Meteorologist Mark

Weather Headlines

–Chances of snow flurries today through Tuesday morning. No widespread impacts are anticipated.

–New rain system arrives Friday

Main threats

-Bundle up and be ready for more cold temps!

-Snow flurries will amount to a dusting (at best). Still, be careful on any roads that may become white with snow.

Summary

A system has dropped in from the north, producing snow flurries. These events rarely add up to more than a dusting of accumulation. The precip is so light it’s hard to even see on radar (if at all). Another piece of energy will drop in tonight and tomorrow morning, producing more chances for flurries. Whenever the air is this cold it can only hold a very little bit of moisture. Therefore, if any moisture is added it tends to fall out of the air in the form of snow flurries.

The next system of significance will move in Thursday night and Friday. This system should be an all-rain event. It’s too early to know what kind of a weekend we will have just yet.

Almanac

Baldwin’s 7-Day forecast

Records

On this day in 1918 McMinnville set their all-time record snowfall for one day, when 10″ of snow fell.

And, on this day in 1985, the Cumberland Plateau experienced its coldest temperatures on record. The city of Crossville recorded a low of -21, while the Crossville Experiment Station recorded a low of -25. Brrrrrrr.

Monday Sun Day

A scientist and philosopher from modern-day Turkey by the name of Anaxagoras was the first to suggest the sun is a star. It is estimated that this happened at around 450 BC. I’m glad he didn’t name it after himself! How would we pronounce that? ha

NASA Knowledge

Astronauts Koch and Meir are performing their third spacewalk to replace space station batteries. NASA has been airing it live this morning. We wish them a successful mission! Watch live at the link below.

https://ustream.tv/channel/6540154

Wx Hazards Across the Nation

You all have a great day!

Skies will finally cooperate for us to see the International Space Station (ISS) flying over the Cumberland Plateau at 6:20 this evening! The station will be visible for three minutes, first appearing in the southwest sky. The station will then set in the northeast sky. It will reach a maximum height of 76 degrees. Remember to go outside several minutes beforehand to give your eyes time to adjust to the dark.

Oh yeah…be sure and bundle up! The temp at flyover time should be around 20 degrees. Just think warm thoughts. (ha)

This year marks the 20th year of the ISS being in our skies, with continuous habitation by humans.

Pictured below is the current crew of the ISS, know as the Expedition 61 Crew. I think I need to be the new tall bald guy in the middle, right? (haha) Just sayin’.

The crew consists of, from left to right, Andrew Morgan (US), Alexander Skvortsov (USSR), Luca Parmitano (Italy), Oleg Skripochka (USSR), Jessica Meir (US), and Christina Koch (US). They are performing numerous experiments that will improve both life on Earth and in space!

According to NASA, “During Expedition 61, crew members will make improvements to the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer in an effort to extend its life and support its mission
of looking for evidence of dark matter, they will provide input on how a vest
designed to protect vital organs from radiation fits as they perform daily tasks,
they will operate an exploration rover on Earth from space to test for future Lunar
or Martian exploration and will work to understand cotton root systems to enable
the development of cotton cultivars more robust in the face of drought and pests.”

Give them a Tennessee wave as they pass by! 🙂

Weather Headlines

–Winter has returned

Main threats

Just make sure the people and outdoor pets in your life are ready for this cold snap. We’ll see cold temps that we haven’t seen in some time, so make sure you’re prepared.

Summary

We’ll see clearing skies today and much colder conditions that what we’ve become accustomed too. That breeze will have a bite to it, as well! Normally, temps like this toward the end of January would be something we’d be used to. That’s not the case this winter.

The rest of the forecast looks dry but cold. The next rain system should arrive by Thursday night/Friday.

Almanac

Baldwin’s 7-Day forecast

Sunday Story

Warm Ice

Water is arguably the most unique substance on our planet. Few substances can exist in all states at temperatures that are survivable for humans. 

Water becomes most unique when changing states. As it does so, it absorbs or releases heat in order to achieve a change in state. 

When cold air threatens crops, farmers will often take advantage of water’s unique ability to keep their crops protected from frost. You have probably seen pictures of farmers spraying their crops with water on nights when freezing temperatures are expected.

As that water collects on the buds, it will begin to freeze when temperatures drop to freezing. When water freezes, it releases heat. It’s not a lot of heat, but it can be just enough to protect tender buds. 

This method only works when temperatures are going to be in the 28-32 degree range. Any colder than that and the warmth released from freezing won’t be enough to protect the bud. 

Just as water releases heat when it freezes, ice absorbs heat when it melts. You can actually observe this in your home if you fill the kitchen sink with ice. After the ice starts melting, you can feel the cooler air near the sink. That’s because the ice is pulling the heat out of the air in order to melt. 

You can also put a bowl of ice in the oven to absorb the heat when you no longer need the oven on. The heat is then trapped in the water and not in the air in your kitchen. 

Benjamin Franklin once wrote that, “When the well’s dry, we know the worth of water.” It not only quenches our thirst, but it drives our weather and even helps us protect our plants from thirst and freeze.