385 Science Park Road

State College, PA 16803-2215

Tel: 814-237-0309; Fax: 814-235-8509

Internet: AccuWeather.com

POC: Dr. Joel N. Myers e-mail: info@accuwx.com

ADVANCED DESIGNS CORPORATION (ADC)

Through surveys conducted for the cities of Abilene, Texas and Huntsville, Alabama, the influence of previous tornadic experiences on residents' preparedness levels was assessed. Abilene was chosen for this study due to its lack of tornado strikes in recent history compared to Huntsville, where strong tornadoes struck in 1974 and violent tornadoes occurred in 1989. Local warning...]]>Sat, 1 Aug 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Meteorological+aspects+of+the+2006+El+Paso+Texas+metropolitan+area...-a0208697323Abstract

The summer monsoon of 2006 was historically wet across far western Texas, south central and southwestern New Mexico. Numerous mesoscale convective systems produced excessive rainfall with attendant and at times destructive flash floods. Heavy rainfall and flooding were particularly severe over El Paso, Texas and adjacent communities where flood damage estimates approached $450...]]>Sat, 1 Aug 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Analysis+of+cross-spectrum+supercells+during+the+North+Georgia...-a0208697322Abstract

During the afternoon and evening hours of 2 January 2006, six tornadoes were spawned across portions of north and central Georgia. Observations indicated that mesoscale features were critical in developing and maintaining the near-storm environment, and that cell mergers and/or interactions were precursors to tornadogenesis in every case. The near-storm environment of this event...]]>Sat, 1 Aug 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/A+synoptic+climatology+of+Texas+winter+storms.-a0208697321Abstract

Between the years of 1948 and 2005, 50 winter storms with snow and sleet accumulations of four inches or more affected the northern and central portions of the state of Texas. The upper level flow pattern of each storm case was examined and classified into one of six synoptic types. Additionally, geopotential height, moisture, and temperature anomalies associated with each case...]]>Sat, 1 Aug 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Two+empirical+models+for+gust+factors+near+land-falling+hurricanes.-a0208697320Abstract

Gaussian and lognormal models for gust factors as a function of height and mean wind speed in the vicinity of land-falling hurricanes are presented. The models were empirically derived using data from 2004 Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne and independently verified using data from 2005 Hurricane Wilma. The data were collected from three wind towers at Kennedy Space Center and Cape...]]>Sat, 1 Aug 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Sounding-derived+low-level+thermodynamic+characteristics+associated...-a0208697319Abstract

Recently, several studies have suggested the importance of near-surface environments in the tornadogenesis process. Utilizing temporal and spatial proximity soundings for severe storms archived for the period from 1980 through 2002, this study attempts to identify the representative near-surface tornado environment in the Southeast region of the United States. Using...]]>Sat, 1 Aug 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+role+of+the+SLOSH+model+in+National+Weather+Service+storm+surge...-a0208697318Abstract

The storm surge model. Sea, Lake, and Overland Surges from Hurricanes (SLOSH), is used by the National Weather Service (NWS) in producing storm surge guidance in several ways. SLOSH is run by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) to forecast storm surge in real-time when a hurricane is threatening. The model is applied to 38 specific coastal areas, called basins, along the...]]>Mon, 1 Dec 2008 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Using+the+thermal+wind+relationship+to+improve+offshore+and+coastal...-a0195575481Abstract

Land-falling oceanic cyclones in the midlatitudes confront the forecaster with a specific problem: they typically develop in data-sparse regions before they approach a coastal forecast area, making numerical model predictions more uncertain and the forecasting of surface winds more difficult. Errors in surface wind forecasts can deeply affect coastal mariners and communities....]]>Mon, 1 Dec 2008 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+historic+Christmas+2004+south+Texas+snow+event%3a+diagnosis+of+the...-a0195575480Abstract

On 24 and 25 December 2004, a rare, banded heavy snow event occurred over portions of south Texas. Maximum snow amounts of 20-33 cm [8-13 inches] were reported in the band region. Such amounts had not been observed in south Texas since the late 1800s. Moisture, lift, stability, and thermal profiles for the event were examined. On the synoptic scale, the event was associated with...]]>Mon, 1 Dec 2008 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+interannual+variability+of+hurricane+activity+in+the+Atlantic+and...-a0195575479Abstract

The investigation of the interannual and interdecadal variations in hurricane activity has been an important topic of study lately, especially with regard to their implications for climate change issues. On the interannual time-scale, the El Nino and Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phase has been correlated with hurricane activity in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific Ocean Basins....]]>Mon, 1 Dec 2008 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Annual+and+seasonal+tropospheric+temperature+trend+comparisons+of...-a0195575478Abstract

Data from global reanalyses are routinely used as initial and lateral boundary conditions for regional numerical weather prediction modeling. Reanalyses have also been used for longer term assessments of tropospheric temperature trends. Our study compares linear tropospheric temperature trend estimates for radiosonde and reanalysis data, both annually and seasonally, at...]]>Mon, 1 Dec 2008 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Seasonal+temperature+and+precipitation+dependencies+in+southeast...-a0195575477Abstract

The climate of southeast Alaska is primarily influenced by moist maritime air from the adjacent Pacific Ocean that is occasionally modified by drier continental air from Canada. This battle between maritime and continental air masses can also have implications in terms of the relationships between temperature and precipitation in this region. In order to gain a better...]]>Tue, 1 Jul 2008 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/A+graphic+reprint%3a+the+wisconsin+tornado+outbreak+of+23+june+2004.-a0183863219
With the editor's apologies

The following figure was not included with last year's December Digest (Volume 31, No. 2).

Corresponding Author: Mark Gehring

NOAA/National Weather Service, N3533 Hardscrabble Road

Dousman.WI 53118.

Email: Mark.G.Gehring@noaa.gov

Mark G. Gehring

NOAA/National Weather Service

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