VISIT: Meteorological Interpretation Blog

A snow event in southwest Kansas on 28/29 January 2020 led to widespread snow amounts of 4 to 8 inches, with locally higher amounts (above 12″).  On the 29th, a thin layer of fog developed over the snow covered land.  Inspect the GOES-16 imagery: http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/templates/loop_directory.asp?data_folder=training/visit/loops/29jan20/4panel&loop_speed_ms=60 Upper left: Visible (0.64 micron) band Upper right: CIRA Snow Continue Reading

During the overnight hours of 21 October 2019, we analyze multiple applications of GOES imagery at night. First, we look over the northeast where fog developed.  Here is the GOES-16 nighttime microphysics product: http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/templates/loop_directory.asp?data_folder=training/visit/loops/21Oct19/fog&loop_speed_ms=60 We observe large areas of fog (dull aqua) or low clouds (aqua) in Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.  Continue Reading

Satellite fog monitoring during the nighttime can be a challenge since geostationary datasets are limited to infrared imagery. However, with the new GOES-16/17 and JPSS datasets users can employ polar-orbiting and geostationary imagery to identify and monitor areas of fog and low stratus (a.k.a liquid water clouds). As meteorologists, we know that fog can significantly Continue Reading

During the overnight hours of 25 February 2019, low clouds and fog developed over portions of northwest Kansas, eastern Colorado and southwest Nebraska.  The low cloud and fog developed over a field of snow on the ground from a recent blizzard.  Low cloud and fog on top of snow on the ground can be difficult Continue Reading

During the overnight and morning hours of May 22, 2018 there was widespread fog over the upper midwest region centered around Wisconsin.  We’ll start by looking at the familiar fog product (10.3 – 3.9 micron) overlaid with ceiling (top left: hundreds of feet AGL) and visibility (bottom in miles): http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/templates/loop_directory.asp?data_folder=training/visit/loops/22may18/fog&loop_speed_ms=180 Recall in the fog product, Continue Reading

Fog engulfed northeastern Colorado this morning. Thick fog persisted over several hours, along the northern, I-25 corridor and eastern Colorado plains. Real-time surface observations below, can point out the foggy areas, indicated by the horizontal, parallel, pink lines. Surface observations (05-14Z, 26 March 2018) are over Colorado, and the neighboring states. In complement to surface Continue Reading

Early this morning, 3 November 2017, the Colorado Front Range was inundated with fog and low stratus clouds. Fog persisted for several hours this morning. Below is an animation of the fog along the Front Range of Colorado via the ‘RAP Real-Time’ surface observations website, between 08-15Z. As a quick reminder, foggy areas are identified Continue Reading

The GOES-16 data posted on this page are preliminary, non-operational data and are undergoing testing.  Users bear all responsibility for inspecting the data prior to use and for the manner in which the data are utilized. The following loop is the GOES-16 visible (0.64 micron) band centered along the California / Oregon border on the Continue Reading

The GOES-16 data posted on this page are preliminary, non-operational data and are undergoing testing.  Users bear all responsibility for inspecting the data prior to use and for the manner in which the data are utilized. On the morning of 18 July 2017, low-level clouds moved eastward through the Strait of Juan de Fuca.  This Continue Reading

The GOES-16 data posted on this page are preliminary, non-operational data and are undergoing testing.  Users bear all responsibility for inspecting the data prior to use and for the manner in which the data are utilized. On the morning of 24 March 2017, there were some interesting fog / low stratus events in the West. Continue Reading