Maine-Ly Weather

Fall – Winter 2003-04

Introduction

By Hendricus Lulofs

Warning Coordination Meteorologist

Welcome to another edition of Maine-Ly Weather. As another summer has come to an end, we now once again look ahead to winter. But before we do, I would like to thank our more than 450 weather spotters throughout the region for their many reports. As we head into snow season, I am sure we will be hearing more from you!

In this edition of Maine-Ly weather you will find several articles written by our staff on a wide variety of topics. In addition I want to welcome a new contributor to our newsletter, Stan G Kain. Stan is one of our new weather spotters who also is a journalist by trade. Stan has written 2 articles for this issue and he will hopefully continue to contribute in the future.

Below you will find brief excerpts from this issues stories. To read the entire article, just click where indicated.

Why We Become Weather Spotters

by Stan G. Kain

------------------------------------------------------------

Improvements to Experimental
Forecast Images

By Mark Reschke

ITO National Weather Service Caribou

Text Box: Our Experimental Forecast Images changed in August, 2003. These images are a set of map-based graphics that show the various elements of our weather forecast. They are experimental because their evaluation period ends December 31, 2003. Some maps show temperature for the next 7 days. Others depict the chance of precipitation. 16 elements of our forecast are displayed in this way.

------------------------------------------------------------

By: Sonia E Mark

Meteorologist Intern

Text Box: There are still many debates today as to whether global warming is
a real threat. It seems scientists can never agree if we are in fact in
a period of global warming, or maybe even the lesser known global
cooling.

-------------------------------------------------------------

NOAA Weather Radio In
Northern New England

By Hendricus Lulofs & John Jensenius

Warning Coordination Meteorologists NWS Caribou & Gray, Maine

------------------------------------------------------------

2003 Summer Climate Summary For Northern And Downeast Maine

By Victor J. Nouhan

WFO Climate Focal Point

Text Box: Contrasting rainfall distribution across the region was the primary focal point for the summer of 2003. Locations across the western mountains and north generally received above normal
rainfall while locations Downeast generally received below normal rainfall.

------------------------------------------------------------

Fire Weather forecasting in Maine

Mark Bloomer

Fire Weather Focal Point

Text Box: National Weather Service offices nationwide participate in a specialized branch of forecasting known as “Fire Weather”. A fire weather forecast is a forecast specifically tailored to outline weather conditions that effect wildfires. These include the potential for a fire to start, for a fire to grow and spread, and for the smoke produced by a fire to disperse through the atmosphere.

------------------------------------------------------------

By Stan G. Kain

Text Box: Watching the changing colors of fall foliage, I'm reminded that winter isn't far away. Living in Maine, winter storms are part of our daily lives. I'm reminded that the Red Cross classifies winter storms as, “deceptive killers.” According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, about seventy percent of automobile accidents, resulting in death, are ice-or-snow related.

------------------------------------------------------------

By: Joseph Hewitt

Senior Forecaster

------------------------------------------------------------

Mark Turner, Service Hydrologist

Text Box: Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink. That familiar stanza from Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s “The Ancient Mariner” seems apt to describe the state of the water supply here in Northern Maine over the past water year.

------------------------------------------------------------

By Michael Fitzsimmons

Text Box: When Hurricane Isabel hit the east coast recently, amateur radio operators from Florida to the mid-Atlantic states stepped up to provide much-welcome assistance during this major event. Amateur Radio volunteers had been keeping an eye on the storm for several days prior to its arrival and they were ready to assist in providing communication support and weather spotting.

------------------------------------------------------------

By Michael Fitzsimmons

Text Box: The fifth annual SKYWARN Recognition Day (SRD) will take place on December 6th from 0000 UTC to 2400 UTC (1900 EST December 5 to 1900 EST December 6). This day provides Amateur Radio operators an opportunity to visit National Weather Service (NWS) offices and work to make contact with other NWS offices and operators around the world.