Are you smarter than a fourth grader???

Well, the Dewvoid prevailed. Are we surprised? No. I didn't think so. Those storms really didn't produce much, except for some ferocious wind and some hail. I watched several mesos pop up during the course of the afternoon, as the system (the squall line part) moved from Louisiana to Mississippi to Alabama and then... fell apart. It did get into severe parameters with some of the decent sized hail that fell and the obviously powerful winds, with reports of trees down. I think the most interesting report was that of a situation in Panama City Beach where...

A FUEL PUMP WAS PULLED OUT OF THE GROUND AT A CONVENIENCE STORE GAS STATION. THE ICE MACHINE WAS THROWN ACROSS THE PARKING LOT

Definitely, a powerful wind event, but as I said, it fell apart well before getting here. Jay and I shared thoughts about the approaching storm through much of the evening, and he was kind to share several Level 2 captures on Gibson Ridge. I posted one on the team site. That software is extremely impressive. I like it. Anyways, when I got home... I checked the radar... to see one final TVS, but the rest of it was so unimpressive that I went on to bed after a lively chat with some folks on Steve M. OK's live chat. Unfortunately, since I sleep like the dead, I have no idea if we had any thunderstorms through the night. I did get two EAS tones though (which you should know gets me pretty pumped), when apparently marine warnings were somehow applicable to the counties programmed into my radio (raised eyebrow...) Just what I want to see on my radio at 2:22 AM... a warning. I get all energized and then hear the message: The NWS in Tallahassee has issued a marine warning... WHAT?! Why do you think I care about that?! Grr... That happened twice!

Last night was really cool. Mini-Dew had science homework, studying for her weather test. The study guide rocked. The teacher had told the students to work with their parents on the questions, but she made it very clear after the first question that she DID NOT want me to tell her the answers. Then, she verified my answer to that one to make sure it was "right". Can you believe that?! She doubted my weather knowledge... as if I don't know what a stratus cloud is. Here is the quiz. See if you're smarter than a 4th grader.












I heard from several folks that the Dewified Twister Sisters episode aired again yesterday afternoon. I wish I had some prior knowledge of when that was airing, so I could be prepared when people approach me and say... I was just watching you on TV. Holy cow.

The skies are starting to clear today, looking ahead to a beautiful weekend, a great groundhog day... it looks like Punxsutawney Phil will miss out on his shadow though... early spring? Coolness. I would love to make it up to Pennsylvania one year to see that ceremony, and possibly visit the Meteorologist Hall of Fame, located in the Punxsutawney Weather Discovery Center. Yes, I must go there. Their current exhibit, when they aren't closed is "The Perfect Storm" which is "positively electrifying", from what they say. Yes, I need to add that to my list of "Things-to-Dew-before-I-die".

Have a lovely Groundhog Day and weekend!
~Dewdrop