The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
-Psalm 19:1

Do you know that God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash?
-Job 37:15



Friday, May 16, 2008

Crepuscular rays and severe weather... no, they aren't related.

Sky Watch Friday post time!!! (Please visit Tom's blog to participate.) Today, I want to share with you my shot of Crepuscular Rays... Sun rays... God's rays... I think that's an important point... God's rays. Let me share with you a story. One day, while I was taking Mini-Dew to school, we happened upon some of these crepuscular rays falling from the risen sun down to the ground below, and she shared with me that they were the souls of the deceased being lifted up into heaven, so when she sees them, she is sad for the people on earth left behind but happy for those who are being lifted into heaven... how profound for an, at the time, 7 or 8 year old. Anyhow, here is the scientific explanation, but I am perfectly content with Mini-dew's explanation.

Crepuscular rays, in atmospheric optics, also known as sun rays, God's rays or the Fingers of God, are rays of sunlight that appear to radiate from a single point in the sky. These rays, which stream through gaps in clouds or between other objects, are diverging columns of sunlit air separated by darker cloud-shadowed regions. The name comes from their frequent occurrences during crepuscular hours (those being dawn and dusk), when the contrasts between light and dark are the most obvious. Various airborne compounds ("dirty air") scatter the sunlight and make these rays visible, due to diffraction, reflection, and scattering. ~source
Well, onto more current and local things. Looks like yesterday's weather fell apart... completely... no comment. Today, the Storm Prediction Center has only offered a "see text" section on the map to describe my area... could see some thunderstorms. The sporadic potential exists for severe weather as a mesolow (same type of storm that passed through Georgia during the Mothers Day outbreak that resulted in one death in Georgia when a tornado destroyed a mobile home) passes through... Already, a mesoscale discussion has been issued for my area suggesting that a watch may be possible as
STORMS WILL LIKELY INCREASE ALONG THE NERN GULF COAST AND INLAND ACROSS THE FL PNHDL TO PARTS OF SRN AL AND SWRN GA THROUGH THE MORNING AS LIFT AND DESTABILIZATION GRADUALLY STRENGTHEN OVER THESE AREAS. CURRENTLY...SEVERE POTENTIAL APPEARS LIMITED. HOWEVER... WITH TIME...THE SEVERE WIND THREAT FROM SOME OF THIS ACTIVITY MAY INCREASE. CONVECTIVELY INDUCED MESOLOW HAS RECENTLY FORMED ALONG PREFRONTAL CONVERGENCE ZONE LOCATED ACROSS SRN AL/MOBILE AREA. ENHANCED INFLOW OF VERY MOIST AIR FROM THE NERN GULF...AND INCREASING LARGE SCALE ASCENT AHEAD OF GULF MCS...WERE CONTRIBUTING TO ADDITIONAL TSTM DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE PREFRONTAL CONVERGENCE ZONE ACROSS THE FL PNHDL. THIS ACTIVITY SHOULD CONTINUE TO INCREASE THROUGHOUT THE MORNING GIVEN LACK OF INHIBITION AND PERSISTENT FORCING FOR ASCENT.

A GRADUAL INCREASE IN WET MICRO-BURST/DAMAGING WIND POTENTIAL MAY EVOLVE AS THE MORNING CONTINUES AND A WATCH MAY BE NEEDED.
If it comes to fruition, I am all over it. I am currently eye-balling a cell that is moving VERY SLOWLY from the area southwest of Tallahassee. If it holds on, I will set myself up for a possible intercept in south Georgia. If nothing else, it'll be good practice. Is it obvious that I am hungry for a chase?! lol I will update as the day progresses.

1100EDT Update: Well, the on again/off again slight risk was just placed back on us, as the mesolow apparently has raised a few eyebrows since we're getting a little rotation out of those cells in the Pensacola area. I guess I will just keep a CLOSE watch on the activity and decide whether or not it's worth my gas. I beat their supporting text, so I don't have their thoughts yet, but thanks to Rick for catching that updated graphic.

1116EDT Update: Tallahassee is looking interesting... Severe thunderstorm warning issued in Pensacola and FWB areas. Finally, they have updated the text to match the graphic for the slight risk for severe weather in my neck of the woods...
RICH LOW LEVEL MOISTURE ALREADY IN PLACE WITH LOWER 70F DEWPOINTS WILL RESULT IN AT LEAST MARGINAL INSTABILITY WITH ANY AMOUNT OF HEATING. A THREAT FOR ORGANIZED STORMS AND MAINLY ISOLATED DAMAGING WIND AS POSSIBLE MCS TRACKS NEWD ACROSS SRN GA INTO FAR SRN SC THROUGH THE DAY.
1530EDT Update: Well... it looked like we were about to have a ferocious wind event.Then, it approached my neck of the woods.... and fell to pieces. Alas, though...... it redeveloped on the other side!!! UGH!

Happy Friday!!!
~Dewdrop

37 comments:

  1. Your sky photo with the clouds and rays of light is stunning.

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  2. Thanks, Abraham. I love to watch the sky!!!

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  3. I too love the rays of light thru the clouds

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  4. AWESOME capture. Love the rays.

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  5. Lilli, They are amazing.

    Andrea, THANKS!!!

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  6. I Like Mini Dew's meaning alot better! I know what what you mean by being hungry for a chase. No rain for the month of May in my neck of the woods. have a great weekend!!

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  7. It's just like having a shower of light!
    Fantastic ...

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  8. Jess, I'm with you. Her explanation is beautiful. I might get my shot... hope you get yours.

    Quint, Thanks. :O)

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  9. very interesting!

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  10. Crepuscular rays - I always call them Angel Rays - are one of my favorite sights! Inspiration fills me when I see them. Your photo is perfect! Thanks for letting me know the technical name. Crepuscular. I'm going to have to practice THAT one.

    For now though, I think Angel Rays works for me!

    :D

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  11. Hello Dew.. and say a big thank you to little dew for her input... how goodis that :O)
    A great picture as always and more great information which I know others like me find of interest. Have a great weekend and may your weather treat you well... or at least put on a show for you.

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  12. Paul, Thanks. Glad you found it interesting.

    Sandy, Thanks a bunch! You should have seen it live. The photo doesn't do it justice.

    Cherie, Angel rays. That is a beautiful sentiment too! I'm so glad you appreciate learning about them. I would stick with Angel rays too.

    Tom, I am always thrilled to see your name on a comment. I know that it will be a tremendous compliment. Such a kind person, you are. Thanks for the expressed hope for a "show" of weather for me.

    Anne, Thanks. God's work. I was just blessed to see it.

    John, Thanks!

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  13. This picture you have taken is a 110% shot..., and I opend my mouth while watching it !!

    Nice weeknd wishes to you, comes here from Norway.

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  14. Nice shot:) It is something religious about it:)

    Petunia's SWF

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  15. Anemone, Wow! Thanks! I am so glad you enjoyed it!!! Have a glorious weekend!

    Petunia, Thanks. Yes, I agree.

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  16. This is stunning! I like Mini-dew's take on it.
    Always know I'll find a real treat here!
    Have a wonderful weekend!
    Happy Storm and Skywatching.

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  17. I love the clouds very cool

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  18. Well Well sorry I left the area so early today.... Maybe if I had stuck around a little bit longer the storms might had..... who knows :P

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  19. Carletta, You are so kind. I am glad you enjoy my blog. I certainly enjoy keeping it. Have a fantastic weekend!!! Thanks.

    Tommy, Thanks!!! it was an awesome sight!

    Mike, yeah, yeah. I know all about your "magnetic" personality. One day, we might actually chase together, see whether your magnetism or my repellent powers are stronger... lol Have a great weekend.

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  20. Thanks, Kelly. I am thrilled that you found it interesting!

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  21. another excellent post, well done.

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  22. What beautiful scenery... nice one for SWF... thanks for dropping by.

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  23. Oh! A lovely, lovely photo!
    You have a wonderful blog site. It's my first visit, but won't be my last!
    I try to learn two new things everyday: 1) crepuscular rays! I've seen them, of course, many times but didn't know their name.
    I've got to get busy; the day's almost over and I need one more thing -- which I could probably find if I spent a bit more time here!

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  24. I love your blog! You are so full of great information. I want to say great skywatch photo which it truly is, but the rest of your information is fascinating to me.

    Keep up the great work!

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  25. Thanks for catching a few rays to show (and explain) to us. Great work.

    (Re: Tupelo tornado. As far as I know, the really severe weather kind of fell apart just before reaching Tupelo. At least, I didn't see in local damage reports on the TV news before we headed back to Arkansas. It was certainly interesting for a while there, though. We stayed glued to the local TV stations which were locked on to covering the weather.)

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  26. That is an A-1 shot! My first thought when I saw it was "heavenly". Your little dewdrop sure described it well.

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  27. Thanks, Daniel. Glad you enjoyed your visit.

    Snap Catch, Thanks a bunch.

    Charm, I appreciate that!

    Pat, Arkansas? Well, you are certainly in a place of interest to me. I am so thrilled that you enjoyed my blog so much and appreciated the lesson. Wonderful. Thanks for the visit, and I hope to hear more from you in the future. I'll be sharing everything I know weatherwise, with time.

    Sandy, Thanks. I am passionate about the subject, so it's easy and thrilling to pass it along. I am glad you found my post fascinating. That thrills me to no end.

    Marvin, I was glad to share the information. Glad you faired well in Tupelo. It had to have been an interesting experience.

    Dot, Thanks so much. It was breath taking. Definitely demonstrates how awesome God is!

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  28. It's a beautiful photo and I am impressed with it!! Congrats...
    Now I am off to enjoy HOT, yes get this HOT weather here in the ROCKIES can you believe this...? UP to 31 Celsius... I am in shock! There's still snow! LOL Taking advantage of this before it disintegrates... I am all giddy =) Have a good weekend!

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  29. crepuscular what?? ;) Just teasing...very lovely. I was sky watching just awhile ago. We have some lovely clouds floating through today.

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  30. People are we missing the point here??!! The Dewvoid lives!! LOLOLOOL!!! Great capture of the rays "DD". I was sad ho it just vanished. Alas, on to the next storm...

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  31. your rays are beautiful.

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  32. I don't know how I missed you on Friday. You're one of my favorite reads.

    Loved the rays photo and information.

    Great job,
    Troy

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  33. Michele, THANKS! I can't believe the heat wave you are experiencing. This has been an extremely bizarre weather year. Enjoy that weather... I know you're going top down on the jeep. Enjoy it!!

    Beth, lol. Thanks. I have been thrilled to see you back posting regularly. I love your photography. Enjoy those clouds.

    Rick, yeah, yeah. Thanks for the ray compliment... not sure whether you're calling me a sad ho or not... so I'll let that one slide... lol

    Neva, Thanks be to God.

    Troy, Glad you made it around... one of your favorite reads?! Wow, what an honor. Glad you enjoy my posts.

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  34. I really like the above picture. THats worth a framed wall shot.

    Nice work.

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Dew comment, please...