A Weather Research Center Newsletter Fall 1995 Houston, Texas ________________________________________________________________________ WEATHER MUSUEM AND EDUCATION CENTER PROGRESSES FORWARD The Weather Museum and Education Center continues move forward toward becoming a reality. As of this writing, meteorologists have raised over $28,000 in funds. The goal is to raise $50,000 which will match the challenmge grant from Houston Endowment. The funds will be used to purchase the propert adjacent to the existing location. Persons or companies who make contributions will be part of an elite membership club. The staff of the Center is committed to seeing this project to completion. Please see the enclosed inserts for more information. The Weather Museum will be a unique place where people, both children and adults, can come and experience the weather first hand. They will also learn about weather safety and other educational information. There will be a classroom for the summer Weather Camp and a conference room to hold seminars. Some of the proposed displays include old weather books, weather maps and observing equipment. Also planned is a walk-through, or a virtual reality effect, of a developing thunderstorm, tornado and hurricane. A computer room will house computers full of weather programs such as weather games, storm tracking and researching weather facts. Also housed in the museum will be Weather Research Center's extensive library and data base, which includes weather data that dates back to 1871. Another feature that is planned is a mini-television studio. Here, visitors will be able to make their own weather presentation. They will also be able to make a video tape of their performance, if they so desire. The museum will be staffed by meteorologists who will be available to answer any and all questions about the weather. The Center staff is investigating possible leads to landing some outdated weather equipment that can be housed in the museum. This equipment would include old weather teletypes, outdated weather office consoles, possibly a recently retired weather radar console (and maybe the outdoor housing) and other old and interesting weather artifacts. We would appreciate any assistance in the donation of such items. In addition, if you or your company is intersted in seeing such a faciliy become a reality, but more importantly, be a part of it, please see the enclosed information and help us meet our goal. CENTER HAPPENINGS AND PROJECTS news and notes about the Center and its personnel Mike Arellano was recently a participant in an area fund raiser called "Men Who Cook and Ladies Who Lunch" which was an event sponsored by the Greater Southwest Houston Chamber of Commerce. Mike served up some of his famous Maryland-style crab cakes and (his wife's version of) Louisiana gumbo. The event was so successful and fun that ideas for a Weatherman's cookbook have surfaced. If you have a special recipie that you would like to share with others, give us a call. The proceeds from this cookbook will go to the Weather Museum and Education Center. CALLING ALL GOLFERS FOR THE WEATHERMAN'S CHALLENGE To help raise money for the planned Weather Museum and Education Center, meteorologists are planning a golf tournament in the spring to benefit this cause. The golf tournament will be held on April 15, 1996 (tax day!) at the Willowisp Country Club in Houston. Several local television meteorologists have comitted themselves to a day of fun and relaxation. We hope to invite other personalities from all Houston stations, as well as from other cities. However the golf tournament is not limited to weather folks only. If your company is interested in sponsoring a team or hole, or would like to make a donation for the auction, please contact us immediately. Also, if you or someone you know is a skilled or not-so-skilled golfer, please come out and participate! REUNION ATTENDEES HAVE MEMORABLE DAY A reunion was held on November 18 for past employess of the Institute for Storm Research as well as mathematics and meteorology graduates of the University of St. Thomas. The morning seminar was full of scientific theories and equations as presentors had the chance to voice their opinions. The occasion was also an opportunity to celebrate Dr. John Freeman's 75th birthday and over 40 years work in the field of meteorology and oceanography. A proceedings from the morning seminar are planned to be published in the near future. Current meteorologists are also in the process of putting together a historical documant on Dr. Freeman's work. The day was highlighted with a barbeque lunch at the Freeman's home and a dinner at the Universtiy of St. Thomas. WE'RE ON THE INTERNET Weather Research Center's home page on the Internet is: http://phoneix .net/wrc~/wrc.htm. Copies of the newsletter and other related information will be made available on the Internet. Our E-mail address is wrc@phoenix.net. SECOND BUSIEST HURRICANE SEASON FINALLY COMES TO AN END The 1995 hurricane season will go down in the history books as the second busiest storm season. There were a total of 19 named storms, second only to 1993 when 21 storms occurred. This year's break down amounted to 11 hurricanes and eight tropical storms. Of the 11 hurricanes, five reached category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale, and five storms made landfall along the U.S. coast. These included hurricanes Allison, Erin and Opal, as well as tropical storms Dean and Jerry. Also of interest this year was the simotaneaus presense of four tropical cyclones. In the Gulf of Mexico, a few storms threatened the offshore energy industry, but there were no direct hits. Editor, Mike Arellano Hurricane Allison caused some increase in the winds and seas east of 90W as it moved toward the Florida Panhandle. Tropical Storm Dean was a minimal storm off the Texas coast and no damage was reported. Hurricane Erin brushed the west coast of Florida, but its erratic track casued some concern to the marine interests prior to landfall. Tropical Storm Jerry was primarily a concern to the Florida Peninsula and posed no threat to the offshore energy industry. Hurricane Opal was by far the worst of the storms to ravage the Gulf of Mexico. Although the hurricane did not threaten the Northern Gulf directly, it passed close enough, especially through the Viosca Knoll area, for some of the operators to sustain some minimal damage. Finally, Hurricane Roxanne threatened, but didn't deliver as it sat stationary in the Bay of Campeche where it eventually dissipated. Roxanne was responsible for more than five deaths when a barge overturned in storm waters. WEATHER DATELINE A review of recent significant weather events U.S. GULF COAST - On December 9, 1995, a strong Arctic cold front swept southward from the Plains States and into portions of Southeast Texas and Southern Louisiana, before finally moving offshore. Very cold air associated with this front settled across much of the Gulf Coast with temperatures on December 10 falling below freezing. Offshore, northerly winds of 35-45 knots were common with seas well in excess of 14 feet. Prior to the frontal passage, there were a few reports of strong thunderstorms were some unconfirmed reports of hail. Winds and seas began to subside on December 11 as the Arctic high pressure system moved eastward and weakened. ATTENTION OFFSHORE INTERESTS: WINTER STORMS ARE ON THE HORIZON Although winter does not officially begin until December 22, several strong cold front have already moved offshore causing northerly winds to surge well above 30 knots. However, this type of weather is common this time of the year and it is not unusual for a winter storm to visit the gulf. One of the most notible winter storms to affect the Gulf of Mexico occurred a few years ago in 1993. The storm was dubbed the "white hurricane" because its winds were reported to be near 100 knots. The development of this type storm was simple. First there was a warm airmass in place. Under normal circumstances, southerly winds can increase to as much as 35 knots offshore. This strong southerly flow is usually attributed to a deepening low over the Plains States and the subsequent strong pressure gradient offshore. The strong surge in southerly winds also helps create strong swells of three to five feet. Most of the times, but not always, the southerly flow will decrease significantly prior to the frontal passage. A line of showers and thunderstorms can develop 50 to 100 miles ahead of the front. Then, the front will move off the coast. This front is either Pacific or Arctic in nature and will come racing southward. In the case of the Storm of '93, the front eventually became stationary across the Central Gulf of Mexico. As the upper level trough deepened offshore, a low pressure wave began to form along the stalled-out frontal bounday. This low pressure wave quickly deepend into a gale center, then into a storm before exiting the Gulf to toward the northeast. As the low deepened offshore, winds increased significantly and quickly without little warning. Offshore operators found themselves confined to their rigs and platforms as any possibility for evacuations were impossible. The turn around for the strong winds was about six to eight hours. By the time forecasters realized what was happening, winds of 50-65 knots were already occurring. The intense winter low pressure system then moved northeastward along the east coast where it produced blizzard conditions from Middle Atlantic States all the way into New England. Over two feet of snow fell in some locations. That storm, also known as a nor'easter, was dubbed by many as the Blizzard of '93. Weather Research Center/List of Services If you are interested in any of the Center's services, here's a partial list of our specialties: Offshore/Marine Weather Services Industrial/Refinery Forecasts Weather Forecasts for Utilities Severe/Critical Weather Monitoring Agriculture Weather Forecasts Weather Outlooks for Commodities Media Consulting/Radio Broadcasting Expert Testimony/Forensic Meteorology Services For more information about these and other services, please call the Center. . THANKS TO OUR SUMMER INTERNS Special thanks to our student interns who helped out with various tasks this past summer. Michelle Brukardt, who is attending Texas A&M as a meteorology major, helped organized weather data and assisted in forecast operations, especially during the non-stop tropical storms and hurricanes which amounted to many alert hours. Also a big thanks to Randy Nicholson, a high school student from Fort Bend County, Texas. Randy, who has high hopes of becoming a meteorologist, also assisted in the alert hours. He helped maintain the weather data and also assisted in the production of this newsletter. Best of luck to Michelle and Randy during the school year and we look forward to having them here again next summer! NCIM MEETING REPORT Jill Hasling and Dr. John C. Freeman recently attended the annual meeting of the National Council of Industrial Meteorologists (NCIM), which was held in Denver , Colorado in June. Ms. Hasling , who is the first woman member of the NCIM, was elected as one of the directors. The NCIM is a group of Certified Consulting Meteorologists who work in the private sector. This particular meeting was exciting and important since much of the discussion centered on many of the National Weather Service cut-backs. Services such as agricultural and marine weather are being eliminated due to budget restraints. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE WEATHER EYE? If you are a native Houstonian, or have lived in Houston for more than 30 years, you know about the famous Weather Eye. For those who do not know about this weather artifact, here is a brief history. The Weather Eye was a large illuminated ball which sat atop the old Texas National Bank/Continental Oil Building in downtown Houston in the late '50s and early '60s. The ball measured 15 feet in diameter and could be seen from up to 25 miles in any direction. The ball was illuminated with different colors which indicated the type of forecoming weather. Red meant warmer weather; white meant cooler weather. A green ball meant no change and a blinking "eye" indicated rain, no matter what the color. The eye came down in 1964 as a result of complaints such as it being a safety hazard and an eyesore (no pun intended). Weather Research Center began investigating where the eye might be located as the Center would like to showplace this weather relic in the planned weather museum and education center. After getting the local media involved, the eye has been found in one of AstroWorld's storage facilities. AstroWorld, an amusement theme park in Houston, originally placed the eye in front of their main gate, but was then removed and put in storage sometime around 1975. Unfortunately, the Astrodome has plans for a museum and they want the rights to the Weather Eye. Special thanks to Ken Hoffman of the Houston Chronicle who helped us track down the whereabouts of the eye. PRELIMINARY WINTER OUTLOOK The preliminary results of the Orbital Freeze Outlook indicates that the month of December could have below normal temperatures over most of the United States. However, the months of January and February would return to normal. Of course, these are preliminary findings. If you or your company would like a more detailed winter outlook, please contact the Center with your request. pg.6 THE DONATIONS CORNER A special thanks to the following individuals and companies for their recent contributions to the Center: Compaq Corporation (computers) Exxon Company USA (computers) The Nicholson Family (computer) Sunbeam Instruments (weather stations) Since the Center is a non-profit organization, your donations are welcomed and are used in our Education Center. Students from around the Houston area use these computers to learn about the weather and more importantly, about weather safety. If you have some items that you think may be of use here, please give us a call!