Weather Merit Badge

If any of you are doing the weather merit badge tonight would be a great night to start esp if observation is involved.... the radar has a significant amount of red and yellow on it... we will be having a significant amount of rainfall in the next 24 hours as well as a dramatic temperature change....

Did you know that Mississippi is entering its second severe weather season..... well we are.....

The following information is from the National Weather Service out of Jackson Mississippi

The National Weather Service will conduct a Severe Weather Awareness Day on October 17, 2007 for the state of Mississippi. The purpose of this day is to call attention to the secondary peak severe weather season that begins in the late fall. November historically has been a very active month for severe weather and tornadoes. The graph below shows the two peaks in tornadoes across Mississippi

Severe weather can visit the state on any day of the year, and at any time of the day. However, severe storms are most likely to occur during the Spring and Fall, and are most likely during the afternoon and early evening hours of the day.

Several atmospheric factors must come together for severe thunderstorms to form in Mississippi. These conditions include:
* a supply of warm moist air flowing out of the Gulf of Mexico at low levels and cool dry air moving in from the west at higher levels. These airflows result in an unstable airmass over Mississippi;
* a weather system to lift the low level moist air and produce thunderstorms. This lift can come from a front or other boundary, or from a weather system at mid levels of the atmosphere; and
* an increase in wind speed with height (this is called wind shear).
Wind shear is an important ingredient. It keeps the falling precipitation away from the rising air columns (updrafts) that keep the storm going. Since the precipitation doesn't fall through the updraft and weaken it, the updraft can live longer and grow stronger!
Severe thunderstorm detection has been greatly improved with the installation of Doppler Weather Radar. This new radar helps Meteorologists see developing cores of large hail high in the storm, estimate rainfall amounts for the diagnosis of flash flood potential, and locate circulations within thunderstorms that can lead to tornado development. Unfortunately, weather radar only shows what is aloft, not what is being observed at ground level.

Severe Weather Awareness Week gives all of us an opportunity to increase our under- standing of Mississippi severe thunderstorms, and to prepare for the threats they bring

TORNADOES IN MISSISSIPPI

MISSISSIPPI TORNADOES BY COUNTY
Mississippi Tornado Statistics1950-2006
Average Number . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Greatest Number . . . . . 99 in 2005

Least Number . . . . . . . . 5 in 1964

Average Number of Deaths . . . . 7

Tornado Frequency: 4.82 per 10,000 sq. mi.

For the period from 1950 through 2006, there have been a total of 1493 reported tornadoes in the state of Mississippi.
Several other states across the nation have a greater yearly number of tornadoes, however, since 1950 Mississippi has had 404 tornado deaths. The reason for this is that Mississippi has a higher percentage of strong or violent tornadoes. Also, tornadoes are not as easily spotted in Mississippi as they are in the Midwest where flat land and few trees make tornadoes visible from many miles away. Many times tornadoes in Mississippi are associated with heavy precipitation thunderstorms, and this adds to the spotting difficulty. Tornadoes have occurred in every month of the year, but have a higher frequency during the period from February through May, as well as the month of November. They can also occur at any time of the day or night, but are most frequent during the late afternoon and early evening hours. This is when the earth's surface heating is at a maximum, and it is this heating that fuels the thunderstorms that produce tornadoes.

Merit Badge Requirements:

Merit badge requirements
1. Define meteorology. Explain what weather is and what climate is. Discuss how the weather affects farmers, sailors, aviators, and the outdoor construction industry. Tell why weather forecasts are important to each of these groups.
2. Name five dangerous weather-related conditions. Give the safety rules for each when outdoors and explain the difference between a severe weather watch and a warning. Discuss the safety rules with your family.
3. Explain the difference between high and low pressure systems in the atmo­sphere. Tell which is related to good and to poor weather. Draw cross sections of a cold front and a warm front, showing the location and movements of the cold and warm air, the frontal slope, the location and types of clouds associated with each type of front, and the location of precipitation.
4. Tell what causes wind, why it rains, and how lightning and hail are formed.
5. Identify and describe clouds in the low, middle, and upper levels of the atmosphere. Relate these to specific types of weather.
6. Draw a diagram of the water cycle and label its major processes. Explain the water cycle to your counselor.
7. Define acid rain. Identify which human activities pollute the atmosphere and the effects such pollution can have on people.
8. Do ONE of the following:
a. Make one of the following instruments: wind vane, anemometer, rain gauge, hygrometer. Keep a daily weather log for one week using information from this instrument as well as from other sources such as local radio and television stations, NOAA Weather Radio, and Internet sources (with your parent's permission). Record the following information at the same time every day: wind direction and speed, temperature, precipitation, and types of clouds. Be sure to make a note of any morning dew or frost. In the log, also list the weather forecasts from radio or television at the same time each day and show how the weather really turned out.
b. Visit a National Weather Service office or talk with a local radio or television weathercaster, private meteorologist, local agricultural extension service officer, or university meteorology instructor. Find out what type of weather is most dangerous or damaging to your community. Determine how severe weather and flood warnings reach the homes in your community.
9. Do ONE of the following:
a. Give a talk of at least five minutes to a group (such as your unit or a Cub Scout pack) explaining the outdoor safety rules in the event of lightning, flash floods, and tornadoes. Before your talk, share your outline with your counselor for approval.
b. Read several articles about acid rain and give a prepared talk of at least five minutes to a group (such as your unit or a Cub Scout pack) about the articles. Before your talk, share your outline with your counselor for approval.
10. Find out about a weather-related career opportunity that interests you. Discuss with and explain to your counselor what training and education are required for such a position, and the responsibilities required of such a position.