Sunday, January 24, 2010

Funnel Clouds or Tornadoes in Contra Costa County, California?

January 23rd, 2010


It was reported on all the San Francisco television news stations this evening that multiple funnel clouds appeared in Contra Costa County, California area. As yet, it has not been determined if any of the funnel clouds touched down to become a tornado but such was reported as ‘being investigated’ by the National Weather Service. Again, fortunately, there were no reported injuries.

Of late, it sure seems like a lot of tornadic activity in areas where such typically would seem unlikely. I wonder what’s up with that Army HARP Program project anyhow? Could endeavors such as that be affecting the weather or is such merely a product of my imagination? Of course, given the clandestine nature of our tax dollars in any defense related endeavors, what have we to surmise other than products of our imaginations?
Adam Trotter / AVT

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Tornadoes in Ventura, California

January 22nd, 2010


It was reported on KNX 1070 AM today - and subsequently reported elsewhere that such was verified by the National Weather Service - that another tornado touched down in southern California. Again, fortunately, there were no reported injuries. That makes three tornadoes in as many days in coastal regions of southern California.
Adam Trotter / AVT

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Reporter: ‘Doppler Radar is Wrong Here!’

January 20, 2010


On Los Angeles Radio, KNX 1070 AM, today at 1:10 PM (1310) Los Angeles Time, a local reporter who claimed to be armed with multiple computers showing Doppler radar (and GPS, no doubt) stated that the official Doppler radar was incorrect with regards to where he was located. The reporter, who was mobile to cover the latest round of storms in Southern California, reported live on the air that the Doppler radar showed a strong, heavy rain/storm cell over downtown Long Beach, California. The reporter stated, however, that he was also concurrently in downtown Long Beach and his location coincided with the heavy storm/rain cell displayed by the Doppler radar. However, guess what….., the reporter was fascinated and amazed to report – live, on-the-air – that there was absolutely no rain in sight anywhere in Downtown Long Beach!

I mean…, I had heard of abnormalities with Doppler radar, mostly in the form of Doppler showing rain in the atmosphere that was not reaching the ground. However, I had never heard of Doppler displaying extremely heavy rain where, in fact, no rain existed at all. Maybe I need to learn more of Doppler radar? Shortly thereafter, a waterspout was reported over the Pacific ten miles to the north and reported to be coming towards shore in the Hermosa Beach area – I am unsure of any correlation.

This matter of erroneous Doppler radar struck me as odd. Because, as simplistic and outside-the-box my ideas are for forecasting severe and possibly tornadic weather, and as much as the mainstream weather gods such as NOAA, National Weather Service, and the local weatherpersons would seem likely to shun my climatologic ideas, their ideas and tools don’t always seem to work any better, such as with the instant case. Of course, nothing is perfect, I suppose. But I have to wonder what amount of cumulative investment costs Doppler radar represents to the U.S. taxpayer? Please pass along your thoughts to me on this matter of erroneous Doppler radar, if you would be so kind.
Thanks,

Adam Trotter / AVT / Tornado Tamer :)

Hermosa Beach (Calif.) Officials Warn City Residents to Take Cover as Ocean Waterspout is Likely to Soon Move On Shore.

January 20, 2010


Today at approximately 3:15 PM (1515) Los Angeles Time, the City Officials of Hermosa Beach, Los Angeles County, California, conscientiously telephoned city residents and warned the residents to take cover as a waterspout had been spotted over the ocean and was expected to make land fall in approximately twenty minutes. Personal friends of mine told me that they saw no waterspout but visibility was nearly nill / no visibility. However, one friend told me that there was a seemingly weird weather formation slightly up the beach to the north in Manhattan Beach; consisting of an unusual and oddly lit sky and seemingly odd cloud formations of an unusual density, or at least as best they could tell in the reduced visibility. Concurrently, a KNX News Radio 1070 AM Los Angeles reporter in Manhattan Beach reported that Doppler radar showed a waterspout over the ocean but the reporter could only see minimal rotational effects in the sky.

Adam Trotter / AVT / Tornado Tamer :)



Afterthought 1/22/2010: It should be noted that a short time later the city officials also utilized the 'reverse-911' system to inform the citizens that there was no longer any known imminent danger.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Reported Waterspout / Twister / Tornado Comes Ashore Sunset Beach, Orange County, California

January 19th, 2010 - 1530 Los Angeles Time

A few hours ago, in Sunset Beach / Seal Beach Orange County California, it was reported a likely waterspout came ashore and became a twister / tornado, tossing boats and overturning vehicles (multiple boats and at least one SUV of 6000 lbs – “at least Fujita Scale 2, F-2,” reported by weatherman Josh on KCAL 9 News Central @ 1548). Also reported were blown-out windows and uprooted trees. Thankfully, there were no reported injuries.

I wish I had some monitoring devices to see what was going on in the local atmosphere at the time. Maybe I’ll ask the NOAA folks for a likely explanation of how this phenomenon materialized.
AVT


I submitted the following question(s) to National Weather Service / NOAA at:
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/

NOAA, National Weather Service,
I write to ask you for an explanation of the reported waterspout / twister /tornado that appeared to have come ashore this afternoon in Seal Beach / Sunset Beach, Orange County, California. Could you explain to me how this twister may have come to be formed? Otherwise, could you point me in the direction of where I may learn more of how this possible waterspout came ashore to become a ‘likely’ tornado in coastal Orange County, California? I am curious, was this phenomenon predictable by typical tornado prediction models? Please let me know, if you would be so kind. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Adam Trotter