Weather Word of the Day
February 9, 2023
Meridional flow -
Meridional flow is a term that describes the direction of the upper level wind flow with respect to the Earth. When the upper level winds oscillate from north to south often, a meridional flow pattern is present. The opposite of meridional flow is zonal flow. In zonal flow, the upper level winds move in a more west to east fashion.
February 8, 2023
Gust front -
The leading edge of gusty winds flowing out of a thunderstorm. Gust fronts form when rain-cooled air masses accelerate downward and out ahead of a thunderstorm. When a gust front passes through, temperatures fall as winds increase.
February 7, 2023
Funnel Cloud -
A funnel-shaped cloud, composed of condensed water droplets, that rotates as it extends down from the base of a cumulonimbus cloud. When a funnel cloud reaches the ground, it becomes a tornado. At the point it becomes a tornado, a debris cloud or dust whirl will be visible at the base.
February 6, 2023
Rawinsonde -
An instrument attached to a weather balloon that measures atmospheric pressure, temperature, humidity, and wind speed/direction at different layers of the atmosphere. As the instrument rises through the atmosphere, the data is sent via radio waves to a receiver on the ground. Rawinsondes are launched all over the world at specified times. The data from these launches is used in initializing the numerous forecast models.
February 5, 2023
Anomalies -
Departures of temperature, precipitation, or other weather elements from long-term averages. Any abnormal trend in the weather can be called an anomaly.
February 4, 2023
Anticyclone -
Another word for a high pressure system. Anticyclones occur when air piles up aloft due to convergent upper level wind flow. This raises the pressure readings at the surface, thereby creating a surface high pressure system.
February 3, 2023
Cumulus -
Puffy white clouds that typically have flat bases and have a limited amount of vertical growth. If they start to grow vertically they can morph into cumulonimbus clouds, at which point they can spawn a thunderstorm.