The Ups and Downs of 2007

The following include the daily mean temperatures & departures from normal, total precipitation & departures from normal and snowfall amounts by month:

January:
Temperature: 31.1 degrees (+5.4 degrees)
Precipitation: 5.84" (+3.36")
Snowfall: 21.1" (+4.0")

February:
Temperature: 18.8 degrees (-9.6 degrees)
Precipitation: 1.41" (-.88")
Snowfall: 23.2" (+9.1")

March:
Temperature: 40.1 degrees (+2.6 degrees)
Precipitation: 3.71" (+.77")
Snowfall: 7.3" (-3.4")

April:
Temperature: 46.5 degrees (-1.1 degrees)
Precipitation: 3.52" (+.15")
Snowfall: 13.4" (+10.9")

May:
Temperature: 61.9 degrees (+3.4 degrees)
Precipitation: .66" (-2.84")
Snowfall: 0" (-.01")

June:
Temperature: 69.6 degrees (+2.1 degrees)
Precipitation: 1.66" (-2.23")

July:
Temperature: 70.9 degrees (-1.0 degree)
Precipitation: 2.57" (-.95")

August:
Temperature: 72.8 degrees (+2.6 degrees)
Precipitation: 9.03" (+5.34")

September:
Temperature: 66.7 degrees (+3.4 degrees)
Precipitation: 2.12" (-1.65")

October:
Temperature: 60.2 degrees (+8.0 degrees)
Precipitation: 2.65" (-.08")
Snowfall: 0" (-.04")

November:
Temperature: 41.3 degrees (-.5 degrees)
Precipitation: 4.07" (+.69")
Snowfall: 1.1" (-4.0")

December:
Temperature: 32.6 degrees (+1.5 degrees)
Precipitation: 4.20" (+1.06")
Snowfall: 9.6" (-3.5")

Weather Photos: A Guaranteed White Christmas

Here's a guaranteed way to make sure you have a White Christmas every year, submitted by one of our WKYC viewers:

As "CoAirKempy" said:
"What's the chance of snow on Christmas this year? Really GOOD! I'm going to make my own. I do it every year. with my pressure washer, air compressor and a special snow gun I make. I use to work at Snow Trails ski resort in Mansfield so I got a few inside tips on how to do it."

Three Ohio rivers looked at for possible scenic designation

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- The state is looking closely at three Ohio waterways to see if they have what it takes to be declared officially "scenic."

The Vermilion and Ashtabula rivers in northeast Ohio and the Mad River in western Ohio could join the 13 streams now protected under the state's scenic river program.

The program spotlights rivers that have not lost their natural beauty and wildlife to development and pollution. Scenic-river program manager Bob Gable says official studies of whether the three rivers meet the criteria could take up to three
years.

The scenic designation can help draw tourists, and it allows the state to turn down nearby highway and construction projects. One new river made the list in 2006 and another was added the year before.

Courtesy: WKYC.COM/The Associated Press

A Green Christmas is a bit unusual

By WKYC Web Weather Producer Frank Macek

CLEVELAND -- A sunny, green Christmas is in store for Northeast Ohio this year.

Santa Claus has smooth sailing this year into Northeast Ohio thanks to a rather quiet weather setup across the area for Christmas.

Most areas have little, if any, snow still on the ground thanks to a weekend where temperatures were in the 50s before a cold front pushed through and brought the temperature back to December reality.

We went back into the climate records of the National Weather Service office at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and looked at the weather records for each Christmas Day from 1900 to 2006 to see what the weather was each year.

Here's what we found:

*The most snow ever on the ground on Christmas Day morning was 13 inches in 1995 & 2004.

*The most snow that fell during the day on Christmas was 10.2 inches in 2002.

*76 out of 106 years had at least a trace of snow during the day...an average of 72%.

*The warmest Christmas Day temperature was 66 degrees in 1982.

*The chilliest was -10 degrees in 1983.

Related Link:
To view more information on past Christmas Days: CLICK HERE

Sunday's snow totals

Submit Your Own Snowfall Reports: CLICK HERE

NORTHEAST OHIO---

...ASHTABULA COUNTY...
ASHTABULA 1SW: 0.3"

...GEAUGA COUNTY...
MIDDLEFIELD 3SE: TRACE

...LAKE COUNTY...
KIRTLAND: TRACE
MADISON: TRACE

...MEDINA COUNTY...
BRUNSWICK: 0.1"
MEDINA: TRACE

...PORTAGE COUNTY...
HIRAM: 0.2"
MANTUA: TRACE

...SUMMIT COUNTY...
CUYAHOGA FALLS: 0.3"

...WAYNE COUNTY...
KIDRON 1N: 1.2"

NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA---

...ERIE COUNTY...
LAKE CITY: 0.2"

News: Winter brings the longest night of the year

By Frank Macek

CLEVELAND -- Saturday morning ushers in the winter solstice and the longest night of the year.

We have finally reached the shortest day and longest night of the year as northeast Ohio welcomes in the first day of winter on Saturday morning at 1:08 A.M.

The winter solstice is the day when the sun shines directly over the tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere thanks to the earth's axis rotation of 23.5 degrees. At the North Pole, it's 24 hours of darkness.

At noontime in the northern hemisphere, the sun now appears at its southern most point in the daytime sky.

The sun's elevation will remain the same for several days before and after the solstice - which is the Latin solstitium "point at the which the sun seems to stand still," from sol "sun" and the past participle stem of sistere "to come to a stop, make stand still."

Even though we experience our coldest temperatures of the year during the time when the sun's ray are directed at the southern hemisphere (where it is now summer), the sun is actually closest to earth on January 3rd through 5th.

But because we tilted away from the sun, the nights are long and the weather is cold.

So, enjoy the winter months and remember the days will now start getting longer and the nights shorter. Spring is getting closer by the day.

You can reach much more about the winter solstice: CLICK HERE

Some information courtesy: Cleveland Metroparks

News: Close Encounter of the Martian Kind

CLEVELAND -- The planet Mars will be its closest to Earth today.

In an event not to be missed for astronomy buffs, the planet Mars will come closest to the Earth for all of 2007 on Tuesday, December 18th.

With a distance of 54.78 million miles, this will be the Martian planet's closest approach to our own until the year 2016.

Stargazes will see Mars appear in the northeastern sky at nightfall as a brillant reddish looking "star." You'll be able to tell it's Mars by its bright and steady light. Unlike stars that twinkle, planets tend to maintain a more stable appearance as a point of light. The planet will appear even brighter than the brighest star in our heavens, Sirius.

Beware though, if you get an widely circulating email claiming that Mars will appear as large as the moon - it's a scam.

In reality, the diameter of Mars is still less than one one-hundredth that of the full moon as seen from Earth. If you could see them side by side in space, you?d find that Mars? true diameter is about twice that of the moon. So Mars would have to be twice the moon?s distance to look the same size. It?d have to be about 500 thousand miles away to appear as big as the full moon.

In a second interesting appearance, Mars will appear in the sky very close to the moon on December 23rd.

Books to read with your little ones when the weather turns cold!

By Kim Wheeler
WKYC Education Reporter

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS--When the snow starts flying, there's nothing better than cozying up with your kids and reading a winter-themed books. Start making some cold weather memories with your kids and a good book!

Education Reporter Kim Wheeler asked the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Children's Librarians to suggest some books for snowy days!

Happy Reading!

Baby & Preschool:
Under My Hood I Have a Hat - Karla Kuskin
Snowball - Nina Crews
Snowballs - Lois Ehlert
Snowmen at Night - Caralyn Buehner
Froggy Gets Dressed - Jonathan London
The Mitten - Jan Brett
Flannel Kisses - Linda Crotta Brennan
Snow - Uri Shulevitz
Owl Moon - Jane Yolen
Snip, Snip, Snow - Nancy Poydar
The Jacket I Wear in the Snow - Shirley Neitzel

Elementary & Middle:
It's Snowing! It's Snowing! - Jack Prelutsky
Once Upon Ice - Jane Yolen
Snowflake Bentley - Jacqueline Briggs Martin
Winter Across America - Seymour Simon
The Winter King - Dean Morrissey
Snowbound Mystery - Gertrude Chandler Warner
Special Gifts - Cynthia Rylant
While the Bear Sleeps: Winter Tales & Traditions - Caitlin Matthews
The Long Winter - Laura Ingalls Wilder

Monday morning snow totals

CLEVELAND -- The following 12 hour snowfall totals have been received by the National Weather Service. They are new snow totals mainly since midnight.

Submit Your Own Snowfall Reports: CLICK HERE

NORTHEAST OHIO---

...ASHTABULA COUNTY...
DORSETT 3W: 4.0"
ASHTABULA: 0.5"
ASHTABULA 1SW: TRACE

...CRAWFORD COUNTY...
GALION: 0.5"
NEW WASHINGTON 5S: TRACE

...CUYAHOGA COUNTY...
SOLON: 1.2"
CLEVELAND: 1.0"
GARFIELD HTS: 1.0"
BROADVIEW HTS: 0.8"
CLE AIRPORT: 0.4"

...ERIE COUNTY...
VERMILION: 0.2"

...GEAUGA COUNTY...
THOMPSON 5SW: 1.1"
CHARDON: 1.0"
RUSSEL TWP: 1.0"
MIDDLEFIELD 3SE: 0.7"
THOMPSON 3S: 0.7"
CLARIDON TWP: 0.5"

...KNOX COUNTY...
MT. VERNON 3N: TRACE

...LAKE COUNTY...
CONCORD TWP: TRACE
KIRTLAND: TRACE

...LUCAS COUNTY...
TOLEDO AIRPORT: TRACE

...MAHONING COUNTY...
AUSTINTOWN: 3.6"
BOARDMAN SE: 1.5"

...MEDINA COUNTY...
MEDINA: 1.0"
BRUNSWICK: 0.5"

...PORTAGE COUNTY...
RAVENNA 1E: 1.6"
KENT: 1.5"
HIRAM: TRACE

...RICHLAND COUNTY...
MANSFLD ARPT: TRACE

...SANDUSKY COUNTY...
OAK HARBOR 5S: TRACE

...SUMMIT COUNTY...
TWINSBURG: 1.5"
RICHFIELD: 1.3"
CAK AIRPORT: 1.0"
TALLMADGE: 0.8"
CUYAHOGA FALLS: 0.2"

...TRUMBULL COUNTY...
NEWTON FALLS: 3.0"
WARREN: 1.5"
YNG AIRPORT: 1.3"

NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA---

...CRAWFORD COUNTY...
TITUSVILLE: 11.9"
MEADVILLE 5W: 4.0"
EDINBORO: 3.0"
MEADVILLE: 2.0"
LINESVILLE: TRACE

...ERIE COUNTY...
AMITY TWP: 4.0"
WATERFORD: 2.3"
ERIE: 2.0"
FRANKLIN CTR: 1.5"
ERIE AIRPORT: 0.8"
LAKE CITY: 0.8"
MILLCREEK TWP.: 0.5"
COLT STATION: TRACE

To View Saturday's Totals: CLICK HERE

To View Sunday's Totals: CLICK HERE

News: Sunday Snow Totals

CLEVELAND -- The following 12 hour snowfall totals have been received by the National Weather Service through Sunday at 10 P.M.

Submit Your Own Snowfall Reports: CLICK HERE

NORTHEAST OHIO---

...ASHTABULA COUNTY...
WINDSOR: 6.5"
DORSETT 3W: 6.0"
ROAMING SHORES: 6.0"
CONNEAUT: 5.5"
PIERPONT 2SE: 5.0"
CONNEAUT I-90: 3.5"
CONNEAUT-LKSH: 3.0"
ASHTABULA 1SW: 2.8"
ASHTABULA: 1.3"
SAYBROOK: 1.0"

...CRAWFORD COUNTY...
NEW WASHINGTON 5S: 2.8"
GALION: 2.5"

...CUYAHOGA COUNTY...
SOLON: 9.0"
CLEVELAND: 4.0"
GARFIELD HTS: 4.0"
LYNDHURST: 4.0"
CLE AIRPORT: 3.8"
EUCLID: 2.5"
PEPPER PIKE: 1.4"
NORTH ROYALTON: 6.0"

...ERIE COUNTY...
VERMILION: 3.9"
HURON: 3.1"
SANDUSKY: 1.5"

...GEAUGA COUNTY...
CHAGRIN FALLS: 7.0"
NEWBURY: 6.0"
RUSSEL TWP: 6.0"
THOMPSON 5SW: 5.7"
CLARIDON TWP: 4.8"
CHARDON: 4.0"
MIDDLEFIELD 3SE: 0.8"

...HANCOCK COUNTY...
FINDLAY: 6.0"

...HOLMES COUNTY...
FRYBURG: 0.5"

...HURON COUNTY...
COLLINS: 4.0"
NORWALK: 3.3"
NEW LONDON 3NW: 3.0"

...KNOX COUNTY...
MT. VERNON 3N: 1.5"

...LAKE COUNTY...
PAINESVILLE TWP.: 4.4"
CONCORD TWP.: 3.8"
KIRTLAND: 3.5"
PERRY TOWNSHIP: 3.5"
WILLOUGHBY: 3.5"
MADISON: 3.0"
CONCORD TWP: 2.9"
PAINESVILLE: 2.5"
MENTOR: 2.2"
MENTOR: 2.0"

...LORAIN COUNTY...
WELLINGTON: 6.1"
N RIDGEVILLE: 4.3"
SHEFFIELD LAKE: 2.0"

...LUCAS COUNTY...
TOLEDO AIRPORT: 4.6"
TOLEDO: 4.0"
MAUMEE: 2.3"

...MAHONING COUNTY...
BOARDMAN SE: 1.5"

...MEDINA COUNTY...
BRUNSWICK: 5.5"
HINCKLEY: 5.3"
MEDINA: 5.0"

...PORTAGE COUNTY...
HIRAM: 9.6"
KENT: 6.0"
HIRAM RAPIDS: 5.0"

...RICHLAND COUNTY...
MANSFLD ARPT: 1.1"

...SANDUSKY COUNTY...
OAK HARBOR 5S: 3.0"
FREMONT: 1.5"

...STARK COUNTY...
MASSILLON: T"

...SUMMIT COUNTY...
RICHFIELD: 7.5"
TWINSBURG: 7.0"
CUYAHOGA FALLS: 4.7"
TALLMADGE: 3.3"
GREEN: 2.2"
CAK AIRPORT: 1.3"

...TRUMBULL COUNTY...
CHAMPION: 6.5"
NEWTON FALLS: 3.5"
YNG AIRPORT: 1.6"

...WAYNE COUNTY...
DOYLESTOWN: 2.5"
WOOSTER 7N: 0.5"

...WOOD COUNTY...
BOWLING GREEN: 5.0"

NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA---

...CRAWFORD COUNTY...
MEADVILLE 5W: 8.5"
MEADVILLE: 6.6"
LINESVILLE: 5.0"
EDINBORO: 3.5"

...ERIE COUNTY...
EDINBORO: 7.0"
FRANKLIN CTR: 5.5"
AMITY TWP: 5.0"
NORTHEAST: 4.8"
MILLCREEK TWP.: 2.5"
WATERFORD: 2.4"
ERIE AIRPORT: 1.6"
LAKE CITY: 1.4"

Winter Storm Snowfall Pictures

Winter Storm Pictures

Viewers and blog readers have submitted their weather pictures from this weekend's snow storm.

If you would like to view a gallery of winter time photos:


Gallery 1 - Click Here

Gallery 2 - Click Here

Gallery 3 (Newest) - Click Here

Photo courtesy: Chris Bennis in Copley

Saturday's snow totals

Saturday's 12 hour snow totals ending at 10 PM

NORTHEAST OHIO---

...ASHLAND COUNTY...
ASHLAND: 4.5"

...ASHTABULA COUNTY...
ASHTABULA 1SW: 2.0"
WINDSOR: 1.8"
DORSETT 3W: 1.0"
ROAMING SHORES: 1.0"
SAYBROOK: 0.8"
ASHTABULA: 0.7"

...CRAWFORD COUNTY...
NEW WASHINGTON 5S: 3.8"
BUCYRUS: 3.5"

...CUYAHOGA COUNTY...
CLE AIRPORT: 2.0"
SHAKER HTS: 2.0"
SOLON: 1.9"
PEPPER PIKE: 1.7"
CLEVELAND: 1.5"
EUCLID: 1.5"
GARFIELD HTS: 1.5"
LYNDHURST: 1.5"

...ERIE COUNTY...
VERMILION: 2.0"
HURON: 1.5"
SANDUSKY: 1.0"

...GEAUGA COUNTY...
MIDDLEFIELD 3SE: 2.4"
CHARDON: 1.0"
MONTVILLE: 1.0"
RUSSEL TWP: 1.0"
THOMPSON 5SW: 1.0"
BURTON TWP.: 2.0"

...HANCOCK COUNTY...
FINDLAY: 2.0"

...HOLMES COUNTY...
FRYBURG: 3.0"

...HURON COUNTY...
NEW LONDON 3NW: 3.0"
NORWALK: 2.2"
COLLINS: 1.8"

...KNOX COUNTY...
MT. VERNON 3N: 4.0"

...LAKE COUNTY...
CONCORD TWP.: 1.5"
WILLOUGHBY: 1.3"
MADISON 5 S: 1.2"
MENTOR: 1.2"
CONCORD TWP: 1.0"
KIRTLAND: 1.0"
MADISON: 1.6"

...LORAIN COUNTY...
LAGRANGE TWP: 3.1"
OBERLIN: 2.6"
N RIDGEVILLE: 2.0"

...LUCAS COUNTY...
TOLEDO: 0.5"
TOLEDO AIRPORT: 0.2"

...MAHONING COUNTY...
BOARDMAN SE: 3.5"

...MARION COUNTY...
MARION: 4.0"

...MEDINA COUNTY...
BRUNSWICK: 3.0"
MEDINA: 3.0"
HINCKLEY: 2.6"
BRUNSWICK: 2.3"

...MORROW COUNTY...
MOUNT GILEAD: 3.5"

...PORTAGE COUNTY...
KENT: 2.5"
MANTUA: 2.5"
RAVENNA 1E: 2.5"

...RICHLAND COUNTY...
MANSFLD ARPT: 2.9"

...SANDUSKY COUNTY...
CLYDE: 1.8"
FREMONT: 1.5"
OAK HARBOR 5S: 0.5"

...STARK COUNTY...
MASSILLON: 1.5"

...SUMMIT COUNTY...
RICHFIELD: 2.8"
TALLMADGE: 2.6"
GREEN: 2.5"
CUYAHOGA FALLS: 1.6"

...TRUMBULL COUNTY...
WARREN: 3.0"
YNG AIRPORT: 2.6"
WARREN: 2.5"
WARREN: 2.5"
NEWTON FALLS: 2.1"
CHAMPION: 2.0"

...WAYNE COUNTY...
WOOSTER: 4.0"
KIDRON 1N: 3.5"
WOOSTER 7N: 3.3"

...WOOD COUNTY...
BOWLING GREEN: 0.8"

NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA---

...CRAWFORD COUNTY...
CANADOHTA LAKE: 2.6"
LINESVILLE: 2.5"
MEADVILLE 5W: 2.5"
MEADVILLE: 1.8"
EDINBORO: TRACE

...ERIE COUNTY...
ERIE AIRPORT: 0.2"

News: New high-speed snowplows at Cleveland Hopkins airport ready for the weekend snow

CLEVELAND - It's a plan that's been four months in the making but faster and more efficient snowplows will tackle whatever snow comes down this weekend at Cleveland Hopkins airport.

Airport Commissioner Fred Szabo told WKYC today that the new snowplows can clear clear the main runway in 15 minutes, one-third of the 45 minutes that it has taken in the past.

Szabo said the new plows now travel at a top speed of 45 m.p.h., as compared to 20 m.p.h. that the old plows traveled.

In addition, the new plows are high-speed, multi-function vehicles -- a plow, a snowblower and a broom, sort of a three-in-one vehicle. Each does the job of three other vehicles.

Szabo plans to have 15 pieces of equipment and more than 60 personnel on stand-by this weekend, ready for anything that comes along.

News: 2007 among the warmest years on record

WASHINGTON (AP) -- 2007 is shaping up as another one of the warmest years on record in the United States.

Without getting into the issue of climate change, the government says this year's average temperature across the lower 48 states is expected to be near 54.3 degrees. The numbers are still preliminary, but that would make this the eighth-warmest year since records were first kept in 1895.

NOAA's National Climatic Data Center also reports worldwide temperatures are on track to be the fifth warmest on record.

February and April were the only cooler-than-average months in the U.S. The year has been especially rough on the Southeast and West, which have experienced serious drought.

Why Not More Snow?

CLEVELAND -- It's all about temperature when the storms begin to move in this time of year.

After everyone predicted lots of travel woes this morning, folks were scratching their heads and wondering "Where was all the snow?"

As has happened a couple of times this season, the temperature was right near 32 degrees and played a HUGE factor into whether the precipitation fell as rain or snow.

This morning, we lucked out with mainly rain while the east coast will get heavy snow from the same system with colder air in place there.

The National Weather Service reported that from 5 A.M. to 8 A.M. this morning, the temperature was right at the freezing point at Hopkins Airport...then began to rise.

This meant only a short period of time was available for Mother Nature to make freezing rain or snow. As a result, accumulations were held down to below one inch in most places.

WKYC Weather Plus Meteorologist Betsy Kling says this weekend will be a whole different story with much colder air in place here...and this time around, it's going to be snow.

Weather Gizmo Gift Guide

By Betsy Kling

CLEVELAND -- The Holidays are here and the weather will be topsy-turvy. What better way to stay on top of it all than with your own weather stuff?

I think it is gift that keeps on giving.

The weather is one thing that affects EVERYONE! From the temperature to the rain to the sun, people dress for the weather, talk about the weather and run from the weather.

This is one class of gifts that truly has something for everyone and will fit into all budgets.

Normally folks think of the good ol' outdoor thermometer as their first line for information about the weather. While the large, plastic dial types (with pictures of everything from butterflies to tractors) will give you a general idea of what temperature it is, why not upgrade to digital? Just a few years ago everyone on my list got an Oregon Scientific wireless digital thermometer. I got them at Target and paid all of $10 each. I am not cheap (okay, maybe a little) but these have been the most talked about gifts. We have one at our house and I look at it several times every day (admittedly I am a geek).

Rain gauges are another great gift. There are several types, from the trusty plastic cylinders to the digital tipping bucket. These also come in all shapes, sizes and price ranges. The typical plastic cylinder will generally run you about $5 to $15, with the digital types starting around $40. Be sure, if you go digital, to get one that is easy to mount and easy to clean out (leaves and stuff). You can get these at any of your regular retailers (Wal-mart, Target, K-Mart, Tractor Supply Co. ...) and many of the home and garden centers (Petitis, Gales and other local outlets as well as the bigger Lowes and Home Depot).

Now for the ultimate weather gift, go for the weather station. My recommendation on these is to go wireless. Basic components of a weather station include thermometer, barometer, anemometer/wind vane, and hygrometer (some will even come with the rain gauge...but not all). That will allow your weather station to give you temperature, pressure (with tendency is best), wind speed and direction (great for calculating wind chills) and humidity. Most of the stations that have all of the above will also have computing power that will automatically give you wind chills and heat index values and will store several days worth of information.

Prices for full-on weather stations vary, but you can expect to pay at least $50 with the upper bounds in the thousands. For the normal at-home user, something in the range of $75 to $150 would cover it. For those who want a little more, some of the "pro" level weather stations can even track the weather by interfacing with your home computer. These usually run about $250 to $500. As for "names", you likely can't go wrong with LaCrosse, Oregon Scientific or Davis.

So where can you find the weather stations? You will find them at some retailers like Sam's Club, Radio Shack or Brookstone. You'll likely find the best prices on-line, but not all retail sites are made the same. Do a search for "weather stations" and then sit back. If buying on eBay, be sure the item is NOT used...I would not recommend buying a used weather station. One of my favorite websites is listed under the Related Links section of this page. Do some comparison shopping, and don't forget to allow for shipping.

Well, there you go. Happy shopping (and happy weather tracking!).

RELATED LINKS
The Weather Shack (free shipping and batteries!)
Ambient Weather
La Crosse Technology
Weather Connect
Oregon Scientific

News: Scientist says 'Arctic is screaming'

WASHINGTON (AP) - "The Arctic is screaming." That's according to a senior scientist at the government's snow and ice data center.

With the summer acceleration of Arctic melting, some scientists warn that global warming may have reached an ominous tipping point.

New NASA satellite data obtained by The Associated Press show Greenland's ice sheet melted nearly 19 billion tons more than the previous high mark. And the volume of Arctic sea ice at summer's end was half what it was just four years earlier. One scientist even speculates that summer sea ice would be gone in five years.

Scientists are asking themselves two questions: Is the record melt seen all over the Arctic in 2007 a blip amid relentless and steady warming? Or has everything sped up to a new climate cycle that goes beyond the worst case scenarios presented by computer models?

Using the canary-in-the coal-mine analogy one scientist says "the canary has died."

News: At least 4 deaths blamed on Tropical Storm Olga

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) -- At least four deaths are being blamed on floods and landslides triggered by Tropical Storm Olga in the Dominican Republic and in Puerto Rico.

Officials in the Dominican Republic say at least three people died in that country. TV images there showed flooded neighborhoods and a woman clinging to a treetop.

Police in Puerto Rico say a passenger in an SUV was killed in an avalanche of mud and rocks that plowed onto a road early this morning.

Forecasters say Olga could trigger dangerous floods by dumping as much as 10 inches of rain on Hispaniola, the island shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Olga struck nearly two weeks after the official end of the Atlantic hurricane season.

For updates from the National Hurricane Center: CLICK HERE

Weather Photos: Snow in Uniontown - 12/7/07

Submitted By: Patrick Jackson in Uniontown
Caption: Picture of the heavy snowfall from Friday morning - 12/07/07



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 become a WKYC "Weather Warrior" observer: CLICK HERE

Why can't some people drive in snow?

By Mike O'Mara

NORTHEAST OHIO (WKYC) -- Snow squalls provide first test of the winter and put drivers to the test too.

The big city salt trucks were out Wednesday morning in every municipality in Northeast Ohio. The rigs were back out Wednesday afternoon as waves of snow squalls blew across the open waters of Lake Erie.

But as thousands of motorists slogged through the slush and the poor visibility, many had the same thought. This is Cleveland. Why is driving on snow such a surprise for so many people?

In Avon, Tony Miceli was scraping several inches of accumulation off his car.

"I think some people just get nervous and do dumb stuff," said Miceli. "Then they realize they're in for five months of snow and ice and then they start to calm down."

Many drivers still refuse to put on their headlights in the snow, even with poor visibility. And parents with teenage drivers cross their fingers and hope the phone doesn't ring.

Leaning on his snowblower, Lee Cory said, "my son just learned to drive this year. When he left this morning I forgot to mention to him that he needs to be a little bit careful out there. Now I worry about that 'hey, dad I'm in the ditch phone call'".

And what ever happened to snow tires in the winter. The majority of drivers in Northeast Ohio use all season tires instead. Automotive experts say that's a big mistake.

Brian Beane works for Automotive Specialty Services in Avon. He's driven test cars on an ice rink to see which tire really works in slippery conditions.

"We drive on the ice with a car that has all season tires and one car that has snow tires" said Beane. "It's not even close. The snow tires provide superior traction."

Beane added, "these days "all season" tires are good for three seasons. The 4th season being winter, there is nothing as good as a snow and ice tire. But even with front wheel drive, you still need 4 snow tires and that's expensive."

One motorist in Avon had a much more succinct explanation for poor driving in the snow.

John Smith said, "one word - stupidity".

Smith added, "and just think, we've got four more months of this, at least!"

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News: Gusting winds leave their mark across northeast Ohio

By Chris Tye

PAINESVILLE -- The people in charge of making sure the roads of Lake County are clear and salted were thrown a curve-ball Monday morning: the power went out.
"We had to radio communication, no phone contact-our garage doors had to be opened manually," says Thom Sabo, transportation manager for ODOT.

They have a back-up generator to help run the facility when the power goes out, but that went out too.

They were one of 12,000 buildings in our area affected by power lines that buckled to high winds Sunday night and all day Monday.

Winds hit a maximum of 49 miles per-hour Monday in Painesville.

While the radar over the area was largely covered with white, the snow was minimal.

By mid-day, the only snow accumulations were tallied in Geauga County (1 - 1.5 inches) and Ashtabula County (2 inches).

Traffic was snarled on some county roads as crews worked to restore power.

A bad accident on Route 2 near Fairport Harbor may have been the result of slippery roads as well.

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