VISIT: Meteorological Interpretation Blog

It is that time of year again, to observe Santa Ana Wind events for Southern California. On 15 October 2018, an upper-level trough advected into the southwestern United States (i.e. see GOES-16, Upper Level Water Vapor imagery below), produced cold air advection aloft, and brought strong subsidence (i.e. sinking motion) to the surface. The strong Continue Reading

Earlier this morning, a large areal extent of dust advected off the coast of Africa. The new National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration  – 20 (NOAA-20) satellite, launched into orbit back in November 2017, captured the dust via Day/Night Band (DNB) product at 0323Z, 1 August 2018. DNB illuminates atmospheric features, senses emitted and reflected light Continue Reading

There are two GOES-16 products related to convective activity.  One is related to convective initiation; that is, this product will identify new cumulus that will further develop into mature thunderstorms.  The second product identifies which mature thunderstorms have a high probability of producing severe weather.  However, both GOES-16 products require active cumulus development.  We seek Continue Reading

Yesterday, Volcan de Fuego erupted again in southern Guatemala. The pyroclastic flow of Fuego surprised many, and as of this morning 4 June 2018, at least 25 people have died, while many others are injured. Locals near Fuego, are in the process of being evacuated from the area. Fuego erupted around 18 UTC, 3 June 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

A volcanic eruption took place on 1 February 2018 over the country of Guatemala. If you don’t know where exactly Guatemala is, it is located in central America, bordering the countries of Mexico, Belize, El Salvador and Honduras. Guatemala has over 30+ volcanoes within the country, however only three (Pacaya, Fuego and Santiaguito) are currently 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