Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

Earth Day photos; severe weather outbreak in the Plains this week

Posted by: Dr. Jeff Masters, 4:18 PM GMT on April 22, 2007

On Earth Day, I like to post a blog celebrating the beauty and diversity of Earth's amazing atmosphere, by featuring some of my favorite wunderphotos posted during the year. This year, my favorite photo was posted by Gary Blevins (Photo5150), who posted "Fire Tornado". The intense heat generated by this forest fire in California formed a strong updraft, and air flowing in from the sides to replace the air sucked out by the updraft created a swirling dust-devil-like "fire tornado". Thanks to all of you who shared your weather experiences through wunderphotos and blogs over the past year! The community of weather appreciators that has emerged here at wunderground.com has been an unexpected and wonderful thing to tune into each day.

And truffula trees are what everyone needs.
Plant a new truffula -- treat it with care.
Give it clean water and feed it fresh air.
Grow a forest -- protect it from axes that hack.
Then the Lorax and all of his friends may come back!

--From Dr. Suess' The Lorax

I've linked in a few more of my favorite wunderphotos below. I'll be back with a new blog Tuesday.

Severe weather in the Plains
Tornadoes hit the Texas Panhandle over the weekend, and the Storm Prediction Center has put portions of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Colorado under their Moderate Risk region for severe weather both Monday and Tuesday. Wunderphotographer Mike Theiss was there to cover the action Sunday, and saw the tornado that caused severe damage in Tulia, Texas. He will be in the Plains chasing tornadoes this week, so be sure to tune into his blog for the latest!

--Jeff Masters

the foam and the sun (lunada)

Rainbow whale (Jhfelder)

Rainbow made From a sperm whale using his blowhole

Somewhere over the rainbow (fultonsphotos)

It took me a few hundred shots but I finally captured the rainbow and the lightning.

Cirrus Scraper (faulknjc1)

Cirrus clouds reflected off a new skyscraper in downtown Atlanta Tuesday.

Categories: Atmospheric Phenomena

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201. Patrap 1:56 AM GMT on April 24, 2007
it was a script error,that created a mirror image.Thats all.No mystery. GIGO..garbage in,garbage out. Like in the Apollo days. But thats a neat blog entry too..Dr. Masters posted about it in an entry after it occurred if memory serves me. I dont like to search for the past. Member Since: July 3, 2005 Posts: 371 Comments: 111458

202. HurricaneMyles 2:03 AM GMT on April 24, 2007
I remember reading that the GFDL model went completely nuts with intensity once it was adjusted so that the storm could cross the dateline. The alogorithms that were used for Atlantic and East/Cent Pacific just didnt work once it crossed the dateline(since the GFDL wasent originally programmed for that, hence why Ioke bounced off it before it was adjusted) If I remember the details right, it was that the ocean heat transferred to the atmosphere was way too high, which caused the instantiy that followed. Member Since: January 12, 2006 Posts: 5 Comments: 827

203. Patrap 2:06 AM GMT on April 24, 2007
someone pull up the Main Blog archive on that day. It was a zoo..LOL Member Since: July 3, 2005 Posts: 371 Comments: 111458

204. weatherboykris 2:08 AM GMT on April 24, 2007
What day was that?Must've been in August or Early September... Member Since: December 9, 2006 Posts: 125 Comments: 11343

205. weatherboykris 2:10 AM GMT on April 24, 2007
Posted By: Patrap at 1:03 AM GMT on August 27, 2006. ..the Season arrives in the Carribean,,..almost can here the Jaws Original Soundtrack playing in the background..Da..dummm..Da...dum! LOL Member Since: December 9, 2006 Posts: 125 Comments: 11343

206. lightning10 4:23 AM GMT on April 24, 2007
La Nina not looking to impressive as of know. I know its early but that makes me happy. Member Since: November 24, 2005 Posts: 41 Comments: 629

207. sporteguy03 4:46 AM GMT on April 24, 2007
Question: I see someone posted that new buoys have been deployed...what has the NHC and the Government done in advancements in technology from last year to this year so we are better prepared? Member Since: July 7, 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 4824

208. StoryOfTheCane 5:23 AM GMT on April 24, 2007
dry as a bone

209. Acesover8s 9:50 AM GMT on April 24, 2007
Everyone do the Rain dance for Southeast Fl. We are going to Faze 3 shortly. Any chance at all there might be some Rain coming down the pike soon?

210. StoryOfTheCane 10:01 AM GMT on April 24, 2007

211. franck 1:58 PM GMT on April 24, 2007
Yep, that's the story. Dry as a bone. Member Since: August 30, 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 1150

212. TheCaneWhisperer 2:02 PM GMT on April 24, 2007
Acesover8s Best Chance looks to be Sat, Sun and Monday. Highest chance is 40% on Sat, not the best but we'll take it. Crazy dry down here, I used to enjoy sitting on my patio and looking at the lake. The lake is now down about 5 feet, not very sightly.

213. lightning10 2:03 PM GMT on April 24, 2007
While you are doing a rare dance for South Florida also do one for So Cal. While we did get 2 storm last week almost all areas are still on track for there dryest winter ever. Most areas reporting less then 2-3 inches of rain since July 1st of 06. Member Since: November 24, 2005 Posts: 41 Comments: 629

214. StormJunkie 2:09 PM GMT on April 24, 2007
Morning y'all. Good to see ya TCW. Hope you and lightning get some rain soon. We got a pretty good shot last week, but things are still pretty dry... Member Since: August 17, 2005 Posts: 26 Comments: 15218

215. TheCaneWhisperer 2:24 PM GMT on April 24, 2007
Good to see you to SJ! I will take a pic of the mud puddle, I mean lake. Funny thing is, they still have the fountains on in the middle. Seems that would be a bad idea. I am surprised they haven't been told to turn them off or done so willingly.

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