Kevin_Lemanowicz's Blog

It's become an (almost) yearly tradition for me to be live at the Frog Pond on Boston Common for the opening of the skating rink.  Tradition dictates that I put on a pair of skates and try my best to stand up and move around on the ice.  Also, it is imperative that our anchors make fun of me doing this act.  It is all in good fun, and I enjoy it immensely.  Some funny things have happened over the years in the banter with all different anchors.  This year was no exception.  The end was especially fun when Blades the Bruins mascot joined me for an unscripted appearance.  Mayor Menino was there for his yearly welcome.  Two teams based in Lexington, The Ice Mates and Mini Mates, performed, as well as others.  Wally the Green Monster was there, along with characters from the Nutcracker ballet. 

The Frog Pond is refrigerated, much like the ice at the Garden for Bruins games.  It can stay frozen for a while even in 50 degree weather.  That said, it needed no help Wednesday night.  It was icy cold out there, and the wind made it feel worse.  Winter is trying to come early for us in New England, as it already has for much of the rest of the country. 

Now, if we could just get some accumulating snow...

I went to get coffee at DD after DT (dinnertime) Monday evening.  As I was getting into my car with the hotties in hand, a gentle breeze hit my nose.  On that cold wind was a hint of something I hadn't smelled in a long time.  I looked up, squinting into the darkness, and there it was.  It was a chain-link fence.  Not just a fence, of course, but a fence filled with green.  Leaning up against it were skinny green poles.  Hanging from it were circles of green.  Tied up Christmas trees and hanging wreaths!  That smell only comes this time of year.

Sure, you can smell pine in any of a number of wooded areas all over New England.  However, to this nose, the pine smells somehow different when the air gets cold and toy catalogs fill the mailbox.  I don't care if this time of year has become too commercialized.  I don't care if children are more into toys than the meaning of the season.  After all, Easter is the more sacred time of year to this Catholic boy.  All I care about is the joy this season brings to everyone.  Can you feel it?  I can hardly wait to see my boys' faces on Christmas morning, to laugh with my family Christmas Eve, to go to the town Christmas pageant, to give to all the people I love something that will bring them joy, to give some anonymous little boy exactly what they asked for from the "giving tree" set up at church, and to spend a few extra days with my family. 

I'll turn another year older on Christmas day, but I don't care, although I do love that my birthday is on such a wonderful, joyous day.  The season is here.  I hope you can stop and enjoy the sights, sounds, and bright faces.  And, of course... the smells.

Like many of you, I wage a yearly battle with my yard. There isn't much you can do in the winter, except, of course, to shovel (and build snow forts).   In the spring, I get the tractor out and treat the lawn.  Then, the mowing begins.  In the summer, keeping it green becomes the issue.  In autumn, well, that's the biggest battle to me.  You have to keep mowing, of course.  In fact, the grass grows more quickly in early fall when the temperatures cool off.  As the grass starts to not grow so fast, the leaves begin to fall.  My yard has been covered by brown, ugly, dead leaves.  Instead of raking, I lazily drive the tractor over them, set at the highest level, to suck up as many leaves as I can.  The bags quickly fill up, so there are many stops to empty them.  I dump the bags in the woods along the back of my house, trying to strategically place them so they don't blow back in.  Choosing the date for this whole operation is precise.  It has to be long enough after the last rainfall to dry the leaves out, but before the next rain.  After all, wet leaves don't move much without raking.  Have I told you I despise raking? 

The last two days were the chosen ones.  Still, with limited time, I've only done about half the yard... and that might be generous.  Now, with all the rain, those leaves are cemented in place, until they dry out again.  That won't happen until maybe Monday.  By then, all the wind Sunday will blow all the other leaves that I already removed right back in to the yard. 

Have a great weekend.

Seems in New England, we have to often make concessions when it comes to weather.  In the winter, the sunniest days can be the coldes as dry high pressure builds in from the north.  When some warm tropical air works its way up the coast, it carries with it tropical moisture.  We saw this last week.  Nice warm air moved into our region, but we stayed cloudy for about as long as it was warm.  Once the sun came out, it was back to cold. 

Looks like we are doing it again this week.  We'll have bright sunshine Wednesday, but it will be chilly, in the 40s.  It's one of those cold high pressure systems moving out of Canada.  It brings dry air, hence less clouds, but colder temperatures.  By Thursday night, a system moving up the coast will bring warmer winds into New England, but also clouds and rain.  Makes sense.  After all, with cold air at the ground, that warmer air has to go up over it because warm air likes to rise.  Well, that rising causes the air to cool on the way up which, in turn, causes condensation.  That's a fancy word for making water droplets form from water vapor.  Those droplets stick together to make clouds and rain. 

So, here we go again.  A weather trade in the works, and we don't need a special "winter meeting" like baseball to make it happen. 

When last I spoke with you on television (Thursday night), I was optimistic.  I tend to be, no matter what.  In this case, I was optimistic specifically about getting some sunshine, if not late Friday, then the first part of Saturday.  It never happened at my house, and I doubt any of you saw any Saturday either.  My official forecast was for some early sunshine, followed by more clouds and showers by late afternoon west, by evening in eastern Massachusetts. I forecast a high temperature of 62 degrees.   Did I blow it?

Depends on your perspective.  I am often asked if we keep track of our forecasts in order to show our accuracy, sort of like a batting average.  Saturday is a good example of that being a problem.  You see, if you go strictly by sky cover, you have to say I was wrong.  There was no sunshine, as I thought there would be.  That departing system offshore spun away even more slowly.  However, if you go by precipitation, well, I did say showers late day or early evening.  That seemed to work out.  Finally, if you only went by temperature, no doubt I was perfect.  The high at Logan was 62 degrees Saturday.  I guess it would be a "C" forecast?  I say it was just wrong.  Still, how do you see it?

In order to compare to our competition, we'd all have to agree on the same parameters, i.e. how many degrees off is "wrong", how much sun is mostly sunny, partly sunny, etc.  I have no interest in doing that.  If you watch me, and trust my forecast, then keep watching.  That is the best measurement possible to me.

I know, I know... "stick to the weather".  Still, I have to say something here. 

Knowing there wouldn't be much time for weather in the newscast on election night, I stayed logged in to the live chat on this website.  For those who don't normally chat, we do a live chat during the 5 pm and 5:30 pm newscasts Monday through Friday.  I have fun chatting with the viewers.  There is even some playful jabbing on occasion.  It was a totally different story Tuesday night.

Insightful chatters were the majority, but there was a significant number of chatters who were just unbelievable.  One chatter was blatantly racist... I can't even print what he said here.  Several said they didn't vote for Obama because he will be assasinated.  HUH?  So, don't vote for the older McCain because he might die from his health issues? 
Many bemoaned the thought that we are going to wake up to a socialist, communist, or Marxist state with our new president at the helm.  That is just ludicrous.  Look, I don't agree with taxing those who have more at a higher rate.  They worked hard for what they have and, I don't believe, should be penalized for it.  Still, that doesn't make our system socialist.  If you believe it does, fine, but it isn't a change from what we've had for a hundred years.  So, we either have always been socialist and will continue to be, or we have never been socialist and still won't be.  Nothing has changed about our tax system, though Obama has said he will change the rates that are paid.  Chatters just threw those words around like it was fact. 

The whole marijuana thing amazed me as well.  One person said "nobody on marijuana ever killed a family of 5 in a car accident".  When I supplied a link to just such an occurence, the person keyed on the fact that the person was not licensed.  Wow.  I know there are good reasons some have for voting for the lesser penalty for possessing small amounts, but that was not one of them. 

These are just a few examples.  I know I am not correct about a lot of things, and everyone has opinions.  Still, the lack of respect and level of nastiness in the chat was an eye-opener to this "old" guy fairly new to the chat game.

We are all looking for change on this election day.  The weather kept up its end with milder temperatures on this November day, which was quite a change from the cooler weather to start the week.  These maverick temperatures will continue much of the week, though tempered a bit. 

We'll wake up to new president, and a new storm coming up the coast Wednesday (assuming no election controversy).  That storm will roll in with some rain by Thursday.  This is the same storm that brought heavy rain to the DelMarVa peninsula on election day.  That means people in those mid-Atlantic states had to battle the elements to get to the polls.  I'd have to ask Joe Battenfeld if it'll make a difference at all, but as I write this Tuesday afternoon just before 5 p.m., it is raining heavily in D.C., Maryland, and Delaware.  Elsewhere across the country, only snow in the western mountains could be seen as a hindrance, so I'm confident we'll see the expected great turnout. 

How about you?  Is voting important enough to you to go no matter what the weather, or would a stormy day keep you at home?  Being such a liberal state, I wonder if a storm would keep people at home as they'll assume we are going to vote democrat as a state anyway. 

Either way, here's hoping to much better days ahead, no matter who wins.

October 2008 is in the books, and the numbers are in.  Here is what the National Weather Service office in Taunton has to report...

Average High Temperature:  61.1
Average Low Temperature:   45.6
Mean Temperature:   53.3 (or .8 below average)
Highest Temperature of the month:  74 on the 9th
Lowest Temperature of the month:   33 on the 31st

Rainfall:  1.41" (2.38" below average)
Heaviest 24 Rainfall:  .49" from the 25th to the 26th
Rained in Boston 12 Days
No Snow recorded in Boston, Snow Showers in the suburbs

So, just slightly cooler in Boston than average and drier than normal.  Remember, observations are taken at Logan International Airport, though they haven't always been taken there.  The records also only go back to 1872.  That's long enough for us to be impressed by any records that are set, but just a second in the age of our planet.

November started cool this weekend... we'll see where we'll end up.  Any predictions?

Here are some of the recent weather headlines from around the globe in October...

The last few days of the month saw hundreds of record cold temperatures reported in the U.S., as well as dozens of new snowfall records (63 at last count).
First October snowfall in England in 70 years.
Several western regions of Cuba reported record cold temperatures... including 48 in Guines, Havana.
Switzerland had more snow than any October on record in the Swiss lowlands.
Tibet had its worst snowstorm on record.  Seven people and 144,000 livestock died. 
Coldest October in Ireland in over 70 years.
Arctic sea Ice near normal for end of October, much more than last year's record low.
It was reported that the September survey of polar bears the western Hudson Bay area of Canada showed the largest population ever counted.

Just a few snippets that may show winter trying to take hold early around the globe (or stay late in Australia).  Better bundle up.

Happy Halloween everyone.

Emails from many of our viewers reported snow flying around New England.  Gardner, Sturbridge, Center Harbor, NH, and Haverhill just a few of the places checking in.  I saw my first flakes hitting the windshield as I drove through Foster, RI Wednesday afternoon.  The snow is arriving earlier this year.

Last year, the first trace of snow was recorded at Logan in East Boston on November, 19.  Worcester Airport recorded just under an inch, .7", on November 20.  This all led to a very snowy December. 

I think it is a sign of what is to come this winter.  Shovels at the ready!

Every evening after our 5:30 p.m. newscast, we have a meeting.  At the meeting, we go over how the late news will play out, what stories we are getting or covering, what the plan is for programming, and if the weather is going to be a problem.  Monday night, I told the folks at the meeting that if I were Major League Baseball (MLB), I would not try to play game 5 Monday night.  It was already raining in the western suburbs of Philadelphia, with a big storm forming just south of there.  They would have to play in the rain if they were going to play at all.  Well, if you were watching the game, you saw what happened.  Jimmy Rollins, the Phillies amazing shortstop, had to chase (and miss) a wind-blown pop-up.  Later, he muffed a wet groundball.  Every flyball swirled around in the gusty winds.  The infield became a mudpit.  This was a potential elimination game of the World Series.  There is no way it should have been played in those conditions, especially with a day off scheduled for Tuesday.  Any meteorologist could see it will be much nicer Tuesday night.  After that, if the Rays won, they'd go to Florida and play in the dome.  Essentially, after Monday, the series was GUARANTEED good weather.  So, why then, MLB, did you even try to play this one. 

I'm not a genius.  ANY meteorologist should have seen this storm coming and given MLB the same advice.  Whomever MLB consults either blew it absurdly, or else the commissioner of baseball just didn't care. 

In my opinion, MLB wriggled off the hook when the Rays tied the score.  Can you imagine if they had to call this one early, awarding the World Series to the Phils 2-1? 

Do you agree, or do you think they had to give it a try to keep the travel day intact, and allow the ticket holders to come to the game?  As I write this, a final decision hasn't been made, but if it is suspended, the people who had tickets Monday night likely won't be allowed in to see the end of the game Tuesday.  If the Phils win, they won't see it.  So much wrong with what happened tonight.

I know I talk a lot about climate change, often taking the view that is against the mainstream catastrophic warming warning.  When I was just an aspiring young scientist, back in the 80s, some guy named Al Gore put the Earth on his back.  No, not like Atlas, but in a figurative sense.  His cause became our Earth, at about the same time his wife was sticking labels on my favorite rock cassettes (look it up young folk).  I admired him for what he was doing, and to a degree still do.  However, I also feel that his mistake-riddled Oscar-winning powerpoint presentation has done much to hurt his own credibility.  Now, he won't allow the media into his presentations and makes millions from his "green" investments.  I don't begrudge him making the money... feel free to send some this way, Mr. Gore... but you have to agree there is some question as to what the connection is between his investments and his dire admonishments.

Well, whatever you believe, you'll likely get a kick out of this.  It is the trailer, fake trailer, for his next (also fake) movie.  Enjoy.

http://www.climatechangefraud.com/content/view/2513/
218/

kpl

I wrote about my visit to Boston College last week, which was quite a challenge.  This week, however, was a return to normalcy for me.  It was my first "How Weather Works" school visit of the year.  I was again in my comfort zone, talking to 4th graders about weather basics. 

This trip took me about an hour from the station, to Haverhill.  This on the day after the Rays, led by Haverhill native Carlos Pena, beat the Sox in game 7.  I still gave them my best.  As I typically discover, the students were terrific.  The teachers at Silver Hill Horace Mann Charter School are doing an excellent job teaching the children the science I love.  It made the discussion lively and fun. 

I sure hope all the children had as much fun as I did.  Make sure you check out the video of the children on our website, as you can with every school we visit.  You have to go to "Weather" and find the "How Weather Works"  section on the right.

Next week, Natick.

kpl

The National Weather Service office in Taunton sent this to me, so I am passing it on to you.  If you are interested in weather, this is a great day.  I can't make it this year, but you should consider going.

Time is running out to register in advance for this year’s 9th Annual Southern New England Weather Conference.  I will be held on Saturday, October 25th from about

8 AM until 6 PM at the state-of-the-art Clay Center at the Dexter-Southfield Schools in Brookline, Massachusetts. Registration is through the not-for-profit Blue Hill Science Center is available online at www.sneweatherconf.org .  Until October 17th, the cost of the conference is $75 per person, but on October 18th, it will increase to $85.  For teachers and full-time students, there is a $10 discount…only $65 now and $75 after Oct. 17th.

 

This conference provides an opportunity for any weather enthusiast to intermingle with both public and private sector meteorologists in a unique and rather informal setting.  The combinations of talks and the varied audience really sets this conference apart from others that you may have attended.  Teachers are strongly urged to attend – we will be having several sessions available with demos of where to find climate information on the web and also demos of science classroom experiments. And teachers will earn 10 Professional Development Points (PDPs) through the Blue Hill Science Center, for attending.

 

The price of admission includes a continental breakfast and lunch, along with an exciting astronomy show and tours of the observatory. Oh yes… and great weather talks.  We will be reviewing the Mother’s Day 2006 and April 2007 Floods; having a panel discussion about the “Traffic Nightmare Snowstorm” of last December 13, 2007; and having forecasters from the Little Rock, Arkansas office come and explain what it was like to work the radar while a 123-mile long tornado was occurring during the Super Tuesday Outbreak earlier this year.  A social scientist from the University of Colorado will be discussing weather and society…and the public’s response to warnings.  And we’ll have a few speakers – from both the Boston Globe – and MIT – discussing global warming in New England. …. And many more talks on the sea breeze, hurricanes, a snow event, coastal flood forecasting, and a research program going on at Millersville University in Pennsylvania and several other universities.

 

Please check out the conference website, where you can view the agenda, abstracts, and bios of the speakers…and where you can register.  You can either go to the NWS website at www.weather.gov/boston  and click on the bulleted link for the conference at the top of the page. Or go directly to the conference website at www.sneweatherconf.org. 

See you there in Brookline, MA on Saturday, October 25th!

If you are an old-school professional wrestling fan, you may have been fooled by the title of this blog.  Those of you who don't know what I mean, WWF used to be World Wrestling Federation before it was changed to WWE, World Wrestling Entertainment.  This change was brought about by an agreement with the Wold Wildlife Fun, WWF, causing Vince McMahon's corporation to stop using the initials.  By the way, I go back even further as a fan.  My grandfather, father, and uncle used to bring me to the matches all the time, especially at Witschi's Sports Arena in North Attleboro where the then WWWF was just about every Friday night.  WWWF stood for World Wide Wrestling Federation.  Truly, I am off the topic here.  Back to the current WWF, World Wildlife Fund.

The WWF has been vocal in blaming us spewing over 20% of the world's CO2 emissions.  They also have a carbon footprint calculator on thier website.  So far, so good.  Well, despite what they say, here is what they are currently doing on the other side of the ledger.  For  $64,950 you can book a trip with them.  This trip will fly from Orlando, FL to "remote corners" of the world on a private jet.  You better hurry, as there are only 88 seats available to you.  Lectures and a professional staff are included, as are gourmet meals.  This trip sounds amazing.  Of course, you have to suspend your hatred of carbon emissions to take the trip.  Using the same carbon footprint calculator, the more than 36,000 mile trip to the Amazon, Easter Island, Borneo, Laos, Nepal, Madagascar, Namibia, Uganda, and London, will require roughly 100,000 gallons of jet fuel producing over 1200 tons of carbon dioxide in 25 days.  How many SUV's does that equate to?  This is also about 14 tons per person! 

Sounds hypocritical to me, but then I really have no problem with the trip.  In fact, I wish I had that kind of money to burn.  I, also, am not running around telling people they are ruining the earth by taking trips and producing a huge carbon footprint.  If I were, I might be a little more careful than the WWF is being.