th, the temperature reached 88 degrees. This tied the record high for this date set in 1939.

AKRON CANTON
*7th warmest October on record at 58.2 degrees. The warmest October on record is 59.6 degrees in 1947.
*On the 7th, the temperature reached 86 degrees...which is a new record high. The old record high for this date was 85 degrees set in 1963.

MANSFIELD
*3rd warmest October on record at 58.6 degrees. The warmest October on record is 61.0 degrees in 1963.
*On the 4th, the temperature reached 83 degrees...which is a new record high. The old record high for this date was 82 degrees set in 1967.
*On the 5th, the temperature reached 84 degrees...which is a new record high. The old record high for this date was 76 degrees set in 1984.
*On the 6th, the temperature reached 84 degrees. This tied the record high for this date set in 1963.
*On the 7th, the temperature reached 87 degrees...which is a new record high. The old record high for this date was 85 degrees set in 1963.
*On the 8th, the temperature reached 86 degrees...which is a new record high. The old record high for this date was 78 degrees set in 1973.
*On the 21st, the temperature reached 80 degrees...which is a new record high. The old record high for this date was 79 degrees set in 1979.

YOUNGSTOWN
*2nd warmest October on record at 58.4 degrees. The warmest October on record is 59.6 degrees in 1947.
*On the 7th, the temperature reached 85 degrees. This tied the record high for this date set in 1946.
*On the 8th, the temperature reached 87 degrees...which is a new record high. The old record high for this date was 84 degrees set in 1949.
*On the 21st, the temperature reached 80 degrees. This tied the record high for this date set in 1979.

TOLEDO
*6th warmest October on record at 59.0 degrees. The warmest October on record is 61.2 degrees in 1879.
*On the 5th, the temperature reached 88 degrees. This tied the record high for this date set in 1951.

ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA
*2nd warmest October on record at 61.1 degrees. The warmest October on record is 61.5 degrees in 1947.
*On the 5th, the temperature reached 87 degrees...which is a new record high. The old record high for this date was 84 degrees set in 1951.
*On the 8th, the temperature reached 84 degrees...which is a new record high. The old record high for this date was 81 degrees set in 1916.

Information Courtesy: NWS/Cleveland

Feature Article: Alberta Clippers

What is An Alberta Clipper
An Alberta clipper, also known as a Canadian Clipper, is a fast moving low pressure area which generally affects the central provinces of Canada and parts of the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes regions of the United States. Most clippers occur between December and February, but can also occur occasionally in the month of November. Alberta Clippers take their name from Alberta, Canada, the province from which they appear to descend, and from clipper ships of the 19th century, one of the fastest ships of that time.

Formation
A clipper originates when warm, moist winds from the Pacific Ocean come into contact with the mountains in the provinces of British Columbia and then Alberta. The air travels down the lee side of the mountains, often forming a chinook in Alberta, then develops into a storm over the Canadian prairies when it becomes entangled with the cold air mass that normally occupies the region in winter. The storm then slides southward and gets caught up in the flow around the mass of high pressure which always inhabits cold polar areas, sending the storm barreling into central and eastern areas of North America.

Ironically, the chinook which in part originates the Alberta clipper usually brings extremely warm weather (often approaching 70 degrees in the depths of winter) to southern Alberta itself, and the term is therefore not in common use in Alberta.

Effects
The storms sweep in at high speed over whatever land they encounter, usually bringing with them sharp cold fronts and drastically lower temperatures. It is not uncommon for an Alberta clipper to cause temperatures to drop by 30 degrees in as little as 10 to 12 hours. Often, the storms bring biting winds with them, only increasing the effect of the newly lower temperatures. Winds in advance and during an Alberta clipper are frequently as high as 35 to 45 mph. These conditions would cause wind chill values to drop into the -20 to -50 Fahrenheit range.

Snowfall amounts with these systems tend to be small (on the order of 1 to 3 inches), as the severe lack of moisture and quick movement inhibit substantial snowfall totals. However, several factors could combine to produce somewhat impressive snowfall totals (6 inches or more). These factors include access to more moisture (which raises precipitation amounts), slower system movement (which increases snowfall duration), and colder temperatures (which increases the snow to water ratio). The southern and eastern shores of the Great Lakes often receive enhanced snowfall from Alberta Clippers during the winter, due to lake enhancement. The lake effect snow can add substantially to the overall snowfall total.

During the winter, Alberta clippers can occur somewhat frequently, with system intervals on the order of two to four days common during active periods.

Variations
Two variations of Alberta Clippers are "Manitoba Maulers" or "Saskatchewan Screamers." These two types of systems are far less common than Clippers, and even when they take place they are still often referred to as Clippers. The main difference between the three is from which Canadian province they begin their southward trek.

Courtesy: Wikipedia

News: Record Number of Tornadoes in October

A total of 87 tornadoes were reported in the United States from Oct. 17-19 - a new record outbreak for the month, according to NOAA's Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma. The outbreak also contributed to the monthly total of 105 tornado reports - the second highest for October, behind the 117 tornadoes in October 2001. Records date back to 1950.

Although these real-time reports must be confirmed by local National Weather Service forecast offices, the preliminary number for the three-day outbreak significantly surpasses the previous October outbreak record of 63 tornadoes set along the Gulf Coast from southeast Texas to Florida and Georgia from Oct. 23-27, 1997.

Two weather systems that co-existed over the country were the primary cause of the record-setting outbreak according to Joe Schaefer, Storm Prediction Center Director.

"The positioning of the jet stream from southwest Texas to northeast Michigan with readily available moisture streaming inland from the Gulf created conditions favorable for tornado activity in the country's mid-section," Schaefer explained.

This set-up allowed for two different tornado-spawning systems to occur simultaneously over the United States. A low pressure system in the Gulf of Mexico was the primary cause of storms that produced six tornadoes on Oct. 17 through the morning of Oct. 19 in the coastal regions of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and the Florida Panhandle. The Oct. 18 Pensacola tornado was one of these storms.

The major weather producer, associated with the remaining 81 tornadoes, was an upper level trough of low pressure that extended from the Central Plains through the Great Lakes. Intense thunderstorms developed ahead of this system and tornadoes were reported over a large portion of the central U.S. from southwestern Missouri to middle Tennessee, and from central Mississippi through lower Michigan. Unfortunately, five fatalities - two in Missouri and three in Michigan - were associated with these storms.

"These storms are a reminder to all that tornadoes can develop any time of year, and anywhere," said Schaefer. "When severe weather is forecast, people should stay on top of developments closely. Monitor television and radio or listen to NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards, the fastest and most direct link to hazard watches and warnings from local National Weather Service forecast offices."

Courtesy: NOAA

Travel Ohio: Guided hike reveals how glaciers affected our area

By Carl Bachtel

AKRON, Ohio - Ten thousand years ago, glaciers retreated from Northeast Ohio, creating the rugged splendor of Hampton Hills Metro Park.

Visitors can learn how glaciers shaped the area, Sunday, November 18 at 11 a.m., during "Before Global Warming, There Were Ice Ages" at Hampton Hills Metro Park, 2925 Akron-Peninsula Rd., Akron. The hike is good for Fall Hiking Spree credit.

Naturalist Mike Greene leads this hike down the 1.6-mile Spring Hollow Trail and discusses the significance of glacial activity and the last Ice Age. One of the park district's more demanding hikes, the trail covers some of the most rugged terrain in Summit County and winds through the Cuyahoga Valley.

The 44th annual Fall Hiking Spree continues through November 30. First-year hikers who complete eight of 13 trails receive a hiking staff and annual shield; veteran hikers earn a shield. The event is free for Summit County residents, and out-of-county visitors pay to receive their rewards: $10 for first-year hikers, $5 for veterans.

For more information, call 330-865-8065.