In the past, we’ve gone over some of the basic elements needed to create and drive thunderstorm development. Some of those ingredients include energy in the environment known as CAPE ( Convective Available, Potential, Energy), moisture to create the clouds and rain, and even shear ( changing of wind direction and speed over different heights).
Continue Reading
Thursday Noon Update A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for the southern half of Mid-MO through 8 p.m. Thursday for the threat of high winds and large hail. Isolated severe storms have already fired up in western Missouri today. The ABC Stormtrack Weather Team has issued a Weather Alert Day for the potential of
Continue Reading
Many people think about lightning, hail, and tornadoes whenever they hear the term “severe storms”. Although severe storms can bring all three of these things, one of the most widespread threats usually seen ties to wind damage from straight-line winds. Straight-line winds have the power to reach up to and possibly over 100 mph in
Continue Reading
With increased chances of severe storms Thursday afternoon, there are several factors working together that produce severe threats we see in storms such as hail, damaging straight-line winds, and even tornadoes in the worst cases. One of those large factors includes wind shear. When we talk about wind shear, we break down it into two
Continue Reading
BLOG: SETUP: Another area of low pressure will drive southerly low level winds into the region early Thursday morning, which will in turn drive chances for storms before sunrise. Then, the area of low pressure will dive south through the day, effectively acting as a cold front by bringing a line of storms with it.
Continue Reading
Slight changes have been made to the SPC outlook, which you may notice as a slight shift northward of the greatest risk for severe weather.
Continue Reading
It’s been a warmer start to the spring season which has lead to a early start to the spring allergy season for many people across Mid-Missouri. Cindy Rose who is a nurse practitioner at the University of Missouri Health Services explains, “It started increasing sooner (tree pollen allergy reactions) than what we would normally see.
Continue Reading
Although light showers have affected portions of Mid-Missouri throughout the day, the main action has occurred in Southeastern United States throughout the past 24 hours. Hundreds of reports ranging from strong winds, large hail, flash flooding, to even tornadoes have poured in throughout the past 24 hours. A deep low pressure system sliding through the
Continue Reading
Many people across Mid-Missouri had the opportunity to walk outside their front doors, or travel a short distance to the southeast to see this years total eclipse. The past total eclipse occurred only a few short years ago back into 2017. Sadly, the next nearby total eclipse will be further into the future. The next
Continue Reading
It was a spectacular sight, the sky going completely dark under clear skies for four minutes in southern Illinois. The next total solar eclipse won’t happen for more than 20 years, but data from the sun’s activity today could give us insight into climate change in the future. Dr. Cori Brevik is a scientist and
Continue Reading
The much anticipated total solar eclipse happens tomorrow afternoon, with the path starting near Eagle Path, TX all the way up to eastern Maine. The ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Team has been closely monitoring the forecast in Mid-Missouri and in the Midwest as the path of totality will slide by just to our south across
Continue Reading
While millions of people will look to the skies for Monday’s total eclipse the animals around us aren’t tuned in to the news, though they might still have some reactions. The sudden onset of darkness in the middle of the day can throw off the natural rhythm and sleeping patterns of wildlife and cause some
Continue Reading
There is an increased chance to see more activity tied to the sun in this Monday’s upcoming solar eclipse compared to that of 2017. This falls from the sun being in or near a solar maximum. The possible bonus spectacles viewers could see in areas of complete totality are called streamers and prominences. Due to
Continue Reading
Severe storms account for a large portion of the most expensive disasters but linking events of small-scale storms to the broad concept of climate change can be difficult. Half of all billion-dollar disasters in the United States are due to severe storms and these events are on the increase. Research has not identified a definitive
Continue Reading
Monday saw widespread storms leading to damaging encompassing much of the state. From wind gusts up to 80 mph, hail over 2″, to weaker tornadoes it was a busy day for meteorologist across the region. Hundreds of hail and wind reports rang out across the state mainly centered along and just north of the I-44
Continue Reading
UPDATE: FINAL UPDATE – TUESDAY MORNING: As of 2 a.m. our severe threat has come to an end. A tornado watch technically remains in effect for a few of our southern tier counties through 3 a.m. but the storm threat has cleared. Storm reports gathered thus far have largely centered around hail, with up to
Continue Reading
There are several ways to view the eclipse with filtered sunglasses or through a protected camera, and you can find more details in previous Insiders. You can also project the shape of the eclipse onto the ground by making your own kind of lens, which is surprisingly easy to do! Creating a pinhole projector takes
Continue Reading
While you’re grabbing filtered sunglasses to view the upcoming eclipse don’t forget to get extra gear if you’re trying to snag some good photos. Taking good shots of faraway objects in space is difficult and the lighting changes dramatically during an eclipse. Before anything, you should never look at the eclipse directly even in totality,
Continue Reading
It’s a hard temptation to resist when scientists say to avoid looking at a rare natural phenomenon. But if you want to keep viewing wonderful acts of nature, you need to protect your eyes during an eclipse. You should NEVER look at the sun directly, even when the moon is fully covering it. Even in
Continue Reading
April 8th marks the passing of the total solar eclipse across portions of Southeastern Missouri. This will be the last total solar eclipse until August of 2044 making for an exciting opportunity to see first hand this event. An eclipse occurs as the moon aligns perfectly between the sun and the earth. Areas located across
Continue Reading