[Flanderian]

Literally!

I mentioned this quite a few years ago, but was struck by it again today.

Viewing NOAA Dopler radar in time lapse shows storming apparently form on, and then travel the Interstate highways from west to east with prevailing weather patterns during certain conditions. As usual, I first doubted my eyes, and second, my sanity, but hypothesized it might be possible due to much warmer micro-conditions of hot tarmac and auto exhausts. A one-time member, whose day job is as a meteorologist straightened me out; my eyes were OK, and possibly my sanity, storms do form on and travel along the Interstates. However, my hypothesis was just hot air, the actual cause being exhaust particulate that encourages condensation to begin forming droplets.

I was reminded of this as it's now occurring. On NOAA's regional radar, in motion, it's clearly visible. There are two major interstates which transect NJ west to east; Route 80 in the northern part of the state, and Route 78 a bit further south. And in Pennsylvania storms have formed and are traveling along each. Further north is Route 84 just north of NJ, and the same thing can be seen occurring on it as well.

https://radar.weather.gov/Conus/northeast_loop.php

 

[Howard]

Just last night we had a severe thunderstorm along came the heavy rain and monsoon-like winds for about a couple of minutes, we're supposed to get more in the next few days too.

 

[Flanderian]

Just last night we had a severe thunderstorm along came the heavy rain and monsoon-like winds for about a couple of minutes, we're supposed to get more in the next few days too.

Came down the Clearview Express Way, just to visit you, Howard! :happy:

 

[Andy]

Flanderian:

Interesting! Here in the California desert, winds are highest along Hwy 10, but I think it's more to do with terrain.

 

[Flanderian]

Flanderian:

Interesting! Here in the California desert, winds are highest along Hwy 10, but I think it's more to do with terrain.

I would tend to think you're right.

The phenomenon I describe is dependent on particular conditions, in particularly places. I've really never looked at the desert Southwest, but I know I've seen it happening in mid-western states like, Ohio, Indiana, and the South too, come to think of it, like Alabama.

Our area has a west to east zonal flow the vast majority of the time. Sometimes SW, NW, or, just due west. And since that aligns with the Interstate system, I'd suspect the orientation of the roads might be a prerequisite. Happens most in summer, fairly calm conditions when its particularly humid, the kind of weather that will fire up thunderstorms anyway. When these boil up, they often ride the routes.

 

[eagle2250]

I think Andy has hit the nail on the head. Storms seem to travel the path of least resistance. Many years back, a tornado swept down a path created by a cornfield than ran behind our property. Homes on either side of the corn were untouched, but the tornado did sweep away perhaps twenty yards of the woodlot at the back of our property. It took seemingly forever to cut up the downed trees.

 

[Mr. B. Scott Robinson]

As many Eisenhower Interstate highways were built as alternative LZs for Cold War aircraft, having them track into and away from the wind is also helpful.

Cheers,

BSR

 

[Howard]

So all of next week, we're getting our typical hazy hot and humid weather with temperatures in the mid 90's for 3 days then there's a chance of showers and storms afterwards.

 

[Flanderian]

I think Andy has hit the nail on the head. Storms seem to travel the path of least resistance. Many years back, a tornado swept down a path created by a cornfield than ran behind our property. Homes on either side of the corn were untouched, but the tornado did sweep away perhaps twenty yards of the woodlot at the back of our property. It took seemingly forever to cut up the downed trees.

Tornadoes are possibly the most frightening land originating weather phenomena. Rare here in the northeast, microbursts are more common. Recall traveling along a mountainside in New Hampshire and the heavily wooded hillside above had a path perhaps 60-75 yards flattened with trees all pointing in the same direction, clear to the summit. Guess it could have been a skipper, but I'd bet on a microburst.

Youngest daughter and her family lived in Birmingham Alabama for 2 years. One day she called me when the tornado siren was sounding, and asked what she should do. Not a happy situation, though it missed them.

As many Eisenhower Interstate highways were built as alternative LZs for Cold War aircraft, having them track into and away from the wind is also helpful.

Cheers,

BSR

I quite forgot that tentative use, and had no idea their orientation was a consideration for it!

No doubt copied from the Autobahn which were also so intended, and eventually actually used.

So all of next week, we're getting our typical hazy hot and humid weather with temperatures in the mid 90's for 3 days then there's a chance of showers and storms afterwards.

Not my favorite, Howard.

 

[Howard]

Tornadoes are possibly the most frightening land originating weather phenomena. Rare here in the northeast, microbursts are more common. Recall traveling along a mountainside in New Hampshire and the heavily wooded hillside above had a path perhaps 60-75 yards flattened with trees all pointing in the same direction, clear to the summit. Guess it could have been a skipper, but I'd bet on a microburst.

Youngest daughter and her family lived in Birmingham Alabama for 2 years. One day she called me when the tornado siren was sounding, and asked what she should do. Not a happy situation, though it missed them.

View attachment 47303

I quite forgot that tentative use, and had no idea their orientation was a consideration for it!

No doubt copied from the Autobahn which were also so intended, and eventually actually used.

Not my favorite, Howard.

View attachment 47304

And August is supposed to be the final hottest month of the summer until it starts to get a bit cooler.

 

[Flanderian]

And August is supposed to be the final hottest month of the summer until it starts to get a bit cooler.

:happy: :happy: :happy:

 

[Dhaller]

August in Georgia is just savage.

Years ago, I lived in Manila for a few months, and in preparing for it, I recall thinking "it's the tropics!", and buying linen suits and things. When I got there... it was pretty similar to Atlanta, weather-wise.

There's a reason the for the saying "hotter than Georgia asphalt" - it's hot here!

DH

 

[eagle2250]

:happy: :happy: :happy:

Uncomfortably hot and humid arrived here perhaps a month and a half back...and it will stay that way through most of October. Weather wise, November through March are the most comfortable/tolerable months of the year in these parts. "Patience is a virtue!" LOL.

 

[Dhaller]

Uncomfortably hot and humid arrived here perhaps a month and a half back...and it will stay that way through most of October. Weather wise, November through March are the most comfortable/tolerable months of the year in these parts. "Patience is a virtue!" LOL.

Florida is one the few places which can look at Georgia and say "oh, such cool summers up there."

 

[Flanderian]

August in Georgia is just savage.

Years ago, I lived in Manila for a few months, and in preparing for it, I recall thinking "it's the tropics!", and buying linen suits and things. When I got there... it was pretty similar to Atlanta, weather-wise.

There's a reason the for the saying "hotter than Georgia asphalt" - it's hot here!

DH

A lady with whom I was once acquainted was a native of Atlanta and assured me of the same thing. "Beastly," she called it.

August in Georgia is just savage.

Years ago, I lived in Manila for a few months, and in preparing for it, I recall thinking "it's the tropics!", and buying linen suits and things. When I got there... it was pretty similar to Atlanta, weather-wise.

There's a reason the for the saying "hotter than Georgia asphalt" - it's hot here!

DH

While wishing in no way to denigrate your adopted home, a summer spent in Biloxi assured me I want nothing to do with tropic Gulf climates.

 

[Dhaller]

A lady with whom I was once acquainted was a native of Atlanta and assured me of the same thing. "Beastly," she called it.

While wishing in no way to denigrate your adopted home, a summer spent in Biloxi assured me I want nothing to do with tropic Gulf climates.

Sometimes - like when I see a poster wondering "does anyone play tennis in flannels and a trad sweater?" - I think that maybe there needs to be an AAAC "What About the South, Y'all?" sub-forum!

Dixie Trad... hey, did I just coin a phrase?

DH

 

[Flanderian]

Sometimes - like when I see a poster wondering "does anyone play tennis in flannels and a trad sweater?" - I think that maybe there needs to be an AAAC "What About the South, Y'all?" sub-forum!

Dixie Trad... hey, did I just coin a phrase?

DH

Pretty cool, IMO. 👍

 

[Clintotron]

I submit, for your consideration:

 

[Clintotron]

Also, I’ve spent over half of my career working in a massive refinery with little concealing the horizon. Any given summer day a storm (heck, even just a shade cloud) can be seen approaching from the west. Focus on work for 20 minutes or so. Look back up to see the storm has split and quite literally gone around the refinery and conjoined again to the east. I attribute MUCH to the heats of the refining process. Many colossal furnaces/boilers/heaters, thermal oxidizer/flares/scrubbers, and heat exchangers/towers/cooling towers exist in this refinery and the surrounding plants of various processes.

 

[Howard]

Uncomfortably hot and humid arrived here perhaps a month and a half back...and it will stay that way through most of October. Weather wise, November through March are the most comfortable/tolerable months of the year in these parts. "Patience is a virtue!" LOL.

Do you prefer it to be cool or hot?