We are so excited to announce a brand new adventure with Arizona Science Center! Students interested in weather and how weather impacts our world are in for a treat. They can now become a “Junior Forecaster!” Each month, the 3TV Forecasters, Royal Norman, April Warnecke and Brittney Shipp will take Arizona students on a journey of weather facts and fun as part of the Junior Forecasters experience at Arizona Science Center. The 45-minute adventure includes a presentation by the Forecasters, a weather movie on the IMAX screen, a tour of Arizona Science Center’s Forces of Nature Gallery and an official class picture with the 3TV Forecasters. The Junior Forecaster Experience happens once a month on a first-come, first-serve basis, so sign up now! Our next class dates are April 15 and May 6. To register, call 602-716-2028 or for more information, visit azfamily.com keyword: junior forecasters.
3TV Forecasters, April Warnecke
It looks like we’re going to have another year of great weather for the FBR Open. Frost delays are possible the next couple of mornings as we deal with cold air settling over the Valley after Monday’s storm. Wednesday morning’s low temperatures could approach freezing in outlying parts of the Valley, including at TPC Scottsdale. Afternoons, however, look to be picture perfect. Highs are forecast to be a couple degrees above average for late January, with temperatures topping out in the low ’70s each afternoon. Plenty of sunshine should make for great golf (and golf-watching) weather!
3TV Forecasters, Arizona
The storm we’ve been talking about for over a week arrived in the Valley Friday morning. Considering we’re still expecting heavier rains and maybe even a thunderstorm or two later today and on Thanksgiving, the rainfall amounts were impressive.
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3TV Forecasters, Arizona
Can the weather affect the outcome of elections? According to researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, the answer is yes.
In a 2005 study, researchers looked at the weather across the country during presidential elections from 1948 to 2000. Obviously, voter turnout is down when the weather is bad, but how does that affect who wins? These researchers say in general, fair weather on election day can mean a win for Democrats, while bad weather can mean a win for Republicans. The main reason is that undecided voters are less likely to fight bad weather to head to the polls, and researchers say those undecided voters would’ve been more likely to choose the Democratic candidate.
Because of this, they concluded that Republicans got a 2.5% boost for every inch of rain above average for election day, and an extra .6% of the vote for every 1 inch of snow above average.
Obviously though, this will only make a difference in a close election. The Pittsburgh researchers think the weather might’ve changed the outcome of two particularly close elections. In 1960, they beleive John F. Kennedy benefited from fair weather in the close race with Nixon, and in 2000, they say the rain in Florida may’ve worked against Al Gore.
So how about this year? There are two storms impacting the U.S. today. The first, a low pressure system off the East coast bringing rain to the Mid-Atlantic states. The second, a storm moving across the Pacific Northwest. Both could keep voters away, but in general, neither is considered a major storm that will cripple transportation or bring extreme cold. With most of the country experiencing fair weather today, that would imply a victory for Democrats. However, since many voters cast their ballot before election day this year, weather may not be as big a factor as in those elections researchers looked at.
3TV Forecasters, Arizona
Seems like it’s been a little warm around our state lately. Seems like it should be cooler. Seems like it’s going to be warm through the weekend into next week.
Okay, it could be worse. At least we’re not setting record highs, but it is unseasonably warm. And the latest charts are showing us these warm temps will be with us until late next week.
Early Halloween Forecast: Mild and dry around Arizona. No storms are forecast for the big day for trick or treaters.
3TV Forecasters, Arizona
I admit, I love saying the words “autumnal equinox.” I love the way it rolls off the tongue…and sounds so much more impressive than “Fall.” Apparently, one of our fabulous viewers, Gary Strausbaugh, noticed it’s a favorite phrase of mine, and wrote us a song!
Click here to check it out!
3TV Forecasters, April Warnecke, Arizona
With the start of fall, most of us start looking ahead toward winter….and snow. And, hopefully, a bunch of rain in the deserts, too.
But first things first. The 90-day outlook for fall in Arizona is rather routine. The long range forecast is for above normal temps and normal precipitation.
As for the winter outlook, much further ahead, the Climate Prediction Center is calling for slightly above normal temps in Arizona and slightly below precipitation.
With long range forecasts, we have to keep them in perspective. Remember the prediction for this past summer? It was for warmer than normal and drier than normal. It wasn’t either. And we had a great winter snow season in 2007-08, but no one really forecast that either.
3TV Forecasters, Arizona
The autumnal equinox was Monday morning at 8:44am. Triple-digits are still in the forecast, but officially, Fall is here. It will be a while before we start to cool off noticeably, and even longer before the leaves change, but still it’s fun to look ahead.
The Climate Prediction Center’s forecast for October through December is for above-average temperatures and below-average precipitation. I’m not sure that’s a forecast most folks want to hear, but at least we’re doing well this year on rainfall as we head into what may be a fairly dry Fall. So far this year, we’ve received 8.12 inches of rain; we usually get 8.29 inches the entire year! That’s of course thanks to our impressive monsoon, which dumped 5.7 inches of rain on the Valley. The monsoon officially ends on September 30th, and what a change from last year! Last year’s “non-soon” left us with only about 3/4 of an inch of rain!
It was an exciting monsoon, but I, for one, am looking forward to Fall. October is my favorite month in Arizona. The average high for October 1st is 94 degrees, falling to a perfect 81 degrees by the last day of October. After months spent going from air conditioned place to place to escape the muggy monsoon, I can’t wait to hit the local hiking trails and start taking the dog for more walks during those amazing Arizona sunsets.
3TV Forecasters, Arizona
If we were paying attention to the monsoon like we used to, it would be over. But with the new definition the local Weather Service is trying, putting dates on the monsoon season (Jun 15th to Sept 30th), I guess we still have a couple of weeks to go.
By most standards, it was a VERY impressive monsoon.
At Sky Harbor Airport, we got 5.70″ of rain. That’s more than double for an average monsoon (2.77″). Also it was the wettest monsoon since 1984 when we got 9.56″ of rain. And it’s the 10th wettest monsoon on record for Phoenix since weather records started around 1895. Not bad!
That contrasts to a year ago, in 2007, when we only got .74″ of rain during the monsoon, the 5th “driest” of all time.
As far as temperatures were concerned, it wasn’t too bad. July had slightly above normal temps while August had slightly below normal temps. And so far in 2008, 4 of the first 8 months have featured below normal temps.
And as far as rain goes, we’re in good shape for awhile. With a total of 8.12″ so far, we’re way ahead…..so far ahead if it doesn’t rain until around Christmas, we’ll be back to “normal” rainfall. But hopefully, there will be more rain in the forecast. And snow, too!
3TV Forecasters, Arizona
What the heck is a haboob? I grew up in the Valley and endured dozens of duststorms and never heard the word until recently. This incorrect description of a sandstorm has apparently made it’s way into weather-speak about Arizona.
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3TV Forecasters